(Rock Hill) A Rock Hill man is in jail today accused of beating his elderly aunt for nearly a year. Police have charged 20-year-old Timothy Rockholt with elder abuse after they say family members discovered the abuse Wednesday. Rockholt allegedly battered 78-year-old Mildred Ledbetter for nearly a year, forcing her to give him money and write him checks. Rockholt was in court Thursday, slumping over and hyperventilating after the judge set a $20,000 bond. Rockholt faces five years in prison if convicted of the elder abuse charge.

(York County) It is budget time again and the York County Council last night sat down for their first budget workshop. County Manager Jim baker says they are shooting for no tax or millage increases this year. Baker says that is still dependent on what happens in Columbia, but they do not want to add to the taxpayers burden already heavy with gas, energy and food costs.

(Rock Hill) When classes start next year at Winthrop university there will be a new degree offered on campus. School officials have announced they will be offering a master of the arts in teaching in early childhood education. Sue Peck, Chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction says the program will fill a void at the graduate level for those wishing to pursue a career in elementary teaching. The program will offer a number of hands on learning opportunities, including a full year of internship in local schools. School officials say they are still waiting on final approval from the South Carolina Department of Education, but expect to enroll 20-22 students for the first year.

(York County) If you haven't registered to vote yet, time is running out. The deadline to register to vote in the upcoming June 10 Republican and Democratic primaries is Saturday. Both York and Chester County registration offices will be open Saturday. The York County office on S. Congress St in York will be open from 9 am to 1pm. The Chester County Office, located on Ella St. in Chester, will be open from 8:30 am to noon. You can also download a mail in application at the S.C. State Election Commission Web site, but it must be postmarked by the May 10 deadline.

(South Carolina) South Carolina could have a new U.S. Attorney soon. President Bush has nominated Greenville assistant U.S. Attorney Walt Wilkins for that position, vacant since Reggie Lloyd left to take over SLED. South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint says Wilkins has a good reputation. While an assistant U.S. Attorney in Greenville, Wilkins prosecuted one of the largest mortgage fraud cases in state history as well as casers involving human trafficking, gambling and prostitution.

(York County) Margaret Ann Comer was one of six people representing York County during a recent trip to Columbia for the Multiple Sclerosis Society's annual South Carolina Advocacy Day. Comer says the main purpose was to meet with legislators to talk about the South Carolina health Insurance pool. She says that with the current debate on how to spend cigarette tax revenue, they wanted to make their case. Comer says she believes they got through to the legislative delegation and she will be watching the continuing debate in the statehouse closely.

(Rock Hill) It's time for the annual Postal Service Food Drive again, and local postal carriers will be out Saturday collecting non-perishable food items. This year a local business is also getting in on the act. Earth Fare Market and café will be opening in Rock Hill June 25 and they have partnered to provide 30,000 bags to Rock Hill residents. You can leave your non-perishable food donations on your porch Saturday and mail carriers, donating their time, will pick them up and deliver them to local non-profits.

(Columbia) Governor Mark Sanford says he will veto a proposal to increase the state's cigarette tax if adjustments aren't made to the plan before it hits his desk. According to a news release, Sanford objects to raising any tax without an offsetting tax cut. The governor is calling the Senate's plan a "double tax increase" because it will increase taxes now and force a tax hike later to cover future growth in the programs it seeks to expand. The Senate approved a proposal Wednesday to increase the cigarette tax by 50 cents per pack. The hike is expected to yield over 150-million-dollars for Medicaid programs and insurance premiums for the poor and uninsured. South Carolina's current seven-cent-per-pack tax is the lowest in the nation.

(Greenville) Greenville officials are hoping DNA samples will help identify the body of a man found Sunday night. Police believe the badly decomposed body may belong to a robbery suspect shot last month by a vacationing FBI agent. Autopsy results show the man likely died shortly after sustaining a gunshot wound to the chest. On April 27th, two masked men robbed the vacationing FBI agent and two others in downtown Greenville. Authorities say the agent was armed and fired at the suspects, who then fled the scene.

(Anderson County) Deputies in Anderson County say two female suspects are back in custody after stealing a patrol car. Officers say the women had been arrested Wednesday for shoplifting when they were placed in the back of a cruiser. However, while the deputy was outside the vehicle talking to the store's manager, one of the women allegedly kicked in the cage, got into the front seat, and drove off. Officials say the women drove the car a short distance before abandoning it. Deputies were able to catch both women, who will now face additional charges.

(Charlotte) Federal agents say two Mexican nationals face probable deportation, again, after they were caught last month trying to get into a restricted area at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. According to immigration agents, Liborio Flores and Miguel Rodriguez had what appeared to be fake social security cards when they attempted to gain access to an area where their employer was contracted for roofing work. Agents did not believe Flores' and Rodriguez's story that they were born and grew up in Monroe. This isn't the first time both men were caught illegally in this country. Agents say the pair was there for roofing work and did not have any criminal intent to get into the restricted area.