State sends drone site proposal to FAA

JACKSON — Mississippi is bidding for one of six sites nationwide to test unmanned aerial vehicles. A Mississippi Development Authority spokeswoman says the state submitted its proposal to the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday. State officials say the FAA should choose Mississippi because it has three manufacturers of unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as a…

• NVision expands through new agreement with QinetiQ
• The Accelerator adds three new tenants, including GE Aviation
• Newspaper recognizes tech company for excellent workplace
• New plant means more active partnership with university
• Senator quizzes NASA administrator about test stand
• Economic developer: 4G network will boost county

Bank earns five stars for 94th consecutive quarter

GULFPORT — BauerFinancial Inc. has awarded Hancock Bank a 5-Star Superior rating for the quarter ending Dec. 31, 2012. Hancock Bank has received BauerFinancial recommendations (4-Star or 5-Star ratings) for 94 consecutive quarters — or more than 23 years. “By making common-sense business decisions, proactively managing risk, and understanding how people prefer to do business,…

• Deadline approaching for post-tornado loans from SBA
• Bank opens new Texas office, expands Houston footprint
• Check-cashing firm buys 10 more stores across Miss.
• Bank prices initial public offering at $24 per share

First students in maritime training academy expected this summer

PASCAGOULA — Officials say classes should be underway inside Ingalls Shipbuilding’s Haley Reeves Barbour Maritime Training Academy by the end of summer. President Irwin Edenzon tells The Mississippi Press the academy, funded through a Hurricane Katrina community development block grant, is meant to provide a skilled workforce and will help Ingalls expand its two- to…

• Study says Nissan subsidies total $1.33B; MDA says overestimated
• Shipbuilder gets massive floating dock as part of expansion
• Meat-slicing facility laying off 100 workers
• Manufacturer unveils $11M expansion; adding jobs

Genesis Energy doubling capacity, adding workers

NATCHEZ — Genesis Energy plans to more than double its railcar capacity at its terminal in the Natchez-Adams County Port. The Natchez Democrat reports the expansion will create approximately 20 new jobs, including 15 equipment operators and five professional staff. The announcement comes as the company finalized its first phase — which includes 40 railcar…

• LNG facility hoping to begin exporting natural gas
• Mississippi Power CEO’s departure due to withholding Kemper information from regulators
• Senator claims Obama has cost TVA hundreds of millions of dollars
• Panel rejects appeal in global warming/Katrina lawsuit

Doctor’s murder-for-hire case postponed, mental evaluation pending

GREENWOOD — A trial in the murder-for-hire case against a Greenwood oncologist has been postponed indefinitely. Circuit Judge Breland Hilburn issued the order this past week because the court is waiting on Dr. Arnold Smith’s evaluation at a state mental facility. The case was to have gone to trial yesterday in Leflore County Circuit Court.…

• Tenn. company makes unspecified offer to lease hospital
• Court rules in clinic dispute involving St. Dominic, HMA
• Budget writer: Medicaid taking away from education funding
• Abortion clinic fighting closure; urging patients to help

Defunct casino to be moved; cost could rise depending on ‘crud’

VICKSBURG — By late August, Vicksburg’s downtown City Front will be without a floating casino for the first time since 1993 if the winning bidder at an auction April 25 for the former Grand Station Casino follows through on a bankruptcy court-ordered sale of the vessel. What happens to the spot beyond late summer is…

• Casinos on the watch for thieves, cheats and scams
• Browse through the May 10th digital edition
• Social media marketing allows casinos to give – and take
• Southern Gaming Summit: Tribal gaming growing in the South

Developers converting historic buildings into mixed-use facilities

HATTIESBURG — If Daniel Jussely and Rob Tatum have their way, downtown Hattiesburg soon will be a cultural hub of “urbanite lifestyle” in Mississippi. As co-owners of Hub City Lofts, Jussely and Tatum are rejuvenating two of the Hub City’s oldest buildings, converting them into more than 50 loft-style apartments and more than 14,000 square…

• Commission eyeing unauthorized changes to historic structures
• FNC index: Housing sees 13th consecutive price increase
• City, state to hold second sale of tax-forfeited property
• Commission wants home to be national landmark

First students in maritime training academy expected this summer

PASCAGOULA — Officials say classes should be underway inside Ingalls Shipbuilding’s Haley Reeves Barbour Maritime Training Academy by the end of summer. President Irwin Edenzon tells The Mississippi Press the academy, funded through a Hurricane Katrina community development block grant, is meant to provide a skilled workforce and will help Ingalls expand its two- to…

• With no interim, board begins hunt for MVSU president
• Board could name state education superintendent by fall
• Board to ask lawmakers for additional $30M for 2015 budget
• Another community college raising its tuition next year

Bill exempting small farms from fuel storage regs passes Senate

WASHINGTON — Legislation to exempt small farms from Environmental Protection Agency fuel storage requirements has been incorporated into the Senate-passed Water Resources Development Act of 2013 (WRDA), according to a release from U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.). The Senate passed WRDA legislation (S.601), and with it also approved all the provisions included in the Farmers…

• Ag officials say late planting reaching historical proportions
• Undersecretary: ‘I understand the frustration’ over catfish inspections
• Federation president praises lawmakers for Farm Bill effort
• Port lets dredging contract, clearing way for wood pellets