Monday’s cut means House lawmakers’ spending plan will be less than the current year’s, and cuts will be weighed against several hundred million dollars in new state obligations, such as the growing cost of education and health care.

“I don’t think we can restore any cuts or fund the additional increase,” said House Ways and Means chairman Dan Cooper, R-Anderson, of K-12 and health care budgets.

State economists said the January decline in state tax collections was troubling and could lead to additional mid-year budget cuts next month if trends continue. But, economists also cautioned that January revenue figures are often “murky,” and they delayed budget projections that would likely translate into immediate cuts and likely layoffs.

If trends hold, then economists will have no choice other than to revise estimates downward at the March meeting, said Don Herriott, a member of the Board of Economic Advisors. Chairman John Rainey said that would mean agencies would have to absorb a roughly $60 million cut over three months.

Somewhere in between her work at AT&T, she has found time to serve as the Columbia Urban League Guild president, on the S.C. State University Board of Trustees and as the vice chair of the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and Tourism.

And that’s just for starters.

“We are our brothers’ keepers, and if we don’t (care for them), then shame on us,” Smith said.

The AT&T director of public affairs has been named the United Way of the Midlands Humanitarian of the Year for 2009. She becomes the first African-American woman selected for the award since it was established in 1984.

“When a ball comes off the rim, somebody has to call for it,” said Stevenson, one half of the Eau Claire girls basketball team’s dynamic duo in the post.

The two have endured enough low-post collisions while chasing rebounds to know it takes only one of them to do the job.

For coach Precious Caldwell, having two of them is something like a dream.

She waited two seasons to see how good of a player she had in Stevenson. The 6-foot center was inexperienced in her freshman season and was injured for much of her sophomore season. Now she is blossoming.

WHERE: Conte Forum, Chesnut Hill, Mass.

TV: Fox Sports Carolinas

RADIO: ESPN Radio 93.1 FM

RECORDS: Clemson 19-3, 5-2 ACC; Boston College (18-7, 6-4 ACC)

Rodriguez admitted Monday that he used banned substances while playing for Texas from 2001-03 - before he joined the Yankees. But now, everyone in pinstripes has been pulled into the story.

"We urged Alex to be completely open, honest and forthcoming in addressing his use of performance-enhancing drugs. We take him at his word that he was," the team said in a statement Monday night. "Although we are disappointed in the mistake he spoke to today, we realize that Alex - like all of us - is a human being not immune to fault."

Earlier in the day, Yankees captain Derek Jeter said he was "shocked" by a Sports Illustrated report last weekend that A-Rod had flunked a drug test. Jorge Posada said he was surprised to hear it, too.

"Alex is my teammate and Alex is going to be my friend forever. I'm going to support him any way I can," Posada said.

“That’s up to you guys,” Logano said when reporters ask how he thinks he will be evaluated in his first season at NASCAR’s top level. “I don’t know.”

It’s not fair to say he doesn’t care, but, even though he’s 18, he knows there are factors beyond his control.

“I’m focused on what I’ve got to do, and I’m doing the best I can,” he said. “I know there are a lot of expectations, but, at the same time, you’ve got to give me a chance and give me some time. ... I’ve got a great team. I know that.

“The only thing I lack is experience. ... But the only way you can do it is to be out on the race track, so that’s what I’m doing.”