Millionaires

In 2007, South Carolina had 78,285 millionaires (not counting home values) among its 1,704,376 households. Out of the 50 states, S.C. placed No. 38 in the ratio of millionaires to total households. North Carolina was No. 39. No. 1 was New Jersey.

Millionaire wannabes

Charlotte is No. 10 among the 50 largest cities in the country for job postings per capita. Detroit is No. 50, and Washington, D.C. is No. 1.

Ask an architect

Commercial construction is expected to drop significantly through 2010. The American Institute of Architects reports nonresidential construction will drop by 16 percent in 2009 and by another 12 percent in 2010.

For the second consecutive year...

...Charleston comes in as the No. 4 top tourist destination in the U.S with New York, San Francisco and Quebec City ahead of Charleston in the annual Travel + Leisuremagazine reader survey.

Grand Strand storm director

Bill Gates of Microsoft fame is an investor listed on a new collection of patent applications that describe using huge fleets of vessels to suppress hurricanes by mixing deeper cooler water with surface warmer water. By lowering the surface water temperature, the ships can deny hurricanes the heat- driven condensation that fuels the storms.

McMaster and DHEC stop Duke, for now

Charlotte- based Duke Energy Corp. has 11 reservoirs and 13 hydroelectric facilities along the Catawba River, which flows into South Carolina. After hearing a presentation from S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster, the SCDHEC board voted 4- 0 to overturn staff approval of a 401 water- quality certificate for the company's hydro facilities in S.C. McMaster has a case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, filed in October 2007, which claims N.C. takes more than its fair share of the water in the Catawba. Approval of the 401 certificate could have damaged McMaster's case. Also, McMaster filed last May to intervene in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's relicensing of Duke Energy's hydro system, arguing that Duke's scientific models to predict droughts were flawed.

However, in Ohio, Duke does all right

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has approved Duke's electric power rate increase, while Duke dropped its revenue increase from $85.6 million down to $55.3 million, a decrease of 35 percent. Also, Duke will provide up to $40,000 per month to subsidize low- income households.

S.C. Film Commission doles out grants

Up to $100,000 may be made available by the S.C. Film Commission for each filmmaker who partners with USC's media arts department or Trident Tech's film, radio and television department. Including scripts and project overviews, applications are due September 18. An open meeting to review the S.C. Production Fund and the application process is scheduled for 6 pm, August 12, at USC. For information, go to www.filmsc.com.

Columbia World Affairs gala coming in October

On October 27 at the Columbia Marriott Hotel, Ambassadors David Wilkins of Greenville and Robert W. Royal Jr. of Charleston will be recognized with the 2009 Global Vision Award by the Columbia World Affairs Council. Wilkins ran the U.S. Embassy in Canada, and Royal, in Tanzania.

News nearby

Apple Inc. declared Maiden, N.C., near Charlotte, its preferred site for a $1 billion 500,000- sq.- ft. data center. The deal with Apple allows for an expansion up to 1 million square feet, which suggests another $1 billion. Atlanta, on the other hand, is hearing bad news from BMW, which had planned on a $40 million mechanics training facility next to Hartsville- Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The facility has fizzled out in the current economic environment.

News downtown

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church has the city's design go- ahead for its new 9,500- sq.- ft. sanctuary at the corner of Richland Street and Main Street. HealthPort is moving 140 workers into the 1401 Main Street building. The Lourie's building is under contract for a retail operation on all three floors. Dunkin' Donuts slowed at its new Main Street location between Gervais Street and Lady Street, but word is the shop should resume its upfit soon. The same is true for the banquet facilities at the Sheraton, which opened a year ago in the century- old Palmetto Building. The banquet facilities are being built inside the former Republic Bank between the Barringer Building and the Washington Street entrance to the Arcade Building. Below Capitol Places at 1530 Main Street, the White Mule restaurant is open for lunch, and soon it will be open for dinner. Go to thewhitemule.com.