News

AP analysis: Gov. Phil Bryant trusts no part of federal health overhaul

By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS
Associated Press
JACKSON, Mississippi — If there’s one thing Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant makes perfectly clear, it’s this: He doesn’t like the federal health overhaul.

Whether you call the law by its official name, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or by what Republican Bryant calls it, “Obamacare,” the governor says it’s too invasive and expensive… […]

Business

Census: No sign of economic rebound for many in U.S.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Even as the economy shows signs of improvement and poverty levels off, new U.S. census data suggests the gains are halting and uneven. Depending on education, race, income and even marriage, not all segments of the population are seeing an economic turnaround.

Poverty is on the rise in single-mother families. More people are falling into the lowest-income group. And after earlier signs of increased mobility, fewer people are moving as homeownership declined for a fifth straight year… […]

News

Everett Dutschke’s attorney asks judge to delay Mississippi ricin letter trial

JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — A lawyer asked a federal judge on Friday to delay the October trial of a Mississippi man charged with sending poison-laced letters to President Barack Obama and other officials.

Kenneth Coghlan filed the motion Friday in the federal case of James Everett Dutschke, a former martial arts instructor from Tupelo. Dutschke is charged with sending ricin-tainted letters on April 8 to Obama, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker and Lee County Justice Court Judge Sadie Holland… […]

News

Nation pauses on 9/11 to pay tribute to victims

NEW YORK (AP) — As bells tolled solemnly, Americans marked the 12th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on Wednesday with the reading of the names, moments of silence and serene music that have become tradition.

At a morning ceremony on the 2-year-old memorial plaza at the site of the World Trade Center, relatives recited the names of the nearly 3,000 people who died when hijacked jets crashed into the twin towers and the Pentagon and near Shanksville, Pa. They also recognized the victims of the 1993 trade center bombing.

In Washington, President Barak Obama, joined by first lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and wife Jill Biden, and members of the White House staff, walked out to the White House’s South Lawn for a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m… […]

News

Early look at health law’s premiums

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s the No. 1 question about President Barack Obama’s health care law: Will consumers be able to afford the coverage?

Now the answer is coming in.

The biggest study yet of premiums posted by states finds that the sticker price for a 21-year-old buying a mid-range policy will average about $270 a month. A copy of the study was provided to The Associated Press.

That’s before government tax credits that act like a discount for most people, depending on their income…. […]

News

Obama: On Syria, US, world credibility is on line

WASHINGTON (AP) — In an impassioned appeal for support both at home and abroad, President Barack Obama said Wednesday the credibility of the international community and Congress is on the line in the debate over how to respond to the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria. As Obama made his case overseas, legislators on Capitol Hill debated whether a proposed resolution authorizing military force would shift the momentum after more than two years of Syrian civil war…. […]

News

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

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…. […]

News

DOJ to launch hate crime inquiry in case of George Zimmerman

Although he is said to be in hiding after his acquittal in the shooting death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin, trouble for George Zimmerman appears to be far from over.

The Justice Department said Sunday that it was restarting its investigation into Martin’s death in 2012 to consider possible separate hate crime charges against Zimmerman.

Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who shot Martin was acquitted of all charges by a jury late Saturday. […]

Health

Bryant: Medicaid special session starts Thursday

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant said Monday that he’s calling lawmakers into special session at 10 a.m. Thursday to keep the state’s Medicaid program alive and funded once the new state fiscal year begins July 1.

The Republican is not asking lawmakers to expand Medicaid, which is an option under the federal health care law that President Barack Obama signed in 2010.

Many Democrats have been pushing to expand Medicaid or to allow low-income working people to use federal subsidies to buy insurance on the private market.
However, Republican leaders say the state can’t afford to add another 300,000 people to Medicaid, and they don’t want to increase people’s dependence on government programs. […]