Concerns about coming changes in the state property tax system have prompted a New York credit rating agency to assign a negative outlook to investments in S.C. school districts.

Moody’s Investor Services said limits on how much school districts may raise taxes, capped at the rates of population growth plus inflation, means school districts could grow faster than their ability to pay for new students — possibly tapping into reserve accounts. That would mean less money for unforeseen problems.

The report does not downgrade any credit ratings or affect a district’s ability to borrow. Moody’s said it will monitor the new law’s impact and release a report later. Changes in credit ratings can affect how much it costs systems to borrow money.

COLUMBIA

• Columbia International names interim provost

William H. “Bill” Jones, a member of Columbia International University’s faculty since 1990, has been named interim provost of the institution.

CIU president George Murray appointed Jones, a professor of evangelism and missions, to replace Ralph Enlow, who left CIU in May.

As provost, Jones is charged with oversight of the university’s educational mission.

CIU is a private, co-educational institution that offers Bible instruction and preparation for ministry and mission.

• Club security officer fires shots at car

A security officer at a nightclub shot at a car after the driver tried to run him down in the parking lot Sunday night, said Lt. Chris Cowan, spokesman for the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.

A security officer at Studio 54 at 6612 Two Notch Road was investigating some type of activity in the parking lot when a vehicle attempted to run him down, Cowan said. The security officer fired shots at the vehicle, he said. No one was injured.

Police are investigating.

• Help sought in finding mentally ill man

Columbia police are searching for a mentally ill man who has been missing since June 27.

Johnnie Clay Hammond, 35, was last seen leaving his house at 5727 Seabury St. to go to the Food Mart at 6132 Main St., according to police.

He was wearing black and white pants, a white shirt and white tennis shoes.

Hammond, who is on medication, is 6 feet tall and weighs 168 pounds. He has a limp and holds his right hand up in front of his body when he walks, and his right eye is reported to be slightly larger than his left.

Anyone with information can call the Columbia Police Department at (803) 545-3500.

GILBERT

• Sign card for troops while you eat peaches

If you attend the Lexington County Peach Festival in Gilbert today, you can sample multiple peachy treats and sign a thank-you card for troops.

Operation Thank You, a local nonprofit organization, hopes to reach its goal of sending 5,000 thank-you cards to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The group has collected about 4,000 cards since Memorial Day.

The cards will be hand delivered this summer.

Contributing: Staff writers John O’Connor, Carolyn Click and Caroline Smith