Mississippi

May 08, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of four Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Casey L. Casanova, 22, of McComb, Mississippi.

Cpl. Miguel A. Guzman, 21, of Norwalk, California.

Lance Cpl. James F. Kimple, 21, of Carroll, Ohio

Sgt. Glen E. Martinez, 31, of Boulder, Colorado.

All four Marines died May 2 in Al Anbar province, Iraq, supporting combat operations.

They were assigned to the Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Source: DOD

April 21, 2008 -- JACKSON, Mississippi - Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour today declared a state of emergency exists in the North Panola School District, authorizing the state Department of Education to take immediate corrective action.

“After reviewing documentation provided by the state Department of Education, I am convinced that existing conditions in the North Panola School District jeopardize the educational interests of the children enrolled there. My declaration of an emergency will give the department the authority to take immediate steps so the district can begin to recover from serious leadership and management deficiencies,” Governor Barbour said.    » read more »

April 18, 2008 -- JACKSON, Mississippi – Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour said today he will appeal the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s denial of his request for federal disaster assistance in the wake of destructive tornadoes that struck the City of Jackson and Hinds County on April 4, 2008.

Tornado damage: Devastation following a 2002 tornado in Columbus, Mississippi. Photo by Anita Westervelt / FEMA    » read more »

April 15, 2008 -- (JACKSON, Mississippi) — More than $41 million in disaster recovery grants is being awarded to 39 Mississippi counties and municipalities for individual projects involving disaster recovery, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) Disaster Recovery Division announced today.

Hurrican Katrina damage, Mississippi: Photo by Chris Metcalf (CC)    » read more »

April 11, 2008 -- (JACKSON, Mississippi) — Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour today requested President George W. Bush and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to declare Hinds County as a major disaster area after the county sustained large amounts of damage from the severe weather and tornado outbreak April 4.

Tornado damage: Photo by Andrew Freese (CC)    » read more »

April 7, 2008 -- JACKSON, Mississippi - Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour today declared a State of Emergency for 12 Mississippi counties following a severe weather system and tornadoes which hit parts of Central Mississippi, including the Jackson Metro area. The Governor announced the State of Emergency while touring neighborhoods in Northeast Jackson, which were among the hardest-hit areas from Friday’s storm and tornadoes.

Tornado formation in Mississippi: Photo by Fujoshi (CC)    » read more »

April 4, 2008 -- (JACKSON, Mississippi) - Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour today declared a State of Emergency for 33 Mississippi counties in anticipation of flooding of the Mississippi River, Yazoo River, and tributaries caused by rising waters due to rainfall in the upper Mississippi River Basin and Ohio River Basin.

Flooding on the Mississippi River: Photo by wcm1111 (CC)    » read more »

March 31, 2008 -- (JACKSON, Mississippi) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General (OIG) says Mississippi has implemented sound controls regarding how the state determines eligibility and avoids benefit duplication while administering its Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP), and the agency recommends no changes.

Mississippi homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina

The finding is based on an OIG audit of the program using a sample of homeowners who applied October 2006, just months after the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) began processing HAP applications.    » read more »

Atlanta, Ga., March 26, 2008 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Region 4, as part of the Southeast Diesel Collaborative, today announced the availability of approximately $3.6 Million in grants to fund projects within the Southeast to demonstrate effective emission control technologies and strategies, methods or approaches to reducing diesel emissions. EPA expects to fund between five and ten grants ranging from $250,000 and $750,000. However, EPA reserves the option to fund a project at an amount lower than $250,000 if the proposed project involves retrofitting or upgrading an applicant’s entire fleet.    » read more »

March 19, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Lerando J. Brown, 27, of Gulfport, Mississippi, died March 15 in Balad, Iraq, from injuries suffered in an incident currently under investigation.

He was assigned to the 288th Sapper Company, 223rd Engineer Battalion, Mississippi Army National Guard, Houston, Miss.

Source: DoD

March 15, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of five soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

They died March 10 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device.

They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Killed were:

Sgt. 1st. Class Shawn M. Suzch, 32, of Hilltown, Pennsylvania.

Staff Sgt. Ernesto G. Cimarrusti, 25, of Douglas, Arizona.    » read more »

March 14, 2008 -- Jackson, MS -- Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood today confirmed two guilty pleas stemming from an undercover operation involving illegal gaming devices. Bruce Collier, Jr. (age 37, last known address: 120 Pemble St, Merrigold, MS), Manager of Bruce’s Place (aka Joe’s Bar), 2492 HWY 446,Boyle, MS and Jimmy Utz (age 62, last known address: 557 HWY 61, Boyle, MS), Owner/Manager of Sky King’s Lounge, 557 HWY 61, Boyle, MS appeared in Bolivar County Justice Court before Judge Harold Ward, Sr.    » read more »

Washington, DC - 03/12/2008 - 14 percent of eligible Mississippi citizens under the age of 30 participated in last night’s primary, according to preliminary estimates by CIRCLE (The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement). More than 13,000 young people participated in the Republican primary and 57,000 in the Democratic primary. (See Table 2.) The youth turnout rate in Mississippi more than tripled from 2000 rising from four percent to 14 percent.    » read more »

Vuteq USA to create 130 jobs at its plant, up to 500 more at main Toyota facility

March 10, 2008 -- (JACKSON, Mississippi) – Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour announced today that Vuteq USA, Inc. will build its newest manufacturing facility to supply Toyota in the North Mississippi city of New Albany. The $31 million plant is expected to open in 2009, employing 130 people.    » read more »

$19 million investment by company; 120 jobs for Batesville

March 3, 2008 -- (JACKSON, Mississippi)—Governor Haley Barbour today applauded the announcement that Toyoda Gosei North American Group will build a new automotive parts manufacturing plant in Batesville, Miss. The plant is being established to develop interior and exterior plastic automotive components for the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi, Inc. (TMMMS), set to begin production in 2010.    » read more »