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Good afternoon, 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
SENATE-MISSISSIPPI
JACKSON, Miss. — A Republican U.S. Senate challenger in Mississippi says the incumbent's camp is "showing signs of desperation" by criticizing things he said while hosting a conservative radio show several years ago. Tea party-backed Chris McDaniel is challenging six-term incumbent Thad Cochran in a June 3 primary. By Emily Wagster Pettus. UPCOMING: 500 words at 6 p.m.
BANKRUPTCY FRAUD
JACKSON, Miss. — A Jackson man was indicted Wednesday on charges that he defrauded his bankrupt business of more than $9 million. William "Butch" Dickson faces charges in U.S. District Court in Jackson. The 58-year-old is being held without bond in Mississippi, and a court appearance was set for Tuesday. By Jeff Amy. SENT: 553 WORDS.
SUSPICIOUS LETTERS
JACKSON, Miss. — A federal judge has set a May 14 sentencing date for a Mississippi man who pleaded guilty to making ricin and sending letters dusted with the poison to President Barack Obama and other officials. James Everett Dutschke (DUHS'-kee) will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock in Aberdeen, Miss. By Jeff Amy. SENT: 305 words.
AP Photo MH201.
GULF OIL SPILL-HEALTH
CHALMETTE, La. — When a BP oil well began gushing crude into the Gulf of Mexico four years ago, fisherman George Barisich used his boat to help clean up the millions of gallons that spewed in what would become the worst offshore spill in U.S. history. Like so many Gulf Coast residents who pitched in after the April 20, 2010, explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig, Barisich was motivated by a desire to help and a need to make money — the oil had destroyed his livelihood. By Stacey Plaisance and Kevin McGill. SENT: 1026 words.
AP Photos LAAM110, LAAM101, LAAM109, LAAM102, LAAM103, LAAM111, LAAM112, LAAM106, LAAM105, LAAM104, LAGH103, LAGH104, LAGH102, LAGH101.
MISSISSIPPI-ARSON ARREST
BILOXI, Miss. — The woman accused of burning down a D'Iberville apartment building has been released from jail after her $2 million bond was reduced to $200,000. SENT: 363 words.
LAWYER'S OFFICE-SHOOTING
GREENWOOD, Miss. — A judge wants to hold a trial in August on a Greenwood attorney's civil lawsuit against a doctor involved in an alleged murder-for-hire plot. Lee Abraham sued Dr. Ralph Arnold Smith Jr. in July of 2012. In the lawsuit, Abraham argued he has altered his daily routine and lost enjoyment of his normal life as a result of a plot to kill him. SENT: 318 words.
BUSINESS
KEMPER RECORDS
JACKSON, Miss. — A judge will sort out which records about Mississippi Power Co.'s Kemper County power plant should be released to a group that opposes the plant. The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Hinds County Chancery Judge Dewayne Thomas should release information sought by the Bigger Pie Forum, while withholding other information about the $5 billion complex that Mississippi Power wants kept secret. By Jeff Amy. SENT: 426 words.
SHIPYARD REUSE
UNDATED — Huntington Ingalls Industries will study redeveloping its Avondale, La., shipyard in conjunction with Kinder Morgan Energy Partners. The two companies say that after the six-month study, they could form a joint venture to redevelop the shipyard near New Orleans, which otherwise is expected lay off most of its 740 employees this summer. By Jeff Amy. UPCOMING: 397 words.
STATE PORT-CRANES
GULFPORT, Miss. — The state port commission is considering whether to buy three cranes, costing a total of $29.8 million, from Shangai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co. in China. The massive cranes can serve vessels far larger than Gulfport's ship channel will accommodate, but port officials hope the federal government eventually will fund and dredge a deeper channel. SENT: 271 words.
MISSISSIPPI NEW IN BRIEF
4-H YOUTH COMPLEX
WEST POINT, Miss. — The 4-H Foundation of Mississippi has opened a 63-acre multipurpose youth complex in West Point. Dedication ceremonies were held Thursday for the Jimmy Bryan 4-H Youth Complex. UPCOMING: 272 words at 3:53 p.m.
WILLIAMS AIRPORT
JACKSON, Miss. — The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $142,200 through the Federal Aviation Administration to Hinds County to rehabilitate the taxiway at the John Bell Williams Airport in Jackson. UPCOMING: 68 words at 3:03 p.m.
NORTH PIKE SCHOOLS
MCCOMB, Miss. — The North Pike School District board has hired Dennis Penton as the school system's next superintendent, effective July 1. Penton, a former Pearl River County School District superintendent, is now principal at Biloxi Junior High School. UPCOMING: 124 words at 3:25 p.m.
WALLS-FIVE ARRESTED
WALLS, Miss. — Five men have been arrested in connection with the beating and shooting of a man in the Walls area of DeSoto County. Deputies said the incident happened Sunday afternoon outside a house in the Broken Hickory Road area. Investigators say five men got out of a car and began to beat a man. The victim was then shot by one of the suspects. SENT: 157 words.
CHICKASAW COUNTY-CHILD CASE
HOUSTON, Miss. — A judge in Chickasaw County has granted bond to a woman who was arrested for allegedly leaving her newborn child in a shed in the Houston community. Cora Lynn Watkins was freed on $12,000 bond and faces a preliminary hearing on May 15. She is charged with felony child abuse and abandonment of a child under the age of six. SENT: 154 words.
PLANNED POWER OUTAGE
SHANNON, Miss. — Power customers in some Lee County communities can expect electric service to be out for about 3 hours early Saturday morning. Officials of the Tombigbee Electric Power Association said the planned outage is needed while crews do maintenance at its Shannon and Nettleton substations. SENT: 102 words.
LEE COUNTY-DRUG BUST
PLANTERSVILLE, Miss. — Authorities in Lee County say a Tupelo man has been booked with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute the drug. Deputies said 22-year-old Christopher Livingston was arrested Thursday after a search warrant was executed at a house east of Plantersville. SENT: 93 words.
HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTON
PURVIS, Miss. — Residents of Forrest and Lamar counties will be able to dispose of hazardous household waste at no charge Saturday in what's dubbed "Right Way To Throw Away Day." Materials will be collected from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at Bobby Chain Municipal Airport in Hattiesburg and the Lamar County Multipurpose Center in Purvis. SENT: 89 words.
DIAMONDHEAD-BANK ROBBBERY
DIAMONDHEAD, Miss. — Mississippi authorities say the man who robbed a Diamondhead bank was driving Nissan believed to have been used in recent bank heists in other states. SENT: 100 words.
FELONY CHILD ABUSE
PASCAGOULA, Miss. — A 26-year-old Pascagoula woman has pleaded guilty to two charges of felony child abuse. Circuit Judge Dale Harkey sentenced Shetera Shanta Millender Friday to a total of 30 years on each count, with 20 years to serve and 40 years under post-release supervision. SENT: 110 words.
REITH APPEAL
JACKSON, Miss. — A faulty jury instruction was won a Canton man a new trial for the 2010 death of his estranged wife. The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled Thursday the Madison County trial judge erred in his instructions to Joseph Reith's jury. The court says the instruction to the jury — as it was worded — removed prosecutors' burden of proving Reith's guilt beyond reasonable doubt. SENT: 258 words.
BUCKNER-WRECK-APPEAL
JACKSON, Miss. — The Mississippi Supreme Court has declined to hear a post-conviction appeal from a Starkville man sentenced to 35 years for a fatal crash in 2008 on the Mississippi State University campus that killed a young woman and injured two others. Joshua Buckner pleaded guilty in 2009 in Oktibbeha County to charges of leaving the scene of a fatal accident and three counts of aggravated DUI. SENT: 187 words.
MEMBER EXCHANGE
ZHU-JUILLIARD SCHOOL
JACKSON, Miss. — Belhaven University senior Jocelyn Zhu is headed to the prestigious Juilliard School next fall for its master's program for violinists. She's only 19, but the young musician from Madison graduates in May, at the end of her fifth year at Belhaven. "I kind of took a victory lap," she joked. By Sherry Lucas, The Clarion-Ledger. SENT: 749 words, photo.
SPORTS
FBC-MISSISSIPPI ST-JONES
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Chris Jones quickly established himself as one of Mississippi State's best defensive linemen during his freshman season. Now he's one of the anchors of the Bulldogs' defense as they prepare for Saturday's spring game. By Sports Writer David Brandt. UPCOMING: 550 words by 3 p.m.
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The AP-Jackson, Miss.
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