USC satellite campus to ban smoking and tobacco products
USC Beaufort will become tobacco-free on Jan. 1, 2015 exactly one year after the flagship university made the switch, The State reported.
At least 10 other South Carolina schools, the fifth-largest tobacco-growing state, already ban smoking or tobacco products, as well as 975 colleges and universities nationwide. These schools include USC Sumter and USC Upstate, and USC Aiken is planning to make the switch in July 2015.
USCB has allocated $1,000 to help offer programs and products around campus to help end tobacco cravings.
USCB surveyed 450 students and 60 percent support a tobacco-free campus, and 87 percent of 100 faculty members surveyed support a tobacco-free campus. Of all survey participants, both students and faculty members, 95 percent believe secondhand smoke harms their health.
Rock Hill man pleads guilty to sexual assault, sentenced to 20 years in prison
Syledrian Brooks, 25, of Rock Hill pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a 5-year-old girl Monday, The State reported.
Brooks has been in jail since he was arrested just under a year ago, and Judge Lee Alford sentenced him to 20 more years after he admitted to the crime.
“I just want to tell my family that I love them,” Brooks said in court.
According to officials, Brooks raped the child when he was babysitting her last year.
Candidate and former House speaker formally withdraws from House race
Former House Speaker Bobby Harrell has formally withdrawn from his re-election campaign, WIS reported. This announcement comes just under a week after he pleaded guilty to mishandling campaign funds.
“Pursuant with the court agreement, I am informing you that I am withdrawing from the 2014 election and resigning my office in the South Carolina House of Representatives at 5 p.m. today,” Harrell said in a letter to the State Election Commission.
Harrell’s name will still be listed on the ballot, but election officials say he is not eligible to win the race. Voters in Harrell’s district, District 114, will be told at the ballot box that the former candidate is now ineligible.
Harrell was expected to face Democrat Mary Tinkler.