Columbia

Rep. Ted Pitts failed to find enough support among colleagues for a school uniform bill he hoped to push through the 2005 Legislature, but the Lexington Republican says he will revive it next year.

Pitts initially suggested students at schools with below-average or lower ratings should wear uniforms. He saw the requirement as a strategy to get children focused on academics, not fashion, but fellow lawmakers were cool to the idea.

Undaunted, Pitts pledged to come back with a revised law calling for all elementary students to wear uniforms — if he could enlist support from 30 fellow House members.

Pitts said this week the debate over tuition tax credits made recruiting co-sponsors for his education reform idea difficult.

“You have to have a lot of support to tackle a controversial issue like that. I’m not going to give up,” he said.

Darlington

• Guard unit to be recognized at race

Members of an S.C. National Guard unit recently back from Iraq will be honored today as part of the pre-race ceremonies for the NASCAR event at Darlington Raceway.

A “Freedom Salute Ceremony” will be held at 3 p.m. at the Wachovia Hospitality Village and S.C. Guard tent for soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 178th Field Artillery Regiment.

Driver Gregg Biffle is scheduled to sign autographs with the soldiers after the ceremony. The troops returned Feb. 22 from a year’s duty in Iraq.

Clemson

• Developer drops plans for hotel, condo complex

Plans for a hotel and condominium complex have been dropped by the developer after months of negotiations with city officials.

The decision comes after questions about the minimum square footage for the units and retail requirements as part of the complex, said Gary Spillers, president and chief executive of Gameday Centers Southeastern LLC.

Gameday Centers Southeastern had proposed more than 100 sports-themed condominiums at Clemson.

Spillers said the decision to withdraw came because of city requirements to increase the minimum size of one-bedroom units from 450 square feet to 700 square feet and a requirement for a large retail presence in the complex. Spillers also cited the lack of a favorable vote by City Council and the time lost during the negotiations.

Gameday Centers Southeastern has sports condominium projects at Auburn and Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Athens, Ga.

Sumter

• Man gets 30 years in shooting death

A Rembert man has been convicted of murder in the shooting death of a 19-year-old man last year.

Reginald Tyrell Clea, 25, was convicted Thursday in the Feb. 25, 2004, shooting death of James Pollard.

But the nine-woman, three-man jury failed to convicted Clea in the shooting death of John Charles Jackson, 34, the same day Pollard was killed.

Clea was sentenced to 30 years in prison by Circuit Judge Clifton Newman.

Defense attorney John Clark contended the shootings were self-defense.

Clea was arrested after authorities say he shot Jackson three times and Pollard nine times.

Newman cited Clea’s lack of a criminal record and his demeanor during the trial in his decision to grant leniency. Clea could have been sentenced to life in prison.

Contributing: Bill Robinson, Chuck Crumbo, The Associated Press