Charleston, S.C. Named Friendliest City in America

Charleston has won another travel honor.

Travel + Leisure Magazine on Monday named Charleston the friendliest city in the nation. The magazine also named the city tops in bed and breakfasts, inns and antique stores.

Last month, Charleston was listed among the nation's top destinations by readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine. Charleston placed second behind San Francisco.

About 4 million people visit Charleston each year.

Charleston and the rest of the South Carolina coast are the heart of the state's $18 billion tourism industry.

Salvation Army Left Short of Cash by Fake SC Check

By Bruce Smith, Associated Press Writer

The Salvation Army thought it had received a grand gift ahead of Christmas — a $25,000 check. But the donation turned out to be an expensive hoax that may force the charity to cut back on winter assistance for the needy.

Investigators said Wednesday that more than a dozen Charleston-area charities received fake checks before Christmas purporting to be gifts from a genuine local company.

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