A South Carolina primer-y

  February 21, 2016

By Kathleen Parker   CAMDEN, S.C. — Out on the hustings, people often ask me: “Can you explain South Carolina?” I just shake my head. It’s complicated, I say. The…

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

The crash of 2016?

  February 15, 2016

By Robert J. Samuelson   You cannot understand the vulnerable state of the U.S. and global economies — and nervous stock markets — without coming to grips with the crash…

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

The crash of 2016?

  February 15, 2016

By Robert J. Samuelson   You cannot understand the vulnerable state of the U.S. and global economies — and nervous stock markets — without coming to grips with the crash…

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

Hillary’s golden tongue

  February 15, 2016

By Kathleen Parker   PALM BEACH, Fla. – As speaking fees go, Hillary Clinton’s allegedly scandalous $200,000 per engagement is chump change compared with Donald Trump’s $1.5 million. But, of…

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

Hillary’s golden tongue

  February 15, 2016

By Kathleen Parker   PALM BEACH, Fla. – As speaking fees go, Hillary Clinton’s allegedly scandalous $200,000 per engagement is chump change compared with Donald Trump’s $1.5 million. But, of…

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

Short-Term Energy Outlook

  February 11, 2016

Highlights    North Sea Brent crude oil prices averaged $31/barrel (b) in January, a $7/b decrease from December and the lowest monthly average price since December 2003. Brent crude oil…

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

Short-Term Energy Outlook

  February 11, 2016

Highlights    North Sea Brent crude oil prices averaged $31/barrel (b) in January, a $7/b decrease from December and the lowest monthly average price since December 2003. Brent crude oil…

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

Should you outsource CMO duties? 

  February 10, 2016

By Kelly Coulter   5 situations where an outsourced CMO is the best investment you can make Your Chief Marketing Officer has a big job. She works with senior leadership…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: headlines, marketing-and-communications

Deficits … who cares?

  February 8, 2016

By Robert J. Samuelson   Just how far have budget deficits drifted off the radar screen of presidential politics? Here’s one indicator: Last week, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO)…

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

Oh, Donnie boy

  February 8, 2016

By Kathleen Parker   If you ask Donald Trump fans what they like about him, there’s an excellent chance they’ll say, “Because he’s not politically correct.” But this is only…

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

National Defense Briefs

  February 4, 2016

By W. Thomas Smith Jr.   NATIONAL DEFENSE BRIEFS is a series produced by National Defense Consultants, LLC, aimed at informing readers with timely military and homeland security news updates,…

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

National Defense Briefs

  February 4, 2016

By W. Thomas Smith Jr.   NATIONAL DEFENSE BRIEFS is a series produced by National Defense Consultants, LLC, aimed at informing readers with timely military and homeland security news updates,…

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

Out of State Drivers Pay 30 Percent

  February 3, 2016

By Bill Ross, Executive Director of the South Carolina Alliance to Fix Our Roads   This past week the Senate Finance Committee met to discuss the status of a bill to…

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

What’s behind the stock selloff?

  February 1, 2016

By Robert J. Samuelson   Capitalism has always been an epic struggle between risk and reward, and the easiest way to understand the present turmoil in world stock markets is…

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

Bonfire of the vulgarities

  February 1, 2016

By Kathleen Parker   At first it seemed too weirdly awful to be true, but there she was: Sarah Palin standing next to Donald Trump last Tuesday and endorsing him…

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

What is the stock market saying?

  January 25, 2016

By Robert J. Samuelson   Just whether the sharp selloff of stocks signals an economic slowdown or recession is an open question. Most economists seem to think not. Strong job…

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

Nikki Haley’s righteous gamble

  January 25, 2016

By Kathleen Parker   By broad consensus, the winner of Thursday night’s GOP debate was Donald Trump, followed by Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, with most of the post-game commentary…

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

State of the State Address

  January 20, 2016

As Prepared for Delivery by Governor Nikki Haley Wednesday, January 20, 2016 The Statehouse, Columbia   Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen of the General Assembly, constitutional officers and my…

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

South Carolina REALTORS® release December market data

  January 18, 2016

South Carolina REALTORS® (SCR) released its December 2015 real estate market reports. The data reveals that the South Carolina housing market wrapped up the year on a positive note, with increases in both…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc   Category: headlines, residential-real-estate

Not dead yet

  January 14, 2016

By Kathleen Parker   Reports of Jeb Bush’s political death may be greatly exaggerated. Not only is Bush essentially locked in a statistical tie for second place in New Hampshire,…

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

The next recession?

  January 12, 2016

By Robert J. Samuelson   It’s hard not to wonder: Is the stock market telling us something? True, the market’s record in forecasting recessions is horrendous. Stocks often move according…

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

The “hollowing” of the middle class?

  January 11, 2016

By Robert J. Samuelson   We’ll be hearing a lot about the middle class in the coming months. That’s one sure bet for 2016, as both parties compete for votes.…

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

Obsessed with guns

  January 11, 2016

By Kathleen Parker   It is axiomatic that congressional Republicans will oppose anything smacking of “gun control,” which may as well be read as “Your mama.” Thus, it comes as…

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

Speech Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. January 5, 2016

  January 6, 2016

Forty years ago the citizens of Charleston gave me the great honor and opportunity to serve them as your Mayor.  Tonight, I wish to thank them and all of you…

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

How Trump does it

  January 4, 2016

By Robert J. Samuelson   Welcome to what I’ve called “the politics of self-esteem.” By this, I mean that increasing numbers of people, on both the right and left and…

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

Can we talk?

  January 4, 2016

By Kathleen Parker   When President Obama addressed the nation following the terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, he reiterated the call to resist animus toward Muslims. This was a familiar…

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

Top Ten SC Leaders in 2015

  December 29, 2015

By Alan Cooper Publisher, MidlandsBiz   The following is a recap of comments that I made on the South Carolina Business Review with Mike Switzer.   It has been an…

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

‘Liftoff’ at the Fed

  December 28, 2015

By Robert J. Samuelson   Barring an unforeseen calamity, the Federal Reserve will raise short-term interest rates this week. Among Fed watchers, this is known as “liftoff.” The analogy is…

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

Women in combat put men at risk

  December 28, 2015

By Kathleen Parker   Crickets. This was the sound of America reacting to news earlier this month that all military positions, including ground combat, will be opened to women. It…

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

Holiday Office Etiquette

  December 16, 2015

By Brian Maynor   When it comes to mixing work with food and gifts there are some special rules you need to remember. It’s been long established that sharing a…

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

The multinational tax muddle

  December 14, 2015

By Robert J. Samuelson   Whoever wins the White House next year will have to deal with an issue of almost-impenetrable complexity and contentiousness: How to tax multinational companies? On…

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

The few, the foolish

  December 14, 2015

By Kathleen Parker   As the Islamic State amped up attacks around the world, the Pentagon responded by bravely announcing that American women will now be put in direct ground…

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

Wordless News

  December 11, 2015

By Maria Fabrizio   The story here: Assisted reproduction for dogs may yield benefits for their species and ours         Wordless News is a project by illustrator + designer Maria…

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

16 Customers Whose Business You Don’t Want

  December 7, 2015

By Mike DuBose and Blake DuBose   Whether you are part of the retail, wholesale, or service spheres, any business leader, owner, or employee who deals regularly with customers knows…

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

Generational warfare, anyone?

  December 7, 2015

By Robert J. Samuelson   An enduring puzzle of our politics is why there isn’t more generational conflict. By all rights, younger Americans should be resentful. Not only have they…

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

The pathology of Trump-itis

  December 7, 2015

By Kathleen Parker   Surely he’s finally gone and done it now. Donald Trump, insulter extraordinaire, was bound to cross a line too far. Two days before Thanksgiving, he made…

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

Wordless News

  December 5, 2015

By Maria Fabrizio   The story here: The San Bernardino shooting is the second mass shooting today and the 355th this year         Wordless News is a project by…

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

SCDOT reviews flood damage & costs with SCDOT Commission

  December 3, 2015

Interim SCDOT Secretary Christy A. Hall reported the damage costs to South Carolina’s Highway System as a result of the 1,000 year flood stands at $137 million. Of that $137…

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

Crazy is as crazy does

  November 30, 2015

By Kathleen Parker   One week, Beirut and Paris; the next week, Mali. The nightmare is young. Where next? The pace and threat of terror seem to have picked up,…

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

Education is Key to Financial Health

  November 30, 2015

By Curtis M. Loftis, Jr. South Carolina State Treasurer   As State Treasurer, I believe that achieving a strong financial future for our children is crucial to achieving a strong…

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

Why Fannie and Freddie survived

  November 23, 2015

By Robert J. Samuelson   One of the most interesting and uncovered stories these days is the survival of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — the giant housing entities created…

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

True Trump

  November 23, 2015

By Kathleen Parker   DES MOINES, Iowa – You can’t drive far in these parts without seeing Ben Carson on a billboard, looking more like a man of the cloth…

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

The war against ExxonMobil

  November 15, 2015

By Robert J. Samuelson   If you care about free speech, you should pay attention to the campaign now being waged against ExxonMobil. More than 50 environmental and civil rights…

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

Bushes unleashed

  November 15, 2015

By Kathleen Parker   If the truth sets us free, then Bush family members should be warbling from rooftops. At least one Bush, patriarch George H.W. Bush, has been singing…

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

National Defense Briefs

  November 13, 2015

By W. Thomas Smith Jr.   NATIONAL DEFENSE BRIEFS is a series produced by National Defense Consultants, LLC, aimed at informing readers with timely military and homeland security news updates,…

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