President Barack Obama has hailed the Senate’s decision to stop additional production of F-22 fighter jets, saying the move will “better protect our troops.“

The House Ways and Means Committee has passed legislation to revamp health care, approving tax increases on the wealthy to help pay for the plan.

A Republican critic of Sonia Sotomayor says he’s feeling more comfortable about her going to the Supreme Court, saying he hopes she won’t let personal opinions drive her rulings.

The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman says he’ll set a vote in his panel next week on confirming Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.

Augusta Commissioners say no to increasing the city millage rate, but city property owners may have trouble believing that when they pay their city property tax bills, later this year. Those bills are going up. WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has the story.

To tax, or not to tax…that’s the question for Augusta. Augusta Commissioners will meet next week to officially set the 2009 tax rate.

There were no answered prayers Tuesday for an Augusta church. Augusta Commissioners did not vote on a rezoning to allow for a church on Hopkins Street.

South Carolina Democratic leaders are criticizing a state GOP vote to publicly reprimand Gov. Mark Sanford, rather than ask him to resign, as a meaningless move that provides him cover to stay in office.

Augusta’s next splost is a done deal, but at what cost? Voters overwhelmingly approved extending the one-cent sales tax, with more than 70 percent of the vote, but turnout was terrible…less than 10,000 voters took part. It cost more than $83,000 to hold this referendum, so on a per-vote basis, this was an expensive election.

In Richmond County, the results are in…many cast their ballots Tuesday on the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or S.P.L.O.S.T. There was a really low turnout…but a big price tag for area projects…$184 million worth of sales tax money at stake. WJBF News channel 6’s Barclay Bishop has more.

Augusta voters head to the polls to decide on extending the one-cent sales tax. Turnout has been slow, but many of those coming out are voting in support of the $184 million package, at least at Julian Smith Casino. WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has the story.

Tuesday is the day that the decision will be made by Richmond County voters on whether to continue the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or S.P.L.O.S.T. Let us know in our web poll if you think it will pass or not.

Augusta voters head to the polls, Tuesday, to decide whether to continue the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or S.P.L.O.S.T. Voters are looking at a more than $180 million package. Supporters are confident it will pass. WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has more.

Last year, Augusta decided to give the Medical College of Georgia $10 million to buy Gilbert Manor, and tear down the buildings. The plan is to pay that money back using sales tax dollars, but those dollars depend on voters saying ‘yes’, later this month. It’s a gamble that may not pay off, and could end up costing property owners. WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has the story.

The TEE Center is not a distraction for those pushing for passage of the next phase of the sales tax. The sales tax referendum is now two weeks away, and a citizens group is out making a pitch for the $184 Million package.