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Good evening, 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).
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
MISSISSIPPI GOP RIFT
JACKSON, Miss. — The president of the Mississippi Tea Party is calling on state Republican chairman Joe Nosef to either remain neutral in the Republican U.S. Senate primary or step down. In a statement Monday, tea party leader Laura Van Overschelde says she thinks Nosef is favoring incumbent Thad Cochran over challenger Chris McDaniel. Nosef says he's not playing favorites before the June 3 primary. He says he has worked "relentlessly" to against efforts to divide the Republican Party. By Emily Wagster Pettus. Upcoming: 300 words by 8:20 p.m.
TEXT MESSAGES-PUBLIC RECORDS
TUPELO, Miss. — Public officials' text messages about government business are public records, the Mississippi Ethics Commission says. The commission's first opinion on the matter was unanimous, the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (http://bit.ly/RjB86B) reported. The opinion arrived Monday in a dispute between the newspaper and the city of Tupelo but was made Friday at a meeting attended by seven of the eight members. The advisory opinion said the government broke Mississippi's public records law by refusing to provide the newspaper with copies of text messages sent by Mayor Jason Shelton as mayor from Oct. 23-26, when Development Services Director BJ Teal announced her resignation. SENT: 565 words.
OTHER TOP STORIES
PEARL RIVER FLOOD
JACKSON, Miss. — In 1979 the Pearl River's waters flooded parts of Jackson and surrounding areas in a deluge that paralyzed the city and led to the evacuation of 15,000 people. Now, 35 years later, the river is making a return visit. Water is projected to do little more than flood low-lying streets and wooded areas. But with the swollen Pearl climbing again Monday after heavy rain overnight, it's a reminder that despite decades of study, little has been done to protect Mississippi's largest urban area. By Jeff Amy. SENT: 660 words.
PAT HARRISON WATERWAY
LAUREL, Miss. — The Pat Harrison Waterway District's proposal to move its headquarters from Forrest County to the Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport has the support of the Jones County Board of Supervisors. Supervisors voted this past week to support the relocation. SENT: 340 words.
BUSINESS
AIR SERVICE-MISSISSIPPI
MERIDIAN, Miss. — Leaders of airports in Meridian and Hattiesburg-Laurel are working with a consultant who specializes in smaller airport service to make presentations to the larger commercial airlines. SENT: 344 words.
BANCORPSOUTH-LOUISIANA INSURER
TUPELO, Miss. — BancorpSouth Insurance Services Inc., a subsidiary of BancorpSouth Bank, has agreed to acquire the assets of Lafayette, La.-based Knox Insurance Group LLC. Financial terms of the pending transaction were not disclosed. SENT: 130 words.
CLINIC CLOSING
SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — After 12 years, the nonprofit DeSoto Health & Wellness Center in Southaven is closing its doors on April 30. The clinic, which offered medical services to the working poor and uninsured on a sliding scale based on income, was one of the first of its kind in Northwest Mississippi. SENT: 325 words.
MISSISSIPPI NEWS IN BRIEF
BENOIT SCHOOLS
BENOIT, Miss. — The former superintendent of the Benoit school system and three other ex-employees have been asked for repay $109,681 in allegedly misused grant money. The demand letter was sent by State Auditor Stacey Pickering to Suzanne Hawley, former superintendent of the Benoit School District; Barbara Peeples, former business manager; Ephen Melton, former maintenance manager; and Sherry Shepard, former assistant superintendent. SENT: 172 words.
DRUG CASE-SENTENCING
ABERDEEN, Miss. — The 10th and final defendant in a north Mississippi drug trafficking operation has been sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison. Kenneth Scales of Corinth was sentenced last week by U.S. District Court Judge Sharion Aycock in Aberdeen. Scales pleaded guilty earlier to conspiracy to distribute drugs, according to court records. Three years of probation will follow the sentence. SENT: 121 words.
BLESSING FLEET
PASS CHRISTIAN, Miss. — Mike Austin, pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church, strode along the docks of the Pass Christian Harbor sprinkling holy water on each boat and pausing to bless their crews. He was asking for a good, prosperous fishing season for the working boats, fun on the water for the owners of pleasure craft, "and safety for all." Austin said his prayers on Sunday extended to protection from hurricanes. SENT: 281 words.
NATCHEZ DEPOT
NATCHEZ, Miss. — The City of Natchez has received nearly $250,000 to help fund the renovation of the historic railroad depot on Broadway Street. Mayor Butch Brown say the city received the funding last week. SENT: 130 words.
RECYCLING FUNDS
NATCHEZ, Miss. — The city of Natchez, along with the city of Brookhaven and Wilkinson County, received more than $300,000 last week to fund a regional recycling effort. Natchez Community Development Director James Johnston said the three entities have been awarded a little more than $317,000 through the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality's Regional Recycling Cooperative Grants Program. SENT: 119 words.
PEDESTRIAN KILLED
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — The identity of the pedestrian who was killed Saturday afternoon when she was struck by an 18-wheeler on Interstate 59 has been released. Forrest County Deputy Coroner Lisa Klem says the victim was 59-year-old Carmen Corey of McLain. SENT: 119 words.
LOWNDES SCHOOLS LAWSUITS
JACKSON, Miss. — The Mississippi Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments Monday in Jackson in two firing discrimination cases from Lowndes County. The Supreme Court had delayed the hearing at the request of Lowndes County School Board attorney Jeff Smith. Smith had asked for a delay until after the Legislature adjourns, which occurred April 2. Smith serves in the Mississippi House. SENT: 124 words.
OCEAN SPRINGS SCHOOLS
OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. — The Ocean Springs School District and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College have signed an agreement for the junior college to offer courses to high school students. Four college courses will courses will be offered to juniors and seniors at Ocean Springs High School this fall. They are Algebra, English Composition I, Introduction to Psychology and Introduction to Sociology. SENT: 217 words.
PANOLA AIRPORT
BATESVILLE, Miss. — The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $331,596 through the Federal Aviation Administration to Panola County to construct a hangar at Panola County Airport. U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, R-Miss., made the announcement this past week. SENT: 62 words.
HATTIESBURG-DRUGS
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — The Hattiesburg Police Department will collect unused, unwanted or expired prescription drugs on April 26. Residents can bring drugs to the lobby of the police station at 701 James St. from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. SENT: 78 words.
OXFORD-CHECKPOINTS
OXFORD, Miss. — Police in Oxford say they are stepping up efforts to encourage safe driving in a push dubbed Operation April Awareness. Officers in the coming weeks will set up checkpoints to check vehicle licensing and registration and encourage safe-driving practices such as ensuring passengers are properly buckled. SENT: 69 words.
USM-MEMORIAL SERVICE
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — The University of Southern Mississippi is hosting the annual Golden Eagle Memorial Service on Tuesday. The Student Government Association holds the event to honor six students, one faculty member and one staff member who died during the 2013-14 academic year. The service begins at 6:30 p.m. in room 218 of the Thad Cochran Center on the Hattiesburg campus. SENT: 127 words.
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The AP-Jackson, Miss.
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