This document summarizes awards being given at a dinner recognizing excellence in South Carolina newspaper journalism. It includes photos and descriptions of award winners in categories like Photo of the Year and Investigative Reporting. In the Investigative Reporting category, the Post and Courier received first place for a series on money spent by state lawmakers, second place for a series on infant mortality rates in rural areas, and third place for a series on abuse in group homes housing foster children. The document provides an overview of winners and stories being honored at the awards dinner.

1. DAILY AWARDS
DINNER
Recognizing the best in S.C. newspaper journalism

2. LLLLAiken Leader
& PrintingA

4. South Carolina Photo of the Year
A Charleston police officer searches for a shooting suspect outside the Emanuel AME Church, in
downtown Charleston, S.C. on Wednesday, June 17, 2015. A white man opened fire during a
prayer meeting inside the historic black church killing several people.
Matthew Fortner
The Post And Courier

11. See page 8 for full NecrologySee page 8 for full Necrology
Remembering Those We’ve Lost...Remembering Those We’ve Lost...
William Magill “Bill” Owens
Mel Derrick
Ken Burger
Henriette Dargan Hampton Morris
Jerry Phifer McGuire

12. ENJOY DINNER!

13. Practice of pretext police stops under fire
SHOTSFIRED
FILE/STATT FF
Graphic images of police shootings have been burned into the nation’s consciousness over the past year. Many shootings
began as simple traffic stops. These violent incidents come amid a backdrop of years of frustration over officers who stop you
for one thing but are really looking for another.
The Post and Courier’s
ongoing investigation into
police shootings
Inside
Breaking down the data:
A closer look at who gets
pulled over and why. A4-5
PULLOVOO ER
Every 8 minutes in North Charleston, an officer pulls someone over.
Cops often do this not for traffic or safety reasons, but to find out whether you’re
committing some other crime. North Charleston is the No. 1 city in South Carolina
when it comes to these pretext stops. Some say this tactic is ineffective,
dishonest, and that it can lead to unnecessary violence.
BY TONY BARTRR ELME
and GLEd NN SMITH
tbartelme@postandcourier.com
gsmith@postandcourier.com
AA
ntonioElliswasinhis2008Nis-
san on Rivers Avenue one night
last year when he saw the blue
lights behind him. He pulled
An officer ordered him to step outover. A
car.“ofhisc Oneofyourheadlightsisout.”
E looked at his headlights. Both werellis l
on. F ur other squad cars arrived. Witho
nds on the hood,his han Ellis watched an-
officer search his car and find hisother o
ooks and facultytextbo ID. The officers
ed for a moment.huddle
E anadjunctprofessoratthellis, College
of Charleston, wasn’t cited for anything.
“Ithoughtyourheadlightswereout,”the
officersaid.Thenhewastoldhewasfree
to go, though he felt anything but free.
Such confrontations are known in
police circles as “pretext” or “investiga-
tory” stops. Officers use a minor viola-
tion to stop and question someone they
think might be involved in a more se-
rious crime. Law enforcement officials
say these stops are an important crime
fighting tool.
But a new Post and Courier analysis
raises questions about the number of
these stops and their long-term effects,
especially in North Charleston.
Please see POLICE,Page A4

14. GRACE BEAHM/STAFF
CRADLE
OF SHAME
Infant mortality
in South Carolina
part one of four
About the series
TODAY: Many babies
across South Carolina
die at third-world levels
despite the state’s
lowest-ever infant
mortality rate.
FRIDAY: Black infants
in South Carolina die at
rates double and triple
that of white babies.
SATURDAY: Solutions
to South Carolina’s
lingering high death
rates for newborns
already are in effect in
some rural counties and
have brought deaths
dramatically down.
SUNDAY: What the
state could do to reduce
infant mortality in rural
South Carolina.
BY DOUG PARDUE and LAUREN SAUSSER
The Post and Courier
B
abiesinabroadswathofrural
South Carolina come into
this world with little better
chanceofsurvivalthanachildborn
in war-torn Syria. They face a
toxic mix of poverty, chronically sick
mothers, premature birth and daunt-
ing barriers to health care. The
Palmetto State’s infant mortality
rate hit an all-time low last year, but
that achievement largely bypassed
its rural corners, where infants, white
and black, still die at third-world
rates, a five-month Post and Courier
investigation has found. In
these rural counties,morethan200
newborns have died on average
during each of the last three years,
many from preventable problems.
Thesestrugglingcommunitiesremain
largely untouched by a four-year state
campaign to stop babies from dying
unnecessarydeaths. Thestate
provides relatively little money to
support some of the most promising
infant death-prevention efforts. And
those programs are unavailable
in some counties that need the most
help. South Carolina has long
ranked among the deadliest states for
newborns. Since 2000, 6,696 South
Carolinababieshavediedbefore
their first birthday.
Born to face
third-world
death rates
Please see INFANTS,Page A7
Many newborns arrive in struggling
corners of the Palmetto State where
race, poverty and other factors
contribute to a startling toll
POSTANDCOURIER.COM Charleston, S.C. $1.00Thursday, March 12, 2015
T H E S O U T H ’ S O LD E S T DAI LY N E W S PAPE R FO U N D E D 18 03

15. Frequent flier
Rep. Alan Clemmons
$14,700
OntripsincludingIsrael
andNewOrleans
Please see MONEY,Page A7
Gas guzzler
Sen. Kent M. Williams
$20,200
Oftengassedup
hisSUVtwoorthree
timesaweeksince2009
Doyoubelievelawmak-kk
ersshouldbeallowedto
writeandenforceethics
rulesformembersofthe
legislature?Gotopostandcourier.
com/pollstovote.
To search the data and to read
more, go to postandcourier.
com/capitol-gains.
Rules allow
S.C. Gov. Haley
to enjoy free
passes to col-
lege games, A7
The political
ATM: what they
spent, A8
Is lawmakers’
pay enough to
live on? A9
Poll
Online
Inside
GiftsG
At least $177,000 spent by
legislative campaigns on gifts
ranging from flowers for birthdays
to Christmas ornaments,
jewelry and silk neckties
GasG
At least $139,000 spent by
legislative campaigns on gas.
FlightsF
At least $110,000 was spent
by legislative campaigns on
flights, including baggage fees
and travel insurance.
Senate Santa
Sen. Hugh Leatherman
$109,000
In presents, mostly items
labeled “constituent gifts”
or Christmas ornaments
Business
Lawmakers spent tens
of thousands of dollars
in campaign cash to hire
each other’s companies for
consulting services, print jobs
and more.
Family man
Rep. Rick Quinn
$105,000
In work he sent to his
or his father’s companies
FILE/AP
SPECIAL REPORT
CAPITOL GAINS
Ethics laws are supposed to prevent South CarolinaEE
candidates and elected officials from using their public
positions for personal gain. So why did they go hunting
and buy God Pros, a used BMW and male enhancementW
pills? An investigation by TheTT Post and Courier and CenterPP
for Public Integrity exposes the cash machine candidates
and elected officials have at their fingertips.
BY TONY BARTELME and Rd ACHEL BAYEAA
tbartelme@postandcourier.com
rbaye@publicintegrity.org
S
outh Carolina elected officials and candi-
dateshavewhatamountstoapersonalATMAA
that dispensed nearly $100 million since
2009 for such things as car repairs, football
tickets, male-enhancement pills, GoPro cameras,
overseas junkets and gasoline.
A joint investigation by The Post and Courier
andtheCenterforPublicIntegrityalsofoundstate
lawmakers and candidates used this cash machine
to hire their own companies, pay parking tickets,
purchase an AARP membership — and even buy
a used BMW convertible for “parades.”
The money funding this political cash machine
comesfromcandidates’campaignaccounts,reim-
bursements from state government and outright
gifts from special interests.
Theinnerworkingsofthiscashnetworktypically
remain hidden unless prosecutors subpoena ques-
tionable receipts and other evidence locked away
from public view, as happened in the case of ex-
House Speaker Bobby Harrell.
TheRepublican’sconvictionlastyearformisusing
campaign money to pay for his private plane left

16. BY ANDREW KNAPP
and Td ONY BARTRR ELME
aknapp@postandcourier.com
tbartelme@postandcourier.com
A blink of an eye takes about four-
tenths of a second. From the first shot
to the last, the shooting of WalterWW L.
Scott took 2.7 seconds. Seven blinks.
Thisbriefmomentintimewouldhave
acascadingeffect:Scottgrabbedhisleft
sideandcrumpledface-firstontoapatch
of grass; Michael T. Slager, the North
Charlestonpoliceofficerwhoshothim,
loweredhispistol;FeidinSantana,onhis
way to work, finished capturing it all
on his phone camera, video that would
bring these seconds to the world.
But that 2.7-second space in time is
deceptive.
Expertsinofficer-involvedshootings
say they usually happen after a chain
of events, each link leading to another
until the one where an officer decides
to pull the trigger.
2.7 seconds How 8 bullets pierced the nation
Please see SECONDS,Page A9

19. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
OpenDivision
HONORABLE MENTION:
The Sun News
Issac J. Bailey

20. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
OpenDivision
THIRD PLACE:
The Post and Courier
Doug Pardue and
Lauren Sausser
GRACE BEAHM/STAFF
CRADLE
OF SHAME
Infant mortality
in South Carolina
part one of four
About the series
TODAY: Many babies
across South Carolina
die at third-world levels
despite the state’s
lowest-ever infant
mortality rate.
FRIDAY: Black infants
in South Carolina die at
rates double and triple
that of white babies.
SATURDAY: Solutions
to South Carolina’s
lingering high death
rates for newborns
already are in effect in
some rural counties and
have brought deaths
dramatically down.
SUNDAY: What the
state could do to reduce
infant mortality in rural
South Carolina.
BY DOUG PARDUE and LAUREN SAUSSER
The Post and Courier
B
abiesinabroadswathofrural
South Carolina come into
this world with little better
chanceofsurvivalthanachildborn
in war-torn Syria. They face a
toxic mix of poverty, chronically sick
mothers, premature birth and daunt-
ing barriers to health care. The
Palmetto State’s infant mortality
rate hit an all-time low last year, but
that achievement largely bypassed
its rural corners, where infants, white
and black, still die at third-world
rates, a five-month Post and Courier
investigation has found. In
these rural counties,morethan200
newborns have died on average
during each of the last three years,
many from preventable problems.
Thesestrugglingcommunitiesremain
largely untouched by a four-year state
campaign to stop babies from dying
unnecessarydeaths. Thestate
provides relatively little money to
support some of the most promising
infant death-prevention efforts. And
those programs are unavailable
in some counties that need the most
help. South Carolina has long
ranked among the deadliest states for
newborns. Since 2000, 6,696 South
Carolinababieshavediedbefore
their first birthday.
Born to face
third-world
death rates
Please see INFANTS,Page A7
Many newborns arrive in struggling
corners of the Palmetto State where
race, poverty and other factors
contribute to a startling toll
POSTANDCOURIER.COM Charleston, S.C. $1.00Thursday, March 12, 2015
T H E S O U T H ’ S O LD E S T DAI LY N E W S PAPE R FO U N D E D 18 03

21. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
OpenDivision
SECOND PLACE:
The Post and Courier
Lauren Sausser
BY LAUREN SAUSSER
lsausser@postandcourier.com
A
n untold number of foster
children in South Caro-
lina custody are neglected,
drugged, beaten and molested
in group homes and institutions
where the state warehouses them
formillionsofdollarsayearattax-
payer expense.
What’s more, South Carolina
keeps the abuse these children suf-
fer secret by using state laws that
shield group homes from almost
any scrutiny.
Courtrecordsshedlightonsome
of the worst cases, but this state-
sanctioned secrecy makes it im-
possible for the public to weigh the
differencebetweenwell-rungroup
homes and those that resemble a
Dickensian orphanage. Even par-
ents who reluctantly send their
childrentothesefacilitiesfortreat-
ment can’t figure out how to keep
them safe behind closed doors.
WhenJessicaFreemanplacedher
daughter in Springbrook Behav-
ioral Health last year, she had no
idea the state had investigated the
Greenville County home 95 times
since 2000 for possible abuse and
neglect — more than almost any
other residential treatment facility
in South Carolina. That’s because
thestateDepartmentofSocialSer-
vices doesn’t make the few records
that are public readily accessible.
Freeman pulled her daughter
Warehousing
our children
South Carolina laws hide child abuse inside group homes
A POST AND COURIER INVESTIGATION
PAUL ZOELLER/STAFF
The Jenkins Institute for Children, located in North Charleston, is one of more than 100 group homes and institutions in South
Carolina that accept foster children from the Department of Social Services. A federal lawsuit filed earlier this year against the
state agency alleges that a teenager at Jenkins was asked to take nude pictures of herself by an adult there. The director for the
facility denied those claims.
BRAD NETTLES/STAFF
Charleston County School teacher Jeremy Wise teaches English
literature to children at Windwood Farm. The group home for
boys in Awendaw offers an on-site school for children in its care.
Many of the children have been shuffled around several group
homes and foster homes by the Department of Social Services.
ABOUT
THE SERIES
Today
South Carolina sends its
youngest foster children
into group homes and
institutions at a higher
rate than any other state,
and the public has no
way to know whether
they’re safe.
Saturday
State taxpayers spend
millions of dollars every
year on group homes,
even though some ex-
perts say this industry
is unsafe for many chil-
dren.
Sunday
As other states have re-
duced their reliance on
group care for children,
an effort in South Caro-
lina to pull children with
behavioral health issues
from institutions may
not work.Please see HOMES,Page A6

22. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
OpenDivision
FIRST PLACE:
The Post and Courier
Staff
Frequent flier
Rep. Alan Clemmons
$14,700
OntripsincludingIsrael
andNewOrleans
Please see MONEY,Page A7
Gas guzzler
Sen. Kent M. Williams
$20,200
Oftengassedup
hisSUVtwoorthree
timesaweeksince2009
Doyoubelievelawmak-kk
ersshouldbeallowedto
writeandenforceethics
rulesformembersofthe
legislature?Gotopostandcourier.
com/pollstovote.
To search the data and to read
more, go to postandcourier.
com/capitol-gains.
Rules allow
S.C. Gov. Haley
to enjoy free
passes to col-
lege games, A7
The political
ATM: what they
spent, A8
Is lawmakers’
pay enough to
live on? A9
Poll
Online
Inside
GiftsG
At least $177,000 spent by
legislative campaigns on gifts
ranging from flowers for birthdays
to Christmas ornaments,
jewelry and silk neckties
GasG
At least $139,000 spent by
legislative campaigns on gas.
FlightsF
At least $110,000 was spent
by legislative campaigns on
flights, including baggage fees
and travel insurance.
Senate Santa
Sen. Hugh Leatherman
$109,000
In presents, mostly items
labeled “constituent gifts”
or Christmas ornaments
Business
Lawmakers spent tens
of thousands of dollars
in campaign cash to hire
each other’s companies for
consulting services, print jobs
and more.
Family man
Rep. Rick Quinn
$105,000
In work he sent to his
or his father’s companies
FILE/AP
SPECIAL REPORT
CAPITOL GAINS
Ethics laws are supposed to prevent South CarolinaEE
candidates and elected officials from using their public
positions for personal gain. So why did they go hunting
and buy God Pros, a used BMW and male enhancementW
pills? An investigation by TheT Post and Courier and CenterPP
for Public Integrity exposes the cash machine candidates
and elected officials have at their fingertips.
BY TONY BARTELME and Rd ACHEL BAYEAA
tbartelme@postandcourier.com
rbaye@publicintegrity.org
S
outh Carolina elected officials and candi-
dateshavewhatamountstoapersonalATMAA
that dispensed nearly $100 million since
2009 for such things as car repairs, football
tickets, male-enhancement pills, GoPro cameras,
overseas junkets and gasoline.
A joint investigation by The Post and Courier
andtheCenterforPublicIntegrityalsofoundstate
lawmakers and candidates used this cash machine
to hire their own companies, pay parking tickets,
purchase an AARP membership — and even buy
a used BMW convertible for “parades.”
The money funding this political cash machine
comesfromcandidates’campaignaccounts,reim-
bursements from state government and outright
gifts from special interests.
Theinnerworkingsofthiscashnetworktypically
remain hidden unless prosecutors subpoena ques-
tionable receipts and other evidence locked away
from public view, as happened in the case of ex-
House Speaker Bobby Harrell.
TheRepublican’sconvictionlastyearformisusing
campaign money to pay for his private plane left

23. SERIES OF SPORTS ARTICLES
OpenDivision
HONORABLE MENTION:
The Island Packet
Stephen Fastenau,
David Lauderdale
and Gina Smith

24. SERIES OF SPORTS ARTICLES
OpenDivision
THIRD PLACE:
The State
David Cloninger

25. SERIES OF SPORTS ARTICLES
OpenDivision
SECOND PLACE:
The Herald
Bret McCormick
Buffets are the worst for Win-
throp women’s basketball coach
Kevin Cook.
In a buffet line, balancing a plate
in one hand and spooning up food
with the other, the 54-year-old
Ohio native is unable to hide the
quaking tremors that rattle his
hands. Plane rides are also diffi-
cult, especially for the neighbor-
ing passenger, and it’s nearly im-
possible for Cook to sleep. Since
the illness was diagnosed in 2007,
Parkinson’s disease has become a
dominating blight on Cook’s life.
In an effort to stop the tremors,
Cook decided in November – after
considerable discussion with his
wife of four years, Francine – to
undergo an operation called deep
brain stimulation. On April 1,
Cook’s head was immobilized and
four holes were drilled into his
skull. He was completely con-
scious as doctors implanted an
electrode in the top left half of his
brain.
Step two of the process was
completed last Wednesday. A hair-
thin fiber extension was inserted
under his skin, attached to the
electrode and run down his neck
and under the collarbone. There,
it was attached to what’s called an
IPG, an implantable pulse gener-
ator. That’s essentially a pacemak-
er that will provide electricity to
the electrode in Cook’s brain. The
IPG sits beneath a brand new
three-inch diagonal scar on the left
side of his chest.
On April 28, Cook will be
“turned on,” as he calls it. A re-
mote control will initiate the IPG.
And Cook’s tremors should stop.
“Getting here to the 28th is gon-
na be a long wait,” said the long-
time basketball coach last week.
Cook’s Parkinson’s symptoms
surfaced before he was officially
diagnosed in 2007. While the
tremors are the most noticeable
aspect of the illness, there are so
many other leech-like symptoms.
Sitting on a leather sofa next to
his mother, Ruthie, Cook said that
rigidity and soreness are two of
the worst. Additionally, he has
pain in his left hip that never
seems to go away, and he usually
gets two to three hours of sleep
per night. That’s bad even for a
college basketball coach.
Parkinson’s, Cook said, “is
always on the attack.”
Cook, who has coached wom-
en’s basketball all over the world
and at all levels, was able to par-
tially stave off the onset of Parkin-
son’s when he lived in Washing-
ton, D.C. – where he met and mar-
ried Francine – by participating in
hot yoga. The steamy, hour-long
sessions unwound his body and
mind, and stress would exit as
buckets of sweat.
But as Cook’s symptoms have in-
Winthrop’s Cook hopes to
calm Parkinson’s symptoms
- JEFF SOCHKO
Winthrop women’s basketball coach Kevin Cook applauds during a 2013 game. Cook recently under-
went a procedure to help minimize symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
COACH
UNDERGOING
PROCEDURE TO
EASE TREMORS
By Bret McCormick
bmccormick@heraldonline.com
SEE COOK, PAGE 6A

26. SERIES OF SPORTS ARTICLES
OpenDivision
FIRST PLACE:
The Island Packet
Kendall Salter and
Gina Smith

27. CARTOON
OpenDivision
SECOND PLACE:
The Greenville News
Roger Harvell

28. CARTOON
OpenDivision
FIRST PLACE:
The State
Robert Ariail

29. MIXED MEDIA ILLUSTRATION
OpenDivision
HONORABLE MENTION:
The Post and Courier
Chad Dunbar

30. MIXED MEDIA ILLUSTRATION
OpenDivision
THIRD PLACE:
The Post and Courier
Chad Dunbar
ARTS&CULTURE
Music
Page F6
Dance
Page F6
Visual arts
Page F7
Film
Page F7
Theater
Page F8
previewFall arts
BY ADAM PARKER
aparker@postandcourier.com
T
he array of offerings in the Charleston
area grows each year.
The Holy City recently has added
a small auditioned choir called the King’s
Counterpoint, gained a new ensemble called
the Charleston Wind Symphony and em-
braced masters of stagecraft at 34 West The-
ater Company and the Charleston Perform-
ing Arts Center.
The Sparrow in North Charleston has be-
come a great destination for live rock ’n’ roll.
Charleston Supported Art, now in its third
year, is bringing visual artists and collectors
together in innovative ways.
Arts organizations that have been around
awhile are trying new things. Midtown
Productions opened a cabaret theater in
North Charleston. The Halsey Institute has
insinuated itself into the realm of concerts
and movies. The College of Charleston music
programs have streamlined while boosting
their quality. And Crabtree Players moved
from the Isle of Palms to a strip mall on John-
nie Dodds Boulevard in Mount Pleasant.
The Charleston Music Hall has stepped up
its game, keeping the lights on most nights
and presenting all sorts of fine musicians, lo-
cal and national.
And now that the renewed Gaillard Center
is about to open, Charleston audiences will
gain access to another tier of performers.
So much is on tap during the 2015-16 sea-
son it’s impossible to give full credit where
credit is due. But The Post and Courier will
attempt to provide the most up-to-date list-
Things to see, hear and do this fall in the Lowcountry
Please see FALL,Page F8
IMAGE FROM “IN THE SPIRIT OF GULLAH,” BY 2006 MOJA ARTS FESTIVAL POSTER ARTIST, DOYLE CLOYD AND GRAPHIC BY CHAD DUNBAR/STAFF
Full calendar listings online at www.postandcourier.com/events
Inside
Warren Peper, F2
Books, F4
Travel, F5

31. MIXED MEDIA ILLUSTRATION
OpenDivision
SECOND PLACE:
The Post and Courier
Brandon Lockett
FACINGTHE FUTURE
FUTUREISLANDSREFLECTSONSUCCESS
ASBANDHEADSTOWARDCHARLESTONPAGES24-25
SEASEASSONSTARTERONSTARTER
RRIVERDOGSREADYTORUMBLE
PPAGES18-19
WELCOMES HOME
25TH
ANNUAL FOLLY BEACH SEAAND SAND FESTIVAL
APRIL11 2015APRIL11,2015 FOLLYBEACHFOLLYBEACH
PAGES12-15

32. MIXED MEDIA ILLUSTRATION
OpenDivision
FIRST PLACE:
The Post and Courier
Luke Reasoner FOOTBALL
2015
PREVIEW
Inside

33. ILLUSTRATION
OpenDivision
HONORABLE MENTION:
Morning News
Justin Johnson

34. ILLUSTRATION
OpenDivision
THIRD PLACE:
The Island Packet
Drew Martin

35. ILLUSTRATION
OpenDivision
SECOND PLACE:
Morning News
Justin Johnson

36. ILLUSTRATION
OpenDivision
FIRST PLACE:
The Post and Courier
Brandon Lockett
2015 James Beard Awards
Charleston has three nominees for national James Beard
Foundation Awards this year, one for chef and two for wine.
The winners will be announced tonight at a Chicago gala.
38,000
Number of entries for
restaurant and chef
awards last year.
Want to watch?
Live streaming at jamesbeard.org/awards beginning at 7 p.m.
Or, follow Post and Courier Food Editor Hanna Raskin onTwitter at
@hannaraskin.
Outstanding Chef
Fun facts
THISYEAR’S NOMINEES
Outstanding Wine THISYEAR’S NOMINEES
Michael Anthony
CITY: NYC
CUISINE:
Contemporary American
PREVIOUS
NOMINATIONS: 1
FRIED CHICKEN ON
THE MENU? Yes.
Suzanne Goin
CITY: Los Angeles
CUISINE:
Contemporary American
PREVIOUS
NOMINATIONS: 6
FRIED CHICKEN ON
THE MENU? Yes.
Donald Link
CITY: New Orleans
CUISINE:
Regional American
PREVIOUS
NOMINATIONS: 1
FRIED CHICKEN ON
THE MENU? Yes.
MarcVetri
CITY: Philadelphia
CUISINE:
Italian
PREVIOUS
NOMINATIONS: 1
FRIED CHICKEN ON
THE MENU? Yes.
Sean Brock
CITY: Charleston
CUISINE:
Regional American
PREVIOUS
NOMINATIONS: 2
FRIED CHICKEN ON
THE MENU?Yes.
A16
CITY: San Francisco
NUMBER OF
BOTTLES: 500
FIG
CITY: Charleston
NUMBER OF
BOTTLES: 130
McCrady’s
CITY: Charleston
NUMBER OF
BOTTLES: 540
Bern’s
CITY:Tampa
NUMBER OF
BOTTLES: 6,800
Spago
CITY: Beverly Hills
NUMBER OF
BOTTLES: 3,600
81%
of winners
were men. SOUTH
MIDWEST
NORTHWEST
SOUTHWEST
WEST
SOUTHEAST
GREAT
LAKES
MID-ATLANTIC
NORTHEAST
56%
of winners
came from
NYC.
0%
of winners came
from the
Southeast.Previouswinners,onaverage,had
atleastone previousnomination.
Whilehavingfriedchickenon
themenuhasneverbeforebeena
requirementforOutstandingChef
winners,it’sexpectednow–
all2015winnersdo.
Winnershave
anaverageof
2cookbooks.
Did you know?
SOUTH
MIDWEST
NORTHWEST
SOUTHWEST
WEST
SOUTHEAST
GREAT
LAKES
MID-ATLANTIC
NORTHEAST
53%
of winners
came from
NYC.
0%
of winners came
from the
Southeast.
13%
Winnerswith
previousnominations.
Wine list
Numberofbottlesat
winningrestaurants*
Nominations
Region
Gender
Since 2000, data indicates the odds of winning the OutstandingWine category.
2,000 -3,000
(27%)
1,000-2,000
(18%)
Below1,000
(36%)
3,000andup
(18%)
What history has shown us
Nominations
*data not available for 4 restaurants
Since 2000, data indicates the odds of winning the Outstanding Chef category.
(Note: 2013 produced two winners in a tie.)What history has shown us

37. INFORMATIONAL GRAPHICS PORTFOLIO
OpenDivision
HONORABLE MENTION:
The State
Elissa Macarin
SOURCE: ACCUWEATHER.COM
Southeastern drought
Carolinas, Georgia drier than normal
Minor
Moderate
Severe
Birmingham
Atlanta
Tallahassee
Columbia
Charleston
Myrtle Beach
Charlotte
Hilton Head
2016 IS ALREADY HERE FOR EARLY PRIMARY STATES
Trump (R) Walker (R) Cruz (R) Clinton (D) Sanders (D) Biden (D) Bush (R) Kasich (R) Fiorina (R) Carson (R) Rubio (R)
Iowa
REPUBLICANS
Donald Trump leads the polls in all
three major early primary states, but his
advantage is slimmest in Iowa. A solid win
in Iowa, a state dominated by traditionalist
voters, could boost the New York business
mogul’s chances as he moves forward to
states where he enjoys stronger support.
But Iowa has favored social conservatives
in recent caucuses – Mike Huckabee in
2008 and Rick Santorum in 2012.
That makes the Hawkeye State vital for
Scott Walker, the governor of neighboring
Wisconsin and a values candidate who can-
not afford to falter out of the gate. The son
of a Baptist preacher has seen his poll num-
bers dip in the past month amid Trump’s
surge, taking Walker from the lead and out
of the top three.
Also looking for a shot of life out of Iowa
is Ted Cruz, Trump’s closest ally in the
field. Another candidate courting social
conservatives, the Texas senator has risen
to third in the Iowa polls.
DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton can start putting an end
to the Bernie Sanders phenomenon with a
strong showing in the state that derailed her
2008 presidential bid, when she finished
third behind Barack Obama and John
Edwards.
Sanders, the independent senator from
Vermont, has been drawing large crowds
and closing the gap with Clinton as ques-
tions linger about her use of a private email
server while she was secretary of state.
Meanwhile, Vice President Joe Biden’s
Iowa poll numbers are rising amid spec-
ulation that he will launch a 2016 run.
New Hampshire
REPUBLICANS
Jeb Bush will hope for traction in the
early primary state known for backing
the GOP’s more mainstream candi-
dates. The Granite State helped John
McCain and Mitt Romney mount
comebacks that led to their winning the
GOP nominations in 2008 and 2012,
respectively.
With or without a strong Trump chal-
lenge, Bush will need to win in New
Hampshire after an expected struggle in
Iowa. The former Florida governor
could use a New Hampshire victory to
build momentum toward South Car-
olina, where his family has enjoyed
strong support over the years.
John Kasich, another more moder-
ate candidate, could get a boost in New
England. The Ohio governor is leading
Bush in recent polls, though they both
trail Trump. But Kasich could be a one-
hit early primary wonder. He sits 10th
in the Iowa and S.C. polls.
New Hampshire also could be the
where Carly Fiorina makes some
noise. She’s fourth in the polls. The
question is whether the former Hewlett
Packard boss can carry any momentum
into the later contests.
DEMOCRATS
If Vermonter Sanders wants to stay in
the conversation for the nomination, he
must win the state next door. He has
passed Clinton in New Hampshire polls.
How long the talk about Sanders lasts
after New Hampshire depends on Clin-
ton looking like a lock in South Car-
olina. She does now.
South Carolina
REPUBLICANS
Few voters would have expected Ben
Carson to reach second place in S.C.
polls when the primary season heated
up. Could the retired neurosurgeon be
this year’s Newt Gingrich – the former
U.S. House speaker who upended the
party favorite here in 2012?
S.C. GOP primary voters seemingly
crave political outsiders. Trump and
Carson have the backing from nearly
half of likely S.C. primary voters in
recent polls.
But 2016’s third vote could be where
Marco Rubio needs to break out if he
wants to make his mark on the race.
The U.S. senator from Florida’s team
includes S.C. political veterans, which
should help. But he needs to get mov-
ing. Rubio is seventh in S.C. polling.
DEMOCRATS
Clinton holds a huge S.C. lead, but
let’s go with a “what-if” here. If Biden
enters the race, South Carolina likely
will be where he could do the most
early damage.
Consider Biden’s ties in the state. He
helped raise money for S.C. Democratic
gubernatorial challenger Vincent She-
heen last year. He spoke at the state
party’s big fundraiser a few years back.
He flew to Columbia to tout a White
House economic program last year. He
vacations on Kiawah Island.
Some in the party, who already call
Biden South Carolina’s third U.S. sen-
ator, really want a viable alternative to
Clinton. Why not Joe?
FROM PAGE 1A
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
2016 presidential primary dates
Note: Some dates are tentative
FEB. 1
Iowa (Democratic and
Republican)
FEB. 9
New Hampshire
(Democratic and
Republican)
FEB. 20
South Carolina
(Republican), Nevada
(Democratic)
FEB. 23
Nevada (Republican)
FEB. 27
South Carolina
(Democratic)
MARCH 1
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia,
Massachusetts, Minnesota,
Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas,
Vermont and Virginia
(Democratic and Republican);
Alaska (Republican)
MARCH 5
Kansas and Louisiana
(Democratic and Republican);
Nebraska (Democratic);
Kentucky (Republican)
MARCH 6
Maine (Democratic)
MARCH 8
Michigan and Mississippi
(Democratic and Republican);
Hawaii (Republican)
MARCH 15
Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North
Carolina and Ohio (Democratic
and Republican)
MARCH 22
Arizona and Utah (Democratic
and Republican); Idaho
(Democratic)
MARCH 26
Alaska, Hawaii and Washington
(Democratic)
APRIL 5
Wisconsin (Democratic and
Republican)
APRIL 9
Wyoming (Democratic)
APRIL 19
New York (Democratic
and Republican)
APRIL 26
Connecticut, Delaware,
Maryland, Pennsylvania
and Rhode Island
(Democratic and
Republican)
MAY 3
Indiana (Democratic and
Republican)
MAY 10
West Virginia
(Democratic and
Republican); Nebraska
(Republican)
MAY 17
Oregon (Democratic
and Republican);
Kentucky (Democratic)
JUNE 7
California, Montana,
New Jersey New
Mexico and South
Dakota (Democratic
and Republican);
North Dakota
(Democratic)
JUNE 14
District of Columbia
(Democratic and
Republican)
..............................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
S.C. primary schedule
FALL (DATE TBA)
Voters can start applying
for absentee ballots
JAN. 6
Deadline to mail military
and overseas absentee
ballots
JAN. 27
Deadline to register to vote
in the S.C. presidential
primaries
FEB. 16
5 p.m. deadline to submit
absentee ballot applications
by mail for the Republican
primary
FEB. 19
5 p.m. deadline to vote absentee
in person for the Republican
primary
FEB. 20
7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Republican
presidential primary; mailed
absentee ballots due at 7 p.m.
FEB. 23
5 p.m. deadline to submit
absentee ballot applications
by mail for the Democratic
primary
FEB. 26
5 p.m. deadline to vote
absentee in person for the
Democratic primary
FEB. 27
7 a.m. to 7 p.m.,
Democratic
presidential primary;
mailed absentee
ballots due at 7 p.m.
..........................................
, regulators say more
ee dozen dams in South
a failed after the torrent.
st 17 of those were in
d County, many in the
eek watershed that runs
Forest Acres and Co-
In addition to the dam
Lake, dams also blew
Upper Rockyford and
Rockyford lakes, as well
mes Pond on Fort Jack-
e Pine Tree Dam, which
gulated by the state,
ed, sending water down
Creek to Cary Lake.
rty owners where dams
y they miss the placid
hat kept their property
p, while providing pla-
ayak, fish or just enjoy
w.
ands of people live on a
f residential lakes from
st Richland County to
ort Jackson. The lakes
centerpieces of their
rhoods, where towns –
Lakes, Forest Acres –
ir names from their
dings.
s, however, see the
d their failed or totter-
s as a threat to thou-
ore who live down-
Y CONCERNS FOR
DOWNSTREAM
including some lake-
perty owners, want any
at are rebuilt to be
up so they can better
nd future floods.
breaks are suspected of
ting to flooding that
er rising inside homes
ing’s Grant neighbor-
d in the Lake Katherine
s well as washing out
Decker Boulevard, Gar-
ry Road and Lower
Boulevard.
d ld
mate is
changing
and more
frequent
storms, such
as the one that
recently hit
Columbia, are
expected,
he said.
“We
want to
make sure peo-
l h li d
eastern
regional
director.
Jobsis pre-
dicted it could
take months to
sort out all the
issues that resulted
from the broken
dams in the Colum-
bia area. His group
may weigh in on some
requests to rebuild dams,
although Jobsis said it is too
l t k
state is signaling that dam
regulation will be a higher
priority. Thursday, it ordered
the lakes behind more than 60
dams statewide drained or low-
ered by Tuesday until engineers
can certify their safety.
Many of the dams in the Gills
Creek watershed likely were
constructed 50 to 100 years ago
out of what some engineers say
were inferior materials. Taller
dams with more clay and better
compaction might hold up bet-
ter in the future, they say.
Owens’ next-door neighbor,
Catherine Cook, said she un-
derstands arguments for stron-
ger dams. She also said lakes
should be managed in a coor-
dinated way so that water can
b l d ffi i tl b f
seems like they should
be coordinated to alleviate
this massive rush of water on
our neighbors downstream,”
she said.
REBUILDING A BETTER
DAM? NEED A NEW PERMIT
How quickly a dam could be
rebuilt – and to what standard –
depends on the government
agency overseeing the work.
Officials with the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers said dams
already permitted by that agen-
cy could be rebuilt to the same
standard without any further
approval from the Corps.
But anyone wanting to re-
build a dam to a higher, stur-
dier standard likely would need
a Corps permit. That could take
months to receive, officials
acknowledged last week.
“If they are going to put it
back exactly as it was, they are
already covered under their old
permit,” Corps spokeswoman
Glenn Jeffries said. “If they
decide, ‘Hey I’m going to make
this a little better, I want to
enhance it, I want to change it,’
then you need a permit.”
Th C ld i f t
PAGE 1A
KES

38. INFORMATIONAL GRAPHICS PORTFOLIO
OpenDivision
THIRD PLACE:
The Greenville News
Jeff Ruble
ROAD TAX FOUND
BACKERS IN CITY
Mayor says Greenville will ask General Assembly for power to hold
referendum on tax inside city lines, where it has a chance to succeed
SUPPORT FOR THE ROAD TAX
Less than 30%
30-40%
40-45%
45-50%
More than 50%
A majority of voters across the county and
in every municipality opposed the one-
cent sales tax increase for road, bridge and
pedestrian transportation improvements.
But patterns of support emerge from a
precinct-by-precinct analysis.
The narrative has been clear since the
crushing defeat of the sales tax for roads:
Greenville County voters didn’t want it, by a
2-to-1 margin, and don’t appear to have an ap-
petite for another go at it anytime in the fore-
seeable future.
In the county, in every municipality, in a
majority of voting precincts, the penny sales
tax that would have provided $673 million to
fix the area’s substandard infrastructure
failed.
However, a closer look into the results, pre-
cinct-by-precinct, reveals another theme.
An analysis of election results by The
Greenville News reveals an urban-minded
core whose fate is tied to the wishes of its far-
ther-flung rural neighbors, based on the sim-
ple fact that Greenville County is, well … a
By Eric Connor and Robbie Ward
Staff Writers
Support was weakest in northern and southern
portions of the county, including the Skyland
precinct where 85.7% of voters opposed it.
Voters in 10 precincts, mostly near downtown
and all but one within the city of Greenville,
supported the sales tax increase.
The vote came close to passing in precincts
along the corridor of congested Woodruff
Road, particularly at points where motorists
spend the most time sitting in traffic.
See ROADS, Page 5A
Farrell Villarreal’s online profiles
along with interviews of people who
knew him both online and in person
sketch a portrait of a 22-year-old man
who police allege is behind the act of vio-
lence along one of the region’s busiest
corridors.
The picture that emerges by way of
interviews with friends, family, ac-
quaintances and authorities is of a young
man who voiced violent thoughts, de-
spised the government and police and
sometimes imagined himself an assas-
sin.
It’s a story of fabricated “safe
houses,” private Facebook messages
about home-built silencers, and a 17-
year-old girl in south Georgia whom Far-
rell Villarreal went to see when he set off
hitchhikingChristmasEvearound5a.m.
BY TONYA MAXWELL AND ANNA LEE | STAFF WRITERS
Friends, acquaintances of accused I-85
killer fear warning signs were missed
See SLAYING, Page 15A
ONLINE,
REAL
WORLDS
COLLIDE
SHOT AND LEFT FOR DEAD
FOR SIX DAYS LAW OFFICERS
SEARCHED FOR THIS CAR, a
missing clue in a perplexing
homicide along Interstate 85 in
Anderson County. ¶ And now,
here it was. Parked along a rural stretch of road
outside Belton. ¶ Behind the wheel sat John Asher
Farrell Villarreal, who told an inquiring deputy
that he knew the people in the house at the end of
the long driveway. ¶ The residents inside weren’t
as committed: They said they only knew the guy
from Facebook.
T
he truth is, the thin ice that Greenville per-
petually skates on when it comes keeping mi-
nor-league hockey in town could have
cracked this week — and, ultimately, it might
still.
The wealthy Maryland executive who
swooped in three years ago to save the Greenville
Road Warriors from calling it quits announced this
week he intends to do what no one has been able to —
make hockey work here — and he signed a new, five-
year lease to prove he believes what he’s selling.
But it would have been of little surprise if the an-
nouncement had been that hockey in Greenville was
done for — yet again.
The team loses money each year. Fan attendance
is at the bottom end of the league. Potential big-name
sponsors, unsure of the team’s future, are wary of
long-term commitment.
Meanwhile, the publicly owned Bon Secours Well-
ness Arena depends on those dead-of-winter game
nights — in ways beyond the minimal income hockey
generates — to help meet millions in debt obligations
that taxpayers were committed to nearly two dec-
ades ago to build it.
The margins are thin for a 15,000-seat venue that,
like others of its time around the turn of the new mil-
FOR 15,000-SEAT VENUE, BENEFITS OF
MINOR-LEAGUE HOCKEY GO BEYOND REVENUE
By Eric Connor Staff writer, econnor@greenvillenews.com
See ARENA, Page 4A

39. INFORMATIONAL GRAPHICS PORTFOLIO
OpenDivision
SECOND PLACE:
The State
Meredith Sheffer
C O L U M B I A ɀ S O U T H C A R O L I N A
FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2015 ɀ WWW.THESTATE.COM ɀ SECTION B
SPORTS IN BUSINESS: ROSEWOOD MARKET HAS A NEW OWNER B7
COLLEGE BASEBALL: SUPER REGIONALS START FRIDAY B6
WHO’S THE BEST
PHARAOH?
Pharaohs seem to be everywhere this
days. USC wide receiver Pharoh (the
spelling preferred by his parents) Cooper
is making preseason All-America teams.
The horse American Pharoah (mis-
spelled by a fan in a naming contest) is
trying to become the first Triple Crown
winner since 1978. And, of course, to
many, Yul Brynner – who played Ra-
messes II in “The Ten Commandments” –
always will be the most famous Egyptian
pharaoh. A look at the trio:
I
t seems a new survey comes out every week, announcing rankings for America’s cities and states on any number of
topics from weight to walkability, romance to jobs and just about everything in between.
Now, let’s face it, most of these surveys don’t seem terribly scientific. And in the grand scheme of things, the findings
mean little more than bragging rights.
Still, it’s fun to see how the Palmetto State and its cities stack up against the rest of the United States.
So, just to entertain ourselves during this rather hot week, we decided to pull together a few rankings from surveys
conducted by a variety of organizations over the past couple of years.
See how many you agree – or disagree – with.
THE STATE
Among the 50
U.S. states,
South Carolina
ranks:
1Best for
doctors
1Patriotism
5Most
religious
50Safest states
to live
8Hottest
3Best for doing
business
2People moving
in from other
states
28Eco-friendly
40
Happiest
29
Business
startup activity
10Fastest-
growing
8Best to be a
taxpayer
36Senior health
40
Puppy-loving
states
32Economic
outlook (2015)
24
Population
40
Land area
21Water area
45
Best for
women
40
Best school
systems
42
Overall
health
10Adult
obesity
CITIES
How South
Carolina’s cities
rank against
U.S. cities: 2Myrtle Beach’s
rank, 20
fastest-growing
metro areas
13Columbia’s rank,
14 best SEC
college towns
3Myrtle Beach’s
rank, 20 trashiest
spring break
destinations
49
Myrtle Beach’s rank,
100 highest-
appreciating cities
8Columbia’s ranking,
100 metro areas with
largest weight
problems
13Hilton Head’s rank,
20 fastest-growing
metro areas
17
Charleston/North
Charleston’s rank,
20 fastest-growing
metro areas
10Greenville’s rank,
10 best city
parks (Falls Park
on the Reedy)
16Daufuskie Island’s
rank, 16 sexiest
beaches
8Clemson’s rank,
top 25 college
football towns
7
Hilton Head
Island’s rank, 10
best beaches
4
Greenville’s rank,
10 best
downtowns
9
Greenville’s rank,
11 top barbecue
cities
1Greenville’s rank,
10 best urban
bike paths
(Swamp Rabbit
Trail)
Survey information compiled from organizations including: WalletHub, Area Development, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Yahoo News, America’s Health
Rankings, alec.org, Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, movoto.com, Fodors, livability.com, United Van Lines, Kauffman
Foundation, Coed.com, Milk-Bone, U.S. Census Bureau, Gallup, Neighborhood Scout, United Health Foundation, Bleacher Report, Saturday Down South
GOGAMECOCKS.COM
Video: T.J. Gurley explains playing ‘off coverage.’
Live Q&A with Josh Kendall, 11 a.m. Thursday
INSIDE
Notebook and Cloninger’s insider report, 3B.
This week in the SEC, 5B.
Illustrated using USC’s projected starters for Saturday’s game
HOW IT WORKS
A Cover 2 splits the deep part of the field into two halves, one
for each safety. Underneath, the corners and linebackers split
the fields into five short zones. The Cover 2 relies on the front
four to generate a pass rush. Without pressure, a team’s zone
coverage can be picked apart.
HOW TO ATTACK IT
Slot receivers and fast tight ends can split the safeties and get big
gains down the middle. If receivers can get to the sideline with
speed, the safeties might struggle to contain them. Flat routes and
wheel routes can attack the gap in between the outside linebacker
and cornerback.

40. INFORMATIONAL GRAPHICS PORTFOLIO
OpenDivision
FIRST PLACE:
The Post and Courier
Brandon Lockett
SHOTSFIREDA8: Wednesday, May 27, 2015 The Post and Courier
BRANDON LOCKETT/STAFFSOURCE:STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION; POST AND COURIER RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
The deadly force filesTogetafullpictureaboutthenatureandextentofofficer-involvedshootings,ThePostandCourier—whichbegananinvestigationfourmonthsago—obtainedinformationfromtheStateLawEnforcementDivision
aboutthe245casesfrom2009throughMay21,2015.Theinformationincludedvideos,crimescenephotos,forensicreportsandotherdocuments.Allbut10casesinvolvedpolicefiringtheirweapons.Thenewspaper
createdadatabasefromthisinformation,andincaseswhereSLEDdeclinedtosupplyinformation,othersourceswereusedtocompileentries,includingcourtrecordsandnewsreports.
Reasons police said they opened fire* Police said they faced these weapons*
5
Officerwasthreatened
withweaponother
thangun
1
Aggressive
dog
1
Suspect gained
control of
police weapon
1
Too dark to see
suspect’s hands
1
Person wouldn’t
show hands
3
Armed robbery
in progress
8
Suspect attempted
to gain control of
police weapon
orry
10
269,291
Agencieswiththemostofficer-involvedshootingssincethestartof2009:
RANK INCIDENTS
1.GreenvilleCountySheriff'sOffice 17
2.(tie)AndersonCountySheriff'sOffice 13
2.(tie)S.C.HighwayPatrol 13
2.(tie)CharlestonCountySheriff'sOffice 13
3.(tie)ColumbiaPoliceDepartment 12
3.(tie)RichlandCountySheriff'sOffice 12
4.NorthCharlestonPoliceDepartment 9
Florence 9.50
Anderson 8.55
Charleston 7.99
Richland 7.54
Aiken 7.50
Greenville 5.54
Spartanburg 4.57
Lexington 3.81
Horry 3.71
*per 100,000
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74
Age and race of civilians injured or killed by police gunfire
Age Black White OtherAbout half of the cases involved civilians
between the ages of 19 and 32.
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015*
13
37
6
34
9
36
1
10
8
9
36
28
19
9
28
36
49
46
40
45
11
*2015 is through May 21
Civilians
Officers
Civilians,officersinjuredorkilledThe race of civilians and the police who shot them
officer
11
Unknown
71
1
By Hispanic
officer
p
9
By black officer
62
By white officer
24
Unknown
89*
Killed
96*
Injured
Civilians
46
Person shot first
(at police)
45
Person threatened
police with a gun
59
Vehicle driver
posed a threat
18
Armed suspect
refused to
surrender
1
Shovel
1
Fork
1
Flashlight
6
Hand
1
Chair
2
Taser
1
Piece of
asphalt
1
Baseball bat
6
Item mistaken
for gun
6
129
Gun
58
Vehicle
16
Knife
7
Hostage
situation
10
Thought suspect
had a gun
11
Officer assaulted
with weapon
other than gun
3
Accidental
Officers
49
Injured
6
Killed
One was a suicide
4
Charged
Three unarmed
black civilians were
killed and one was
injured in these
incidents.*An additional 10 deaths were self-inflicted, and five injuries were not due to police gunfire.
People who killed themselves —
or expressed an intent to die —
accounted for about a third of
officer-related shooting deaths.
Suicide played large role
24%
10%
Apparent
suicide
by cop
Person
killed self99
deaths
Domestic violence played a role in
roughly a quarter of the officer-involved
shootings in which a civilian died. Some
of those cases were also suicide-related.
Domestic violence
25%
Related to
domestic
violence
99
deaths
Population based on
2010 census data.
* In some cases, this data was not available.
SEPT.28,2010:Sumter
policeofficersJasonLyonsand
MarkMosesspottedayoung
manwhofittheloosedescrip-
tionofasuspectinvolvedinan
armedcarjacking:ablackman
dressedinblack.
WhenLyonsstopped25-year-
oldAaronJacobsandtriedto
pathimdown,theyoungman
bolted.Lyonsgrabbedhim
andthetwomenwrestled.
Duringthestruggle,Jacobs
wriggledfromhisshirt,expos-
ingapistolinhiswaistband,
theofficerssaid.Hethenbroke
awayandran,pullingoutthe
gunashetriedtoescape,they
said.LyonsorderedJacobsto
dropthepistol.Secondslater,
gunfiresoundedfromLyons’
.40-caliberGlock.Jacobsfellto
theground,mortallywounded.
LyonsreportedthatJacobshad
turnedandpointedapistolat
him,forcinghimtofireinself-
defense.Others,however,told
StateLawEnforcementDivision
investigatorsthattheynever
sawJacobswithaweapon.
“[Jacobs]ain’tneverpointed
nofirearm,”witnessKendrick
MillertoldWIS-TV.“Hewas
moreabouttryingtorunaway.”
Thecountycoronerrefused
toreleaseanautopsyreport,
butTheSumterItemgotitfrom
anothersourceandrevealed
thatJacobshadbeenshotin
theback.
Meanwhile,anothermanwas
chargedwiththecarjackingin
question.StatementsfromJa-
cobs’sisterandafriendindicat-tt
edhelikelywashomesleeping
whenthecarjackingoccurred
andwaswalkingtohisbuddy’s
housewhenheencountered
theofficers.
ThirdCircuitSolicitorErnest
Finneysaidhefoundinsuffi-
cientevidencetochargeLyons
withacrime.Thecaseisamong
235incidentsSLEDinvestigated
inwhichpoliceofficersfired
theirgunsatsomeone.Accord-
ingtoSLEDfiles,someofthe
otherjustifiedshootingcases
playedoutthisway:
OCTOBER2009:Spartan-
burgCountySheriff’sDeputy
BrandonBentleyshotandkilled
adisturbedmanwhoreport-tt
edlylungedathim,refusingre-
queststostop.Neighborstold
SLEDthesuspect,StevenSat-tt
terfield,hadbeendepressed
andacting“offhisrocker,”
claimingtobeaprophetfrom
Godwhocouldseedemons.
OCTOBER200R 9:Horry
Countyschoolresourceofficer
MarcusRhodesshotandkilled
a16-year-oldstudentatCaro-
linaForestHighSchoolafterthe
studentluredhimintohisoffice
onthepretenseofhavingatalk
andattackedtheofficerwitha
largeknife.TrevorNeilVarinecz
leftbehindasuicidenoteand
reportedlypleadedwiththe
officerduringthestruggleto
shoothim.
APRIL2011:Cherokee
Countydeputiesweresentto
ahouseinconnectionwitha
“medicalemergency.”They
foundDannyThomasatthe
kitchentablewithtwohand-
guns.Adeadwomanwas
onthesofa.Lt.TimHillsaid
Thomaspickeduponeofthe
guns,soheshothiminthe
chest.Thomasdiedfivedays
later.Thomas’wifeapparently
hadbeendeadinthehousefor
acoupleofdays.
DECEMBER20R 12:Agents
fromthefederalBureauof
Alcohol,Tobacco,Firearmsand
Explosiveslearnedinaplan
torobHispanicdrugdealers
inGreenvilleCounty,sothey
setupatrapforthewould-be
bandits.ATFsetoffadiver-rr
sionaryexplosionwhenthe
suspectsarrived,andthemen
fled.Onesuspectshotatthe
agentsandwoundedanATF
dog.Anagentarmedwitha
beanbaggunhitthesuspect
intheleg,knockinghimdown.
Thedogdiedandthesuspects
werearrested.
SEPTEMBER2013:R Ander-rr
sonpoliceheardagunshot
fromamotelroomwherethey
hadlocatedafugitive.The
wantedman,CaseySmith,told
policeheshothimself,andslid
agunoutfromunderthebed
wherehewashiding.When
policeliftedthebed,Smith
pulledoutasecondgunand
firedattheofficers.Fiveof-ff
ficersfired30shotsatSmith,
hittinghimatleast20times.
Smithdied.Awomanwhohad
beenwithSmithtoldinvesti-
gatorshevowed“hewasnot
goingbacktojail,butwasgo-
ingtoshoothimselfandevery
officeraroundhim.”
Case by case
That’s more than double the
number of people killed in the
9/11 terror attacks.
In recent years, noticeable
gains have been made in the
state’s booming metropolitan
areas, where state-of-the-art
hospitals and programs exist
to help new mothers through
the risks of pregnancy and
the fragile first months after
birth. But poor areas of South
Carolinahavebeenleftbehind,
withneitherthemoneynorthe
resourcestoconquertheprob-
lems claiming their young,
the newspaper’s investigation
found.
Consider the following:
The mothers of more than
aquarterofthenewbornswho
died last year received little or
no prenatal care. The death
rate for those babies is more
than five times the statewide
rate.Forblacksit’saboutseven
times higher.
The state has seen its infant
mortality fall significantly be-
fore, only to have it rise again.
From 2002 to 2003, the rate
droppedmorethan10percent.
Then in 2004, it increased by
more than 10 percent.
Among blacks in some ru-
ralcounties,infantsdieatrates
triple that of whites, mirror-
ing infant death rates in such
impoverished countries as
Vietnam. Worldwide, infant
mortality rates are considered
a bellwether for a country’s
overall health.
Saving money is one of theaa
key motivators behind the
state’sdesiretoimproveinfant
health. That’s because Medic-
aid in South Carolina pays for
more than half of all births
every year.
The issue is complex. When
askedtocalculatehowmuchit
spends each month on babies
in neonatal intensive care, the
statedeclined.Itsexplanation:
Theinformationwasnotread-
ily available.
EightofSouthCarolina’s46
countiesdon’thaveanobstetri-
cian, a physician who special-
izes in care for women during
pregnancy and childbirth.
Two other counties have only
one part-time specialist. This
leaves patients with little or
no ability to get vital health
care needed during their
pregnancies.
The system set up to train
physicians in South Carolina
and throughout the United
States does little to encourage
medical school graduates to
practice in rural areas where
theneedforhealthcareismost
acute.
South Carolina is not alone
inthisdisparitybetweeneither
rural and urban or white and
black rates of newborn deaths.
In its latest two annual re-
ports, Child Health USA 2012
and2013,theU.S.Department
ofHealthandHumanServices
said infant mortality in rural
counties,especiallysmallones,
runs almost 10 percent higher
than in urban areas.
For example, Georgia’s rural
Lowndes County, on the Flor-
ida border, was identified in a
2012publichealthreportasthe
state’s worst for infant mortal-
ity, with a rate three times the
national average of about six
deaths for every 1,000 births.
For blacks nationwide, the
rate of newborn death was
more than double whites. And
inSouthCarolina,blackbabies
fared slightly better than the
national average, the report
showed.
Southern states generally
scored higher rates of black
infant mortality than the na-
tion as a whole, but several
Midwestern states, such as
Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois,
and Ohio, were equally high.
Hurdles to care critical
The Medical University of
South Carolina purposely set
up its North Charleston Chil-
dren’s Care clinic in a strip
mall, on a public bus line near
Northwoods Mall, so low-
income families can get to the
doctor more easily.
HenryLemon,apediatrician
at the clinic, said lack of trans-
portation is one of the biggest
hurdles for the poor in obtain-
ing routine medical care.
That hurdle is far higher in
the state’s rural areas, where
people not only lack public
transportation but also doc-
tors,especially specialistswho
focus on women’s health and
childbirth.
Poor rural areas simply
“aren’t attractive places for
doctors to live,” Lemon said.
The vast majority of more
than 500 OB/GYNs in South
Carolina practice in the state’s
three main metropolitan ar-
eas — Charleston, Columbia
and Greenville — making it
extremely difficult for many
women to get specialized care
during their pregnancies.
Low-income women are en-
titledtoMedicaidduringtheir
pregnancies,butthatmaybeof
little benefit in many parts of
the state with no specialists in
women’s care and few family
doctors, Lemon said.
“You can provide insurance,
but you can’t provide medical
care.”
A committee set up two
years ago by the Legislature
to study graduate medical
education in South Carolina
found “pockets of medically
underserved populations”
throughout the state.
“Thestatehasstruggledtoat-
tract and retain physicians to
serve in these areas,” the com-
mittee’s report stated.
The committee recom-
mended last year that South
Carolina set aside 15 percent
of the state and federal money
used each year for graduate
medical education, mainly
hospital residencies, to train
doctors to work in rural
communities.That’sabout$28
million.
Sofar,thathasnothappened.
For poor, rural South Caro-
linians the hurdles to proper
medical care remain. Many
can’t afford it; and if they
could, it’s almost impossible
to get to the doctor.
Lemon sees part of that
Catch-22 play out at his clinic.
“We are undergoing our
second expansion of physi-
cal space, and the decision to
stay in this commercial plaza
was based on the fact that we
have a bus stop in front of the
building.”
If rural areas don’t have doc-
tors or medical facilities and
people have to travel long dis-
tances for appointments, the
oddsaretheywon’tgoasoften
astheyshouldorwon’tgoatall,
Lemon said.
“If people have to travel, it
can determine the amount of
care they get.” It’s not unusual
in some rural counties that
the first time a poor, pregnant
mother sees a doctor is when
sheshowsupattheemergency
room to deliver, Lemon said.
Fighting daunting odds in S.C.
By the numbers In 2013, 56,732 babies were born in South Carolina.
Source: S.C. DHEC Birth Certificate data
389
babies died
before their first
birthdays.
579
mothers received
no prenatal care
prior to delivery.
2,854
mothers who de-
livered received
fewer than five
prenatal visits.
15,751
mothers were
obese prior to
pregnancy.
13,528
mothers were
overweight prior
to pregnancy.
1,185
babies were born
prior to 32 weeks
gestation.
6,190
mothers used
tobacco prod-
ucts while they
were pregnant.
4,259
babies were ad-
mitted to a neo-
natal intensive
care unit after
they were born.
Eight of the statef ’s 46 counties
don’t have an obstetrician.
Two other counties have only one
part-time specialist. This leaves
women with little or no ability
to get vital health care needed
during their pregnancies.
BRANDON LOCKETT/STAFFSOURCE: S.C. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL; CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WORLD FACTBOOK (2013)
On the web
For a more detailed look at infant mortality rates
comparing South Carolina to the world,
go to postandcourier.com/infant-mortality
5th
Charleston County’s ranking
for best infant mortality rate
in South Carolina in 2013.
50Number of counties with
lower infant mortality rates
than the U.S. in 2013
9th
The Palmetto State’s rank
for worst infant mortality rate
in the U.S. in 2010.
If South Carolina were a country and included in the 2013 CIA World Factbook list of infant mortality
rates, it would fall between Estonia (6.82) and the Virgin Islands (6.94).
Did you know?
McCormick County (25), S.C.’s
worst county, ranks worse than
Guatemala (24.32).
Barnwell County,
S.C.’s second worst county
(15.9), ranks close to
the Gaza Strip (16).
Chesterfield County
(15.3), S.C.’s third worst county,
ranks worse than China (15.2).
Laurens County
(13.8) ranks
close to the
West Bank
(13.98).
Florence County
(12.2) ranks close to
Malaysia (13.69).
South Carolina’s infant mortality rate in 2013 has dropped to its lowest level ever, but in many parts of the state, particularly rural counties, newborns still die at alarming rates.
Infant mortality rates are the number of newborns who die before their first birthday, per 1,000 live births.
S.C.’s third-world infant death rates
INFANTSfrom Page A1
Please see INFANTS,Page A8
CRADLE
OF SHAMEThe Post and Courier Thursday, March 12, 2015: A7AA
Mount
Pleasant
Charleston
Johns Island
James Island
North Charleston
5
1
6
7
4
3
2
Hispanic
Asian
Black
White
One dot
equals one
person in
2010,
mapped by
census block.
West Ashley7
Stall High6
School of the Arts5
North Charleston High4
Military Magnet Academy3
Burke High2
1
BRANDON LOCKETT/STAFF;WELDON COOPER CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE,UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA; NATIONAL HISTORIC GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM
AlthoughblackandwhiteresidentsinCharlestonCountystilllivein
mostlysegregatedcommunities,schoolchoicehasallowedthousandsof
studentstoseekopportunitiesbeyondthoseconfinesbytransferringto
otherpublicschoolsinthedistrict.Butchoicealsoleftotherstudentsbehind
inshrinking,mostlyblackandlow-performingschoolsthatfacesteep
challengesevenastheareasaroundthemreviveandprosper.Gentrification
hasbroughtthrongsofwhitestudentsintotheattendancezonesofNorth
CharlestonandBurkehighschools,butmostopttoattendotherschools.
RACIAL SEGREGATION CLEAR ACROSS REGION
North Charleston High
North Charleston High (4) sits in trendy Park Circle, but 62 percent of the students
zoned to attend the school choose to go elsewhere.The majority of its remaining
student body comes from mostly black, poor areas to the south. Students at two
nearby magnet schools, however, are mostly white and affluent.
Burke High
Burke High (2) sits in the thick of the
gentrifying and booming peninsula, but 63
percent of its intended student body fled to
other schools last year. Just one white
student attended the school.
LEFTBEHIND
“Here is the average you have in my class
right now. I hope that will change.”
She returns to her stool front and center
to discuss yesterday’s class. It didn’t go so
well, starting with the behavior of students
en route to the computer lab. They were
loud and disrespectful to the other teach-
ers and students — and to themselves.
“It was just embarrassing,” she adds.
Then they didn’t do the assessment she
gave them. Lots of zeroes went into her
grade book. Grades tumbled just days be-
fore the third quarter ends.
Some students even cheated. They aren’t
in class today.
“I read your stuff when I should have
been paying attention to my own family,”
she says earnestly, “because I care about
you guys!”
Pin drop silence.
SNAPSHOTS OF A SEMESTER
stead, the buzz-cut senior sits at a long
guidance office conference table with
freshly delivered pizza and 14 hand-picked
fellow students.
Katie Tumbleston and Sarah Fichera
stand before the group. They’re from the
city of Charleston Mayor’s Office for Chil-
dren, Youth, and Families and have come
to hear what students want from their
community.
“Do you feel part of the larger school dis-
trict, or like you are just defined as North
Charleston High School?”
The students agree: just North Charles-
ton High School.
“When they step into North Charleston,
they think it’s going to be like a jungle —
and it’s not,” senior Chelsea Moultrie says.
“We’re amazing!” Mikayla Fuller grins.
From across the table, Kayla Harrington
“They’re making us look like a lower
school because they pick the students with
the highest grades. It makes our school look
less than we are,” Orlando says.
Yet this group wants to interact more
with students from those schools.
“We’re so separated from each other,”
junior Brittany Wallace says. What if they
could take drama or music classes at SOA
or other classes not offered here?
“Segregation happens in many ways. It’s
not just the color of your skin. It’s how we
feel segregated from Academic Magnet
and SOA. That’s segregation, too,” Kayla
says.
The group talks so long, so passionately,
that Tumbleston must stop them.
“You are wise beyond your years,” she
says. “Some adults don’t have your in-
sight.”
down by a respectable 12.
Then a funny thing happens. They catch
up. And even the teachers are cheering.
The seniors commit a foul under the bas-
ket, and a new student who just enrolled
in midyear makes a foul shot to tie up the
game. The 100 or so students on hand
shriek.
A scramble, and the seniors score.
Breaths are held. Prayers are said. The
game is within one point. Charging down
the court, a freshman shoots for a long-
shot buzzer-beater.
Swoosh!
It is 37 to 36, an unlucky Friday the 13th
for the senior class. The stands burst into a
geyser of screams, a wave of bodies flood-
ing the court.
Maybe there’s some Cougar pride left
after all.
The Post and Courier

41. INNOVATIVE CONCEPT
OpenDivision
THIRD PLACE:
The Greenville News
Staff
On April 30, a whippet-bor-
dercolliemixwasbroughtinto
Greenville County Animal
Care on Furman Hall Road.
She’d been found wandering
around Spartanburg County,
and was delivered to the area’s
primary open shelter.
Her name is Whirly. And
she is one of 1,227 animals that
were brought to the shelter
last month. On Monday, she
cametotheGreenvilleNewsas
our first newshound. She’ll
spend her days in our news-
room, helping lift the spirits of
our news staff. But she’s avail-
able for adoption — just like
the other 400 or so dogs that
areintheshelteronanaverage
day.Youcanalsofollowherex-
ploits on Twitter, @New-
shoundGVL.
Often, there is a perception
that the stories from an open
animal shelter are sad. And
they can be. Last month,
Greenville County Animal
Care euthanized more animals
than were adopted. But the
goal of the shelter is rooted in
happiness — providing homes
for the animals and dramat-
ically reducing the number
that have to be euthanized.
The community is vital to
helpingchangethat,saidPaula
Church, community relations
coordinator at the shelter.
That help comes in two
forms: Contributions, and
community awareness that
leads to increased adoptions
from the shelter.
“What we need to do is get
the public behind adopting
these animals,” Church said.
“We have so many. If we can
get our adoption numbers up it
would make a huge difference
for the animals at our facility
in terms of having space for
them.”
Last month, for example —
themonththatsawthatshelter
bring in 1,227 animals — it
adopted out 337. Another 347
were transferred to rescue
groups. There is more work to
be done.
Betty Star, who is the adop-
tions supervisor at the shelter,
stressed the two other needs:
volunteers and donations.
For those who can’t adopt,
these are two avenues to help,
she said. Among the most
pressing needs: canned and
dry dog and cat food, blankets
and towels, new socks and
sweaters. Of course, financial
contributions also are appreci-
ated.
There also is plenty of room
for volunteers, Church said.
“We have a huge volunteer
program, but it always can be
bigger.Wehavejobsforevery-
one,” she said.
Throughout this week we’ll
be talking about more of the
services that are offered at
Greenville County Animal
Care. Follow our Newshound,
Whirly, @NewshoundGVL.
MYKAL MCELDOWNEY/STAFF
Whirly the newshound was brought into Greenville County Animal Care last month after being found wandering around Spartanburg County.
Greenville News’ foster dog
highlighting shelter needs
Whirly is available
for adoption
STEVEN BRUSS

42. INNOVATIVE CONCEPT
OpenDivision
SECOND PLACE:
The Post and Courier
J. Emory Parker

43. INNOVATIVE CONCEPT
OpenDivision
FIRST PLACE:
The Post and Courier
J. Emory Parker

44. AFFILIATED OR NICHE WEBSITE
OpenDivision
HONORABLE MENTION:
Spurs & Feathers/
Aiken Standard
Brian Hand, Kyle Heck
and Tim O’Briant

45. AFFILIATED OR NICHE WEBSITE
OpenDivision
THIRD PLACE:
Independent Mail
Staff

46. AFFILIATED OR NICHE WEBSITE
OpenDivision
SECOND PLACE:
Herald-Journal
Jose Franco

47. AFFILIATED OR NICHE WEBSITE
OpenDivision
FIRST PLACE:
The Post and Courier
Kurt Knapek, Laura
James&CarolineFossi

48. SPORTS MAGAZINE
OpenDivision
THIRD PLACE:
The Herald
Staff
Chasing scholarships
. ...........................................................................................
York, Chester and Lancaster counties seeing
influx of college football-worthy talent
. ...........................................................................................
2015 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Thursday, August 20, 2015

49. SPORTS MAGAZINE
OpenDivision
SECOND PLACE:
The State
Staff

50. SPORTS MAGAZINE
OpenDivision
FIRST PLACE:
Index-Journal
Mundy Price

51. DIGITAL NEWS PROJECT
OpenDivision
THIRD PLACE:
Herald-Journal
Staff

52. DIGITAL NEWS PROJECT
OpenDivision
SECOND PLACE:
The Island Packet
Staff

53. DIGITAL NEWS PROJECT
OpenDivision
FIRST PLACE:
The State
SammyFretwell,Matt
Walsh,GerryMelendez,
andChrisHessert

54. FLOOD COVERAGE
AllDailyDivision
THIRD PLACE:
The Sun News
Staff

55. FLOOD COVERAGE
AllDailyDivision
SECOND PLACE:
The State
Staff
TODAY’S DEAL: Columbia Classic Ballet company
$13 for $26 Ticket! Get the deal of the day at dealsaver.com/columbia.
MONDAY OCTOBER 5 2015 $1.00 VOL. 125TH, No. 230
STAY CONNECTED THESTATE.COM
FACEBOOK.COM/THESTATENEWS
TWITTER.COM/@THESTATE
TODAY: RAIN; FLOOD WARNINGS HI 67 LO 56
YESTERDAY: HI 71 LO 64 PRECIP. (as of 5 p.m.) 7.49”
FORECAST, 12C
TOP
SPORTS
STORIES
STAY
CONNECTED
CLEMSON
Saturday’s win over Notre Dame propels
Tigers to top 10 ranking
PAGE 1B
Classifieds 9C
Comics 7C
Go Columbia 12C
Obituaries 4C
Opinion 3C
A
slow-moving storm produced historic floods Sunday after
dumping more than a foot of rain in parts of Columbia.
The rainfall submerged low-lying traffic intersections,
washed away roads and flooded homes. Dozens of people
needed to be rescued by police and firefighters or were ferried to safety by
neighbors in boats. A mother and child were plucked off a rooftop in Rich-
land County by an S.C. National Guard helicopter, state Adjutant General
Robert Livingston said.
The deluge also caused several water
mains to break in the Columbia water
system, forcing many residents to lose
service, according to a news release from
the city. The worst-hit areas were down-
town Columbia and southeast Richland
County. Residents may be without service
for three to four days, the city said. Mean-
while, water customers with service in
Columbia, West Columbia and Blythe-
wood were advised to vigorously boil the
water for at least a minute before drink-
ing it.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said
Sunday that city and county law enforce-
ment, as well as the Columbia Fire De-
partment, pulled hundreds of people out
of situations where they were endangered
by rising waters.
“And there likely have been thousands
of houses and homes and cars that have
had water damage,” Lott said.
While as much as 16.6 inches fell in
some areas around Columbia on Sunday,
officially more than 10 inches of rain was
counted at Columbia Metropolitan Air-
port on Saturday and Sunday, according
to the National Weather Service. That set
the 128-year-old record for two days (7.7
inches) and three days (8.4 inches). A
single-day record was set on Sunday at
almost seven inches.
Some areas around Columbia received
as much rain Sunday as the region ab-
sorbed in the past three months com-
bined, according to National Weather
Service data. Another inch or two of rain
was expected overnight.
The effects of the storm will linger
Monday as rivers and creeks remain swol-
len and streets flooded after the record
rainfall.
“It’s not over,” Gov. Nikki Haley said.
“We’re still in the middle of it.”
On Monday, schools and colleges, in-
cluding the University of South Carolina,
canceled classes. Government offices in
Richland and Lexington counties as well
Historic flood
ravages Midlands
Storm drenched Columbia area
with more rain than previous
three months combined
Rain will linger Monday
as crews try to assess
damage from flooding
Surges of water closed roads,
swelled rivers and creeks and
led to one death in Columbia
MATT WALSH mwalsh@thestate.com
Department of Natural Resources workers make a rescue in Forest Acres during Sunday morning's flood.
BY ANDREW SHAIN
ashain@thestate.com
GILLS CREEK
(Devine Street near Rosewood
Drive)
5.1 FEET
Sunday midnight
14 FEET
Major flood stage
17.1 FEET
Sunday 7 a.m.
9.4 FEET
Previous record from 1997
CONGAREE RIVER
IN COLUMBIA
(Near Gervais Street bridge)
13.6 FEET
Sunday midnight
22.8 FEET
Sunday 7 a.m.
30 FEET
Major flood stage:
31.7 FEET
Sunday 6 p.m.
33.3 FEET
Record from 1936SEE FLOOD, 10A
UPDATES ONLINE
For updated news, including closings, go
to thestate.com.
Also, while storm conditions and safety
considerations may delay Monday
delivery of The State in some areas, you
can read the news online at
thestate.com and you can view a replica
of the print edition by connecting to
thestate.com/e-edition.
INSIDE
Your house is flooded?
Now, what do you do? Some tips. 6A
Lexington County
Residents advised to evacuate from
riverbanks as utility opens Lake Murray
spillways, 7A
Closures
Most Midlands schools, governments will
be closed Monday, 7A
Richland County
Record rainfall turned normally quiet
Gills Creek into a roaring river, 8A
Forest Acres
Columbia suburb hit hard for second
time in a week, this time by rising water,
9A
South Carolina
Record floods Sunday shut down
hundreds of roads statewide, forcing
thousands to flee their homes or
vehicles, 10A

56. FLOOD COVERAGE
AllDailyDivision
FIRST PLACE:
The Post and Courier
Staff
BY CHRISTINA ELMORE
celmore@postandcourier.com
Relentless, record-breaking rainfall Saturday
inundated dozens of Lowcountry thorough-
fares, uprooted trees, forced residents out of
their homes, stranded motorists and shut down
the Charleston peninsula for an entire day. And
it’s not over yet.
The tri-county area averaged about 6 inches
of rainfall between Friday and Saturday nights,
with another 6 to 10 inches possible before the
storm dissipates, National Weather Service me-
teorologists reported.
Moisture offshore from Hurricane Joaquin,
which hovered northeast of the Bahamas Sat-
urdaynight,strengthenedbyanareaoflowpres-
sureintheSoutheastandafrontstalledoverthe
East Coast will continue to drench much of the
state until the tropical system moves further
out into the Atlantic, according to the Weather
Service.
“This is a pretty extreme event, that’s for sure”
said meteorologist Peter Mohlin.
In roughly three decades spent covering the
weather, Mohlin said he’s lived through “in-
teresting” hurricanes and “impressive” snow
storms. This, he said, was different.
“To get that much rain in such a large area for
suchalongtime—formanypeople,thisispretty
significant,” he said, “especially if they’re being
impacted and forced to move from their homes.
Wewishpeoplewell,butitmaytakeuntilSunday
nightormaybeearlyMondaybeforethisisdone
and over with.”
CharlestonCityCouncilpassedanemergency
ordinance Saturday granting public safety offi-
cials the authority to restrict access downtown
Historic deluge
Relentless rain breaks records, and it’s not over yet
PAUL ZOELLER/STAFF
Kyle Barnell (right) and Dillon Christ take a boat ride through the flooded streets of downtown Charleston on Saturday.
Flooding causing sewage
problems in some areas. A7
Rain didn’t stop couple from
going ahead with wedding. A7
Search continues for freighter
lost in hurricane. A15
A list of area closings and
cancellations. A4
Online
For an updated forecast, go to
postandcourier.com/weather.
Gallery
For more photos, go to post
andcourier.com/galleries.
Inside
Please see RAIN,Page A7

57. EDITORIAL OR COLUMN IN SUPPORT
OF FOI/OPEN GOVERNMENT ISSUES
AllDailyDivision
HONORABLE MENTION:
Aiken Standard
Tim O’Briant
BY TIM O’BRIANT
tobriant@aikenstandard.com
The true measure ofintegrity is
doingwhatisrightandjusteven
whennoone
is looking.
Onthe
otherextreme,
choosingto
dothewrong
thingunder
thewatchful
eyesofoth-
ers,as the
Aiken County
SchoolBoard
didthisweek, isnothinglessthan
reminderofSouthCarolina’s
Freedom ofInformation,orFOI,
legal requirements, delivered
-
eventhoughtheirownattorney
advised they likelyhad no legal
-
-
tionofstatelaw.Thetwo“no”
door session evenaftervoting
against it.
Iattendedthemeetingand
tookthejournalisticallyunusual
aforementionedFOIreminder
relatedtoSchoolBoardexecu-
tive sessions. Inthis case, they
voted toclose the meeting to
discuss negotiationsrelatedto
a contract when, infact, there
wasnocontractatall.Whatthey
on the searchfor a new district
closedsession todiscuss a letter
whichwasnotacontractinany
doorstodiscusshowtheywill
One might read this and assume
-
drels.Idonot.Infact,Ithinkthey
and hard toserve the childrenof
this community.Theyreceive
-
tions theymakeand,sometimes,
it easiertoconduct muchoftheir
withthemonthatcount.Noneof
that changes the laws that govern
thewaytheyhavetoconductthe
theFOIviolations involvedhere
don’trisetoWatergatelevelsor
ifthe Board chooses toconduct
whenhandlingsomethingtruly
controversial.Withcontrolofa
-
get –whichisfarmoretaxmoney
CountyCouncilandallthecity
councils inAikenCountycom-
Intheend,voterscanonlyeval-
theinterestsofthosetheyserve?
secretive discussions short circuit
Beyond those concerns ofdol-
-
-
district. Asthe court oflast resort
wouldtolerate selectiveadher-
oversee.Imagine the chaos ifev-
andchoosewhichclassroomrules
tofollowandwhichtoignorefor
hisorherownconvenience. From
-
are small and rarelyenforced – a
None ofus wants tosee such
willexaminetheirownactions
they hold.
that are so very critical to the
-
munity.
Tim O’Briant is the Aiken
Standard editor and director of
audience. He can be reached
at tobriant@aikenstandard.
com or 803-644-2380.
COLUMN
O’Briant
School board must
work to get it right

58. EDITORIAL OR COLUMN IN SUPPORT
OF FOI/OPEN GOVERNMENT ISSUES
AllDailyDivision
THIRD PLACE:
Index-Journal
Richard Whiting
McCormick County board
act as masters of people
McCormick County school district residents and
taxpayers, rest comfortably knowing that your school
board has everything under control.
No, wait. Make that rest comfortably knowing that
your school board controls everything.
You see, the board does not believe you need to fret
about who might be the interim superintendent to fill
the void left when William Wright resigned last month
to take the reins of a school district in his native North
Carolina. It seems the board has found six potential
candidates for the job and has been conducting inter-
views with them. The board will have its final set of
interviews Monday night and is poised to make its
selection Tuesday.
OnOct.16,theIndex-JournalfiledaFreedomofInfor-
mationActrequestwiththeschooldistrictinaneffortto
receivethenamesofthosebeingconsideredforthejob.
Followinglastweek’snewsthatsixhadbeenchosen,the
newspaperinquiredwhetheritwouldgetthosenamesin
advanceofTuesday’smeeting.Aresounding“no”iswhat
wegot.Itseemstheschoolboard,itsattorneyandschool
districtofficialsarenotatallinterestedinsharingthose
nameswiththepublicbeforetheyvote,eventhoughthey
clearlyhaveacandidateslistthatshouldbemadepublic
underthestatelaw.
Instead of providing names of those the board has
interviewed and plans to interview, meeting agendas
and minutes were sent via email to the newspaper
last Wednesday, with the following note: “Please find
attached the Board agendas and meeting minutes refer-
encing the selection of an Interim Superintendent. The
District will respond to your FOIA request within the
15-day window permitted under the statute. If circum-
stances permit, and we can respond to your request
prior to November 6th, we will do so.”
That note was from Shamika Long-Lane, executive
director of operations for the school district. What is
clear is this: The board will most likely make a deci-
sion Tuesday night and, rather than abide by the intent
and spirit of state law, the board intends to stretch
its response time by using the full 15-business day
window allotted public bodies to respond to FOIA
requests. Again, bear in mind the board clearly has
narrowed its search to six potential candidates, a list
it could and should have provided last week. Instead,
the response is to wiggle around the law a bit by invok-
ing the 15-day response time it has to comply with the
paper’s Oct. 16 request.
It was not lost on us that Long-Lane’s emails all end
with the following messages: “We, not Me” and a quote
from basketball great Michael Jordan that reads “Some
people want it to happen some people wish it to hap

59. EDITORIAL OR COLUMN IN SUPPORT
OF FOI/OPEN GOVERNMENT ISSUES
AllDailyDivision
SECOND PLACE:
The Post and Courier
Elsa McDowell
S
C
e
r
C
w
r
e
t
n
C
s
s
w
t
t
c
u
l
s
i
f
i
c
t
c
c
A
w
s
W
hen witnesses clam up or
disappear — and suspected
criminals are released as a
result — the good guys lose.
Police, whose hands are tied, lament that not
enoughcitizenshelpthemgetbadguysoffthe
streets.
Clearly,somewould-beinformantsdon’tfeel
safe.Theyfearretributionfromtheaccusedor
his friends. They don’t have confidence that
the police will be able to protect them.
Andashasbecomemoreobviousacrossthe
countrythisyear, manycitizens—particularly
black citizens — simply don’t trust police.
That problem is exacerbated when law en-
forcement agencies develop their own repu-
tations for withholding information.
And while S.C. lawmakers wisely voted
to require law enforcement officers to wear
body cameras, the law allows only people
capturedonvideo,criminaldefendantsand
civil litigants access to the recordings.
The police should not have the license to
withhold video from incidents when some-
one is injured or killed by an officer. Doing
so only would widen the credibility gap be-
tween the authorities and the public.
Some law enforcement agencies refuse to
release dashcam footage, which is supposed
to be available to the public. For example, a
dashcam video is still under wraps in the
February2014shootingdeathofanunarmed
68-year-oldEdgefieldCountyresident.Alaw
enforcementofficerwaschargedinthecase.
In another troubling case, the U.S. Justice
Department opened an investigation last
month into the July 26 shooting death of a
19-year-oldmanbyapoliceofficerinSeneca,
S.C.TheStateLawEnforcementDivisionhas
refused to release the dashcam footage.
Recordedfootagecancuttotheheartofthe
matter. Just consider the bystander’s video
of the April shooting death of Walter Scott
in North Charleston, for which then-police
officer Michael Slager has been charged.
Consider,too,theinevitabledeclineoftrust
that occurs when lengthy delays in the re-
lease of evidence cause the public to suspect
a cover-up by law enforcement officials.
And, on the other hand, consider the risks
when witnesses withhold information from
police and prosecutors.
According to Monday’s Post and Courier,
two Charleston men were arrested in 2012
on suspicion that they killed a man in West
Ashley. The arrest relied on information
fromthreewitnesses.Butpolicehadtodrop
the case because the witnesses’ testimony
was “no longer available.”
Police said the case was one of several in
which witnesses have retracted their state-
ments or simply disappeared, leaving pros-
ecutors without the evidence to go to trial.
Another involved a 2012 North Charleston
home-invasion and robbery in which one
man was killed and another wounded.
People can help make their communities
safer by stepping up when they have infor-
mation that would help solve a crime.
And law enforcement can help establish
trust with communities by being as open as
agencies want citizens to be.
No secrets in fighting crime

60. EDITORIAL OR COLUMN IN SUPPORT
OF FOI/OPEN GOVERNMENT ISSUES
AllDailyDivision
FIRST PLACE:
The Greenville News
Beth Padgett
T
he Greenville News and two
other area newspapers have
filed a lawsuit against the
State Law Enforcement Division
in an effort to gain access to
video and other public records in
the case of Zachary Hammond.
He was the 19-year who was
killed by a Seneca police officer
on the night of July 26, and many
questions that surround his
death most likely could be
cleared up by the police dash
camera videos from that deadly
encounter.
This lawsuit should not be
necessary because SLED should
have released these records,
including the dash cam video
that should be most informative,
at least a month ago. Serious
questions surround the shooting
and there are conflicting stories
about what happened that night
in the parking lot of a Hardee’s
restaurant. Law enforcement
video has been released in other
high-profile incidents and there’s
no good reason for law enforce-
ment to continue to shield rec-
ords concerning Hammond’s
death.
Hammond was killed in the
fast-food parking lot by Seneca
Police Lt. Mark Tiller during
what has been called a marijuana
sting operation. The target of the
sting was the passenger in Ham-
mond’s car; the passenger was
not hurt during the shooting.
Seneca Police Chief John
Covington has been quoted as
saying the officer fired two shots
through the driver’s side window
because he thought the driver
was going to run over him. How-
ever the family of the Seneca
High School graduate has dis-
puted the story told by police
about how the shooting occurred.
Continuing to withhold the video
erodes the credibility of Seneca
police.
In early August a lawyer rep-
resenting the Hammond family
said an independent autopsy
authorized by the family, and
performed by two pathologists
with the Greenville Health Sys-
tem, showed the young man was
shot “from left to right and back
to front.” The lawyer has argued
that the findings of the indepen-
dent autopsy indicated that the
officer could not have been in
the path of the car if it was mov-
ing.
The lawsuit was filed last
week by The Greenville News, The
Anderson Independent-Mail and
The Journal of Seneca. The news-
papers argued that there is no
reason to refuse to release the
video and records because
“there is no prospective law
enforcement action to be un-
dertaken by defendant, there is
no risk of endangering the life,
health or property of any person,
and there are no matters ex-
empted from disclosure by other
statute or law.”
As Greenville News writer Ron
Barnett reported last week, the
dashboard camera in Tiller’s
vehicle captured the incident,
but the video has been in SLED’s
hands since that night. It recent-
ly was turned over to 10th Cir-
cuit Solicitor Chrissy Adams but
she has refused to release the
video. She has said she is waiting
for more information from fed-
eral investigators before making
a decision to file charges.
These are increasingly weak
excuses. Hammond’s family and
the public should be able to view
the dash cam video so they can
make independent judgments
about what happened that night
when the young man was shot
and killed. Eric Bland, the fam-
ily’s attorney, said last month
that SLED and the Solicitor’s
Office have violated the state’s
Freedom of Information Act by
not releasing the information in
a timely manner. The solicitor
and Seneca police seem to be
“moving the chains and changing
the rules,” Bland was quoted as
saying.
South Carolina is one of those
states where law enforcement
enjoys deep respect and strong
support from many citizens, and
often police officers are given
the benefit of the doubt. A num-
ber of deadly incidents in our
nation in recent months, includ-
ing one in North Charleston,
have later been put in a new light
after either video or more in-
formation, or both, have cast
doubt on the original report of
law enforcement.
A movement to require police
to wear body cameras has gained
traction after such incidents.
While video may not answer all
the questions of what took place
in an incident, it helps citizens
gain a better view.
More timely release of videos
recorded by dashboard cameras
or police body cameras should be
required by law. Until that hap-
pens in South Carolina, a court
should ensure the release of the
video and other evidence in the
shooting of Zachary Hammond.
Release video of police shooting
FILE
Zachary Hammond was shot to death by a Seneca police officer in July.

61. E.A. RAMSAUR MEMORIAL AWARD
FOR EDITORIAL WRITING
AllDailyDivision
THIRD PLACE:
The Post and Courier
Elsa McDowell
O
ffshore drilling apologists
saytheindustryisessentially
spill free, but the truth is an-
other thing altogether.
For example, a recent Associated Press
investigation of an oil leak that has per-
sisted for a decade off the coast of Loui-
siana, spilling up to 1.4 million gallons
of oil, shows that data provided by the
government cannot be trusted.
So the question for South Carolina is:
Why in the world would anyone support
offshoredrillingthatcouldwelldevastate
thestate’sbeautiful,healthycoastandthe
tourism that it depends on?
Gov. Nikki Haley and every member of
the S.C. congressional delegation except
6thDistrictRep.JamesClyburnhaveen-
dorsed the federal government’s plan to
explore drilling off the state’s coast. It’s
time for them to admit that they have
made a mistake.
They should consider the story of the
oilleakthatoccurredin2005whenHur-
ricane Ivan’s waves triggered an under-
water landslide. It toppled Taylor Energy
Company’s platform and buried 28 wells
about 10 miles off Louisiana’s coast.
They are still leaking, and they’re leak-
ing at a rate that is six times greater than
the Coast Guard had estimated and 20
times greater than Taylor’s figures — in-
formation discovered by the AP in its in-
vestigation.Theoilslicksheenseenfrom
monitoring flights covers eight square
miles.
Andit’snottheonlyone.TheU.S.Coast
Guard’s National Response Center re-
ported that Louisiana in 2014 had over
3,000 reported oil spills with volumes
ranging up to 11.8 million gallons. It es-
timates that 25 percent of oil spills are
unreported.
AmazinglythegovernmentallowsTay-
lor to shield spill-related information
from public scrutiny, citing the need to
protect trade secrets.
AndTaylorisnotevensharinginforma-
tionthatcouldhelpotheroffshoreopera-
torsprepareforasimilarincident,saying
the information is a proprietary asset.
SouthCaroliniansshouldbewaryofre-
assurances that drilling would not harm
the environment. It should also be wary
ofpromisesofbillionsofnewdollarsand
thousands of jobs for the state.
AsstateSen.ChipCampsen,R-Charles-
ton,wroteinarecentop-edonourCom-
mentary page:
“The land-based infrastructure neces-
sary to support offshore drilling ... is not
a pretty sight. It is extensive, dirty and
highly industrial.”
WherewouldthatgoontheSouthCar-
olina coast?
ClearlycoastalSouthCarolinashouldn’t
be a sacrificial lamb.
On Thursday, Georgetown became the
50th coastal community to officially op-
pose offshore oil exploration and devel-
opment off the East Coast. Mayor Jack
Scoville said that “the risk to our citizens
and our coast is not worth the slim pos-
sibility of reward.”
Surely if offshore drilling would ben-
efit citizens, Mayor Scoville would be
supporting it. Twenty-one percent of the
city’sresidentslivebelowthepovertyline.
Other communities standing in oppo-
sition include Charleston, Folly Beach,
HiltonHeadIsland,Beaufort,PortRoyal,
theIsleofPalms,JamesIsland,Sullivan’s
Island and Edisto Beach.
Further, 65 members of Congress and
more than 160 conservation and animal
welfareorganizationsareagainstoffshore
drilling.
Why would all those people oppose
something that would benefit them? Be-
cause it won’t.
1.4millionreasonsnottodrill
PAUL ZOELLER/STAFF
New S.C. Department of Social Services Director Susan Alford has lunch at her desk between meetings in Columbia.
DSS faces the challenge of overseeing both group homes and foster families throughout the state.
U
nthinkablethingscanhappen
to children in group homes.
Theycanbebeaten,molested,
drugged and neglected.
ButinSouthCarolina,informationabout
such incidents is kept secret. That means
parentsareinthedark—andpeoplewho
want to address the problems don’t have
the information they need to do so. The
S.C.GeneralAssemblyneedstorecognize
thatstatelawintendedtoprotectchildren
is actually putting them at risk.
Lastyear,theSenateinvestigatedtheDe-
partment of Social Services after hearing
allegations of mismanagement, unwork-
able caseloads and deaths of children un-
der the agency’s authority. Lillian Koller
resigned as director under pressure from
lawmakers who were exasperated by her
refusaltoprovidedataaboutsocialwork-
ers’ staggering caseloads.
Herreplacement,SusanAlford,facesan
uphill climb. The more forthcoming she
is about the system’s shortcomings, the
more likely the Legislature will work to
make beneficial changes, starting with
changing the law.
She also should realign the DSS budget
so that more children can be taken care
of in homes of relatives or foster parents,
and fewer in group homes.
Studies show that children do better
in home settings than they do in group
homes. That’s reason enough.
But an investigation by reporter Lauren
Sausserrevealedthatgrouphomesacross
thestatehavebeenthesubjectofmultiple
complaints. And while administrators
say that most of the complaints are un-
founded, the public has no way to find
out if that’s true. DSS, which is respon-
sibleforgrouphomeoversight,willsay,for
example, that New Hope in York County
hasbeeninvestigatedfor119allegationsof
abuse in the past 15 years. But it will not
sayhowmanyallegationswereunfounded
or how serious the allegations were.
That would be an easy fix — were it not
for state law thatcalls for the information
to be withheld. It should be changed.
Certainlythestateshouldprotectchildren
bykeepingprivatetheirnamesanddetails
of alleged abuse. But there is no reason
not to have a place people can go to check
outgrouphomesbeforemakingdecisions
aboutplacingchildrenthere.Thedatabase
couldcontainthenumberofabuseallega-
tions, their severity and their disposition.
Many children in group homes are
troubled. It stands to reason that some
allegations will prove untrue. The public
deserves to know that. And group homes
that are protecting children should have
the satisfaction of the public knowing
they’ve been cleared of charges.
Ironically, the state pays five times as
much money keeping children in group
homes than in foster homes, and the
outcome is usually inferior. Particularly
young children (those up to 13 years of
age)aremoreapttothriveinfosterhomes
than in group homes. Unfortunately,
South Carolina puts children in group
homes and institutions at a rate higher
than any other state in the country.
Hence the reallocation of money. DSS
needstorecruitmorefosterparentsandpay
them better. Some receive as little as $12 a
daytofeed,clotheandcareforachild.Only
five states pay less for foster care.
By reducing the number of children in
group homes significantly, DSS would
save tens of millions of dollars that could
be used to beef up foster care.
The children under the care of DSS are
among the state’s most vulnerable. Many
have been abused, yet they are being put
in group homes where they risk further
abuse.Thelikelihoodofthatabuseisclas-
sified information.
DSShasanewdirector.AndtheLegisla-
turehasdemonstratedagenuineconcern
for addressing DSS problems.
It’s time for dramatic changes that will
protect children and spend tax dollars
more effectively.
Endabuseingrouphomes
T
he General Assembly seems to
have two choices: It can com-
plainaboutanorderoftheS.C.
SupremeCourt,oritcantryto
improvethe inadequate schools inrural
South Carolina.
ToobadtheLegislature’sleadershiphas
optedtocomplain,asyetanotherclassof
ruralstudentsspendstheyearinschools
that are inadequate in the eyes of the
court—andpeoplethroughoutthestate.
Oddly, Sen. President Pro Tempore
Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, and
House Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Hartsville,
did not take advantage of legal griev-
ance procedures in an effort to amend
or modify the order.
Of course, ignoring the court is easier.
After all, the Legislature has neglected
the rural schools problem for decades.
South Carolina’s high court took an
inordinately long time — 22 years — to
find that thestatehasfailedin itsduty to
provide a “minimally adequate” educa-
tion to children in the its poorest school
districts.
In November of 2014 the justices in-
structedtheLegislaturetoworkwiththe
schooldistrictsthathadsuedthestateto
developaplaninareasonableamountof
time to address the inadequacies.
The court later said a panel of experts
should be established by Oct. 15 of this
yeartoreviewtheplanandreportonitto
thecourt.TheplanitselfisdueonFeb.1,
2016—afull14monthsfromthefinding.
Still,SpeakerLucascalledthedeadlines
“arbitrary”and“unreasonable.”Heeven
told Carl Epps, the lawyer representing
the plaintiffs and certainly someone
whoseperspectiveandknowledgewould
behelpfultothecommittee,thathemust
withdraw the request for a deadline or
forfeit his seat on the task force.
Giventhefoot-draggingthatlawmakers
haveexhibitedsofar,it’sagoodguessthat
without deadlines they would have con-
tinuedtoputofffindingacomprehensive
solution to the rural schools problem.
Itreallyshouldn’thavetakenalawsuitto
spark legislators’ concerns about failing
schools in the poorest parts of the state.
Without adequate educations, the resi-
dents of those counties face tough odds
for getting good jobs.
And without adequately trained work-
ers, those counties face tough odds for
attractingbusinessandindustryandthe
jobs they provide.
ThisgovernorandtheLegislaturehave
stressed “jobs, jobs, jobs” — and this is
no way to bring them to our state.
Gov. Nikki Haley has shown an inter-
est in helping those poor, rural districts
by offering incentives for teachers who
takejobsinthem,expandingthereading
coach program and providing modern
technology.
But there is much more to do, and the
General Assembly must be part of that
overdue process.
Ifvotersquestiontheirelectedrepresen-
tatives’commitmenttopubliceducation,
the legislative leadership’s response in
this Supreme Court case offers disturb-
ing answers.
It’s time for lawmakers to stop looking
forexcusesandstartlookingforsolutions
to the long-standing — and devastating
— problem of inadequate rural schools.
No excuses: Fix rural schools