Briefs
by John Temple Ligon
Groundbreaking Allen University broke ground Monday, January 14 for its new 480- bed residence hall, all $16 million of it. Allen's room charges remain less expensive than rates charged by Benedict College and Claflin University.

Columbia to Mobile and back in three days An all- day bus ride from Columbia to Mobile Tuesday, January 15, and a return ride Thursday, January 17, allows for a meeting on Wednesday between 80 Columbia visitors and their Mobile, Alabama hosts. The purpose of the two- bus trip is to find out how Mobile generates greater community support for their schools and increases student achievement.

AT&T gives up north AT&T reports donations of more than $2.5 million to North Carolina philanthropic causes last year. S.C. is yet to hear its total for the year.

Duke The Duke Endowment is donating $40 million to Duke University to create more than 30 faculty positions. In 2005, the endowment gave $75 million to the University to support financial aid. In 2007, the endowment gave the university $15 million to begin "DukeEngage," a program to encourage civic engagement among undergraduate students. Since 2005, the Duke endowment has announced gifts to Duke University totaling $130 million. Since 1924, the Duke Endowment has given Greenville's Furman University about $100 million.

Seniors "The candidate that motivates the senior community will win," says S.C. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer about the January 19 Republican presidential primary. Historically voters 65 and older make up about one- third of primary voters.

2007, a record- breaking year for Commerce The S.C. Department of Commerce reports new heights for job creation and capital investment. For 2007, more than 15,600 new jobs and $4 billion in new capital investment was recruited. On average in 2007, the state saw either a new company decide to locate in S.C. or an existing business commit to expand operations in the state more than three times each week. Some of these investments include Google, Starbucks, Adidas, Freightliner, Cytec Engineered Materials, GE Aviation, Staples, Kraft, and 3M.

DHEC doesn't test people for mercury Even though the Post & Courier reported some of the highest human mercury content in the country, having tested 40 people along the Lynches River and the Great Pee Dee River, DHEC says it will not test people for mercury - at least not for now. DHEC will continue to test the fish for mercury content.

TBhues iCnheassr lJeosutornn aRle sgoioldnal Business Journal and its affiliated print and electronic publications were sold to the Brown Publishing Co., a family- owned and Ohio- based chain of daily, weekly, niche and business publications. Bill Settlemyer, founder and owner of the Charleston Regional Business Journal's parent company, Setcom Media Inc., will remain as op- ed contributor.

One convention center can afford generosity The Columbia Conference Center, the privately developed and privately owned facility behind Hampton Automotive on I- 26, will donate half the center's profits to local, pre- determined charities and schools in 2008.

Growing pains in Beaufort County The Blufton Town Council has signed off on imposing $6,000 per unit development fee on new residential construction and $2.50 per square foot fee on new commercial construction. The fees would go to the Beaufort County school system. The proposal moves to the Development Agreement Negotiating Agreement.

New management at SRS The Savannah River Site is under new management, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, which is a partnership including Fluor Corporation, Honeywell International and Northrup Grumman. The contract is for five years at $800 million per year.

How much new president? At a base salary of $552,482, the USC President makes the third- highest salary in the nation for a public university president. He has disclosed his intention to resign. The board at USC has not openly discussed what it thinks it should offer to attract top talent to replace Sorensen.