Legislature Week 4: Money and Meth
The House and Senate were up against deadline yesterday for committees to either approve or reject proposed bills. The next deadline is a Feb. 11 end-date for the House and Senate to act on bills that survived committees. But the approaching deadlines took a back seat to the House and Gov. Haley Barbour's budget priorities.
No Lottery This Year
A bill paving the way for a state-run lottery to support education died in committee this week, despite growing popularity. House Gaming Committee Chairman Bobby Moak, D-Bogue Chitto, held the last Gaming Committee meeting on Monday without taking up House Bill 337, and scheduled no Tuesday committee meeting.
[Stauffer] America's Team
So I'm a Saints fan. I love watching Brees when he's in the groove, and I love watching the interceptions and Bush pylon leaps ... and I still dream about that strip-six by Meacham. All that talent combined with determination to alter the narrative both for their franchise and for their city makes 2009 the year that the New Orleans Saints' wonderful story inspires folks around the world.
Former Choctaw Chief Hospitalized
Phillip Martin, the former chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, has been hospitalized at St. Dominic's Hospital in Jackson. Martin, 84, held the democratically elected post of the group's chief for 32 years, with his tenure ending in 2007. His condition is unavailable at this time.
Bryan Eubank
Most guys love sports. No big surprise there. But only a few find a way to take that passion and turn it into a livelihood. Bryan Eubank is someone who has done just that.
Husband Speaks About Wife Shot at JSU
The husband of a woman shot at Jackson State University last night is asking for authorities to help find the suspect who is still at large.
Today is D-Day for Controversial Bills
The Mississippi Legislature has one of its busiest days today as committees scramble to pass most general bills. State lawmakers have until midnight tonight to get committee approval for any non-revenue bills originating in their own chamber. That means that many contentious measures may die tonight for lack of progress.
Senate Joins House in Passing ‘Sudafed' Bill; Barbour Supports
The Mississippi Senate today passed a bill requiring that pseudoephedrine be sold by prescription only in the state. The drug is a key ingredient in both cold medicines and methamphetamine, or meth. The House passed the bill last week. Minutes ago, Gov. Haley Barbour released a statement in support of the bill:
Dorothy Stewart
Dorothy Stewart is putting the issues on the air. Education, health care, job opportunities, the proposed consolidation of historically black colleges and universities, the role churches play in African American communities and the Farish Street development project are all issues "that need to be addressed and understood" by the people of Jackson, Stewart says.
[Balko] Ruining Kids in Order to Save Them
That the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals would even need to hear oral arguments in the case of Miller, et al. v. Skumanick last week is a pretty good indication that law enforcement officials in Wyoming County, Pa. have lost their collective minds.
The Pre-College Life
Youth Media Project
For a little while though, my vision was blurred. I got caught up in this college race and tried to do lots of things for college, because all of the other students around me were doing it. They were just doing things to put on their résumés, but this just didn't feel right to me. I had to figure out for myself that there is not necessarily a right way to live. I just need to do what feels right to me, and those are the things that I actually enjoy; things that I care about.
There Should be a Disclaimer
Youth Media Project
There should be a disclaimer at the bottom of TicketMaster's webpage that reads something along these lines: "This agency was only able to afford 30 minutes of this entertainers' time. Therefore, you are paying $46.10 to sit through 2 hours of mediocre opening acts, and, honestly, we advise you to keep your money."
A New Development
Youth Media Project
Water is one of the basic essentials of life. Use it wisely...because we never truly can appreciate it's full value until we have to suffer without it.
DEADLINES - There's a Reason Why There's "Dead" in the Word
Youth Media Project
The pressure is intense. Starting at the beginning of 2010, colleges already expected something out of us [seniors]. Some wanted applications, but all of them encouraged their applicants and parents/guardians to fill out the glorious FAFSA form. Even though I'm pretty relaxed now because some of the pressure has been released (I've been accepted to some places :D), I still can't help but believe that to do so sooner is the best thing I can do.
Phil Speaks: Six More Weeks of Winter
Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil of weather-prediction fame came out of his Pennsylvania hole this morning to give the world bad news: we're in for six more weeks of winter. Phil, who traditionally peeks out Feb. 2 every year, saw his shadow, reports the Hattiesburg American.
Gaming Chairman: Lottery Effort ‘Swimming Upstream'
House Gaming Committee Chairman Bobby Moak, D-Bogue Chitto, had a difficult time making a decision on a bill paving the way for a state-run lottery to support education. House Bill 337 would create a statewide special election for the purpose of allowing the electorate to vote on establishing a state lottery as a form of legalized gaming.
Senate Passes on MUW Name Change
The Mississippi Senate Universities and Colleges Committee failed to take action on a proposed name change for the Mississippi University for Women at its meeting this afternoon, effectively killing the effort in the Senate. The measure, Senate Bill 2702, would have allowed the state College Board to change the name of MUW, unofficially known as "the W." MUW President Claudia Limbert, who is retiring at the end of this school year, announced the university's preference for "Reneau University" in August.
PSC Attorney Withdraws from Coal Plant Hearing
A Mississippi Public Service Commission attorney gathering information for a second-phase hearing on the workability of a proposed $2.4 billion coal plant in Kemper County withdrew her participation from the issue this morning.
Domestic Abuse Bills Near Deadline
With an early deadline for bills bearing down Tuesday at midnight, state legislators have only two days to act on a number of bills that would stiffen the penalties for abusive behavior.
Kaye Carr
Selflessness is not a common quality, but it is embedded deeply in Kaye Carr. Carr, 37, serves on the board of directors at Hope Hollow Ministries, a Canton-based non-profit that provides opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to go to summer camp. Born and raised in Ridgeland, Carr now lives in Canton and got involved with Hope Hollow nearly a year ago through her 5-year-old son Sam, who has sensory issues similar to autism.