News

Leader of road study group proposes $700M in taxes

The leader of a Senate transportation study committee proposes the state should levy $700 million in new taxes to support road maintenance as well as some other non-transportation related projects.

Sen. Willie Simmons, D-Cleveland, said the proposal, which would be the largest state tax increase in more than 20 years, is only a starting point for discussion, and invited alternate proposals.

But some members of his committee quickly indicated they aren’t interested in that much spending, and may oppose any new taxes, especially the $150 million a year that Simmons proposed for university, community college, state agency and local water and sewer construction. Simmons admitted those extra items were “stretching it.” […]

News

Suspect charged with hacking his neighbor to death

Authorities said a man in the country illegally is being held without bond for allegedly hacking his neighbor to death over a land dispute.

Nolasco Idisro Eugenio, 40, remains in custody in a Madison County jail after he reportedly used a machete in an attack on Alphonozo Rosas in a trailer park near Canton. […]

News

Enerfab announces an expansion in Natchez

Enerfab officials announced the company will expand its operations at their Natchez location, which is known as Enersteel.  The expansion will support an increase in production and comes just three months after announcing an expansion in May. 

This project represents an investment of $10 million and will create at least 45 new jobs.
[…]

News

Woman's body, drugs found at Jackson home

Police said they found a woman’s body and drugs valued at more than $54,000 at a Jackson home on Monday, Aug. 12.

WLBT reported officers found the body of Kenya Johnson at a home on Elraine Boulevard around 11 p.m.

Investigators seized more than 48 pounds of marijuana and a kilogram of cocaine as well as two handguns. […]

News

Stun gun death case before federal appeals court

A Mississippi family is asking a federal appeals court to reinstate their multimillion dollar wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Cleveland and two police officers.

The lawsuit was filed by the family of Jermaine Williams, who died in 2010 after being jolted twice by police stun guns. The family sought $25 million in damages.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans has scheduled the case for oral arguments on Sept. 4.

Williams, 30, died July 23, 2010, in a confrontation with two officers responding to a call about loiterers. […]

Entertainment

Rep. John Lewis, Gabrielle Union unveil 1963 March on Washington stamp

Equality now has a stamp of its own as the U.S. Postal Service introduced the 1963 March on Washington limited-edition Forever stamp to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the historic milestone. For the first time, the Postal Service unveiled the stamp artwork with the help of people across the country.

Throughout this month, individuals added their photo to the March on Washington stamp on the U.S. Postal Service’s Stamps Facebook page to help reveal a small piece of the stamp.

During Friday’s First-Day-of-Issuance ceremony at the Newseum in Washington, DC, actress Gabrielle Union added her Twitter profile photo to the mosaic to reveal the final piece of the 1963 March on Washington stamp. […]

News

Woman jumps from speeding car; driver charged

Long Beach police said an 18-year-old woman was seriously injured after jumping out of a moving car on Highway 90 Tuesday, Aug. 13, around 6:30 p.m.
 
According to Long Beach Police Chief Wayne McDowell, the victim told police she did it because the driver 22-year-old Chasity Murphy of Gulfport was driving too fast and she was afraid.

Police learned of the incident after a witness told police a vehicle opened and a woman fell out on Highway 90 and Lange Avenue in Long Beach. The driver reportedly continued driving west bound on Highway 90 without stopping, McDowell added. […]

Business

Miss. Power paying ex-president $150,000 a year

Even though Ed Day retired abruptly as Mississippi Power’s president earlier this year, he’s still getting paid.

Day is being paid $150,000 a year for three years as a consultant, according to a stock filing by the Southern Co., the Atlanta-based parent of Mississippi Power. That’s in addition to his company retirement.

The agreement began May 20, when Day retired, according to the stock filing. It requires Day to be available up to four days each month to help Mississippi Power address lawsuits, government investigations or regulatory filings. […]

News

Driver reaching for cigarettes drives into the water

After a long day of fishing, one man’s day took a turn for the worse when he drove his car into the water at the old Broadwater property, WLOX reported.

The man was leaving the property in his 2003 Ford Mustang GT just after 2 p.m., on Aug. 14 when he told police he bent down to reach for cigarettes on his floorboard, and before he could regain control of his vehicle, he was headed into the water. […]

News

Memphis woman booked on drug charges

Authorities said a 38-year-old woman from Memphis was arrested on Aug. 9, after they found more than 4 pounds of marijuana in her car during a traffic stop. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department told WTVA that Tammy Vanessa Thomas, 38, was arrested after her vehicle was pulled over on U.S. Highway 45.

Authorities say they recovered about four pounds, 11 ounces of marijuana from her vehicle. […]