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Obama Administration Opening 2-Front Campaign on Syria
The Obama administration opened a two-front campaign on Syria on Thursday with a push to end one war there and step up another.
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Second Jackson Airport 'Takeover' Bill Filed in House
By adreherThe much-anticipated Senate bill that would change the governing authority of the Jackson airport has attracted most of the attention in the airport "takeover" fight between Republican lawmakers and Jackson city officials and citizens, but Rep. Mark Baker, R-Brandon, filed a second airport bill earlier this week in the House of Representatives.
The House bill would dissolve the "municipal airport authority located in a municipality with a population of 173,514 according the 2010 federal decennial census" by June 2017. The only city in the state with that population is Jackson. Rep. Baker's bill goes on to describe a nine-member commission that would replace the municipal airport authority. The new "municipal-regional airport authority" would be made up of a representatives from 9 municipalities.
Rep. Baker's bill does not name municipalities; instead it uses 2010 Census figures to describe each separate municipality that would get representation on his proposed commission. Using 2010 Census numbers, the"municipal-regional airport authority" would be made up of one representative each from Jackson, Madison, Ridgeland, Flowood, Pearl and Brandon. There would be one Hinds County Board of Supervisors commissioner and two Rankin County Board of Supervisors commissioners if Baker's bill passes.
The bill was referred to the House Judiciary A Committee (which Rep. Baker chairs) and the House Ports, Harbors and Airports Committee.
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Sheldon Appointed Chancery Judge in 4 Counties
Gov. Phil Bryant has appointed a new chancery judge in four south Mississippi counties.
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Last Occupiers of Oregon Wildlife Refuge Surrender to FBI
Surrounded by FBI agents in armored vehicles, the last four occupiers of a national nature preserve surrendered Thursday, and a leader in their movement who organized a 2014 standoff with …
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NATO Orders Warships into Aegean to Help Ease Migrant Crisis
In a dramatic response to Europe's gravest refugee crisis since World War II, NATO ordered three warships to sail immediately Thursday to the Aegean Sea to help end the deadly …
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Education
Tollison: 'No Data' Show That Appointing Superintendents Helps School Achievement (UPDATED)
"No data" back the idea that appointing school superintendents rather than electing them will actually raise test scores or improve achievement in the state's public schools, the author of the …
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Person of the Day
Willie Richardson
Super Bowl III was one of the most important games in professional football history. It featured Jackson State University icon Willie Richardson, but he was on the losing side of …
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Chicago Man Sues to Try to Get on Mississippi Primary Ballot
The Mississippi Supreme Court is considering a challenge by a Chicago businessman who's trying to get listed on the state's March 8 Democratic primary ballot for president.
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Feds Accuse Prison Guards of Taking Bribes, Drug Trafficking
More than 40 prison guards and officers in Georgia have been indicted on charges of accepting bribes and drug trafficking, the latest in a federal effort to crack down on …
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Breakthrough: Scientists Detect Einstein-Predicted Ripples
In an announcement that electrified the world of astronomy, scientists said Thursday that they have finally detected gravitational waves, the ripples in the fabric of space-time that Einstein predicted a …
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Occupiers at Oregon Refuge Say They'll Turn Themselves In
The last four armed occupiers of a national wildlife refuge in eastern Oregon said they would turn themselves in Thursday morning after law officers surrounded them in a tense standoff.
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Senate Panel Seeks Appointed Local School Superintendents
Mississippi lawmakers are making a fresh push to have 55 elected local school superintendents appointed by school boards instead, with the Senate Education Committee approving such a bill Wednesday.
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Government Sues Ferguson After City Tries to Revise Deal
The federal government sued Ferguson on Wednesday, one day after the city council voted to revise an agreement aimed at improving the way police and courts treat poor people and …
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Columbus, Miss., police file two different reports in shooting of Ricky Ball
By Donna LaddSo, what's going on with Columbus police? The Guardian has a report that police there have filed two different police reports for killing of Ball, who was African American. The Guardian reports:
*Since 26-year-old Ricky Ball was shot and killed by police in October, the black community in Columbus, Mississippi, has grappled with questions that don’t have clear answers.
Why did police shoot Ball that night? Why did a string of police officials resign in the months that followed? And why did police claim Ball stole a gun from a police officer’s home only after his death? Attempts to obtain police documents about the case have raised a new question: why did police release two different versions of events from the shooting?
Documents obtained by the Guardian show police altered a document labeled “uniform incident report” in Ball’s death. An initial version published by the Commercial Dispatch said an officer “tased” Ball before he fled. A new version of the incident report released to the Guardian does not include any mention of Taser use.
“One of these two reports is not true,” said Philip Broadhead, director of the criminal appeals clinic at the University of Mississippi law school. Broadhead said he’s never seen an incident report altered the way the document was in this case. “For police officers to offer up this type of information in the form of an incident report as sworn law officers … It’s a violation of their oath.”*
Also, an officer fired for the shooting filed a federal lawsuit over his firing yesterday. Read more here.
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Judge: New Order Against Enforcing Louisiana Abortion Law
A federal judge in Louisiana has issued a new order blocking the state from enforcing an abortion law that he says would prevent most women from getting abortions.
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Business
Incentives Sail Through; Anti-LGBT Bills Drop; Groups Call for Foster-Care Funding
Sen. Charles Younger, R-Columbus, introduced a bill that would "clarify that religious leaders are not required to perform same-sex marriages" last week.
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Education
2016 Education Bills
Education is a hot topic in the Mississippi Legislature. The following education bills dropped for consideration.
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The Slate
Two outstanding head football coaching hires happened last week. Southern Miss should be in good shape next season with Jay Hopson, and Fred McNair should be able to keep what …
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Bryan's Rant
CFL Returns to Jackson
Tonight would be like your average summer night in Canada," Winnipeg Blue Bombers Assistant General Manager and Director of U.S. Scouting Danny McManus explained as the second annual Jackson Combine …
