| USC expands economic development efforts The University of South Carolina plans to expand its economic development activity in the Upstate with the addition of a new executive in the school's Office of Innovation, Partnerships and Economic Engagement. Initial S.C. unemployment claims drop by 770 in week Richland County saw a state-high 393 claims filed for the week ending Feb. 20, when 3,705 initial claims were filed across the state and $72.8 million in benefits paid out. The previous week saw 4,475 claims filed. | 