Education – Page 63 – The Mississippi Link

Tornado damages closes black military museum in Hattiesburg

The African American Military History Museum will be closed for at least one year because of damage it suffered from last Sunday’s tornado.

Rick Taylor, executive director of Hattiesburg’s Convention and Tourism commissions, which oversee the museum, tells The Hattiesburg American roof damage caused damage to the museum.

Museum manager Latoya Norman said rainwater soaked many of the items in the museum, both those that were on display and those that were in the archives. […]

Debate on funding for private schools shapes up

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The state House could be roiled by multiple debates in coming days over spending public money to send Mississippi students to private schools.
But prospects for such legislation remain murky in the Senate, where leaders have made no clear show of support for the concept.

The House Education Committee has passed two bills that could pay to send students to private schools. The first, House Bill 906, is a measure called Opportunity Scholarships, proposed by Republican Gov. Phil Bryant. The second, House Bill 1004, would provide vouchers using public money for the state’s 60,000-plus special education students in public schools to attend private schools. […]

B.B. King Museum hosts Black History Month Musical Celebration

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In keeping with their mission to preserve the rich culture and music of the Mississippi Delta, The B.B. King Museum will host free musical programs every Thursday in February in honor of Black History Month.

On Feb. 7, the program will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will feature the music of: The Eastside High School Choir; The Greenwood High School Choir and the Restoration Ministries Academy.

Museum director, Dion Brown, said this month’s program is just a preview of what The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center will offer to the public in 2013. […]

Mississippi university could get first black chief

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More than 50 years ago, the University of Southern Mississippi rejected a chance to admit a black man and end segregation in the state’s higher education system. Today, the school is likely to become the first of Mississippi’s historically white public universities to be led by a black man.

College Board officials said this month that they want Dr. Rodney Bennett, the University of Georgia’s vice president of student affairs, to become the next president of 16,000-student USM.

Bennett was chosen from among three finalists by the board that oversees all eight public universities. Assuming campus interviews go well, Bennett will likely be named to the post Thursday, Feb. 7. […]

Discover the history and heritage of the true South this February

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Whether you are a visitor or a resident of the state, Mississippi invites you to immerse yourself in the history of the True South during the month of February.

“The past truly comes alive in Mississippi,” said Malcolm White, director of the Mississippi Development Authority’s Tourism Division. “From the state’s Civil War and Civil Rights legacy to our Native American culture, Mississippi features historical sites and attractions all across the state. Whether you want an authentic experience featuring a battle reenactment or prefer to rock away the hours listening to stories of days gone by on a porch swing, it’s all here as Mississippians share our rich heritage with visitors.” […]

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month

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As we enter into the month of February and draw closer to Valentine’s Day, Attorney General Jim Hood would like to remind Mississippians of Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month and the resource’s available at the Attorney General’s Office.

National statistics show that one in three adolescent girls in the United States is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner.

“Domestic Violence is a learned behavior,” said Attorney General Hood. “If we don’t intervene, statistics show that boys and girls who are exposed to violence in their homes are statistically much more likely than children who aren’t to become abusers or victims as adults. It is my hope that, through our awareness and prevention efforts, we can help our young people learn how to develop healthy relationships and improve these alarming statistics.” […]

Vicksburg named top place to travel in 2013

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Vicksburg has been named by AAA Southern Traveler and AAA Midwest Traveler as one of the top 13 places to visit in 2013. Other destinations named include Christchurch, New Zealand, the Dominican Republic, Ireland, Mexico, Orlando, Panama, San Francisco, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Las Vegas.

This year brings lots of excitement to Vicksburg with Civil War sesquicentennial commemoration events. Events start in April with Tapestry: The Pilgrimage to Vicksburg and the Vicksburg Heritage Fair and continue until July 4, the anniversary of the Siege of Vicksburg’s surrender, the Delta Business Journal reported.
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Surveyors want to look for oil in Scott County

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A Laurel company has proposed conducting surveys on 16th Section school lands in Scott County for possible oil deposits.

The Scott County Times reports that Venture Oil and Gas Inc. has proposed testing one area north of Forest in the city school district as well as three areas in Scott County that are part of the county school district.

Presentations have been made to the city and county school boards. […]

Ole Miss starts writing fines for smoking ban

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Smokers on the University of Mississippi campus have received their last warning.

After several years of limiting smoking to designated outdoor areas, Ole Miss officials last August banned all smoking on university property. The smoke-free policy was introduced during the fall semester with warning-only citations, but fines have now begun, the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports. […]

Hail and farewell; a salute to those we lost in 2012

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The year 2012 was filled with highs and lows, shock and disbelief – as notable movers and shakers, politicians and hit makers departed this world, but not without leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of many.

While the death of any individual is noteworthy, the following deaths are significant and stand as a testimony that greatness is achievable – even for the lowly and humble.

Listed below is a partial list of those we lost in 2012: […]