Education

Mississippi mulling alternative paths to graduation for students who fail exit exams

JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — Mississippi education officials are considering as many as seven alternate paths to a high school diploma for students who fail one or more high school exit exams.

The state Board of Education agreed Oct. 18 to seek public comments. The plan has drawn questions because it could allow students to graduate without showing much proficiency in science or U.S. history… […]

News

Judge in USM child porn case says suspect a risk

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi (AP) — A federal judge has ordered that a University of Southern Mississippi student under investigation for allegations of child pornography be held without bond pending trial.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Mike T. Parker wrote in his detention order Monday that 24-year-old Miles Justin McNairy was a risk to others and the community… […]

Health

Federal judge blocks Gov. Phil Bryant’s executive order in insurance dispute

JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — A federal judge Monday blocked Gov. Phil Bryant from compelling Mississippi’s largest health insurer to resume paying its in-network rate to a chain of 10 hospitals.

U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate read a temporary restraining order from the bench saying Bryant didn’t provide enough proof to justify an executive order he issued last week… […]

Education

3 indicted by grand jury in USM altercation involving former QB Anthony Alford

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi (AP) — Three people involved in an on-campus fight at the University of Southern Mississippi last November involving a handgun and former Southern Miss quarterback Anthony Alford have been indicted by a Forrest County grand jury on felony charges.

USM campus police arrested six, including Alford, following the Nov. 28, 2012, fight near the school’s Walker Science Building. No one was hurt. Police say no shots were fired although a gun was found at the scene.

The indictments were handed down in September and made public this last week. Those indicted were:.. […]

News

Arnold Walker’s 25-yard TD run lifts Alcorn State over Southern in OT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Arnold Walker scored on a 25-yard run in overtime to lift Alcorn State to a wild 44-38 Southwest Athletic Conference win over Southern Saturday night.

Alcorn State (7-2, 5-1) almost scored on Southern’s opening possession in OT when Jestin Williams returned an interception 88 yards but he was tackled on the 4-yard line… […]

News

Man pleads guilty to selling counterfeit goods in Harrison County

GULFPORT, Mississippi (AP) — Federal court records say a man has pleaded guilty to trafficking in counterfeit purses, wallets and other items in Harrison County.

Ousainou Mahanera pleaded guilty last Monday in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. Sentencing is set for Jan. 27. He was indicted Aug. 20, but the case was sealed until his arrest in New Orleans in September… […]

News

Sex offender gets life sentence in slaying of Brandon neighbor

JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — A man has been sentenced to life plus 55 years in prison in the 2012 strangling death of a Brandon woman that prompted state lawmakers to pass new legislation for dealing with some convicted sex offenders.

Authorities say Cortrell Rose, 32, used a fake Jackson address to register as a sex offender after being released from prison last year, but was living next door to 59-year-old Lenora Patsy Edhegard in Brandon when he broke in and killed her… […]

News

Jail time, fines ordered for leaders of fake ID ring which included Ole Miss, Alabama students

ATHENS, Georgia (AP) — The masterminds of a fake ID manufacturing and distribution ring have been ordered to serve jail time, participate in community service and pay a $5,000 fine.

University of Georgia Student William Trosclair and former Gainesville State University student Tyler Andrew Ruby pleaded guilty to manufacturing false identification documents and manufacturing and distributing documents containing unauthorized government seals… […]

News

Ole Miss cruises to 59-14 homecoming victory over Idaho

OXFORD, Mississippi (AP) — Idaho briefly made things interesting against Mississippi on Saturday night.

But a lack of depth, a few missed tackles and a handful of mistakes doomed the Vandals in a 59-14 loss to the Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Taylor Davis completed 12 of 30 passes for 166 yards and one touchdown while Dezmon Epps added five catches for 89 yards and a touchdown. But it wasn’t nearly enough for Idaho (1-7), which gave up 572 total yards… […]

News

Drew Brees tosses 5 TDs as Saints cruise past Bills, 35-17

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The stern message from Sean Payton and Drew Brees left little doubt about the postseason aspirations of the New Orleans Saints.

There are few other ways to interpret how critical they were of themselves after Brees struck for five touchdowns a 35-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

“It’s good when you can not play your best and make certain mistakes and still win like we did,” Brees said, referring to a handful of pre-snap penalties, a pair of missed scoring chances and two instances when only 10 Saints were on the field… […]