by Associated Press Published: March 11,2010
Tags: ARRA, Barbour, employment, jobs, Legislature, MDES, recession, state agency, state government, stimulus, unemployment, unemployment benefite
JACKSON — The Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) was in jeopardy after a bill reauthorizing the agency died under a deadline yesterday amid a fight to force Gov. Haley Barbour to accept $56 million in stimulus funding.
House Labor Committee Chairman Rufus Straughter, D-Belzoni, didn’t bring the bill out for a vote in time to [...] [...]
LYMAN — The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources’ (DMR’s) Lyman Fish Hatchery has begun its release of tagged Gulf race striped bass. On Feb. 2 and 5, a total of 20,000 hatchery-raised yearling fish (six inches in length) were released into the wild.
This is the second phase of the striped bass release. The first was [...] [...]
ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — The Mississippi Development Authority’s (MDA’s) Community Service Division recently awarded CDBG Community Self-Help, CDBG Economic Development (CDBG ED) and Capital Improvement Revolving (CAP) Loan Program funding for eight improvement projects located throughout the state.
CDBG Community Self-Help funds are designed to address local community needs such as water, wastewater, downtown improvements and recreation. [...] [...]
JACKSON — Gov. Haley Barbour is urging legislators to pass Senate Bill 2928, which would shift law enforcement housed in the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS).
However, MDOT says it has a better idea.
In 2004, to eliminate duplication, the Legislature consolidated the personnel, revenue and enforcement function of [...] [...]
ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) recently accepted 11 new members into its enHance program.
enHance is a voluntary stewardship program begun in 2009 that recognizes committed environmental leaders who accomplish goals beyond their legal requirements. enHance is open to facilities, cities, counties and other entities that are interested in the program, [...] [...]
JACKSON — The Public Service Commission (PSC) has sent a letter to the chairmen of the House and Senate appropriations committees making them aware of $5 million in unspent funds that is currently held in the Public Service Commission Regulation Fund.
In the letter, the commissioners said that the money cannot be spent by the agency, [...] [...]
BRANDON — Authorities say a former branch manager of a Brandon bank has been sentenced to one year in prison for fraud and embezzlement.
U.S. Attorney Donald R. Burkhalter said Peggy Sue Harrell was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
She was also ordered to pay $39,308 in restitution. Harrell pleaded guilty to the charges [...] [...]
WAVELAND — The State Auditor’s Office has investigated a case involving John Thomas Longo, Mayor of Waveland, fueling a personal vehicle and paying for the fuel on a government-issued Fuelman credit card. Special agents with the State Auditor’s Office arrested Longo Jan. 22 and served him with the capias on indictment handed down by the [...] [...]
JACKSON — Dr. Hank Bounds paced back and forth in an empty State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) Board Room. The usually upbeat commissioner of higher education sighed, looked over his notes, and paced some more.
Bounds was waiting on a meeting of the IHL’s Board of Trustees to finalize tuition hikes as the state’s eight [...] [...]
ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has received damage reports from three counties for the severe weather system that moved through the state Jan. 20-21.
The reports from the counties are as follows:
• Copiah County — Three roads closed due to debris/flooding, reports of damaged homes and farm buildings. Affected area is southeast [...] [...]
