June 2013 – Page 6 – The Mississippi Link

Obama calls Medgar Evers a ‘Warrior of justice’

June 6, 2013 Kermit 0

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama visited with Myrlie Evers-Williams, a civil rights heroine and widow of Medgar Evers, and other members of the Evers family, to commemorate Medgar Evers’ life and contribution to the Civil Rights Movement.

President Obama said during the visit that Medgar Evers was a warrior for justice, and the tragedy of his death turned into a rallying cry for a movement.

Fifty years ago, on June 12, 1963, Medgar Evers was shot and killed in front of his home in Jackson, Mississippi. […]

Chokwe Lumumba, ex-black nationalist, wins Jackson mayor’s race

June 6, 2013 Kermit 4

A Mississippi attorney and one-time civil rights activist who was involved in a black nationalist group decades ago has been elected mayor of Jackson, the state capital.

The Clarion-Ledger reported late Tuesday that Jackson City Councilman Chokwe Lumumba was elected mayor, receiving about 85 percent of the vote against three independent candidates.

He will succeed Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr., who finished third in this year’s Democratic primary. […]

Bill Clinton, Eric Holder to join in Arlington tribute to Medgar Evers

June 5, 2013 Kermit 1

Former president Bill Clinton, Attorney General Eric Holder and NAACP officials will join Myrlie Evers-Williams today for a remembrance ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in honor of slain civil rights leader Medgar Wiley Evers.

The event will feature remarks from Clinton, Holder, Evers’ widow, Evers-Williams, Roslyn Brock and Ben Jealous of the NAACP and other national officials.

The NAACP will host a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington, where Evers – a former field secretary of the organization – is buried. […]

CertainTeed restarting production in Meridian

June 5, 2013 Kermit 1

CertainTeed joined local and state officials Monday to announce the company is restarting its ceiling tile manufacturing operations in Meridian, in the same facility it purchased in 2005.

The project represents a $24 million company investment and will create 110 new jobs by 2016.

Production is expected to resume during the second quarter of 2014. Once operational, the facility will produce a range of ceiling tiles and acoustical wall panels used in commercial construction applications. […]

Man gets 2 years for lying about slashing tires

June 4, 2013 Kermit 0

A Warren County man has been sentenced to two years in prison for lying under oath about slashing four sets of tires.

The Vicksburg Post reports that 43-year-old Johnny Wayne Nevels pleaded guilty last week to perjury and malicious mischief.

Nevels allegedly lied during a June 15 probation hearing when he denied slashing the tires. Court records show a woman testified that she saw him slash the tires, and his blood was found on one of them. […]

Kid-Friendly fun in the ‘True South’

June 4, 2013 Kermit 0

Mississippi is the perfect place to let your children explore and discover all the fun of the True South this spring and summer. It’s also the right location for a memorable and affordable family getaway.

“With beautiful weather from the hills to the Gulf Coast, Mississippi offers a diverse and fun-filled array of activities for children this spring and summer,” said Malcolm White, director of the Mississippi Development Authority’s Tourism Division. “Being centrally located between Memphis and New Orleans, Birmingham and Baton Rouge, and Atlanta and Dallas makes Mississippi a great choice for an affordable family vacation within easy driving distance of many major cities. Our kid-friendly attractions and events – like interactive museums and food festivals – are easy to access from most parts of the country.” […]

Miss. to give $15M for Biloxi minor league stadium

June 4, 2013 Kermit 1

Mississippi plans to use $15 million of BP oil spill recovery money to help build a minor league baseball stadium in downtown Biloxi.

Gov. Phil Bryant made the announcement Thursday.

The rest of the $35 million stadium will be paid for by up to $21 million that the city of Biloxi has agreed to borrow.

Bryant says it’s appropriate to use BP money because the stadium will enhance tourism on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, offsetting effects of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill.
[…]

Child, 3, drowns in Jackson County swimming pool

June 3, 2013 Kermit 0

The Sheriff’s Office in Jackson County is reporting the death of a 3-year-old child in a swimming pool.

The Sun Herald reports the death is believed to be the result of an accidental drowning Saturday, May 25, in a pool in the Gulf Park Estates area in the St. Andrews community.

The child’s name was being withheld pending further investigation and notification of family members.
[…]

2 more junior colleges announce tuition hikes

June 3, 2013 Kermit 1

Two more Mississippi community colleges have announced tuition increases for the fall semester.

Northeast Mississippi Community College and Itawamba Community College announced its board of trustees approved the higher fees at meetings in April.

Earlier this month, Copiah-Lincoln Community College said tuition would be going up for the 2013-14 school year. The tuition for a fulltime student will increase $125 per semester to $1,100. […]

Mississippi jobless rate dips as fewer seek work

June 3, 2013 Kermit 0

Mississippi’s unemployment rate dipped in April, but mainly because fewer people were looking for work.

However, a separate survey of employer payrolls continued to rise, suggesting Mississippi’s slow climb out of recession continues.

Both sets of figures were released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The jobless rate fell to 9.1 percent from 9.4 percent in March. Mississippi continued to have the third-highest unemployment rate among states. […]