STATE BRIEFS
      USC student killed in fall NEWBERRY - A University of South Carolina student has died after falling from a train during what authorities described as a fraternity prank. Newberry County James Foster said that 20-year-old Robert Chase Campbell's body was found on train tracks in the Upstate Wednesday morning.
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Myrtle Beach theme park readies for opening, unveils new coaster
      MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) - Amusement parkgoers can soon experience the thrill of ''Life in the Fast Lane'' on a new roller coaster named after the Eagles' 1976 hit. Hard Rock theme park officials on Monday unveiled its longest roller coaster, a twominute ride that opens to the public next month.
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SC legislation would ban stripper lap dances
By JIM DAVENPORT Associated Press Writer
      COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Exotic dancers would have to stay six feet from strip club customers and those businesses would have to close at midnight under legislation approved by House panel Thursday.
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Bill creating pilot GED program for teens headed to S.C. Senate floor
      COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A proposed pilot program that allows teenagers who don't expect to graduate to take courses that will prepare them for the high school equivalency test is heading to the Senate floor. The legislation approved Wednesday by the Senate Education Committee would create a trial GED program for students ages 16 to 19.
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Bill allowing liquor sales on Election Day moves forward
      COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A bill allowing liquor sales on Election Day is moving to the Senate floor. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the legislation on Tuesday with a 16- 0 vote. Senator Greg Gregory says the law was on the books because polling places in the past were in the same places that sold liquor.
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S.C. leads nation in access to high speed internet
      COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A new report says about 94 percent of South Carolina households have access to highspeed Internet services. Washington-based Connected Nation says that is better than much of the rest of the nation that has about 80 percent access.
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Bill banning smoking in public places likely dead for year
By SEANNA ADCOX Associated Press Writer
      COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A bill that would ban smoking in restaurants and bars across South Carolina is essentially dead until the state Supreme Court rules on whether cities and towns can impose local bans, legislators said Tuesday.
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Senate panel approves additional training for state's youngest drivers
By JIM DAVENPORT Associated Press Writer
      COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The state's youngest drivers would have to go through more training before getting a regular license under a bill sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday. Sen. Joel Lourie said he wants four and half hours of defensive driver training added to the mandatory driver training for people under 17 before they get regular driver's licenses.
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Democrats call drug testing proposal absurd
      COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Democratic senators on Wednesday called it ludicrous to require all candidates get tested for drugs when there's just one known South Carolina politician with a drug habit, and he was a Republican. ''If it's a Republican using cocaine, then Republicans take the test,'' Sen.
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