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Opinion

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Speak Out: How Are You Celebrating Mother's Day?

Share with us what you're doing to celebrate the mom in your life.

Today is the day to honor all the moms in your life.  Are you going to enjoy a delicious meal at your mom's favorite restaurant? Will you celebrate at home with a home cooked meal and open gifts? What about attending a Mother's Day brunch or church service? Tell us how you're celebrating the day by commenting below.  You can also upload photos showing us how you celebrated mom. Click the "upload photos and videos" button on this story.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Speak Out: Should High School Students Be Required to Learn CPR?

Bill would stipulate that SC high school students receive CPR training and learn how to operate an AED.

A state legislator wants high school students to be required to be trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and learn how to operate an Automated External Defibrillator. WSPA-TV reports that a Senate subcommittee passed Sen. Gerald Malloy's, D-Darlington, bill last week. It nows moves on to a full Senate committee. Malloy told WSPA that requiring that all high school students be trained will save lives. Receiving CPR can vastly increase a victim's chances of surviving sudden cardiac arrests, according to the American Heart Association. Legislators rejected a similar proposal in the House last year. Malloy told WSPA lawmakers are looking at options to reduce the cost of such training, should the bill pass. He said students with …

Dr. Galen M. Grant

8:49 am on Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Most don't know their ABC's. How about making that happen first?   more ›

Friday, April 26, 2013

Speak Out: SC Christian School Test Asks, 'Do You Believe in Dinosaurs?'

An Upstate school test is making the rounds on social media disputing the existence of dinosaurs, based on biblical principles. Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

GREER, SC -- A test from an Upstate Christian school is making the rounds on social media. The test, allegedly given to fourth-grade students at a Christian-based school north of Greer, is titled "Dinosaurs: Genesis and the Gospel." A book with the same name was published in 2004 by Answers in Genesis. The test first started making rounds on social media on Sunday when it was posted in a chat room on atheism on Reddit. According to Snopes, the test is legitimate as someone believed to be the child's father sent a statement to the website saying that the test had been brought home by his 10-year-old daughter. The man wrote that some of the test questions were first brought to his attention when he and his daughter heard a commercial about a…

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JoSCh

9:10 am on Friday, May 3, 2013

The difference between material that supports the bible and material that supports science is that people who create the material that supports the bible have something to gain, both material and spiritual. Other than having a job doing and writing about science scientist have nothing to gain, and many probably lose something. Who wouldn't hope for an everlasting afterlife in paradise? That is …   more ›

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Speak Out: Does South Carolina Need Social Host Laws?

Many states make it a crime for adults to a crime for adults to permit alcohol consumption in the home by anyone under 21, but South Carolina doesn't have a specific Social Host law. Does the state need one?

Does South Carolina need a Social Host law to help combat underage drinking? Michelle Nienhius, Prevention Consultant with the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services said that many states and local governments are seeing “very good results” from having Social Host ordinances. “We do not have a state law in South Carolina, however we do know of some local ordinances out there,” she said. Social Host laws and ordinances target those who host “the event, the party.” “Even if they're not directly providing the alcohol, they're providing the place for it to be consumed, and if they're knowingly providing the place for it to be consumed, then they could be held liable and have to pay some fines and fees and things like that,” …

George Grace

12:47 pm on Sunday, April 28, 2013

No to social host laws. Govt is already too pervasive in society. I thought SC was against "big govt." Anyway it's a parent's responsibility, not govt.   more ›

Monday, April 22, 2013

Speak Out: Should SC End the Exit Exam Requirement for Graduation?

According to the bill H.3919, a student's score may not be use as criterion for high school graduation.

A bill that would no longer make passing the exit exam for high school graduation a requirement has made its way to the state's full Education Committee, according to an Associated Press report.  According to bill H.3919, high school students would still take the exam but a student's score may not be use as criterion for graduation and a student must not be required to make a minimum score to graduate. The bill says "an eligible student who previously failed to receive a high school diploma or was denied graduation solely for failing the exit exam may re-enroll in high school and will not have to pass the exit exam in order to receive a diploma.  The bill also calls for a committee to consider whether the exit exam should remain the state'…

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W. T. Walkup

7:41 pm on Monday, April 22, 2013

I also have a problem when 4,000 out of 20,000 students can not pass the exit exam. Is it the teaching? Some students may be weak in math or science, but O.K. in all other areas.   more ›

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Speak Out: Do You Feel Safe?

After two bombs were detonated at the Boston Marathon Monday, do you feel safe?

The search continues for the person or persons responsible for two explosions near the finish line at the Boston Marathon.  Three people — including an 8-year-old boy — were killed and more than 170 people were injured when the two bombings went off Monday afternoon. Monday's blasts led to heightened security in other cities across the country including New York and Washington, DC. President Barack Obama said during a televised address Tuesday that the explosions were an act of terrorism.  "This was a heinous and cowardly act. And given what we now know about what took place, the FBI is investigating it as an act of terrorism.  Any time bombs are used to target innocent civilians it is an act of terror. What we don’t yet know, however, is …

Debbie DuBois Chastain Spires

2:38 pm on Thursday, April 18, 2013

I agree with Jessica! I so hate what we have become . Our children can't play in their own yard without constant supervision . We have to be more watchful of our surroundings. Everyone is too busy to lend a helping hand to anyone anymore . We all need to take a step back and have more love and respect for one another . If we stand together we can make a big difference .   more ›

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Speak Out: Are You an Organ Donor?

April is National Donate Life Month and April 4 is Organ Donor Registration Day in South Carolina.

Every 10 minutes another person is added to the National Transplant Waiting List, according to Donate Life South Carolina. Currently, in South Carolina about 1,000 people need an organ transplant, the organization said. To help bring awareness to the growing need for organ, eye and tissue donors, Donate Life South Carolina held a Donate Life Awareness Day event Thursday morning at the State House.  Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, presented a resolution designating April 4 as Organ Donor Registration Day in South Carolina. According to Donate Life South Carolina, more than 1.1 million people have registered to become a donor since South Carolina’s Organ and Tissue Donor Registry launched in 2008. To learn more about how you can become a …

MMoore

8:08 am on Wednesday, April 17, 2013

I am a donor. 8 years ago my husband died unexpectedly. He was a donor and I was glad that they were able to use some of his skin, his corneas, heart, etc. It's like God's gift to us was able to keep on giving to others. 3 years ago, after many years and many surgeries and repairs, I needed a new ACL- ligament in my knee, thanks to a donor I have one. It's like the circle keeps going. And which …   more ›

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Speak Out: Who Should Feed Columbia's Homeless?

A downtown Columbia church fed its last dinners to about 150 people after an agreement between the Salvation Army and the church ended.

For three years, Ebenezer Lutheran Church has fed the homeless in downtown Columbia. But on Sunday the church served its last dinners to about 150 people after an agreement between the Salvation Army and the church ended. Columbia City Council was considering continuing the program at the city's winter shelter but the discussion was postponed to their next meeting on April 9, according to a report from The State. The discussion of who should feed the homeless and where they should be fed has raised concerns for those living in area and sparked debate between city leaders, those providing meals and local residents. What do you think? Who should feed Columbia's homeless? Tell us in the comments.

William J. Hamilton

4:52 pm on Thursday, April 4, 2013

Feeding the homeless is a huge undertaking in Charleston with a year round shelter, a soup kitchen, several missions, the food bank and several other agencies. All of them are taxed to the limit now. The hope that the poor will simply disappear isn't going to be gratified.   more ›

Monday, April 1, 2013

Speak Out: Was Google's Doodle of Cesar Chavez on Easter Appropriate?

The company featured a portrait of the labor and civil rights leader in honor of his 86th birthday and not a doodle related to Easter.

Google's doodle of Cesar Chavez, co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association now known as the United Farm Workers, caused quite a stir on Sunday. The company featured a portrait of the labor and civil rights leader in honor of his 86th birthday and not a doodle related to Easter. March 31 was also declared Cesar Chavez Day in 2012 by President BarackObama.  Google's doodles are "the fun, surprising, and sometimes spontaneous changes that are made to the Google logo to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and the lives of famous artists, pioneers, and scientists," according to its site.  Dana Perino, a Fox News contributor, joined the mix of commentary on the doodle by tweeting: “I thought the Chavez-google thing was a hoax or an …

Maria

11:07 pm on Tuesday, April 2, 2013

I don't think Google does much in the way of religious doodles -- Passover, Ramadan, etc. so why the flack? The Chavez holiday coincided with Easter, but I suspect that those who are complaining would have found another reason to criticize Google if the Chavez birthday had fallen on a day other than Easter and the company had run the doodle.   more ›

Happy April Fools' Day! What’s the Best Prank You’ve Ever Seen?

For the jokester in all of us, here are some fun pranks to play on April 1.

Gullible ones beware: April Fools' Day is here.  If you want to pull a prank on this playful holiday, here are some fun and easy ideas to try: Tape magnets to the bottom of an empty coffee cup, and attach it to the top of your car. Laugh at all the people who frantically try to get your attention as you drive by. — April Fool Zone  Super Glue some coins to the sidewalk or any spot that gets a lot of foot traffic. Make sure it's an appropriate place, then watch people try to get the coins. — Kidz World “Foil” a co-worker. — Instructables Guyism offers several April Fools’ Day suggestions to try around the office: TELL US: What is the best prank you've ever seen or pulled? Share your stories in the comments section below. Also, if you're …

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Jessie Gable

11:12 am on Monday, April 1, 2013

When I was in 8th grade, April Fools Day happened to land on the day I came back from the beach with my friends after spring break. I got this REALLY good fake belly button ring to freak out my dad. Well, he took one look at it--completely unaware it was fake--and pulled it out. Needless to say, I never got anything pierced for real.   more ›

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