Health insurance deal saves, creates jobs

CHARLESTON - A BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina subsidiary has won a $142 million contract that will bring 600 jobs to the state and save 650 other jobs.

That's good news for Columbia and Florence, where the company expected to lose 1,400 jobs after BlueCross lost two big contracts related to Tricare, the military health insurance program.

"Had we not done this, we would have faced a reduction in force," said Bruce Hughes, the chief operating officer of the subsidiary, Palmetto Government Benefits Administrators. "We don't ever guarantee work, but as long as that contract stays in place and they perform well, then we can avoid" job cuts.

The two-year contract the subsidiary will announce today expands its role in answering the (800) MEDICARE line. The deal brings 600 jobs to Columbia and saves 650 jobs in Columbia and Florence.

The subsidiary employed 350 people on the contract in Columbia and 300 in Florence, and all but 150 of those faced layoffs when the Tricare contracts were lost.

Two men die when car crashes into pole

GREENVILLE - Two men died and another was hurt when the vehicle they were in smashed into a utility pole, authorities say.

Napoleon Jackson, 38, and Patrick Lamont McLean, 35, died at the scene of the wreck at about 4 a.m. Saturday, Greenville County Deputy Coroner Kent Dill said.

The vehicle appeared to turn sideways after passing through an intersection and struck the pole and a tree, Mr. Dill said.

Authorities don't know what caused the wreck. The injured man was treated at a hospital and released, Mr. Dill said.

Ban on casino boats heads to Legislature

COLUMBIA - A bill to ban casino boats in South Carolina has been filed as the state Supreme Court debates whether to hear an appeal of a judge's ruling that local governments can't keep the boats from docking on their shores.

A judge ruled last year that Georgetown County couldn't ban the boats, saying that power remains only with the state.

The county is appealing, but in the meantime the House will try to do whatever it can, said Rep. Vida Miller, D-Pawleys Island, who filed the casino boat ban bill.

"We're just trying to show good faith to the county that we're doing all we can do at the state level," Ms. Miller said. "Georgetown County has done everything it can do."

Neither Murrells Inlet nor downtown Georgetown is a suitable location for gambling cruises, and the residents oppose them, Ms. Miller said.