Top Stories – Page 79 – The Mississippi Link

Court denies Grayson's motion for a rehearing

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The Mississippi Supreme Court has denied death row inmate Blayde Grayson’s petition for a rehearing.

Grayson, 37, was convicted in George County in 1997. He was found guilty of the 1996 slaying of 78-year-old Minnie Smith during a house burglary. Authorities say Smith was stabbed more than 30 times on the night she died in her rural home at the edge of the Pascagoula River flats.

The state Supreme Court upheld Grayson’s capital murder conviction and death sentence in 2001. […]

Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer Foundation receives $9k donation

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The Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer Foundation in Ruleville, recently received a generous donation of $9,000 from the Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility in Tutwiler.

Freddie White-Johnson, founder and president of the Foundation, accepted the check from Shirley Walker, case management and supervisor of the Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility. White-Johnson also serves as program director of the Mississippi Network for Cancer Control and Prevention (MNCCP) at The University of Southern Mississippi. […]

DuPree Speaks at 50th Anniversary March on Washington (VIDEO)

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Hattiesburg Mayor, Johnny Dupree gave the following speech today, August 28 2013 at the 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the March on Washington on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

The following is the full transcript of the speech he gave, along with the video of the speech:

I want to thank the National Conference of Black Mayors, and the coalition for the opportunity to make a few remarks on this historic occasion.

Decades and decades of blood, sweat, tears, organizing meetings, sit-ins, jailings, boycotts, negotiations, adjudications—all culminated in a march…. […]

How Mississippi and Emmett Till shaped the March on Washington

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As many across the nation remain in shock and disbelief at the recent verdict in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, his case has become hauntingly reminiscent of another black teenager gunned down nearly 60 years ago, where his accusers also went forth free.

The murder of Emmett Till is just as relevant today as it was in 1955 when his death not only sparked an avalanche of public outrage and fear across the south. But it also gave courage and determination to the weary and downtrodden – now wiling to die for equal rights. […]

Greene County surveyor arrested

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A Greene County surveyor has been arrested for posing as another surveyor while working in Perry County, Attorney General Jim Hood said.

Billy Eugene Brewer, 69, was arrested at his home in Leakesville by investigators with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. Brewer is facing four counts of false pretense and four counts fraudulent use of identity […]

Leader of road study group proposes $700M in taxes

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The leader of a Senate transportation study committee proposes the state should levy $700 million in new taxes to support road maintenance as well as some other non-transportation related projects.

Sen. Willie Simmons, D-Cleveland, said the proposal, which would be the largest state tax increase in more than 20 years, is only a starting point for discussion, and invited alternate proposals.

But some members of his committee quickly indicated they aren’t interested in that much spending, and may oppose any new taxes, especially the $150 million a year that Simmons proposed for university, community college, state agency and local water and sewer construction. Simmons admitted those extra items were “stretching it.” […]

Suspect charged with hacking his neighbor to death

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Authorities said a man in the country illegally is being held without bond for allegedly hacking his neighbor to death over a land dispute.

Nolasco Idisro Eugenio, 40, remains in custody in a Madison County jail after he reportedly used a machete in an attack on Alphonozo Rosas in a trailer park near Canton. […]

Enerfab announces an expansion in Natchez

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Enerfab officials announced the company will expand its operations at their Natchez location, which is known as Enersteel. The expansion will support an increase in production and comes just three months after announcing an expansion in May.

This project represents an investment of $10 million and will create at least 45 new jobs.
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Woman's body, drugs found at Jackson home

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Police said they found a woman’s body and drugs valued at more than $54,000 at a Jackson home on Monday, Aug. 12.

WLBT reported officers found the body of Kenya Johnson at a home on Elraine Boulevard around 11 p.m.

Investigators seized more than 48 pounds of marijuana and a kilogram of cocaine as well as two handguns. […]

Stun gun death case before federal appeals court

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A Mississippi family is asking a federal appeals court to reinstate their multimillion dollar wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Cleveland and two police officers.

The lawsuit was filed by the family of Jermaine Williams, who died in 2010 after being jolted twice by police stun guns. The family sought $25 million in damages.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans has scheduled the case for oral arguments on Sept. 4.

Williams, 30, died July 23, 2010, in a confrontation with two officers responding to a call about loiterers. […]