The United Way of York County has completed the requirements for continued membership with the United Way of America.

The requirements included membership investment, a survey of a community's resource development efforts and a report of annual income and expenses.

Recently the United Way of York County published its first Community Report Card, documenting statistics in four areas: economic stability, health and wellness, community safety and education/lifelong learning.

United Way of York County is a member of a system of 1,286 United Ways across the nation, but is independently owned and operated in York County.

Each local United Way must complete United Way of America's requirements annually to retain its active membership status with United Way of America.

-- Mary Jo Balasco

Local chiropractor appointed to state post

Brian Hughes, a chiropractor from Rock Hill, is the S.C. Chiropractic Association's new District 8 director, according to a Friday news release.

The group's coverage area is divided into 10 districts across the state. Hughes' area includes Chester, Lancaster and York counties.

Hughes replaces Glenn Geada of Lancaster, who resigned as director. Membership in the organization is not mandatory for S.C. chiropractors.

-- Shawn Cetrone

Miss S.C. pageant official arrested on sex charge

SPARTANBURG -- Police have charged a Miss South Carolina pageant official with criminal sexual conduct with a child younger than 11.

Easley police say 44-year-old Joseph "Joey" Pettigrew Sanders IV was arrested Friday morning. According to arrest warrants, Sanders sexually assaulted a 9-year-old girl in 2005 at a Comfort Inn in Easley.

Sanders' attorney, Bill Coates of Greenville, said in a statement that his client denies the charges and expects to be exonerated.

Sanders' parents, Joe and Gail, also serve as officials of the Liberty-based Miss South Carolina Organization. Gail Sanders said Friday that her son has taken a leave of absence from the organization.

Sanders was released on bail Friday.

Clemson raising tuition by 5.5 percent

CLEMSON -- Clemson University trustees have approved a tuition increase of 5.5 percent for the coming school year.

The Greenville News reported the decision by trustees meeting in Greenville on Friday will add $271 per semester to tuition costs for in-state students.

The board approved a 7.5 percent increase for out-of-state students, or $816 per semester.

Clemson spokeswoman Cathy Sams says the state budget that took effect July 1 cut the school's base funding by 3 percent, or more than $3 million.

Sams says Clemson also must absorb another $10.7 million in expenses including its part of a state employee pay increase, fringe benefit increases, and inflation.

Hundreds apply for S.C. permits to hunt gators

HILTON HEAD ISLAND -- Almost 1,500 hunters have applied for permits to shoot alligators during South Carolina's gator hunt this fall.

The deadline for applying was this week. Only 1,000 permits will be issued by a random drawing.

The Department of Natural Resources authorized the hunt to cull some of the estimated 100,000 gators in the state's waters. The season will run from Sept. 13 through Oct. 11.

Hunters may take only one gator and it must be more than 4 feet long. Hunters will not be permitted to shoot alligators until they have been captured and tied up.

N.C. lawmakers toughen sex offender rules

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The General Assembly has agreed again to toughen laws against convicted sex offenders, this time on social networking sites.

The House and Senate unanimously agreed Friday to a compromise bill that would bar sex offenders registered with the state from places such as MySpace and Facebook.

The bill also would increase penalties for child exploitation and for someone who attempts to meet a child in person after contacting him or her on the Internet for sex. The bill now goes to Gov. Mike Easley's desk.

On Thursday, the Legislature agreed to require minimum 25-year prison sentences for those who commit certain sex crimes against children under the age of 13.