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Good morning, Mississippi editors.
The news editor is Brian Schwaner (1-504-523-3931). The AP photographer is Rogelio Solis. If you have contributions for or questions about the Mississippi report, call 1-601-948-5897. To report technical problems: 1-800-469-1362. AP stories, along with the photos that accompany them, can also be obtained from http://www.apexchange.com. Reruns are also available from the Service Desk (877-836-9477).
TOP STORIES
OBIT-LUMUMBA
JACKSON, Miss. — Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, a nationally prominent attorney and human rights activist who persuaded voters into accepting a sales tax to fix crumbling roads and infrastructure in Mississippi's capital, died Tuesday. He was 66. City officials said Lumumba died at St. Dominic Hospital. A cause of death was not immediately clear, though City Council president Charles Tillman, who was sworn in as acting mayor, said he had met Monday with Lumumba, who had a cold. By Jeff Amy and Emily Wagster Pettus. SENT: 950 words. AP Photos.
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OBIT-LUMUMBA-REACTION
JACKSON, Miss. — Comments reacting to the death of Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba. SENT: 550 words.
SCHOOL TAKEOVER
JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi officials are taking over the Scott County school district after all. Gov. Phil Bryant issued a proclamation Tuesday declaring an emergency in the 4,200-student district, clearing the way for the state Board of Education to appoint Mike Vinson as conservator. Bryant had earlier rejected a request for the state to take over the district. But the state Board of Education on Friday changed its policy to allow the state to seize control of a district without automatically limiting high school sports and extracurricular activities by revoking accreditation. By Jeff Amy. SENT: 500 words.
ABORTION-MISSISSIPPI
JACKSON, Miss. — A federal appeals court is expected to hear oral arguments in late April or early May in a lawsuit challenging a 2012 Mississippi abortion law. Robert McDuff, an attorney representing Mississippi's only abortion clinic, says Tuesday that the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will set arguments for the week that begins April 28. Jackson Women's Health Organization filed a federal suit over the law requiring each of its physicians to have local hospital admitting privileges. A federal district judge in Jackson allowed the law to take effect but blocked the state from closing the clinic while it seeks to comply with the law. The clinic has been unable to get the privileges for its out-of-state physicians. The state is asking the 5th Circuit to overturn the judge's ruling. By Emily Wagster Pettus. SENT: 375 words
SPECIAL EDUCATION VOUCHERS
JACKSON, Miss. — Parents who want the state to approve special education vouchers added their voices to the mix Tuesday, even as proponents said they were willing to make concessions to get their proposal passed. The plan would create a $6,000 benefit for special education students whose parents withdrew them from public schools. The proposal has created a split among special education advocates, with some saying Mississippi's special education system is so broken that students need an escape hatch while others say leaving public schools will reduce pressure to improve. By Jeff Amy. SENT: 400 words.
MISSISSIPPI EXECUTIONS
JACKSON, Miss. — Death row inmate Michelle Byrom argues in documents filed with the Mississippi Supreme Court that she has new evidence that suggests her son killed her husband and she never sought to hire a hit man as he told prosecutors. Byrom's attorneys asked the Supreme Court on Monday to give her another trial. In such post-conviction petitions, an inmate argues they have found new evidence — or a possible constitutional problem — that could persuade a court to order a new trial. By Jack Elliott Jr. SENT: 460 words.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLES
TRAVEL-TRIP-BAYOU MARDI GRAS
NEW ORLEANS — In New Orleans, revelers ride fancy floats, wear elaborate costumes and toss trinkets and beads by the tons to eager — and often inebriated — crowds. But along south Louisiana bayous and in Cajun communities far from the Big Easy, Mardi Gras is celebrated a little differently. There, boats are gaily decorated, revelers two-step to Cajun and zydeco bands, and many partake in communal gumbos in a more family oriented atmosphere. By Stacey Plaisance. SENT: 914 words.
AP Photos NYET126, NYET127, NYET128, NYET130, NYET129.
BLUES TRAIL MARKERS
JACKSON, Miss. — Two new Mississippi Blues Trail marker being unveiled Tuesday with honor legendary blues artist Charley Patton and country blues guitar and fiddle group, the Mississippi Sheiks. The markers for Patton and the Sheiks, which featured members of the Chatmon family, will be placed in Bolton. SENT: 127 words.
MISSISSIPPI NEWS IN BRIEF
GROCERY-ROBBERY SHOOTING
GREENVILLE, Miss. — A third suspect has been arrested related to a robbery and shooting at Greenville's Min Sang Grocery on Jan. 3. Assistant Police Chief Andrew Kaho tells The Delta Democrat Times (http://bit.ly/NuT0ce) that 22-year-old Darius Smith of Greenville is in custody in Wichita, Kan. He says the police department has started extradition proceedings. UPCOMING: 127 words at 3:25 a.m. CST.
NATCHEZ CEMETERY SLAYING-APPEAL
JACKSON, Miss. — The Mississippi Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of Adrian Williams for his role in the 2011 slaying of a teenager in the Natchez City Cemetery. Williams was convicted of murder in 2012 in Adams County. He was given a life sentence. UPCOMING: 111 words at 3:14 a.m. CST
VICKSBURG-PUSHING DEATH
VICKSBURG, Miss. — Bond has been set at $450,000 for a Vicksburg man arrested in the death of a 70-year-old relative. Caleb Erves is charged with first-degree murder in the incident that occurred Sunday. He appeared in city court on Monday when bond was set. UPCOMING: 114 words at 3:35 a.m. CST
SEXUAL BATTERY CONVICTION-APPEAL
JACKSON, Miss. — The state Court of Appeals has upheld Timothy Stratton's conviction of sexual battery involving his wife's granddaughter. Stratton was convicted of two counts in 2012 in Lee County. He was sentenced to two consecutive life terms.
NATCHEZ SLAYING
NATCHEZ, Miss. — Natchez police say an autopsy results show a 20-year-old man who was found dead in his house Sunday died of a gunshot wound to the back of the head. Police Detective Jerry Ford tells The Natchez Democrat (http://bit.ly/MrHGwL ) that no gun was found at the home of Terrance Thornburg.
HANCOCK HOSPITAL LAWSUIT
BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. — Hancock Medical Center's Board of Trustees has filed a federal lawsuit against its former management company, claiming it lost millions of dollars from its contract with Tennessee-based Quorum Health Resources. The lawsuit was filed this past week in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. SENT: 234 words.
MADISON CO-STATE AID
CANTON, Miss. — State Aid funding to Madison County has been suspended due to reseal and overlay deficiencies on some roads, according to county officials. The board of supervisors was told about the problem this past week by Andrew Grant, business manager for the county road department. SENT: 130 words.
CLARKSDALE CITY COURT
CLARKSDALE, Miss. — Clarksdale Municipal Judge Joe Gibbs is again offering an amnesty deal for citizens who have outstanding fines in city court. The offer applies to anyone who has a warrant out for arrest or who is not currently paying anything on an outstanding fine. SENT: 122 words.
MEMBER EXCHANGE
HARRISON-INMATE WORK PROGRAM
GULFPORT, Miss. — The smell of hamburgers sizzling on a flat top wafted through the air recently at the Isiah Fredericks Senior Center as a room full of people sat down to lunch. The smell is a fairly new one to the center, as food was previously driven there from the Lyman Senior Center three days a week. The North Gulfport facility now has a fully functional kitchen and serves up meals five days a week, thanks to a new work program by the Harrison County Sheriff's Office for female inmates. By Lauren Walck, The Sun Herald. UPCOMING: 735 words at 3:42 a.m. CST.
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The AP-Jackson, Miss.
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