COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina education officials say they aren’t sure what affect the new SAT will have on some state scholarships.

The new test will be given nationwide for the first time in March. It adds a writing section that pushes a perfect score from 1600 to 2400.

Several scholarships the state gives for academics are linked to SAT scores, including the LIFE scholarship and the Palmetto Fellows award.

‘‘We aren’t sure what the scores are going to be or how to interpret them,’’ said Julie Carullo of the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. ‘‘So the writing scores won’t be interfaced with scholarships at this time.’’

S.C. behind in

number of nurses

COLUMBIA, S.C. — As hospitals expand across South Carolina to serve a growing number of patients, officials worry about a looming shortage of nurses to care for those patients.

South Carolina already is behind in the number of nurses per capita. The state has 70 nurses per 1,000 residents, compared with a national average of 78 per 1,000.

Nationally, numbers of nurses have crept up for the last two years. There were 993 more South Carolina nurses working in 2003, compared with 2002. And many hospitals are attracting nurses with improved working conditions and pay.

But large numbers of nurses are nearing retirement age, raising questions about who will care for 76 million baby boomers.

‘‘For now, we’re OK. ... Shortages in nursing are cyclic,’’ said Gayle Heller, dean of nursing at Greenville Technical College. ‘‘But if we don’t do something, in 10 years when the baby boomers retire, we’re going to be in big trouble.’’

Two more Landrum

officers suspended

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Two more Landrum police officers have been suspended pending the outcome of a State Law Enforcement investigation into allegations of misconduct and ticket fixing at the department.

Officer Scott White and Sgt. Tim Kelley learned Friday they had been suspended.

Chief Bruce Shelnut’s eight-man department is down to three full-time officers. He said Saturday the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office is on standby in case backup is needed. Six reserve officers also are on standby.

Shelnut said he plans to hire two new officers in March to replace one fired officer and another who resigned.

White, Kelley and former Officer Steve Alexander went public with their suspicions of wrongdoing in January. Alexander was fired soon after.

Gay marriage debate

to continue at Statehouse

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Debate will continue at the Statehouse this week on a proposal to change the state constitution to ban same-sex marriages — something state law already does.

The South Carolina House is likely to approve the constitutional amendment on Wednesday. But whether South Carolinians actually get to vote on the issue could be in the hands of one Democratic state senator who doesn’t believe the constitution is the place to legislate moral values.

‘‘I’m not going to let others trample on the rights of gays and lesbians,’’ said Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee that will take up the proposed amendment.

Supporters feel confident they can pass the amendment in the Senate — if they can get the measure out of Ford’s committee.