by Associated Press Published: May 9,2013
Tags: building, damage, destruction, disaster, disaster recovery, hail, hailstorm, natural disaster, roof, severe thunderstorm, state government, thunderstorm, Weather, window
METRO JACKSON — The Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy in Pearl isn’t the most aesthetically appealing place to train officers these days, its director, Pat Cronin, concedes. The March 18 hailstorms that struck metro Jackson destroyed 87 law enforcement and civilian vehicles parked at the academy when the storms hit, punched holes in roofing [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: May 8,2013
Tags: executive, funding, governor, health, health benefits, health care, health care reform, health insurance, poor, public health, state government, uninsured
JACKSON — Gov. Phil Bryant says he thinks he can run Medicaid even if lawmakers don’t reauthorize the program or set its budget by the time the state’s new fiscal year starts July 1. “As head of the Governor’s Division of Medicaid, I will do all I can to continue and to provide Medicaid to [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: May 6,2013
Tags: crude oil, diesel, energy, federal government, fuel, gasoline, governor, natural gas, offshore drilling, Oil, petroleum, state government
GULF OF MEXICO — Six coastal governors have called on Washington to open up more waters to offshore drilling and to make permitting a quicker, more efficient process. The governors of Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Alaska spoke Monday at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston. Officials from Louisiana and Virginia also [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: May 6,2013
Tags: city, city government, coutry music, municipal, municipality, Museum, music, musician, singer, song, state government, tourism, tourist, visitor
TREMONT — Officials in northeast Mississippi are hoping for some money from the state to help to finance construction of the Tammy Wynette Museum in Tremont. Wynette, a country music legend who died in 1998, is a native of the Tremont area in Itawamba County. She was married for six years to George Jones, who [...] [...]
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI — Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann says he’s worried that a proposed levee in Louisiana could place low-lying areas of south Mississippi in danger of flooding. Hosemann told The Sun Herald he’s concerned about a proposal being considered to build a 24-foot barrier levee near Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana. The plan is one of several [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: May 1,2013
Tags: college, COST, education, funding, higher education, postsecondary education, state government, tuition, underfunded, university
JACKSON — Mississippi’s prepaid college tuition plan may be underfunded by more than $100 million, auditors from a private consultant told the board that oversees it. However, the actuaries say the plan can be at least partially fixed by charging more for future contracts. If the board doesn’t make changes, either colleges or the Legislature [...] [...]
by MBJ Staff Published: May 1,2013
Tags: college, education, higher education, laboratory, marine life, postsecondary education, public university, research, science, scientist, settlement, state agency, state government, university, wildlife
HATTIESBURG — Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann has presented the University of Southern Mississippi with a check for $432,307 in the President’s Conference Room at the Aubrey K. Lucas Administration Building on the University’s Hattiesburg campus. The funds are part of a settlement agreement reached in 2002 resolving long standing land issues on a piece [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: April 30,2013
Tags: ballot, candidate, elected office, elected official, election, lawmaker, legislative, legislator, Legislature, political campaign, politician, Politics, public office, public official, state agency, state government
MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST — It looks like there’s going to be a four-candidate race May 28 for the state House of Representatives District 95 seat. The deadline to qualify for the special election to fill the seat held by the late Rep. Jessica Upshaw was yesterday, a state holiday. A spokeswoman with the Secretary of [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: April 29,2013
Tags: crime, death penalty, law, law enforcement, legal, legislation, state government, terror, terrorism, terrorist
JACKSON — Acts of terrorism will be added to the list of crimes in Mississippi that could lead to the death penalty, if a victim is killed. Gov. Phil Bryant signed Senate Bill 2223 this past week. It takes effect July 1. Mississippi prosecutors already can pursue the death penalty if a victim is killed [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: April 28,2013
Tags: appropriation, budget, employee, employment, funding, health, health care, job, layoff, payroll, public health, state agency, state government, unemployment, work, worker
JACKSON — Top officials at the Mississippi State Department of Health say they’re trying to prevent layoffs for 41 employees and 41 contract workers who were part of a program to help women with high-risk pregnancies. Dr. Mary Currier, the state health officer, said Friday that the social workers were told April 15 their jobs [...] [...]