Statewide News – Page 44 – The Mississippi Link

Danny Glover backs union protest against Canton Nissan

Actor Danny Glover has joined supporters of unionization for workers at the Nissan Canton demonstrating outside the North American International Auto Show.

The Mississippi Alliance for Fairness at Nissan protested Monday next to Detroit’s Cobo Center, the Associated Press reported. The group says workers who show interest in organizing the Japanese carmaker’s plant in Canton, are intimidated by management hints the plant would close if they unionize.

Nissan Vice President David Reuter tells The Detroit News the allegations are false. He says workers who wear anti-union T-shirts do so freely “as a show of support for the company.” The shirts say: “Want a union? Move to Detroit.” […]

Port Gibson bicyclist killed when hit by truck

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A Port Gibson bicyclist died in the predawn hours Friday after being struck by a truck in Claiborne County.

County Coroner J.W. Mallet tells the Vicksburg Post that 53-year-old Delecta Collins was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sheriff Marvin Lucas says the accident occurred about 2:40 a.m. as Collins rode his bike on Mississippi Highway 18 in the area of the Natchez Trace Parkway. […]

USM to honor ’87 NIT title team

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In 1987, the Cold War was still festering, music was on cassette and cellphones were huge and for only the very rich.

And Southern Miss basketball was king of the National Invitational Tournament.

That year, the Golden Eagles won five games, four of them on the road, to take the NIT championship at the Madison Square Garden for the school’s lone national title in basketball. […]

Winter weather alert issued throughout the state

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The National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have issued winter weather alerts for numerous counties across the state.

An ice storm warning is in effect for the upper Delta until 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14.

A freezing rain advisory has been issued for Elliot, Gore Springs, Grenada and Holcomb until 6 p.m., Jan. 14.

A winter weather advisory has been issued for Abbeville and Algoma until 12 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 15. […]

State Rep. David Gibbs dies at 76

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State Rep. David Gibbs, recalled by colleagues as a common-sense lawmaker who preferred to keep a low profile and make things happen behind the scenes, died Sunday. He was 76.

Gibbs, who had cancer, died about 5 a.m. Sunday, said Rep. Kenny Wayne Jones, D-Canton, chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus. He had been hospitalized at Northeast Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. Hospital spokeswoman Deborah Pugh confirmed his death. […]

Alcorn State beats Mississippi Valley State 72-67

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Marquiz Baker scored 27 points and Alcorn State held on to beat Mississippi Valley State 72-67 Saturday night in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game.

LeAntwan Luckett added 19 points and five assist for Alcorn State (6-14, 4-1).

MVSU (1-13, 1-3) shot just 34.6 percent (9 for 26) in the first half and Baker scored 21 points in the period as Alcorn State led at halftime 36-24. […]

Personal care home operators in Hattiesburg arrested for exploitation

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Two Hattiesburg residents who operated a personal care home have been arrested and charged with exploitation of vulnerable persons.

Juanita J. Goff, aka Janie Goff, 67, and Daniel Powell, 31, were arrested by investigators with the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Attorney General’s Office.

Goff and Powell were indicted earlier in December 2012 by a Forrest County Grand Jury on three counts each of exploitation of a vulnerable adult. At the time the crimes are alleged to have been committed, Goff was the owner operator of a personal care home. She and Powell were representative payees for the SSI benefits of residents residing in the personal care home. […]

Missing teens could be headed to Tupelo

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Authorities in Harrison County, Texas believe that two teens, who walked away from a behavioral center in that state, may be headed to Mississippi.

Seventeen-year-old Madeline Apple and 17-year-old Andrew Hill were last seen Monday, Jan. 7 at the Hearlight Ministries in Hallsviille, Texas. They were reportedly going to Longview, Texas, but have not been seen or heard from since then.

Authorities said Hill is originally from Lee County and still has relatives there. Apple’s family said the couple is traveling together and could be making their way to Tupelo. […]

Miss. has 2nd highest inmate population in the nation

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As Mississippi enters the second half of the current fiscal year, the state’s prison population continues to increase with no apparent signs of abating.

During 2011, the number of prisoners under the jurisdiction of state and federal correctional authorities declined by 0.9 percent, from 1,613,803 to 1,598,780.

But that was not the case in Mississippi. […]

Handgun found on Lauderdale County inmate

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Lauderdale County Sheriff Billy Sollie says an investigation is under way to find out how an inmate at the county jail obtained a handgun.

The weapon was found on the inmate Jan. 3 prompting a search of an entire cell block.

The Meridian Star reported that 31-year-old Anthony Duane Talley Jr. of Meridian, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of contraband. […]