Lattimore films PSA for SC Education Lottery
Former Gamecock running back Marcus Lattimore returned to Williams-Brice Stadium not for football, but to film a South Carolina Education Lottery “Play Responsibly” ad, The State reported.
Paula Harper Bethea, director of the South Carolina Education Lottery said Lattimore was chosen to appear in the public service announcement because he is so highly respected and recognizable in South Carolina.
The ad encourages South Carolina residents to play the lottery responsibly, with Lattimore drawing parallels between safe gambling and safe football play.
Lattimore, who was recently drafted to the San Francisco 49ers, was paid $20,000 for one 30-second and one 15-second commercial, which will air on television for a year.
Money from the South Carolina Education Lottery goes toward a variety of educational programs, including college scholarships.
— Maxwell Bauman, Copy Desk Chief
Haley family reports $284k in 2012 income
More than a third of South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and First Gentleman Michael Haley’s income came from the governor’s book sales in 2012, The State reported.The Haleys released their tax returns Monday, showing $284,226 in income and $130,000 in charitable donations. $120,000 of those donations went to Haley’s charity, the Original Six Foundation, which aids local communities. The remainder was donated to Mount Horeb United Methodist Church in Lexington.The Haleys paid $36,490 in state and federal taxes in 2012 after applying the $11,471 refund they were due toward their tax liability.
Haley’s gubernatorial salary of $106,078 and $109,481 in book profits, her husband’s $68,667 South Carolina National Guard salary and interest from an investment made up the family’s 2012 income.
— Amanda Coyne, Editor-in-Chief
Smart phones increase Internet access in state
More than a fifth of South Carolinians over the age of 3 do not have a home computer and more than a third have a computer but no home Internet access, The State reported.
The percentage of smart phone users over the age of 15 in South Carolina mirrors the national average of 48.2 percent, however, bridging a gap of Internet access especially associated with minority communities. A report found that African Americans and Hispanics use smart phones at a much higher rate than computers.
Smart phones increase access to the Internet for lower-income people because they can buy access as they need it or can use public Wi-Fi, a spokeswoman for Connect South Carolina told The State.
— Amanda Coyne, Editor-in-Chief