A bill that would allow Medicaid recipients with certain types of mental illnesses unrestricted access to the drugs they need passed the Senate Medical Affairs subcommittee Tuesday.

People with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression will not have to get prior approval to receive medications that aren't on the state's preferred drug list, which is expected to get federal approval this summer.

Mental health advocates and doctors were pleased with the decision. They had spoken against restricting medications, saying the drugs aren't interchangeable and limiting drug availability could be detrimental to patients' health.

The S.C. Department of Health and Human Services is concerned that by exempting mental illness drugs from the preferred drug list, the state's ability to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies would be hindered. and the state could lose out on more than $2 million.

The bill should go before the full Medical Affairs Committee next week.

Shaw Brigadier General Tapped For Higher Rank

Brig. Gen. Robert J. Elder Jr. has been nominated to the rank of major general while serving as the vice commander of the 9th Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base.

Elder has commanded a wing, group, squadron and installation in his 27-year career. His experience includes senior leadership positions with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Staff, Air Combat Command staff and NATO.

The U.S. Senate must approve the Defense Department nomination.

A command pilot with more than 3,900 flying hours, Elder holds a doctorate in engineering from the University of Detroit.

The 9th Air Force comprises six wings in the eastern United States, including the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw.

The 9th Air Force has more than 350 aircraft, and 26,000 active-duty and civilian personnel. The command is also responsible for 30 Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units.

Blythewood teen killed in New Mexico crash

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. A South Carolina teenager was killed Monday night when the car he was driving hit a concrete wall at an I-25 exit ramp, police said.

"The vehicle appears to have been traveling at an extremely high rate of speed," said Detective Jeff Arbogast of the Albuquerque Police Department.

Kevin Ashley Komar, 16, of Blythewood was transported to an Albuquerque hospital where he was pronounced dead, Arbogast said.

Komar failed to negotiate a curve on the off-ramp and overcorrected after the car left the roadway, Arbogast said. The car then hit the wall and overturned. Komar was thrown from the car.

The passenger in the car, Benjamin Serrano, 15, of Albuquerque, was treated for minor injuries.

Man convicted of baiting, hunting doves

A Cayce man on Tuesday was convicted of baiting a dove field and shooting doves over bait.

Franky Westmoreland, 53, faces a maximum 18-month prison term and $20,000 fine. He has not yet been sentenced.

Officers from the state Department of Natural Resources said they found sunflower seed, milo and other grains that lure doves on a field on Harmon Road in northern Richland County on Aug. 29, 2001. The officers took a sample of the bait and photographed the field, prosecutors said.

On Sept. 1, 2001, the opening day of dove season, officers again checked the field, where five hunters had gathered. Westmoreland had a dove and admitted that he had baited the field, prosecutors said.

During trial, Westmoreland said his son had shot the dove and that he put soybeans on the field for deer to eat.

Westmoreland's previous record includes a conviction for hunting doves over bait on the same field and for shooting ducks after hours in January 2002.

Eight share reward in store manager's death

AUGUSTA Eight people who helped convict two men who robbed and killed the manager of a Sam's Club and left his body in South Carolina have split a $400,000 reward.

Lawyers said the eight agreed to divide the money instead of contesting in court who gave the most valuable information that led to the November 2001 convictions of Carlston W. Coleman and Ronald Coleman Jr., who are serving life in prison.

"We just can't get into jurors' minds," attorney Clay Ward said.

Wal-Mart Inc., the parent company of Sam's Club, offered a reward shortly after the body of David Holt, 45, of Cayce was found in the trunk of his burned-out car in North Augusta the morning of June 21, 1998. The reward grew to $400,000 by the time the Colemans were indicted in January 2001.

Five people who testified and three others who gave investigators information filed claims for the reward money.

A judge's order allows Keith Remkus, Sharonna Wadley, Brenda Wadley, Christopher Thompkins, James Smith and Timetrius L. Williams to receive $62,167 each. Terry Vinson and Luereathea Vinson Inson each received $12,500, according to court documents. All but $2,000, Wal-Mart's court cost, was paid.

Widow of DUI victim gets MADD media post

SPARTANBURG A woman whose husband was killed by a man convicted of drunken driving seven times is the latest to join the campaign against drunken driving.

Belva Howard has moved from a grieving widow to an activist and public face for the anti-drunken driving movement in South Carolina.

Allan Howard, 42, was killed a year ago in an accident with Jerry James Carruth.

Carruth was sentenced in January to 21 years in prison after pleading guilty to felony drunken driving resulting in death.

The state's Mothers Against Drunk Driving chapter recruited Belva Howard as a media spokeswoman and trained her as a volunteer victim advocate.

She will represent MADD with victims and their families in the criminal justice process.

Howard will accompany them to court, refer them to government agencies for help and assist in the emotional healing.