Senators spent most of the day in closed-door, small-group sessions Monday in an effort to break a stalemate on the budget.

They face raising taxes or drastically cutting the $5 billion budget, as the state does not expect to collect enough money next year to provide services at this year's level.

Some Republican senators are proposing a plan to temporarily impose a sales tax of 1 cent on the dollar on a lengthy list of items that are now exempt. That list includes newsprint, Bibles, manufactured homes, hearing aids and medical devices, among other items. If the exemptions were lifted for one year, the sales tax could raise about $200 million -- money that some senators would like to see go to education.

However, no one has yet introduced that plan. Two other attempts to meet the education budget by raising the sales tax have already failed in the Senate.

Senators came out of closed-door sessions to meet for two hours Monday evening, taking one vote on whether to raise the per-pupil spending for education to $2,000 from $1,843, the amount proposed by the House. That plan was tabled by a vote of 24-22.

The Senate meets again at 10 a.m. to continue deliberating the budget.

Inmate In Hospital After Cutting Himself

An inmate at the Broad River Correctional Institution was taken to Palmetto Health Richland on Monday after cutting himself.

It was unclear what the inmate used or where he cut himself. George Rice, spokesman for Richland County Emergency Services, said the man was in stable condition as he was on the way to the hospital.

Jon Ozmint, director of the state Department of Corrections, said Monday night that he didn't have information about the cutting.

Army Reserve unit returns home today

The 414th Chemical Company will return to Orangeburg today after serving almost three months in support of the war on terrorism.

The Army Reserve unit mobilized about 125 soldiers Feb. 24, and they reported to their duty station at Fort Stewart, Ga.

The soldiers conducted training and preparation for a pending overseas deployment that never materialized.

The unit's primary mission is to provide nuclear, biological and chemical equipment decontamination for military operations.

Tests ongoing on bone found behind store

Officials are still testing a human leg bone found Saturday behind a convenience store near Providence Hospital.

Richland County Coroner Gary Watts said he might find out today whether the bone was that of a man or a woman. DNA tests could help identify the bone, he said.

Officials have searched the area, but haven't found other bones. It doesn't appear that the bone had been behind the store for long, Watts said.

Call police at (803) 733-8415 or the coroner's office at (803) 576-1795 if you have information.

Saluda sheriff wants to save DUI task force

Saluda County Sheriff Jason Booth is fighting to save the DUI task force he set up two years ago.

County Council members met Monday to discuss Booth's budget. Booth has been told he could lose the DUI task force because of budget cuts, Chief Deputy William Ross said.

The task force has made 167 drunken-driving arrests since 2001, Ross said.

The task force includes four deputies.

The department has 22 deputies.

Free rides available to VA hospital

Area veterans needing a ride to and from the Dorn Veterans Hospital can take advantage of a new transportation assistance program.

The medical center recently received two vans from Disabled American Veterans, a nonprofit organization that serves veterans. The vans will be driven by DAV volunteers.

The free rides will be available to veterans living in Columbia, Greenville and Chester County areas.

For more information, call (803) 776-4000, ext. 7199.