Across South Carolina

More learning English as second language

COLUMBIA - A growing number of pupils in South Carolina schools are learning English as a second language, which poses challenges to districts who must test the children.

About 16,000 pupils statewide are learning English as a second language, and that number shows no sign of declining anytime soon, officials said.

This is the first year each of South Carolina's 85 school districts enrolled at least one student who is learning English, officials said.

780 extra homes are planned for community

ROCK HILL - Sun City Carolina Lakes developers are planning an extra 780 homes on 330 acres of land they bought next to their planned retirement community.

The Lancaster County Council has given the developers initial approval of a zoning request for the additional acres. The developers specialize in large retirement communities and own a Sun City near Hilton Head Island.

Developers say they plan to get the council a draft of how and where the new land fits into the community that already has approval for 3,600 homes on 1,200 acres.

The development will have a landscaped entrance pavilion, single-family homes, carriage homes and golf villas. Amenities will include a recreational center, an 18-hole golf course, pools, outdoor nature sanctuaries and walking trails.

Homes will start around $130,000, developers said.

Attorney says tribe isn't target of inquiry

COLUMBIA - An attorney for the Catawba Indian Nation says a federal investigation into allegations of election fraud doesn't involve the tribe.

Attorney Jay Bender said Friday there's no connection between the Catawbas and an investigation into whether three Midlands companies might have violated federal campaign disclosure laws.

"The government's position is that this is somehow an investigation linked to Catawba. As far as I can tell, there's no link to Catawba, and certainly no one has indicated that the tribe is the subject of an any investigation," Mr. Bender said.

Last month, the FBI searched the companies' offices, one of which is owned primarily by the York County tribe, according to documents obtained by The State newspaper.

Items taken from New River Management & Development, SPM (formerly South Property Management) and Kapp Investment Management, which share office space in Columbia, included financial records, computers and evidence of political contributions, the newspaper reported.

The Catawbas are the majority owner of New River, which manages the tribe's bingo and economic development activities, Mr. Bender said.

The minority owner of New River is SPM, a company owned by D.T. Terry Collier.

In seeking a search warrant for the offices, an FBI agent told a federal magistrate the government thinks evidence was being concealed in the offices.

A judge will rule Monday on whether to release a document that prosecutors said will shed too much light on the ongoing investigation, The State reported.

Man sentenced for assaulting three boys

COLUMBIA - An Irmo man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting three boys.

Circuit Judge John Breeden on Thursday sentenced Brandon Eugene Jones, 22, for first-degree criminal sexual on minors.

Before Mr. Jones was sentenced, he expressed sorrow for his actions.

"Honest to God, I just wanted to be their friend," Mr. Jones said.

Mr. Jones was arrested in August 2004 in Ecuador, where he formerly lived as an exchange student. Mr. Jones was teaching English at a Catholic school when he was arrested.

The three victims lived in the same subdivision where Mr. Jones lived with his father.