While you're up, get me a grant Brian Benicewicz, the Centers of Economic Excellence endowed chair in polymer nanocomposite research at USC, has received a $320,000 grant from BASF Fuel Cell GmbH/Inc. to support research in high- temperature fuel cells. Benicewicz was director of the N.Y. State Center for Polymer Synthesis and a professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute before joining USC's faculty last year.

Bankruptcies, bankruptcies According to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, business bankruptcies increased 54 percent last year. In the U.S. Bankruptcy Court District of S.C., 7,988 cases, including both consumer and business, were filed.

February fall For February, Georgia's tax revenue fell almost 35 percent compared to the same month a year ago. This past February, tax revenue for Georgia was $629.4 million.

Unemployment The U.S. lost 651,000 jobs in February, hitting an unemployment rate of 8.1 percent, the highest since 1983. Total unemployed Americans during February were 12.5 million. Across the country, employment in health care increased by 27,000 jobs in February. In S.C., December unemployment was adjusted to 8.8 percent, down .7 percent from the previously reported 9.5 percent. The S.C. 10.4 percent January unemployment rate is second only to the highest, 11.4 percent in January 1983.

He's ours, I tell you

The Financial Times, a business newspaper based in London, probably carries as much respect on our home shores as The Wall Street Journal, maybe more around the

world. At two places in its pages recently, The Financial

Times identified U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R- SC) as "the Republican Senator for North Carolina."

Foreclosure Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's old house in Dillon, S.C., sold recently in foreclosure proceedings for $83,000. It was bought by Travis Jackson, a 27- year- old loan officer at First Citizens Bancorp in Dillon. Unemployment in Dillon County is approaching 15 percent. The Bernanke family sold the property more than ten years ago.

Sales drop In Columbia, home sales fell more than 40 percent in January, and statewide sales fell more than 33 percent.

Banking Wells Fargo & Co., the San Francisco- based bank that recently merged with Charlotte- based Wachovia, was

ranked as the world's 21st safest bank, according to Global

Finance magazine. No. 21 Wells Fargo is the safest bank in the U.S. For the world, Germany's state- owned development bank KfW Bankengruppe is No. 1, the safest.

The South will rise again The surplus property division of the S.C. Budget and Control Board is selling Civil War- era banknotes on eBay. Issued 150 years ago by the Bank of South Carolina, the banknotes on sale mark the second time Civil War- era currency has searched for buyers. Last year, the first time, about $200,000 was raised in an auction. The money raised is held for the protection of the state's historical collection. To bid, go to http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/scgovsurplus_W0QQ_nkw ZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_mdoZ

Charleston's doing it. Can we? The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) is inviting developers to submit proposals to build a transportation station in North Charleston. Several modes of transportation are planned to converge. The intermodal facility should have space for CARTA (both in- town buses and commuter coaches), Amtrak, intercity bus lines (Greyhound), taxis, rental cars, and airport shuttles. Private developers are entering negotiations with CARTA instead of CARTA's waiting for full public funding. The request for qualifications is open through May 4.

McClatchy update

Newspaper publisher McClatchy, parent company of The

State, announced on Monday, March 9, it would eliminate 1,600 jobs, about 15 percent of its work force, and cut salaries across the company. McClatchy suffered a $21 million loss for the fourth quarter, 2008. McClatchy is America's third largest newspaper company, with about 50 non- dailies and 30 dailies.

Duke recognized Duke Energy Corp. was ranked 25th in the 100 Best

Corporate Citizen list by Corporate Responsibility Officer

magazine. Sonoco Products of Hartsville, S.C., was ranked 27th. Duke recently announced intentions to locate its headquarters in a downtown Charlotte highrise, very much unlike SCANA/SCE&G's headquarters move from its Main Street tower to the banks of the Congaree River in Cayce.

Bottom lines compared

Facts & Figures: How Does Your State Compare? is a pocket- sized booklet comparing the 50 states on 38 different measures of taxing and spending. Go to http://www.taxfoundation. org/publications/show/2181.html

We're No. 1 According to the Hilton Brand- Americas "Voice of the Customer Survey," the Hilton Columbia Center on Senate Street received the top ranking among 287 full- service Hilton hotels in North America for overall guest services and amenities. Just off the lobby at the Hilton Columbia Center is Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, ranked as the "Best Steakhouse in Columbia." Tony Tam, the Hilton's general manager, was recently recognized as South Carolina's Hotel Manager of the Year by the Hospitality Association of South Carolina.