Mississippi News Archives

Deputies with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office have captured a fugitive wanted in Florida and Mississippi on larceny and drug charges. via WAFF-TV Huntsville

“I am a lot more conservative than John McCain. It may help him that he is not as conservative as I am”

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is urging presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain to wait before naming a running mate. via Political Gateway

“Obviously, this situation is completely unacceptable and must be corrected before June 30. It is absolutely essential that the Department of Employment Security be reauthorized so these important benefits to taxpayers and beneficiaries can continue”

Gov. Haley Barbour said he will ask the Legislature to reauthorize the Mississippi Department of Employment Security during a special session next month. via WLOX-TV Biloxi

“Mississippians don't need the nation's highest court to tell them voter ID protects the integrity and reliability of the electoral process, deters voter fraud and protects public confidence which encourages citizen participation”

Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann says a Supreme Court ruling on voter ID shows the court's interest in protecting the integrity of the ballot box goes hand-in-hand with ensuring the public's confidence in ... via WLOX-TV Biloxi

“Highway 61, the Blues Highway.”

Rest area near Indian mound to be named for trio Capers, Blake and Scales saved site from development The newly reopened rest area near the site of the Pocahontas Indian Mound will be named for three people ... via Commercial Appeal

“At one point I had 300 acres under water and 240 acres too dry to plant”

Farmers here are experiencing water torture as they wait for the flooded Mississippi River to recede and give them a chance to salvage what's left of what might have been the best season in memory. via Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

“Immigrants are always undercounted, but I think they're now about 130,000, and they'll be 10% of the population ten years from now”

Editor's Note: JACKSON, MS -- On March 17, Mississippi Governor Hayley Barbour signed into law the farthest-reaching employer sanctions law of any on the books in the U.S. Employer sanctions is a shorthand name ... via News.ncmonline.com

Gulf of Mexico program soliciting entries The Gulf of Mexico Program is soliciting entries for the 2008 Gulf Guardian Awards Program. via Sunherald.com

“To get people out of temporary housing and into permanent housing. I think we will have the majority of families in permanent housing by this time next year.”

The state of Mississippi hopes to get everyone out of temporary housing in 2009 along the Gulf Coast. via NOLA.com

Gov. Haley Barbour is asking President Bush to declare a major disaster in four counties hit by the worst flood the region has seen in more than three decades. via WLOX-TV Biloxi

A new Census report shows Mississippi, Louisiana and Alaska received the most federal money per person for the 2006 budget year. via KTVA Anchorage

Paul Davis, a singer and songwriter whose soft rock hit "I Go Crazy" stayed at the top of the charts for weeks after its release in 1977, has died at a Mississippi hospital. via WREG-TV Memphis

Several Mississippi airports are splitting nearly $4 million in federal grants. Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport is getting the largest single grant - just over $2 million to acquire land for runway ... via NBC 15 Online

A former lawmaker and national commander of the American Legion, the country's largest veterans organization, is dead. via WREG-TV Memphis

“In the sense that we would go hand-in-hand conducting joint investigations, no. He's not law enforcement”

As an African-American teenager in Louisiana, Keith Beauchamp tried interracial dating - behaviour that prompted his parents to tell him the grisly tale of Emmett Till, who was murdered for whistling at a white ... via Slam Sports

“The governor needs to end the program now. He can end it with an e-mail or the stroke of a pen”

A group of health advocates wants Gov. Haley Barbour to direct the Division of Medicaid to end the in-person interviews required for people to reapply for the program. via The Mississippi Press

“After reviewing documentation provided by the state Department of Education, I am convinced that existing conditions in the North Panola School District jeopardize the educational interests of the children enrolled there”

Gov. Haley Barbour has authorized the state takeover of the North Panola School District, which has been struggling academically. via The Mississippi Press

A bill that's headed to the governor would give Mississippi school superintendents two years to improve students' academic achievement in low-performing districts. via WREG-TV Memphis

“We know that's a concern, and we're working on that issue”

It's like something out of a movie: A boat filled with tourists - drinking and happy, delighting in the exploits of the passing dolphins - washes up to a rugged island whose exotic name conjures the mystique ... via Slam Sports

“If and when such a complaint is filed, I can assure you that Dr. Hayne is in a position to respond to each and every allegation and will certainly do so in the proper forum”

Mississippi's new commissioner of public safety says addressing the vacancy in the state medical examiner's office will be one of his priorities. via WLOX-TV Biloxi

Even without considering a general tax increase, Mississippi legislators found ways to dig into people's wallets by charging higher fees for some services, clearing the way for increases in utility rates and ... via WMC-TV Memphis

“Judge Lackey was right to turn the case over to the federal government which has the wiretap authority that the state lacks.”

Attorney General Jim Hood denies his predecessor delivered a warning that a wealthy lawyer would fund an opponent in last year's election if Hood didn't cooperate in Hurricane Katrina litigation. via KATC-TV Lafayette

“It's not that I'm not interested in what goes on at my alma mater”

Since Les Robinson announced his retirement as The Citadel's athletic director last January, John Hartwell has received a steady stream of calls. via Post and Courier

President Bush's nomination of Steve Preston as the new secretary of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development drew praise Friday from Mississippi Gov. via The Mississippi Press

Most agencies will get roughly the same amount of money that they're getting now. via WMC-TV Memphis

“Other than that, I thought things, considering the overall economy of the nation and our state, that we had a pretty good session.”

The regular session of the Mississippi Legislature ended Friday with some loose ends untied. via WTOK

“I won $2. I bet $5 and won $2”

Filed under MGM Mirage on Tuesday, 15th April 2008 - 9:30 pm The fallout from the MGM Mirage layoffs continues, with 100 workers being laid off at two of their Mississippi casinos : Beau Rivage in Biloxi , and ... via VegasTripping.com News

Money spent at Mississippi Gulf Coast casinos to reinforce the buildings after Hurricane Katrina could help officials bring in more money to make other structures safer. via KATC-TV Lafayette

“This case has about run its course. We intend to proceed with this execution.”

Death row inmate Earl Wesley Berry has told the U.S. Supreme Court that lethal injection procedures in Mississippi do not meet the standards of those in Kentucky. via The Mississippi Press

Mississippi lawmakers are on track to end their regular session by tomorrow or Saturday. via WREG-TV Memphis

Lawmakers will not try to override Gov. Haley Barbour's veto of a deer-baiting bill. via KLFY-TV Lafayette

Mississippi lawmakers said Wednesday that they might not be able to resolve their differences on Medicaid before their session ends this weekend. via WAPT-TV Jackson

“There are going to be specific issues of law and fact in Arkansas that are going to be different from Kentucky. It may answer all of our questions, but it may leave some others unanswered.”

Many states wasted little time trying to get executions back on track following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding the use of a three-drug lethal cocktail. via The Daily Advance

“The vast majority are middle and upper management and salaried positions”

Of the more than 400 managers who received a pink slip Tuesday at MGM Mirage properties across the country, 100 worked at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi and the Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica. via Sunherald.com

Mississippi scrap metal dealers would face new regulations under a bill designed to reduce copper theft. via WLOX-TV Biloxi

A new law will give Mississippi's 82 circuit clerks more money. The clerks are paid by fees, and some already make more than $100,000 a year. via WAPT-TV Jackson

“Any idiot can see it's all about lawyers' fees”

Public bickering between Republican Gov. Haley Barbour and Democrat Attorney General Jim Hood may sound familiar to many Mississippians. via Laurel Leader-Call

Utility companies are one step closer to getting a change in how they set rates for Mississippi customers. via WAPT

Disaster recovery grants totaling more than $41 million are headed to 39 Mississippi counties and cities. via WTOK

Gov. Haley Barbour's office wants $14,170 to provide The Clarion-Ledger newspaper's public records request for four days of e-mails from the governor's staff. via The Mississippi Press

“The reason is the faster you're going, the more you may cause trauma”

Mississippians might have to pay more for traffic tickets and car tags to help cover uncompensated care that's crippling the state's trauma system. via NOLA.com

Mississippi lawmakers were taking their final votes Monday on the state budget for the coming year. via WLOX-TV Biloxi

“That's the purpose for us to put on proof that this occurred.”

A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday in the dispute over $26.5 million in legal fees that led to bribery charges against some of the most powerful plaintiffs attorneys in Mississippi. via Fulton County Daily Report

“A man on the street knows he can go download his own 8,000 e-mails without an attorney or a computer consultant”

JACKSON - Seeking government transparency can be costly. For example, using the state's public records law, The Clarion-Ledger in February asked Gov. via Hattiesburg American

Junior pitcher Ryan Verdugo and catcher Micah Gibbs together helped LSU beat Mississippi 8-2 Sunday. via Daily World

“I ain't fixin' to work with them now, after they bushwhacked me”

A lingering fight over an anti-abortion bill could erupt this week into a direct challenge of Speaker Billy McCoy's leadership in the Mississippi House. via Sunherald.com

Airports across Mississippi will share in $11 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation. via WREG-TV Memphis

MDOT fighting spread of cogongrass

The Mississippi Department of Transportation has teamed up with federal, state and local agencies to combat the spread of cogongrass. The plant is rapidly spreading across the Southeast, reduces forest and pasture productivity, destroys wildlife habitat, impacts rights of ways and presents a fire hazard, according to an MDOT release.

Last summer, crews sprayed along Mississippi 15 beginning at Mississippi 26 and continued south for 20 miles. Those areas now have signs in place stating 'Cogongrass Control Area.' The partnership includes the Mississippi Read more

The Senate has confirmed four new members of the state College Board. "They showed to be very knowledgeable nominees in the subject area and content," said Senate Universities and Colleges Committee Chair Doug ... via Sunherald.com

A state official says it's too late for candidates to get their names off the ballot for an April 22 special congressional election in north Mississippi. via The Clarion-Ledger

“Because I just achieved my goal.”

A 26-year-old entrepreneur from Texas was named Miss USA, besting 50 other beauty queens for the coveted crown. via The West Australian

Much of Mississippi was under a severe weather watch today as a frontal system pushed showers, thunderstorms and potential tornadoes across the state. via KLFY-TV Lafayette

Gov. Haley Barbour has followed through on his promise to veto a deer-baiting bill. via WAPT

The Mississippi Senate has confirmed four new members of the state College Board. via WTOK-TV Meridian

A 28-year-old north Alabama man has been charged with sexual battery involving a Lucedale, Mississippi, teenager who he met over the Internet. via Alabama Live

“They're anxious to see that it's in a fair way and so am I, and that's something we agree upon”

There are 10 days until the 2008 legislative session will come to an end. But lawmakers says that's plenty of time to reach an agreement on the issue of funding a $90 million Medicaid shortfall. via WLBT-TV Jackson

The Mississippi House and Senate have approved $97.3 million in bonds for various projects at universities, state agencies and other entities. via WLOX-TV Biloxi

Three female students were treated for cuts and another was arrested after an altercation on the University of Mississippi campus. via WAPT-TV Jackson

A circuit court hearing is scheduled Friday on attempts to win a new trial for David Williams, currently serving a life sentence for the 2005 murder of a University of Mississippi student. via WPTY

Mississippi lawmakers missed their budget deadline tonight . But they're not worried. via WLOX

A new Mississippi law will require restaurants to disclose whether the catfish they serve is imported or raised in the United States. via WTOK-TV Meridian

Fisherman are busy with an offseason harvest to move young healthy oysters into Mississippi Gulf Coast waters hard hit by Hurricane Katrina. via WAFF-TV Huntsville

Gov. Haley Barbour has signed a bill that would make thousands of nonviolent offenders eligible for parole. via WAPT

Mississippi beat Vanderbilt 11-6, completing its first sweep of a Southeastern Conference opponent since 2006.

The sweep vaults the Rebels to first place in the SEC West Division, one game ahead of Auburn. Vanderbilt falls to last place in the SEC East Division.

Ole Miss pounded out 17 hits Sunday, including a 4-for-5 day from leadoff hitter Fuller Smith.

Cody Satterwhite threw 6 2/3 innings to get the win. He gave up four runs on six hits and four walks, striking out five. Brett Jacobson took the loss, giving up six earned runs in 3 1/3 innings. Read more

“I can't understand a process where we say we are going to relent because the Senate won't accept our plan.”

Cigarette and alcohol taxes could become part of the discussion as Mississippi legislators look for a way to pump life into the anemic Medicaid budget. via Picayune Item

“A lot of people are struggling. I understand that. But we have to serve as many people as possibly while being good stewards of taxpayer dollars”

The Mississippi Department of Human Services has a $19 million surplus of federal funding that some advocacy groups say should be used to pay child-care vouchers for parents trying to stay off welfare rolls. via Sunherald.com

Jeremy Travis went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and Matt Smith hit a two-run homer to lead Mississippi to a 7-6 victory over Vanderbilt in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday.

Scott Bittle (2-1) pitched five innings of scoreless relief for Ole Miss (18-11, 5-5 SEC). Bittle gave up just one hit and three walks while striking out nine. He came into the game after staff ace Lance Lynn struggled, giving up six earned runs in four innings.

Vanderbilt (19-8, 5-4) was led by David Macias, who was 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Mike Minor (3-2) took the loss. Read more

“Your days are numbered, Booker”

A federal judge has ordered abortion protester Roy McMillan to stay at least 50 feet away from Mississippi's only abortion clinic.

McMillan has admitted in court he had twice broken a 1996 federal consent decree requiring him to stay 25 feet away.

On Friday, U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate said he found no indication that McMillan had threatened Jackson Women's Health Organization physician Joseph Booker.

'Mr. McMillan is delighted that the court found the things that he said were not threats,' said Michael Marks, McMillan's attorney. Read more

“We heard a noise and said, 'Lord, what was that?' I thought it was a train collision. It was so loud”

A baby girl who spent a rainy night trapped in rubble after a house caught fire and exploded was pulled alive from the wreckage late Friday morning. via Free Republic

TV in Jackson and WXVT-TV in Greenville received the 2007 Best Newscasts awards Saturday night at the 23rd annual Mississippi Associated Press Broadcasters Association's awards ceremony. via WLOX-TV Biloxi

“There was so much damage that was so widespread, we're actually going to go out and assess what was tornadic damage and what was straight-line wind damage”

Utility company crews fanned out across portions of Central Mississippi on Saturday to restore power and other services in storm damaged areas.

About 52,000 Entergy Mississippi customers were still without power around noon Saturday, company spokeswoman Mara Hartman said.

Most of those _ about 44,000 _ were in the metropolitan Jackson area. Hartman said most will have power restored by Sunday evening, but it could be later for others.

'We hope to have all customers up by Sunday night, as we originally state, but it may be into Monday and Tuesday for some customers,' Hartman said. 'Outside of a hurricane, this is one of the worst storms to ever hit the Entergy system. Read more

Severe weather that tore across Mississippi on Friday caused the game between East Carolina and Southern Mississippi to be postponed.

The teams will play a double header Saturday, with the first game scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CDT. The second game will follow.

Southern Miss officials say people with tickets for Friday's game can redeem them for a ticket to Saturday's game. Read more

“All of those areas that have been trying to fill in, they filled in”

Vicksburg and other communities along the lower Mississippi River on Friday monitored the threat of more rain across the central U.S. as the swollen river continued to rise. via Log Cabin Democrat

“It's amazing. It's just totally amazing that no one was really hurt”

Strong thunderstorms toppled trees, knocked out power and damaged homes Friday in Mississippi and Alabama, while flooding in Kentucky forced evacuations and left a 2-year-old girl dead. via NewsChannel 8

Gov. Haley Barbour has vetoed a bill that backers said would have required the attorney general's office to create and maintain a list of children's products that have been recalled or have otherwise been found ... via Picayune Item

“We want the bar and the court to follow the law.”

Attorney Zach Scruggs has followed the lead of his father, Dickie Scruggs, in asking the Mississippi Supreme Court to dismiss a formal complaint that seeks his disbarment.

The Mississippi Bar has asked the court to disbar both attorneys because they recently pleaded guilty to felonies in a judicial bribery case, but the Scruggses argue disbarment is premature.

Like his father's motion, Zach Scruggs' court pleading says the bar can't file a formal complaint for disbarment unless U.S. District Court Judge Neal B. Biggers Jr. accepts his guilty plea. Read more

The city is one step closer to bringing nine innings of pro baseball and other entertainment to Back Bay shores.

The City Council on Tuesday approved an agreement with Overtime Sports, a Jackson-based development firm pivotal in building a minor league baseball stadium in Pearl.

'Frankly, it's an agreement for them to be able to market the area of D'Iberville to try and create some interest for business development, for retail, for casino, for whatever,' City Manager Richard Rose said. Read more

Mississippi lawmakers say they're being cautious as they prepare to do their final work on the state budget. via WAPT-TV Jackson

Gov. Haley Barbour has set dates for two Wilkinson County special elections. Barbour set the elections in accordance with a circuit court ruling. via WAPT.com