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Editor's Note
My Opening Farewell
After my many years with the JFP in numerous roles, the names and faces of all the dedicated souls who passed through the doors are too many to count or …
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Iran Says New Nuke Talk Session in Few Weeks
Reflecting signs of progress at ongoing Iran nuclear talks, the country's foreign minister said Wednesday that his country would meet again with six powers within weeks to further discuss ways …
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Senators Seek Budget Deal, House GOP Effort Flops
Senate leaders are optimistic about forging an eleventh-hour bipartisan deal preventing a possible federal default and ending the partial government shutdown after Republican divisions forced GOP leaders to drop efforts …
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Nurse Pleads Guilty in Cancer Clinic Fraud Case
A nurse pleaded guilty Tuesday to failing to report a crime at a former south Mississippi cancer clinic that was shut down over unsafe practices and accused of a multimillion-dollar …
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Uneven Enforcement Suspected at Nuclear Plants
The number of safety violations at U.S. nuclear power plants varies dramatically from region to region, pointing to inconsistent enforcement in an industry now operating mostly beyond its original 40-year …
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House GOP Floats a Counter to Senate's Debt Idea
The divided government's increasingly urgent drive to prevent a Treasury default and end a 15-day partial government shutdown took a highly partisan turn Tuesday as House Republicans unveiled a proposal …
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Obama Presents Afghan War Vet with Medal of Honor
A former Army captain whose heroic actions in a deadly Afghan battle were captured on video received the nation's highest military award, the Medal of Honor, from President Barack Obama …
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Ex-Halliburton Manager Pleads Guilty
A former Halliburton manager pleaded guilty Tuesday to destroying evidence in the aftermath of the deadly rig explosion that spawned BP's massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
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As Gitmo Plods, Obama's Winning the Case for Court
Four years after his failed effort to bring the 9/11 mastermind to New York for trial, President Barack Obama has reinstated the federal courthouse as America's preferred venue for prosecuting …
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Iran Presents Nuclear Proposals at Geneva Talks
Declaring that Iran no longer wants to "walk in the dark" of international isolation, Iranian negotiators put forward what they called a potential breakthrough plan Tuesday at the long-stalled talks …
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House GOP to Try to Counter Senate Debt Limit Plan
House GOP leaders unveiled their own plan Tuesday to counter an emerging Senate deal to reopen the government and forestall an economy-rattling default on U.S. obligations.
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Pascagoula LNG Terminal Awaits Federal Export OK
Investors spent $1 billion building a facility in Pascagoula to import liquefied natural gas. But plans to bring natural gas into the United States collapsed when explorers began finding large …
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Education
Breaking Away: Top Public Universities Push for 'Autonomy' from States
Across the country, a small but growing number of public universities are looking to cut deals with state lawmakers that scale back direct oversight, often in return for less funding …
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Events
Community Events and Public Meetings
Blues by Starlight is Thursday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. in Highland Village.
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Iran Nuclear Talks in Geneva Spur High Hopes
Don't expect a breakthrough—but the chances for progress have seldom been better. This is the message coming from Iran and six world powers ahead of renewed talks this week meant …
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Poll: Half of Older Workers Delay Retirement Plans
Some 82 percent of working Americans over 50 say it is at least somewhat likely they will work for pay in retirement, according to a poll released Monday by the …
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Default Looming, Day 14 of Shutdown, No Solution
The United States moved perilously closer to an economy-rattling default and a partial government shutdown entered its 14th day as Senate Democratic and Republican leaders remained at odds over spending …
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Barbour's Ties to Southern Co. Questioned in Race
A candidate for Alabama's utility regulatory board has lined up a fundraiser with former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, who helped to found a Washington lobbying firm that has represented the …
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Man Says 1973 UFO Incident Turned Life Upside Down
Charles Hickson never regretted the notoriety that came his way after he told authorities he encountered an unidentified flying object and its occupants 40 years ago on the banks of …
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Missouri, Stop Putting Secession Ideas in Mississippi's Head
By R.L. NaveApparently, in my native Missouri (also known as the most methy state in the nation), a billboard has popped up along an Interstate asking passersby to "Consider a contiguous 5-state secession" with Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Missouri and Mississippi.
That's interesting.
For one, that would be a pretty weird-ass-shaped nation (see image below). And, two, I checked all the Mississippi secessionist blogs that I read on a regular basis and found no discussion of a secession plan including those five states.
The Missouri billboard also asks about the pros and cons of forming such a union.
Well, here's a quick list, off the top of our heads:
Pro: Finally, Mississippi gets to disassociate from the awfulness of Alabama and Arkansas. Con: Mississippi would no longer have Alabama and Arkansas to deflect some of the negative attention away from us.
Pro: Mississippi would no longer be considered part of the South. Con: Mississippi would no longer be part of the South.
Pro: Mississippi would have the nicest beaches in the country and be the nation's literary and cultural capital. Con: We still wouldn't have a Six Flags or a Dave & Buster's.
Pro: Being lumped in with Texas and Oklahoma, Mississippi's politics would come off as moderate. Con: The Mississippi Legislature would lose its distinction as the nation's nuttiest legislative body.
What are some more pros and cons?
http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2013/oct/11/14109/
