Briefs
by John Temple Ligon
Governor back in charge There are more than 10,000 citizen soldiers and airmen in S.C. as members of the National Guard. President Bush is expected to sign the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, which would restore control of states' National Guard troops to governors. The 2007 Defense Authorization Act gave that power to the president, allowing the president to call up National Guard troops without asking the governors for permission. S.C. Gov. Sanford said it is important that states have control of their Guard units to protect themselves, particularly in S.C. with its hurricanes.

Lawyers After a controversial S.C. Supreme Court decision to change the grades of 20 people who failed the bar exam, a constitutional amendment has been pre- filed in the state House of Representatives. The legislature could strip the S.C. Supreme Court of its role in the licensing and discipline of lawyers, an action requiring voter approval. Lead sponsor is Rep. Kris Crawford, R- Florence.

Wachovia's alleged raid PNC Investments of Pennsylvania filled suit alleging Virginia- based Wachovia Securities tried to raid its employees and customer base. PNC contends Wachovia distributed letters to at least 250 PNC employees asking them to resign from PNC and bring their business to Wachovia. Wachovia Corp., parent of Wachovia Securities, is based in Charlotte.

Second annual real estate conference The Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PricewaterhouseCoopers are jointly running the Second

Annual Statewide Trends Conference, using Emerging

Trends in Real Estate 2008, the most highly regarded and widely- read trends and forecast journal in the real estate industry. The conference, like last year, will be in the Columbia Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln Street, January 17, 2008, from 8 am to 3:30 pm. 843.513.9331.

Charlotte leads the country The sales of existing single- family homes in the Charlotte area recorded the highest October growth rate in the country. While most of the country suffered declines, Charlotte and Seattle and Portland, Ore., were the only markets out of 20 major metropolitan areas to show positive returns. Charlotte reported a 4.3 percent increase, while Seattle's was 3.3 percent, and Portland's, 1.9 percent.

Mepkin Abbey eggs no more After more than 40 years in egg production, Mepkin Abbey in the Lowcountry had to drop the egg business due to objections from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). PETA's biggest objection was the monks' use of small wire cages in an effort to keep the chickens apart and removed from hurting each other. Only five percent of egg farms in the country are cage- free operations, but PETA demanded the monks join the five percent. Egg sales generate about $140,000 a year for the abbey, which comes to more than half its income.

S.C. set to receive $65 million The federal fiscal year 2008 omnibus appropriations bill will feed $65 million to S.C., including $4 million to alter the Interstate 95/U.S. Highway 301 interchange in Orangeburg County, $1 million for energy- related research at the Savannah River Site, and $800,000 for an International African- American Museum in Charleston. Also, USC gets $1.5 million for hydrogen fuel cell development.

Energetic architects The American Institute of Architects reminds us buildings account for nearly half (48 percent) of all greenhouse emissions - far more than transportation (27 percent) and industry (25 percent). Buildings account for 76 percent of all electricity generated at power plants. Over the next 20 years, annual energy consumption in the country should increase 37 percent, and greenhouse gas emissions are expected to increase by 36 percent.

Nuclear Duke Estimating costs of $5- $6 billion, Charlotte- based Duke Energy Corp. plans to build two 1,117- megawatt nuclear power plants near Gaffney, S.C. Whether the plants get built or not, Duke has committed up to $160 million over the next two years in developing its proposal.