The number of convictions secured last year by the S.C. attorney general’s Insurance Fraud Division fell from the record set in 2008, but authorities were able to triple the amount in restitution for victims and fines.

The division received 834 insurance fraud complaints last year, the highest in six years. Almost 60 percent of the complaints were about automobile insurance, followed by property, workers compensation and medical.

The division won 104 convictions last year , a 23 percent drop from record mark of 135 set in 2008. Restitution and fines reached nearly $1.35 million last year, well above the nearly $400,000 from 2008.

S.C. RELAUNCHES MORTGAGE FRAUD HOT LINE

South Carolina has relaunched its mortgage-fraud hot line. The hot line handled more than 400 calls when it ran for seven months in 2008 but was ended after funding cuts. The partnership of the S.C. Department of Consumer Affairs and S.C. attorney general’s office aims to help consumers combat mortgage fraud and other housing-related scams. Call (800) 553-7723 from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.

OCONEE NUCLEAR STATION GETTING $2 BILLION UPDATE

SENECA – The 37-year-old Oconee Nuclear Station, not built to the standards required of the new generation of reactors, is undergoing a $2 billion renovation by Duke Energy to prepare for the next 20 years as one of the nation’s first relicensed facilities. It’s the largest of three nuclear stations that together create half of the electricity Duke provides in the Carolinas. The work will update the plant to more current standards and add additional layers of protection. Oconee recently received a clean annual review from the NRC, an indication that it meets all requirements – those set for an aging generation of nuclear power plants.

FUTURE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY UP 1.4 PERCENT IN MARCH

NEW YORK – A gauge of future economic activity jumped 1.4 percent in March, the fastest pace of growth in 10 months. The rise in the Conference Board’s index of leading economic indictors suggests economic growth is likely to continue for the next three to six months. The report says the leading indicators’ growth was 0.4 percent in February and 0.6 percent in January, up from previous estimates of 0.1 percent and 0.3 percent. Seven of the 10 indicators increased in March.

CHRYSLER SETTLES SUIT VS. N.C. DEALER CLOSING LAW

DETROIT – Chrysler Group LLC has settled a lawsuit against North Carolina over a state law that aimed to block the company’s effort to cut dealers, and it will continue its cases in Oregon, Illinois and Maine over similar laws. Chrysler said Monday that North Carolina agreed not to enforce a law passed in August. The company rejected 13 dealers in North Carolina. The settlement means the dealers’ only remaining hope is arbitration.

5 MAJOR AIR CARRIERS PLEDGE NOT TO ADD CARRY-ON FEE

ATLANTA – Five major carriers have agreed not to follow the lead of Spirit Airlines, which plans to charge for carry-on bags. The promise to U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, US Airways and JetBlue Airways comes despite the fact that some of those same airlines are expected to report first-quarter losses this week. They were stung by higher fuel prices and the heavy February snowstorms. But major carriers risk alienating customers if they follow Spirit’s lead and impose a fee on carry-on bags. In August, Spirit will begin charging customers up to $45 to place a bag in an overhead bin.