2013 – Page 26 – The Mississippi Link

Serena Williams overcomes wind, strong opponent to beat Victoria Azarenka for 5th US Open win

NEW YORK (AP) — Fussing with her skirt and flubbing her shots, Serena Williams was troubled in the U.S. Open final by the swirling air and the strong play of Victoria Azarenka.

After one miss, Williams declared, “I can’t play in this wind.” After blowing a big second-set lead, Williams chucked her racket toward the sideline, and it bounced back onto the court.

In the end, Williams pulled herself together, as she usually does when it matters the most. Facing her only test of the past two weeks, the No. 1-seeded Williams overcame No. 2 Azarenka 7-5, 6-7 (6), 6-1 on Sunday… […]

NFL stadium falls leave 1 fan dead, 2 hurt

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Falls by fans at stadiums in San Francisco and Indianapolis during NFL season openers have left one man dead and two other people injured, authorities said.

At the 49ers’ game against the Packers at Candlestick Park Sunday, a man fell to his death from an elevated pedestrian walkway.

The death came just after kickoff in the San Francisco’s 34-28 win over Green Bay, police said, and multiple witnesses reported the man appeared to be intoxicated before he fell to a sidewalk… […]

Doubts linger over Syria gas attack evidence

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BEIRUT (AP) — The U.S. government insists it has the intelligence to prove it, but the public has yet to see a single piece of concrete evidence produced by U.S. intelligence — no satellite imagery, no transcripts of Syrian military communications — connecting the government of President Bashar Assad to the alleged chemical weapons attack last month that killed hundreds of people.

In its absence, Damascus and its ally Russia have aggressively pushed another scenario: that rebels carried out the Aug. 21 chemical attack. Neither has produced evidence for that case, either. That’s left more questions than answers as the U.S. threatens a possible military strike… […]

Defense helps New Orleans Saints beat Atlanta Falcons 23-17

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NEW ORLEANS — Sean Payton’s return to the sideline is one game old and already the Saints are celebrating a dramatic victory over a presumed title contender.

They’re alone in first place, too.

Drew Brees passed for 357 yards and two scores, Roman Harper intercepted Matt Ryan’s tipped fourth-down pass in the end zone, and New Orleans held on for a 23-17 victory over the Falcons on Sunday.

“I was hoping our defense would pull one out, and man, did they ever,” Brees said… […]

Dak Prescott leads Mississippi State to 51-7 thumping of Alcorn State

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – (AP) — Dak Prescott spent the second half of his debut as Mississippi State’s starting quarterback standing on the sidelines, giving out high-fives and laughing with teammates.

He was so good during the first half, he wasn’t needed on the field.

The sophomore threw for 174 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a touchdown as the Bulldogs built a huge halftime and breezed past Alcorn State 51-7 on Saturday afternoon.

“We got in a rhythm, we were comfortable and everybody did a good job,” Prescott said. “Everybody did their 1/11th out there.”

Mississippi State (1-1) didn’t use several regular starters, including quarterback Tyler Russell, who suffered a concussion in the Bulldogs’ season-opening loss to Oklahoma State… […]

Tupelo mom, 2-year-old daughter killed when runaway 18-wheeler crushes their parked car

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TUPELO, Mississippi -(AP) — Authorities have released the names of a woman and her young daughter who were killed Friday in Tupelo while sitting in a vehicle that was struck by a runaway tractor-trailer.

Lee County coroner Carolyn Green says 20-year-old Olidia Acosta and 2-year-old Vianett Castillo were in a parking lot outside an auto insurance office when the incident happened…. […]

JSU presents ‘Step Afrika!’ September 10

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The Mississippi Link Newswire
(JACKSON, Miss.) – The Jackson State University College of Liberal Arts will present the percussive dance troupe Step Afrika! in a public performance at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, at the Rose E. McCoy Auditorium on the university’s main campus, 1400 John R. Lynch St. in Jackson.

Step Afrika! is the first professional company in the world dedicated to the tradition of stepping. Founded in 1994, the Washington, D.C.-based dance company is renowned worldwide for using the stepping tradition to promote teamwork, academic achievement and cross-cultural understanding…. […]

Commissioner Mike Chaney to set up Mississippi small business health insurance exchange

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JACKSON, Mississippi – (AP) — Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney plans to move ahead with a health insurance exchange for small businesses after federal officials approved regulations to allow the move.

The Department of Health and Human Services had proposed a rule that would have barred states that didn’t run an individual marketplace from setting up a separate exchange for businesses with fewer than 50 employees.

Last week, federal officials adopted a rule advocated by Chaney that allows Mississippi to set up what’s called a Small Business Health Options, or SHOP exchange. Chaney said he’s scheduled to meet Sept. 18 with federal officials…. […]

George Zimmerman’s wife files for divorce

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George Zimmerman’s wife is divorcing him.

She is also asking in divorce papers that he pay for a permanent life insurance policy with her named as the beneficiary.

Shellie Zimmerman asked in the petition released Friday that a judge order George Zimmerman to pay the premiums on the policy.

She also is seeking an equal distribution of their checking accounts, trusts, partnerships and any unknown assets…. […]

Early look at health law’s premiums

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WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s the No. 1 question about President Barack Obama’s health care law: Will consumers be able to afford the coverage?

Now the answer is coming in.

The biggest study yet of premiums posted by states finds that the sticker price for a 21-year-old buying a mid-range policy will average about $270 a month. A copy of the study was provided to The Associated Press.

That’s before government tax credits that act like a discount for most people, depending on their income…. […]