"7 news" reporter robert kittle... most men... also love electronics. there's also sports equipment... or gear for whatever else ... he might be into ... like camping or fishing. flying is getting little easier on the pocketbook... why airline prices are falling...in a 7 news "consumer watch".... but first here's a look a 7 news "consumer watch".... some welcome news for those who fly the friendly skies... it seems air travelers are paying less... for airline tickets... the transportation department says domestic airfares have dropped to a six-year low. airline ticket prices fell by more than six-percent in the third quarter of 20-15. the average price is now about 372- dollars. expansion of low-cost airlines...and plunging jet fuel costs... are big drivers of the change. singer "bruce springsteen" is sharing some personal notes...in an autobiography... "simon will publish today will announced today will publish springsteen's book. according the publisher...the usually private singer began discreetly working on the book in 2009. it will be titled "born

in columbia, robert kittle, 7 news. senator peeler says it could take -weeks- to get to a final vote on the roads plan. even after the filibuster ends ...whenever that is ... there are more than 3-hundred amendments to the bill to work through. next on 7 news .... a frightening moment for people on board a chopper near a hawaii landmark... the latest on a helicopter crash near pearl harbor... and... a local man who's thankful...for quick- thinking co-workers... after he was a heart-beat away ... from death. how they helped ... save authorities in hawaii critical condition... after a civilian helicopter...made a hard landing in the water... near "pearl harbor." here's video...from that scene....this is a video from youtube...as the chopper crashed.. the coast guard says... 5-people were on board the helicopter... and at least -3- were hurt... when it went down this morning ... near the "arizona memorial" in oahu. they say all -5- people were transferred to land...and taken to a hospital. people who saw the crash... jumpe

police already arrested robert grigsby... and charged him for the crime. but during the investigation they found out... epperly was also involved. he now faces 19 counts of charges. another victim has come forward...accusing a greenville county pastor of sexual misconduct. last month we told you... that christian life center pastor arthur lehr..is facing three criminal sexual misconduct of a minor charges.. two of the three incidents dated back to 1989. now lehr is facing a fourth charge ... after another victim told deputies..he was five years old .. when he was assaulted. in shock after their pastor was killed at church.. yesterday. church members say... the 70-year old pastor had just finished his sermon... and went into his study following the final prayer. they say.. the pastor's brother...got up and followed him inside. then they say they heard the gun shots. police arrested..the man.. at the church. he appeared in court today... on a murder charge. hearing from the man who admitted to the deadly attack at a planned parenthood in colorado last year.

tabitha roberts"...."brandon simpson"...all from anderson... each face two counts of murder...attempted armed robbery...and weapons charges... bond was denied for all four suspects ... a greer man... is accused of striking his 4-year-old stepdaughter... and leaving her with a bruised and swollen eye. tonight... we've learned... the child's mother... is now charged in the case...as well. greer police say ... tina roebuck... now faces 3-counts of "child neglect." her husband, david roebuck... was charged with "child abuse"... earlier this week. greer police say ... the abuse came to light... after an elementary school teacher... reported it. new details in the investigation of an armed robbery that happened late last month in greenwood county... we showed you these surveillance photos inside the "cash express" where investigators say two men held up the store ... deputies say thanks to your tips...they were able to identify both men...and arrested one of them... greenwood county deputies say "tykie anderson" was arrested monday... they say he fac

cole leaves behind sisters and a son "robert yancy". they issued a statement, saying "natalie fought a fierce, courageous battle, dying how she lived..with dignity, strength and honor. our beloved mother and sister will be greatly missed and remain "unforgettable" in our hearts forever." we got an early reminder that 2016 is an election year... next on "7 news at 7"....where thi ptl message in the skyaa.. .over an annual new year's day tradition ...andwhat it says about g-o-p front runner "donald trump. and some started the new year with a new bab. we'll take a look at some of 20-16.rings in.. with a bit of tragedy.. across the world... the country.. even the upstate. tonight at 11 -- accidents.. and many of yocelebrated the new year... paie. or by counting down the seconds until midnight. but some new parents...spent the holiday...inthe hospital. 7 news" reporter laura thomas introducyou... to some of the tbabies born in the upstate.in 20-16: the zell family..never thought.. their bundleof joy... would arrive on new year's day.. ..and

in columbia, robert kittle, 7 news. other big issues ... include getting the "department of social services"...enough money... to hire more caseworkers to reduce their caseloads... and getting the highway patrol...enough... to boost the number of troopers...on our roads. it's human trafficking awareness month and the state is continuing efforts to bring an end to it. attorney the human trafficking task force annual report yesterday. it uses data of the state's human trafficking records to better understand the issue and highlights progress goals and what the task force is already working on. wilson said he hopes to put the focus of this crime. on the victim. "we want to make sure that we take care of them and that they're not stigmatized. and that they feel they can come out of the shadows, into the light, and know there's a community of people ready to embrace them.---- he task force has opened several shelters for victims throughout the state they give public awareness ongoing victim assistance and more. about 21 million people are victim

months after the honea path police department fired robert shaw... and john bell.. for an excessive force complaint. both are arrested within a week of each other.. and now face charges.. "there is nothing that can be done to these iddshca ingsfeath hl .bell and shaare accused of beating brian hatcher.. while arresting him.. in november 2014. the former officers said he pulled a knife on them .. and they had to use force to disarm the man. but now.. state agents say.. there's a different story. the two made false statements ..athatch'se" there is dash cam footage.. being used in the state's investigation. we've and are waiting for it to be released. but hatcher's attorney.. tom dunaway .. says he *has* seen it.. "the tape shows the beatings.. hittings by the police officers." after the encounter.. hatcher ended up in the hospital.. and his attorney says.. he is still recovering from his wounds. "he has some brain injury. he is deaf in one ear. he has a nasal fracture that will need to be corrected. he has vision loss and is an emotional wreck following the beating."

as "7 news robert kittle" found out...there's a lot of optimism... about her plan to the governor says she would -not- support a bill ... to borrow money for -college- our k-through-12 schools do need it. a former con artist depicted in the movie "catch me if you can" spoke with "department of revenue" director "rick reames" in columbia about keeping your criminals. frank abagnale who has now worked for the f-b-i for 40 years volunteered to work with the d-o-r to protect the public from tax fraud especially before the 20-16 tax filing season. he says billions of dollars are payed out in tax payer dollars in fraudulent claims every year but people stealing that money aren't from the u-s. he says the money eventually comes back into our country in the form of drug trafficking human trafficking and child pornography. reames approached abagnale because he wants to be proactive about the fraud problem next on 7 news at 7...why this commercial has one coffee company steamed ... in a 7 news "consumer watch".... but first here's a look at your primetime line

our robert kittle tells us why. the bill would create new school protection officers ... to add another layer of protection to help school resource officers. school protection officers would be teachers or any other school employees who go through a new two-week training program at the criminal justice academy. they could carry guns -if- they had concea weas permits "the crooks have got guns so we're going th h . h ' a g idea. oi passes." but parent brett qualls worries about having schoo"at the end of the day or in-between classes the tearcould lay i pistol downanywr i their drawer, don't want to wear it, put it in their drawer,kid anything could go wrong like that.you're talking about k-through-12. kids are curious." the bill was introduced by representative phillip rowe of florence. he introduced a similar bill in 2012 ... that would have allowed teachers with concealed weapons permits to carry on campus if they wanted. that bill didn't go anywhere over concerns about a lack of training ... so this new bill adds that training. "representative lowe say rignso gf zenvy t

robert kittle tells you... what the bill... would do: --- u-s congrs jf dcand mkmulve dfr washio.tlostate lawmakers about wathee the poithr i us "radical islamic terrorsi they will trtpo hmigrant crio europe, andhrefuge siuitenter into this folks are safe.'" president obama s that states -ntht hto refusee s. and te administ says tg through a rigorous screening years. "congressmaua s he bme itn' irm sn refsydo rrni a stattts alhlere y refugees to register with the state ... and for the state law enforcement division shi a ef pa tnthere's anoverenoutcry, and i thk the pubconcern. when you see what's goino in europe, we do'want that on the streets of america.": "they do hav to go it thessystem. so we are able to identify theassn athey get heeidentify where they live and tv our beionwhere te vthat's impot us to eoeand law enforcement so they know exc who is therbecause the fe rogu that infori the bpeeal.i only the tdemsthe commi voting agit. "they're trito escape terror, not co rand cause ter" o johnsou minority report on the bill

robert thompson admitted to snatchi the infant from a bouncy seat... and squeezing her...during an argument with the baby's mother. weeks later...the baby was rushed to thee-r... with breathing problems...and was treated for multiple fractures. tonight... a child abuse charge is still pending... against the mother. meanwhile...the littl girl... whonow nea1- and-a-half years o. living in a foster home. in greenville county .. homeowners .. hoping to clear the air .. literaly they say the smell from the nearby "twin chimney's landfill" is getting worse .. a meeting ago... aimed at finding a solution. neighbors tell us ..this is an issue th been getting worse over six months. they describe the smell... as similar to rotting eggs... we know that is the methane gas from the landfill... but they say it is spreading at least five miles away... now they're concerned about the damage to their environment, any health risk, and the threat to property values. greenville county councilman lynn ballard represents this area.... we spoke to him today... he says there'

the virus is linkobirth defect that causes babies to be born born with small heads our robert kittle was at the "south carolina department of health and environmental control" today... to check on - possible- cases *here*... and what you need to know... about altogether...there have been documented cases in 12 u-s states and the district of columbia ...along with 22 other countries. but all patients are travelers returning from affected countries...overseas. some 80-percent of those infected with the zika virus don't even feel sick. most who do adding to the frustration tonight for the flint .. michigan community...is a revelation...that ... last year...state workers in the city...receivbottled water ...while officials were still telling people .. that the lead- tainted ...tawater was safe to drink. it's something michigan govenor rick snyder say that he was not aware of. so far he's signed off on 39-million dollars ...in state aid ... to address the city's lead infested water pipes. tonight... the people of flint michigan continue to rely on filters and the delivery of bottled water