CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Mikhail Baryshnikov in a new play. An 18-hour Chinese opera. Performance artist DJ Spooky with his own "Birth of a Nation."

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Mikhail Baryshnikov in a new play, an 18-hour Chinese opera and performance artist DJ Spooky deconstructing "Birth of a Nation." Such an eclectic mix can only mean one thing: Spoleto Festival U.S.A.

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr., who has served as mayor longer than anyone in Charleston's 333-year history, won an unprecedented eighth term Tuesday, defeating four challengers in what he called the toughest race of his career.

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. stabs the air with his fist, his voice rising in excitement like a revival preacher in a tent on a summer afternoon.

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The slogan of Charleston's Digital Corridor is "18th century architecture, 21st century technology." And the mix seems to be paying off in this historic city's efforts to attract high-tech business with high-paying jobs.

CHARLESTON -City officials have considered scaling back Piccolo Spoleto next year to help maintain the art festival's mission to be affordable.

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Oscar nominee John Hurt wasn't sure he should make his American stage debut at Spoleto Festival U.S.A., the international arts event that opened Friday.\r\n

COLUMBIA -- As yet another art controversy makes headlines -- this one about an exhibit in New York City that features a dung-splattered picture of a Virgin Mary -- it might be easy to miss the funding turnaround that has pumped millions of dollars into South Carolina's arts community.

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Spoleto Festival U.S.A. opened its 22nd year Friday with a fanfare of trumpets and rainbow-colored balloons, and a concentration once again on the arts, not financial troubles. "It's quite a different year from last year," Joel A. Smith III, Spoleto's chairman, told a crowd of nearly 700 people at the opening ceremony. "There's a consistent buzz about this year's festival and a great deal more excitement."

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Businessman and former gubernatorial candidate Charles "Pug" Ravenel choked back tears and apologized Thursday before a federal judge sentenced him to 11 months and 17 days in prison for bank fraud conspiracy. "I regret to the core of my being what I have done," Mr. Ravenel told U.S. District Judge Sol Blatt Jr. He asked family, friends and supporters across the state for forgiveness.