TheSunNews.com: Breaking News

Late-season hurricane takes aim at US Gulf Coast

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:29 EST

Hurricane Ida, the first Atlantic hurricane to target the United States this year, plodded Sunday toward the Gulf Coast with 105 mph winds, bringing the threat of flooding and storm surges.

A hurricane warning extended more than 200 miles of coastline from Pascagoula, Miss., east to Indian Pass, Fla. Tropical storm warnings and hurricane watches are in effect across other areas of southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, including New Orleans. Louisiana's governor declared a state of emergency.

Authorities said Ida could make landfall as early as Tuesday morning, although it was forecast to weaken by then. Officials and residents kept a close eye on the Category 2 hurricane as it approached, though there were no immediate plans for evacuations.

One killed in one-vehicle crash in Georgetown County

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:58 EST

One person has died as a result of a one-vehicle crash this afternoon in Georgetown County, according to highway patrol officials.

The incident happened around 12:30 p.m. on Wedgefield Plantation, which is 3 1/2 miles north of Georgetown, when the driver of a Toyota Camry traveling east on Wedgefield Road ran off the roadway and struck a tree, said Lance Cpl. Sonny Collins with the S.C. Highway Patrol.

Georgetown County's emergency manager Sam Hodge has identified the person as Brenda Johnson, 63, of Georgetown.

Health care overhaul faces stone wall in Senate

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:04 EST

The glow from a health care triumph faded quickly for President Barack Obama on Sunday as Democrats realized the bill they fought so hard to pass in the House has nowhere to go in the Senate.

Speaking from the Rose Garden about 14 hours after the late Saturday vote, Obama urged senators to be like runners on a relay team and "take the baton and bring this effort to the finish line on behalf of the American people."

The problem is that the Senate won't run with it. The government health insurance plan included in the House bill is unacceptable to a few Democratic moderates who hold the balance of power in the Senate.

Jimmie Johnson wrecks on 3rd lap in Texas

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:14 EST

Jimmie Johnson crashed on the third lap of the NASCAR race at Texas, where he was trying to move closer to an unprecedented fourth consecutive Sprint Cup season championship.

He returned to the track on lap 115 in a rebuilt car.

Johnson was coming out of the Turn 2 on the third lap Sunday when Sam Hornish got loose after apparently being tapped by David Reutimann.

Court order reveals details on how SC couple died

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:44 EST

A court order declaring a South Carolina couple dead provides more details pointing to a suspect as their likely killer and dispels notions that they disappeared on their own, a newspaper reports.

The Island Packet of Hilton Head reported Sunday that the order issued Oct. 22 by a DeKalb County, Ga. probate judge came in response to a request from the heirs of John and Elizabeth Calvert: David White, Elizabeth's brother, and Nancy Calvert, John's aunt.

The case was handled in Georgia because, while the Calverts lived on a house boat moored in Harbour Town, they were permanent residents of Atlanta.

Army: Fort Hood shooting suspect is critical, but stable

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:55 EST

A U.S. Army spokesman says the man authorities say went on a shooting spree at Fort Hood is in critical but stable condition.

Spokesman Col. John Rossi told reporters on Sunday at Fort Hood that Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is still hospitalized in Texas. He was taken off a ventilator on Saturday.

Hasan was shot during an exchange of gunfire during Thursday's attack. The military moved him on Friday to Brooke Medical Center in San Antonio, about 150 miles southwest of Fort Hood.

SC missing out on unemployment benefits money

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:49 EST

South Carolina is missing out on nearly $100 million in federal stimulus dollars for unemployment benefits, and it will be months before jobless residents see the money, if at all.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reported Sunday that the money is intended to cover more women and part-time and low-wage workers who currently don't qualify for unemployment checks.

In South Carolina, the changes could provide another nearly 17,000 jobless residents with benefits.

21-year-old, logger in World Series of Poker final

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:47 EST

A 21-year-old professional poker player from Michigan hit a lucky king to cap a nearly impossible comeback at the World Series of Poker Sunday morning, setting up a showdown with a self-employed logger for $8.55 million.

Joe Cada of Shelby Township, Mich., dodged elimination several times during the longest no-limit Texas Hold 'em main event final table in history. Cada - who at 123 hands into the session held just 1 percent of the chips in play - could become the youngest series champion ever in the finale Monday night.

"Luck always helps," Cada said. "I'll take all the luck I can get."

Mug shot Monday: Horry County booking blotter (Oct. 25-31)

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:16 EST

Ida brushes past Mexico, watch issued for U.S. coast

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:22 EST

Hurricane Ida swiped the resort city of Cancun on Sunday with bands of wind and rain as it steamed north toward the Gulf of Mexico, where officials issued a hurricane watch for coastal Louisiana and Mississippi.

Gusts of wind whipped palm trees and fishermen pulled their boats in and tied them down along Mexico's Caribbean coast as rain and strong waves moved ashore in Cancun and neighboring Puerto Juarez. Tourists, meanwhile, tried to continue vacationing as usual despite the Category 1 storm.

"I figure probably in a couple hours we'll be stuck inside," said Julie Randolph, 40, a social worker from Ormand Beach, Florida, who braved the rain to jog along the near-empty beach.

Lowe's offers Veterans Day discounts to military

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:13 EST

Lowe's home improvement stores are offering a special 10 percent discount to military personnel and retirees over the Veterans Day holiday.

A statement from the Mooresville, N.C., firm says the company is offering the discount on in-store and special order purchases up to a maximum of $5,000. The offer starts Sunday and lasts the week. Veterans Day is Wednesday.

The company says only people from the active duty ranks, reservists, honorably discharged and retired military men and women with valid identification or proof of service are eligible.

Weather | Five-day forecast for Myrtle Beach area

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:05 EST

Myrtle Beach man charged with apartment murder

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:36 EDT

Police have issued an arrest warrant for a Myrtle Beach man in connection with a homicide last month.

Michael Anthony York, 36, is charged with the Sept. 24 murder of 58-year-old Perry Haze Ledford, according to Myrtle Beach police Capt. David Knipes.

Chamber attorneys file motion to compel in “Elmer Fudd” case

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:01 EDT

Attorneys for the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce filed a motion Friday to compel The Sun News to turn over registration information about a Web site commenter known as “Elmer Fudd'' a day after a motion was filed protesting the release of that information.

“I expected him to object, to take some type of action because he or she doesn't want to be identified. This was not totally unexpected,'' said Cherie Blackburn, an attorney for the chamber. “We want to

Autopsy confirms soldier died of swine flu

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:39 EDT

MCT REGIONAL NEWS

The State, Columbia, S.C.

Restaurant inspections: How do they stack up?

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:27 EDT

Department of Health and Environmental Control food inspectors spend at least an hour in each business they inspect and use a 42-item, 100-point checklist.

An A grade is 88-100, a B is 78-87, and a C is 70-77. Follow-up inspections are conducted as necessary. Thirteen priority items, when found deficient, must be corrected within 10 days.

In Horry and Georgetown counties, routine inspections, noted with an R, are unannounced.