Campaign donors and political parties will face greater scrutiny under campaign finance reform legislation signed into law Thursday by Gov. Mark Sanford.

Under the new law, political parties must disclose soft money contributions; political action committees will be unable to transfer money for state campaigns among themselves; and lobbyists will face more restrictions on donations.

"This is a giant step forward in bringing accountability to government," said Sanford, who campaigned for reform and more disclosure in his 2002 election.

Lawmakers have been working on campaign finance bills for years, but their efforts typically have stalled in the Senate. Former Gov. Jim Hodges vetoed a similar bill in November 2000, saying it was unconstitutional and would encourage frivolous lawsuits.

A similar reform bill died last year when the Senate adjourned without adopting a compromise.

Usc Board Approves Latest Tuition Increase

The University of South Carolina's board of trustees gave final approval Thursday to a 15 percent tuition hike for this fall, joining many other state schools that have already raised the cost of attending college.

The increase was inevitable, officials say, because of a recent 9.8 percent cut in state dollars going to the school. The cut totals about $14 million.

The increase adopted Thursday raises the price of attending USC by $362 per semester for in-state undergraduates, from $2,412 to $2,774.

Out-of-state students will pay $7,443 per semester, compared with $6,472 in the last academic year.

Clemson University has raised tuition by about 19 percent and South Carolina State University approved a 12 percent increase for this fall.

USC trustees also approved a plan to charge an $80-per-credit-hour fee if students sign up for more than 16 hours, the normal full-time class load per semester.

Red Bank post office to be named for Spence

A post office in Lexington County will be named in honor of the late U.S. Rep. Floyd Spence, R-S.C.

The U.S. Senate passed a bill Wednesday night designating the facility at 1830 S. Lake Drive in Red Bank the "Floyd Spence Post Office Building."

The location is the main postal headquarters for the town of Lexington and surrounding areas.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill, which was introduced by Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., in March.

Spence died in 2001 at age 73 after surgery to remove a blood clot on the brain. He had served 31 years in Congress.

Columbia man charged in carjacking

A Columbia man has been charged in the carjacking of a woman whom police said he once dated.

Jermaine Johnson, 21, of 4510 Colonial Drive, is accused of carjacking the woman on April 18. Richland County deputies are looking for him.

The woman, who has not been identified, gave Johnson a ride in her 1995 Pontiac Sunfire on her way to deposit $6,568 from her employer, Circle K, on St. Andrews Road, said sheriff's spokesman Joseph Pellicci.

The woman told police she picked up a friend after Johnson made her nervous.

Johnson made threatening comments and made the woman drop off her friend, Pellicci said. Afterward, Johnson pulled a gun and forced the woman out of her car on Bauer Circle.

Johnson drove off with the money, Pellicci said. Deputies found the car a couple of days later a few miles from Bauer Circle.

Call the Sheriff's Department at (803) 576-3000 or Crimestoppers at (888) 559-8477 with information about Johnson.

From staff and wire reports