Briefs
by John Temple Ligon
Black admissions down at USC According to the USC Gamecock, in 2000, 18.7 percent of undergraduates were black students. In 2007, black students were 12.5 percent of the total undergraduate population, down by 32 percent.

Wachovia stays on Main Street Wachovia's offices in Palmetto Center, the building Scana is vacating within the year, are moving across the street to 1441 Main Street. The new location's street- level façade and lobby are being altered and upgraded, as are four floors upstairs. Wachovia employs more than 1,300 people in the Midlands.

Nucor ranked Charlotte- based Nucor Corp. made Business Week'sannual list of the top- performing U.S. companies. Among the companies that make up the S&P 500, Nucor is No. 25 out of the 50 performers identified by Business Week. Nucor is the second- largest steel company in the country and the most profitable.

If you have to ask how much, you can't afford it The Charleston In- Water Boat Show is South Carolina's largest and runs this week from April 17- 20. Hundreds of boats are offered for sale in the water and on land. Admission is $10. The boat show is held at Brittlebank Park and the Bristol Marina on the east side of the Ashley River.

Marriage gets cheaper The Marriage Tax Cut, passed by the South Carolina House of Representatives on April 2, will reduce the bottom state income tax bracket for married couples from 2.5 percent to zero.

North Carolina launches health- care plan N.C. Governor Mike Easley has targeted the five most common chronic diseases for insurance coverage and a standardized set of guidelines. The insurance coverage applies to the treatment of diabetes, asthma, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and heart attack. North Carolina's primary- care physicians are invited to a program to learn the best- practice guidelines, which includes computer software to track patients and their test results.

Hydrogen In early April, the South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance sponsored more than 20 leading business delegates attending the Nation Hydrogen Association's annual conference in Sacramento, Calif. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R- SC), Rep. Bob Inglis (R- SC), and Columbia Mayor Bob Coble were granted honorary memberships in the National Hydrogen Association. The 2009 National Hydrogen Association Annual Conference will be held at the Columbia Convention Center March 30- April 3, 2009, with 1,500 attendees and 100 exhibitors.

Bike bridges The City of Charleston has completed its study for retrofitting the Ashley River bridge with a bicycle and pedestrian path as part of more than 16 miles of bicycle paths in the city. Columbia needs an immediate bike/pedestrian path upgrade on the Blossom Street bridge over the railroad tracks between the Greek Village and Huger Street. With sidewalks at each end, the bridge does not allow pedestrians and bicycles to connect between USC and the Congaree River. The S.C. House voted April 9 for $100 million to improve roads and bridges.

Coming up short South Carolina's revenues should be $90 million short of projections. The Senate has already taken $50 million out of a draft budget approved by the House. Gov. Sanford has asked for the elimination of $18.5 million in the state's Competitive Grants program. He has also asked for $10.5 million in cuts from the S.C. Budget and Control Board's rainy day fund. He recommends the cancellation of $20.5 million for the creation of farmers mini- markets around the state.

McMaster gets it through the House panel On Thursday, April 10, the House Subcommittee on Criminal Laws approved S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster's bill that creates an alternative court system for nonviolent offenders and abolition of parole for the violent. The bill moves to the House Judiciary Committee. A companion bill is being considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

$100 million in emissions controls SCE&G's coal- fired generation plants in Eastover and Goose Creek are about to undergo $100 million in environmental upgrades, which includes scrubbers to improve emissions. The scrubbers are designed for up to 98 percent sulfur dioxide removal.