House Republicans re-elect officials
COLUMBIA --- Republicans in the South Carolina House have re-elected Jim Merrill of Daniel Island as their majority leader.
They re-elected Adam Taylor of Laurens as assistant majority leader and Alan Clemmons of Myrtle Beach as treasurer Tuesday. All three have held their positions since 2004.
Shooter's plea deal earns less jail time
SUMTER --- A man getting ready to stand trial for murder for the second time in the death of a teen two years ago has accepted a plea deal and been sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Prosecutors say 39-year-old Steven Galloway pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter Monday. He will have to serve more than 131/2 years before he can be released.
Mr. Galloway admitted shooting 16-year-old De-Andre Cover in September 2005. In his first trial, which ended in a mistrial, Mr. Galloway testified he shot at four teens after seeing them break into cars at an apartment complex.
Committees review controversial books
CHARLESTON, W.VA. --- The Kanawha County Board of Education wants a closer look at a possible rating system for school reading materials, a suggestion that was brought up after parents objected to graphic violence in two books by South Carolina author Pat Conroy.
Beach Music and The Prince of Tides were suspended from two English classes at Nitro High School earlier this fall. Committees were formed to read each book separately and make recommendations to the board.
The committee that read Beach Music voted to allow the book and its discussions back into the system, but the board did not act Monday.
Instead, board member Bill Raglin asked that county guidelines on reading materials, including suggestions about alternative reading choices and the book rating system, be formally written into county policy.
2 officials arrested in sewer investigation
COLUMBIA --- Kershaw County's administrator and public utilities director were arrested after deputies said they gave false information to investigators looking into sabotage of the county's sewer system.
Administrator Bobby Boland was charged Monday with filing a false police report, a felony, and public utilities director Russell Wright was charged with providing false information, a misdemeanor, Sheriff's Capt. David Thomley said.
The false information was given to deputies trying to figure out why several of the county's sewer-pump stations have overflowed in the past few months, authorities said.
-- Edited from wire reports
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