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Expect More Severe Weather Today

The National Weather Service advises that Jackson can expect more severe weather today, with strong thunderstorms moving into the area from the West. The Capital City is under a Tornado watch until 5 p.m. tonight.

Jackson Crime Stats for Mar. 23-29

Data for this week will be available Wednesday, Apr. 8.

Major crimes in Jackson declined at the end of March for the second week in a row, according to data released by the Jackson Police Department yesterday. JPD's weekly crime report (PDF) shows a 4.7 percent decrease in major crimes, as the number of total property crimes dropped slightly and violent crimes stayed roughly even with the week of Mar. 16-22. Precinct 1 in South Jackson and Precinct 3 in Northwest Jackson reported increases in property crimes of 57 percent and 39 percent, respectively. Northeast Jackson's Precinct 4, the poorest performing precinct in the previous week, showed a dramatic decrease in property crime, mostly due to a sharp drop in auto burglaries, from 38 to 17.

Mississippi Port Expansion Project Begins

Today at 2 p.m., the Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport will hold a ground-"making" ceremony, kicking off a $570 million expansion project. Gov. Haley Barbour, who diverted the funds for the project from money originally targeted to rebuild housing on the state's Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina ripped across the area, will be on hand for the ceremony.

Death of a Partnership

The Legislature passed SB 2764, reorganizing the State Board of Health following Clarion-Ledger reports of broad failures and relentless attacks upon board Director Dr. Brian Amy by Sen. Alan Nunnelee. After reforming the disparaged board, legislators then put the state's next tobacco-cessation effort under the Health Department.

Open Season on George Dale

Anonymous opponents of Insurance Commissioner George Dale are circulating annual lobbyist's reports that show Dale's attorney, Greg Copeland, is a well-paid lobbyist for the insurance industry.

Education STILL Underfunded

Lawmakers did the political equivalent of a high-five March 26 when they reached a deal on the state's $4.5 billion budget.

State Receives $9 Million for ‘Green' Initiatives

Several Mississippi counties, including Hinds, will receive funding from the U.S. Department of Energy channeled to the state through Energy Efficient Block Grant Programs.

Mayor: Most Residents Have Water

Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. reported at a late-afternoon press conference that the city's water supply is now up to a sufficient level to supply every resident with water.

BP Gives $15 Million to Mississippi for Advertising

Oil giant BP, responsible for the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, is giving money to four coastal states whose tourism industry may be affected by the mess, reports WLBT. In all, the company is giving away $70 million to Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi, of which, the magnolia state is receiving $15 million for advertising designed to alter vacationers' opinions that the coast may not be not fit for vacationing.

Swine Flu Vaccine Arrives This Week

Mississippi is scheduled to receive swine flu vaccine beginning tomorrow in the form of a nasal spray, reports WXVT. About 500 distribution points for the spray include hospitals, clinics and pharmacies.

Edwards To Address Book Controversy

Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Lonnie Edwards is holding a press conference this afternoon to address controversial book purchases at his former school district. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported that several administrators in the DeKalb County, Ga., school district used school funds to purchase books they wrote.

Hearings Set for Kemper Coal Plant

The Mississippi Public Service Commission has announced phase one hearings for a proposed new "clean" coal power plant in Kemper County. The hearings are in reponse to a petition filed by Mississippi Power, seeking a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the proposed $2.4 billion electricity-generating plant, and "associated transmission facilities, associated gas pipeline facilities, associated right-of-way and related facilities in Kemper, Lauderdale, Clarke and Jasper counties," according to a release.

Childers to Tour Crop Disaster Areas

Today, Rep. Travis Childers, representing Mississippi's first Congressional district, will lead a crop disaster tour throughout his district in the company of U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary Michael Scuse. The tour will provide the agency first-hand information about the severe crop loss suffered to Mississippi farmers in the wake of heavy rains earlier in the fall, according to a release.

Jackson Major Crimes Up 5.3 Percent

Download JPD's weekly crime report (PDF)

Bill Advocates School Bus Ads

In a 94-21 vote last week, Mississippi House members voted to allow advertising on school buses as a measure to offset some of the state's budget belt-tightening, reports The Sun Herald. The bill imposes some restriction on the types of ads that would be allowed. Ads for alcohol, tobacco, junk food, and political and religious causes are banned.

Johnson Names New Chiefs

Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. appointed Jackson State University security chief Rebecca Coleman as Jackson's new police chief, and former Jackson Fire Chief Raymond McNulty as head of the Jackson Fire Department at a noon press conference today.

C-L Editorials: Stokes–Ward 3 Lost in Tuesday's Election

Stokes won, but it is a loss for Ward 3 and the city as a whole.

The paper editorializes:

Tuesday Conference Call & Webinar for Miss. Obama Volunteers

Verbatim from the Obama-Mississippi site:

Snipe Season Open

The state of Mississippi opened season on snipe Nov. 14, which extends until Feb. 28. The daily bag limit is eight birds, the possession limit is 16. The common snipe (Capella gallinago) is a winter resident in the southern United States.

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