Cellular South Expands Mississippi ServicesRidgeland, Miss.-based Cellular South, the largest privately-held wireless carrier in the U.S., has announced expanded third-generation coverage in 78 cities across 26 Mississippi counties this year. The ambitious plan allows the company to "maintain its leadership position as the provider …
COPS Money Available to CityThe American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is funneling money to the ailing federal Community Oriented Policing Services program and the Hiring Recovery Program, and will soon be available to the city of Jackson.
Suburbs Reaping More Stimulus Road FundsTwo aspects of the federal economic stimulus will not be making much of a touchdown in Jackson. The Mississippi Department of Transportation revealed a nearly $200 million list of 44 projects around the state that will benefit from President Barack …
MDOC Refusal to Provide Info under FirePrison Legal News filed suit in Hinds County Chancery Court yesterday to force the Mississippi Department of Corrections to release a copy of the state's prison telephone contracts, according to a release.
Legislators Pass Bills Aimed at TeensThe first, SB 2280, is about driving for 15 and 16-year-old teens. The bill proposes prohibiting texting and driving by kids with learner's permits or intermediate driver's licenses, and adds six months to their learning curve. The Mississippi House passed …
Jury in Melton Retrial to Come From CoastThe second federal civil rights trial of Mayor Frank Melton and bodyguard Michael Recio will take place in Jackson, with a jury called from the Gulf Coast, a federal judge ruled yesterday. Melton and Recio's first trial for the 2006 …
Doris Shavers Killer Pleads GuiltyHenry Lee Phillips pleaded guilty today to murdering his former girlfriend, Doris Shavers, 40, on Sept. 17, 2007, as Shavers combed her 12-year-old daughter's hair before leaving for work. The day of the murder was Jessica's birthday.
Feds Want Melton Retrial Moved To GulfportFederal prosecutors want to move the retrial of Mayor Frank Melton and his bodyguard Michael Recio to the Gulf Coast to avoid intense media scrutiny. In a motion (PDF) filed yesterday, the government argued that moving the trial to Gulfport …
Legislators Consider Fire-Safe CigarettesA bill requiring that cigarettes extinguish themselves when unattended has the support of Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney and the Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes, a group working to prevent cigarette-ignited fires, according to WLOX.com.
SkyTel Back in the NewsThe former mayor of Detroit, Kwame Kilpatrick, is demanding $100 million from SkyTel, a company formerly headquartered in Jackson.
We, the UnhealthyLast year, Mississippi ranked No. 1 overall for the unhealthiest citizens in the U.S. and No. 49 in the number of physicians per capita. A quarter of our 2-year-olds haven't received their shots, and the rate of babies dying in …
Will Senate Allow Stimulus Discussion?Last week, the Mississippi House passed a resolution to override Gov. Haley Barbour's decision to reject some of the stimulus funds for the state. Barbour has stated that he will not accept more than $50 million to extend unemployment benefits.
Resuscitating Voter IDThe Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports that Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant wants the voters to decide whether the state should require Voter ID
DNA Preservation Bill PassedThe Mississippi Legislature passed a bill mandating that the state better preserve crime scene DNA evidence and conduct DNA testing on biological evidence.