Top Stories – Page 109 – The Mississippi Link

New study suggests link between obesity and kidney disease in black men

A study in Jackson-area African-Americans found a correlation between weight and chronic kidney disease in obese men but not in the same category of women.

“I kind of had a hunch about that,” said Dr. Marino Bruce, assistant professor of medicine and the study’s principal investigator. “So we designed a study that would pick up those differences if they existed.

“In a nutshell, the findings say we need to pay more attention to weight status in African-American men.” […]

Ricin Letters Case: Attorney says scant evidence links Curtis to letters

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Federal authorities have produced scant evidence linking a Mississippi man to the mailing of ricin-laced letters to the president and a senator, his attorney says.

Christi McCoy said after a court hearing Friday that the government has offered no evidence to prove her client, Paul Kevin Curtis, had possession of any ricin or the seed from which it is extracted – castor beans. An FBI agent testified during the hearing that he could not say if investigators had found ricin at Curtis’ home, and McCoy said the evidence linking the 45-year-old to the crime so far has hinged on his writings posted online.

He is adamant that he did not do this, and she said she has seen nothing to prove him wrong. […]

Free oral cancer screening set for Monday and Tuesday

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Mississippi has one of the highest smoking rates in the nation, with 26 percent of its residents lighting up regularly. But even non-smokers should be aware of the warning signs for oral cancer.

For that reason, physicians and dentists at the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Oral Oncology Clinic urge everyone to take advantage of the free oral screenings to be on Monday, April 22, and Tuesday, April 23, as part of Oral, Head & Neck Cancer Awareness Week.

The oral-screening event will be held at the clinic’s location in the Thad C. Cochran Jackson Medical Mall Thad C. Cochran Center from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. People interested in signing up for a screening are asked to call 601-815-1181. […]

Man sentenced for DUI crash that killed nurse

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A Vicksburg man has been sentenced to serve 20 years in prison for aggravated driving under the influence in a wreck that killed a nurse in 2012.

The Vicksburg Post reports that Julius Hebron was sentenced Friday on two counts of aggravated DUI causing injury or death. Hebron pleaded guilty in March.

Authorities say Hebron ran a stoplight and struck the driver’s side of a car driven by Andrea Michelle “Shelly” Guider, a nurse at River Region Medical Center. Guider was pronounced dead at the scene. […]

Corinth man arrested in suspicious letters investigation

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At approximately 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, FBI special agents arrested Paul Kevin Curtis, the individual believed to be responsible for the mailings of the three letters sent through the U.S. Postal Service which contained a granular substance that preliminarily tested positive for ricin. The letters were addressed to a U.S. senator, the White House, and a Mississippi justice official.

The U.S. Secret Service confirmed it intercepted a letter addressed to President Barack Obama that contained a “suspicious substance.”

Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said the letter was intercepted at a facility away from the White House. He said the letter was also received Tuesday. […]

Events planned for 50th anniversary of Medgar Evers’ death

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Myrlie Evers, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute (MMEI), has announced plans for a national commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the assassination of her late husband Medgar Evers, Mississippi civil rights pioneer.

Events sponsored by the Institute will begin Wednesday, June 5, in Washington, D. C., and culminate with a community celebration, and tribute gala in Jackson, on Wednesday, June 12. Joining Mrs. Evers in the announcement were representatives of community organizations helping to sponsor the activities and hosting their own events.

Reena Evers-Everette, daughter of Medgar and Myrlie Evers and executive director of the MMEI, announced that a memorial service will be held at her father’s gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery on June 5 at noon.
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Registration open for Mississippi Young Professionals Summit in Meridian

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On April 25 and 26, 2013, the Mississippi Young Professionals (MSYP) will host the MSYP 2013 Summit, Rethink Mississippi: No Suits, No PowerPoints, No Bull, at the Mississippi State University Riley Center, located at 2200 Fifth Street in downtown Meridian.

The event, coordinated by the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), will launch the first year of MSYP, a non-profit organization designed to connect the state’s existing young professionals and YP organizations in order to create a network that will develop, empower and retain young professionals in Mississippi. MSYP’s 19-member board is comprised of business leaders in their 20s, 30s and 40s from each region of the state. […]

Reception set to honor Dr. Vivian Presley’s 38 years at CCC

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With the approaching retirement of Dr. Vivian Presley as president of Coahoma Community College (CCC), a number of activities celebrating her 38 years at CCC have been planned during the week of April 16 through April 20, according to Rosemary Lamb, vice president of institutional effectiveness.

Dr. Presley will retire at the end of June, and Dr. Valmadge Towner of Marks has been named CCC’s fifth president by the CCC Board of Trustees.

Dr. Towner, who is director of pupil services for the Desoto County School District, is an alumnus of Coahoma and a former trustee of the college.

“Dr. Towner is an outstanding administrator who has been closely associated with the college for many years; we look forward to welcoming him home as Coahoma’s new president,” commented McGlown. […]

Harper and Bounds to speak at JSU’s 2013 spring commencement activities

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Actor and author Hill Harper and IHL Commissioner Dr. Hank Bounds will be the speakers for Jackson State University’s spring commencement exercises May 3 and 4.

Harper will address undergraduates during the ceremony at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 4, at the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson. Bounds will speak at the graduate exercises at 6 p.m. Friday, May 3, in the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center on the university’s main campus.

More than 1,000 students will celebrate the completion of their undergraduate and graduate degrees during the exercises. […]

Starkville man killed in two-vehicle crash

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A Starkville man was killed Saturday morning after colliding with another vehicle on Highway 45 Alternate.

Walter Sykes, 77, was attempting to enter the northbound lane from a private drive when he was hit by a 2009 Toyota 4-Runner driven by 26-year-old Meredith McClure, WTVA reported.

The impact caused Sykes’ vehicle to overturn throwing him from his 2002 Ford Ranger truck. Sykes was not wearing a seatbelt. […]