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Michael Byrd

Michael Byrd and his family moved to the Philippines after he became disabled and retired from his career as a nuclear engineer in 2008. Shortly after, Byrd and his wife were in a car wreck, and she needed surgery.

Power to the People

When someone offered Melissa Cooper $700 for some of her prescription pain medication in 2010, she jumped at the opportunity.

Under Darkness, Immigration and Abortion Bills Pass

Lawmakers, reporters, young pages and even a delegation of Jackson County Republican Women burned the midnight oil for a second consecutive night at the Mississippi House yesterday.

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Rings on a Budget

Conventional wedding wisdom, dictated by the diamond industry no doubt, says that a man should spend one or two months' paychecks or more on an engagement ring to surprise his bride-to-be. In today's economy, that kind of extravagance is just not possible for many couples, especially with a wedding to fund.

Donna Barksdale

Donna Barksdale has been "everything from a Sweet Potato Queen to a clothing designer." These days, she puts her fashion expertise to work making sure that senior girls at Lanier High School have prom dresses.

[She Said] ‘Funny and Sweet'

When I was first contacted regarding writing about romance, my very first thought was: "What the hell do I know about romance? I'm married."

Silent Crusader

David Fincher's film adaptation of Stieg Larsson's international bestseller, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," scorches the screen with a new-millennium Joan of Arc on a social crusade against violence. "I want you to help me catch a killer of women," Mikael Blomkvist says to Lisbeth Salander.

A Magic Deeper Still

Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie accidentally leave their mundane lives for the wonder and adventure that an enchanted wardrobe grants. In C.S. Lewis' celebrated "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," the courageous children escape the atrocities of that period in British history, exchanging their anxieties for mythical Narnia and its magical creatures.

Reforms Coming to Henley-Young

Children entering Henley-Young Juvenile Justice Center will now get a mental-health evaluation and counseling at the beginning of their stay, a significant change from recent practices. Youth incarcerated at the Hinds County detention facility will also have better rehabilitation options, input from family and advocates, and more time outside their cells.

Capturing the Magic: Brice Media

When Charles Brice was overseas in 2008, he and his wife, Talamieka, joked on the phone one day. He was toying with the idea of quitting the Army after five years working as a photojournalist and starting a company to focus on photography and graphic design. He didn't know it, but Talamieka was writing everything down.

Lessons from the Past

When Republican John R. Lynch won a seat in the Mississippi House, the Legislature had a lot of important rebuilding to do after the Civil War, including schools and other public buildings. In fact, state government needed to entirely reconstruct and reorganize itself.

[Brown] Why Charter Schools Died

It appears that all of the charter-school proposals are dead for this legislative session. These bills were defeated by a coalition of Democrats and Republicans in the House with the support of hundreds of school-board members, administrators, teachers, parents and civic leaders across the state.

[Your Turn] No March for March 1st

"What do we want? Full equality! When do we want it? Now!" These sentiments provided a unified chant for gay-rights protesters March 1 on the south steps of the Mississippi Capitol building.

GPS for the Soul?

Arianna Huffington has announced that The Huffington Post has developed a smartphone app called "GPS For the Soul" to be launched in June that will "gauge the state of your mind, body and spirit, then automatically offer the exact steps you would need to take to realign all three aspects of your being."

Cake fit for a King

My mother was one of the best cooks in the world. On any given day, she could make a meal fit for a king. Mother had her own natural rhythm—her own unique swag, if you will. She would sing the hymns and praise God while simultaneously cooking for 15 people, myself included.

Coming-of-Age Flicks

Graduation is not closing a chapter. It is not turning one's back on lessons learned. Instead, graduation is a stepping stone to responsibility. Numerous movies capture this transition. These options each offer a slightly different coming-of-age epiphany.

Best Gifts for New Moms

The best gifts for new moms are not necessarily cute little outfits or monogrammed bibs. Although most moms love opening tiny treasures at baby showers, the first few weeks of a baby's life is usually a blur of more practical concerns than coordinated socks and onesies.

AG Hood Promotes Mentor Program

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood is looking for volunteers to mentor the children of incarcerated parents.

Council to Address Bike Trail and Capitol Street

The city of Jackson is again seeking funds to create a "Museum to Market" bike trail along an old railroad bed after the Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries denied a grant to fund the project last fall.

Barbour's Ed. Numbers Off-Mark

Mississippi public-education advocates fear that the state Senate may short-change school districts next year by $65 million. On the Senate agenda is a House education-funding bill approved last week; however . Gov. Haley Barbour has urged legislators to adopt the lower funding amount, describing it as "level funding." Data from the Mississippi Department of Education show that Barbour's claim is inaccurate, however.