Top Stories – Page 114 – The Mississippi Link

Cleotha Staples of Staple Singers siblings dies

Cleotha Staples, whose smooth and velvety voice helped set apart the sound of the influential and best-selling gospel group The Staple Singers, died Thursday, Feb. 21, at age 78.

Staples, the eldest sister and member of the group her father Roebuck “Pops” Staples started in the 1940s, was at her Chicago home and had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for the past decade, said family friend and music publicist Bill Carpenter.

The group included sisters Pervis, Yvonne, Mavis and Cynthia, but Cleotha was the backbone, defining herself by being the “strong, silent type,” said Carpenter, author of “Uncloudy Day: The Gospel Music Encyclopedia.” […]

Woman convicted in child's death up for parole

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Lisa Ameen Crevitt, who admitted taking LSD and tossing her toddler into a river canal, is up for parole in March after 27 years in prison.

The child’s father is fighting to keep her behind bars.

“She doesn’t deserve freedom,” Jeff Crevitt said.

Lisa Crevitt was sentenced to life in prison in 1985 for the murder of her 21/2-year-old daughter, Nikki. She had claimed the girl was abducted May 16, 1985, from a store in what was then Battlefield Mall in Vicksburg. […]

Mississippi finally abolishes slavery

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Due to a procedural glitch the last time around, Mississippi – this month – formally ratified the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery within the state.

It comes a bit late though.

The United States abolished slavery with a constitutional amendment in 1865. But, there were several states that opposed the 13th amendment. And Mississippi didn’t get around to voting on it until 1995. […]

From nine to two…

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Crisler vs Norwood in the home stretch of Senate District 28 race

By Othor Cain

Contributing writer

Vying to fill the unexpired term of the late Senator Alice Harden, Marshand Crisler and Sollie Norwood faced off at New Horizon Church International Monday, Feb 18, to a small crowd of supporters and interested voters.

With three years left on a four-year term, nearly 60,000 voters in portions of West and South Jackson will decide who will represent District 28 when they go back to the polls Tuesday, Feb. 26, for a runoff election…. […]

Mississippi native and NBA star stays connected to home

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By Lonnie Ross

Online Editor

Al Ricardo Jefferson is a Black History maker, born and raised in Mississippi. He uses his stardom and financial success in the NBA to make a difference in his home state state.

He took time out of his busy schedule to host the 2nd annual Community Service Week in his hometown of Prentiss. The week-long event, which was held at the same gym Jefferson played high school hoops, …. […]

Mississippi entrepreneur J. Bolin: young, gifted and black

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By Ayesha K. Mustafaa

Editor

Jason Bolin, 30, is a progressive young black. He is a man with a profession filled with hopes and dreams and aspirations to go further in life. He thinks about how he can help others to become unselfish, sharing, paying it forward while maintining a focus on family values…. […]

Seven Mississippi Legends in Black History

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Compiled by Ayesha K. Mustafaa

Editor

MEDGAR EVERS

Topping the list of legendary Mississippi African Americans who impacted the lives of all Americans is Medgar Evers. A tribute to Evers in the context of his impact on the life of Marian Wright Eldeman can be found on page 15 in this issue of The Mississippi Link.

A very special note regarding Evers is the naval ship named in his honor commissioned by former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus, who is now Secretary of the Navy…. […]

Myrlie Evers-Williams keynote speaker at Alcorn alumni event in Atlanta

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Alcorn University’s Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence, civil rights activist Myrlie Evers-Williams, will be speaking at an annual alumni event this weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

Evers-Williams, 79, is the keynote speaker and her theme is: “Coming together, moving forward.”

More than 600 alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends of Alcorn State University will come together on Thursday, Feb. 21 through Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 for the Alcorn State University National Alumni Association’s annual Mid-Winter Conference.

“A Past to Cherish…. A Future to Fulfill” is the theme, and the meeting will be held at the Marriott Marquis Atlanta. […]

Suspect arrested in fatal nightclub shooting

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Bond has been set at $200,000 for a 17-year-old Starkville teen charged with murder in a fatal shooting at a nightclub on Feb. 14.

The teenager made an initial court appearance Friday. He remains in the Lowndes County jail.

The shooting occurred just minutes after midnight at the Crossroads lounge on Mississippi Highway 182 at the Lowndes-Oktibbeha County line. Authorities said the incident occurred during a Valentine’s Day party. Other details were not released. […]

State and Toyota agree on $29 million settlement

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Attorney General Jim Hood joined 29 other states in announcing a $29 million settlement with Toyota Motor Corporation and its related North America entities over allegations Toyota concealed safety issues related to unintended acceleration.

Toyota agreed to pay $29 million to settle consumer protection claims and has agreed to provide additional restitution and incentives to vehicle owners to promote compliance with unintended acceleration safety recalls. As a result of the settlement, Mississippi will receive $561,288.60 and Toyota will be restricted from advertising the safety of vehicles without sound engineering data to back such safety claims.

The states are alleging that Toyota engaged in unfair and deceptive practices when it failed to timely disclose known safety defects with accelerator pedals. […]