Across South Carolina

Republicans propose government changes

COLUMBIA -The governor would appoint some statewide officers who are now elected and the governor and lieutenant governor would run on the same ticket under a state government restructuring proposal announced Wednesday by the state's top Republicans.

The South Carolina Government Restructuring Act also would give the governor greater flexibility to move Cabinet agency programs and functions from one department to another. It would greatly reduce the size of the Budget and Control Board, and create a Department of Administration as a Cabinet-level agency.

COLUMBIA -Consumers would get new tools to fight identity theft under a bill the Senate approved Wednesday.

The Consumer Identity Theft Protection Act would let consumers get free credit reports and court help when they discover that someone has fraudulently used their identification to get credit.

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"For those people who have had their identity stolen, they can expect to have some assistance and hopefully it won't take them several years - which is what happens now - to redeem their good name," said Sen. Linda Short, D-Chester, and the bill's sponsor.

Rally seeks to restore funding for education

COLUMBIA -About 500 educators, parents and students gathered at the Statehouse on Wednesday, asking lawmakers to restore education funding by raising the state sales tax by 2 cents on the dollar.

The push comes as legislators try to figure out how best to fund education in one of the tightest budget years in recent memory. Educators say they need about $2,200 a year per student from the state, but House budget writers have allocated only $1,643 per pupil for next school year because of a $400 million shortfall.

Man is charged in his wife's slaying

CHESNEE -A man has been charged with killing his wife after a deputy responding to a 911 call found her body inside a vehicle, authorities say.

When Spartanburg County Deputy J.C. Hudson arrived at the home Tuesday morning, Mitchell Eugene Wall, 49, was walking out.

"'I came to turn myself in. My wife and I got into it.... I stabbed her,"' Deputy Hudson said Mr. Wall told him. "'She is dead in the car."'

--From the Thursday, April 17, 2003 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle