Articles by Jeffrey Collins

With 13 New Members, SC Senate Could Tackle Joint Liability, Liquor Insurance

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — With the largest number of newly elected members at least since World War II, Republican South Carolina Senate leaders are thinking about tackling some issues like tax reform and liquor liability insurance that have long been …

South Carolina Drunk Driver Who Hit Bride on Wedding Day Sentenced to 25 Years

A woman who admitted to drinking and who was driving well over twice the speed limit when she smashed into a golf cart, killing a bride who had just got married at a South Carolina beach, was sentenced Monday to …

‘Firehose’ Storm Hits North Carolina and Scientists See Climate Change

The Carolinas early this week braced for a storm that forecasters warned could bring heavy rain — as much as 6 to 8 inches in some spots. But one narrow band got a “firehose” that dumped as much as 20 …

Family of Carolina Woman Killed by Falling Utility Pole to Get $30M Settlement

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The family of a South Carolina woman struck in the head and killed by a rotting 70-year-old utility pole will get $30 million through a wrongful death settlement reached Thursday. Electric company Dominion Energy, which installed …

Close Call at South Carolina Bridge as Out-of-Control Freighter Loses Power

A large cargo ship lost control of its engines and went nearly full throttle through a South Carolina harbor Wednesday, prompting the closure of one of the busiest bridges in the state. Harbor pilots were able to help the nearly …

SC’s Top Officer: No Details on 2012 Hack That Forced $12M in Cyber Insurance

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Twelve years after a hacker stole personal data from more than 3.6 million people in South Carolina by obtaining Social Security numbers and credit card information from tax returns, the state’s top police officer said Wednesday …

Murdaugh Sentenced to 40 Years for Stealing Insurance, Other Funds from Clients, Firm

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — For maybe the last time, Alex Murdaugh, in a prison jumpsuit instead of the suit he used to wear, shuffled into a courtroom Monday in South Carolina and was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison. …

FBI: Murdaugh Lied About Where Stolen Money Went and Who Helped Him Steal

Convicted killer Alex Murdaugh didn’t tell the truth when FBI agents repeatedly asked him where more than $6 million he stole ended up and whether another attorney not yet identified helped him steal from clients and his law firm, federal …

Murdaugh Denied New Trial After Judge Hears Jury-Tampering Claims

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina judge on Monday denied Alex Murdaugh’s bid for a new trial after his defense team accused a clerk of court of tampering with a jury. Judge Jean Toal said she wasn’t sure if …

South Carolina Education Chief Wants Police to Have Maps of Schools for Response

GILBERT, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s top education official plans to ask lawmakers for $5 million to put a digital map of every school in the state online and make those maps immediately available on police officers’ mobile devices as …