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NC redistricting hearing to focus on speed of case
12/06/2011

Advocacy groups, Democratic elected officials and voters challenging North Carolina’s new redistricting plans want rulings on their legality by mid-February, but the state’s lawyers argue a “rush to judgment” is unreasonable and the judicial branch is reluctant to delay the 2012 elections.

Attorneys on both sides of a pair of lawsuits filed a month ago seeking to block new Republican-penned legislative and congressional districts from taking effect have filed motions and responses in recent days. While they largely agree on consolidating the two cases into one, the attorneys are at odds over how fast the matter should be considered by a special three-judge panel.

Judges on the panel announced Monday they would hear arguments Dec. 16 on the fast-track timeline and consolidation.

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As Iraq and Afghan wars end, costs mount on pace to exceed Vietnam
12/06/2011

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may be winding down, but the long-term costs of caring for those wounded in battle is on path to rival the costs of the Vietnam War.

While Vietnam extracted a far higher death toll – 58,000 compared with 6,300 so far in the war on terror – the number of documented disabilities from recent veterans is approaching the size of that earlier conflict, according to a McClatchy Newspapers analysis of Department of Veterans Affairs data.

The data, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and detailing all disability payments to veterans of all wars, show that veterans leaving the military in recent years are filing for and receiving compensation for more injuries than did their fathers and grandfathers.

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Myrtle Beach campground wins top honors
12/06/2011

Ocean Lakes Campground in Myrtle Beach has won three prestigious awards announced this weekend, including Mega Park of the Year as chosen by the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.

“What we won is really huge,” said Ocean Lakes spokeswoman Barb Krum. “We are blown away by this.”

The awards were given this weekend at the end of a weeklong camping and RV conference in Savannah. Krum said the national association’s award is based solely on guest reviews and comments, and cannot be solicited by the campgrounds.

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Myrtle Beach chamber leader donating a kidney to a stranger in first-of-a-kind NC surgery
12/06/2011

Brad Dean is in perfect health, but just after 7:30 a.m. Monday, Duke University Medical Center surgeon Deepak Vikraman-Sushama will press a scalpel against his abdomen and slice.

That cut will kick off a cascade of four operations on four patients – and perhaps a new era for kidney transplants in North Carolina.

Dean, 43, president of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, is a so-called “altruistic donor.” He offered to give a kidney to an unknown recipient simply because he thinks it’s the right thing to do.

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Baby Boy Horry annual memorial service held near Conway
12/06/2011

Baby Boy Horry didn’t have a chance to experience the joys Christmas when he was left to die three years ago in a canvas bag in a ditch off S.C. 544 outside Conway, Rev. Wayne Brown said Sunday during a memorial service for the infant at Hillcrest Cemetery.

“He’s in the Lord’s hands and all is well. His time came for him in a way that none of us had wished or expected,” Brown said. “God was with him in his inception, God was with him in his birth and God was with him in his death.”

The Caucasian infant, who has been named Baby Boy Horry, was found dead Dec. 4, 2008, inside a blue-and-white Bath and Body Works bag in a ditch on Meadowbrook Drive off S.C. 544, authorities said.

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Harrelson Boulevard completion pushed back by two weeks
12/06/2011

Colder weather has pushed back the opening of the Harrelson Boulevard extension at Myrtle Beach International Airport by two weeks to late January.

Lauren Morris, marketing director of Horry County Airports, said airport officials had spoken with city leaders in Myrtle Beach about how best to proceed. One of the options was to open Harrelson Boulevard at the beginning of January, but have lane closures in order to finish last-minute paving, underground utility work and landscaping.

Instead, it was decided to simply push back the opening to around Jan. 23.

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Judge to determine whether AVX paperwork requests are proper
12/06/2011

A lawyer representing Myrtle Beach property owners in a class-action lawsuit against AVX Corp. says the electronic components manufacturer is trying to harass his clients with a barrage of needless paperwork, but company lawyers say they need all of the information they’ve requested to defend against potentially millions of dollars in property-damage claims.

Gene Connell, the lawyer representing property owners, told Judge Larry Hyman during a court hearing on Monday that AVX – responsible for groundwater contamination in a roughly 12-block neighborhood – wants to overwhelm property owners with questions and requests for documents so they will drop out of the lawsuit.

“They want to make it so difficult that each class member will not want to proceed,” Connell said. “It’s just a tactic to wear these people down and grind them into the ground.”

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Occupy case against governor may go to federal court
12/01/2011

Occupy Columbia’s challenge to the governor looks to be headed for federal court.  The evening before a hearing scheduled in state court, Gov. Haley’s attorneys filed a motion to remove the case to federal district court in Columbia.  According to Mark Schnee, one of five attorneys for the Occupy protesters, if the motion is granted, it will be [...]

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Isaacson to SC leaders: Tribalism can tear us apart (AUDIO)
12/01/2011

The biographer of the late icon Steve Jobs could be the subject of a book himself.  Walter Isaacson, among his many roles, has been the chief editor of Time Magazine, chairman and CEO of CNN and new leads the Aspen Institute. In the past 20 years, he has also written about some of the most consequential leaders in [...]

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20 Arrested in Alleged Mob-Linked Sex Trafficking Ring at New York Strip Clubs
12/01/2011

Federal authorities on Wednesday reportedly busted a mob-sponsored sex trafficking operation that allegedly smuggled women from Russia and Eastern Europe to work at New York strip clubs.

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Police Say Body Found in Georgia Is Not Missing Orlando Mom
12/01/2011

A body found on the side of a road in south Georgia is not missing Orlando mother Michelle Parker, police said Wednesday.

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Medal of Honor Marine Suing Contractor Is Not a ‘Drinker,’ Grandmother Says
12/01/2011

The grandmother of Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer, who has filed suit against a former employer over claims that he is mentally unstable and a problem drinker, came to the defense of her hero grandson on Wednesday, telling FoxNews.com that, "I'v...

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Feds Seize 32 Tons of Marijuana From Underground U.S.-Mexico Border Tunnel
12/01/2011

The discovery of the 600-yard tunnel resulted in seizures of 32 tons of marijuana, one of the largest pot busts in U.S. history. 

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SportsTalk Rewind 11.30.11: North-South All Star Game Coaches (AUDIO)
12/01/2011

The South Carolina Automobile Dealers Association “North-South All Star Game” will be played December 10th, 2011, at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium in Myrtle Beach South Carolina.  The game pits some of the of the best high school athletes across the state against one another.  Tonight we welcomed in Head Coach of the North squad, David Berry [...]

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SportsTalk Rewind 11.30.11: USC’s Lorenzo Ward (AUDIO)
12/01/2011

USC’s defense is coming off of a dominant performance in the Gamecocks 34-13 victory over the Clemson Tigers on Saturday.  Clemson only managed 153 total yards of offense in the big game and Tiger Quarterback, Tajh Boyd, was sacked 5 times.  Earlier today USC Defensive Coordinator, Lorenzo Ward, sat down on SportsTalk ”First Edition” and discussed his defenses’ performance over the weekend.  Up for [...]

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Safety clothing manufacturer moves to Barnwell from Egypt
12/01/2011

A maker of safety clothing announced plans Wednesday to put its new operations center in Barnwell County. The investment by A&K Textiles is expected to generate 120 new jobs. The company will set up a new cut-and-sew operation in a former textile facility. It’s relocating from Egypt and hopes to bring the new plant online [...]

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Young, Sapp Lead Tigers Over Iowa
11/30/2011

The Tigers played their best game of the season Tuesday night as they picked up an impressive road win 71-55 over Iowa in the ACC Big Ten Challenge. Andre Young hit 5-6 from three as he led the Tigers with 19 points.  Freshman T.J. Sapp added 13 points for the Tigers. Clemson went 11-21 from [...]

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Steele – Do Your Job
11/30/2011

CLEMSON, SC- When Clemson lost several of their key playmakers on defense after last season, Tiger Nation knew that the Tigers’ would suffer some growing pains in 2011. However, Kevin Steele let it be known Tuesday that the young players who have earned significant playing time this season will be great players for the Tigers [...]

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Tuesday Tiger Talk
11/30/2011

Time for this week’s edition of Tuesday Tiger Talk.  Each week Robert and Ashley bring you the latest live from the WestZone as we recap the highlights of two days of interviews with the players and coaches.

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Watkins ACC Rookie of the Year
11/30/2011

Greensboro, N.C. (AP, ACSMA) – Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins is the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Offensive and Overall Rookie of the Year as announced by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association today. He set league records for freshmen with 72 receptions, 1,073 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns, and provided the Tigers’ productive offense with its top [...]

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Clemson Battles Iowa
11/30/2011

Clemson travels to Iowa to play the Hawkeyes Tuesday night as part of the ACC Big Ten Classic.             GAME SETUP Site:    Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500) Date:    Tuesday, November 29, 2011 City:    Iowa City, IA Time:    9:15 PM (Eastern) Radio:    Clemson Tiger Sports Properties         (Pete Yanity – play-by-play, Philip Sikes – [...]

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TCITV: Swinney Q&A
11/30/2011

Watch the Q&A portion of Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney’s Tuesday press conference:

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TCITV: Swinney Statement
11/30/2011

Watch Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney’s opening statement in Tuesday’s press conference as he previews the ACC Championship Game on TCITV:

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Filling in the Blanks – Still Believes
11/30/2011

CLEMSON, SC- Clemson verbal commitment Travis Blanks, the highest rated player in the Tigers’ 2012 class agreed to do a diary with TheClemsonInsider.com. In this edition, Travis talks about his season, his relationship with position coach Charlie Harbison, and Clemson’s season so far. My season is continuing to go well as my team has made [...]

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TCI South Carolina Gallery 1
11/30/2011

South Carolina defeated Clemson Saturday night at Williams-Brice Stadium.  TheClemsonInsider.com was on hand for all of the action. Check out the TCI South Carolina Photo Gallery!

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