South carolina News

Strict Hand-Held Cellphone Ban in Effect in Greenville

South Carolina’s toughest law on using cellphones while driving is now on the books in Greenville. The law takes effect Tuesday. It bans drivers from using any hand-held devices while a vehicle is in operation, including talking on a cellphone. …

South Carolina Senior Living Community Accused of Negligence

Relatives of four current and former residents of a home for seniors in Florence, S.C., say the staff neglected and mistreated their family members. The Morning News of Florence reports an attorney has filed four lawsuits involving residents’ treatment at …

South Carolina Governor Seeks Storm Disaster Declaration

State forestry officials say last month’s winter storm damaged $360 million worth of trees in South Carolina. The Forestry Commission said Wednesday that about 1.5 million acres of land in a 70-mile wide swath across the state was heavily damaged …

South Carolina Legislation Proposes Digital Proof of Insurance

A bill on Gov. Nikki Haley’s desk would allow South Carolina drivers to use their smartphone in a traffic stop to prove they have insurance. While TV commercials suggest officers already accept electronic proof, South Carolina is not among the …

South Carolina Drivers Could Restore Suspended Driving Privileges

Some South Carolina drivers with suspended licenses will get a chance later this month to have their driving privileges restored. From March 10 to 14, the Department of Motor Vehicles will reduce or clear certain suspensions if all fines are …

South Carolina Winter Storm Causes Close to $120M in Damage

Figures are still being added but it appears damage from the recent winter storm meets the threshold for declaring much of South Carolina a federal disaster area. Derrec Becker of the state Emergency Management Division says officials are confident damage …

Esurance to Hire 450 in New South Carolina Office

Esurance, the direct-to-consumer insurance company, will open a new sales and claims office in Greenville, S.C., this summer that will employ up to 450 South Carolina residents. The insurers said job openings will include inside sales positions that can offer …

South Carolina Expects Potholes After Winter Storm

South Carolina transportation officials are expecting a rash of potholes from two rounds of winter weather over the past two weeks. Melting water seeping through cracks in the pavement is the chief culprit. That water can freeze, expanding and creating …

High-Risk South Carolina Health Insurance Pool Members Hire Attorney

A laptop stolen from an auditor’s car contained the personal information of more than 3,400 members of a high-risk insurance pool set up in South Carolina for those unable to find coverage because of a medical condition, an attorney hired …

Laptop With Data of South Carolina Health Insurance Pool Customers Stolen

Officials with the South Carolina Health Insurance Pool are investigating the theft of a laptop that contained Social Security numbers and names of people participating in the program, which provides insurance to people with pre-existing conditions. In a news release …