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…

Read More

Posted in: midlandsbiz   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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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

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…

Read More

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

I took the bus!

  February 9, 2016

By Alan Cooper   It took 15 years of living in Columbia, SC, but I can now officially say that I took the bus. Stop the press. I took the…

Read More

Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: government, headlines, transportation

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)…

Read More

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…

Read More

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,…

Read More

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,…

Read More

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

What is your role in the family business?

  February 3, 2016

By Edward W. Kramer, CFP®   Family businesses often have competing goals of the family and the business because the family side of the company (i.e., members of the family)…

Read More

Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, banking-and-finance, headlines

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…

Read More

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

Bombers, Blowfish, and Fireflies

  February 2, 2016

By W. Thomas Smith Jr.   Bombers, Blowfish, and Fireflies. If you’re a baseball fan, you probably know something of the history and evolution of our city’s minor-league baseball teams.…

Read More

Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: headlines, sports

Bombers, Blowfish, and Fireflies

  February 2, 2016

By W. Thomas Smith Jr.   Bombers, Blowfish, and Fireflies. If you’re a baseball fan, you probably know something of the history and evolution of our city’s minor-league baseball teams.…

Read More

Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: headlines, sports

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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

Good Credit Can Save You Money!

  January 27, 2016

Surprising Ways to Improve Your Personal and Business Scores By Mike DuBose and Blake DuBose   Many people don’t know that their credit history defines many aspects of their financial…

Read More

Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, headlines

Construction in the Midlands – Build or Bust!

  January 26, 2016

By Eddie Weaver President, Weaver Systems, Inc.   Everyone knows how hard the construction industry was hit by the economic downturn in 2008. Jobs were lost. Companies went bankrupt. Development…

Read More

Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: construction, headlines

Construction in the Midlands – Build or Bust!

  January 26, 2016

By Eddie Weaver President, Weaver Systems, Inc.   Everyone knows how hard the construction industry was hit by the economic downturn in 2008. Jobs were lost. Companies went bankrupt. Development…

Read More

Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: construction, headlines

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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

New Hire Scavenger Hunt: A Fun Way to Engage New Hires

  January 24, 2016

By Matt Vaadi   You spend so much time trying to find that right person. You phone screen, you interview, you interview again, you background check, you call the references,…

Read More

Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: business-services, employment, headlines, op-ed

National Defense Briefs

  January 22, 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,…

Read More

Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: headlines, military

Winter Weather Set to Move across Midlands this Weekend

  January 22, 2016

Richland County residents are asked to stay alert of changing weather conditions as winter weather moves across the Midlands this weekend. Richland County is not under a winter weather watch…

Read More

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

National Defense Briefs

  January 22, 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,…

Read More

Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: headlines, military

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…

Read More

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

City Council Convenes

  January 20, 2016

By Temple Ligon    Columbia City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting last Tuesday night, January 19, following an afternoon work session. One of the big events at the work…

Read More

Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: headlines

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,…

Read More

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…

Read More

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.…

Read More

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…

Read More

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

The Affordable Care Act brings change for employers in 2016

  January 7, 2016

By Molly A. Thomas, RP®   Becoming familiar with the proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act and its rules and regulations will help employers understand how the Affordable Care…

Read More

Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: banking-and-finance, headlines, health-care

Grilled Salmon with Balsamic Glaze

  January 7, 2016

By Kay MacInnis   With the New Year, most of us have a few resolutions that we have set for ourselves. However, more than half of us give up on…

Read More

Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: food, headlines, life

Construction in the Upstate – The Comeback Kid

  January 5, 2016

By Keith Smith   Everyone knows how hard the construction industry was hit by the economic downturn in 2008. Jobs were lost. Companies went bankrupt. Development stalled. It wasn’t just…

Read More

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

City Manager’s Spotlight – January 2016

  January 4, 2016

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…

Read More

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

Rising Costs and Limited Options for Columbia Office Tenants

  January 4, 2016

Research & Forecast Report Q4 2015 COLUMBIA | OFFICE   Key Takeaways The Columbia, South Carolina office market ended 2015 with positive absorption for the quarter and the year, increased…

Read More

Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: construction, 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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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

9 Tips: Financial safety online

  December 17, 2015

By Stephen J. Scott   We continue to hear about major retailers and governments having large data breaches. Security threats are growing as we continue to spend more of our…

Read More

Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: banking-and-finance, headlines