Treasurer Says US S&P Rating Unlikely to Affect South Carolina

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) -- On Monday, South Carolina treasurer Curtis Loftis said the downgrade of the United State's credit rating by Standard & Poor's on Friday will not likely affect the state.

South Carolina's rating has been AA+ with S&P since 2005 and is AAA with Moody's and Fitch. While waiting for S&P to inform the states of whether they will change their ratings, Loftis reassured South Carolinians by saying a downgrade would not affect the state because South Carolina practices fiscal responsibility.

South Carolina's credit ratings put it among the top 15 highest-rated states.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

USC Expecting Largest Freshman Class Ever

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) -- When classes begin at the University of South Carolina on August 18, it is expected that the school will be welcoming its largest freshman class ever.

USC officials say approximately 4,550 students will make up the class, which has been described as the "university’s biggest and brightest freshman class." The school says the incoming class has a projected average SAT score of 1198, the highest ever for the university. The freshman group is also said to consist of more African Americans, as compared to the incoming class from last fall, according to a report by The State; and more South Carolina residents than past classes.

"We’re educating more South Carolinians than ever before, and the quality of this class is stellar," University President Harris Pastides said in a statement.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

House Committee Subpoenas NLRB Boeing Documents

(WASHINGTON) -- A U.S. House committee subpoenaed documents from the National Labor Relations Board in their lawsuit against Boeing's plans to build a South Carolina airplane plant.

The committee has been conducting an investigation into the NLRB's claims that Boeing built the factory in South Carolina, where workers are not forced to join a union, in response to strikes in Boeing's Washington factories.

The subpoena requests documents between NLRB officials on the Boeing case.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Gang Conference Begins in South Carolina

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) -- The South Carolina Department of Corrections will sponsor the 2011 Gang Conference from August 8-10.

According to the department, "Incarceration of gang members often does little to disrupt their activities since high-ranking gang members may exert their power from the street to prison. Therefore, officials say more collaborative efforts from all areas of law enforcement, corrections and the legal system are needed to control the problem."

The three-day conference will draw attendees from across South Carolina and four other states and will focus on topics such as hate groups and outlaw motorcyle gangs.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Jon Huntsman Sends Musical Message to President Obama

(CHARLESTON, S.C.) -- A fiery Jon Huntsman took the stage at Rep. Tim Scott’s first GOP town hall in Charleston, S.C., Sunday, practically shouting his stump speech to the crowd of 200 people.

The event culminated with a rather unique rendition of “Hit the Road Jack.” Scott and former South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster sang at the microphone while Huntsman took to the keys. The song, Scott told the crowd, was dedicated to President Obama.

"I don’t know about you but the president has had two and a half years to address the most pressing problem we as Americans face, infusing confidence in our overall direction and dealing with job growth and getting our economy going again and he has failed," Huntsman said. "He has failed the American people on the most important issue of our time.”

Huntsman concluded the event by telling the crowd, “If we’re going to win in 2012, we need somebody who can get enough votes. We need votes. You can’t win with nobody. You can't with 10 percent here or 15 percent there. We need votes if we’re going to bring change to Washington in 2012.”

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio