Lawyers for four TERI employees suing the state’s retirement system filed papers Thursday to have their lawsuit qualified as a class action, covering more than 14,000 employees statewide.

The employees claim the state is violating their contracts by deducting more than 6 percent of their paychecks to put back in the pension plan. TERI employees previously paid nothing.

The TERI program allows employees to defer their pensions while they continue to work for five years after retirement.

LAKE MURRAY

• Beach area guards to get more training

Training of guards who patrol the beach at Lake Murray might improve after complaints alleging inaction during efforts to revive a 20-year-old Columbia man who drowned Sunday.

Currently, guards call in authorities to handle emergencies at the beach.

When the beach reopens next spring, guards may be trained in crowd control and other types of assistance, said SCE&G spokesman Eric Boomhower.

The guards are employees of a security firm hired by SCE&G.

COLUMBIA

• Benedict to host Christian youth

More than 400 young people from around the state will gather beginning this weekend at Benedict College for its annual Young People’s Christian Assembly. The gathering, which attracts youths 12-18 years old, has been going on for 40 years.

The assembly teaches youths about Christian education and how to reach their peers in Christian witness. The gathering runs Sunday through Wednesday.

Call the Rev. John C. Williams at (803) 253-5050 or (800) 868-6598

• Bank donates funds for job training

First Citizens Bank has donated $10,000 for job training programs at the Tower Center, an adult education center operated by the city of Columbia.

The announcement came at a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Arbor Hill community. Arbor Hill, with 30 new town homes, has varying rent levels based on income. The town homes, developed by the city’s TN Development Corp., replaced the dilapidated Center Street Apartments.

RICHLAND COUNTY

• Council vote on funds for parks rescheduled

Richland County Council’s final vote on whether to approve $26 million for new county parks and park improvements has been rescheduled for 6:30 p.m. July 26 at the county administration building, 2020 Hampton St., Columbia.

GAFFNEY

• Man shoots and kills father-in-law, self

A man fatally shot himself after killing his father-in-law and leading police on a chase that began in York County, authorities said Thursday.

Boyd Reinhardt, 34, of Hickory Grove, died from a gunshot wound to the chest, said Cherokee County Coroner Joe Vinesett.

Contributing: Staff writers Jeff Stensland, Tim Flach, Christina Lee Knauss, John Drake, Gina Smith; The Associated Press.