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Crime
UPDATED: Hinds DA Wants Rankin Charges Quashed, Again Cites AG 'Overreach'
District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith wants a Rankin County judge to quash another set of criminal charges against him—for domestic violence, stalking and robbery charges.
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City & County
Attorney, JPS Parent Files Federal Lawsuit to Block State Takeover of School District
Jackson attorney Dorsey Carson says the state's process to take over school districts, violates his child's and all parents' due-process rights.
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Cover
Keeping Things Local
David Raines, a professional chef in Madison with more than 14 years of experience in restaurants around the United States and the world, decided to go into business as a …
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Food
Distilling Innovation
On a day in the middle of November, a lot of commotion is happening in a warehouse space off South Farish Street behind the Jackson Convention Complex and Mississippi Museum …
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Ferguson is Defiant Again in Deal with Justice Department
Defiance has often defined Ferguson in the 18 months since a police officer fatally shot Michael Brown and provoked an examination of how poor people and minorities are treated in …
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Big Tech Companies Are Joining Apple in Its Encryption Fight
The tech industry is starting to line up with Apple in its fight against the federal government over the encryption it uses to keep iPhones secure.
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National
Pre-Emptive U.S. Strike on North Korea Could Be 'Catastrophic'
A pre-emptive military strike may be among the "pretty severe things" President Donald Trump says he is considering for North Korea, but it's a step so fraught with risk that …
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Art
LEGO Jackson: Making Progress in Plastic
Scott Crawford, the builder behind the LEGO Jackson display, began the project under his Christmas tree with a few decorations and some spare time.
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Budget Vote Delayed Over Battle Between House GOP Factions
House Republicans sought to get their sweeping budget resolution back on track Thursday after a late-night blowup stalled the measure in the Budget Committee. A battle between the party's deficit …
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Better Than Fair Food (Really)
Each year, the Mississippi State Fair brings many different foods, but also long lines. If you don't want to fight the crowds, but still want fair foods or something better, …
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Federal Health Official Fauci: States Have Options
For Americans wondering why President Barack Obama hasn't forced all states to follow a single, national rule for isolating potential Ebola patients, the White House has a quick retort: Talk …
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Brittany Maynard Galvanizes Right-to-Die Movement
With no states voting on right-to-die laws Tuesday, the weekend death of Brittany Maynard won't have an immediate political impact.
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Art
Rita B.
For more than two years, Cherita Brent has been taking the stage as stand-up comedian Rita B. Now, she's taking one giant step forward in her comedy career with her …
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Dolezal Was Asked If She Tried to Mislead Howard University
Rachel Dolezal, who has posed for years as a black woman, faced tough questions about her racial identity long before her career as a civil rights advocate was derailed by …
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Food
Shaken, Not Stirred
I often find myself drinking seasonally. Generally, that means more red wine and full-bodied beverages in the winter and lighter wines in the summer. Spring and summer also make me …
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LGBT
Transgender Man Sues Tower Loan
On April 13, 2015, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Altshuler Berzon LLP, and Delaney & Robb filed suit against Tower Loan for discrimination on …
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Putin Promises to Respect to Ukraine's Election
President Vladimir Putin pledged Friday that Russia will respect the results of Ukraine's presidential election, a strong indication the Kremlin wants to cool down the crisis.
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Gay Rights Groups Hail New Catholic Tone
Gay rights groups are cautiously cheering a shift in tone from the Catholic Church toward homosexuals, encouraged that Pope Francis' famous "Who am I to judge?" position has filtered down …
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City & County
EDITOR'S NOTE: One Person, One City in Jackson
Community is one of my favorite topics to discuss, and it's something we should all put more emphasis on. After all, if you look at it from the universe's perspective, …
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You Can't Make It Up: Gov. Phil Bryant to Deliver Ole Miss Commencement
By Donna LaddSeriously, Mississippi, you can't quit you.
Ole Miss today confirmed rumors we've been hearing—that Gov. Phil Bryant, who is under fire in the state and nationally for signing SB 2681, is going to be the commencement speaker at the University of Mississippi, which is still trying to recover from the latest bigoted incident on campus.
I'm, frankly, astounded at the timing. I know many people at Ole Miss are working to move the university past its past, but how in the world does this choice help? Who makes these decisions?
Here's the verbatim release:
OXFORD, Miss. – Gov. Phil Bryant is set to visit the University of Mississippi on May 10 to deliver the main address at the university's 161st Commencement.
Mississippi's 64th governor, Bryant was sworn in on Jan. 10, 2012. Before becoming the state's chief executive, he was lieutenant governor from 2008 to 2011. He also served as state auditor and represented his legislative district in the Mississippi House of Representatives for five years.
The Moorhead native speaks to graduating students, their families and other guests at 9 a.m. in the Grove. This year's graduating class includes about 2,650 spring candidates for undergraduate and graduate degrees, plus some 1,000 August 2013 graduates.
"Over the years, we have had leaders from many fields come to campus for our commencement addresses, and Gov. Bryant has provided valuable leadership to our state in both the legislative and executive branches for nearly 25 years," Chancellor Dan Jones said. "By championing education and business reforms, he has helped drive economic development and provide a brighter future for all Mississippians. We look forward to the insights and challenges he will offer our graduates."
Recipients of doctor of philosophy degrees are to be hooded by their major professors in a 7:30 p.m. ceremony May 9 in the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. The Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College ceremony begins at 4 p.m. at the same location.
A shuttle service for handicapped and elderly visitors is available Saturday before the main ceremony. Shuttles will pick up people needing assistance from various locations and take them to the seating area. (Wheelchairs, if needed, must be provided by families.) The headquarters for the shuttle service will be at the Department of Parking and Transportation tent, at the intersection of University Avenue and All American Drive. To request assistance, call 662-915-7235.
In case of rain, the ceremony will be moved to Tad Smith Coliseum. If the weather is threatening, a decision on moving the ceremony indoors will be made by 8 a.m. and announced through media outlets, text messaging and the Ole Miss website.
Following the main ceremony, individual schools and the College of Liberal Arts hold ceremonies at various times and locations to present baccalaureate, master's, doctor of pharmacy and juris doctor degrees and awards. The schedule is as follows:
College of Liberal Arts master's degrees – 11 a.m., Fulton Chapel
Patterson School of Accountancy – 11 a.m., …
