State Senate blocks plan to eliminate health scores
The state Senate blocked a plan Tuesday that would eliminate scores of public health, safety and environmental rules, according to The State.
State senators sent the legislation back to committee for further study, which diminishes the bill’s potential to pass.
The bill would kill more than 100 regulations within the Department of Health and Environmental Control. The regulations include those protecting air quality and overseeing how radioactive waste is handled.
State Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens, convinced the body not to approve the bill, The State reported.
The bill comes after DHEC officials, as well as officials from the state Department of Labor and Licensing and Regulation, expressed concerns about the legislation.
According to DHEC Director Catherine Templeton, the state senate made the right decision, because, she said, killing regulations with little review is a bad idea.
Taxpayers may pay the price for Devine’s mistake
City Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine said she made a mistake on a loan a decade ago that could cost taxpayers almost $158,000, according to The State.
Devine has been accused of mishandling a federally funded loan, which involved Carolina Procurement Institute, for borrowers with whom she had a professional relationship and who she represented in the closing.
Devine told The State Tuesday that she did make a mistake — was failing to have the mortgage notarized, which she said is not an uncommon misstep in real estate transactions. She said she had notified her malpractice insurance carrier after hearing about questions about the paperwork earlier this year.
City Council met to discuss the situation in a closed-door meeting Wednesday at City Hall. Devine said she would not attend the meeting, as she had long-standing plans to attend an out-of-state conference that day.
Staley to coach American U18 national team
Women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley has signed on to coach the U.S. women’s under-18 basketball team this summer at the FIBA Americas championship, according to ESPN.
Two assistant coaches will join Staley: Louisville coach Jeff Walz and Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico.
Should the team advance to the tournament’s final four this summer, the team will qualify for the U19 World Championship next year.
Staley won three medals while playing for the U.S. national team and also coached the 2007 Pan American Games, in which the American team won gold.
“I appreciate every opportunity I have to work with USA Basketball, an organization that I’ve worked with for almost half my life,” Staley said. “I’m honored to be chosen and look forward to a different experience working with such a young group of athletes but in an organization I’m very familiar with.”