Small businessmen jump into big city politics
Retro camera equipment litters every tabletop in half of Aaron Johnson and Grant Robertson's photography store in Five Points, the F-Stop. In the other half, registration forms and campaign fliers clutter the three crowded desks of the volunteers managing Johnson and Robertson's campaigns for city government – Johnson for mayor and Robertson for city council.
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Zoo offers outreach education
Story by Cory Amick State budget cuts are making it tougher for school students and other groups to come to Columbia's Riverbanks Zoo, prompting the zoo to expand its outreach education. Matthew Corbacho,
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Gas prices, budget cuts lead to fewer field trips
Public school district officials and school administrators are being much more selective on which field trips they approve these days, thanks to recent budget cuts and rising gas prices. The elimination
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Changes give Bark to the Park new bite
Project Pet took over this year's Bark to the Park festival and added a one mile walk to benefit homeless pets.
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Rollerbladers hope to take air once again
A small group of Columbia rollerbladers remain loyal to their sport five years after the city's rollerblading community nearly vanished.
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Art shop flourishes after rough start
Pattie Clark, owner of a paint-your-own pottery shop in Columbia, has seen her fair share of hardships as a first-time small-business owner. But her love for her craft and passion for teaching others leads helps carry her through tough times.
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In tough times, used clothes are in
During this economic recession some stores are finding changes in business aren't for the worst. Reuse/resell stores and pawnshops are both seeing in increase in business.
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Local tech startup presents solid plans for future growth
A group of international USC graduates have started a local software company that is branching off into a building ground for other tech startups.
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"Strange Tales" show not afraid to be weird
A local radio group hunts for the cooky, spooky and just plain strange things around the Southeast. Take a trip with them on the hunt for the Lizard Man.
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Meet 27-year-old Camden Mayor Jeffrey Graham
Jeffrey Graham, 27, was elected mayor of Camden last November. He is the youngest mayor in S.C. and runs the oldest inland city. Despite the recession, Graham believes there is hope for the small city of about 7,000 people and is working on implementing a plan to revitalize the city's downtown area.
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Insomnia Cookies offers sweet alternative for late-night snacks
Insomnia Cookies, a new company that specializes in warm, freshly baked cookies and brownies that can be purchased on site or ordered for delivery, recentely opened up shop in Columbia. The Carolina Reporter spoke with Insomnia chief opperations office Joe Essenfeld about where the company came from and where they're going.
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Dance parties provide cheap entertainment, draw more than traditional concerts.
Local DJ's have helped cut the high cost of entertainment by putting together several "dance parties" that have increasingly gained popularity.
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Leesville auto auction boasts title of first in U.S.
Rawls Auto Auction has been a fixture in the Batesburg-Leesville community for 71 years. Come take a tour of the business and meet some of the people who make it run smoothly.
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Find out which loan is right for you
Homeowners struggling to make adjustable-rate mortgage payments didn't expect recent economic troubles.
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Student-organized Passover event creates community for Jewish students
Hillel began a tradition that has helped create a community and family feeling during Passover when Jewish students at USC may not be able to make it home for the holiday.
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10 minutes with the director of USC's Jewish studies program
Stan Dubinsky is helping the University of South Carolina start a Jewish Studies program. Dubinsky sat down with the Carolina Reporter and answered some questions about the upcoming program.
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Cayce wins fourth consecutive award for litter crackdown
The city of Cayce law enforcement is working hard to stop litter in their community, garnering their fourth-straight PalmettoPride enforcement grant, the first city to do so. Officers are now using high-tech equiptment to catch litters in the act, all to keep their city clean.
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Community unites behind college
Gov. Mark Sanford proposed cutting three USC campuses in his Jan. 9 executive budget. But Lancaster residents like Carolyn Thomas and officials refuse to go down without a fight. The area has united to save its community college and possibly their futures.
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Legislators listen to USC student opinions at State House
In troubled economic times, USC students are training to get their voices heard at the State House by taking issues like conservation and higher education funding straight to legislators. And the increase of student presence at the State House may be influencing voters.
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Plates can cause problems for drivers
Metal plates are covering construction project holes all around Columbia, but mechanics say that the plates can damage cars if drivers hit them the wrong way.
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Sanfordville rally a source for alternative media
With the advent of instant access media such as Twitter and social-networking, people are becoming increasingly involved in citizen journalism, letting others know what is happening around them.
| Wildlife care center celebrates two decades of service
Carolina Wildlife Care celebrates its 20-year anniversary of rehabilitating South Carolina's wildlife this year. Forty thousand animals have been cared for in those two decades.
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Senior reflects on career as basketball manager
Adam Ribock of Augusta, Ga., has been a basketball manager the past three seasons and the head manager for the past two. He says a college student could not ask for a better job.
| Three USC Campuses could potentially close
See the potential impact on the Lancaster, Allendale and Union communities if their campuses are closed.
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Lexington woman's struggles highlights mortage problems
Some experts say that the Columbia real estate market will not take the same hits as Myrtle Beach. But one Lexington woman struggles to make monthly mortgage payments and could lose her home.
| Local alcohol retailers withstand diminishing economy
Despite recent national reports that say alcohol sales are down at bars and restaraunts, Columbia bars continue to weather the recession while some liquor stores struggle.
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Contrary to popular belief, alcohol sales not recession-proof
A recent report from an alcohol industry trade group says that even alcohol sales can suffer during a recession, but with people going out less to save money, liquor stores are still doing well.
| Allendale feels double-digit jobless rate
Allendale County's unemployment rate was 19.7 percent in December 2008, which is the highest of any county in South Carolina.
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S.C.'s worst unemployment
The state unemployment rate reached 9.5 percent in December. On average, the rate in each county rose 3.4 percentage points in 2008. Here are the areas that experienced the greatest change.
| Allegiant Air returns to Columbia
If you're looking for a cheap way to travel to Orlando, a low-cost carrier that has returned to Columbia might be right for you. Allegiant Air flies into Orlando's Sanford International Airport starting Feb. 25.
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Learn how to get your first home loan
With mortgage rates hovering around six percent and with a buyer's market, a local loan officer has advice on how to get that first home loan.
| Time wasting Web sites
Learn about some of the newest time wasting Web sites on the internet today.
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