Editorial Roundup: Excerpts From Recent Editorials in Newspapers in the US and Abroad. Excerpts from recent editorials in newspapers in the United States and abroad:

Prosecutors: South Carolina men, calling themselves '3 Hebrew Boys' ran Ponzi scheme. Three South Carolina men accused of bilking people out of more than $80 million lied about how they would invest their money, so it doesn't matter if investors knew it was risky, prosecutors said Thursday.

First US county-level obesity rates show Alabama, Mississippi communities at top, CDC says. The first county-by-county survey of obesity reflects past studies that show the rate of obesity is highest in the Southeast and Appalachia. High rates of obesity and diabetes were reported in more than 80 percent of counties in the Appalachian region that includes Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia, according to the new research from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Prosecutors: South Carolina men, calling themselves '3 Hebrew Boys' ran Ponzi scheme. Three South Carolina men accused of bilking people out of more than $80 million lied about how they would invest their money, so it doesn't matter if investors knew it was risky, prosecutors said Thursday.

EAST

As second wave of ex-officials prepare for trial, scandalized SC county tries to stay positive. When federal officials descended on this small South Carolina town to investigate a kickback scheme that had caught up the mayor and another official, they stumbled across a web of corruption they believe is deeper and more widespread through the county.

As second wave of ex-officials prepare for trial, scandalized SC county tries to stay positive. When federal officials descended on this small South Carolina town to investigate a kickback scheme that had caught up the mayor and another official, they stumbled across a web of corruption they believe is deeper and more widespread through the county.

AP IMPACT: As military academies seek diversity, urban lawmakers often make fewest nominations. As the nation's military academies try to recruit more minorities, they aren't getting much help from members of Congress from big-city districts with large numbers of blacks, Hispanics and Asians.

SC jobless rate rises to 12.1 percent for October; total number of unemployed rises by 10,000. The unemployment rate in South Carolina rose nearly half a percentage point in October, returning to a record level of 12.1 percent set earlier this year, the state agency that calculates the rate said Friday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The pace of job losses slowed in many U.S. states in October, and the unemployment rate slipped in hard-hit Michigan, the Labor Department said on Friday, hinting the recession may be easing in some areas.

NC jobless rate stuck in double digits most of year rises slightly to 11 percent in October. North Carolina's unemployment rate rose slightly to 11 percent in October, a fraction off its historic peak earlier this year and the ninth straight month in double digits, the state's Employment Security Commission reported Friday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The pace of job losses slowed in many U.S. states in October, and the unemployment rate slipped in hard-hit Michigan, the Labor Department said on Friday, hinting the recession may be easing in some areas.

Cleared for take off: Boeing breaks ground for new South Carolina assembly line for 787 jets. Work has officially started on building Boeing's $750 million aircraft assembly plant in South Carolina ? the largest industrial investment in state history.

Ex-NBA star Williams won't enter plea Friday in shooting; hearing delayed over travel issues. Retired NBA star Jayson Williams will not be in a New Jersey courtroom Friday to enter a plea in the 2002 shooting death of a hired driver. State Superior Court Judge Edward M. Coleman indefinitely delayed a hearing in Somerville in which Williams was expected to plead guilty. A person with direct knowledge of the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of a gag order imposed by Coleman, told The Associated Press that the delay was partly because of travel problems Williams experienced getting to New Jersey from his home in South Carolina.

28 states added jobs in October, but the employment gains may be short-lived. In a sharp improvement, more than half of U.S. states added jobs in October, though economists said many of the gains likely occurred in temporary employment.

In a sharp improvement, more than half of U.S. states added jobs in October, though economists said many of the gains likely occurred in temporary employment.

Panel of SC lawmakers will begin discussing impeachment of Gov. Mark Sanford next week. South Carolina lawmakers plan to formally consider impeaching Gov. Mark Sanford for the first time next week, the chairman of the committee beginning that work said Friday.

AP News in Brief. Three Democratic moderates to decide fate of health bill ? for now ? in crucial Saturday vote

Advocates, lawmakers to push for Mass. immigrant tuition bill nearly 3 years after it failed. It seemed like a given that Mario Rodas would go to college.

Travel briefs. Survey: 45 percent of Americans will travel Thanksgiving-March