Education

Campaign employs fitness to improve test scores

Mississippi elementary and middle school teachers have a new tool to improve academic performance in the classroom.

The Mississippi Department of Education has launched a new campaign to help teachers incorporate physical activity into lesson plans. The “Move to Learn” campaign is based on two academic studies that show a correlation between increased fitness and improved test scores, as well as fewer absences and fewer disciplinary incidents at school. […]

News

Gulfport man gets 20 years for sexual abuse of girls

A 40-year-old Gulfport man will spend 20 years in prison – day for day – for the sexual abuse of two girls, ages 7 and 9. Roosevelt Jones was sentenced in Harrison County Circuit Court after pleading guilty to one count each of sexual battery and touching of a child for lustful purposes.

Judge Larry Bourgeois sentenced Jones to 25 years and suspended five years, leaving 20 to serve, followed by five years of probation.
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Entertainment

Mississippi Country Music Trail honors Chris Ledoux

Country music star Chris Ledoux was recently honored with a marker on the Mississippi Country Music Trail. The marker unveiling took place at the at the Biloxi Town Green at 710 Beach Blvd., in Biloxi.

Born on Oct. 2, 1948, in Biloxi, Chris Lee LeDoux was the son of an Air Force major stationed at Keesler Air Force Base. Young Chris lived in Biloxi for the first year and a half of his life and for another year at the age of 12, which yielded the boyhood memories of fishing holes and black-eyed peas reflected in his song, “Born in Mississippi.” […]

Education

Columbus School District seeking eCenters partners

The Columbus School District is recruiting churches, community groups and others to help high school dropouts throughout the region complete either their high school diploma or GED.

Schools Superintendent Dr. Martha Liddell tells WCBI-TV that the planned eCenters are the next major step in the Project 2020 dropout recovery program.
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News

Panola slaying case before Miss. high court

The Mississippi Supreme Court will hear an appeal from a Panola County man who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the 2011 shooting death of a Batesville man.

The court will not hear oral arguments in the case of Derrick Burdette.
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News

Waveland settles 2 stun gun suits

City officials in Waveland have settled two federal lawsuits over the use of stun guns by police officers.

The Sea Coast Echo reports that court records show plaintiffs Calvin “C.W.” Parker and Evan Coote each reached out-of-court settlements this past week in separate cases.
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News

Gulfport woman accused of posing as bail agent

A 33-year-old Gulfport woman posing as a bail agent and collecting thousands of dollars from clients of A Grant Bail Bonding has been arrested on two felony charges of false pretense.

Harrison County Sheriff’s Major Ron Pullen tells The Sun Herald Susan A. Johnson was arrested Nov. 3 after deputies received a tip about her possible whereabouts in Pass Christian. […]

Entertainment

Winfrey, Huffington launch new HuffPost section

Two of the most powerful women in U.S. media – Oprah Winfrey and Arianna Huffing ton – are joining forces.

On Nov. 1, the two launched “HuffPost OWN,” a new section on the Huffington Post website that will feature material from the Oprah Winfrey Network and Oprah.com. The new online destination will focus on lifestyle advice and personal inspiration. […]

News

Ex-judge pleads guilty to rape charge

A former Wayne County Justice Court judge has pleaded guilty to a rape charge.

Billy T. Bonner entered the plea in Wayne County Circuit Court. Sentencing is scheduled for the March of 2013 term of court.
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News

Hattiesburg murder suspect arrested in Ohio

A suspect wanted by police in Hattiesburg on a murder charge has been arrested in Lorain, Ohio.

The Hattiesburg American reports 37-year-old Tamira Peoples was arrested without incident at around 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 8. Police say her 3-year-old son was with her.
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