Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009

The Carolinas | Sanford OK to use funds for legal fees

South Carolina

COLUMBIA

Sanford OK to use funds for legal fees

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has $1.7 million left in his campaign finance account and can use the cash to cover legal fees tied to his ethics investigation.

Cathy Hazelwood is the State Ethics Commission general counsel and said Monday that Sanford's lawyers already have asked the State Ethics Commission if the money can be used for legal fees. Sanford's spokesman referred questions to the governor's lawyers, who did not respond immediately to a message seeking comment.

The commission is wrapping up its probe of Sanford's use of state aircraft for personal and political purposes and other issues. Commission director Herb Hayden says Sanford's lawyers were responding to the final questions Monday. The investigation will be presented to the commission on Nov. 18.

CHARLESTON

Lawmaker questions Boeing on hiring

Black lawmakers want to make sure minorities get a fair chance at jobs at Boeing's new assembly line in South Carolina.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reports state Sen. Robert Ford, a Democrat and member of the Legislative Black Caucus, has written Boeing president Jim McNerney. The company plans to build a North Charleston assembly plant to make 787 jetliners.

Ford says blacks have disproportionately suffered job losses in the state because of the recession. The caucus wants to know about Boeing's hiring plans and its track record of hiring minorities and women.

Boeing expects to create 3,800 assembly jobs and 2,000 construction jobs.

SUMTER

Teacher arrested on underage sex charges

A former South Carolina high school teacher and coach has been arrested after police say he had sexual contact with a 16-year-old female student.

The Item of Sumter reported Monday that 33-year-old Edward Antonio Hubbard is charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor. Hubbard also is charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and disseminating obscene materials. He's accused of showing pornography and giving alcohol to the student. Hubbard resigned as a teacher at Lakewood High School. The newspaper said he had been investigated previously for claims he had a sexual relationship with a student while teaching at another school, but no charges were filed.

ORANGEBURG

Mayor-elect intends to keep police post

A South Carolina mayor-elect says he'll serve in his new role and keep his job as police chief in another town despite an opinion by the state attorney general's office advising against it.

The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg reported Monday that Jim Preacher says dual office holding is not an ethics violation because the election was nonpartisan and not for the same town. He is mayor-elect of Norway and police chief in Ehrhardt.

The state constitution says no person may hold two offices of honor or profit. But it says any office holder may at the same time be an officer in the militia, member of a fire department, constable or notary public.

Attorney general's spokesman Mark Plowden says dual office could be challenged in court.

North Carolina

RALEIGH

Report puts tank cleanup at 25 years

A legislative report says North Carolina's program to clean leaking gasoline and oil from commercial underground storage tanks won't finish for another 25 years at the current rate.

The Legislature's Program Evaluation Division examined the tank program and made recommendations Monday to lawmakers.

The program began in 1985 in response to a federal mandate and concerns that petroleum was entering groundwater from old gas stations. The state created a trust fund to pay for much of the cleanup.

KURE BEACH

Civil War ship identified by agency

A branch of a North Carolina agency has identified the remains of a Civil War shipwreck that burned at sea more than 145 years ago.

The state Underwater Archaeology Branch said Monday that a silver-plated spoon inscribed with the name of a crew member from the CSS Appomattox confirmed the ship's identity.

A four-member diving team discovered the shipwreck in August 2007 in the Pasquotank River. The Appomattox was part of a set of armed steamers that defended northeastern North Carolina waters. Its Confederate crew set the ship on fire in 1862 and fled Union forces.

RALEIGH

Pension funds see 3rd-quarter boost

Rebounding stock markets helped boost returns for North Carolina's public employee pension funds during the third quarter.

State Treasurer Janet Cowell said Monday the retirement systems recorded a 10.4 percent increase during the three months ending Sept. 30.

The North Carolina Retirement Systems benefited from a 17.6 percent increase in its equity portfolio. Cowell said bonds reported a nearly 6 percent increase, but real estate had an 8 percent loss.

Cowell's office invests pension funds for more than 820,000 public workers and retirees in North Carolina, including teachers and state employees.