2018 State of the City Address – “The Smarter City”

  January 31, 2018

Here is the full speech that Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin’s delivered at Columbia College in the Cottingham Threater.   Good evening, members of City Council, City Manager, neighborhood & business…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: government, headlines, on-the-move

Billy Newsome launches Newsome Law, P.A.

  January 30, 2018

After 25 years practicing law at one of South Carolina’s largest law firms, Billy Newsome has opened his own practice, Newsome Law, P.A. Newsome has a Masters in Tax Law…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: headlines, law, on-the-move

Billy Newsome launches Newsome Law, P.A.

  January 30, 2018

After 25 years practicing law at one of South Carolina’s largest law firms, Billy Newsome has opened his own practice, Newsome Law, P.A. Newsome has a Masters in Tax Law…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: headlines, law, on-the-move

State of the State Address 2018, Governor Henry McMaster

  January 24, 2018

Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the General Assembly, Constitutional Officers, and my fellow South Carolinians: I begin tonight by recognizing those South Carolinians in uniform no longer…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: government, headlines, on-the-move

Grupo Antolin establishing three separate facilities in Spartanburg County

  January 23, 2018

SPARTANBURG, SC – Grupo Antolin, a designer and manufacturer of components for the automotive industry, is launching new operations in Spartanburg County by establishing three separate facilities. The $50 million…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: economic-development, headlines, manufacturing, on-the-move

Amazon announces candidates for HQ2

  January 18, 2018

Amazon reviewed 238 proposals from across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to host HQ2, the company’s second headquarters in North America. Today, Amazon announced it has chosen the following 20 metropolitan areas to move to the…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: economic-development, headlines, on-the-move

DAODAS launches statewide outreach to combat opioid epidemic

  January 12, 2018

  The South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) has launched a statewide public education campaign to address the opioid epidemic in South Carolina. The Just…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: government, headlines, health-care, on-the-move

United Community Banks and Navitas Credit Corp. announce merger agreement

  January 9, 2018

GREENVILLE, SC – United Community Banks, Inc. and NLFC Holdings Corp. announced a definitive agreement for United to acquire NLFC, including its wholly-owned subsidiary, Navitas Credit Corp. Headquartered in Ponte…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: banking-and-finance, headlines, on-the-move

Tidewater Boats growing its Lexington County operations

  January 3, 2018

LEXINGTON COUNTY, SC – Tidewater Boats, a designer and manufacturer of premier saltwater boats, is growing its Lexington County operations. To accommodate the production of larger models, the company is…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: headlines, manufacturing, on-the-move

Dominion Energy, SCANA announce all-stock merger

  January 3, 2018

Dominion Energy to fund $1.3 billion of cash payments to all SCE&G electric customers within 90 days after closing Estimated additional 5 percent rate reduction from current levels for SCE&G electric…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: energy, headlines, on-the-move

SC Manufacturers Alliance names Sara Hazzard President and CEO

  January 2, 2018

The South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA) announced that Sara Hazzard has been named President and CEO of the organization effective January 1, 2018. “We are excited to welcome Sara Hazzard…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: headlines, manufacturing, non-profit, on-the-move

Municipal Association of SC has a new executive director

  January 2, 2018

The new executive director of the Municipal Association of South Carolina is Wayne George, a former mayor, city council member and state legislator. The Association represents the state’s 271 cities and…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: government, headlines, on-the-move

Modern Recovery for a Modern Addiction

  December 30, 2017

By Rich Jones  CEO, FAVOR GREENVILLE   Governor McMaster’s recent announcement declaring the “opioid crisis” a state of emergency was an important step in addressing the overdose epidemic. Listening to the…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: headlines, health-care, on-the-move

South Carolina’s Employment Situation – November 2017

  December 22, 2017

S.C. business payrolls set record, unemployment rate edges up South Carolina businesses continued to set record job levels in November with manufacturing leading the way by adding 3,800 jobs over…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: employment, government, headlines, on-the-move

Cason Development Group continues Cottontown redevelopment

  December 19, 2017

  Cason Development Group’s revitalization of the Cottontown Commercial District is continuing with four additional buildings along Sumter Street. Cason has acquired 2202 Sumter Street — the former Columbia offices…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: commercial-real-estate, headlines, on-the-move

South Carolina’s first AC Hotel by Marriott opens in Spartanburg

  December 19, 2017

AC Hotels by Marriott, the European-inspired, simplistic, elegant brand for the modern traveler, has announced the opening of AC Hotel Spartanburg, the brand’s first location in South Carolina. Nestled in…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: headlines, hospitality, on-the-move

USC economists say SC economy to remain strong in 2018

  December 10, 2017

Despite a tight labor market and a series of Midlands-area layoffs due to the recent shutdown of construction at the V.C. Summer nuclear facility in Fairfield County, South Carolina’s economy…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: education, headlines, on-the-move

Beware an economic boom!

  December 4, 2017

By Robert Samuelson   We don’t need an economic boom, but that’s what we may be getting. Since the 2016 election, the stock market is up roughly 24 percent, reports…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: headlines, op-ed

Michael Flynn’s holiday cheer

  December 4, 2017

By Kathleen Parker   At least three people must have celebrated the news that former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversation…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: headlines, op-ed

City Manager Spotlight – December 2017

  November 30, 2017

By Teresa Wilson   The City Manager’s Spotlight provides details about what is happening in the City of Columbia in an effort to keep citizens informed about City operations. The…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: government, headlines

Tips for Extending Your Smartphone’s Battery Life

  November 29, 2017

By Mike DuBose and Blake DuBose   Today’s smartphones are extremely versatile and powerful. However, although technology has advanced drastically, one area that still presents a challenge is extending a…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: headlines, telecommunications

Big boxes and small towns

  November 27, 2017

By Kathleen Parker   Even though an estimated 115 million Americans rushed to malls and big box stores for Black Friday sales, others were reporting that the annual spend-a-thon has…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: headlines, op-ed

Top Grossing Movies – November 27

  November 27, 2017

Week of 11/24/2017 to 11/30/2017 Rank Title Rating Distributor Weeks Weekend Locs Weekend Gross Cumulative 1 Coco PG Disney 1 3,987  $50,802,605  $72,908,930 2 Justice League PG13 Warner Bros. 2…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: headlines, on-the-move, the-arts

Trump trade: A dead end?

  November 20, 2017

By Robert Samuelson   Most Americans likely think that our trade policies have been largely the same since the Republic’s earliest days. The assumptions are that we’re free traders now…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: headlines, op-ed

A groper’s gallery of the grotesque

  November 20, 2017

By Kathleen Parker   It seems more than coincidence that the first year of Donald Trump’s presidency coincides with a trend that was heretofore unrecognized — groping. Gropers abound, it…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: headlines, op-ed

Top Grossing Movies – November 20

  November 20, 2017

Theatrical grosses from comScore   Week of 11/17/2017 to 11/23/2017 Rank Title Rating Distributor Weeks Weekend Locs Weekend Gross Cumulative 1 Justice League PG13 Warner Bros. 1 4051  $93,842,239  $93,842,239…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: headlines

Does your handbook keep you covered?

  November 20, 2017

By Georganne Weeks Concept H.R.   There is no law that requires employers to develop and maintain a written handbook or policy manual; therefore, it’s not surprising that many employers…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, headlines

Commander’s Reception and concert held in Camden

  November 15, 2017

By W. Thomas Smith Jr.   Maj. Gen. and Mrs. Thomas S. Mullikin hosted friends and members of the S.C. State Guard (SCSG) at a pre-performance reception prior to a…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: headlines, military, on-the-move

Commander’s Reception and concert held in Camden

  November 15, 2017

By W. Thomas Smith Jr.   Maj. Gen. and Mrs. Thomas S. Mullikin hosted friends and members of the S.C. State Guard (SCSG) at a pre-performance reception prior to a…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: headlines, military, on-the-move

Top Grossing Movies – November 13

  November 13, 2017

Theatrical grosses from comScore   Week of 11/10/2017 to 11/16/2017 Rank Title Rating Distributor Weeks Weekend Locs Weekend Gross Cumulative 1 Thor: Ragnarok PG13 Disney 2 4,080  $57,078,306  $212,068,013 2…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: headlines

Are tax breaks immortal?

  November 13, 2017

By Robert Samuelson   If you want to understand why the tax code is so hard to overhaul, consider the case of the mortgage interest deduction. The issue is so…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: headlines, op-ed

Republicans, pedophiles and polar bears, oh my!

  November 13, 2017

By Kathleen Parker   Desperation seems to be driving Republicans this grateful season as they seek to trade polar bears for tax cuts, while fervently praying that former Alabama Supreme…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: headlines, op-ed

Amazon announces the Best Books of 2017

  November 8, 2017

Amazon.com announced its selections for the Best Books of 2017, naming David Grann’s nonfiction Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI the Best Book of the…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: headlines, on-the-move

Hiring Methods to Minimize Cost

  November 6, 2017

By Georganne Weeks Concept H.R.   Business owners are always under pressure and many don’t understand how poor hiring decisions can result in significant financial loss. Developing good hiring and…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, headlines