Buzz Report

Parchman’s escaped murderer Michael Dowda captured in Macon, Ga.

The Mississippi Link Newswire
Mississippi State Penitentiary inmate Michael Dowda, who had escaped Saturday while on a maintenance work detail, has been captured in the early morning hours in Macon, Ga., according to a press release from the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

Through investigations by the MDOC-Corrections Investigation Division and United States Marshal’s Service in Mississippi and Georgia, Dowda was captured in Macon at approximately 12:30 a.m. today by officers with the U.S. Marshal’s Service in Georgia.

Dowda, 48, faces extradition to Mississippi and multiple charges including escape. […]

News

Ocean Springs alderman indicted over child porn

An Ocean Springs alderman has been indicted on a child pornography charge after authorities found a sexually explicit video called “Bathtime with Daddy” on his work computer.

The Mississippi Press reports James Roy Hagan was indicted Friday on one charge of exploitation of a child. […]

News

Convicted murderer missing after stealing truck from prison

Prison officials issued an alert Saturday afternoon advising that an inmate serving a life sentence for murder was missing after working on prison grounds at Parchman.

Forty-eight-year-old Michael Dowda was last seen around 3 p.m., Sept. 22 wearing a MDOC white shirt and green and white striped pants. Authorities said Dowda was on a work detail with maintenance at the time he disappeared and they believe he drove away in a 2005 Silverado truck that was on the prison grounds. […]

News

JSU security guard shot to death

A Jackson State University security guard was found dead in a city street early Saturday morning.

WLBT-TV reports 27-year-old Joseph Welch was shot five times, according to officials. Jackson police say Welch failed to show up for work at 10 p.m. Friday night. […]

Entertainment

B.B. King’s ‘Lucille’ featured on state’s new license plate

Soon Mississippi vehicles will be sporting a new image on the state’s license plates: B.B. King’s guitar.

Starting Oct. 1 pates will feature the slogan “Birthplace of America’s Music” and B.B. King’s signature guitar, Lucille. The words “Celebrating Mississippi’s Creative Culture” surround the guitar. […]

Education

MISSISSIPPI’S FIRST TEACHING GARDEN SPRINGS UP AT A LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Davis Magnet Elementary school will reap fresh veggies and fruits this Spring

JACKSON, MS – On September 20, the American Heart Association unveiled Mississippi’s first Teaching Garden with the support of the Jackson Heart Foundation. The first school to receive the garden is Davis Magnet Elementary in the capital city, which is locally sponsored by the Jackson Heart Foundation.

The American Heart Association Teaching Gardens is an innovative national, school-based program to re-establish what it means to be healthy. Aimed at elementary school students, the Teaching Garden program provides hands-on learning experiences rooted in offering nutritional choices. […]

News

Greenville mayor resigns

Greenville Mayor Chuck Jordan announced his resignation Wednesday. He said he made the decision after learning he has pancreatic cancer.

The Delta Democrat Times reports that Jordan’s resignation will take effect at midnight Monday.

Jordan, a retired banker, was elected mayor in December after defeating Democrat Carl McGee. He was inaugurated on Jan. 3… […]

Buzz Report

Meridian bank VP going to jail for identity theft and bank fraud

The former vice president and branch manager of a bank in Meridian has been sentenced to 51 months in prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Sharon Monroe, 57, of Lauderdale, pleaded guilty to the criminal charges against her on Feb. 3, 2012, and was sentenced this month by U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves…. […]

News

Watch The Video: The Romney Fundraiser Tape

This week, online news publication Mother Jones published an exclusive video that captured presidential candidate (GOP nominee) Mitt Romney speaking to donors at a May 17 fundraiser, which was held at the home of private equity mogul Mark Leder.

Romney told attendees of this $50,000-a-plate dinner that 47 percent of Americans—those who back President Obama—are “victims” who are “dependent upon government” and “pay no income tax.” He noted: “My job is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.”

During his response to a question about the “Palestinian problem,” Romney said… […]

Education

Jackson City Council raises property taxes for JPS

District needs tax hike for debt services

By Othor Cain
Managing Editor

If you live anywhere in the Southeastern portion of the United States, then you should be familiar with yearly events held in this part of the country titled “Battle of the Bands.”
The Jackson City Council recently took to the chambers and staged its own version of the popular competition appropriately titled “Battle of the Budgets.”
In a two-day council meeting, that included the blame game, members of the Jackson city council approved the city’s budget and approved a 2.5 mills (tax) increase to meet the school district’s $86 million budget request…. […]