NFIB endorses Graham, Chamber of Commerce may be next
The National Federation of Independent Business endorsed U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham Monday, who may also lock in an endorsement from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, according to The State.
Graham is seeking a third term in the senate and faces six Republican opponents in June.
Graham has a 93 percent voting record with the NFIB, a small-business trade association with about 4,000 members in South Carolina, who praised him for backing the repeal of the estate tax and fighting the Affordable Care Act, among other things.
“Sen. Graham’s record on small business is impeccable,” said Ben Homeyer, South Carolina’s NFIB state director. “He clearly understands the challenges facing South Carolina’s entrepreneurs and small, family businesses, and I have no doubt he’ll continue standing for small business in the years to come.”
Exit exams no longer required to graduate high school
South Carolina will no longer require the high school seniors to take exit exams in order to graduate, according to The Associated Press.
Gov. Nikki Haley recently signed a law replacing the three-decade-old test program. The previous legislation enacted in the 80s requires high school students to pass an exit exam before graduating.
Advocates for children with disabilities have long been fighting for such a bill, saying the High School Assessment Program is sometimes the only thing standing between a disabled student and a high school diploma. Business leaders also supported the bill, saying the exit exams are of little use to them when hiring.
Starting next school year, students will take two tests in 11th grade: ACT WorkKeys, which provides job-skills credentials that can be given to employers, and a college readiness test, which has yet to be selected.
Winning lottery ticket purchased in Columbia
A $400,000-winning Palmetto Cash 5 ticket was bought at a Columbia gas station, according to The State.
“A Palmetto Cash 5 ticket purchased from the Lil Cricket 3879 at 2715 Main Street in Columbia for Friday evening’s drawing matched all five numbers drawn to win $400,000,” said Holli Armstrong, S.C. Education Lottery Spokeswoman. “The ticket holder ‘Powered-Up’ for an additional $1, to see the $100,000 top prize multiplied to $400,000.”
According to Armstrong, more than 5,000 players won prizes ranging between $1 and the $400,000 jackpot. More than 3,000 purchased the extra $1 Power-Up multiplier, which multiplies winnings by four upon being claimed.
More information regarding the lottery can be found at sceducationlottery.com.