DSS officer resigns
Lillian Koller, director of the Department of Social Services, resigned Monday, calling her role as head of the agency a “distraction,” according to The State.
Koller resigned the day before the state senate was to take a vote on her leadership role, which was expected to be a no-confidence vote.
Gov. Nikki Haley released a statement Monday in Koller’s defense.
“Today, as she has every day since coming to South Carolina, Lillian has put the well-being of the children of our state above her own,” Haley said in a statement. “We have been lucky to have her, and I will continue to be proud of Lillian, the work she’s done at DSS, and most of all, that I can call her my friend.”
DSS deputy state director for economic services Amber Gillum will serve as interim director until Haley appoints a full-time director to the post.
Lt. Gov. to officially resign
Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell will resign Thursday, according to The State.
McConnell said Monday that he doesn’t think the post should stay vacant for very long. However, John Courson, senate president pro tempore and the next in line for McConnell’s job, said he would prefer to stay in his current capacity and have more legislative power.
Until a new permanent lieutenant governor is elected in the fall, Courson will oversee the office.
But McConnell said the state needs someone dedicated to the office for responsibilities that cannot be performed by a legislator, such as ratify bills approved by the General Assembly, present a budget to the governor and sign employee leave requests.
“I can’t change the Constitution of the state,” McConnell said. “we need to have a lieutenant governor.”
McConnell will become president of the College of Charleston in July.
Cops investigate farm equipment thefts
Law enforcement officers are searching for answers regarding several farm equipment thefts across South Carolina, according to The State.
South Carolina citizens have seen a string of thefts recently, as trailers, farm utility vehicles, zero-turn lawnmowers and all-terrain sport vehicles have disappeared from farms around the state, according to the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office Monday.
A Newberry County Sheriff’s Office press release said stolen farm items can be taken to neighboring towns and sold for lower prices.
The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office suggests keeping farm equipment away from highways when unattended, recording and storing equipment serial numbers, calling 911 immediately in the event of any suspicious activity and keeping equipment away from easily accessible roadways.
General Assembly passes budget, bans texting
The General Assembly officially passed a $24 billion state budget Wednesday after negotiating a budget deal, according to The State.
The budget deal was approved a day before legislators returned home for the year, and included a 2 percent pay raise for state employees and an expansion of education funding.
Legislators built in $180 million for Governor Nikki Haley’s education proposals, including money for reading coaches and classroom technology. The budget also included an expansion of 4-year-old kindergarten programs in some districts.
The Assembly also compromised on money for local governments. Though the Senate had proposed decreases, legislators agreed to fund at last year’s levels. Lawmakers also gave final approval to a statewide ban on texting while driving Wednesday.
The law would not ban hands-free devices or texting while lawfully parked. Exceptions would also allow the use of a global positioning system or summoning emergency help. Violators would face $25 fines. If enacted, the legislation would make South Carolina the 44th state to establish the ban.
Both the budget and the texting ban now await Governor Haley’s approval.
Massive alligator released after 2 visits to Hilton Head
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is investigating a local alligator wrangler’s decision to release a 12-foot alligator into the New River Sunday, reported The State.
Joe Maffo of Critter Management reported that the gator was the largest he had encountered in his 32 years on Hilton Head Island. He estimated that it was more than 50 years old and weighed over 1,000 pounds.
It had been the massive animal’s second visit to Hilton Head in as many days. Maffo caught the gator Saturday morning and released him for the first time to Skull Creek.
According to DNR officials, Maffo violated protocol dictating that nuisance alligators should be killed rather than relocated.
Nearby residents admonished Maffo’s actions, protesting that locals often use the area for crabbing, fishing and swimming.