Stock market turmoil and the global debt trap
October 22, 2014By Robert J. Samuelson Six years after the onset of the financial crisis, the world still has too much debt. The total in 2013, according to the McKinsey Global Institute,…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, op-ed
Bears and wolves find a voice in the wilderness
October 22, 2014By Kathleen Parker If politicians preying upon your attentions this season fail to inspire, you might seek common cause with the beasts — the four-legged variety rather than those…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, op-ed
Mike Crapps, Chair of the Lexington County Penny for Progress Commission
October 15, 2014On November 4, 2014, the citizens of Lexington County will have the opportunity to address an important question regarding the Penny for Progress in Lexington County. The Penny for Progress…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: headlines
Finding ways to fix our roads, five years after the stimulus
October 12, 2014
By Richard Eckstrom S.C. Comptroller You’ve probably heard much discussion lately about the condition of South Carolina’s roads and bridges, and how to fund their repairs and maintenance. Policy-makers agree…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines
Finding ways to fix our roads, five years after the stimulus
October 12, 2014
By Richard Eckstrom S.C. Comptroller You’ve probably heard much discussion lately about the condition of South Carolina’s roads and bridges, and how to fund their repairs and maintenance. Policy-makers agree…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines
Mullikin briefs White House officials in the West Wing, leads historic Hike in S.C.
October 9, 2014
CAMDEN, SC – Attorney, professor, and global expedition leader Tom Mullikin was in Washington, last month, where he attended a series of meetings with private sector stakeholders, lobbyists, and senior governmental…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: headlines
Columbia City Council – October 7, 2014
October 9, 2014By Temple Ligon Council met last Tuesday, October 7, on two occasions. Its work session ran from roughly 2:00 p.m. until a little before 6:00 p.m., and then there was a regularly…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: government, headlines
The Plain Facts About the Lexington County Penny
October 9, 2014By Tiffany Boyce-Heitzman It’s a shame that the opponents of the Lexington County “Penny for Pavement” continue to intentionally confuse the voters about the proposed one penny capital projects…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: government, headlines, op-ed
National Defense Briefs – October 8, 2014
October 8, 2014
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. National Defense Briefs is a series aimed at informing readers with timely military and homeland security news updates, trends, definitions, and short commentaries. Defense…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, military
National Defense Briefs – October 8, 2014
October 8, 2014
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. National Defense Briefs is a series aimed at informing readers with timely military and homeland security news updates, trends, definitions, and short commentaries. Defense…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, military
Going for the “Flow” to Maximize Productivity
October 6, 2014
By Mike DuBose with Blake DuBose Over the years, I’ve noticed that when a topic truly interests me, I can become fully immersed in writing articles about it. I…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, headlines
Beer & Wine: Comparison Of Popular Brands
October 2, 2014
By Alex Hillsberg “If you can’t drink it, don’t cook with it,” so said the late celebrity chef, Keith Floyd, about using wines to flavor food. If the guy…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines
Our shared battle against mental illness
October 1, 2014
By Richard Eckstrom SC Comptroller Some of my earliest public service was serving on the board of the Greenville County Mental Health Center — including as its chairman…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines
National Defense Briefs – September 30
October 1, 2014
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. National Defense Briefs is a series aimed at informing readers with timely military and homeland security news updates, trends, definitions, and short commentaries. Defense…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, military
Doing Business the Eleanor Roosevelt Way
September 25, 2014
By Jen Lawrence Eleanor Roosevelt wrote “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” While she was encouraging personal boldness, the message is also applicable to corporate life. In 2010,…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, headlines
But will it sell cheese?
September 22, 2014By Ken Gasque Have you seen the ABC program Shark Tank? If you are interested in business, marketing and branding you will enjoy the Shark Tank. Each program has…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, headlines, marketing-and-communications
Across the country, transparency movement sees progress – and daunting setbacks
September 21, 2014
By Richard Eckstrom S.C. Comptroller One of the keys to quality government is the ability of citizens to see how decisions are made and how tax dollars are spent.…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines
National Defense Briefs – September 17, 2014
September 17, 2014
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. National Defense Briefs is a series aimed at informing readers with timely military and homeland security news updates, trends, definitions, and short commentaries. Defense…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, military
Lessons from Hugo
September 17, 2014
By Richard Eckstrom S.C. Comptroller It’s been a quarter century since South Carolina felt the wrath of Hurricane Hugo, but it remains a defining moment for our state.Shortly…
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National Defense Briefs – September 12, 2014
September 12, 2014
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. National Defense Briefs is a series aimed at informing readers with timely military and homeland security news updates, trends, definitions, and short commentaries. Defense…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, military
Battlefields & Board Rooms: More Cultural Transformations in a South Carolina Company
September 9, 2014By Rick Davis In a previously published article in South Carolina Business magazine, a publication of the South Carolina Chamber, I described three cultural transformations that Elliott Davis underwent…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, law
The benefits of shopping locally can’t be overstated.
September 8, 2014
[row] [col col=8] By Richard Eckstrom S.C. Comptroller When we spend our money at locally-owned businesses, we’re often reinvesting in our community. The dollars spent at local stores, shops,…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: government, headlines
New Threats for a New Era: Protecting Your Personal and Business Security Online
September 5, 2014
[row] [col col=8] By Mike DuBose and Blake DuBose Some might say that thieves have it a lot easier these days. Why rob a bank with a gun in…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, headlines
Fifty Years after the Civil Rights Act; What’s New with Title VII
September 3, 2014
By Cherie Blackburn This summer marked the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, legislation first introduced by President John F. Kennedy in response to the growing…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, law
Countries With Best Customer Service: Current Trends & How CRMs Improve Client Satisfaction
August 29, 2014Last March, Bloomberg reported the number of jobs reached a record pre-recession peak at 116.1 million, even surpassing the U.S.Labor Department’s projections. The economy seemed to be picking up however gradually.…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines
NFL could always use another dose of sportsmanship
August 25, 2014
By Richard Eckstrom SC Comptroller I’m always excited to see Clemson or USC athletes ascend to the NFL, but it was particularly thrilling to watch former Gamecock quarterback Connor…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines
Columbia City Council holds a regularly scheduled meeting
August 20, 2014By Temple Ligon At Columbia City Council last Tuesday night, August 19, three major issues dominated the meeting. First was the city employee and retiree health care plan, something…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: government, headlines
College Students 5 Times Likelier to be Identity Theft Victims
August 14, 2014Facebook Messenger’s latest privacy settings strike fear in college students. What these students don’t realize is that Facebook Messenger’s supposed invasion is the least of their concerns when it comes to privacy…
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S.C. attorney addresses ABA on Africa
August 11, 2014
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Environmental attorney Tom Mullikin delivered a presentation via teleconference last month to members of the American Bar Association (ABA) and the ABA’s Africa Committee; the…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: headlines, law
The case for low taxes
August 11, 2014
By Richard Eckstrom They boast about how they “bring home the bacon.” They take credit for new buildings, new parks and new programs for which they’ve secured public funding. But…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines
The case for low taxes
August 11, 2014
By Richard Eckstrom They boast about how they “bring home the bacon.” They take credit for new buildings, new parks and new programs for which they’ve secured public funding. But…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines
National Defense Briefs – August 5
August 5, 2014
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. National Defense Briefs is a series aimed at informing readers with timely military and homeland security news updates, trends, definitions, and short commentaries. Defense…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, military
National Defense Briefs – August 5
August 5, 2014
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. National Defense Briefs is a series aimed at informing readers with timely military and homeland security news updates, trends, definitions, and short commentaries. Defense…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, military
Gangs a threat to S.C., but tide may be shifting
July 30, 2014By Nathan Rosenberger Guest contributor COLUMBIA, SC – Gangs and gang-related violence are a growing problem in S.C. When-and-how the tide of gang activity will be stemmed seems to…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: education, headlines, on-the-move
Apollo 11 an achievement worth remembering
July 28, 2014
By Richard Eckstrom, S.C. Comptroller July 21 marked the anniversary of one of America’s great triumphs. Forty-five years earlier, the eyes of a nation were transfixed to their black and…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: government, headlines
Apollo 11 an achievement worth remembering
July 28, 2014
By Richard Eckstrom, S.C. Comptroller July 21 marked the anniversary of one of America’s great triumphs. Forty-five years earlier, the eyes of a nation were transfixed to their black and…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: government, headlines
South Carolina’s Employment Situation June 2014
July 21, 2014
Unemployment Rate Unchanged for Second Consecutive Month COLUMBIA, SC – The state’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate held firm at 5.3 percent in June, reflecting no change since April. An estimated…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: government, headlines
South Carolina’s Employment Situation June 2014
July 21, 2014
Unemployment Rate Unchanged for Second Consecutive Month COLUMBIA, SC – The state’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate held firm at 5.3 percent in June, reflecting no change since April. An estimated…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: government, headlines
City Council Meeting , July 15
July 16, 2014By Temple Ligon Child safety and civil liberties Debate heated up over Ordinance #2014-038, which establishes minor children play zones in city parks. Minor children are identified as those…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: government, headlines
Voterheads Weekly Update – July 14
July 14, 2014This week in local government, the City gets busy approving projects for the new fiscal year. What are some of the interesting ones? The Fire Chief is concerned about all…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: government, headlines
Voterheads Weekly Update – July 14
July 14, 2014This week in local government, the City gets busy approving projects for the new fiscal year. What are some of the interesting ones? The Fire Chief is concerned about all…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: government, headlines
Wheaton College Order Changes Landscape of Contraceptive Mandate for Religious Nonprofit Organizations
July 9, 2014
Jim Rourke Nexsen Pruet, LLC Last Thursday, while many of us were preparing for the long weekend ahead, the U.S. Supreme Court was hard at work, issuing an order that…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: headlines, law
Wheaton College Order Changes Landscape of Contraceptive Mandate for Religious Nonprofit Organizations
July 9, 2014
Jim Rourke Nexsen Pruet, LLC Last Thursday, while many of us were preparing for the long weekend ahead, the U.S. Supreme Court was hard at work, issuing an order that…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, law
What Does 2034 Look Like? What We Can Expect from the Next 20 Years
July 9, 2014
By Mike DuBose with Blake DuBose . At a recent roundtable meeting with business leaders on technology and the future, we were stunned to hear the successful owner of ten…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: headlines
Columbia City Council meeting, Tuesday, June 24
July 6, 2014By Temple Ligon City council moves ahead with $35 million bond sale On two different occasions, the Richland Library needed a public referendum to go ahead with construction. The…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: government, headlines
July 6, 2014
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. National Defense Briefs is a series aimed at informing readers with timely military and homeland security news updates, trends, definitions, and short commentaries. Defense…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, military
July 6, 2014
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. National Defense Briefs is a series aimed at informing readers with timely military and homeland security news updates, trends, definitions, and short commentaries. Defense…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: headlines, military
Richland County Month in Review: June
July 2, 2014The following are highlights from Richland County Government in June: To encourage recycling and the proper disposal of hazardous waste and other household materials, Richland County released two videos produced…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: government, headlines
Voterheads Weekly Update – June 30
June 30, 2014Should the West Columbia Police Chief be allowed to campaign for office? Should the Town of Blythewood have money to spend next year? Should Richland County create a new Commission…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: government, headlines
The Global Corner – In and Out
June 24, 2014By Jerry Smith A couple of weeks ago, I was sitting on a porch overlooking the Charleston Harbor at a channel passage directly across from Ft. Sumter. What I…
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