Gorilla escapes and injures worker at SC zoo, then returns to enclosure after 5 minutes out

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A 390-pound gorilla grabbed some low-hanging bamboo to scale a wall at a South Carolina zoo Friday, escaping his enclosure and tackling a worker before returning to his pen about five minutes later.

Jumping-off point: Motorists call 911 after SC man leaps off bridge to meet friend in boat

COLUMBIA, S.C. — When drivers on a stretch of South Carolina interstate saw someone jump off a bridge, they called 911, fearing they were watching a suicide. Instead, multiple media outlets reported Thursday that the callers were just watching Lyle Silkwood jump from the Interstate 26 bridge into the Saluda River near Columbia to meet a passing friend in a boat after his truck ran out of gas.

South Carolina woman arrested for allegedly writing fake doctor’s notes for students

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Students have been known to try to fake a doctor’s note to get out of school. A South Carolina woman has now been arrested and accused of writing fake doctor’s notes for four students. The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reported Wednesday that 45-year-old Naomi Antoinette Aranda was charged with forgery. Horry County police said she wrote notes for four students at Socastee High School, including her own child.

SC funeral home that cut dead man’s legs to fit him in casket can stay open for now

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A judge says a South Carolina funeral home where a corpse’s legs were cut so it would fit in a casket can remain open as it appeals the revocation of its license.

Authorities: SC teen robbery suspect shot by police had realistic BB gun, officers justified

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A 15-year-old South Carolina girl shot to death by police after a store robbery was holding a BB gun that looked like a 9 mm pistol, authorities said Wednesday, calling the officers’ actions justified. The state said it wouldn’t bring charges against the men.

Harvard, Yale, Princeton and the rest take a back seat to Clemson … Clemson’s president says

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Move over Harvard, Yale, Princeton — and every other college. Asked to rate other universities for the influential U.S. News & World Report rankings, Clemson University President James Barker put his institution on top.

SC Gov. Sanford requests stimulus money, but says $700M for schools will create more problems

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford requested stimulus cash for the state’s schools Monday, telling the U.S. education secretary he’s doing so under duress and the $700 million in bailout money will create more problems.

SC residents who lost everything in wildfire want to know why warnings came so late

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Residents who lost everything in an April wildfire are asking why officials gave them just minutes to evacuate when flames had been raging for most of the previous day.

Police: Teenage robbery suspect shot and killed by officers after she refused to drop gun

ROCK HILL, S.C. — A police chief said Friday he thinks officers were justified when they shot a 15-year-old girl suspected of robbing a store at gunpoint, comments that left the teen’s relatives expressing outrage as they planned her funeral.

SC court orders gov to request federal stimulus cash, likely ends months of political battles

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s Supreme Court ordered Gov. Mark Sanford on Thursday to request $700 million in federal stimulus money aimed primarily at struggling schools, ending months of wrangling with legislators who accused him of playing politics with people’s lives.

SC sells Civil War-era paper money to help pay the bills, preserve state’s history

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina is selling money to make money.

Police bring mom of 555-pound teen back to SC to face charge after being arrested in Maryland

GREENVILLE, S.C. — A mother accused of neglecting her 555-pound son’s health has been brought back to South Carolina after she was arrested in Maryland.

Home for SC family in 1960s was slave cabin; plantation exhibit traces black life from slavery

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Eighty-six-year-old Johnnie Leach leans on his cane as he sits in warm sunshine on the steps of the old slave cabin where he raised 13 children four decades ago.

SC funeral home, director have licenses revoked for cutting tall man’s corpse to fit in coffin

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Authorities revoked the licenses of a South Carolina funeral home and its director after he admitted one of his employees cut the legs of a 6-foot-7 man without the family’s permission so the corpse would fit in a casket.

SC Legislative manual uses terms ‘Negro’ and ’scalawag’ for some former officeholders

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The official manual of South Carolina’s Legislature continues to label some of the state’s former politicians as “Negro” or “scalawag” — apparent remnants of disgruntlement over Reconstruction that are drawing fresh scrutiny.

Gullah communities on South Carolina sea islands open farmers market

CHARLESTON, S.C. — A new farmers market has opened near the Gullah communities on South Carolina’s sea islands.

Ageless Martin wins for second time in last 4 Sprint Cup races

DARLINGTON, S.C. — Don’t let Mark Martin’s joyful demeanor fool you — he knows how well he’s running and knows where that could lead this season.

Mark Martin, 50, wins for 2nd time in last 4 Cup races, taking Southern 500 at Darlington

DARLINGTON, S.C. — Don’t let Mark Martin’s joyful demeanor fool you — he knows how well he’s running and knows where that could lead this season. “It’s early in the year,” Martin said Saturday night. “A lot of cool things could happen the way things are going.” Like maybe a Sprint Cup championship?

Ageless Martin wins for second time in last 4 Sprint Cup races

DARLINGTON, S.C. — If Mark Martin keeps winning like this, even he might have to concede that he’s racing for a Sprint Cup championship.

Ards thank NASCAR star Kyle Busch for $100,000 donation

DARLINGTON, S.C. — Kyle Busch got to visit with a fellow Nationwide Series record holder Saturday at Darlington Raceway.

NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Jeremy Mayfield suspended after failing drug test

DARLINGTON, S.C. — Jeremy Mayfield was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR on Saturday for failing a random drug test, becoming the first driver to violate a toughened new policy that went into effect this season.

Matt Kenseth posts record lap of 179.514 to win pole for Southern 500 at Darlington

DARLINGTON, S.C. — Jeff Gordon left his car with hands shaking and heart pounding after another harrowing experience at Darlington Raceway. Gordon’s teammate at Hendrick Motorsports, three-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, wasn’t as lucky qualifying Friday, crashing before he could finish his lap.

Matt Kenseth wins Nationwide race at Darlington as late flat dooms Kyle Busch

DARLINGTON, S.C. — Matt Kenseth found one of the few ways to beat Kyle Busch these days. Kenseth took advantage when Busch’s dominant car got a flat with two laps to go Friday night, lifting him to his first Nationwide Series win this year and capping a record-setting day at Darlington Raceway.

Kyle Busch goes flat at Darlington, handing Kenseth a Nationwide win

DARLINGTON, S.C. — Kyle Busch’s flat tire with two laps left sent Matt Kenseth to his first Nationwide Series victory of the season — and capped a record-setting day at Darlington Raceway.

3-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson unhurt after qualifying crash at Darlington

DARLINGTON, S.C. — Three-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson has hit the wall during qualifying at Darlington Raceway and went for treatment to the infield care center.

Ala. man dies by lethal injection for killing SC police officer after trying to pass bad check

COLUMBIA, S.C. — An Alabama man convicted of killing a police officer has been executed in South Carolina.

Martin say desire to race, not running for a Sprint Cup title, fueled Hendrick with extension

DARLINGTON, S.C. — Mark Martin insists he didn’t sign with Hendrick Motorsports to chase a NASCAR championship.

Battle to ban bikers in South Carolina beach town comes during tough economic times

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — In the midst of a recession and with loads of empty hotel rooms, South Carolina’s vacation hot spot is hanging a “No Vacancy” sign for hundreds of thousands of motorcycle riders who have come here each May.

Kenseth posts record lap at Darlington, 3-time NASCAR champ Johnson wrecks

DARLINGTON, S.C. — Jeff Gordon left his car with hands shaking and heart pounding after another harrowing experience at Darlington Raceway.

Officers, searchers spread out across coastal SC county to look for missing NY teen

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Searchers are combing another coastal South Carolina county for a New York teen who went missing nearly two weeks ago in Myrtle Beach.