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Graceland celebrating 30 years as tourist destination

Associated Press — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 11:37:01 +0000

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — When Graceland opened to the public 30 years ago this month, nobody knew if it would be a success. Nearly 18 million visitors later, the house where Elvis Presley once lived is a money-making business that’s helped transform the city of Memphis into a top destination for music lovers. But Presley’s ex-wife [...]

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Silver Airways to start selling tickets for three airports by August

Associated Press — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 15:53:48 +0000

AROUND MISSISSIPPI — Silver Airways will begin selling tickets by Aug. 1 for passenger service from three Mississippi locations. Mickey Bowman, vice president of essential air service at the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based airline, tells the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal flights from Tupelo, Greenville and Hattiesburg-Laurel in Mississippi, as well as for Muscle Shoals, Ala., and [...]

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Ex-Connecticut inn owner accused of bilking investors for resort project

Associated Press — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 01:09:31 +0000

LAKESHORE — A former owner of New London, Conn.’s, historic Lighthouse Inn is facing a trial in federal court on charges she helped defraud $1.7 million from investors in a resort project in Mississippi. Maureen Clark of Stonington and her former business partner, Cristopher Plummer of Lyme, were accused of using much of that money [...]

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Transportation museum to open in old depot this week

Associated Press — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:13:09 +0000

VICKSBURG — Vicksburg’s long-awaited transportation museum will open Friday in the former depot of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad. Lamar Roberts, the museum director, tells the Vicksburg Post Friday’s “soft opening” is in advance of the scheduled grand opening July 15. Roberts says admission fees will be reduced during the first month since some [...]

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Isle of Capri rebranding Rainbow Casino as Lady Luck

Associated Press — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:58:22 +0000

VICKSBURG — The Rainbow Casino in Vicksburg will take on the name Lady Luck Casino next year. The Vicksburg Post reports the information was contained in the quarterly financial report by Isles of Capri Casinos Inc. It will be the fifth Lady Luck facility for the St. Louis-based gaming and entertainment company. The change will [...]

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Commission gives nod to plans for Golden Nugget casino resort

Associated Press — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:53:20 +0000

BILOXI — The Biloxi Planning Commission has approved the $150 million renovation plans for Golden Nugget Biloxi casino resort. The Sun Herald reports the proposal now goes to the city council. Officials say the sale of the Isle Casino to Landry’s Golden Nugget is expected by August but the property won’t be re-branded until all [...]

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Coast man gets 12-plus years in prison for fraudulent oil spill claims

Associated Press — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:50:55 +0000

GULFPORT A Gulfport man, identified as the mastermind of a family scheme to illegally obtain about $100,000 in oil spill recovery money, has been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison. The Sun Herald reports U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden sentenced 50-year-old Bobby Earl Keys to 12½ years in prison for claiming lost [...]

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Water park closing due to dispute with waterway district

Associated Press — Tue, 29 May 2012 14:50:29 +0000

PURVIS — Lamar County’s ongoing money dispute with the Pat Harrison Waterway District has resulted in the closing of the area’s line water park for the summer. The Hattiesburg American reports Little Black Creek Water Park will be closed from July 1 to Sept. 1. PHWD said the 42-year-old Little Black Creek drew 150,000 to [...]

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USDA petitioning for Collins Zoo’s license to be revoked

Associated Press — Tue, 29 May 2012 14:49:40 +0000

COLLINS — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has asked the federal agriculture secretary to fine and revoke the license of the Collins Zoo. The USDA complaint alleges at least 47 violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act, each carrying a fine of up to $10,000, the Hattiesburg American reported. Owners Gus and Betty White have [...]

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Coast casinos up, riverboats down in April

Associated Press — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:02:11 +0000

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — Revenue for Mississippi Coast casinos was up in April, but the take at river casinos dropped, depressing the overall revenue at the state’s gambling halls. The state’s casinos won 1.2 percent less money, with revenues falling to $187 million last month from $189.3 million in April 2011. Casinos in the Gulf Coast [...]

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