The State from Columbia, South Carolina • 1

117TH YEAR, NO. 359 SOUTH CAROLINA'S LARGEST NEWSPAPER COPYRIGHT 2008 CAPITAL FINAL SPORTS LIGHTING UP THE SEASON Lake Carolina's LaMarches glow like few others. Page B1 The A State RYAN BREWER: USC's bowl hero recalls his greatest game WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2008 City plans to name boulevard for MLK Honorary title would cover parts of Farrow Road, Harden Street By ADAM BEAM Columbia officials want to designate a stretch of Farrow Road and a stretch of Harden Street to honor Martin Luther King Jr. The designation, which would cost the city about $20,000 for street signs and memorial plaques, would be honorary only and would not require anyone to change their address, said Chip Land, Columbia's planning director. They would be the first Martin Luther King Jr.

streets in Columbia, which has a park named after the civil rights leader. There's also a Martin Luther King Boulevard in Hopkins. Columbia officials plan to announce the designation at the city's SEE CITY PAGE A10 OBAMA INAUGURATION Manning band picked for parade but short on cash By GINA SMITH MANNING With more than 30 years' experience as a band instructor, Ray Francis can easily tickle a trumpet's keys, work a woodwind or finger a flute. But recently, Francis has been tapping on a computer keyboard, searching the Internet for discounted musical instruments for "his kids." "Last night, I found some good deals on eBay," Francis said Monday as he watched "his kids" the 85 members of the Manning High School band stride around the school parking lot. "I need to buy a whole new drum line." The pressure is on as Francis and the Manning High band are the only S.C.

group picked to participate in President-elect Barack Obama's inaugural parade in SEE BAND PAGE A7 Economic crisis deepens 4th quarter grim; upturn not likely for months RECESSION Bad SAVES CRAIG ASSOCIATED PRESS 'Recession special' at Gray's Papaya, an eatery in New York City's Fashion District, offers diners a $1 discount. By MARTIN CRUTSINGER The Associated Press WASHINGTON The longest recession in a quarter century is snowballing, and some analysts warn that economic activity could plunge as much as 6 percent this quarter, which would be the largest decline since 1982. Some economists think this quarter could mark the low point of the recession, already the longest in a quarter century, having started in December 2007. Analysts are projecting that the huge plunge in GDP they expect in the current quarter will be followed by smaller declines in the first and second quarters of next year, before the economy starts growing again next summer. If the recession ends ALL IS CALM, ALL IS BRIGHT in June 2009, as many economists are forecasting, it would have lasted 18 months, making it the longest recession since World War II.

While government figures released Tuesday for the third quarter showed only a 0.5 percent drop in the gross domestic product, a key indicator of economic health, two reports on home sales sketched a bleaker picture. Demand for both new and existing homes fell more sharply in November than expected. In addition, GDP is likely falling at a sharper pace in the current quarter because of widening fallout from the worst financial crisis to hit the country since the Great Depression. If GDP does plunge 6 percent in the fourth quarter, it would SEE ECONOMY PAGE A5 JEFF A Christmas week prayer: Brothers Andrew Stancliffe, 8, and Matthew Stancliffe, 9, take part in Mass conducted by the Rev. Richard Harris on Tuesday at St.

Joseph Catholic Church in Columbia. Today'sWeather Index Steve Barry's T-shirts for less than BUSINESS, B6 8 a.m. 1 p.m. 7 p.m. Abby, D5 Business, B6 inthenews Mostly Isolated Few Classified, C7 Comics, D4 cloudy, showers, showers, Movies, Opinion, A8 43 64 61 Television, D6 2 million older Americans at risk from drug interaction A7 Weather, B8 COMING SUNDAY How will you know the economy is improving? Those who work and run businesses in the Midlands and elsewhere in the state can tell you the signs.

Read about it in special section of Money Opinion in Sunday's editions of The State. SEE 07770 00001.