Map of USA’s household internet usage
Credit: U.S. Census Bureau

40% of South Carolinian’s don’t use the internet at home. When people think of the “digital divide”, they often refer to third world countries, but right here – in arguably the world’s most advanced nation – several states rank very low for internet use in the household.

Along with 6 other states, South Carolina is in the lowest bracket of household internet users from across the country.

That’s pretty amazing, especially when you hear that some here will wait in line outside for new tech gadgets to be sold when they first arrive at a store. As a matter of fact, Apple just released the latest version of their iPhone, and people were waiting in line the night before so they could be first in the area to own one!

DHEC Commissioner Earl Hunter says, “This report is a milestone for the state. Cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths and illness. It is critical not only to be able to track the number of deaths, but to have information on the number of people who have been diagnosed with the disease. This cancer survival data provides another avenue to measure the burden of cancer on our residents.”

The five leading types of cancer were prostate, lung, breast, colorectal and bladder.

“The S.C. Central Cancer Registry has maintained national standards of quality, timeliness, and completeness evidenced by certification from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries each year since 1997,” he said. “Meeting those standards in all categories assures that the data are valid and reliable for use in the healthcare and research communities across the state and nation.”

S.C. Student Qualifies for National Braille Challenge Finals

Brianna Murray, a 10th grade violin major at The Charleston School of the Arts, has qualified for the National Braille Challenge Finals in Los Angeles, California.

She is the only student in South Carolina to ever make it to the Braille Finals and this is her third time qualifying. This year, Brianna qualified through South Carolina’s First Annual Regional Braille Challenge, held in Columbia in February, at the South Carolina State Library.

This is tremendous honor for Brianna, Charleston County Schools and South Carolina. She will be representing the Charleston County School District and South Carolina in a national arena. Brianna is an outstanding student and because of Brianna’s participation in the Braille Challenge, the South Carolina Regional Braille Challenge was organized.

At first guess, I’m sure you thought, “McDonalds, of course!”, but in reality, the largest restaurant chain in South Carolina is not a fast food restaurant at all!

Here’s a hint: Parents will be happy to learn that there are 18 full time staff members organized in quality education teams to address strategic plan components for school food service in South Carolina.

In addition, the staff provides regulatory oversight to the United States Department of Agriculture Child Nutrition Programs and the disbursement of Federal funds to the School Food Authorities (SFA).

if you haven’t figured it out yet, the largest restaurant chain in South Carolina is actually the The Office of School Food Services and Nutrition for the S.C. Dept. of Education.

Jobs in South Carolina’s clean energy economy grew 16 times faster annually than total jobs between 1998 and 2007. Although South Carolina did not attract clean technology venture capital investments in the last three years, the state has experienced significant job growth in the category of Clean Energy.

South Carolina’s Renewable Energy Grants and Loans Program could spur more growth with low-interest loans for building renewable energy generation facilities, including those powered by wind, solar and biomass resources.

BY THE NUMBERS, THE CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY

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