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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
XGR-MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi lawmakers ended their 2014 session Wednesday night after passing the final parts of a state budget for the year that begins July 1. During the three-month session, they passed a bill designed to make the criminal justice system more efficient and less expensive. They funded a training school for a new group of state troopers. They gave a pay raise to teachers and to some lower-paid state employees who haven't had a salary bump in the past four years. By Emily Wagster Pettus and Jeff Amy. SENT: 450 words.
XGR-SPECIAL EDUCATION VOUCHERS
JACKSON, Miss. — House members are rejecting a bill to give vouchers worth more than $6,000 to parents of some Mississippi special education students. The House voted 63-53 Wednesday to reject House Bill 765, with 11 Republicans crossing over to vote with most Democrats against the bill. By Jeff Amy. SENT: 500 words.
— With: BC-XGR-Special Education Vouchers-Roll Call.
XGR-PROSECUTORS
JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi lawmakers are approving 16 more prosecutors in circuit courts after they were prodded into action by Gov. Phil Bryant. Lawmakers approved the assistant district attorneys and funding for the positions Wednesday after Bryant called a special session. House and Senate negotiators couldn't reach an agreement on a bill in the 2014 regular session that would have added more prosecutors and judges, as the two chambers argued over adding new judges and rearranging the boundaries of the circuit and chancery districts that cover the state's 82 counties. By Jeff Amy. SENT: 450 words.
CLEVELAND SCHOOLS-DESEGREGATION
JACKSON, Miss. — A federal appeals court has asked a Mississippi judge to explain how a freedom of choice plan will desegregate the Cleveland, Miss., school system. By Jack Elliott Jr. SENT: 585 words.
LEAKE SLAYING-APPEAL
JACKSON, Miss. — A Mississippi man's confession to killing his wife and his attempts to make it look like a robbery outweigh any arguments by his attorneys that he was ill-advised to plead guilty, a prosecutor told the state Court of Appeals on Wednesday. By Jack Elliott Jr. SENT: 460 words.
PICAYUNE-KATRINA LOAN
PICAYUNE, Miss. — The remainder of a $3.2 million loan approved for the city of Picayune after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 has been forgiven by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. UPCOMING: 296 words at 3:30 a.m. CT.
BUSINESS
KEMPER OVERRUNS
JACKSON, Miss. — The Southern Co. says it will cost at least another $177 million to finish the power plant it's building in eastern Mississippi's Kemper County, pushing the total cost above $5.2 billion. By Jeff Amy. SENT: 377 words.
DIAMONDHEAD CASINO
DIAMONDHEAD, Miss. — Diamondhead Casino Corp. has named a new chairman of its board. Ted Arneault, former chairman of MTR Gaming Group, will replace longtime Diamondhead Casino chairman Deborah Vitale, who is stepping down. The Sun-Herald reports (http://bit.ly/1jBQ4XB ) the announcement came in a news release Wednesday from the casino company. SENT: 250 words.
MISSISSIPPI NEWS IN BRIEF
XGR-GUN SALES TAX
JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi will remove its 7 percent state sales tax on guns, ammunition, archery equipment and some hunting supplies the first weekend of each September. Gov. Phil Bryant on Wednesday signed Senate Bill 2425 (http://bit.ly/1h4D4ud ). It becomes law July 1. SENT: 130 words.
SEVERE WEATHER-MISSISSIPPI
JACKSON, Miss. — The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service are urging residents to prepare for the possibility of severe weather through Friday. The weather service says some severe thunderstorms and hail were expected Wednesday night in northwest Mississippi. UPCOMING: 130 words by 3 a.m. CT.
GAUTIER-SMOKING BAN
GAUTIER, Miss. — The Gautier City Council is holding a public meeting on April 15 to take comments on a proposed smoking ban ordinance. Officials say the ordinance would prohibits smoking in all workplaces and public places within the city. UPCOMING: 85 words by 3:39 a.m. CT.
XGR-PAROLE BOARD CONFIRMATIONS
JACKSON, Miss. — The Mississippi Senate has confirmed two members of the state Parole Board. Nehemiah Flowers Jr. and Butch Townsend were nominated to the five-member board last year by Gov. Phil Bryant. The two Brandon residents have been serving while awaiting confirmation. SENT: 99 words.
MERIDIAN GRADUATE EXAM
MERIDIAN, Miss. — Mississippi State University-Meridian will offer a seminar Saturday on the Graduate Record Examination, a test known as the GRE and which is mandatory for anyone planning to pursue a degree beyond a bachelor's. UPCOMING: 72 words at 3:27 a.m. CT.
CORINTH-GUN ORDINANCE
CORINTH, Miss. — The city of Corinth has repealed its local gun ordinance. Mayor Tommy Irwin says the city will follow the state gun law to enforce violations. Irwin says he and aldermen took the action Tuesday after being lobbied by Second Amendment activists to make the change. SENT: 130 words.
CHOIR DIRECTOR LAWSUIT
ABERDEEN, Miss. — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former Tupelo schools music teacher against the district. Calvin Ellis sued the school district for breach of contract, interference with his contract, violation of his constitutional right to due process and violation of his right to equal protection. SENT: 3:41 p.m. CT.
OFFICERS REINSTATED
VERONA, Miss. — The Verona Board of Aldermen has reinstated to duty two police officers who were suspended after a shooting in 2013. Officers J.B. Long and Aaron Andrew had been on suspension since a Sept. 3 fatal shooting at City Park. A grand jury declined to indict the officers in January. SENT: 125 words.
MEMBER EXCHANGE
MAEP INITIATIVE
TUPELO, Miss. — Mississippi voters may have an opportunity in 2015 to say whether the state should fully fund its public schools. A newly-formed organization has filed language with the secretary of state's office for an initiative that would require it to do so. Now, members must gather enough signatures to get it on the ballot in November 2015. By Chris Kieffer, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. UPCOMING: 799 words at 3 a.m. CT.
SPORTS
BBN-BRAVES-REHABBING ROTATION
ATLANTA — Some of the Atlanta Braves' most important pitching performances this week will come in the minor leagues. Mike Minor, Gavin Floyd and Ervin Santana are pitching in minor league games on Thursday and Friday. Minor, returning from a sore shoulder, is pitching for Double-A Mississippi on Thursday. By Sports Writer Charles Odum. SENT: 544 words.
AP Photo GADT109, FLDG113.
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The AP-Jackson, Miss.
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