2013 – Page 23 – The Mississippi Link

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

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

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

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

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… […]

Navy Yard accused shooter was a 34-year-old contractor; Senate placed on lockdown; 13 dead

admin 0

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Officials released the name of the shooter killed after opening fire on the Washington Naval Yard.

Law enforcement have identified the gunman as Aaron Alexis of Fort Worth, Texas, according to NBC News.

Twelve people, including Alexis, have been killed in the shooting that began at 8:20 a.m.

Officials said the 34-year-old had been recently hired as a civilian contractor. He reportedly entered the Naval Yard using another person’s ID… […]

No. 25 Ole Miss gets big road win at Texas

admin 0

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Jeff Scott ran for 164 yards and a touchdown and also scored on a 73-yard punt return, helping No. 25 Mississippi roll over reeling Texas 44-23 on Saturday night.

Bo Wallace passed for two touchdowns and ran for another for the Rebels (3-0), who led 14-0 midway through the first quarter before Texas scored 23 straight points.

The Rebels rallied when Andrew Ritter kicked a 52-yard field goal on the last play of the first half and Wallace directed consecutive touchdown drives in the third quarter… […]

Alcorn State rallies for 35-28 SWAC win over Mississippi Valley

admin 0

LORMAN, Mississippi (AP) — Arnold Walker rushed for two fourth-quarter touchdowns, leading Alcorn State to a comeback win over Mississippi Valley State 35-28 Saturday in the conference opener for both teams.

Down 21-13 in the fourth quarter, Alcorn State’s (2-1, 1-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) Terrence Green recovered a fumble at the MVSU 17-yard line. Walker carried three straight times for a Brave’s touchdown and John Gibbs, Jr. connected with Tavoris Doss on a two-point conversion… […]

Mississippi accountability ratings district-by-district (list)

admin 0

JACKSON, Mississippi — Here’s how the 151 Mississippi public school districts in 2013 were rated under the state’s A-to-F grading system for their 2013 performance, along with how they were rated in 2012. Not rated in 2012 were the Clarksdale, Corinth and Gulfport districts, which used non-standard curricula as part of a state-sponsored effort. Sunflower and Drew were separate districts in 2012 but merged for 2013… […]

Officials misused US surveillance program, according to documents

admin 0

(AP) – Government officials for nearly three years accessed data on thousands of domestic phone numbers they shouldn’t have and then misrepresented their actions to a secret spy court to reauthorize the government’s surveillance program, documents released Tuesday show.

The Obama administration had earlier conceded that its surveillance program scooped up more domestic phone calls and emails than authorized. But until Tuesday, the depths of the program’s abuse were unknown.

According to the documents released by the administration, a spy court judge in 2009 was so fed up with the government’s overreaching that he threatened to shutter the surveillance program designed to fight terrorism… […]

Meet Debra Brown, awaiting confirmation as Mississippi’s next federal judge

admin 1

TUPELO, Mississippi – (AP) — Mississippi’s likely next federal district jurist admits she’s been a judge only for the state’s High School Mock Trial Competition.

People who know Debra Marie Brown say she’s plenty ready to don the black robe.

Brown, 49, of Jackson, isn’t a judge yet — she merely lacks consent from a majority of U.S. senators to become the state’s first black female to assume that lifetime appointment… […]