Obama voters' souls at risk, priest tells parish

COLUMBIA --- A South Carolina Roman Catholic priest has told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion, and supporting him "constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil."

The Rev. Jay Scott Newman said in a letter distributed Sunday to parishioners at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenville that they are putting their souls at risk if they take Holy Communion before doing penance for their vote.

"Our nation has chosen for its chief executive the most radical pro-abortion politician ever to serve in the United States Senate or to run for president," he wrote, referring to Mr. Obama by his full name, including his middle name of Hussein.

Prison cell phone jam illegal, regulators say

COLUMBIA --- South Carolina's proposal to jam cell phone signals in prisons violates federal law, but regulators said Thursday they are willing to work with officials in their efforts to keep inmates from making calls using the contraband devices.

State prisons chief Jon Ozmint wants to demonstrate how the jamming technology would work. Federal Communications Commission spokesman Robert Kenny said the agency recognizes officials' distress about contraband cell phones, which some say have become a new form of cash.

"We understand public safety's concerns and are willing to work with them going forward," Mr. Kenny said.

Despite tough times, lottery ticket sales up

COLUMBIA --- South Carolina lottery officials say sales are up in the state despite the economic downturn.

The State of Columbia reports sales since July are up $6 million from the same period last year.

Lottery officials say profits should reach the $252 million goal needed to pay for college scholarships.

Lottery executive director Ernie Passailaigue says people continue to play the games even in bad economic times.