South Carolina: Wichita State professor named school’s director

Shirley Staples Carter, a professor and director of The Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State University, has been named director of the University of South Carolina’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications in Columbia.

Carter was the first black woman to serve as president of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Prior to her tenure at Wichita State, Carter directed the communications programs at Norfolk State University, the University of Florida, Jacksonville; Louisiana State University and Prairie View University.

Carter earned doctoral and master’s degrees in journalism from the University of Missouri and Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Tuskegee University.

She is expected to begin at South Carolina on July 1.

Nebraska: Lawsuit demands return of lost pension money

An Omaha lawyer is suing the Nebraska Investment Council for the loss of millions of dollars from the state’s pension fund.

The lawsuit, filed last week in Lancaster County District Court, alleges that the council violated the law by entrusting some $200 million in pension funds with two companies to invest in options, commodities and futures.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Omaha attorney Larry W. Myers, said the investment council broke the law by allowing such risky investments.

It asks for the court to order the council and the two companies to repay the money lost through the investments.

According to the lawsuit, the council gave WG Trading $160 million in retirement funds for judges, the State Patrol and school employees.