Across South Carolina

Myrtle Beach hopeful of Grand Strand aid

MYRTLE BEACH - North Myrtle Beach officials are optimistic the area will get money for beach re-nourishment for areas affected by recent tropical storms and hurricanes.

The U.S. House on Wednesday approved $75,000 to study where there's a need for re-nourishment along the Grand Strand. The Charleston district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has asked Congress for $13.3 million for the Grand Strand, officials said.

The last re-nourishment project was in 1998.

Bus driver allows girl to ride with stranger

HANAHAN - A young girl was told by a school bus driver to get into a car with a stranger when the bus broke down, the child's mother says.

Jessica Brooks has told her daughter not to get into cars with strangers, but the driver allowed the child to leave with a classmate's mother.

Mrs. Brooks wrote a note Wednesday saying her daughter could go home on a different bus so a friend could baby-sit her. The child made it to the baby sitter's house safely.

Goose Creek Primary School officials said the bus with 60 pupils broke down near the school and the driver waited an hour for a mechanic. Parents started calling the school and some went to the bus. The driver let about 20 pupils leave with their parents.

Police charge man in Charleston slaying

CHARLESTON - A Charleston man has been arrested in the October killing of a North Charleston man, police said.

Daron Everett, 21, was charged with murder and using a gun during a violent crime, police said.

Antwan Jarell Gantt, 25, was found dead Oct. 18 on the side of the road, police said.

Autopsy reveals man was beaten to death

GREENVILLE - The death of a 70-year-old man is now being investigated as a homicide after an autopsy found he died from being beaten with an unknown object, authorities said.

T.J. Gordon's son found his father's body in his home Wednesday, authorities said.

Officials said they noticed something suspicious about the scene.

Authorities said they didn't release details of the autopsy to protect the investigation.

Deputies suspect Mr. Gordon's black, four-door 1997 Buick Park Avenue has been stolen.