February 2013 – Page 4 – The Mississippi Link

State and Toyota agree on $29 million settlement

February 19, 2013 Kermit 0

Attorney General Jim Hood joined 29 other states in announcing a $29 million settlement with Toyota Motor Corporation and its related North America entities over allegations Toyota concealed safety issues related to unintended acceleration.

Toyota agreed to pay $29 million to settle consumer protection claims and has agreed to provide additional restitution and incentives to vehicle owners to promote compliance with unintended acceleration safety recalls. As a result of the settlement, Mississippi will receive $561,288.60 and Toyota will be restricted from advertising the safety of vehicles without sound engineering data to back such safety claims.

The states are alleging that Toyota engaged in unfair and deceptive practices when it failed to timely disclose known safety defects with accelerator pedals. […]

Thompson opposed to 5-day mail delivery

February 19, 2013 Kermit 0

Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) said he is disappointed by the United State’s Postal Service’s (USPS) decision to end a six-day mail delivery.

That change is slated to begin in August 2013.

Thompson said the decision made by the USPS will have an adverse impact on residents who live in rural areas throughout Mississippi – often a great distance from postal facilities. […]

Tornado damages closes black military museum in Hattiesburg

February 18, 2013 Kermit 0

The African American Military History Museum will be closed for at least one year because of damage it suffered from last Sunday’s tornado.

Rick Taylor, executive director of Hattiesburg’s Convention and Tourism commissions, which oversee the museum, tells The Hattiesburg American roof damage caused damage to the museum.

Museum manager Latoya Norman said rainwater soaked many of the items in the museum, both those that were on display and those that were in the archives. […]

Attorney asks for mediation in Bowling lawsuits

February 18, 2013 Kermit 0

Two alleged victims who filed separate civil lawsuits filed against former Mississippi and Alabama prep football coach Dwight Bowling have asked a federal judge to order case sent to mediation.

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports that the men, now adults, claim Bowling molested them when they were Smithville, Miss., students. They also claim that Monroe County School District for which Bowling worked failed to act on complaints about Bowling and is responsible for damages inflicted upon them.

This month, their attorney, Donald Medley of Hattiesburg, filed a motion to compel mediation in the lawsuits filed in 2011. […]

2 men charged with kidnapping university professor

February 18, 2013 Kermit 0

Two Jackson County men are behind bars after federal authorities said they allegedly beat and kidnapped a 63-year-old-retired Alcorn State University professor, stole his car and drove him across the state line.

Arveanious Smith, aka “A.V.,” 31, and Travis Jerome Washington, 18, both of Pascagoula, were arrested by FBI agents and Pascagoula Police officers on Feb. 14.

These arrests were the result of a joint investigation by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the Pascagoula Police Department, assisted by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, into the Feb. 12 kidnapping of the professor. […]

Perkinston woman dies after 3-vehicle crash

February 15, 2013 Kermit 0

A 55-year-old Perkinston woman has died of her injuries from a three-vehicle collision on U.S. 49 in the McHenry community south of Wiggins.

Trooper Roy Jacobsen of the Mississippi Highway Patrol said Darlene K. Kreis was one of the drivers in a Monday night collision. Jacobsen says Kreis died early Tuesday, Feb. 12.

He sayd Kreis was one of two motorists trying to enter the divided highway when her car collided with a southbound car driven by 21-year-old Olivia Jordan Beck, of Purvis. […]

USM tornado damage estimated in tens of millions

February 15, 2013 Kermit 0

Officials estimate it will take tens of millions of dollars to repair damage at the University of Southern Mississippi caused by Sunday’s tornado.

The College Board voted unanimously Wednesday to allow Higher Education Commissioner Hank Bounds to sign contracts and take other actions without board approval to help the 16,000-student school in Hattiesburg recover. […]

MDEQ freezes D'Iberville's $3M grant

February 15, 2013 Kermit 0

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has frozen a $3 million grant to see how D’Iberville is using the money.

MDEQ spokesman Robbie Wilbur said the order was issued Jan. 28. The grant was for work at the Ocean Expo Aquarium.

There may be concerns about a conflict of interest. […]

State Senate District 28 run-off Feb. 26

February 14, 2013 admin 0

City mayoral and council seat candidates lining up

By Ayesha K. Mustafaa

Editor

Marshand Crisler and Sollie B. Norwood will be the two run-off candidates for State Senate District 28, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. Crisler received 25 percent of 2,789 votes cast, with Norwood receiving 22.5 percent of the votes…. […]

Mississippi activists say, ‘zero tolerance school discipline policies feeding pipeline to prison’

February 14, 2013 admin 2

By Ayesha K. Mustafaa

Editor

A call to action plan toward repealing “zero tolerance school discipline policies” was issued by Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), at a press conference Friday, Feb. 8, held at the Central High School Auditorium in Jackson.

Edelman joined the Southern Poverty Law Center, the PERICO Institute for Youth Development and Engagement and CDF’s Southern Regional Office…. […]