As a U.S. representative, Mark Sanford opposed extending I-73 to near Charleston. His spokesman says he's still against the idea as governor.

Proponents of extending I-73 have now focused on extending the highway to I-26 in Berkeley County to help bring more development to the Lowcountry and tourists to the Grand Strand.

The highway originally was planned as a Detroit-to-Charleston road, but then-U.S. Rep. Sanford had its southern end changed to Myrtle Beach with a spur running to Georgetown.

Opponents said the road would damage historical or environmentally sensitive lands in Charleston and Georgetown counties.

Sanford hasn't changed his mind since being elected governor, spokesman Will Folks said.

"The governor's position is the same as it was during his term in Congress when he had the law changed," Folks said.

Building I-73 still is a long way off. The road received $3 million in planning money in this year's federal budget.

Penn Center may get financial bailout

The Penn Center's financial woes may soon ease.

Beaufort County officials say they have received word the St. Helena Island community center will get a $838,000 county-matched easement grant.

The U.S. Agriculture Department and the county would each pay $419,000 in exchange for a pledge the Penn Center will not develop 195 acres of its land.

That would go a long way to covering a $812,000 shortfall the Penn Center has in this year's budget.

Beaufort County's portion of the money would come from a $40 million bond referendum earmarked for purchasing land to protect the environment.

Founded 141 years ago as a school for freed slaves, Penn Center has struggled over the years as its mission has changed. In the 1960s, it was a center for the civil rights movement. It's now a conference, day-care and youth center and protector of sea island culture.

Prosecutor probes Front Door check

Officials in Lancaster County have asked a prosecutor to look into pressing criminal charges against Front Door Communications for a $500,000 bad check.

County attorney Randy Sims said he gave documents relating to the Front Door deal to assistant prosecutor Doug Barfield. He said Barfield will determine whether the case should be prosecuted.

Barfield said the fraudulent check statute requires that prosecutors prove there was the intent to defraud.

Sims said the county also could pursue civil charges for breach of contract to get back $637,000 in up-front incentives. He said the county is hoping to avoid the complication and costs of filing a lawsuit and is waiting to see whether Front Door will repay the money.

Company president Robert Davis said he would not comment on Front Door's business.

The Front Door project, announced in October, was touted as the largest business investment in the county since the 1980s. Front Door officials described the company as a start-up that would produce magazines and infomercials.

Front Door officials first said they would invest $150 million and create 1,600 jobs over five years. The company later scaled back its plan to a $30 million investment and 386 jobs when the company opens the Lancaster facility, which it says it plans to do in a year.

In May, the company signed a revised incentive deal with the county to buy 100 acres for its printing, publishing and broadcasting complex from Crescent Resources within 15 business days. It also had to repay the county $500,000 "at the time of closing." Crescent officials say the land has not been purchased, and the $500,000 check written to the county was returned for insufficient funds in late June.

County officials have said Front Door breached its contract when it didn't purchase the 100 acres within the specified time and when the check bounced.

Davis has said he did not think the company was in breach of the contract and said Front Door was working to get financing and planned to repay the county.

The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating whether the $637,000 incentive package was a misappropriation of county funds.

Berkeley work plan ruled unconstitutional

S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster says Berkeley County's former policy of allowing county employees to work on private property was unconstitutional but not criminal.

County supervisor Jim Rozier ended the policy that allowed county workers to fix driveways and do other work on private property when the property owners could not find contractors to do the work.

McMaster said such work is prohibited by the state Constitution, but was not criminal because the county was paid for the work.

"I see no criminal flavor to that conduct, although clearly it is conduct that is prohibited by the Constitution," McMaster told The Post and Courier of Charleston.

Over the past four decades, attorneys general have cited the state Constitution in opinions that public resources may not be used for private purposes.