The state’s economy is on an upward trend, with revenues increasing and jobs slowly coming back, members of the state Board of Economic Advisors said Monday.

Gross general fund revenue increased about $252 million — or 5 percent — in the fiscal year that ended June 30 from 2002-2003. The $612 million in general fund revenue in June was 11.3 percent higher than the same period last year.

That includes an unexpected $4.8 million the state received as part of a national settlement with nine of the country’s largest investment firms.

• DNR names new law enforcement chief

Alvin A. Taylor of Yonges Island has been appointed to the top law enforcement position at the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, the agency announced Monday.

Taylor, 51, has been with the law enforcement division of the natural resources agency since 1977. He replaces Alvin Wright, who retired in early July after 33 years with the agency.

Taylor, who has been promoted from major to colonel, recently supervised the DNR statewide boating safety and hunter education programs and the agency’s coastal marine law enforcement operations.

Taylor was born in Mullins and is a 1976 graduate of Clemson.

• GOP leaders voice support for Haley

State Republican leaders gathered Tuesday in Lexington to support Nikki Haley, the GOP nominee in House District 87, in her race against an independent candidate.

After defeating two opponents in a primary and runoff, Haley thought she would be unchallenged in November. But Lexington attorney Rich Bolen gathered more than 1,200 signatures, which, if verified, will place him on November’s ballot.

GOP leaders, including U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson and state party chairman Katon Dawson, gave their support — and a $5,000 check — to Haley’s campaign.

“We are a team,” House Speaker David Wilkins said. “Nikki will make us stronger.”

Bolen said with so many other races in November, it was odd that Republicans would worry so much about him.

• Death of Charleston airman investigated

CHARLESTON — A 37-year-old airman died while conducting an inspection on a C-17 at the Charleston Air Force Base, a base spokesman says.

The Air Force is investigating the death of Tech. Sgt. Joseph Gardner III of Eight Mile, Ala., said Lt. Bryan Lewis, a spokesman for the base.

Gardner was pinned under the spoiler on the wing of the aircraft about 5:30 a.m. Sunday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gardner, who joined the Air Force in 1988, belonged to the 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

Officials say it was the first on-duty death at the base in the past 25 years.

• Traffic stop turns into 13-hour standoff

SPARTANBURG — A standoff that began at 8 a.m. ended almost 13 hours later with the hostage escaping and the suspect being taken by ambulance to a hospital.

A bulldozer smashed a hole through the side of the building around 8:30 p.m. At the time, the suspect and hostage were thought to be inside a cooler in the store.

Television cameras showed the hostage escaping and the suspect being carried to a waiting ambulance.

Police had closed off an area around a convenience store after a man running from a traffic stop took an employee hostage, investigators said Monday.

The incident started at 8 a.m., said Spartanburg Public Safety Lt. Steve Lamb. The driver, who officers said had a gun, got out of the car and ran into a Fast Point store, Lamb said.

At around 6 p.m., five shots were fired through the front door of the building, Spartanburg Public Safety Capt. Randy Hardy told WSPA-TV in Spartanburg.

A SWAT team surrounded the store and negotiators were talking with the suspect and the woman employee inside the store. Some nearby businesses were evacuated.

A police robot carried a cell phone into the building.

Police have spoken with the woman and she is uninjured. Signs posted inside store windows asked police to restore power to the building.

Dewonna Brandon, who works at the store and lives nearby, said she was supposed to start her shift at 10 a.m. Brandon said the woman who was held captive was her supervisor, Sarah Patel, who was supposed to be working the 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. shift.

From Staff and Wire Reports