House Speaker David Wilkins has created a committee to determine how the state might help prevent military bases closures in South Carolina.

Congress and the president in 2005 are expected to eliminate up to a quarter of the nation's bases. Wilkins said he doesn't believe S.C. bases are particularly vulnerable, but that legislators should find out whether there is anything they can do to make closures less likely here.

Wilkins announced no timeline but said he expected the committee to make a recommendation "as soon as possible."

The committee is chaired by state Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Richland. Its other members are state Reps. Bill Cotty, R-Richland; James Smith, D-Richland; Chip Limehouse, R-Charleston; David Weeks, D-Sumter; and Catherine Ceips, R-Beaufort.

Ozmint Clears First Confirmation Hurdle

The state Senate Corrections and Penology Committee unanimously endorsed Jon Ozmint, a former prosecutor with no prisons experience, to be the new director of the Department of Corrections Thursday.

If he is confirmed by the full Senate, Ozmint plans to explore alternatives to traditional prisons, such as house arrest for nonviolent offenders, and maintain South Carolina's reputation for rehabilitating inmates.

Ozmint is set to take over what several lawmakers have called the hardest job in the state. The agency has seen a quarter of its budget evaporate because of two years of budget cuts.

Senate panel OKs labor director

The Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee approved the nomination of Adrienne Youmans as director of the state Labor Licensing and Regulation Department on Thursday.

Youmans, 49, is the first black woman Sanford appointed to his Cabinet. The agency oversees safety inspections elevators and amusement rides. Her nomination now moves to the Senate floor next week for final approval.

Efforts to mark King Day being heard

A House subcommittee on Thursday approved a bill co-sponsored by state Reps. Fletcher Smith and Karl Allen, both Greenville Democrats, that would require counties to give employees a paid holiday the third Monday in January honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

And S.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal issued a memo this week to the state's circuit and family court judges, advising them that King Day will be among the 12 state holidays that employees will observe.

A recent survey by the South Carolina Association of Counties found that eight counties -- Greenville, Edgefield, Lexington, Pickens, Saluda, Union, Williamsburg and York -- do not observe the holiday.

Democrats deny they are Kerry backers

A top black state senator and a key executive assistant with U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn deny published reports they have endorsed Democratic U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts for president.

The names of S.C. Sen. John Matthews, D-Orangeburg, and Robert Nance, a top aide to Clyburn, recently were given to reporters by House Democratic leader James Smith of Columbia after Kerry's Feb. 2 visit to the state.

Both Matthews and Nance attended a meeting with Kerry at Smith's law office and signed the guest register.

"I guess they assumed from that that I was supporting Kerry, but I'm not," Matthews said.

Smith said it was a misunderstanding on his part and he apologized.

Nance said the Kerry folks acted prematurely in listing him as a supporter. Nance would be considered an important endorsement in that he works for Clyburn, a pivotal player who is expected to deliver a lot of votes. Clyburn, the highest ranking black official in the state, has declared his neutrality.

The S.C. Democratic presidential primary will be held Feb. 3, 2004.