Sanford censured over his cheating, his use of planes

Published Dec. 17, 2009 at 12:51 p.m.
S.C. lawmakers voted Wednesday to formally rebuke Gov. Mark Sanford, again sparing him from impeachment over secret trips to see his Argentine mistress and his use of state planes.

The House Judiciary Committee unanimously agreed to censure the Republican governor for bringing "ridicule, dishonor, disgrace and shame" to the state. The scathing reprimand has no practical effect on Sanford's ability to govern for the 13 months that remain in his term, but legislators insisted they were not giving him a pass.

The unanimous vote for censure followed an 18-6 rejection of an impeachment measure. Committee members agreed with a subcommittee decision a week earlier that Sanford's missteps did not warrant removal from office before his second and final term ends in January 2011...-- Associated Press

Meck briefs

Charlotte

A Charlotte-based foundation announced Wednesday it has selected three students as winners of a new college scholarship fund for middle school students from low-income schools.

The Friedland Foundation scholarship winners are Tirre Bardlavens of John Taylor Williams Middle School; Jaylon Stockton of Bishop Spaugh Community Academy; and Ja'Nay Bucholtz of Eastway Middle. Bardlavens won a full scholarship for four years to a state school of his choice. Stockton won $2,000 a year for four years, and Bucholtz will receive $1,500 annually for four years.

Schools will receive application forms for the scholarship in January, and the deadline for the 2010 scholarship awards is Feb. 15. Winners will be announced in May. -- Steve Lyttle

Regional briefs

Raleigh

North Carolina's 6,100 lottery retailers will now get more than publicity when someone wins a big jackpot at their stores - they'll get cash, too.

The N.C. Education Lottery Commission voted Wednesday on giving retail outlets bonuses of up to $50,000 when they sell the top winning tickets for a pair of twice-weekly multistate numbers games, including Powerball and the Mega Millions game that could start late next month.

A sold jackpot ticket for the nightly Carolina Cash 5 could earn a retailer $10,000.

Lottery executive director Tom Shaheen said he hopes the incentives will encourage retailers to be more assertive in highlighting the lottery in their stores and suggest that customers consider a premium ticket, such as buying a $2 multistate ticket instead of the regular $1 ticket, which boosts potential prizes. -- Associated Press

North Carolina continues to collect less tax money than lawmakers expected when they crafted this year's budget.

But agencies and services don't yet face cuts because of money set aside by Gov. Bev Perdue.

The legislature's top staff economist said this week the state has taken in $110 million less than expected over the first five months of the fiscal year, through Nov. 30.

That's 1.5 percent below expectations, or the same proportion as in October.

Perdue has withheld up to 5 percent of funds in some agencies to handle shortfalls. -- Associated Press

Greensboro

An 11-year-old boy found and returned a stolen purse with nearly $2,000 inside.

The (Greensboro) News & Record reported that Edward Myers and his siblings were helping neighbors plant trees in a city park when he spotted a purse on the creek bank.

The Boy Scout and his mother called the police, and the purse's owner showed up to collect.

The owner told police her car was broken into on Thanksgiving. Police say the thief took $30 out of the main billfold but missed $1,900 in another compartment before flinging the purse into the creek.

The owner rewarded Edward with one of the $100 bills. He gave $40 of it to his mother and spent the other $60 on a Carolina Panthers jersey. -- Associated Press

Winston-Salem

Attorneys for a man charged with kidnapping and killing the student body president of UNC Chapel Hill have asked to move the federal trial out of state.

WRAL reported Wednesday that attorneys for Demario James Atwater filed a request Friday to move the trial, citing extensive media coverage they believe has corrupted any potential jury.

Atwater faces five federal charges in the death of 22-year-old Eve Carson of Athens, Ga. Carson was taken from her Chapel Hill home and watched as hundreds of dollars were withdrawn from her bank account at several ATMs. She was later shot five times, including once in the head with a 12-gauge shotgun.

Atwater faces the death penalty. He and another defendant also face state charges. -- Associated Press

Lenoir

U.S. 321 near Lenoir has reopened after being closed more than a week due to fears of a rockslide.

All lanes of U.S. 321 were closed Dec. 7, effectively blocking motorists from driving between Lenoir and Blowing Rock on U.S. 321. That road is heavily used by motorists to reach Appalachian State University and North Carolina's ski resorts.

Officials say boulders along a section of U.S. 321 were loosened Dec. 3, during blasting as part of a road-widening project. After inspecting the blast area, engineers decided that several boulders needed to be removed from the slope, for safety reasons.

The N.C. Department of Transportation has asked contractors to postpone additional blasting work until Jan. 5, to prevent any road closures during the holidays. -- Steve Lyttle

South Carolina

Columbia

State troopers kicked off their annual driving-under-the-influence crackdown by giving away 15 vehicles to police departments across South Carolina.

The 13 agencies that received the 13 Dodge Chargers and two that received Chevrolet Tahoes on Wednesday have to qualify by doing monthly DUI enforcement and other activities.

The state Public Safety Department says about 200 agencies participated. -- Associated Press

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