Dept. of Juvenile Justice Officer Accused of Inmate Sexual Assaults

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) -- On Friday, a 28-year-old officer at the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting two inmates.

Officials say Gary Whisonant, reportedly had sex multiple times with an inmate between Aug. 1 and Sept. 23 and inappropriately touched another inmate at the Birchwood Campus.

Whisonant, who was fired on Thursday, faces charges of sexual misconduct with an inmate, assault and battery, and two counts of misconduct in office.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Deer Collisions on the Rise for South Carolina Drivers

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) -- Drivers are advised to be wary of deer crossings, according to a State Farm report. The insurer has found one in every 140 drivers in South Carolina will have a collision with a deer over the next 12 months, according to ABC News Columbia affiliate WOLO-TV.

There was an average of one to two deer related crashes per week during this time in 2010. This year there have been as many as five deer related crashes per week, according to Nate Toth, an estimator with John Harris Auto Body Shop in Columbia,

The chances of crashing into a deer is highest between the months of October and December, during mating season, according to State Farm.

State Farm reports that drivers should take caution by being alert for deer crossing signs, not attempting to swerve out of a deer’s path, and by being mindful that where there's one there is likely to be more, since the animals often travel in herds.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Senator Lindsey Graham Defends Rick Perry

(WASHINGTON) -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, R- S.C., came out in defense of Rick Perry on radio’s The Mike Gallagher Show Wednesday, saying the Texas governor is not racist and that Southerners are used to attempts to “intimidate” over issues of race.

When asked if there is a bullying factor involved in the criticism of Perry, Graham noted there is “an intimidation factor, you better believe it. You know, if you’re a Southern white guy, this is part of your life.”

“Rick Perry is not a racist,” Graham said, when discussing efforts to remove Confederate symbols from state buildings. “Rick Perry has produced jobs in Texas in a very impressive way. He is a good man, and this is not going to work.”

In addition to a Washington Post story about a racial epithet that was once displayed at the hunting camp Perry frequented -- which Perry had painted over years ago -- the candidate has faced criticism this week for his 2000 defense of a plaque with a Confederate symbol in the Texas state Supreme Court building. Then-Governor George W. Bush initially defended the plaque, as well, but ultimately had it removed and replaced with a new plaque bearing a more inclusive message.

In 2000, the NAACP waged a campaign to remove all Confederate symbols from government buildings, and Texas and South Carolina were two of the targeted states.  A Confederate flag flew atop the South Carolina Capitol dome until 2000, when the state legislature voted to move the flag to a different location, but it still sits on the statehouse grounds at the Confederate War Memorial.

“The NAACP has said that’s not good enough,” Graham said. "They’re trying to boycott sporting events in South Carolina and, you know what, it’s falling on deaf ears.”

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Continental Tire to Build Plant in South Carolina

(CHARLESTON, S.C.) -- On Thursday, the Continental Tire Company announced that they chose to build their first U.S. tire plant in South Carolina.

The new $500 million plant will be located in Sumter and is expected to bring nearly 1,700 jobs to the area.

South Carolina beat out several states under consideration, including their neighbor, North Carolina. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said the investment, which will result in 5 million tires being produced by 2017 and 8 million by 2021, is a win for the state.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

DuPont Opens $500 Million Newly Expanded Plant in North Carolina

(GOOSE CREEK, S.C.) -- DuPont Co. announced Thursday that it will start up production at its newly expanded $500 million Cooper River Kevlar facility, ABC News Charleston affiliate WCIV-TV reports.

The Cooper River plant will produce Kevlar, a fiber used to produce everything from tires and bullet proof vests to combat helmets.

The state-of-the-art technology at the plant will allow DuPont to meet increased customer demand for advanced protective materials around the world, and will increase overall global production capacity for Kevlar by 25 percent initially, with expectations to grow by 40 percent.

"As the global population grows, there will be even more critical need for protection materials to keep people safe and to protect the environment, structures and critical processes," said Thomas G. Powell, president, DuPont Protection Technologies. "After more than 40 years, the proven performance of Kevlar continues to create significant new opportunities where the combination of lightweight strength and other unique properties enable new designs, increase reliability and save more lives."

Commercial supply is slated to begin by the end of 2011.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio