Test test test. Test test test. With us from the South Carolina association for Economic Development. Bernie . Thank you and welcome. I bring you greetings from warmer climates where there are Smiling Faces and beautiful places. [ laughter ] South Carolina is a great place to be. We have urban and rural areas that definitely have slight differences. In South Carolina, the Unemployment Rate in our 11 most distressed and rural count iies averages 12 , this is twice that of the more developed and you are urbanized counties. Our three most prosperous counties is home to 40 of the states Bank Deposits. What that translates into is thats where capital largely resides. Whereas the Rural Communities, the 11 most rural and distressed count geez home to 4 of the states Bank Deposits. At the same time, South Carolina rich in land assets or 65 of our state is considered rural as far as landmass. Now, some may say that that is a challenge but we see that as an area of great opportunity and innovati
We began once again with the crisis unfolding in iraq, where embattled Prime Minister Nouri Almaliki poured cold water on International Calls for unity government to counter the fast and furious advances made by islamist extremists. Meanwhile, another batch of u. S. Military visors arrived in baghdad to help the iraqi army deal with that insurgency, and their assistants will be much needed in another day marked by violence. Isis militants reportedly launched an attack on the largest air base. The soldiers are on their way to Northern Iraq to help repel the advance of insurgents. The United States is sending 300 military visors to support their operation. Washington has also called on Prime Minister nouri l almaliki to form an interim an interim government. He rejected the call. The call for the formation of a socalled National Salvation government is simply an attempt by those who opposed the constitution to put an end to the democratic process. The United States has urged the shiite P