September 2013 – Page 4 – The Mississippi Link

Mississippi prisons, mental health, Medicaid seek more money

September 18, 2013 admin 0

JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — Mississippi’s prison and mental health systems and Medicaid program are seeking millions of extra dollars to get through the budget year, then more money on top of that for the coming year.

Agency leaders appeared Tuesday before the Joint Legislative Budget Committee to request money for fiscal year 2014, which ends June 30, and for fiscal 2015, which begins July 1.

State revenue has increased roughly 5 percent a year for each of the past two years, and the state-funded portion of the current budget is about $5.8 billion… […]

Mississippi authorities recover abducted 6-year-old, boy unharmed

September 18, 2013 admin 0

News Briefs From Around The State

Mississippi authorities recover abducted 6-year-old, boy unharmed

LEXINGTON, Mississippi — A man who abducted his 6-year-old son from a Holmes County home has surrendered to authorities.

Highway Patrol spokesman Warren Strain says 43-year-old Terrell Milton Adams called the sheriff’s office Tuesday told deputies where he was and was arrested. The boy, 6-year-old Sirvontez Adams, was not harmed… […]

Natchez casting call set for James Brown movie

September 17, 2013 admin 1

NATCHEZ, Mississippi — Actors and musicians looking to land a part in the upcoming James Brown movie to be filmed in Natchez will have their chance this weekend.

The Natchez Democrat reports Universal Pictures is scheduled to have a casting call for “Get On Up” Saturday at the Natchez City Auditorium.

The film will tell the story of the Godfather of Soul’s life from his impoverished childhood to his evolution into one of the most influential figures of the 20th century… […]

AP analysis: Former Gov. Haley Barbour still effective at shaping Mississippi policies

September 17, 2013 admin 0

JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — Once a governor, always a governor in Mississippi. The title never fades, even when the time in office expires.

However, with his recent re-entry into public policy discussions about energy, Haley Barbour appears to be wearing “Gov.” as more than an honorary title.

Call him Shadow Gov. Barbour — a person who still pushes ideas that, for better or worse, might shape Mississippi’s economic future.

When Actual Gov. Phil Bryant was in Brazil on an economic development trip this past week, fellow Republican Barbour earned headlines with a speech… […]

Mississippi lawmakers hear about BlueCross-HMA dispute

September 17, 2013 admin 0

JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — Mississippi lawmakers say they hope the state’s second-largest hospital company and largest health insurer will resolve a financial dispute before patients lose care or facilities close.

Health Management Associates, a Florida-based company that owns 10 Mississippi hospitals, sued Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi in June, saying that the insurance company broke contract terms by underpaying for procedures. Blue Cross says HMA overcharges… […]

State expects to soon select contractor for 2 museums

September 17, 2013 admin 0

JACKSON, Mississippi — The state of Mississippi expects to select a general contractor Sept. 26 for phase one for work on the Mississippi Museum of History and the accompanying Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.

The Mississippi Business Journal reports that the contract award is a prelude to an Oct. 24 groundbreaking.

The Museum of History will tell the story of Mississippi from its pre-Columbian past, its evolution as an agrarian region with the arrival of the first European settlers and on to today’s emergence as a diverse and innovative manufacturing center… […]

Mississippi still has $872 million to spend from $5.5 billion in Katrina recovery funds

September 17, 2013 admin 0

By JEFF AMY

The Associated Press
JACKSON, Mississippi — Eight years after Hurricane Katrina slammed the Gulf Coast, Mississippi still hasn’t spent almost $1 billion in federal money dedicated to recovery from the storm.

The remaining $872 million is part of $5.5 billion Congress gave the state to rebound from Katrina, which struck in August 2005, killed 238 people in Mississippi and caused tens of billions of dollars in damage, most heavily in coastal counties… […]

8 kilograms of heroin seized in I-20 traffic stop among Mississippi’s largest drug busts

September 16, 2013 admin 0

NEWS BRIEFS FROM AROUND THE STATE

8 kilograms of heroin seized in I-20 traffic stop among Mississippi’s largest drug busts

PEARL, Mississippi — Rankin County authorities say they made a major heroin bust after a traffic stop on Interstate 20.

WLBT-TV reports that eight kilograms of heroin, worth approximately $1 million, was seized around 7 a.m. Saturday… […]

Hartley’s late FG gives Saints 16-14 win over Bucs

September 16, 2013 admin 0

TAMPA, Fla. — Garrett Hartley kicked a 27-yard field goal as time expired to give the New Orleans Saints a weather-delayed 16-14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Drew Brees shrugged off throwing an interception that was returned to touchdown to give Tampa Bay the lead to complete three straight passes for 54 yards to lead the Saints (2-0) into position to win. […]

Suicidal mother suspected of killing her two kids at hotel

September 16, 2013 admin 0

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — Police say an apparently suicidal woman whose remarks sent authorities to a Southern California hotel room is the mother of two children found dead there.

Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna (burr-TAHN’-yuh) said Saturday night that the 42-year-old woman from Scottsdale, Ariz., has been released from Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach and will soon be booked for investigation of two counts of murder… […]