Health

2nd nurse pleads guilty in cancer clinic fraud case

JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — A second nurse has pleaded guilty to failing to report a crime at a south Mississippi cancer clinic that was shut down over unsafe practices and accused of a multimillion-dollar fraud.

Brittany Davis Powell pleaded guilty Oct. 21 to misprision of a felony during a hearing in U.S. District Court in Jackson… […]

Education

Mississippi mulling alternative paths to graduation for students who fail exit exams

JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — Mississippi education officials are considering as many as seven alternate paths to a high school diploma for students who fail one or more high school exit exams.

The state Board of Education agreed Oct. 18 to seek public comments. The plan has drawn questions because it could allow students to graduate without showing much proficiency in science or U.S. history… […]

Health

Federal judge blocks Gov. Phil Bryant’s executive order in insurance dispute

JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — A federal judge Monday blocked Gov. Phil Bryant from compelling Mississippi’s largest health insurer to resume paying its in-network rate to a chain of 10 hospitals.

U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate read a temporary restraining order from the bench saying Bryant didn’t provide enough proof to justify an executive order he issued last week… […]

Education

3 indicted by grand jury in USM altercation involving former QB Anthony Alford

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi (AP) — Three people involved in an on-campus fight at the University of Southern Mississippi last November involving a handgun and former Southern Miss quarterback Anthony Alford have been indicted by a Forrest County grand jury on felony charges.

USM campus police arrested six, including Alford, following the Nov. 28, 2012, fight near the school’s Walker Science Building. No one was hurt. Police say no shots were fired although a gun was found at the scene.

The indictments were handed down in September and made public this last week. Those indicted were:.. […]

News

Man pleads guilty to selling counterfeit goods in Harrison County

GULFPORT, Mississippi (AP) — Federal court records say a man has pleaded guilty to trafficking in counterfeit purses, wallets and other items in Harrison County.

Ousainou Mahanera pleaded guilty last Monday in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. Sentencing is set for Jan. 27. He was indicted Aug. 20, but the case was sealed until his arrest in New Orleans in September… […]

News

Sex offender gets life sentence in slaying of Brandon neighbor

JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — A man has been sentenced to life plus 55 years in prison in the 2012 strangling death of a Brandon woman that prompted state lawmakers to pass new legislation for dealing with some convicted sex offenders.

Authorities say Cortrell Rose, 32, used a fake Jackson address to register as a sex offender after being released from prison last year, but was living next door to 59-year-old Lenora Patsy Edhegard in Brandon when he broke in and killed her… […]

News

Jail time, fines ordered for leaders of fake ID ring which included Ole Miss, Alabama students

ATHENS, Georgia (AP) — The masterminds of a fake ID manufacturing and distribution ring have been ordered to serve jail time, participate in community service and pay a $5,000 fine.

University of Georgia Student William Trosclair and former Gainesville State University student Tyler Andrew Ruby pleaded guilty to manufacturing false identification documents and manufacturing and distributing documents containing unauthorized government seals… […]

News

Ole Miss cruises to 59-14 homecoming victory over Idaho

OXFORD, Mississippi (AP) — Idaho briefly made things interesting against Mississippi on Saturday night.

But a lack of depth, a few missed tackles and a handful of mistakes doomed the Vandals in a 59-14 loss to the Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Taylor Davis completed 12 of 30 passes for 166 yards and one touchdown while Dezmon Epps added five catches for 89 yards and a touchdown. But it wasn’t nearly enough for Idaho (1-7), which gave up 572 total yards… […]

News

Drew Brees tosses 5 TDs as Saints cruise past Bills, 35-17

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The stern message from Sean Payton and Drew Brees left little doubt about the postseason aspirations of the New Orleans Saints.

There are few other ways to interpret how critical they were of themselves after Brees struck for five touchdowns a 35-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

“It’s good when you can not play your best and make certain mistakes and still win like we did,” Brees said, referring to a handful of pre-snap penalties, a pair of missed scoring chances and two instances when only 10 Saints were on the field… […]

News

Declining revenue batters many Mississippi casinos

JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — Month after month, Mississippi’s casinos are winning less from gamblers.

Some months, such as August, see a blip, and revenue rises a little. But those are exceptions. After hitting nearly $2.9 billion in 2007, revenue fell 22 percent to $2.25 billion in 2012. And the take is on track to dip another $100 million in 2013, state figures show… […]