Figures from the Department of Employment and Workforce show that the state’s rate fell from 8.4 percent in March to eight percent in April. The last time South Carolina’s unemployment rate was that low was October 2008.

York County’s jobless rate decreased a full percentage point to 8.9 percent.  Chester County’s rate also dropped a full percentage point last month to 11.2 percent.  Lancaster County’s rate slipped .6 percent to 9.6 percent.

The number of people working in the Palmetto State last month rose by more than 2,900.

McCall, who remains a member of the national GOP, says party leaders have met with Log Cabin Republicans, a group of gay conservatives.

He says the party needs to campaign among gays, blacks, Hispanics and Asians to demonstrate they care about them.

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McCall says the GOP is not interested in abandoning its support of traditional marriage.

Republicans need to treat gays and other minorities with respect and dignity, McCall said.

After the Winthrop took an early lead on Matt Lobacz’s solo shot to lead off the second inning, UNCA took control with three runs in the bottom half of the second along with three more in third. The Eagles battled back with single runs in the fourth and fifth, however, the Bulldog bullpen allowed Winthrop batters just two hits in three innings of scoreless relief securing the 7-3 win in the series opener.

The loss dropped Winthrop to 20-33 (7-15 Big South) on the season while UNC Asheville snapped a five game skid and improved to 16-34 including 4-17 in conference play. Asheville and Winthrop continue their three-game series Friday afternoon at Greenwood Field starting at 3 p.m. The teams will finish up the season Saturday at McCormick Field when the Bulldogs and Eagles are scheduled to play at Noon.

The Eagles were first to get on the board as senior Matt Lobacz hammered his team-leading fourth home run of the season over the right field fence to lead off the second inning and put the Eagles up 1-0.

The lead did not hold up long as the Bulldogs were able to get to Eagle’s starter Matt Pierpont (4-5) in the bottom half of the second inning. With runners on second and third Phillip Treadway grounded out allowing Kyle Towles to score from third and tie the game. With two outs in the inning, Ian Graham roped a single to left field bringing Eli Miller around to score. Graham eventually came around to score an unearned run on an error by the shortstop capping off the three-run rally for Asheville.

The Bulldogs picked up where they left off in the last inning rallying for three runs in the third. Justin Woods connected with his first home run of the season to lead off the inning. With two outs in the inning, Treadway’s RBI single allowed Towles, who had reached on an error earlier in the inning, to come around and score. Graham followed with his second RBI of the game as he singled up the middle scoring Treadway and boosting the lead to 6-1.

The Eagles managed to get a run back in the fourth when Clay Altman doubled to center field with two outs and hustled around to score on a pair of wild pitches from Bulldog’s starter Corey Randall (4-4). Winthrop continued to fight back in the fifth with Chad Smith’s two out single through the left side scoring Jace Whitley from second and cutting the lead to 6-3. However, Robert McIntosh’s RBI double in the sixth off of Pierpont extended the Bulldog lead to 7-3.

The UNCA bullpen held the Winthrop offense scoreless in the final three innings of the game as the Bulldogs wrapped up the 7-3 victory in the series opener Thursday afternoon in Asheville.

Winthrop was led at the plate by Chad Smith who banged out two hits and collected an RBI. Lobacz had strong efforts offensively and defensively for the Eagles with his fourth home run of the season to lead off the second which followed a great catch in right field in the first inning to rob a two-run homer. Eagle starter Pierpont (4-5) was tagged with the loss. He allowed 14 hits, seven runs but just four were earned. Bulldog’s starter Randall earned his fourth win of the season scattering six hits, allowing three runs, striking out five and walking three.

Hospital officials announced this week that Ursula Lawrence has joined the Rock Hill hospital as Chief Nursing Officer.

Lawrence comes to Rock Hill from Salem County, N. C. and says her three decades of experience in the nursing field helps foster younger nurses right out of college.

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During her time at Central Carolina hospital in the Tarheel state, Lawrence’s leadership brought Quality Metrics up to 138 percent from 94 percent.

Ursula received her Master’s in Nursing from Widener University in 2005.  She has worked as an ICU Nurse, Critical Care Nurse/Administrative Supervisor, Clinical Educator, Adjunct Nursing Professor at Salem Community College and as the Director of Nursing Resources at The Memorial Hospital of Salem County in Salem, N.J.

The 4th annual Red Rose Festival takes place Friday and Saturday.

Festival events and promotions manager Caroline Hasty says there will be 18 bands on two stages over the two days.  She says Saturday will be especially wild and crazy.

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The Red Rose Festival runs Friday 6-10 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in downtown Lancaster.

Artisans and crafters will sell collectibles and hand-crafted items.

A Kids Zone will allow children to scale a rock-climbing wall, slide down an 18-foot-slide, bounce around and relax on the carousel.

There will also be plenty of food vendors.