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Art Lovers' Soirée
Art and artists on display from Fischer Galleries, Sanders McNeal Studio and Gallery, Lightsey Galleries, …
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Google Asks Judge to Block Miss. Attorney General's Inquiry
An Internet giant was scheduled to face off with Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood on Friday. Google will ask U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate to block an investigation by …
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Justice
State Supreme Court Orders New Trial for Death Row Prisoner Manning
Willie Jerome Manning, one of the last people the state of Mississippi attempted to execute, will get a new trial, the Mississippi Supreme Court ordered on Feb. 12.
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City: Public Works Director Orders Temporary Halt to New Water Meter Installations
By R.L. NaveFrom the office of Mayor Tony Yarber:
City of Jackson Public Works Director Kishia Powell has issued a stop work order to Siemens, halting the installation of new city water meters. Powell also postponed the start of a new online billing system that was set to go-live this weekend.
The action comes after the discovery that Siemens had installed at least seven meters that were not configured to properly measure water usage, resulting in unusually high water bills. A review found that the company had installed gallon meters. The city measures water usage in cubic feet. Those meters have been changed out and adjustments are being made to the customers’ accounts.
The company must provide the city with an approved corrective action plan before installation work can resume. Siemens was awarded a $90 million contract in 2012 to install a new water meter system in Jackson.
A media availability with Powell is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, in the Mayor’s Ceremonial Office at City Hall.
The city has been responding to customer complaints about higher water bills. In many cases, higher bills result from a more accurate reading of properly installed meters.
“While we believe there may be other gallon meters in the system that are contributing to the high bills, it has been found that some of the high bills have stemmed from leaks on private property,” Powell said. “Once those leaks are identified and fixed, adjustments are made to the accounts.”
Customers with questions about their bills are asked to contact the Water and Sewer Business Administration at 601-960-2000.
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Health Care
Advocates Press for Uninsured to Get Special Enrollment Option After They See Tax Penalties
Sunday’s deadline for signing up for health insurance on the exchanges will have long passed by the time many people file their taxes this March and April. But that may …
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FBI Examining 3 Slain in NC; Family Says It Was Hate Crime
Muslim groups planned to take their demands for a federal hate-crime investigation of three young Muslims slain in North Carolina to the White House on Friday.
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More Alabama Counties Start Granting Gay Marriage Licenses
More initially reluctant Alabama probate judges began issuing gay marriage licenses Friday after a federal judge strongly suggested that her order striking down the state's same-sex marriage ban should apply …
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City & County
White Judge Accused of Assault, Race Abuse Indicted
Madison County Justice Court Judge Bill Weisenberger has been indicted and arrested for allegedly assaulting a mentally disabled black man in Canton last year.
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House Votes to Make Expired Business Tax Breaks Permanent
The House voted Friday to make permanent an expired tax break designed to help small businesses invest in equipment and property, defying a veto threat by the White House.
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Mississippi House Passes Bill Mandating Execution Secrecy
The Mississippi House has passed a bill that not only makes the details surrounding state executions secret, but allows lawsuits against anyone who discloses the secrets.
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Court: Miss. Power Ordered to Refund Kemper Rate Hikes
Mississippi Power Company has been ordered to refund its customers for a rate increase put into effect in 2013 to begin paying for Kemper County power plant it is building.
