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George Street Returns

2006-11-27T16:11:00.000-06:00

Historic Jackson watering hole reopens

The Clarion-Ledger

George Street Grocery, a historic Jackson restaurant and bar, reopened today.

The bar closed in May 2005 because of mounting debt. It had reopened in April 2004 after closing in late 2003.

The Jackson landmark first opened as a grocery in 1911, was a popular hangout and music venue in the ‘70s and ‘80s, and has even been mentioned in the writings of Eudora Welty.

Now owned by Charlie Lucroy of Clinton, the establishment has had a massive renovation of its kitchen as well as extensive refinishing and refurbishing of its interior.

Brunini, Watkins Ludlam to Anchor 'Two Jackson Place'

2006-10-02T21:49:00.000-05:00

According to Jackson Free Press, The Brunini law firm has signed on with Parkway to be one of the anchor tenants in the new "Two Jackson Place" office tower to be built in downtown Jackson. The other anchor tenant is Watkins Ludlam.

That's good news for Downtown Jackson along with the announcement that the Old Capitol Green project appears to be going forward.

Starkville's Cotton District in National Spotlight

2006-09-25T00:04:00.000-05:00

Starkville's Cotton District has been featured as one of 40 communities around the nation in "This Is Smart Growth," a new publication from the International City/County Mangement Association and the Smart Growth Network. The publication illustrates "how communities can turn their values, visions and aspirations into reality using smart growth techniques to improve the quality of development," writes Geoffrey Anderson, director of EPA's Development, Community and Environment Division. The Cotton District, which has been developed by current Starkville Mayor Dan Camp, was recognized in "This is Smart Growth" as a place designed for people. "Places that are designed with people in mind show careful attention to the experience each person will have with the street, the sidewalk, the buildings, and the surrounding environment," the publication states. Starkville was the only city in Mississippi to be recognized in the new edition of "This Is Smart Growth." Other communities receiving recognition were Charleston, SC, Chattanooga, TN, Kentlands, MD, and Portland, OR.

For a link to "This Is Smart Growth", click here.

Project May Put Cinema Downtown

2006-09-19T18:00:00.000-05:00

Old Capitol Green developer likely will be chosen this week, Entergy says

By Jack Mazurak
jmazurak@clarionledger.com

A New York developer promising a hotel, cinema and up to 500 units of housing likely will be chosen this week for the Old Capitol Green project in downtown Jackson, Entergy Mississippi officials said.

Entergy, which owns two of the initial four blocks planned for the project, is backing Full Spectrum of NY LLC, a New York City-based housing developer.

The multimillion-dollar project calls for a mixed-use neighborhood in the bounds of State, Pearl, Jefferson and South streets. A representative for Full Spectrum on Monday told Jackson's Intergovernmental Affairs Committee the company would bring a 160-room Embassy Suites hotel, 300 to 500 residential units, a recording studio, performance space for New Stage Theatre and a three- or four-screen specialty cinema.

"We're talking with Greg McDade about a whole-food grocery store and working with a company on a CVS or Walgreens," Malcolm Shepherd, development project executive for Full Spectrum, said.

The Old Capitol Green Committee, representing state, county and city governments, Downtown Jackson Partners and economic development officials, will meet today with Full Spectrum about the project.

"We're doing a due diligence and clarification with the preferred master developer, Full Spectrum out of New York, who has really been here for a while, doing their homework," said John Turner, Entergy economic development director.

"(Today) we hope to get all of the details worked out where we have an understanding from both sides of what has to take place," he said.

The committee looked at more than a dozen proposals from developers in late August.

"We had a lot of interested people but many wanted to just do a hotel or just residences. So the most consideration went to developers who could do the whole neighborhood," John Lawrence, Downtown Jackson Partners president, said.

Once a master developer is chosen, infrastructure work could begin by year's end. Lawrence said he'd like to see construction begin in March so buildings could be completed before January 2009 in time to take advantage of tax breaks through the Gulf Opportunity Zone legislation.

Lawrence said the four-block section likely will take years to complete, but he expects it will spark development from landowners in the adjacent for blocks along South State Street. A local lawyer is building a 10-unit apartment complex at South State and Tombigbee streets.

The committee might meet with other firms this week, Lawrence said, and plans to examine the each company's background, past performance and the financiers.

The proposals were necessary because the state owns the two other blocks. The project had to follow certain guidelines if the state were going to be able to sell its property to a developer.

Lawrence would not say how many other companies are under consideration but said he hopes the committee will have a recommendation made this week. The recommended proposal will then go to the state and to Entergy so each can negotiate their land sales.

Lawrence said the project won't compete with the ongoing Farish Street Entertainment District.

"They're different animals. Farish Street is designed to attract people to it as a destination. Old Capitol Green is a neighborhood with stores, restaurants and public space. If you're going to have a lively downtown, you've got to have people living there. This will provide housing for those people," he said.

David Watkins, a backer of the King Edward Hotel restoration project, said he sees Old Capitol Green as another piece of the downtown puzzle. King Edward also will be a mixed-use development.

"It will be great for downtown because all the projects will feed into each other," he said.

Shepherd, speaking on behalf of Full Spectrum, said it will provide details to the committee about assistance the company will require from the city, county and state.

He would not say how much the entire project could cost but said it must go forward quickly and smoothly to meet the company's and GO Zone's timetable.

"We feel city of Jackson will allow us to go forward with this project without any delays in permitting and infrastructure," he said. "If chosen, then we can begin to release the details."

North Jackson may see new development at former School for the Blind

2006-08-29T09:07:00.000-05:00

State may sell prime property

Lawmakers to review possibilities for valuable former site of blind school

By Laura Hipp
lhipp@clarionledger.com

One of Jackson's most expensive chunks of land may be sold by state lawmakers by the end of the year.

The former site of the Mississippi School for the Blind sits on about 22 acres at I-55 and Eastover Drive - a location that makes developers salivate. A few vacant buildings, an administrator's house and a bus barn occupy the land.

About four years ago, the School for the Blind moved onto the same campus as the School for the Deaf, which is south of Eastover Drive.

A joint House and Senate committee will review possibilities for the site over the next four months. Talks begin at 10 a.m. today in Room 113 of the Capitol.

House Education Committee Chairman Cecil Brown, D-Jackson, lives in a neighborhood near the property.

If lawmakers decide to sell the land, the impact on traffic and the surrounding area will be factors for determining future use, he said.

"The whole point of the thing is we've got a piece of vacant property out there with a couple of abandoned buildings on it that is prime property in terms of frontage on the interstate," Brown said. "And what should we do with it?"

A combination of residential, retail and office use on the land would be ideal, said developer Mike Peters.

"That's one of the better parcels that's still available," said Peters, who has not inquired about the site. "What will make it attractive is you've got a blank slate."

When asked the site's potential value, Peters estimated a price of $8 million to $10 million and added his guess was conservative.

If the state sells the land, Jackson resident Lisa Davis wants the proceeds to go back to the Department of Education.

"If the Legislature is prudent about their asking price, that to me is some assurance that it will be a desirable development," said Davis, who lives nearby.

Eastover Neighborhood Association President David Sanders said the potential sale has not yet burned up the phone lines in his neighborhood.

"I'm sure the neighborhood would want there to be some planned development not just some helter skelter," Sanders said.

The tony Eastover where houses can reach $1 million only increases the potential for upscale development.

"I want to see something that contributes to the tax base and the quality of life in this city," said Rep. John Reeves, R-Jackson. "We've got to start attracting upscale first-class developments."

He said he can picture financial or medical offices, condos, or high-end retail like Highland Village a few blocks north on the land. He does not want apartments or a strip mall.

"We shouldn't do anything to hurt or detract from the beauty of the neighborhood or the value of the neighborhood," Reeves said. "If it's private development it could mean millions of dollars in taxes for the city of Jackson."

Sen. Walter Michel, R-Jackson, said he wants to learn every feature of the site before guessing its future use.

The land is zoned as a special use district, which is typical of public buildings, said Carl Allen, Jackson's interim director of planning and economic development. The designation could be changed.

City Council OKs Trolley Service for Fondren Neighborhood

2006-08-23T21:04:00.000-05:00

System won't be subsidized by city; 75-cent fee planned

By Kathleen Baydala
kbaydala@clarionledger.com

SCHEDULE

The trolley will run Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A Web site for the service will be launched soon.

Before the weather turns chilly, shoppers in Fondren may be able to hop a trolley to get around rather than wrangle parking spaces.

Alan French, president of Real Estate Solutions, plans to start a trolley service in the neighborhood in the next six to eight weeks. The trolley, called The Fondren Express, will run a looping route from Fondren's central business district to St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital and the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

On Tuesday, City Council members unanimously granted a certificate to allow French to start up his transit.

The city will not subsidize the trolley system. Instead, French plans to sell advertising space on the trolley and charge passengers a 75-cent fee.

Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon, who represents Fondren, said she thinks the trolley will be "a tremendous boost to businesses in the area."

French said he came up with the idea for a trolley while eating lunch in the neighborhood's business district.

"I noticed that so many different tables were vacant, but the parking lots were full," he said. "I thought it would be a great idea to get traffic into Fondren and help merchants succeed."

French said the trolley service also will provide another transportation option for area hospital employees and people visiting patients.

Buddy Graham, president of the Fondren Renaissance Foundation board, said parking has been a scarcity in the commercial district for the last five years.

"It's great to have a private enterprise come in and provide a service that is greatly needed," Graham said. "We've been trying to development (Fondren) into a more pedestrian area."

French said he's purchased one trolley and could order more in the future. While the trolley's exterior will have a "nostalgic" look, its interior will be air-conditioned and equipped with a plasma television.

JATRAN, which operates the city's public transportation buses, also runs a trolley service in Jackson. People can rent a JATRAN Steel Magnolia Trolley for transportation, usually during special events like weddings and proms, within the city limits.

The trolley will run Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A Web site for the service will be launched soon. The URL will be www.fondrenexpress.com.

King Edward Groundbreaking on Tuesday

2006-08-21T09:40:00.000-05:00

Bright Lights, Belhaven Nights

2006-08-14T00:54:00.000-05:00

Greater Belhaven plans second “Bright Lights” festival

The streets of Belhaven will glow August 18 when “Bright Lights, Belhaven Nights,” the historic neighborhood’s annual arts and music street festival, once again celebrates one of Jackson’s oldest neighborhoods.

The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. and is designed to promote the unique neighborhood, its people and businesses. Beginning at McDade’s and ending at New Stage Theatre, Carlisle Street will be “lit up” with some of Jackson’s best musicians, artists, craftsmen, actors, children’s events, Irish dancers, and food vendors.

“‘Bright Lights, Belhaven Nights’ is an opportunity to share our neighborhood and the Greater Belhaven Market’s wealth of artistic and musical talent in a festive manner,” said Dorothy Hawkins, chairman of the event. “There will be something for everyone to enjoy!”

Headliners include Living Better Electrically and Eric Stracener and the Frustrations. Many other exciting musicians are also appearing at Bright Lights including Bounds Street, and Jim Kopernak. A special stage is being set up this year to feature young indie rock bands, which will be selected by audition only. New Stage Theatre will feature musicians and vignettes from next season’s opening play, I Love You, Your’re Perfect, Now Change.

Plans for the children’s area include the Village Tattoo Parlor, “Hula Hoop Beach” and a variety of art-based activities, including an art show and auction for ages 12 and under

An array of food will be for sale from area neighborhood restaurants and chefs, and neighborhood organizations will be selling hotdogs and hamburgers. Beverages available for purchase will include a variety of soft drinks, beer, and bottled water. Wine will be available for a small donation.

Admission to the festival is $2.00 for those 13 and over; $1.00 for ages 12 and under.

Same Song, Different Verse

2006-08-10T17:22:00.000-05:00

Entertainment venue opening at former Headliners complex

By Carey Miller
carey.miller@jackson.gannett.com

A multicomponent entertainment business is opening Wednesday at the Ridgewood Road location in Jackson that most recently housed the entertainment complex Headliners, which closed in June.

Called Choices, the business will include three restaurants and two nightclubs, much like Headliners offered.

“It’s going to be restaurants, a sports bar and nightclubs all wrapped up into one,” Choices owner Brian Baker said.

Two area restaurants, Miller’s Grocery of Jackson and Smokehouse BBQ and Wings of Brandon (that Baker’s father, Boo Baker, owns) will open new locations in the building.

The space will also house the Pressbox Sports Bar, The Blue Room dance club and Rain Live, a venue for live music.

Entergy supporting Capitol Green

2006-08-07T15:27:00.000-05:00

JACKSON — Entergy Mississippi is involved in a unique public-private partnership aimed at raising the Jackson's profile called the Old Capitol Green project.

"We think that creating a new face for our largest city can have benefits for the entire state," said John Turner, director of economic development for Entergy Mississippi. "Because Jackson generally serves as the first impression visitors have of Mississippi, efforts to improve the capital city impact all Mississippians."

The goal of the Old Capitol Green project is to develop 16 blocks of the downtown area into a vibrant district offering cultural and recreational attractions that complement the city's historic and natural landmarks. The area has been re-designated as a Warehouse/Commerce Street Overlay District.

Phase one of the project will initially target an eight-block area south of the Old Capitol and the Pearl Street bridge, including the perimeter streets of State, South, Jefferson and Pearl.

The Downtown Jackson Partnership is spearheading the effort, with Entergy Mississippi acting as the private-sector facilitator to market and promote the area to potential developers. The intent is to find a master developer to transform the property into a mixed-use district offering space for businesses, residential apartments, parks, retail stores and entertainment.

The area's position on a bluff overlooking the Pearl River allows enough elevation to locate two to three floors of parking space under buildings, Turner said, and provide opportunities for good sight lines to proposed projects such as Festival Park and the Twin Lakes development.

Additional amenities include a walking trail connecting Belhaven and downtown, a cinema and pedestrian-friendly areas with generous green space. The development also ties into the new convention center, scheduled for completion in 2008.

Butler Snow and Horne CPA Group are leaving Jackson for Madison County

2006-07-31T15:57:00.000-05:00

Word is they will share a new building that H.C. Bailey and Company will build on Highland Colony Parkway. Horne is Mississippi's largest CPA firm and Butler Snow is one of Mississippi's largest law firms.

Least 'representative' state: Mississippi

2006-07-27T22:07:00.000-05:00

By Mark Preston
CNN Political Editor

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Looking for a state that is a microcosm of the whole country? You won't find it in Iowa or New Hampshire -- there are 25 states that come closer to average statewide measures on important characteristics such as race and income.

What about Nevada or South Carolina? Nope. They're even further away from "real America" than New Hampshire -- or Utah, for that matter. Michigan? You're getting warmer, but there are 10 states that can claim to be more representative than Michigan.

In fact, a politician looking for that mythical microcosm -- the most typical state in the country -- should look no further than Wisconsin.

The Badger State comes closer than any other to state-by-state averages on 12 key measures, according to a new analysis by CNN Polling Director Keating Holland that takes a fresh look at U.S. Census data.

"For years, politicians who put the presidential calendar together have wrestled with the question of which states really are the most typical or more representative of the country," Holland said. "Here is one way to determine that."

Holland identified 12 key statistics -- four that measure race and ethnicity, four that look at income and education, and four that describe the typical neighborhood in each state -- and added up how far each was from the figures for the average state on each measure.

Holland said he chose these 12 different categories because "they have a strong impact on the political landscape in every state."

Close behind Wisconsin are four other Midwestern states that look most like a hypothetical average state -- Missouri, Kansas, Indiana and Ohio. Most of the least-typical states tend to come from the Northeast, including Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. West Virginia is in 49th place, while Mississippi comes in dead last.

Interestingly, West Virginia and Mississippi both petitioned the Democratic National Committee to be chosen for early slots on the party's presidential nominating calendar in 2008. So did Michigan. They all lost. The DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee recently recommended that Nevada and South Carolina join Iowa and New Hampshire for this coveted placement on the presidential nominating calendar. The full DNC membership is likely to ratify the recommendations next month.

So, what makes Wisconsin so special -- or, to put it another way, what makes Wisconsin so average? It is about as close to the average state as you can get on most of the 12 measures included in this study.

For example, let's take the number of college graduates who live in each state. Wyoming is dead center among all 50 states, with 30.22% of its population holding a college degree. In Wisconsin, the number is 30.24%.

Or take housing values. On a state-by-state basis the median housing value, in North Carolina, is just over $111,600. The median housing value in Wisconsin is roughly $111,500. The Badger State is also fairly close to the state-by-state average on population growth, home ownership, population density, and the number of blacks and Hispanics who live there. The number of whites and blue-collar workers who live in Wisconsin is much further away from the average state's figures on those measures, but not enough to keep the Badger State from claiming the top spot.

Mississippi, on the other hand, is about as far away from the average state as you can get on most of the 12 measures included in this study. By some measures, Mississippi is the poorest and most rural state in the country. The average house in Mississippi is worth only about $71,000. (Only Oklahoma has a lower median housing value.) When you add it all up, Mississippi is so far away from the typical state on so many different measures that it ends up at the bottom of the list.

"It's important to note that there are hundreds of ways of making this same calculation, and dozens of states could all make a legitimate claim to being the most representative state in the nation," Holland said.

To make the calculations easier to understand, Holland recalculated each state's score to produce a zero-to-50 scale -- there are 50 states, after all -- with a high score indicating a state that is more representative than a state with a lower score.

A ranking of the 50 states

1. Wisconsin 36.4

2. Missouri 35.2

3. Kansas 34.4

4. Indiana 30.8

5. Ohio 30.1

6. Oklahoma 29.9

7. Oregon 29.3

8. Nebraska 29.0

9. Georgia 27.3

10. Minnesota 26.9

11. Michigan 26.8

12. Washington 26.3

13. Wyoming 25.9

14. North Carolina 25.8

15. Florida 25.6

16. Montana 25.3

17. Virginia 25.3

18. Alaska 25.1

19. Pennsylvania 25.0

20. Arizona 24.8

21. Delaware 24.1

22. Tennessee 22.3

23. South Dakota 21.4

24. Kentucky 20.3

25. New Mexico 20.3

26. Iowa 19.6

27. Texas 19.6

28. Illinois 19.5

29. Rhode Island 19.0

30. Maryland 18.9

31. Colorado 18.8

32. Louisiana 18.3

33. Idaho 18.1

34. Vermont 17.9

35. Maine 17.4

36. New Hampshire 17.4

37. Utah 17.0

38. Hawaii 16.3

39. South Carolina 15.8

40. California 15.3

41. Arkansas 15.0

42. Alabama 14.6

43. North Dakota 13.8

44. Nevada 13.5

45. Connecticut 13.1

46. Massachusetts 11.6

47. New Jersey 11.4

48. New York 6.5

49. West Virginia 4.8

50. Mississippi 2.8

Nothing Says Class Like a Bottle of Dom at Hooters

2006-06-15T18:57:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Hooters restaurant chain has a $200 check ready for FEMA, reimbursement for a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne bought with hurricane relief money last year.

FEMA will be happy to have the money back.

The champagne, purchased in San Antonio, Texas, was among numerous examples of improper spending of relief money for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita cited earlier this week by the Government Accountability Office.

The GAO, the investigative arm of Congress, found at least $1 billion in disaster relief payments by the Federal Emergency Management Agency were improper and potentially fraudulent because the recipients provided incomplete or incorrect information when they registered for assistance. (GAO report)

Besides the bottle of champagne, the GAO uncovered records showing $1,000 from a FEMA debit card went to a Houston, Texas, divorce lawyer, $600 was spent in a strip club, and $400 bought "adult erotica products," all of which auditors concluded were "not necessary to satisfy legitimate disaster needs." (Full story)

"It bothers me as an American that resources that were intended to help victims of this tremendous tragedy were spent this way," said Hooters Chairman Bob Brooks, referring to the champagne from Hooters.

"Even if it's in my restaurants, it's still not right. If FEMA will let me know where to send the check I'll get the $200 out right away," Brooks said in an announcement from Atlanta, Georgia.

FEMA spokesman Aaron Walker responded, "We will more than welcome the check from Hooters and appreciate their recognition in helping true disaster victims."

Following Katrina, Brooks sent one of his Hooters Air 737s loaded with supplies into the Gulf Coast disaster area.

The restaurant chain also donated $225,000 to the Red Cross Katrina relief fund.

Starkville development to change face of city's east entrance

2006-06-14T13:38:00.000-05:00

Proposed development to change face of city's east entrance
By BEN BOUNDS/Starkville Daily News

The Planning and Zoning Commission approved a zoning change Tuesday night that could dramatically change the face of the east entrance to the city of Starkville.

Pending final approval of the rezoning by the Starkville Board of Aldermen, construction of Phase I of the mixed use development known as Stateside will begin around the first of the year in 2007.

In what has been described as an unparalleled development, Stateside Group, LLC, in conjunction with Barranco Architecture and Interior Design, on Tuesday unveiled plans to construct a five story facility featuring commercial property on the first floor and luxury condominiums on the top four floors.

The building, which stands 75 feet tall from the ground up, will be the first phase for the 12.76 acres bordered by Collegeview Street to the north, Highway 12 to the east, University Drive to the South. A proposed site plan for the full site includes a hotel, office building, two restaurants and a bank.

Stateside will front University Drive directly across from Highway 12 from Mississippi State University and the Hunter Henry Center on the east edge of Starkville.

“The idea for Stateside was inspired by developments in other college towns along the East Coast like the University of Georgia in Athens, the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and should serve as a retirement development for older alumni wanting to return to Starkville,” developer Bill Smith of Stateside Group, LLC said.

The Phase I development will consist of over 86,000 square feet of total space, 55,000 of which will be residential condominiums and 15,000 will be commercial space for lease.

Condominiums will range from approximately 1,200 to 2,400 square-feet of living space with two or three bedrooms and two full bathrooms, and will range in price from $399,500 to $675,000. Penthouse units are located on the fifth floor and start at $675,000.

Commercial space on the ground level will include a mixture of restaurants and retail stores. There will be controlled access to basement level parking, and each residence will have one secure, deeded and covered parking space with additional parking spaces available on site. Penthouse residences will come with two deeded, covered parking spaces.

“The concept for Stateside came from the Cotton District,” Smith said. “To be honest with you, we are plagiarizing. We like the freedom the Cotton District offers to walk around from residences to restaurants to retail shops. The concept is pedestrian-family and lends itself to the retirement community.”

Smith said the group had been pushed to get the project under way by former MSU President Charles Lee in order to create a corridor from Main Street/University Drive to the university campus with sidewalk dining and bicycling that was pedestrian-friendly and could be seen as a drawing point for the university and the city.

Jamie Wier of Barranco Architecture said Stateside will serve as a gathering place where residents and public could come together.

“The Stateside development should reflect the characteristics of Downtown Starkville and compliment the university,” Wier said. “There will be a green space to separate walking pedestrians from parking and traffic. The building will have an aged look, as if it were nearly 100 years old already.”

Stateside Group, LLC will have to seek a variance on the city's current height restrictions, but outgoing City Planner George Rummel and Fire Chief William Grantham said the Fire Department already has a new $1 million fire truck on the way that will be able to put out fires up to 90-100 feet.

Smith said the group will also take into consideration the effects of the new development on the residences on what will be called Camp Avenue and drainage detention to prevent flooding of Aiken Village, Mississippi State's married student housing complex located to the north of the site off Collegeview Street.

Oxford Board Allows Rooftop Bar

2006-06-07T09:33:00.000-05:00

By Errol Castens
Daily Journal Oxford Bureau

OXFORD - City aldermen tentatively approved plans Tuesday for a rooftop bar on a Tex-Mex restaurant proposed for one of the few vacant buildings downtown.

Approving a motion by Ward 6 Alderman Jon Fisher, the vote to license the use of city air space for a fire escape is contingent on the developers' satisfying the city's building and legal professionals regarding safety and security.

Restaurateur Jim Bulian, whose Old Venice Pizza Company is next door, had proposed opening the restaurant and bar in the old Denton Furniture building, which had most recently been the home of Off Square Books.

No existing ordinance would prohibit the rooftop bar, but Bulian's representative said the project's viability required being able to use city air space for a rooftop fire escape. Putting an emergency egress inside the building would eliminate 20 to 32 seats, said architect Corey Alger, each worth an estimated $10,000 in revenue annually.

The decision came after several weeks of agonizing over the safety of a rooftop bar, unauthorized entry via the fire escape and even discouragement at having yet another bar open while Oxford and the University of Mississippi work to overcome what has been termed "a culture of alcohol."

"I wish we didn't have a rooftop bar É but since other people are doing it, it's hard to single you out," said Ward 1 Alderman Pat Patterson.

Mayor Richard Howorth has openly opposed the exception for Bulian's project.

"If we grant this, we're essentially granting everybody on that five feet the right to do whatever they want to do," he said. "We're trying to beautify the back of the Square. Five feet is precious."

Grisham's Next Book to be Nonfiction

2006-06-05T15:26:00.000-05:00

John Grisham’s next book will be nonfiction and due out in October.

It will deal with the life of Ronald Williamson, a former Major League baseball player prospect who was convicted and sentenced to death for a murder he did not commit. After 12 years in prison, Williamson was freed in 1999. He died five years later.

Grisham, the former Mississippi legislator and best-selling novelist, learned of Williamson’s story by reading his obituary in The New York Times.

“Not in my most creative hour could I imagine a story as compelling as Ron Williamson’s,” Grisham is quoted on the Web site of his publisher, Doubleday. The author has received full cooperation from the Williamson family.

Two Lakes Article from JFP

2006-05-25T12:49:00.000-05:00

Fantasy Island

by Adam Lynch
Photo by Jaro Vacek
May 24, 2006

Developers are cheering and environmentalists are jeering as the Lefleur Lakes (“Two Lakes”) project gains momentum, helped along by political support from men like Mayor Frank Melton and Gov. Haley Barbour, who seem poised to rubberstamp the development despite concerns from residents and environmentalists.

Oilman John McGowan, who owns McGowan Working Partners and developed the Two Lakes plan, warns that with the amount of development now underway in Jackson’s sprawling northeastern corridor and in Flowood, a flood like the infamous 1979 flood would drive the region into near bankruptcy, with prices running easily “over $1 billion, with a ‘B’.” He says the plan would reduce flooding by 11 feet in North Jackson and five feet in downtown Jackson.

Developers boast that the new waterfront property will compare to the multi-million dollar development along the Ross Barnett Reservoir, in Madison County, but they emphasize that exploding property values are only a happy side effect of the plan. They say the project’s real goal is to provide a means for the city to combat its recurring flood problems and finally assert control over the fussy Pearl River.

“Jackson needs flood control,” environmental planner Barry Royals of Waggoner Engineering told the Jackson City Council last year. “Right now, the city is unprepared for another disaster like 1979. This plan will address that problem.”

Meanwhile, environmentalists, concerned city residents and emergency officials predict that a new lake extending from the spillway to south Jackson will be an environmental tragedy for the Pearl wetlands and aggravate water drainage problems already prevalent in the city—and may well not stop the flooding.

A Simple Plan

A plan to flood the green space between the Pearl River levees has been on the drawing board since 1995. Private investors, such as McGowan, want the federal government to partially fund the project through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but the corps initially blanched at the idea, citing high costs and environmental damage.

Then about two years ago, Waggoner Engineering and the Pearl River Basin Development District contracted the Corps of Engineers to take a more serious look at the environmental impact of putting the wetland areas between Rankin and Hinds Counties permanently underwater, and in July, the corps’ environmental feasibility study will tell both supporters and detractors alike how much the project will cost, whether or not it is a practical means to address flood control in the city, and how much environmental damage it will do.

Local city leaders, eager to drag in vital tax revenue and development, have expressed enthusiasm for the project. Ward 1 Councilman Ben Allen said: “I’m all for that plan. I think it would be a mistake if we didn’t approve of the Lefleur Lakes plan. The economic benefits of it are too great." Other city leaders, like Ward 4 and Ward 5 Councilmen Frank Bluntson and Charles Tillman, say they would simply like to see the city’s streets stay above water.

Heroes and their shovels

The Rankin/Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District is working in conjunction with Waggoner Engineering and other interested developers like McGowan and Mississippi Development Authority Director Leland Speed to end Jackson’s flood problems by caging the river.

The project is currently known as LeFleur Lakes, though some residents knew the project as Two Lakes or Twin Lakes, as developers have called it through the years. The current plan, similar to past versions, calls for two underwater dams beneath the Pearl, one almost directly under I-55 and another beneath Interstate 20, which would flood the shallow wetlands and create two lakes. Developers would also like to dredge the river mud, deepening the proposed lakebeds and dropping the resulting dredge in the middle of one lake, forming an island that McGowan says will bring in remarkable lakefront development. The plan also features bigger levees intended to protect the endangered floodplain.

McGowan has considerable faith in the project, having gone so far as to buy property along what could potentially be the Jackson side of the upper lake, in the northern portion of the city.

“Jackson is in serious need of new business, and this project would be a windfall for it,” McGowan said. “The city has been sitting by while businesses go to the suburbs and I, for one, would like to change that. The island inside the top lake, by itself, will be a magnet for development. You’ll see that area explode with development where there wasn’t any before. Who wouldn’t (see the benefit in) that?”

The Rankin/Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District has big aspirations, and with many wealthy parties taking an interest, it has big money as well. The two-year Draft Environmental Impact Study with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which was funded by the organization, cost $2.8 million, but McGowan says the whole project is affordable.

“I think it would cost about $130 million,” McGowan said. “For what it accomplishes, I think it’s a great investment.”

Less conservative estimates submitted by McGowan put the project at $173 million, but Robert Jones, a biologist at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, says any figure submitted so far is “only a small part of the whole possible cost.”

“I’ve heard that this thing is going to be substantially more than that. He’s probably just talking bout the dirt work. When you look at all the things that are going to have to be moved, including highways and pipes, an old city landfill, and other things, then $130 million is going to be pocket change compared to what will really be needed,” Jones said.

“What’s interesting to me," Jones continued, "is that you’ve got a lot of backers for the project, but a lot of the people pushing it stand to make substantial financial gains by owning the island. Why would the Corps allow private ownership of property within one of their boundaries? They don’t do that normally. In fact, the Corps is good for taking land through eminent domain for their projects, not handing it over to private owners.”

Mayor Melton stands behind the project, however, regardless of cost. In late March, he told a South Jackson neighborhood association that he plans to cure the city’s drainage ills with the lake project.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that this is a great project, and I’m backing it 100 percent,” Melton said. He told the Jackson Free Press in an April interview that he intends to let the engineers hash out the details.

Other local government officials are not so confident. Hinds County Emergency Management Director Larry Fisher said the LeFleur Lakes project takes little account of backwash pouring back into the city’s creeks, many of which are already at the same level as the Pearl River at its current depth. A taller river means taller creeks.

Fisher recalls the 2003 incident when Town Creek swilled down Irby Construction.

“The river at that time, even though it did a lot of damage, still was not at the height that the engineering firm working on this lake project is planning to make it,” Fisher said. “And as far as I know, they’ve only considered Town Creek, but we’ve got other creeks draining into the river. You’ve got Hanging Moss Creek, Eubanks Creek and so on. They’ll get higher if the river becomes a lake, and if we’d had a lake in 2003, downtown would’ve been a flat-out catastrophe.”

Installing backflow dams and station pumps in creeks all over Jackson would be expensive. The Corps said in 2005 that such pumps were not an economically practical method for relieving flooding of creeks.

McGowan argues that the creek issue can be resolved without expensive pumps.

“That’s all done with improving the water conveyance,” he said. He believes the lake will actually take “15 feet of flooding off those creeks.”

The Reluctant Corps

So far, the Corps of Engineers has been unhelpful to developers. Corps officials, soon after submitting the environmental feasibility study for the 1996 levee plan, were cool toward the lake idea, rejecting it as an economic development project outside the purpose and scope of the Corps. The Corps, which is as single-minded as a hammer, had a job to control flooding in the city, not to build lakefront property.

“The Corps came out with a levee plan back in 1996, but there just wasn’t any local support for it really,” said Gary Walker, senior project manager with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “There has to be a federal sponsor and a non-federal sponsor. The federal sponsor is the Corps, but there has to be a non-federal sponsor, a local unit of government that’s willing to adopt the project, and nobody stepped forward at the time.”

Local sponsorship seems to pivot on whether or not money is to be made from the project.

Cash has been an issue in the past, with Corps officials declaring the entire lake venture too costly for the federal government to plunk down tax dollars on it. Developers have faith in the new environmental feasibility study coming out in July, however, saying private developers will foot the enormous bill if the Corps will only sign off on the fundamental design in July.

New Money, Old Idea

William McDonald, director of planning and special programs at Waggoner Engineering, said plenty of private money has interest in investing in the project. In addition, Jackson city planner Jimmy Heidel said recently that new legislation pushed by Reps. Chip Pickering and Bennie Thompson would re-open the possibility of federal money helping out with building costs.

Heidel said the legislation means that the Corps “shall”—which means it’s mandatory—"accept the adopted local plan, which takes it out of their hands."

“It’ll be our (local developers’) plan, and they shall adopt it,” he said. “We’re going to have to do the environmental assessment. We’ll have to do mitigation land for replacement of the wetlands we’re taking out, but this bill is going to be significant because it opens up many more areas of funding for us to go after instead of an appropriation through Congress to the Corps of Engineers to do this project.”

He added: “Also, this opens up USDA funding, HUD funding, a lot of other funding sources of the federal government instead of that one appropriation made to the Corps of Engineers.”

Paul Crowson, president of the Pearl River Basin Coalition, says he has countless major concerns about the project.

“If you remove the natural water retaining function in this area by developing it, it’s a common sense conclusion that this is going to aggravate flooding downstream in places like Columbia and Monticello,” Crowson said. “They want to replace the forest and wetlands with homes and streets and impermeable surfaces, so we’ll have more rapid run-off, which will increase the stream flow. The more rapid the run-off, the more water gets into the river quicker. Sure, it gets out of Jackson OK, but it only goes down the river and increases erosion downriver. Landowners down the river won’t be happy about that.”

The flooding Crowson describes relates to the Jackson floodplain as a buffer between the northern river and the southern river territory. Flood water tied up in an unpopulated Jackson swamp is not barreling out of the city and sweeping into communities further south along the river.

Trouble Downriver

Monticello Mayor Dave Nichols was eager to speak about the project.

“If this project goes forward, it’ll put more water to the southern area below Jackson,” Nichols said, adding that the current situation was bad enough.

“We’ve already seen it happen. Look at all the development that’s taken place on Lakeland Drive. It has made the water move quicker, and if you come south, you’ll see all the sloughing that’s happened along the riverbanks. There’s a house just above Monticello; during the last big rain about a year ago they lost about 20 feet of the embankment. They had to vacate the house because the river is right up at their house now. I can show you another house where the bank has sloughed away about 16 feet, and there are other places all over. And it’s all because of increased development. So now we’re going to go and put this big island in the middle of the river and all this retail on it and probably a casino and I hate to think of what will happen.”

McDonald said he believed the Army Corps of Engineers had so far determined there would be no complications further downstream from the development.

“The flow in the river will not be changed as a result of this project,” McDonald said.

Environmentalists disagree, however, and point to the city of Jackson as an example of how development can cause flooding.

Crowson said Jackson was a victim of upstream development in 1979. Much of the Yockanookany’s upper course through Choctaw and Attala Counties had been straightened and channelized prior to the 1979 deluge. The rainwater, pouring into the Yockanookany, tore through this heavily processed corridor and came into Jackson with all the power that gravity could give it.

Former Mayor Dale Danks personally witnessed the destruction that year, telling reporters that he’d never seen the floodwaters coming. The river began rising on a day the skies above Jackson were clear and blue, almost tempting one to think that the city had dodged the bullet.

Danks got a lesson that year on hydrology, though the message might have dried up with the water. After watching the Pearl swallow the fairgrounds, he later approved the construction of The Oaks apartment complex on Ridgewood Road—well inside the river’s floodplain. When the apartments inevitably flooded in 1999, Danks represented the apartments' residents and won a $1.1 million settlement with the city.

Tom Pullen, a private contractor who does work with the Corps of Engineers, says the Corps is caught in the middle.

“The Corps did evaluate an initial version of the Lefleur Lakes plan and didn’t think much of it, but since then the politicians have gotten involved, and they’ve been directed to go back and study it. The question I would ask is: Once all these engineering studies are done, who is going to do the independent technical review of all this? The Corps process used to require an independent review of everything from an unrelated organization,” Pullen said. “It still should.”

The Corps is responsible for the preparation of the (EIS) Environmental Impact Statement, but Waggoner Engineering is supplying part of the work used to in compose the document. McDonald insists Waggoner has no influence over the resulting environmental statement.

“We do part of the work, but they’re obviously ultimately responsible for the document,” McDonald said.

What Have We Got to Lose?

Cathy Shropshire, of the Mississippi Wildlife Federation, said the project should be about more than just the economy. Many developers, she says, are not taking into account the environmental loss the new lakes would mean to the metropolitan area.

“The forest and the wetland here provide natural filtration of the water as it runs off, but it also provides a buffer to noise pollution and it beautifies the city,” Shropshire said. “This is something that a lot of cities our size don’t have, and it would be a terrible loss to our children and future residents.”

Crowson said the Pearl River, with its abnormally low flow-rate and indigenous life, is too unique to put at further risk.

“There’s probably only a drop of a few feet between the head of the river and where it empties into the gulf, and the water doesn’t move very fast,” Crowson said. “Finding a comparison to this kind of development in a similar river is difficult. The ultimate conclusion is that we’ve searched high and low to find a comparison to a similar project, but there really isn’t one, which ought to say something about the value of this river.”

Any visitor who has hiked the trails in the LeFleur Bluff State park, along Hwy 55, knows that the park offers serene vistas, with ancient cypress trees, colorful birds and the occasional “plop” of a turtle or young alligator dropping off a log and into the water. Even the bald eagle, which has taken up residence in the Ross Barnett reservoir area, could stand a chance of extending its territory further south into the city-side green space if given a chance.

“Along this area, you’ve got some endangered species like the sawback turtle and the gulf sturgeon, and both are very rare. The sawback turtle can only be found in the Pearl River. It doesn’t even live up in the northern tributaries. It’s endangered, and this territory is one of the few spots where you have a significant population,” Jones said.

“You’re not going to find any other major cities in the entire country that have what we have in this state park and along the Pearl River. What you’ve got here is fairly old-growth forest, not virgin perhaps, but there are some big trees down here in the park and you don’t get that sort of thing in any major cities. And they want to put it all underwater.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a say when it comes to endangered species habitat loss, but Connie Dickard, public affairs specialist with the Fish and Wildlife Service, said the department was withholding any comment until the Corps of Engineers offers a preferred alternative plan, which will be released with the EIS feasibility study.

“We’re not out to stop anything. We want to work with project organizers to minimize the impact of the species affected, but we’ll wait to see the study before having an official position,” Dickard said.

Crowson predicted that if the river is left alone, what is now a shallow flood valley at the edge of Hinds County will become a green area in the middle of an exploding metropolis in the coming decades.

“This area will one day be like New York’s Central Park. Ask anybody in New York if they’d destroy their Central Park, and they would look at you like you were crazy,” Crowson said. “Go to the Mayes Lake section. Back in the woods, along the nature trail, you don’t smell the diesel fumes coming off the highway. This wide swath of natural forest and wetlands in the middle of the metro area serves this function. If we destroy it we’ll be more like Houston, Texas, where they’ve destroyed all their rivers and the air quality is terrible. People hate to live there.”

Jackson Endangered, Developers Dither?

In the meantime, the Corps-approved levee plan of 1996 remains unfinished, leaving spots in North and South Jackson and Byram unprotected. The vulnerability of those areas was apparent as recently as three years ago.

“I had at least five inches of water in my house,” said North Jackson resident Denise Cami, who lives along Hanging Moss creek, which crosses beneath neighboring Ridgewood Road—a creek that she didn’t even know existed until it came out of the woods behind her backyard and came in to visit.

Young neighborhoods near Cami, on the east side of Old Canton Road, come dangerously close to the Pearl River. Some boast names like River Glen, River Cove and River Road. The names offer a clue to the insurance requirements for home ownership in that area, with many houses taking in water directly from the Pearl River when the river crested near 35 feet in 2003. Flood level is considered 28 feet.

Residents fear some of these homes will remain exposed and defenseless until some kind of plan is adopted by local sponsors—who seem to be holding out for the more costly but development-friendly Lefleur Lakes plan.

“Well, they’re going to have to pick something,” Jones said. “Because right now, we don’t have any flood control at all in some places.”

Saints Will Be Marching In

2006-05-16T16:52:00.000-05:00

Saints will train in Jackson, Millsaps president says

By Michael Wallace
mwallace@clarionledger.com

The New Orleans Saints are marching in to Jackson for training camp this summer. The National Football League team has reached an agreement in principle with Millsaps College to hold its month-long training camp in the capital city, Millsaps president Frances Lucas said today.

Lucas said the Saints have accepted the school’s invitation to use Millsaps’ facilities from July 21 through Aug. 24.

That would place the Saints in Jackson through their Aug. 26 preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

“We’ve heard back from them, we’ve entered some agreements and we’re looking forward to having the Saints here,” Lucas told The Clarion-Ledger. “Everything hasn’t been signed yet, but we have a team of people working on that right now.”

Saints officials were not immediately available for comment. An official announcement about the Saints’ training camp move could come as early as Wednesday.

Millsaps officials had been waiting for Saints owner Tom Benson to sign the final contracts. Lucas would not discuss any financial agreements between the Saints and the school.

The Saints players will stay in dormitories at Millsaps and will practice at Alumni Field. Lucas said the camp will end before Millsaps students return to school for the fall semester.

Millsaps and Saints officials have been negotiating for at least two weeks. Those talks intensified when Saints general manager Mickey Loomis visited the campus with other team officials last Wednesday. Another team of Saints officials are expected to be in Jackson later this week.

The team also considered training at its own facility in Metairie, La., where the team has held camp the past three years.

But new coach Sean Payton, a former assistant with the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants, favors taking his teams on the road for training camp to bond and avoid distractions.

“There are benefits to going away for three, four weeks, from a standpoint of distractions, whether those be family, friends, whatever there may be,” Payton said Monday after the Saints wrapped up a weekend rookie mini-camp in Metairie. “You check into a dorm and concentrate on one thing, without the little things that might come up when you are at home. Does the one offset the other? We’ll see.”

—

Belhaven News: New Stage on track to exceed capital campaign goal

2006-05-09T13:59:00.000-05:00

By Sherry Lucas
slucas@clarionledger.com

A capital campaign for New Stage Theatre in Jackson may exceed its $1 million goal and has already funded critical theater enhancements at Mississippi’s only professional resident theater.

The theater has installed new rigging and lighting systems that’ll provide greater flexibility for productions and looks forward to retiring the building’s mortgage and creating a “nest egg cushion” for new productions and educational programs.

Delayed by Hurricane Katrina, the campaign announcement signals the kickoff of the public phase of fund-raising, which is already about 75 percent complete. The campaign will wrap up this fall.

WLEZ 103.7 FM

2006-04-28T16:36:00.000-05:00

Check out the schedule for WLEZ 103.7 FM which broadcasts next to the Belhaven Heights neighborhood. WLEZ holds an uncommon FCC license that grants a lower power broadcasting range for community-oriented stations. This license requires WLEZ to host a requisite amount of community-oriented programing which must be logged at the station. WLEZ is going above and beyond this calling as they continue to add new shows to their roster aimed at connecting and informing our community.

Monday noon - 1pm Mara Hartmann with What's Happening in

Jackson sponsored by the Jackson Convention

and Visitor's Bureau

Monday 5p-6p The Pinnacle Trust Hour with Stacy Wall

Tuesday 5pm The Julie Levenway Show "Fresh From the Flame "

a radio cooking show

Wednesday noon Edward Saint Pe' hosts The St Catherines / St
Dominic Hour

Wednesday 5p-6p The Fondren Hour with Camp Best

Wednesday 6p-7p Camp Best Presents " Cafe Colores"

a different journey each week illustrated

with relaxing and ethereal music

Thursday noon-1p The Real Estate Reality with Brett Baxter

Thursday 5p-6p The Malcom White Mississippi Arts Hour

Thursday 7p-8p The Big Show ...WLEZ's Sports Spotlight

focusing on our local teams

Friday 10a-noon The Last Rockabilly Show starring Jackie
Thompson and Hepcat Harry

Friday noon-1p The Stylish Hour with David

looking at fashion in Jackson

Friday 10p-midnight Daniel Johnson Presents Mississippi

Happening, an exploration into

Mississippi-created Rock Music

Saturday 11a-1p Daniel Guaqueta presents "Mundo Melodia"

selections to bring us closer to our

global community.

Sunday 11a-2p Sunday Morning in The Neighborhood with Greg
Preston, some easy tunes for Sunday

Two fans electrocuted outside Talladega track

2006-04-26T13:06:00.000-05:00

April 25, 2006

TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) -- Two NASCAR fans were electrocuted in a campground outside Talladega Superspeedway when a flagpole they were erecting touched power lines.

Donny Lynn Wright, 42, of Remlap and Keith Alan Stell, 39, of Birmingham died Monday, said track spokeswoman Kristi King. Talladega County Coroner Jerry Castleberry pronounced them dead at the scene.

The Aaron's 499 race will be run at the track on Sunday. Fans commonly use poles to fly flags touting their favorite driver.

Witnesses said Wright and Stell were attempting to anchor a flagpole when it was caught by wind and pushed into power lines running along a road outside the track.

"They were trying to pull the flagpole back off the lines," said James Snider, who was sitting about 30 yards away from the victims' camp site. "I heard a loud pop that sounded like a firecracker, and I went running because the power lines fell. They were both lying on the ground, and two women were trying to get to them to get them away from the wires."

Developer: Farish Street Construction could begin this summer

2006-04-26T12:58:00.000-05:00

By Jack Mazurak
jmazurak@clarionledger.com

Developers said they will be able to start construction late this summer on the anchor businesses for Farish Street’s long promised entertainment district.

Performa Entertainment Real Estate Inc., the project developer, plans a mix of bars, cafes and entertainment venues for two-block downtown district, located between Amite and Hamilton Streets. Although the buildings on the first block have been cleared and stand ready for work, construction has been blocked by a tangle of bureaucracy.

Speaking to the Jackson Redevelopment Authority on Wednesday, Cato T. Walker, Performa’s senior vice president of development, said now that environmental hazards and historic preservation issues are cleared, the next step will be securing a construction loan.

“We anticipate closing on our construction loan in the next 60 days,” he said. “We can mobilize in the next 90 days and we anticipate moving dirt by the end of the summer.”
Performa has been working with the JRA for about four years on the Farish Street project. Brent Alexander, the JRA board chairman, said he’s glad to see the schedule moving along.

“We’re doing everything we can to speed development in downtown Jackson,” he said.

Headliners Closed?

2006-04-24T17:11:00.000-05:00

There is a rumor circulating that this past saturday night was Headliner's last. Anyone have any scoop on the Jackson entertainment resort?

Arts, Eats & Beats

2006-04-17T22:16:00.000-05:00

Fondren Presents:

Thursday, April 20, 2006 6:00PM until 9:00 PM

Heralding the return of springtime to “downtown Fondren”, this annual event is a big open-house party held throughout the business district. The merchants of Fondren extend their hours until 9 PM, and patrons are invited to come stroll about from shop to shop enjoying a lively, fun-filled evening of shopping, music, delicious cuisine and cooling libations. Made possible by the Fondren Renaissance Foundation and Southern Beverage Co., Inc., this year's event will again include an "Outdoor Party Plaza" on the parking deck of Fondren Corner. Here there will be music by Wooden Finger and Scott Albert Johnson, tasty treats to nibble upon by Rooster's Restaurant and some cooling brews by Southern Beverage and Michelob Ultra. New this year will be the addition of an outdoor artists' market on the parking deck featuring the original creations of over 35 Jackson-area artists.

And to top of a wonderful evening, the Fondren Renaissance Foundation will be throwing another big "Party at the Pix", at the venerable old Pix/Capri Theater on North State Street. Featuring the acoustic sounds of Mississippi singer/songwriters Tommy Brian Ledford (of the Taylor Grocery band), Jesse Coppenbarger (of Colour Revolt) and Cary Hudson (from Blue Mountain), admission to this event will be $10. Doors will open at 8.

New Fondren website is up

2006-04-09T23:06:00.000-05:00

Click here to see the new and improved Fondren website. It's worth the visit.

College student lives in Wal-Mart for 41 hours

2006-03-29T12:16:00.000-06:00

He ate at in-store restaurant, napped in restroom or on lawn chairs

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- For spring break, some college students set out for sun-drenched beaches or cheap European cities. Skyler Bartels headed for the local Wal-Mart.

Bartels, 20, an aspiring writer and Drake University sophomore, thought he'd spend a week in a Wal-Mart as a test of endurance, using it as the premise for a magazine article. His college adviser liked the idea.

"I just intuitively thought, 'This is brilliant!"' said Carol Spaulding-Kruse, an associate professor of English. "I wasn't quite sure why, but it just sounded like a really good idea."

For 41 hours, Bartels wandered the aisles of a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Windsor Heights that's open 24 hours a day. He checked out shoppers, read magazines, watched movies on the DVD display and played video games.

He bought meals at the in-store Subway sandwich shop, but was able to catch only brief naps in a restroom stall or on lawn chairs in the garden department.

Other shoppers and employees didn't pay much attention until the end of his stay, he said, when it appeared some store greeters began to take notice -- pointing at him and whispering.

A shift manager approached him and asked him if he was finding everything he needed.

"He said, 'Didn't I see you over by the magazines, like, five hours ago?' I told him, 'Maybe,"' Bartels said.

Tiring to the point of hallucinating, Bartels said he decided to go home before he was thrown out.

He considered the project a failure.

Then, The Des Moines Register, which had been contacted by Spaulding-Kruse, called to ask him about the experience. Once the story ran, TV networks began calling.

He also talked with a book agent, has been contacted by New Line Cinema about a movie concept and did a radio interview with National Public Radio.

Bartels told The Associated Press he has decided the stunt wasn't such a failure after all.

"I'm incredibly happy with the press coverage," he said. "It would be kind of silly not to accept it with open arms."

Wal-Mart spokesman Kevin Thornton said Bartels neither violated store policy nor broke the law.

"We were unaware of his presence and if we were aware of it we certainly wouldn't have condoned it," Thornton said. "We're a retailer, not a hotel."

Starkville Aldermen Ban Smoking

2006-03-22T00:24:00.000-06:00

Board adopts smoke-free ordinance

By BRIAN HAWKINS/Starkville Daily News

Cheers erupted from the standing-room-only crowd in the City Hall courtroom Tuesday night after members of the Starkville Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance prohibiting smoking in public places and in places of employment.

The ordinance, adopted after a brief public hearing during Tuesday night's Board of Aldermen meeting, takes effect 60 days from Tuesday and specifically defines where smoking is prohibited in the city, requirements for posting “no smoking” signs, responsibilities of business owners, enforcement and violations.

The ordinance was developed by an appointed committee that included three members of the Board of Aldermen, two local restaurateurs, a representative from the Mississippi State University Student Association and two community health advocates working with the Citizens for a Breathe-Free Starkville group.

“We put together a group of stakeholders who had different opinions on the issue and developed an ordinance from scratch for Starkville,” said Ward 5 Alderman Matt Cox, one of the three aldermen on the committee. “We came together with a job to do and we got it done well.”

Robert McMillen, a researcher at MSU and one of the two leaders of Citizens for a Breathe-Free Starkville on the ordinance committee, said the board's adoption of the ordinance makes Starkville the first major municipality in Mississippi to go smoke-free.

“We're very happy with the final ordinance. It showed leadership and that Starkville is a leader in the state in demonstrating that we as a community deem the health of our people as important,” McMillen said.

Members of Mississippi State fraternities expressed concern Tuesday night over a provision within the ordinance prohibiting smoking in common areas of the Greek houses, the majority of which on Fraternity Row and Sorority Row are located within the city limits.

Presidents of at least three fraternities - Kappa Alpha Order, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Lambda Chi Alpha - requested that the board not act on the ordinance to allow MSU Greek organizations to determine their position on the issue, especially since most had only learned of plans to regulate fraternity and sorority houses in the last several days.

Ultimately, the provision regarding Greek organization houses was removed after it was determined that a later clause in the ordinance eliminated the need for their inclusion since the clause in question stated that rules of other governmental jurisdictions regarding smoking - including those at the University, would supercede the ordinance regulations.

Multiple residents smoke in favor of implementing the ordinance.

Among the indoor public places where smoking will be prohibited when the ordinance takes effect are:

€ Childccare facilities.

€ City buildings.

€ Common areas in bed and breakfast establishments, hotels and motels.

€ Elevators and enclosed stairwells.

€ Health care facilities.

€ Indoor shopping malls.

€ Places of employment.

€ Polling places.

€ Public forms of transportation, including but not limited to motor buses, taxicabs, or other public passenger vehicles.

€ Public bus and transfer point shelters.

€ Retail stores.

€ Enclosed, indoor areas of restaurants and bars.

€ Self-service laundry facilities.

€ Service lobbies, waiting areas, and the common areas open to the public of financial institutions, businesses and professional offices, and multi-unit commercial facilities.

€ Indoor sports arenas and venues.

€ Waiting rooms, hallways, rooms in offices of any physician, dentist, psychologist, chiropractor, optometrist or optician, or other medical services provider.

Exemptions to the ordinance include allowing smoking include:

€ Bed and breakfast, hotel and motel rooms that are rented to guests and are designated as smoking rooms.

€ Private clubs.

The ordinance also includes regulations prohibiting smoking in certain outdoor areas, including:

€ Areas immediately preceding or blocking the entrance and/or exit of an area where smoking is prohibited.

€ Attached areas of restaurants that are covered or partially covered with more than 50 percent of the perimeter of the outside area walled or otherwise closed to the outside.

€ Seating areas of outdoor sports arenas and venues.

Penalties for violations of the ordinance include a fine of no more than $50 for the first offense and no more than t$250 for the second and subsequent offenses.

Another provision within the ordinance allows the Board of Aldermen to suspend or revoke any business license or permit issued by the city for three or more violations of the ordinance by a specific business within a 12-month period.

The ordinance also contains a clause allowing for its repeal in the summer of 2008 if city officials evaluate its effectiveness and deem it necessary to repeal the law.

Yard of the Month?

2006-03-21T00:19:00.000-06:00

Neighbor charged with killing teen who walked on his grass

BATAVIA, Ohio (AP) -- A man who neighbors say was devoted to his meticulously kept lawn was charged with murder in the shooting of a 15-year-old boy who apparently walked across his yard.

Charles Martin called 911 on Sunday afternoon, saying calmly: "I just killed a kid."

Police, who released the call's contents, said Martin also told the dispatcher: "I've been harassed by him and his parents for five years. Today just blew it up."

Larry Mugrage, whose family lived next door, was shot in the chest with a shotgun. The high school freshman was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Martin, 66, allegedly told police he had several times had problems with neighbors walking on his lawn. He remained jailed without bond Monday. His jailers said no attorney was listed for him.

Neighbors said Martin lived alone quietly, often sitting in front of his one-story home with its neat lawn, well-trimmed shrubbery and flag pole with U.S. and Navy flags flying.

Joanne Ritchie, 46, said Mugrage was known as "a good kid." She said she always also considered Martin to be friendly.

Union Township is near Batavia, about 20 miles east of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Andy Rooney's tips for telemarketers

2006-03-14T11:25:00.000-06:00

Three Little Words That Work---

(1)The three little words are: "Hold On, Please..."

Saying this, while putting down your phone and walking off (instead of hanging-up immediately) would make each telemarketing call so much more time-consuming that boiler room sales would grind to a halt.

Then when you eventually hear the phone company's "beep-beep-beep" tone, you know it's time to go back and hang up your handset, which has efficiently completed its task.

These three little words will help eliminate telephone soliciting.

(2) Do you ever get those annoying phone calls with no one on the other end?

This is a telemarketing technique where a machine makes phone calls and records the time of day when a person answers the phone.

This technique is used to determine the best time of day for a "real" sales person to call back and get someone at home.

What you can do after answering, if you notice there is no one there, is to immediately start hitting your # button on the phone, 6 or 7 times, as quickly as possible. This confuses the machine that dialed the call and it kicks your number out of their system. Gosh, what a shame not to have your name in their system any longer !!!

(3) Junk Mail Help:

When you get "ads" enclosed with your phone or utility bill, return these "ads" with your payment Let the sending companies throw their own junk mail away.

When you get those "pre-approved" letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to 2nd mortgages and similar type junk, do not throw away the return envelope.

Most of these come with postage-paid return envelopes, right?

It costs them more than the regular 37 cents postage "IF" and when they receive them back.

It costs them nothing if you throw them away! The postage was around 50 cents before! the last increase and it is according to the weight. In that case, why not get rid of some of your other junk mail and put it in these cool little, postage-paid return envelopes

Send an ad for your local chimney cleaner to American Express. Send a pizza coupon to Citibank. If you didn't get anything else that day, then just send them their blank application back!

If you want to remain anonymous, just make sure your name isn't on anything you send them.

You can even send the envelope back empty if you want to just to keep them guessing! It still costs them 37 cents.

The banks and credit card companies are currently getting a lot of their own junk back in the mail, but folks, we need to OVERWHELM them. Let's let them know what it's like to get lots of junk mail, and best of all they're paying for it...Twice!

Let's help keep our postal service busy since they are saying that e-mail is cutting into their business profits, and that's why they need to increase postage costs again. You get the idea !

If enough people follow these tips, it will work----

I have been doing this for years, and I get very littlejunk mail anymore.

Barbour: 'Katrina Cottages' could be answer to post-hurricane housing woes

2006-03-07T12:23:00.000-06:00

Here are additional pictures of the Cottage.

Check out this informative website about Katrina Cottages.

WASHINGTON — Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour today asked congressional leaders to consider investing in a pilot program to install modular housing
on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

His remarks were among those of four Gulf Coast governors testifying during a Senate hearing today. The governors said rebuilding damaged levees and providing housing for thousands of displaced Hurricane Katrina survivors are among their top concerns.

Congress is considering how to divvy up $19.8 billion in emergency disaster aid proposed by President Bush, but not yet allocated.

"For many Mississippians permanent housing is far away because the new supply will not meet demand for several years," Barbour told the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"Modular housing designed like the 'Katrina Cottages' developed in the Mississippi Renewal
Forum provides a much better living environment for disaster victims," Barbour testified. "Occupants of a Katrina Cottage can use the cottage as a base from which to
build their new permanent home.

"I propose the Congress invest in a pilot program to install modular housing
on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Such a project would prepare the federal
government for the temporary housing demands of the next disaster and can
get 20,000 to 25,000 Mississippi families out of FEMA-trailers," he said.

Barbour said housing is one of the greatest needs in his state six months after the powerful storm slammed into the coast Aug. 29. More than 100,000 Mississippians are in 36,000 travel trailers and mobile homes, he said.

"We have installed temporary housing quicker than it has ever been done on
such a large scale, with more than 36,000 travel trailers and mobile homes
occupied by more than 100,000 Mississippians. But as many as 6000 units of
temporary housing are still needed," Barbour testified.

"In addition to the CDBG funds, we are dedicating
almost all of our Hazard Mitigation Grant Program allocation to rebuilding
homes in such a way that they will be better protected from future
hurricanes," Barbour said. "To better support this effort, I ask Congress to increase the
funding cap for this program from 7.5% of total FEMA project costs to 15%,
which had been the cap in the past."

He said under current law, "too many Mississippians will be trapped in FEMA-trailers, the government's
current default solution for temporary housing. These trailers are designed
and built to be used recreationally a few weeks a year; they are not
designed to be used as housing for a family for several years.

"The trailers do not provide even the most basic protection from high winds
or severe thunderstorms, much less tornadoes or hurricanes," he said. "In addition,
they are highly vulnerable to electrical and propane fires."

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said her state still needs $1.5 billion for repairing and improving levees that protect New Orleans and other areas from floodwaters.

Hitting the jackpot

2006-02-28T12:34:00.000-06:00

East end of city could become a gambling mecca

By TOM WILEMON, tewilemon@sunherald.com

BILOXI - A casino loop that someday might rival the Atlantic City Boardwalk is already taking shape on the east end of the Biloxi Peninsula.

Biloxi is ahead of the game because it has the roads, the utilities, the market history and a city leadership that was quick to embrace the casino industry as a partner in rebuilding. But delays in the construction of a new U.S. 90 bridge across the Biloxi Bay and the price of real estate could slow the pace of development.

Other areas along the Coast - Gulfport, D'Iberville and Hancock County - also have potential casino sites.

Gulfport has been slow to engage the casino industry, but the city is taking steps by considering entertainment zones for casinos around its harbor, including one location north of U.S. 90.

D'Iberville, which has been seeking a casino for the past decade, is actively marketing its waterfront.

Land in Hancock County, 404 acres close to Interstate 10, is available for new ventures.

But Biloxi continues to be the hot spot.

Ray Stronsky with Grubb & Ellis Sawyer Commercial has several real estate listings that could be potential casino sites.

One listing attracting a lot of interest is an approximately 7-acre site between Boomtown and the IP owned by the Suarez, Fayard and Andrews families. The company has scheduled a showing of the site to casino operators this month.

"We have some developers looking at this site and wanting to do the boardwalk concept with the other casinos," Stronsky said. "People could walk between them and also be within walking distance of Bacaran Bay."

For the past 13 years, Grubb & Ellis Sawyer Real Estate has either represented the landowner or the casino operator in about 75 percent of the real estate deals that have closed on the Coast, said owner broker Lenny Sawyer. The company currently has casino listings valued at about half a billion dollars.

Who owns what?

Other prime locations available along Biloxi's casino loop are three sites owned by Christopher Ferrara of Baton Rouge - a 40-acre site on Back Bay, 10 adjacent acres and a 27-acre site on Clay Point around the old Heinz plant. Other locations include 40-acre sites owned either by W.C. "Cotton" Fore and Ray Sims or a partnership between the two men as well as land at the northern corner of Clay Point owned by the Victor Mavar family.

In addition, several Back Bay property owners on the east side of Oak Street this year successfully petitioned the city to rezone their land for casinos. The total rezoned area is 22 acres.

Stronsky has already closed two real estate deals along this loop: the purchase of property on Point Cadet for a proposed Golden Nugget casino and the leasing of seven acres immediately east of Boomtown.

Others are taking a serious look at the Broadwater Beach property in west Biloxi, which is jointly owned by Fore and Roy Anderson III. It's a massive piece of real estate in the heart of Biloxi, 269 acres in all.

Broadwater Development LLP, the partnership formed by Fore and Anderson, will present a master plan to the city of Biloxi on Thursday that includes two proposed casinos, keeping a golf course and adding high quality retail, entertainment venues, restaurants, housing and a marina.

In downtown Biloxi, Grubb & Ellis is advising some Windjammer condominium owners about their property's potential. It's small in size, but its location is prime. The condominium site is between Beau Rivage and Hard Rock Biloxi.

But insurance issues have yet to be resolved for waterfront areas.

"All the people on the waterfront are very cautious about doing anything right now without seeing what the insurance companies will do," Sawyer said. "The lending is one thing, but the lenders are going to make sure they have insurance."

Prices too high?

Another concern is that inflated asking prices will hamper development.

"The problem we're having now is everybody is hearing what everybody else got and regardless of why they got it or even if they got it at all, they are setting unrealistic goals for true value," Stronsky said. "I actually had one developer tell me he'll come back in six months when these expectations are a little bit more real than they are now."

John Ed Ainsworth, the managing partner for the Gollott brothers' casino sites, inquired about purchasing adjacent properties but said some of the asking prices are "totally unrealistic." There's a misconception among property owners that any land within 800 feet of the main high tide is a casino site, he said, but the property must be contiguous to the water and zoned properly.

"They want to sell for three and four times what it is worth," Ainsworth said. "Somebody might pay two times what it is worth, but not three or four."

Margie DeSilvey, who owns a 25,600-square-foot lot near the end of Howard Avenue, is asking $1.8 million for her property. She said she does not know if it is within 800 feet of the mean high tide, but nevertheless believes it's worth the price.

She's asking about $70.31 a square foot, which is more than her former neighbors sold their land for to Landry's Restaurants for a proposed Golden Nugget casino. They got about $48 a square foot.

"The price was set before the hurricane and before casinos could be land-based," DeSilvey said. "Some of my neighbors said they won't sell for less than $100 a square foot. Most of them are asking $70 or $75 a square foot."

Casinos for other cities?

Gulfport had two casinos before the hurricane, but the larger one is selling out to the smaller one. Harrah's Entertainment plans to sell the Grand Casino Gulfport property to the owners of the Copa Casino. The price has not been disclosed.

"Message number one was sent out when Harrah's, the world's largest casino company, put the Gulfport property on the market and offered it to the gaming industry," Sawyer said. "No one was interested in it except the Copa, to my knowledge."

Gulfport currently has no zoning classifications for casinos. Its casinos were located in industrial zones and had special use permits. The city is now considering a new entertainment zoning classification for casinos.

In D'Iberville, Mayor Rusty Quave saidhe has talked to developers interested in potential casino sites on both sides of the Interstate 110 bridge. He believes that this is the year it will happen.

The city recently received federal design approval for a flyover from Interstate 110 directly to its waterfront district, which would make it more accessible for development. Jeff Kolb, assistant division administrator for the Federal Highway Administration's Jackson office, said the Mississippi Department of Transportation will still have to submit environmental impact documentation.

One site with quick access off of Interstate 10 is the 404 acres in Hancock County owned by Diamondhead Casino Corp. The land borders the Bay of St. Louis.

"We've received various requests to do different things on the property," said Deborah Vitale, president and chairman of the board of Diamondhead Casino Corp. "They range from simple condominiums to a major build out. Because we have 404 acres it's a little more difficult to evaluate and negotiate these various proposals. We may be looking at a build out that extends over 10 years."

There's been renewed interest since Gov. Haley Barbour signed legislation allowing casinos to come ashore.

"We have approximately two miles of waterfront property," Vitale said. "You can build your casino up to 800 feet from the mean high tide. We have a tremendous choice as to where we could put a casino."

Casino reopenings

Biloxi's casino market is rebounding. The three casinos that have reopened there generated almost $64 million in gross gambling revenue during their first full month of operation. The same period a year ago, nine casinos in the city made $90 million. That translates into about 71 percent of the regular market.

Another incentive for casino resort development is the Gulf Opportunity Act of 2005. Hotels and other resort amenities, excluding casino gambling floors, qualify for accelerated depreciation coverage, which means developers can write off 50 percent of the cost of rebuilding in the first year.

The IP, the Isle of Capri and the Palace opened in December.

Here's the status of the other casinos:

Beau Rivage: Reopening planned for Aug. 29, the one-year anniversary of the hurricane.

Copa: Buying Grand Casino Gulfport from Harrah's Entertainment. Deal expected to close in March.

Harrah's Entertainment: May open a temporary casino inside its Bayview Hotel in Biloxi, but will announce midyear plans for a "best of class" casino resort at site of Grand Casino Biloxi.

Treasure Bay: Reopening planned for July or August.

Casino Magic Bay St. Louis: Reopening in the fourth quarter of the year.

Boomtown Casino: Reopening in the fourth quarter of the year.

Silver Slipper: New casino slated to open in Hancock County in December.

Hard Rock Biloxi: Reopening uncertain because bank trustee for bond holders has held insurance proceeds. Premier Entertainment, the casino's parent company, is suing the bank.

Casino Magic Biloxi: Reopening uncertain. The company has said it will be months, maybe longer, before it makes a decision on whether to rebuild. However, architects are designing a new resort in case owner Pinnacle Entertainment decides to move forward with rebuilding.

Thieves make off with $26,000 of beer

2006-02-25T13:02:00.000-06:00

From MSNBC.com:
Semi trailer loaded with Miller goes missing in Wisconsin

WEST BEND, Wis. - Authorities are hoping to break up what must be quite the party after beer thieves made off with almost $26,000 worth of suds from a delivery truck.
A semi trailer loaded with cans and bottles of Miller beer was stolen from a trucking company in Richfield, according to a Washington County Sheriff's Department report. The trailer was found four days later — sans beer — at an Oak Creek trucking firm.
The trailer had been dropped off at the Millis Transfer Co. sometime on Feb. 17 for delivery to a beer distributor in Menomonie, authorities said. Later that night, the trailer was discovered missing.
Company officials didn't report the loss immediately because they thought a driver must have picked up the wrong load.
The sheriff's department is investigating with Oak Creek authorities and Miller officials, said Sheriff's Capt. Dale Schmidt.
The missing product, valued at $25,788, included:
384 24-packs of Miller Genuine Draft cans
560 18-packs of MGD 12-ounce bottles
980 18-packs of MGD 12-ounce cans
40 24-packs of Miller Light 16-ounce plastic bottles

Beau Rivage to reopen with 3 new restaurants

2006-02-24T11:01:00.000-06:00

BILOXI — The Beau Rivage will reopen this summer with three new restaurants, including one of celebrity chef Todd English's Mediterranean cuisine Olives. Executives with MGM Mirage Inc., the casino's parent company, discussed the plans in a conference call Thursday after releasing an earnings report. MGM Mirage reported a 31 percent jump in earnings for the fourth quarter.

Beau Rivage is expected to reopen Aug. 29, the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina making landfall in Mississippi, said Bob Baldwin, president of the casino giant's Mirage division.

World-renowned designers will give the resort a new and fresh environment, he said.

"The property will reopen with 1,200 rooms, eight of its restaurants and all its bars and lounges," Baldwin said. "The balance of the amenities will reopen in the fourth quarter. Beau Rivage will reopen with three newly designed gourmet restaurants: a new steak house, a hip Asian concept and a Beau Rivage version of Olives."

MGM Mirage's Bellagio in Las Vegas also has an Olives restaurant. Others are located in high-end hotels in Aspen, Washington, New York and Tokyo.

In 2001, English was awarded Bon Appetit's Restaurateur of the Year award and was also named one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People."

Beau Rivage's casino will feature the return of a poker room, a contemporary high-limits area and a completely reconfigured table games layout.

Fondren Place

2006-02-22T18:40:00.000-06:00

Ckeck out the website for Fondren Place if you haven't seen it.

Old Capitol Green in the works

2006-02-21T09:03:00.000-06:00

Project that targets eight blocks for development depends on Legislature bill

By Joshua Cogswell, jcogswell@clarionledger.com

Joe Ellis/The Clarion-Ledger

The view north on Commerce Street shows several restaurant-bars and commercial buildings.

LAND USE

Proposed land use for Old Capitol Green project:

Parking garage: 3,000 spots

Office space: 550,000 square feet

Retail: 134,000 square feet

Entertainment-restaurant: 80,000 square feet

Cultural-community: 78,000 square feet

Residential: 500,000 square feet/500 units

Hotel: 100,000 square feet/100 rooms

Population projection: 5,500

Job projection: 1,400

A plan to transform eight blocks of downtown Jackson with new residences and businesses could hinge on passage of a bill in the Legislature.

Supporters say the "Old Capitol Green" project - bounded by State, Pearl, Jefferson and South streets -would include apartments, office space, retail and entertainment venues. For Entergy, that means more customers.

Other businesses in the proposed district say the same will be true for them. "I think it's a fantastic project for downtown Jackson because it will get more people living downtown," said state Sen. John Horhn, D-Jackson. "This is vitally needed if we are going to continue to grow as a city." Malcolm White, co-owner of Hal and Mal's restaurant in Jackson, called the project a "dream come true."

Courtesy of Entergy

A concept for a revised Commerce Street would include apartments and commercial-retail property.

IF SENATE BILL 2500 PASSES

The state's property will be sold either to Entergy or a quasi-governmental economic development agency formed to take control of the land.

Or the state will grant an option on the land, agreeing to sell it to a real estate developer once a deal is inked.

Once control of the leased land is finalized, the property will be marketed for mixed-use development.

"I've been waiting patiently for 25 years, and it's a joy to me now to see someone as ... well-connected as Entergy to get behind this project," White said. "They basically came to me and said, 'Would you endorse your dream? We're going to make it happen.' "

Entergy and the state own more than 60 percent of the land in the proposed district. The power company owns two blocks and leases two other blocks from the state. Eight others own the remaining property. Senate Bill 2500 would allow the state to transfer ownership of the leased property to Entergy or a public-private partnership so the entire area could be marketed to a developer. The bill passed the Senate and is being considered by a House committee.

"If we have a developer willing to come in, we need an option on that property," said John Turner, director of economic development for Entergy. "If you have 65 percent of eight blocks of downtown real estate, you can pitch to a national audience of developers."

Harold Gater/The Clarion-Ledger

HOW IT CURRENTLY STANDS

Entergy owns two blocks in the proposed eight-block project. Entergy also leases two blocks from the state.

House Public Property Committee Chairman Tom Weathersby, R-Florence, suggests the project may have to wait for legislative approval.

"I just want to make sure we're doing it in the right way and make sure everything is handled correctly," Weathersby said.

Horhn said he will be pushing his colleagues in the House to pass the bill this year. Haley Fisackerly, vice president of customer operations for Entergy, said his company's aim is not to get into the real estate business. He said the goal is to make it easier for economic development groups to sell the site.

"We have a limited service area in Mississippi. The only way I can get more customers is to attract more business and industry and people to our service area," Fisackerly said. He said the company would keep some of its operations in its current location but would move the rest to other parts of the city.

Jimmy Heidel, Jackson's economic development consultant, said the city has been working to rezone the land to allow mixed-use development since he took his job five months ago. "It gives property owners a lot more freedom to choose what they want to do with their property," Heidel said.

He said the movement toward creating neighborhoods that blend living areas with office space and retail development has worked in bigger cities like Chicago, Atlanta and Memphis. "I don't think there's any question this concept could work in downtown Jackson," Heidel said. "Look at the Electric Building. There's living quarters in those facilities and there are waiting lists to get in."

The developer of the Farish Street Entertainment District, another project aimed at bringing business and people back downtown, welcomes the project and thinks it will help his efforts to recruit business to Farish Street. "A rising tide lifts all the boats," said John Elkington, whose Memphis-based real estate group Performa is working on a $12 million project on Farish Street. "The more development you have, the more chances you have to attract more."

But Elkington said outdated building codes, reluctant financiers and a complex approval process have hampered progress on his development and may hamstring efforts to fast-track the project.

Entergy spokesman Checky Herrington said the Old Capitol Green project is a first for the company in Mississippi. "We have been involved in economic development and bringing industries to the state," he said.

John Lawrence, president of Downtown Jackson Partners, has been working with Entergy and others to put the deal together. He said the timing is crucial to getting the property developed. The city has seen office space gobbled up since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. Occupancy rates in downtown office buildings have topped 90 percent, he said.

Lawrence, a downtown resident and advocate of redevelopment, also points to legislation Congress passed late last year as a potential catalyst.

The Gulf Opportunity Zone provides tax breaks for companies willing to locate in communities impacted by 2005 hurricanes. "The GO Zone is giving us 24 months to use the incentives that are offered," Lawrence said. "We've got some incentives. Now we've got to get the property."

Terry Butler, manager of W.C. Don's, lives and works in the proposed district. Butler, who lives upstairs from the restaurant and night spot, said more residential development downtown would be a boon to his business, especially during slow weeknights.

The project could help what Butler called a burgeoning entertainment district. "It's like a ghost town here in the early afternoons during the week and during the day on weekends," Butler said. "We definitely need that increased traffic."

Jackson seeks ways to help historic Farish district

2006-02-01T08:49:00.000-06:00

By Jack Mazurak and Kathleen Baydala

Melton

While construction in the two-block Farish Street Entertainment District has ground to a halt, community and city efforts are under way to revive other parts of the historic district.

Developers had said businesses in the first block of the Entertainment District — between Amite and Griffith streets —should open in April, but state environmental officials stopped construction because workers ran into hazards including asbestos and mold.

"They were working off an old environmental study. There are more hazards than just loose bricks and shaky foundations," said Carl Allen, city deputy director of Planning and Development.But city administrators met with members of the Scott Ford Collaborative on Tuesday evening to discuss incentives for property owners to renovate their homes or businesses. Albert L. Adams, 53, a Cohea Street resident, was one of the 15 property owners who attended the meeting.

He said he wants to find out about housing assistance available to him through the city. He said it's clear businesses have opportunities through grants, but homeowners need funding to repair properties.Mary Merck, city zoning administrator, said if property owners fix up their homes, their property values would increase and they would have seven years before the city reassessed their properties, causing them to pay higher taxes. She also said property owners could qualify for state and federal tax credits because they are in a historic district.

Allen said the city is marketing several areas including the Farish Street Historic District.

"We are talking to investors every day about the new incentive package," he said, referring to recent GO Zone tax abatement legislation that allows new investments to depreciate before taxes come due.City Chief Administrative Officer Robert Walker said he plans to form task forces to attract businesses and work with homeowners.

Alferdteen Harrison, coordinator of the community-based collaborative, said the district was still a thriving African-American community in the late 1970s."I feel guilty that we have allowed it to have national recognition, but we have done very little to protect its national cultural heritage," she said.

The Farish Street Historic District downtown area is roughly bordered by Amite, Mill, Lamar and Fortification streets.

Mayor Frank Melton pushed developer John Elkington on Tuesday to speed up construction. Elkington's Memphis-based company, Performa, is working on the two blocks of Farish Street between Amite and Hamilton streets. The $12 million project has commitments from businesses such as the Funny Bone Comedy Club, B.B. King's Blues Club and Mississippi BBQ Co."We've got taxpayer money in there so this guy needs to step it up. He's the one who said April," Melton said.

But Elkington said Tuesday workers clearing out buildings found more asbestos than anticipated."We're fighting battles, but we're making progress," he said. "We don't announce a lot of things because this is a long-term process. Jackson is not used to development so it makes it a little more difficult."

Senate confirms Alito to the Supreme Court

2006-01-31T10:30:00.000-06:00

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Senate confirmed Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court on Tuesday by a vote of 58-42, a day after an attempt by some Democratic senators to block his nomination fizzled.

Alito, who will be the court's 110th justice, will be sworn into office across the street from the Capitol at the Supreme Court, just hours before President Bush's State of the Union address. He will then join Chief Justice John Roberts in the House chamber for the speech. Judge Alito will be ceremonially sworn into office Wednesday in the East Room of the White House.

Alito watched the Senate vote from the Roosevelt Room of the White House with his wife, Martha-Ann Bomgardner.

Alito's supporters in the Senate, as expected, cleared the final roadblock Monday when senators, by a vote of 72-25, decided to cut off debate and proceed to a final vote, rebuffing an attempt by a cadre of liberal senators to talk the nomination to death.

The vote easily exceeded the 60 votes needed to pass the motion. (What is a filibuster?)

In the end, only 24 of the chamber's 44 Democrats went along with the filibuster, a maneuver allowed under Senate rules to block a vote by extending debate indefinitely. It was also supported by the chamber's lone independent, Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont.

Arguing against cutting off debate, Sen. John Kerry -- who spearheaded the filibuster effort with his fellow Massachusetts Democrat, Sen. Ted Kennedy -- said Alito's record during his 15 years on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has given "the extreme right wing unbelievable public cause for celebration."

"That just about tells you what you need to know," Kerry said. "The vote today is whether or not we will take a stand against ideological court-packing."

But Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said the move to cut off debate fulfilled a "very straightforward principle -- a nominee with the support of a majority of senators deserves a fair up-or-down vote."

"The sword of the filibuster has been sheathed because we are placing principle before politics, and results before rhetoric," Frist said.

The White House released a statement from President Bush hailing Monday's vote and saying he was looking forward to Alito's confirmation.

"I am pleased that a strong, bipartisan majority in the Senate decisively rejected attempts to obstruct and filibuster an up-or-down vote," Bush said.

The motion to cut off debate drew the support of 53 Republicans and 19 Democrats, including all 14 senators who signed on to an agreement last year that ended a series of Democratic filibusters of Bush's judicial nominations.

The so-called Gang of 14 included seven Democrats and seven Republicans.

The Democrats agreed not to support judicial filibusters except under "extraordinary circumstances," which would be up to each senator to define. In return, the GOP members agreed not to support any attempt by Republican leaders to change Senate rules to permanently end the practice.

Among the 24 Democrats who supported the filibuster were five senators being mentioned as possible 2008 White House contenders -- Kerry, who lost to Bush in 2004; Hillary Clinton of New York; Evan Bayh of Indiana; Russ Feingold of Wisconsin; and Joe Biden of Delaware.

The Senate's top two Democrats, Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Minority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois, also supported the Kerry-Kennedy filibuster effort.

With at least four Democrats and 53 Republicans in favor, confirmation was all but guaranteed.

At least 37 Democrats and Jeffords have announced they will vote no. Only one of the Senate's 55 Republicans has come out against Alito's confirmation -- Sen. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, a moderate facing re-election this fall in an overwhelmingly Democratic state.

"I am a pro-choice, pro-environment, pro-Bill of Rights Republican, and I will be voting against this nomination," Chafee said in a statement.

The four Democrats who have said they will vote for Alito are Sens. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Kent Conrad of North Dakota. All four represent states Bush carried in both 2000 and 2004.

Alito, 55, replaces retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, a moderate swing vote and the first woman appointed to the high court.

On the Senate floor, Kerry said Alito's nomination poses a threat "to the balance that the Supreme Court has upheld in all the years that Justice O'Connor has served there."

"This nomination is an extraordinary circumstance," he said. "What could possibly be more important than an entire shift in the direction of the Supreme Court of the United States?"

Stereotyped

2006-01-31T09:13:00.000-06:00

Seven dead in California postal shooting

Shooter turned gun on herself, authorities say

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- A female former employee opened fire at a 24-hour postal service sorting facility in Goleta, California, killing six people and critically wounding another, before turning the gun on herself, authorities said early Tuesday.

"That's what we believe," Santa Barbara County Sheriff Jim Anderson said.

The shootings took place around 9:15 p.m. Monday (12:15 a.m. ET Tuesday).

SWAT teams found seven people dead inside the building where about 40 to 50 people had been working, Anderson said. The shootings took place "at different areas around the building," he added. (Watch why finding the shooter was a challenge -- 1:18)

"One of the deceased appeared to have suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound," he said. "We have concluded the search inside, and we do not believe there is any further threat to the community."

Town renames itself 'Steeler' until Super Bowl

2006-01-27T18:04:00.000-06:00

Associated Press

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Just to make sure there's no confusion about which team they are pulling for in Super Bowl XL, the mayor and council voted unanimously to change this city's name. Welcome to Steeler, Pa. The name change for the city of about 15,000 people south of Pittsburgh will last through Feb. 5, the day of the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks. "I know the folks in the state of Washington are rooting for the Seahawks, so we wanted to make sure everyone knows the city of Washington is fully in support of the Steelers," Mayor Kenneth J. Westcott told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. You will want to keep addressing those bills, cards and letters to Washington, Pa., though, because the name change is cosmetic and not recognized by the U.S. Postal Service. "It's just a spoof until after the Super Bowl," Westcott told the newspaper.

Mississippi's Newest Casino

2006-01-25T14:07:00.000-06:00

Check out this new casino with an indoor 18 hole golf course that's coming to Tunica:

Myriad Botanical Resort

Woman jailed for leaving kids to go see Springer

2006-01-21T15:47:00.000-06:00

'I didn't think I'd be gone that long'

WHEATON, Illinois (AP) -- A woman got a 30-day jail sentence for leaving her three young children home alone for several hours, while she and her boyfriend attended a videotaping of "The Jerry Springer Show."
Shannon Cook, 25, pleaded guilty earlier this week to misdemeanor child endangerment. She also was placed on probation for a year.
"It was an appropriate sentence, given what she did," said DuPage County Assistant State's Attorney Joseph Ruggiero.
The two girls and one boy, all under the age of 4, have been placed in foster homes by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
Police said Cook left the children alone at a suburban home October 19, while she and her boyfriend went to Chicago for the taping. About five hours later the two oldest knocked on the door of a neighbor, who called police.
Cook was arrested when she returned home after midnight. According to a police report, she said: "I didn't think I'd be gone that long."

Taking Sports A Little Too Seriously

2006-01-17T12:19:00.000-06:00

Man suffered attack when Steelers' Bettis fumbled

Fan recovering from heart attack

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Talk about a heart-stopping game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts.

Terry O'Neill, 50, of Pittsburgh, was watching the game at a bar and had a heart attack seconds after Jerome Bettis fumbled trying to score from the 2-yard line late in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger prevented the Colts' Nick Harper from returning the recovered ball for a touchdown and the Steelers hung on for a 21-18 win.

O'Neill said Bettis is his hero.

"I wasn't upset that the Steelers might lose," he told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I was upset because I didn't want to see him end his career like that. A guy like that deserves better. I guess it was a little too much for me to handle."

O'Neill, who was recovering at a hospital, credits two firefighters with saving him.

"The Steelers won the game and I'm still alive, so I guess I'm doing pretty good," he said.

He will have a pacemaker implanted to control an irregular heartbeat and he was prescribed medication to deal with the hypertension.

While he would like to go to the bar Sunday for the game against the Denver Broncos to thank the guys who saved him, O'Neill said, "I guess I should probably take it easy and watch the game at home."

Senator Lott has Annonced He Will Seek Re-election

2006-01-17T11:14:00.000-06:00

Lott will run for fourth term

By Michael Kunzelman, The Associated Press

PASCAGOULA — Sen. Trent Lott announced today he is running for a fourth term this year, a decision that ends months of speculation.

The 64-year-old Republican told a hometown crowd today that he wants to continue working on federal issues related to Mississippi's recovery from Hurricane Katrina.

The former Senate majority leader also has hinted that he might seek another leadership position in Washington.

Lott was first elected to the U.S. House in 1972 and to the Senate in 1988.
Lott said he talked with family and friends over the past month.

"We've been through an awful lot in the last few months here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and in our state. It became quite a time of reappraisal and recommitment as we looked to the future," he said.

Lott said the recovery from Katrina will be a new and difficult challenge.

Lott said the coast could not have survived on government help alone. He said it took volunteers, churches, people from across the country.

"For me, it became a choice. Do I spend the future with my wife Tricia and our family, spending more time with the grandchildren, or do I ask the people to allow me to serve this great state in our nation's Capitol.

"I've chosen Mississippi and America once again. I am going to ask the people of Mississippi to re-elect me to another term," Lott said.

Lott lost his own beach-side house to Katrina on Aug. 29.

"There's always a question of how long is enough," Lott said when asked about his plans earlier this month. "I've been at it for 37 years as a staff member, as a congressman and as a senator. Thirty-seven years is a pretty good period of time. But you know, I've enjoyed every minute of it. So I guess one thing I could say is, why end something that you're having so much fun at?"

Lott's announcement came six weeks before candidates' March 1 qualifying deadline.

Lott is unbeatable if he runs, said political scientist Marty Wiseman, director of Mississippi State University's John C. Stennis Institute of Government.

Party primaries are June 6. The general election is Nov. 7.

Lott was Senate majority leader from 1996 until June 2001, when Vermont Sen. James Jeffords left the Republican Party to become an independent, tipping control of the Senate to the Democrats. Lott's title switched to minority leader, and after the GOP fared well in the 2002 elections he was slated to become majority leader again.

Lott lost his leadership position in December 2002 after saying at Sen. Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party that Mississippi had proudly voted for Thurmond when the South Carolinian ran for president as a segregationist in 1948.

Lott said last month that he might seek another Senate leadership job if he wins another term. He has a news conference scheduled Wednesday in Washington to discuss that issue.

The current majority leader, Tennessee Republican Bill Frist, already has announced that he's not seeking re-election this year, opening an inside race among Republicans for the Senate's top jobs, including party whip. Lott was first elected to the U.S. House in 1972 and served as House Republican whip for eight years before being elected to the Senate in November 1988.

Lott, who holds undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Mississippi, started his Washington career in 1968 as administrative assistant to U.S. Rep. William Colmer, D-Miss. Lott won the south Mississippi congressional seat when Colmer retired.

Crystal Springs man victim in apparent road-rage killing

2006-01-17T10:53:00.000-06:00

From staff and wire reports

A case of apparent road rage on I-220 left one man dead Monday evening, said Jackson Police Detective Kim Brown.Kenneth Thorton, 36, of Crystal Springs was pronounced dead at 7:30 p.m. after being shot once in the head, Brown said today. He was driving a white 1999 Pontiac Grand Am.

A suspect in the case was driving an older model white van, Sgt. Joseph Wade said.
He said a witness provided police with the partial Mississippi tag number "HED."

"There appeared to be some road rage between Clinton Boulevard and the actual location where the vehicle stopped," Brown said. The Grand Am stopped at the ramp at U.S. 80, Brown said.

The driver was transported to Central Mississippi Medical Center where he later died, she said.

There was a witness in the incident, but Brown would not release where the witness was when the incident occurred.

Anyone who was traveling on I-220 between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and has information about this incident should call (601) 960-1234.

Monday's shooting is the second reported homicide in Jackson this year.

Flowood Town Center Charrette

2006-01-17T09:35:00.000-06:00

Mixed-use development holding charrette

FLOWOOD — A week-long planning workshop for Flowood Town Center, the first traditional neighborhood development (TND) to be built in Rankin County, will be held January 19-25 in Flowood at 10 Canebrake. The opening presentation will be given January 19 at 5:30 p.m., while the closing presentation January 25 at 5:30 p.m.

Flowood Town Center is being planned as both a residential and professional office town center for the City of Flowood. Situated in one of the fastest-growing counties in Mississippi, Flowood Town Center is located at the intersection of Lakeland Drive and Fannin Road directly south of the Dogwood Festival shopping center.

The Flowood Town Center property is comprised of approximately 140 acres including a 28-acre lake. The project is expected to be a $325-million development that will be completely built over 10 years with an estimated 650 residences and between 750,000 and one million square feet of commercial space.

The planning workshop, also called a "charrette," is being held by Neopolis Develpoment Group, LLC, the project's developer, and led by Andres Duany of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company, the town planners. A charrette is an intensive planning session in which citizens, designers and others with a vested interest in the project collaborate on a vision for development.

The public is invited to both the opening and closing presentations

Mouthy Parrot 'Reveals Sex Secret'

2006-01-17T09:34:00.000-06:00

LONDON, England -- A computer programmer found out his girlfriend was having an affair when his pet parrot kept repeating her lover's name, British media reported Tuesday.

The African grey parrot kept squawking "I love you, Gary" as his owner, Chris Taylor, sat with girlfriend Suzy Collins on the sofa of their shared flat in Leeds, northern England.

But when Taylor saw Collins's embarrassed reaction, he realized she had been having an affair -- meeting her lover in the flat whilst Ziggy looked on, the UK's Press Association reported.

Ziggy even mimicked Collins's voice each time she answered her telephone, calling out "Hiya Gary," according to newspaper reports.

Call-center worker Collins, 25, admitted the four-month affair with a colleague called Gary to her boyfriend and left the flat she had shared with Taylor, 30, for a year.

Taylor said he had also been forced to part with Ziggy after the bird continued to call out Gary's name and refused to stop squawking the phrases in his ex-girlfriend's voice, media reports said.

"I wasn't sorry to see the back of Suzy after what she did, but it really broke my heart to let Ziggy go," he said.

"I love him to bits and I really miss having him around, but it was torture hearing him repeat that name over and over again.

"I still can't believe he's gone. I know I'll get over Suzy, but I don't think I'll ever get over Ziggy."

Taylor acquired Ziggy as a chick eight years ago and named him after the David Bowie character Ziggy Stardust.

The bird has now found a new home through the offices of a local parrot dealer. Collins, who admitted the affair, said: "I'm not proud of what I did but I'm sure Chris would be the first to admit we were having problems."

She added to The Guardian newspaper: "I am surprised to hear he got rid of that bird.

"He spent more time talking to it than he did to me."

Iran: CNN Banned over Translation Error

2006-01-16T15:42:00.000-06:00

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Iran's government banned CNN journalists from working in the country Monday after a translation error broadcast by CNN mistakenly quoted Iran's president as saying his nation has the right to build nuclear weapons, the state-run news agency said.

CNN was not informed directly by the Iranian government that it was banned from the country.

The dispute arises from a moment of simultaneous translation Saturday.

As Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was speaking, an interpreter working for a translation company hired by CNN misquoted him as having said Iran has the right to build nuclear weapons.

In fact, he said Iran has the right to nuclear energy, and that "a nation that has civilization does not need nuclear weapons." He added, "Our nation does not need them."

The incorrect translation was aired on CNN later Saturday.

As soon as it was alerted to the error, CNN on Sunday corrected the translation and clarified Ahmadinejad's remarks. The network also apologized.

In a written statement, CNN said it "apologized on all its platforms which included the translation error, including CNN International, CNNUSA and CNN.com, and also expressed its regrets to the Iranian government and the Iranian ambassador to the U.N."

But the Iranian government, in the report by the state news agency IRNA, said it took a punitive measure against CNN, invalidating press cards of CNN journalists in Tehran.

The Foreign Press Department of the Ministry of Culture and the Islamic Guidance said it will not extend permits to CNN journalists because of the violation of "professional ethics," the IRNA report said.

The network, in its statement, said, "CNN is very disappointed that this action has been taken."

The translation company, Lesley Howard Languages, apologized to CNN.

"Obviously, we're taking it very, very seriously. We will never use him again," said owner Lesley Howard, referring to the interpreter.

She said the same interpreter, who like other interpreters is contracted for individual projects, has done good work in the past, including for CNN.

She added that there is no reason to believe the interpreter purposely gave the wrong translation.

"We pride ourselves on having incredibly high standards," Howard said.

Legendary Peanut Man Returns

2006-01-16T10:48:00.000-06:00

By Melanie Thortis
mthortis@rankinledger.com

Melanie Thortis/Rankin Ledger

Jesse Houston, 70, waits for customers to buy his roasted peanuts last week off Crossgates Boulevard. Houston, who has battled cerebral palsy since birth, moved back to the metro area three months ago after being away for 2 years. He started selling peanuts during the1970s.

BRANDON — The peanut man is back in town and has set up shop in Rankin County.

Jesse Houston Jr. became a legend selling peanuts at baseball games at Smith-Wills Stadium, where his smile, warm personality and three-wheeled truck made him a fixture for decades.

He left 12 years ago to live with family in Alabama. But after moving back to Mississippi three months ago with his sister and brother-in-law, Jackie and Paul Earley, Houston said he started scouting a place to sell his famous salty treats.

Now Houston, 70, has set up shop with his pint-size truck in front of the Kroger in Brandon, waving to passersby and potential customers. Two or three days a week, Houston is at his spot, selling bags of roasted peanuts for 75 cents each or three for $2.

"I don't have to work," Houston said.

Melanie Thortis/Rankin Ledger

A sign is posted in front of Jesse Houston's peanut stand in Brandon welcoming customers. Houston uses a roaster to prepare his product.

The people are what makes his job worthwhile, he said.

Houston was diagnosed at birth with a mild case of cerebral palsy, which affects the motor portion of his brain and limits his speech.

Jackie Earley said she remembers dropping her then-11-year-old brother off at the Children's Cripple Home, where University of Mississippi Medical Center is now, so he could learn how to walk."I just remember waving bye to him, I was crying and he was crying," she said.

Three years later, Houston started walking and hasn't slowed down since.Houston started selling roasted peanuts during football games at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in the 1970s.

He eventually switched sports and rolled his peanut cart to Smith-Wills Stadium to sell to baseball fans.

Houston has slowed down a bit since his heyday of roasting 50 pounds of peanuts to sell on game night at Smith-Wills."They all remember me from the ballpark," Houston said Wednesday while lounging beneath the shade of his trunk, sporting a Mississippi Braves hat. "I'm happy to be back home."

Con Maloney is happy to have Houston back, too.Houston was well established as a peanut vendor at Smith-Wills Stadium when Maloney bought the Jackson Mets in 1982. The two became fast friends, sparking a bond that has lasted 30 years.

"Jesse is as memorable as any of the players that played in Jackson," said Maloney, who later owned the Jackson Generals and co-owns Cowboy Maloney's Electric City.

Houston's determination to do for himself without asking for help from others was an inspiration, Maloney said. "He is one of my greatest heroes," he said.Baseball players and common folk alike seem to gravitate toward Houston. Maybe it's his enormous smile or kind eyes that draw strangers in.

Houston's hazel eyes widen at the mention of selling peanuts at the $28 million Mississippi Braves stadium in Pearl."It's so big," he said waving his hands in the air. The excitement lingers as he ponders the thought. "We'll see."

Welcome to the Hospitality State

2006-01-16T08:57:00.000-06:00

Visiting Cheerleaders Robbed at Gunpoint

By: Cheryl Lasseter
cheryl@wlbt.net

They came to Jackson in high spirits for the Deep South Cheerleading Competition at the Coliseum: about 3,000 young people and their families from eight states visiting the Capital City.

Some of the cheerleaders and their parents stayed at the Red Roof Inn near the Coliseum over the weekend, but they never expected what happened in room 231 around 11:30 Saturday night.

"Three (teenagers) were in one room, the three parents were in another room, and some guys busted in the door with guns, held the kids at gunpoint, took their keys to their vehicle, their luggage, their video cameras, the hat off one of the teenagers heads," says Barbara Allen, manager of Southern Stars Cheerleaders out of Baton Rouge.

Allen says after the intrusion, the teens, one girl and two boys, were pushed into the bathroom. No one was hurt. The robbers also stole their wallets and keys, then took off in their Chevy Suburban.

Allen says police responded quickly, and the security guard on duty did everything he could after the fact.

"They said he was really nice and very apologetic because he felt very bad this happened on his shift. He was helping some ladies in a car, but there's not much he could have done if he didn't have a gun," she says.

The mother of one of the teens asked not to be seen on camera, but says her child wanted to stay to compete despite the terrifying ordeal.

"You think your kids are safe. They were just two doors down watching TV," the mother says. "Then you get a phone call and you can hear a child screaming on the phone from across the room."

The cheerleading group says the incident was handled professionally by the Red Roof Inn and Jackson Police, but their impression of Jackson has soured.

"I'm ready to go back to Baton Rouge, Louisiana ad stay there," Allen says.

No one at the Red Roof Inn was available for comment Sunday morning.

For all of you Nintendo fans out there.......

2006-01-13T15:36:00.000-06:00

Check out this re-make of Mike Tyson's Punchout.

Tour Jackson's Downtown Living

2006-01-10T17:25:00.000-06:00

From an e-mail I received:

The urban living tour is Tuesday, January 24th, and should be really good. It will include tours of the Plaza Building and Electric 308. There will be a noon tour with a light lunch from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and an evening tour and party (i.e., cocktails, music, etc.) from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Lunch tickets are $20 ($13 tax deductible), evening tickets are $50($30 tax deductible), and 35-and-under evening tickets are $35 ($15 tax deductible). For more information, check out the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson's website. For reservations (not required, but appreciated), call (601) 974-6044 or e-mail womensfund@cfgreaterjackson.org. The tour is to benefit and is being put on by the Women's Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson (and by no means does that mean that it's just for women to attend). Feel very free to tell others about it, and I hope you'll consider coming!

Mummified Body Left in Home for Two Plus Years

2006-01-10T08:57:00.000-06:00

Woman who didn't want to be buried found in front of TV set at Ohio home

CINCINNATI - The mummified body of a woman who didn’t want to be buried was found in a chair in front of her television set 2 1/2 years after her death, authorities said.

Johannas Pope had told her live-in caregiver that she didn’t want to be buried and planned on returning after she died, Hamilton County Coroner O’Dell Owens said Monday.

Pope died in August 2003 at age 61. Her body was found last week in the upstairs of her home on a quiet street. Some family members continued to live downstairs, authorities said. No one answered the doorbell at Pope’s home Monday afternoon.

It could take weeks to determine Pope’s cause of death because little organ tissue was available for testing, Owens said.

An air conditioner had been left running upstairs, and that allowed the body to slowly mummify, he said. The machine apparently stopped working about a month ago, and the body began to smell.

“Standing outside, one could smell death,” Owens said.

Police went to the house last Wednesday after receiving a call from a relative who hadn’t seen Pope in years. They found a staircase behind a door blocked by a basket and climbed to the second floor, where they found the body.

It was not clear if any crimes were committed, Owens said.

Authorities did not identify the caregiver, a women in her 40s who apparently lived in the home with Pope, Pope’s daughter and her 3-year-old granddaughter.

“The caregiver is not someone you’d think was from another planet or really seems off the wall — (she’s) a pretty normal kind of person,” he said. “But I think out of loyalty, friendship and love of her friend, (she) decided to keep the body at home.”

Gov. Haley Barbour's State of the State Address

2006-01-09T22:28:00.001-06:00

JANUARY 9, 2006

"Thank you. Lt. Governor Tuck, Speaker McCoy, ladies and gentlemen of the Legislature, fellow Mississippians. Thank you for being here for my third State of the State address.

I apologize for being hoarse, but I struggled with a bad cold last week...sore throat and all. For you Legislators who think that means my speech will be shorter than last year...don't get your hopes up!

Last year, I opened my State of the State speech by saying, "It is my privilege to report the State of the State is better today than it was last year but not as good as it will be this time next year."

In the wake of Katrina, the worst natural disaster in American history, and all the destruction she caused as she made a direct hit on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and slashed through south Mississippi and up through the eastern half of the state, in what condition do we find Mississippi today?

One thing is spectacularly better than a year ago: The return of Mississippi's 155th Brigade Combat Team from its very successful duty in Iraq. The last few will be home within a week, and several are here with us tonight.

All of us grieve for the families of the fourteen Mississippi Guardsmen who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq for the cause of freedom, and I ask that we observe a moment of silent prayer in their honor and memory.

The 155th performed its mission exceptionally well; so we are not only glad to have them home, we applaud their achievements.

When I visited their four forward operating bases in Iraq during the Thanksgiving holiday, I learned they had so successfully cleaned out and cleaned up their area -- which was called "The Triangle of Death" when they were assigned to it in 2004 - that in November, Iraqi Security Forces were conducting the operations the 155th had carried out back in the spring. Their success and that of others like them is why US troops are coming home, turning over their duties to Iraqi forces. Congratulations, 155th, on a job well done.

In the year and a half prior to Katrina, that this Legislature and my Administration had been in office, the state of our state improved significantly and demonstrably.

During that period, on our watch so to speak, the state's economy grew at the fastest rate since 1995; personal income of Mississippians increased faster than in any year since 1998; and employment - the number of people working - went up the most since 1999.

Those improvements in the state's economic situation not only helped Mississippi families and businesses; they also helped Mississippi's government.

The year you and I ran for office, the state's budget had a $700 million shortfall, a gap equal to 20% of general fund revenue; special funds were raided in the amount of $270 million; one time money was spent on recurring expenses to the tune of hundreds of millions.

The budget you passed in May nearly achieved structural balance, quite an accomplishment in only two years, and it dipped into special funds by only a fraction of the 2003 total. In fact, based on actual revenues collected in the current fiscal year, full structural balance would be achieved in this budget year.

Another major achievement in state finances is that last fiscal year, the state's bonded indebtedness actually declined for the first time in 18 years. I congratulate State Treasurer Tate Reeves on the job he is doing managing our debt.

The two keys to returning the government to financial balance have been and will continue to be controlling state government spending and increasing state revenue through economic growth and job creation. Remember, we've eliminated this $700 million budget hole without raising anybody's taxes!

I recognize the Legislature has had to make some hard choices...some politically unpopular decisions, and I commend you. The budget for the current fiscal year actually sets spending at 1.75% less than spending for last year.

The second key to digging out of the deep budget hole we found ourselves in has been economic growth. State revenues grew only 2% the year you and I started our 2003 campaigns. The first year of this Legislature and Administration, tax revenue went up 4%; last year it increased nearly 8%. Revenue increases doubled two years in a row, even though we didn't raise anybody's taxes. And I hope this makes it easy for you and our viewers to understand why I'm against raising anybody's taxes. I expect the viewers also understand that in a period fiscal uncertainty this is not the time to reduce revenue by cutting taxes either.

Again, I want to commend you, the Legislature, for making tough decisions. One reason our economy improved and revenue increased was tort reform, which caused insurance rates to fall. Another reason was the reform and increased funding of workforce development and job training. Your passage of the initial Momentum Mississippi legislation will help continue economic growth and stimulate job creation and retention. Getting state spending under control has also been essential to business confidence and maintaining our bond rating.

While the jury is still out on the effects Katrina will ultimately have on our budget, the verdict is clear that Katrina brought out the best in most Mississippians.

Beginning the very night of the storm, my wife Marsha began going to the Coast; working with first responders; finding help for people with special needs; encouraging local officials. She became my eyes and ears, and I'm very proud of you...and grateful to her. One day the SunHerald ran a story referring to Marsha as "an angel among us."

It was Marsha who first described to me the strength, resilience and self-reliance of the affected people; who told me about both the can-do spirit and the pervasive selflessness she found.

Indeed the single biggest factor in the amazing response to Katrina has been the spirit of Mississippians. From the fateful day of August 29 through every stage of search and rescue, relief, recovery, rebuilding...the affected people in South Mississippi and especially on the Coast have been an inspiration.

Our people didn't whine or mope around; they're not into victimhood. Immediately after the storm passed through, they hitched up their britches and began helping themselves and helping their neighbors. The stories of ordinary people performing extraordinary acts of courage and selflessness are extremely common. The first responders, law enforcement, national guard, and military; but also neighbors helping neighbors, churches helping the needy and poor people more interested in others getting assistance. That Mississippi spirit was obvious to people across the country and around the world.

I salute the local elected officials who stayed put, made decisions before as well as after Katrina. Those decisions saved lives, as did the thousands of inland families who took in friends and family before the hurricane struck. The death toll, while large, was remarkably low compared to the enormity of the devastation; the decisiveness of local officials in ordering evacuations played a major role in that. And those local officials deserve immense credit for the fact that continuity of government never broke down in Mississippi as it could have. Those local governments stood tall, and we are going to stand with them, now and in the future.

Three of those outstanding officials are here with us. They are School Superintendents who got their schools back open in record time, helping Mississippians return to their communities and begin rebuilding. Let me introduce Kim Stasny from Bay St. Louis/Waveland, Rucks Robinson from Jackson County and Glen East from Gulfport.

Before discussing our plans to help the devastated areas rebuild and renew themselves, I must again thank the American people for their help.

Katrina, the worst natural disaster ever to hit America, appropriately generated the greatest outpouring of philanthropy and assistance in our country's history. And that generosity has made a huge difference in our relief and recovery. Corporate America and small businesses, philanthropists and everyday citizens have been incredibly generous; and we genuinely appreciate everyone, especially the thousands and thousands of volunteers who've helped.

But I must single out the churches and faith-based groups, who were there on day one and are still there in meaningful numbers today. Theirs were the most powerful and productive efforts, and I must say hundreds of those volunteers - Protestants, Catholics, Jews and believers of other faiths - told me that by God's grace they feel they got more out of their mission than the people they were helping. What a great blessing these groups, churches, and volunteers have been.

And I'd be remiss not to mention the crucial contributions of our sister states. Those Governors, Democrats and Republicans, sent us their state's resources in an unprecedented manner, and they made a difference.

There has been plenty of controversy about the federal role in relief and recovery. While it hasn't been perfect, and in fact couldn't be, the federal agencies have done a lot more right than wrong. The Coast Guard's helicopter crews, the U.S. Department of Transportation's fuel supplies, the Seabees and their expertise all made a huge difference at critical times.

The President has repeatedly extended deadlines for emergency relief and debris removal that provide hundreds of millions of federal assistance dollars. The Bush Administration proposed an unprecedented package of assistance to help the states and people affected by Katrina. And on behalf of a grateful state, I thank President Bush.

A last chapter on the verdict of the effects of Katrina relates to our Congressional delegation, the 109th Congress and its leadership. Mississippi's delegation worked ceaselessly to get us the assistance we need. Every member, Republican and Democrat; House and Senate. My office and the delegation worked together on a regular, bipartisan basis, and I appreciate the helpful attitude of all six members.

At the end of the day, a few weeks later than had been hoped, Congress passed and the President signed two unprecedented laws to help Mississippi and the Gulf Region not only recover and rebuild but to renew itself. A third important bill will be up for final passage later this month.

The United States government has never given anything like this much money or nearly this much latitude to a state as Mississippi receives under this legislation.

I briefed the Legislature on the details last week, but for our viewers, the Katrina emergency appropriations bill will spend nearly 10 billion in federal dollars in Mississippi, over and above the $15-$17 billion already destined to be spent here under existing federal disaster assistance laws.

Most unprecedented is a program that will allow the state to use approximately $4 billion of federal grant money to help homeowners whose homes were outside the flood plain but were destroyed by Katrina's storm surge. This was the top priority of the State and for our Congressional delegation, and, even though it had never been allowed before, Congress passed it and the President signed it.

The bill contains funds for highway and bridge reconstruction, to support law enforcement, for environmental restoration, to rebuild our military facilities and for naval shipbuilding. Unprecedented funds for social services and for economic and community development programs are included.

Critically, Congress, with the Bush Administration's support, amended the original education support provisions so Mississippi would get appropriate assistance for our schools, which have been back open for months. This change was critically important to our state, and we appreciate Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings for helping us get this change made.

Almost simultaneously, Congress passed the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act, which the President had proposed to stimulate private investment in our area. I expect the tax incentives in this law to be extremely important to the rebuilding and renewal of our affected areas. The tax incentives for projects in Mississippi are expected to total in excess of $8 billion, and they will both stimulate essential private sector investment and create jobs.

Our whole delegation worked hard for these bills, but I must specifically thank Senator Thad Cochran, who, as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, patiently and effectively guided this unparalleled appropriations bill to passage. It is a giant tribute to Thad's ability and stature that our state is being entrusted with these much needed funds.

The tax bill - the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act - got hung up in the Senate. By the force of his personality and leadership, Senator Trent Lott single handedly broke the logjam and got the law passed.

No state has a pair of U.S. Senators near the equal of Thad Cochran and Trent Lott. They made us proud last month, during our state's hour of greatest need. We owe them a great debt of gratitude.

We also owe them, the delegation, the entire Congress and the Administration good stewardship of these billions of taxpayer dollars. I take this opportunity to report on behalf of our State, Mississippi will be a good steward of the taxpayers' money. We are putting into place systems of controls and accountability. We will be held accountable to spend these funds in a reasonable and responsible manner. We will meet that standard.

Because of our Congressional delegation and the federal legislation, we will have the resources we need to rebuild and renew. Because we have strong leaders in local government in the affected areas, continuity of government was never lost and recovery makes progress everyday. And because of the love and commitment of citizens to their communities on the Coast and in South Mississippi, our schools are operating, small businesses are back open, and the vast majority of the people are back in their home communities. All these things cannot help but make one optimistic about the future.

Another special factor makes me even more confident: The work of the Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding, and Renewal. I want to recognize Jim Barksdale, who has done a magnificent job of leading this Commission. Its work has exceeded my greatest expectation.

I was sent the Commission report on December 30, on schedule. It is more than impressive, and it will be - already is - extremely useful as the affected areas go forward.

Importantly, the report is the product of an inclusive, participatory, collaborative process in which literally thousands of Mississippians took part. Although the Commission's report won't be available to you and the public until Wednesday, let me mention a few major issues I will ask you to consider after you read the report:

1. Authorizing the formation of regional organizations for delivery of certain public services, as has previously been authorized and implemented by the DeSoto County Regional Utility Authority;

2. Innovative transportation projects that improve evacuation when future storms hit; that divert traffic from Highway 90, so it can again be a tourist-attracting Beach Boulevard; and that allow the Port of Gulfport to recover and rebuild as a stronger maritime cargo operation; and

3. Helping the local governments get back on their feet financially.

On this last point, it is critical to recognize the difference between the fiscal condition of the State and that of many local governments in the lower six counties. At the state level there remains some uncertainty about both revenue and needed expenditures, but as, you will see, of now the State is in good shape on both counts.

On the other hand a number of local governments are drowning from both required extra expenditures and definite losses of revenue. They are borrowing from both the State and federal governments. It will be years before their ad valorem taxes come back, even though there is likely to be a great surge of construction and development in these communities.

To deal with this I will ask the Legislature to authorize - authorize, not require - impact fees to be assessed by these local governments on new development projects in their communities. This will have the effect of advancing revenue on these developments so the local governments can provide services and, indeed, survive.

During the Katrina Special Session in September, the Legislature authorized me to form an office within the Governor's Office related to recovery, rebuilding, and renewal. I have done that. Because the September legislation did not provide funding or personnel slots, I am paying for this with no state funds. That is not said in the nature of a complaint; it is appropriate that we use federal funds to pay for this office; a part of its mission is to maximize federal funding.

I'd like to introduce Dr. Gavin Smith, Director of the Governor's Office of Recovery and Renewal, and Brian Sanderson, his deputy.

I expect this office's work with state and local government entities to pay major dividends. I also appreciate State Auditor Phil Bryant for the help his office has been giving local governments in the areas of accountability and documentation of emergency efforts.

For all these reasons and efforts, I'm very bullish on where South Mississippi and the Coast will be in 2, 5, 20 and 30 years. We have a mighty tall mountain in front of us, but that Mississippi Spirit leaves me no doubt about the outcome.

I am pleased to tell you that even in the wake of Katrina, the budget you adopted for the year appears to be holding up. There is still some uncertainty, which is why I think most everybody believes we should not try to do the budget and appropriations until March.

But halfway through the fiscal year, as of December 31, actual revenue collected was $80 million above the estimate on which this year's budget was based. We don't know if this growth will continue, but the overage is enough to cover the principal planned budget shortfall, which is in debt service. While we had foreseen and believed before Katrina that actual revenue would more than cover this shortfall, I'm pleased to report that, so far, that's holding up.

I'm also pleased to report that despite Katrina, no major state department or agency is overspending its current budget; therefore, there is no reason for any deficit appropriation, except for debt service, because actual spending through the end of December is within the amounts consistent with the budget you passed in May.

The ability of our departments and agencies to manage within their budgets is a great testament to their leaders and the state's employees. And this has been accomplished despite the fact some legislative provisions have actually made it much more difficult for them than it should be to stay within their budgets. I will ask you to lift those counterproductive restrictions so our state's public servants can produce more for our citizens. Still, you can see why I hope our budget situation in March will allow a pay raise for our state employees this year. And I hope we'll be able to give them another increase next year. They've earned it. They deserve it.

As preeminent as Katrina and its effects are on our agenda, we have all of the state and other important issues to address between now and the end of March.

This year we must address the needs of our foster care system and the more than 3000 vulnerable children and families it serves. The provision of quality foster care is difficult but critical, especially when not only Katrina's destruction but also the explosion of crystal methamphetamine and other narcotics have significantly increased the number of children needing foster care.

I will ask the Legislature to pass bills to increase both the number and quality of social workers actively involved in direct care, so resources are used more effectively to insure the foster care system is improved.

Shifting our focus, I want to talk to you about an industry and an area that require special attention: Our furniture manufacturing industry located largely in Northeast Mississippi.

The Franklin Center for Furniture Manufacturing and Management at Mississippi State reports our state's furniture manufacturing firms employ some 27,000 people, down from 31,000 in the late 90's. That 12% job loss is far less than the job losses that have occurred in the case goods industry in Virginia and the Carolinas, but it is a clear warning. According to the Franklin Center, we must learn how our competitive advantages can be maintained and improved on. I am committed to increasing our advantages and keeping our $4.1 billion furniture industry healthy, and employing Mississippians.

We began two years ago. The furniture industry told former Commerce Secretary Don Evans and me in 2003 that improving workforce quality was the best way to help the industry stay healthy. You know all that's been done to achieve that, and I know the industry appreciates the Legislature's efforts.

Tort reform has helped control their cost of doing business. No tax increases also has helped keep those costs down. We've helped create a foreign trade zone for Northeast Mississippi to reduce costs for Mississippi companies that use it.

Tonight, I propose using funds you made available when you passed Momentum Mississippi legislation last summer, to help our furniture manufacturers qualify to get the benefits of the Foreign Trade Zone. We'll match companies dollar for dollar for their costs in applying, activating, training and commencing Foreign Trade Zone participation. It is estimated this program will save some 2000 jobs at a cost to the state of only half million dollars or so.

We will also assist the Tupelo Furniture Market in its national and international promotion in the amount of $200,000 a year, based again on a 50-50 cost share. These funds also will come from Momentum Mississippi legislation. And let me introduce Anthony Topazi, Chairman of Momentum Mississippi.

The furniture industry is hugely important to all of Mississippi. Some people seem to have given up on it; I haven't. And I oppose using the challenges facing the furniture industry as an excuse to pit the economic development project of one part of the state against the projects of the rest of the state. As a candidate for Governor, I said I wouldn't play favorites among the efforts by different parts of the state to attract jobs. I said it, and I meant it.

There is another part of the state about which I'm concerned; one I feel it is crucial to help. The area is our Capital City and Hinds County.

Recently, Mayor Frank Melton and Sheriff Malcolm McMillin came to see me. They asked if I'd help them fight crime, especially drug and gun crime in Jackson.

The Sheriff and the Mayor are here with us. I'm pleased to recognize them. I'm more pleased to propose we in state government help our Capitol City become a greater asset to our state as well as a better home to its citizens . I ask the Legislature to pass a bill to allow the Governor to appoint a Special Circuit Judge for Hinds County solely for the purpose of hearing criminal cases involving drugs and guns. This is what the Mayor and the Sheriff believe is needed; it is what they've asked for.

Why? The Hinds County jail facilities are so overloaded that misdemeanor criminals aren't even incarcerated. They're filled with felons awaiting trial, and the number of untried felons has increased 18% in three years. But Hinds County has lost population, so, under our regular system of adding judges, which is based on population, the statistics say Hinds County doesn't need more judges. But those statistics are wrong. Don't take my word for it; ask the Mayor and the Sheriff, the fellows who have to deal with drug and gun crime here in Jackson.

Here are the facts:

In November, the Hinds County facility in Raymond was over its federal court allowed limit by 43, and 98% of capacity were indicted pre-trial felons;

Criminals go for years without a trial;

The overcrowding and delay led the Public Defender's Office to say "The deals get better for my clients;"

The cost will be less than $200,000 per year, a bargain if it helps reduce drug crime and gun crime in Jackson.

After I was elected and before I was inaugurated, Attorney General Jim Hood and I discussed the problems facing criminal justice in Hinds County, and he was very helpful. If you allow the appointment of the judge for a limited period, I've discussed with the Attorney General insuring there are enough prosecutors to get criminals prosecuted in the Court effectively. I appreciate his help and concern about this problem.

The last issue I want to discuss is the biggest priority we have year in and year out. Even in the wake of Katrina we all know we must continue to improve our education system.

Last year, the Legislature considered my UpGrade Education reform proposal. It was developed with strong support from my 250 member Teachers Advisory Commission. These leaders of the commission are here: Tanza Brown, Josie Williams, and Larry Perdue

I'm grateful that last year the Senate passed it 95% intact with only two votes against it. The House passed it about 80% in that again by a huge margin. However, there was never a conference report, so I will be asking you to consider it this year.

I believe the proposals are not only good policy but will also significantly improve education in Mississippi.

You will recall the leaders of K-12, community colleges, and universities endorsed UpGrade last year. I've been working on this with them again, though we have a couple of new leaders in place. I want to recognize and thank them for guiding me on these issues. Let me introduce State Superintendent Dr. Hank Bounds; Community and Junior College Director Dr. Wayne Stonecyper; and the Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Tom Meredith. They are a very talented and dedicated group, and I appreciate their tireless efforts.

Education is the number one economic development issue and the number one quality of life issue in our state. It is rightly our top priority. We spend 62% of our budget on education. While this year overall budgeted state spending is lower than last year, our school teachers have received a second consecutive 8% pay raise, and they are making 30% more than five years ago. State spending on K-12 education is 7.2%, or $143 million, higher than last year. Per student spending in our public schools is more than $7000 this year, a record amount.

K-12 spending will increase again, but I urge the Legislature to give special attention and priority to higher education needs when we take up the budget in March. While we have had large and appropriate increases in spending for public schools in the last several years, state spending for universities and community colleges has gone down significantly over the same period. But, again, March is the time to take up such budget issues. The UpGrade reforms are not about funding; they are about fundamentals.

Liberate successful schools and give them home rule. Here is an example of why: In 1994, the Gulfport School District wanted to purchase revenue interruption insurance in case a hurricane devastated their local tax base. But then-Attorney General Mike Moore correctly told them that because the school district did not have home rule, they did not have the authority to make that wise decision.

Focus on dropout prevention. About 40% of Mississippi school children drop out before they graduate. Think what a difference even a small reduction in the drop out rate would mean.

Prioritize teacher recruitment and retention. Nothing is as important as a quality teacher in every classroom.

Recognize discipline is a big problem in many schools, and as my 250 member Teacher Advisory Committee has told me, more young teachers leave teaching over discipline than over pay.

Hold parents accountable for the behavior of their children.

Institute a pay for performance program like North Carolina has to reward increases in learning achievement.

Redesign high school so every student who desires to can get at least a semester worth of college credit in his or her senior year of high school.

Expand the dual enrollment program and make advanced placement classes available in every school within three years.

Especially in light of the Cisco and Bell South investments, we must expand the use of technology, online education and distance learning so every child can have access to the best education.

These are several of the goals of my UpGrade Education reform package. I'm grateful to Senate Education Committee Chairman Mike Chaney and House Education Committee Chairman Cecil Brown for their counsel on this package and for their consideration of it.

I ask every legislator to support the final product. I believe as you review it, you will see that it is a common-sense, positive reform that will improve education in Mississippi, not for some but for all.

My speech has covered a variety of subjects - from renaissance after Katrina to cracking down on drug crime to improving education, our perennial priority.

None of these issues or solutions is political or partisan. These are my ideas about what we should do to improve our state and the lives of Mississippians. I offer them with no agenda except that I think they are good policy, and I ask you to receive them that way. That ought to be one effect of Katrina on all our activities.

It is not lost on me that Jim Barksdale, who chaired my Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding, and Renewal after Katrina, was also my opponent's biggest contributor. That was irrelevant to him and to me; the point is Jim Barksdale wants to help Mississippi, and he was, as he proved, the best man for the job.

Our quest for renewal has produced many such efforts to help, by people who have historically been political opponents. That has been so healthy and so productive.

It is an extension of that Mississippi Spirit; that can do attitude of helping ourselves but also helping our neighbors. It still is an inspiration to me and I hope it inspires everyone to see what Mississippi can be... will be... must be.

Last year's gigantic catastrophe, with all its destruction, gave birth to a renaissance in Mississippi that will surely result in rebuilding our state bigger and better than ever before, but I believe it will also spread prosperity and dignity across more of our citizens than ever before. I ask you to embrace that vision."

Bomb found at Starbucks disarmed

2006-01-09T22:28:00.000-06:00

Police: 'We have some pretty good leads'

SAN FRANCISCO, California (CNN) -- An explosive device was found in a Starbucks coffee shop in central San Francisco on Monday. The building was evacuated and a police bomb squad disarmed the device, authorities said.

A Starbucks employee found the device about 1:15 p.m. (4:15 p.m. ET) on the coffee shop's bathroom floor, police spokesman Neville Gittens said.

"If it had detonated, it would have caused damage," Gittens said. "It was what we consider an IED," an improvised explosive device.

The device was not concealed, he said. Gittens would not describe the explosive's appearance.

Officers told CNN that police were called to investigate a metal flashlight and determined it was an explosive.

The Starbucks employee who found the device told authorities, and the building was evacuated, along with apartments above the coffee shop, Gittens said.

He said a bomb squad team removed the device about 2 p.m. (5 p.m. ET) and detonated it in a controlled explosion outside the building, at the intersection of Van Ness Avenue and Bush Street.

The bathroom is kept locked, and anyone who entered it would have needed a key from a store clerk to access it, authorities said.

The store had not received any threats before or after the device was found, Gittens said.

But he added, "We're following some leads. We have some pretty good leads."

In a written statement, Starbucks said it was working "in full cooperation" with San Francisco authorities.

"The safety of our partners and customers is a very high priority for Starbucks," the company statement said. "In order to protect the integrity of the investigation, we cannot provide additional details at this time."

Vengeful Mouse Sets House Ablaze

2006-01-09T09:26:00.000-06:00

FORT SUMNER, New Mexico (AP) -- A mouse got its revenge against a homeowner who tried to dispose of it in a pile of burning leaves. The blazing creature ran back to the man's house and set it on fire.

Luciano Mares, 81, of Fort Sumner said he caught the mouse inside his house and wanted to get rid of it.

"I had some leaves burning outside, so I threw it in the fire, and the mouse was on fire and ran back at the house," Mares said from a motel room Saturday.

Village Fire Chief Juan Chavez said the burning mouse ran to just beneath a window, and the flames spread up from there and throughout the house.

No was hurt inside, but the home and everything in it was destroyed.

Unseasonably dry and windy conditions have charred more than 53,000 acres and destroyed 10 homes in southeastern New Mexico in recent weeks.

"I've seen numerous house fires," village Fire Department Capt. Jim Lyssy said, "but nothing as unique as this one."

Smokers Beware: Cigarettes Taxes May Quadruple

2006-01-06T14:38:00.000-06:00

Senate OKs cigarette tax increase

By Laura Hipp
lhipp@clarionledger.com

The Mississippi Senate approved a 57-cent per pack tax increase on cigarettes today while slicing the tax rate on groceries to 4.5 percent starting in July.After almost four hours of debate, senators approved the measure with a 36-15 vote.

"This is a tax reduction for 100 percent of the people that buy groceries in the state," Senate Finance Committee Chairman Tommy Robertson, R-Moss Point, said.

Sen. Terry Brown, R-Columbus, held the bill for reconsideration.

Senate Bill 2310 reduces the 7 percent sales tax on groceries in phases over eight years. Meanwhile, the per pack tax on cigarettes jumps from 18 cents to 75 cents in July and to $1 a year later.

Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck proposed the hike on cigarette taxes after opposing such an increase last year. Tuck has said her plan is "revenue neutral" by offering a tax cut.

Several fellow Republicans spoke against the increase in a cigarette tax.

"We need to control spending ... not put a tax on our people just for the sake of putting a tax on the people," said Sen. Merle Flowers, R-Southaven.

Money from the cigarette tax increase would be diverted into a special fund to compensate cities for the loss of grocery sales taxes.

Mississippi Municipal League officials say they are still assessing the bill's effect on communities.

Gov. Haley Barbour has said he opposes any tax increases.

Miner's final note: 'Tell all I'll see them on the other side'

2006-01-06T10:06:00.000-06:00

TALLMANSVILLE, West Virginia (CNN) -- "It wasn't bad just went to sleep."

Those were the words that 51-year-old Martin Toler Jr. scrawled on a piece of paper in a note to his family, as he was dying in the darkened Sago coal mine where he and 11 other miners perished after an explosion early Monday.

"Tell all I see them on the other side JR I love you," wrote Toler, a section foreman who had spent 32 years working in coal mines.

Toler's nephew, Randy Toler, said his uncle meant to say "I will see them."

"But he, of course, in his distress left the 'will' out," the nephew said.

The piece of paper also has light pen marks on it where it appears Toler scribbled on the paper in an effort to get the pen to work.

The note was released Thursday by Toler's family, who had received it from the coroner.

Randy Toler said the note, written on the back of an insurance form, "was the most precious thing that I believe I've ever seen."

He also said that his uncle was a religious man.

"His last scripture in church Sunday night was 'save your affections on things above, not on Earth,' " Randy Toler said.

'Our only comfort'

Bill Rogers, a brother-in-law of bolt operator and third-generation coal miner Jerry Groves, 56, found solace in the note.

"Our only comfort would be that there was no suffering, that they would go to sleep, and there it is," Rogers said. "I hope it's not the fault of the mine and that it's an act of God rather than negligence."

The investigation into the cause of the accident is continuing.

The first to die in Monday's explosion was 50-year-old Terry Helms, whose body was found shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday near the site of the explosion.

The other 12 miners did as they were trained -- they retreated to the safest place they could, erected a barricade, donned their breathing apparatuses and waited. (Inside Sago Mine)

Sometime later, perhaps being slowly overcome by carbon monoxide -- autopsies are incomplete -- the men went to sleep. And 41 hours after the blast, just before midnight, rescuers arrived.

There was initial elation, when officials at the command center thought the rescuers had found the men alive and families, waiting at a church, were notified by cell phone. About three hours later, however, the awful truth came out.

Only Randy McCloy Jr., 26, was still alive. He is in a coma in critical condition at a Pittsburgh hospital. (Full story)

All around Tallmansville, signs of solidarity with the miners' families are everywhere, from black bands on store employee nametags to "Pray for the miners" signs on the front of businesses from McDonald's to a dry cleaning store.

Everywhere, everyone wants to talk about the miners, about the mine, about the loss.

Owen Jones was in the mine at the time of the explosion, as was his brother Jesse Jones, who was deeper into the mine at the time.

"There was no warning, no nothing -- just a, like an incredible amount of air, more than what you can possibly imagine, and dust," Owen Jones told CNN. "You could not see."

In the darkened chaos, he said, he collected himself and was able to walk out of the mine with the rest of his crew. They all knew, with carbon monoxide swirling around, how dangerous it was inside the mine shaft.

He stopped and wanted to check on his brother.

"They begged me to go," he said, referring to his co-workers. "But I said I got a brother in here ... I am going to see if there is anything I can do."

Jones said he and some others pushed back inside slowly, but the air was too poisonous to breathe and he couldn't get close enough to his brother -- something that still haunts him.

"It is going through my mind like a tape recorder, just over and over. Wish that I'd tried this, wish I could have done that. Yes, it hurts you," he said, his voice cracking.

Jesse Jones, like Toler and the others, perished. (Profiles of the miners)

Mooning deemed 'disgusting' but legal in Md.

2006-01-04T11:55:00.000-06:00

Man who exposed his buttocks during an argument walks free

By Ernesto Londoo, The Washington Post

WASHINGTON - Acquitting a Germantown man who exposed his buttocks during an argument with a neighbor, a Montgomery County Circuit Court judge ruled yesterday that mooning, while distasteful, is not illegal in Maryland.

"If exposure of half of the buttock constituted indecent exposure, any woman wearing a thong at the beach at Ocean City would be guilty," Judge John W. Debelius III said after the bench trial, reversing the ruling of a District Court judge.

Debelius made clear his disdain for the defendant, calling the alleged act "disgusting" and "demeaning." The outcome could have been different, he suggested, if the man had been on trial for "being a jerk."

The case arose from a June 7 argument between the defendant, Raymond Hugh McNealy, 44, and a neighbor, Nanette Vonfeldt. Vonfeldt pressed charges against McNealy after he allegedly yelled and, according to Vonfeldt, threatened to "blow up my building" as she and her 8-year-old daughter walked out of their apartment, in the 20200 block of Shipley Terrace in Germantown.

"Then, for whatever reason, in full view of my daughter, he mooned us," Vonfeldt wrote in a court document. The two had a long-standing feud over issues before their homeowners association, which held a heated meeting the night before, McNealy's attorneys said. McNealy wanted Vonfeldt off the association's board, his attorneys said.

The case went to trial Sept. 12 before Montgomery District Court Judge Eugene Wolfe, who ruled against the defendant. Indecent exposure in Maryland is punishable by as much as three years in prison and a $1,000 fine.

Victory for 'beachgoers and plumbers'
McNealy's attorneys appealed the verdict, arguing that indecent exposure in Maryland constitutes the willful public display of a person's "private parts" -- which, they argued, do not include a person's buttocks.

Senior Assistant State's Attorney Dan Barnett said the indecent exposure law in Maryland is ambiguous.

"In our minds, this was not a bathing suit scenario," said Barnett, who supervises Montgomery County prosecutors who handle cases in District Court. "This was a grown man exposing himself to an 8-year-old girl."

Defense attorneys cited a 1983 case of a woman who was arrested after protesting in front of the U.S. Supreme Court wearing nothing but a cardboard sign that covered the front of her body. The D.C. Court of Appeals ruled in 1986 that indecent exposure is limited to a person's genitals.

James Maxwell, one of McNealy's attorneys, said yesterday's ruling should "bring comfort to all beachgoers and plumbers" in the state.

MDA Chief Opposes MDOT Bridge Plan

2006-01-04T09:39:00.000-06:00

By Lora Hines and Chris Joyner

The head of the Mississippi Development Authority said Tuesday he opposes a plan by the Mississippi Department of Transportation to build a six-lane bridge between Ocean Springs and Biloxi, replacing a four-lane structure on U.S. 90 destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

MDA executive director Leland Speed said MDOT's plans for rebuilding the bridge are in opposition to a plan developed by the Governor's Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal to create a low-speed scenic boulevard. Building a larger bridge will only increase traffic on the Coast's most valuable real estate, making it the equivalent to "sitting on the shoulder of I-10," he said. "We have a beautiful plan, and quite frankly, this impairs that plan dramatically," he said.

Speed also expressed his support for Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran, one of the Coast's most vocal opponents of the bridge design.

MDOT executive director Butch Brown said the
bridge plan will not increase traffic along U.S. 90. The coastal highway already has six lanes of traffic at either end, and prior to the storm, the design led traffic into an unsafe bottleneck at the bridge, he said.

"All studies show that bridge, when constructed, should be a six-lane bridge," he said. "We're not doing anything to add traffic to Highway 90."Brown said more traffic is coming. MDOT studies show that traffic on U.S. 90, and to the north on I-10, have doubled in the past two decades, he said.

"We're projecting that in 20 years the traffic will double again," he said. "We were already pulling our hair out trying to figure out what to do with the traffic on Highway 90 before the storm."

Plans to build 15,000 to 20,000 new condominiums along that stretch will speed the increase in traffic, he said. The bridge must be redesigned to accommodate that growth or U.S. 90 will be gridlocked, he said.Moran has insisted that MDOT's plans are based on incorrect traffic projections. She met Tuesday with MDOT officials and presented opinions of three engineers who agreed MDOT wants to build a bridge based on flawed numbers.

Bridge traffic reached a 33,000 vehicle-per-day peak between 1990 and 1995, which Moran said her experts attributed to casino construction. Moran said it has not been at that level since. "We know there will be some growth," she said. Just not as much as MDOT has predicted, she said.Moran said MDOT has made this decision without considering the possible construction of other major east-west roads or the redevelopment of the Coast as a result of the hurricane. "We could go with an emergency bridge so we could do something so we don't have to make a knee-jerk reaction," she said.

Brown said the meeting with Moran changed nothing.

"Her numbers are wrong about traffic counts," he said. "The traffic is there."MDOT will accept proposals for the bridge this month and award a contract by Feb. 3. The project will be paid for out of the $2.8 billion Congress set aside to repair transportation infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Some local leaders support the plan, including some Ocean Springs aldermen. The Harrison and Jackson County boards also have passed resolutions in favor of the six-lane bridge.Speed said it is difficult for local politicians to oppose MDOT. "MDOT is very powerful and they probably are very wary about getting on the wrong side of MDOT," he said.

Place your bid for 2-headed snake

2006-01-02T20:46:00.000-06:00

ST. LOUIS, Missouri (AP) -- For sale: One snake. Albino. Has two heads. Asking $150,000 or best offer.

The World Aquarium in St. Louis, Missouri, has been home to We, a one-of-a-kind two-headed albino rat snake, since 1999. President Leonard Sonnenschein has decided to sell the reptile, and bidding on e-Bay will start at $150,000 (euro 126,840).

"It's an amazing snake," Sonnenschein said Monday. "When people see it they are awestruck."

The 61/2-year-old snake came to the aquarium's attention when its previous owner distributed a circular offering it for sale days after its birth. The aquarium paid $15,000 (euro 12,685), knowing that most two-headed snakes don't live more than a few months.

But We has survived and thrived. An inch (2.5 centimeters) thick and 4 feet (1.2 meters) long, she is a healthy size for a rat snake. While her body is white, the heads have a reddish appearance.

We has survived because, unlike some two-headed animals, both mouths are connected to the same stomach, Sonnenschein said.

Van Wallach of Harvard University's Museum of Comparative Zoology said We should live an additional 10 to 15 years. And Sonnenschein said it's at a ripe age for breeding.

"We expect the sale of We to be on the same level of demand as a priceless art object," he said.

The snake has been in the spotlight before. In 2004, a disgruntled City Museum worker stole We. Authorities found the snake in the garage of the man's home in Illinois.

"He thought he was going to sell it," Sonnenschein said. "The thing is, it's the only one in the world."

My Vote for Sports Picture of the Year

2005-12-29T22:44:00.000-06:00

Prior to the Dubai Duty Free Men's Open, tennis legend Andre Agassi and the No. 1-ranked Roger Federer of Switzerland couldn't resist the temptation to have a friendly 'hit' on the world's most unique tennis court, the Helipad of the Burj Al Arab luxury hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

For Those Staying in Jackson for New Years Eve

2005-12-29T17:56:00.000-06:00

What To Do This New Year's Eve in Jackson

by Lynette Hanson, Jackson Free Press
December 28, 2005

Traditionally New Year’s Eve means a celebration with family and friends. Here’s the lowdown about your favorite spots around town. Our advice is to call right away for reservations.

930 Blues Café, 930 N. Congress, 601-948-3344
For $25 each or $35 per couple, join Rick Lawson & Band to celebrate. The price includes hor d’oeurves, a party pack and Champagne at midnight.

AJ’s Seafood Grille, 900 County Line Road, 601-956-2588
Dining along with live entertainment from The Crossroads, 8 p.m. until midnight. There’s a complimentary Champagne toast to ring in the New Year.

Ameristar Casino, Vicksburg, 800-700-7770
Local music favorites Meet the Press ring in the New Year at The Bottleneck Blues Bar. Downstairs in The Cabaret Lounge it’s BB Secrist and the Rockin’ 88s. You can dance in 2006 at either venue. It’s all free.

Bon Ami, 1220 E. Northside Dr., 601-982-0405
It’s BYOB at Bon Ami’s two seatings, 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The price for the six-course meal is $85 each.

Bravo! Italian Restaurant & Bar, Highland Village, 601-982-8111
The six-course prix fixe menu—$65 per person for the 6 p.m. seating, $85 for 9:30 p.m.—can be accompanied by a select, separately priced five-wine flight. With the late seating, you also get party favors and Champagne at midnight.

Copeland’s, 6390 Ridgewood Road, 601-899-0100
At $49.99 for two, you get dinner, live jazz and free Champagne at midnight.

Del Sol, 4659 McWillie Dr., 601-982-4956
Seatings are from 7:30-8 p.m. for the six-course dinner, $65 each, with a cash bar or an optional $20 wine flight.

DeLuca’s, 6792 Siwell Road, Byram, 601-376-0777, 601-376-4677
For $89.95, you get dinner for two and the party at the Backyard Sports Bar with Dreamer, from 9 p.m. until. Party favors and Champagne appear at midnight. The party by itself is $20 per couple.

Eldorado Steakhouse, 653 Eldorado Road, Jackson, 601-936-9413
Their special NYE menu is from 5-10:30 p.m. If this is your first time at the spot that bills itself as “The Gold Standard in Steaks,” call for directions.

Elixir Restaurant & Bar, 4800 I-55 N, 601-981-7896
Elixir has two seatings, $55 each at 6 p.m. and $65 at 9 p.m., with complimentary Spanish sparkling wine at the late seating. There’s also a $20 paired wine menu to compliment the five-course meal.

Headliners, 6107 Ridgewood Road, 601-957-6110
Splendid Chaos plays their New Year’s Eve Party; there’s an appetizer buffet until 10 p.m., a Champagne toast and balloon drop at midnight—all for $25 at the door.

The Hilton, 1001 E. County Line Road, 601-957-2800
Huntington’s is sold out, but there’s still fun to be had at the Hilton’s other venues. Or for $199, you and your significant other can spend the night at the hotel, dine at Wellington’s for dinner and breakfast, and make your way to all the entertainment venues.

The Hunt Club at the Jacksonian Inn, 1525 Ellis Ave. at I-55 S, 601-944-1150
For their New Year’s Eve Celebration and music, call for complete information.

Isle of Capri Casino, Vicksburg, 800-843-4753
Join Ronnie Wolf and the Wolf pack for their New Year’s Eve Party from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. It’s free with a cash bar.

Left Field Sports Grill, 1198 Lakeland Dr., 601-982-9775
Come out for an intimate, romantic evening with acoustic music, a steak dinner with all the trimmings, and a bottle of Champagne. It’s $75 per couple.

Mardi Gras, 824 S. State St., 601-351-3000, 601-982-4850
In the Jazz Bar from 7 p.m.-1 a.m., it’s King Edward & Nolan Struck Band, for $15 each. In the Nightclub from 9 p.m.-2 a.m., it’s Earth Angels, $25 per person or $40 per couple. The French Quarter Party Package, $75 per person, includes dinner, entrance to both music venues, with Champagne and party favors at midnight.

Olga’s, 1679 Old Fannin Road, Flowood, 601-992-1092
The first seating is between 5-8 p.m. for the four-course meal and live piano. Starting at 9 p.m., there’s a second seating that also includes “Name That Tune” trivia fun, party favors, prizes and surprises. All for $45 per person, either seating.

Parker House Restaurant, 104 S. E. Madison Dr., Ridgeland, 601-856-0043
Early seating at $65 per person is between 4:30-8:30 p.m. Late seating, 9-10 p.m., is $75 per person. You’ll get a five-course meal plus party favors and Champagne, late seating.

Rossini Cucina Italiana, 1060 E. County Line Road, 601-899-9111
They’ve got four to seven specials planned in addition to their full regular menu from 5-10 p.m.

Schimmel’s, 2615 North State St., 601-981-7077
Their New Year’s Eve Jam features Pat Brown and Patrice Moncell along with Mr. Jimmy King and the Houserockers. $10 cover begins at 9:30 p.m. Complimentary Champagne. Schimmel’s regular menu will be served along with their NYE Food and Wine Pairing Menu.

Scrooge’s, 5829 Ridgewood Road, 601-206-1211
Celebrate on New York time at 11 p.m. There’s also a free shuttle provided within a 10-mile radius of the restaurant. Call for reservation for this unique service.

Shucker’s, 110 Conestoga Road, 601-853-0105
Join the Big Daddy Band from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m. Your $15 cover gets you the entertainment plus party favors and Champagne at midnight.

Stone Pony, 1537 W. Peace St., Canton, 601-859-9999
Karaoke starts between 8-9 p.m. The buffet begins at midnight.

Trio’s, 6954 Old Canton Road, 601-956-5040
Three seatings of their NYE menu are at 5:30, 7, and 8:30 p.m. There’ll be Champagne at midnight. Call for prices.

Walker’s Drive-In, 3016 N. State St., 601-982-2633
For $70 per person, you’ll get a four-course meal at any of three seatings—6, 7:15 and 9 p.m.

Florida teen skips school, sneaks to Iraq

2005-12-29T17:00:00.000-06:00

16-year-old survives his experiment in 'immersion journalism'

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Maybe it was the time the taxi dumped him at the Iraq-Kuwait border, leaving him alone in the middle of the desert. Or when he drew a crowd at a Baghdad food stand after using an Arabic phrase book to order. Or the moment a Kuwaiti cab driver almost punched him in the face when he balked at the $100 fare.

But at some point, Farris Hassan, a 16-year-old from Florida, realized that traveling to Iraq by himself was not the safest thing he could have done with his Christmas vacation.

And he didn't even tell his parents.

Hassan's dangerous adventure winds down with the 101st Airborne delivering the Fort Lauderdale teen to the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, which had been on the lookout for him and promises to see him back to the United States this weekend.

It begins with a high school class on "immersion journalism" and one overly eager -- or naively idealistic -- student who's lucky to be alive after going way beyond what any teacher would ask.

As a junior this year at a Pine Crest School, a prep academy of about 700 students in Fort Lauderdale, Hassan studied writers like John McPhee in the book "The New Journalism," an introduction to immersion journalism -- a writer who lives the life of his subject in order to better understand it.

Diving headfirst into an assignment, Hassan, whose parents were born in Iraq but have lived in the United States for about 35 years, hung out at a local mosque. The teen, who says he has no religious affiliation, added that he even spent an entire night until 6 a.m. talking politics with a group of Muslim men, a level of "immersion" his teacher characterized as dangerous and irresponsible.

The next trimester his class was assigned to choose an international topic and write editorials about it, Hassan said. He chose the Iraq war and decided to practice immersion journalism there, too, though he knows his school in no way endorses his travels.

"I thought I'd go the extra mile for that, or rather, a few thousand miles," he told The Associated Press.

His plan

Using money his parents had given him at one point, he bought a $900 plane ticket and took off from school a week before Christmas vacation started, skipping classes and leaving the country on December 11.

His goal: Baghdad. Those privy to his plans: two high school buddies.

Given his heritage, Hassan could almost pass as Iraqi. His father's background helped him secure an entry visa, and native Arabs would see in his face Iraqi features and a familiar skin tone. His wispy beard was meant to help him blend in.

But underneath that Mideast veneer was full-blooded American teen, a born-and-bred Floridian sporting white Nike tennis shoes and trendy jeans. And as soon as the lanky, 6-foot teenager opened his mouth -- he speaks no Arabic -- his true nationality would have betrayed him.

Traveling on his own in a land where insurgents and jihadists have kidnapped more than 400 foreigners, killing at least 39 of them, Hassan walked straight into a death zone. On Monday, his first full day in Iraq, six vehicle bombs exploded in Baghdad, killing five people and wounding more than 40.

The State Department strongly advises U.S. citizens against traveling to Iraq, saying it "remains very dangerous." Forty American citizens have been kidnapped since the war started in March 2003, of which 10 have been killed, a U.S. official said. About 15 remain missing.

"Travel warnings are issued for countries that are considered especially dangerous for Americans, and one of the strongest warnings covers travel to Iraq," said Elizabeth Colton, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Colton said the embassy's consular section can provide only limited help to Americans in Iraq, though once officials learn of a potentially dangerous situation every effort is made to assist.

Inside the safety of Baghdad's Green Zone, an Embassy official from the Hostage Working Group talked to Hassan about how risky travel is in Iraq.

"This place is incredibly dangerous to individual private American citizens, especially minors, and all of us, especially the military, went to extraordinary lengths to ensure this youth's safety, even if he doesn't acknowledge it or even understand it," a U.S. official who wasn't authorized to speak to the media said on condition of anonymity.

Hassan's extra-mile attitude took him east through eight time zones, from Fort Lauderdale to Kuwait City. His plan was to take a taxi across the border and ultimately to Baghdad -- an unconventional, expensive and utterly dangerous route.

The teen calls home

It was in Kuwait City that he first called his parents to tell them of his plans -- and that he was now in the Middle East.

His mother, Shatha Atiya, a psychologist, said she was "shocked and terrified." She had told him she would take him to Iraq, but only after the country stabilizes.

"He thinks he can be an ambassador for democracy around the world. It's admirable but also agony for a parent," Atiya said.

Attempting to get into Iraq, Hassan took a taxi from Kuwait City to the border 55 miles away. He spoke English at the border and was soon surrounded by about 15 men, a scene he wanted no part of. On the drive back to Kuwait City, a taxi driver almost punched him when he balked at the fee.

"In one day I probably spent like $250 on taxis," he said. "And they're so evil too, because they ripped me off, and when I wouldn't pay the ripped-off price they started threatening me. It was bad."

It could have been worse -- the border could have been open.

As luck would have it, the teenager found himself at the Iraq-Kuwait line sometime on December 13, and the border security was extra tight because of Iraq's December 15 parliamentary elections. The timing saved him from a dangerous trip.

"If they'd let me in from Kuwait, I probably would have died," he acknowledged. "That would have been a bad idea."

He again called his father, who told him to come home. But the teen insisted on going to Baghdad. His father advised him to stay with family friends in Beirut, Lebanon, so he flew there, spending 10 days before flying to Baghdad on Christmas.

His ride at Baghdad International Airport, arranged by the family friends in Lebanon, dropped him off at an international hotel where Americans were staying.

He says he only strayed far from that hotel once, in search of food. He walked into a nearby shop and asked for a menu. When no menu appeared, he pulled out his Arabic phrase book, and after fumbling around found the word "menu." The stand didn't have one. Then a worker tried to read some of the English phrases.

"And I'm like, 'Well, I should probably be going.' It was not a safe place. The way they were looking at me kind of freaked me out," he said.

It was mid-afternoon on Monday, after his second night in Baghdad, that he sought out editors at The Associated Press and announced he was in Iraq to do research and humanitarian work. AP staffers had never seen an unaccompanied teenage American walk into their war zone office. ("I would have been less surprised if little green men had walked in," said editor Patrick Quinn.)

Wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt in addition to his jeans and sneakers, Hassan appeared eager and outgoing but slightly sheepish about his situation.

The AP quickly called the U.S. embassy.

Returning home

Embassy officials had been on the lookout for Hassan, at the request of his parents, who still weren't sure exactly where he was. One U.S. military officer said he was shocked the teen was still alive. The 101st Airborne lieutenant who picked him up from the hotel said it was the wildest story he'd ever heard.

Hassan accepted being turned over to authorities as the safest thing to do, but seemed to accept the idea more readily over time.

Most of Hassan's wild tale could not be corroborated, but his larger story arc was in line with details provided by friends and family members back home.

Dangerous and dramatic, Hassan's trip has also been educational. He had tea with Kuwaitis under a tent in the middle of a desert. He says he interviewed Christians in south Lebanon. And he said he spoke with U.S. soldiers guarding his Baghdad hotel who told him they are treated better by Sunni Arabs -- the minority population that enjoyed a high standing under Saddam Hussein and are now thought to fuel the insurgency -- than by the majority Shiites.

His father, Redha Hassan, a doctor, said his son is an idealist, principled and moral. Aside from the research he wanted to accomplish, he also wrote in an essay saying he wanted to volunteer in Iraq.

He said he wrote half the essay while in the United States, half in Kuwait, and e-mailed it to his teachers December 15 while in the Kuwait City airport.

"There is a struggle in Iraq between good and evil, between those striving for freedom and liberty and those striving for death and destruction," he wrote.

"Those terrorists are not human but pure evil. For their goals to be thwarted, decent individuals must answer justice's call for help. Unfortunately altruism is always in short supply. Not enough are willing to set aside the material ambitions of this transient world, put morality first, and risk their lives for the cause of humanity. So I will."

"I want to experience during my Christmas the same hardships ordinary Iraqis experience everyday, so that I may better empathize with their distress," he wrote.

Farris Hassan says he thinks a trip to the Middle East is a healthy vacation compared with a trip to Colorado for holiday skiing.

"You go to, like, the worst place in the world and things are terrible," he said. "When you go back home you have such a new appreciation for all the blessing you have there, and I'm just going to be, like, ecstatic for life."

His mother, however, sees things differently.

"I don't think I will ever leave him in the house alone again," she said. "He showed a lack of judgment."

Hassan may not mind, at least for a while. He now understands how dangerous his trip was, that he was only a whisker away from death.

His plans on his return to Florida: "Kiss the ground and hug everyone."

Cash pours in for student with $1 million Web idea

2005-12-29T16:31:00.000-06:00

If you have an envious streak, you probably shouldn't read this.

Because chances are, Alex Tew, a 21-year-old student from a small town in England, is cleverer than you. And he is proving it by earning a cool million dollars in four months on the Internet.

Selling porn? Dealing prescription drugs? Nope. All he sells are pixels, the tiny dots on the screen that appear when you call up his home page.

He had the brainstorm for his million dollar home page, called, logically enough, www.milliondollarhomepage.com, while lying in bed thinking out how he would pay for university.

The idea: turn his home page into a billboard made up of a million dots, and sell them for a dollar a dot to anyone who wants to put up their logo. A 10 by 10 dot square, roughly the size of a letter of type, costs $100.

He sold a few to his brothers and some friends, and when he had made $1,000, he issued a press release.

That was picked up by the news media, spread around the Internet, and soon advertisers for everything from dating sites to casinos to real estate agents to The Times of London were putting up real cash for pixels, with links to their own sites.

So far they have bought up 911,800 pixels. Tew's home page now looks like an online Times Square, festooned with a multi-colored confetti of ads.

"All the money's kind of sitting in a bank account," Tew told Reuters from his home in Wiltshire, southwest England. "I've treated myself to a car. I've only just passed my driving test so I've bought myself a little black mini."

The site features testimonials from advertisers, some of whom bought spots as a lark, only to discover that they were receiving actual valuable Web hits for a fraction of the cost of traditional Internet advertising.

Meanwhile Tew has had to juggle running the site with his first term at university, where he is studying business.

"It's been quite a difficulty trying to balance going to lectures and doing the site," he said.

But he may not have to study for long. Job offers have been coming in from Internet companies impressed by a young man who managed to figure out an original way to make money online.

"I didn't expect it to happen like that," Tew said. "To have the job offers and approaches from investors -- the whole thing is kind of surreal. I'm still in a state of disbelief."

Thanks to Bo Z. for the article

What Men, Women Want on the Web

2005-12-29T11:06:00.000-06:00

SAN FRANCISCO, California (Reuters) -- Internet users share many common interests, but men are heavier consumers of news, stocks, sports and pornography, while more women look for health and religious guidance, a broad survey of U.S. Web usage has found.

The study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project to be released on Thursday finds men are slightly more intense users of the Web. Men log on more frequently and spend more time online. More men also have access to quick broadband connections than do women.

"Once you get past the commonalities, men tend to be attracted to online activities that are far more action-oriented, while women tend to value things involving relationships or human connections," said Deborah Fallows, a research fellow at Pew and author of the report.

A larger number of men surf the Internet for pleasure, with 70 percent acknowledging they go online to pass time, compared with 63 percent of women. Men are more likely than women to listen to music, view Webcams and pay for digital content.

But women are catching up in several areas measured by the survey, and intensive use by younger women suggests some of the gaps will continue to narrow.

Already, women are heavier users of e-mail, often going beyond the matter-of-fact responses of male correspondents to use e-mail to share stories, solve issues and reach out to a wider network of friends and family.

Both genders look to the Web as a font of information and as an efficient communications tool, said Fallows in an interview.

Overall, the percentage of men and women who use the Web are nearly equal. Roughly 68 percent of men and 66 percent of women report making use of the Web, up from 20 percent of the U.S. population Pew found in 1995, when men made up 58 percent of the online audience.

What puts women off

Over the past decade, men have proved more willing to engage in riskier encounters or transactions, such as joining chat rooms, bidding in online auctions or trading stocks. Auctions attract 30 percent of men versus 18 percent of women.

In addition, 21 percent of males confess to looking at porn online compared with just 5 percent of females, the Pew survey has found. This area is notoriously difficult to measure and may be underreported by survey respondents, Fallows said.

Meanwhile 74 percent of women seek health or medical information online, far more than the 58 percent of men who do so. Thirty-four percent of women seek religious information from the Web versus 25 percent of men. Such differences mirror gender differences in the offline world, Fallows noted.

Men go online more frequently, as 44 percent use the Web several times daily versus 39 percent of women.

Partly this reflects their greater broadband access, requiring less time to wait for dial-up connections. Seventy-eight percent of men have broadband connections at work versus 69 percent of women, although the broadband gender gap narrows among both sexes at home.

In addition, the survey found men feel more in control of their computers. Far more men fix their own computers, for instance. Men also are more likely to be aware of the latest technology jargon -- terms like spam, firewall, spyware, adware, phishing and RSS.

Gender gap -- or generation gap?

Based on responses by thousands of U.S. Web users to a questionnaire covering 90 areas of online activity, the Pew report finds some of the gender differences to be generational. Girls and young women are more facile with technology-intensive activities than older generations of women appear to be.

Eighty-six percent of women ages 18-29 are Web users, compared with 80 percent of men. But 34 percent of men 65 and older use the Internet, compared with 21 percent of elderly women.

By 2004, 22 percent of teenage girls had started a blog, or online journal, versus 17 percent of boys. Yet boys are far more likely to download music or videos, with 38 percent of boys saying they watch online video versus 24 percent of girls.

"Teenage girls may do more or less than boys of certain activities, like downloading, but the important message is that the technology is not standing in their way," the report states. As younger women grow up, women are likely to overtake men in terms of the overall audience, Fallows predicts.

The report cites data from surveys performed by Pew from 2000 through 2005. Some 6,403 respondents took part in 2005.

DJ's lawsuit award isn't so sweet anymore

2005-12-28T09:10:00.000-06:00

Former WYCD host's lawyer will fight federal judge's trim of $10.6M verdict to $814,000

DETROIT -- An ex-country music DJ's court victory -- in which she won $10.6 million after she claimed she was sickened by a fellow radio host's use of French perfume -- no longer smells as sweet.

U.S. District Judge George Caram Steeh, in a 19-page opinion, reduced former Detroit radio host Erin Weber's award to $814,000.

Steeh said he was tempted to throw the entire verdict out, in part because he questions whether she has a perfume allergy.

"The weight of the evidence does not clearly support a finding of a perfume allergy," Steeh wrote in a recent opinion. "There are many reasons to seriously consider setting aside the verdict in this case."

A Troy lawyer for Weber, Raymond Sterling, said Friday they would seek to have the full amount reinstated by Steeh and by a federal appeals court.

"We don't feel the reduction is justified. We've already filed papers to explain to the judge why he should uphold the original intent of the jury and we intend to also go to the court," Sterling said.

Weber, a former midday host at WYCD (99.5 FM), filed suit in 2002, claiming a chemical allergy that developed after her 1999 exposure to chemicals spilled in a radio studio was exacerbated to the point she could no longer work.

Weber said co-worker Linda Bullard's use of the perfume Tresor by Lancome forced her to take a three-month leave of absence in 2000. Following a third medical leave for an alleged exposure to the offending perfume, she was fired in September 2001 for failing to perform her job. Bullard goes by the radio name Linda Lee.

An all-female jury in May awarded Weber $7 million for punitive damages; $2 million for noneconomic damages; $1.1 million for future economic damages; and $514,000 for past economic damages. In his opinion, Steeh said the size of the verdict "is telling evidence that the jury in this case was inflamed."

"It is unclear whether the jury's prejudice was a result of the peculiar composition of the all-female jury, the defendants' failure to pursue arguments which would have obliterated many of (Weber's) claims or the defendants' failure to focus sufficient attention to the damages issues," Steeh wrote.

But Steeh agreed to award attorneys' fees to Weber. Sterling has sought $630,000; the judge will hold a hearing in January to determine the amount.

Weber claimed exposure to Tresor caused her to lose her voice and take lengthy absences from work. She also said she once "felt an electric shock quell through my entire body" and required heavy medication to combat the effects.

Weber said she has been unable to get another job in radio since she was fired in 2001 and claims Infinity Broadcasting "blacklisted her" -- a claim the company, which owns WYCD, rejects.

Karen L. Mateo, vice president for communication at Infinity Broadcasting, said Friday the company had no comment on the judge's decision to reduce the verdict. "We continue to litigate the case," Mateo said.

Schwarzenegger's Name Off Stadium

2005-12-27T09:37:00.000-06:00

Governor's hometown removes letters in middle of night

VIENNA, Austria (AP -- Officials in Arnold Schwarzenegger's hometown of Graz quietly, and under cover of darkness, removed giant metal letters spelling out his name on a soccer stadium.

The California governor had asked for his name to be stricken from the 15,300-seat arena after critics in his birthplace, where opposition to capital punishment runs high, scorned him for refusing to block this month's execution of convicted killer Stanley Tookie Williams.

Late Sunday night or early Monday, authorities in the southern Austrian city unbolted the 20 letters spelling out the action star-turned-politician's name from Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium. They timed the work to take advantage of the Christmas lull to avoid attracting attention "and keep the media from taking photos," said a local city hall official who declined to be named.

Capital punishment is illegal in Schwarzenegger's native Austria, where many people consider it barbaric. Opposition had run especially high in Graz, whose official slogan is "City of Human Rights."

After Williams' December 13 execution triggered a firestorm in Europe and reignited calls for Graz's stadium to be stripped of Schwarzenegger's name, the governor opted for a pre-emptive strike: A week ago, he wrote a letter to local officials ordering his name to be removed and said he was returning an ornate ring of honor that Graz officials gave him in 1999.

With the Hollywood star's name gone, the sign atop the main entrance to the stadium in Graz, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) south of Vienna, read simply, "Stadium Graz Liebenau," as it was known before it was renamed in Schwarzenegger's honor in 1997.

The overnight removal caught locals by surprise.

"Arnie banished from the stadium's name," was the headline in the Graz daily Kleine Zeitung Monday.

Calls to the city hall in Graz went unanswered on Monday, a national holiday.

Last week, Graz Mayor Siegfried Nagl wrote to Schwarzenegger urging him to reconsider his decision to cut ties to the city and to keep the ring. Nagl said he reassured Schwarzenegger that most local residents still admire him despite fierce opposition to his pro-death penalty stance.

Nagl said he was worried that severing ties to Schwarzenegger, one of Austria's most famous sons, potentially could cost the city millions in tourist revenue.

But the movement to scrap Schwarzenegger's name from the stadium, led by local officials of the pacifist Green Party, had gained momentum in recent weeks, and a majority of the city council in Graz was said to support the idea.

The ring arrived at Graz's city hall late last week, and officials were considering putting it on display at a local museum, Nagl told the weekly newspaper Die Woche.

Many Europeans have scorned the United States' use of capital punishment in general, and Schwarzenegger's refusal to grant clemency to convicts on California's death row in particular. They are now waiting to see how Schwarzenegger deals with the scheduled January 17 execution of a 75-year-old inmate.

Schwarzenegger was born in 1947 in the village of Thal just outside Graz, where he began his bodybuilding career. He emigrated to the United States in 1968 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1984, but has retained his Austrian citizenship.

SStarkville Smoking Ban Gains Steam Among Some City Officials

2005-12-22T11:52:00.000-06:00

By Paul Sims,psims@cdispatch.com

STARKVILLE - At least two Starkville aldermen are leaning toward passage of an ordinance restricting smoking in public places, while at least two others are still listening to public input, although they acknowledge most people with whom they've talked support the move.

While saying he will keep an open mind, Vice Mayor and Ward 6 Alderman Roy A. Perkins says he's strongly in favor of passage of an ordinance “that provides for a smoke-free Starkville.”

“The smoke-free ordinance is going to provide a healthy environment,” Perkins said.

In November, members of the grass-roots group “Breathe Free Starkville” presented a draft ordinance banning smoking in all public places in the city, including bars and restaurants, citing a health benefit to the community. At the Board of Aldermen's Dec. 6 meeting, restaurant owners objected to the ban, saying it could cripple business by driving it to other communities and create governmental intrusion.

If the ordinance is enacted, Starkville - the home of Mississippi State University - would join at least five other Southeastern Conference communities with at least some restrictions on smoking in public places.

Perkins believes the ordinance is in the community's best interest and doesn't think the ban would push smokers out of the city's eating establishments.

“People who smoke are going to continue to go to restaurants .... I just think that the business climate will continue at its current level,” Perkins said.

Perkins also thinks the board should consider the matter in a straight up-or-down vote rather than going the route of a referendum.

While saying “I always believe the people ... should have a strong voice in government,” Perkins said he doesn't think it's a matter on which to spend the taxpayers' money.

Such a vote would be non-binding, said Ward 3 Alderman P.C. “Mac” McLaurin. McLaurin agrees that a vote “may be an expense that might be insecure.”

The board won't take action on the subject until after the Jan. 19 town hall meeting at 6 p.m. at the Greensboro Center, McLaurin said.

McLaurin says the overwhelming number of people he's had contact with support the ban, but he wants to hear the public input at the town hall meeting and give some consideration to a few of the issues members of the Starkville Restaurant Association have raised.

However, “My inclination at the moment is to support the ban barring something unusual occurring,” McLaurin said.

Both McLaurin and Perkins say the proposed ordinance may need some fine-tuning.

Ward 1 Alderman Sumner Davis says he also wants to hear the public's input at the forum and then “try to make a reasoned and logical decision.”

“Both sides make valid points,” Davis said, adding aldermen have “no clear-cut, easy answer.”

Davis says he hasn't thought through the mechanism by which the board might consider the subject.

“Right now, I'm listening,” said Ward 5 Alderman Matt Cox.

“Whatever we do should be right for Starkville,” said Cox, noting 80 to 90 percent of the people with whom he's had contact support the ordinance.

After Jan. 19, the board will have four choices - do nothing, act on the proposal, draft a new one or send the matter to the people for a vote, Cox said.

Canadian Court Lifts Ban on ‘Swingers’ Clubs

2005-12-22T10:59:00.000-06:00

Group sex among consenting adults not a threat to society, it says

OTTAWA - Group sex among consenting adults is neither prostitution nor a threat to society, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on Wednesday as it lifted a ban on so-called “swingers” clubs.

In a ruling that radically changes the way courts determine what poses a threat to the population, the top court threw out the conviction of a Montreal man who ran a club where members could have group sex in a private room behind locked doors.

“Consensual conduct behind code-locked doors can hardly be supposed to jeopardize a society as vigorous and tolerant as Canadian society,” said the opinion of the seven-to-two majority, written by Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin.

The decision does not affect laws against prostitution because no money changed hands among the adults having sex.

‘Bawdy house’ proprietor's appeal
The court was reviewing an appeal by Jean-Paul Labaye, who ran the L’Orage (Thunderstorm) club. He had been convicted in 1999 of running a “bawdy house” — defined as a place where prostitution or acts of public indecency took place.

Labaye — who is still running L’Orage despite his earlier conviction — said he was relieved, and would now go ahead with a new venture with backing from a group of Florida investors.

“We hope clients will be more calm. This will probably lead the way to a good future,” he told reporters, saying he was looking at adding a Jacuzzi and a swimming pool.

Labaye said he had about 2,000 regular clients who paid around $20 ($17 U.S.) a year for a membership card.

Lawyers for Labaye and the owner of another swingers’ club in Montreal argued that consensual sex among groups of adults behind closed doors was neither indecent or a risk to society.

The Supreme Court judges agreed.

“Criminal indecency or obscenity must rest on actual harm or a significant risk of harm to individuals or society. The Crown failed to establish this essential element of the offense. (Its) case must therefore fail,” McLachlin wrote.

In indecency cases, Canadian courts have traditionally probed whether the acts in question “breached the rules of conduct necessary for the proper functioning of society”. The Supreme Court ruled that from now on, judges should pay more attention to whether society would be actively harmed.

Deviant, maybe, but not dangerous
This seemed to ensure there could be no repeat of Labaye’s original conviction for causing “social harm” by allowing degrading and dehumanizing group sex to take place.

The judges said that just because most Canadians might disapprove of swingers’ clubs, this did not necessarily mean the establishments were socially dangerous.

“The causal link between images of sexuality and anti-social behavior cannot be assumed. Attitudes in themselves are not crimes, however deviant they may be or disgusting they may appear,” the judges said, noting that no one had been pressured to have sex or had paid for sex in the cases the court considered.

“The autonomy and liberty of members of the public was not affected by unwanted confrontation with the sexual activity in question ... only those already disposed to this sort of sexual activity were allowed to participate and watch,” they said.

They also dismissed the idea — raised during Labaye’s original trial — that group sex was dangerous because it could result in the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

“Sex that is not indecent can transmit disease while indecent sex might not,” they ruled.

Grand Casino pulling out of Gulfport, will remain in Biloxi

2005-12-21T15:59:00.000-06:00

GULFPORT — Harrah's Entertainment will not rebuild its Grand Casino in Gulfport, but will concentrate on its resort project in Biloxi, company officials say.

Copa Casino, which operated in the shadow of Grand Casino Gulfport for years, will buy the Grand Casino site and rebuild there. Gulfside Casino Partnership owns Copa Casino, which was located on land of the Port of Gulfport before Hurricane Katrina struck on Aug. 29.

"We're going to build back as fine as anything on the coast," said Rick Carter, who co-owns the Copa with Terry Green. "We're going to do whatever is best suited for the property and do whatever the city leaders of Gulfport want us to do."

Harrah's is selling all its Gulfport land and buildings to the Copa, including two hotels and real estate along U.S. 90.

The Copa also will acquire the land that Harrah's leases from the State Port of Gulfport south of U.S. 90, about 14 acres.

The purchase price was not disclosed. The sale is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2006.

Harrah's, the world's largest casino company, operates Grand Casino Biloxi, which was destroyed by the hurricane. It also owns casinos in Tunica County.

The Legislature has approved inland casinos along the Gulf Coast north of U.S. 90, but Gulfport Mayor Brent Warr is opposed to putting casinos inland.

On Tuesday, Warr said, "The sales taxes in the city are up and we are not depending upon sales taxes from casinos."

Anthony Sanfilippo, president of Harrah's operations in the central United States, said Tuesday that Warr's opposition was not the reason the company decided to pull out of Gulfport.

Sanfilippo said he recently met with the mayor and he "completely understood" his desire to plan for the future and reassess the city's strategic plans.

He said Harrah's will rebuild its Biloxi property from the ground up.

"We are fully committed to this state and are excited about the opportunity to design and develop a first-class resort at our Biloxi site that will complement our substantial entertainment offerings in northwest Mississippi.

"And by selling these assets to our neighbors in Gulfport, we will give the owners of the Copa site the additional space they need to develop an ambitious project of their own. This agreement is a significant step toward the rebuilding of the Mississippi Gulf Coast," Sanfilippo said.

After its merger with Caesars Entertainment this year, Harrah's wound up with casinos in Lake Charles, New Orleans, Gulfport and Biloxi. All are closed because of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, but the New Orleans property will reopen in February.

Sanfilippo said Harrah's employees who worked at the New Orleans property will be given first priority for jobs with the reopening. Harrah's employees who had worked at the Mississippi Gulf Coast and Lake Charles, La., properties will be given second priority in hiring.

Iran Bans Western Music

2005-12-19T17:14:00.000-06:00

Ruling takes country back to Khomeini days

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has banned Western music from Iran's radio and TV stations, reviving one of the harshest cultural decrees from the early days of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Songs such as George Michael's "Careless Whisper," Eric Clapton's "Rush" and the Eagles' "Hotel California" have regularly accompanied Iranian broadcasts, as do tunes by saxophonist Kenny G.

But the official IRAN Persian daily reported Monday that Ahmadinejad, as head of Iran's Supreme Cultural Revolutionary Council, ordered the enactment of an October ruling by the council to ban Western music.

"Blocking indecent and Western music from the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting is required," according to a statement on the council's official Web site.

Ahmadinejad's order means broadcasters must execute the decree and prepare a report on its implementation within six months, according to the newspaper.

"This is terrible," said Iranian guitarist Babak Riahipour, whose music was played occasionally on state radio and TV. "The decision shows a lack of knowledge and experience."

Music was outlawed as un-Islamic by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini soon after the revolution. But as the fervor of the revolution started to fade, light classical music was allowed on radio and television. Some public concerts reappeared in the late 1980s.

Western music, films and clothing are widely available in Iran, and hip-hop can be heard on Tehran's streets, blaring from car speakers or from music shops. Bootleg videos and DVDs of films banned by the state are widely available on the black market.

After eight years of reformist-led rule in Iran, Ahmadinejad won office in August on a platform of reverting to ultraconservative principles promoted by the revolution.

Since then, Ahmadinejad has jettisoned Iran's moderation in foreign policy and pursued a purge in the government, replacing pragmatic veterans with former military commanders and inexperienced religious hard-liners.

He also has issued stinging criticisms of Israel, called for the Jewish state to be "wiped off the map" and described the Nazi Holocaust as a "myth." (Full story)

International concerns are high over Iran's nuclear program, with the United States accusing Tehran of pursuing an atomic weapons program. Iran denies the claims.

During his presidential campaign, Ahmadinejad also promised to confront what he called the Western cultural invasion and promote Islamic values.

The latest media ban also includes censorship of content of films.

"Supervision of content from films, TV series and their voice-overs is emphasized in order to support spiritual cinema and to eliminate triteness and violence," the council said in a statement on its Web site explaining its October ruling.

The council has also issued a ban on foreign movies that promote "arrogant powers," an apparent reference to the United States.

Report: Cell phone talking while driving on the rise

2005-12-19T09:10:00.000-06:00

WASHINGTON (AP) -- More people than ever are turning their cars into personal phone booths, with a million and a half drivers gabbing on cell phones at any given time. Women and young people are the most common yakkers.

About 10 percent of the people on the road during the day are using cell phones, up from 8 percent in 2004, the government reported Thursday.

Six percent of drivers were holding the phones to their ears, up from 5 percent last year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which issued the report, recommends that motorists use cell phones while driving only during an emergency.

Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia prohibit talking on hand-held cell phones while driving. The new data could add fuel to the debate over whether drivers should be limited in their use of cell phones on the nation's highways.

Cities such as Chicago and Santa Fe, New Mexico, require handsfree devices in automobiles. But eight states -- Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma and Oregon -- bar local governments from restricting cell phone use in vehicles, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Researchers have tried to figure out the possible risks of driving and dialing. A study published by the British Medical Journal in July found drivers using cell phones were four times as likely to get into a crash that could cause injuries serious enough to land them in the hospital.

But the study, conducted by the Virginia-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, suggested that using a handsfree device instead of a hand-held phone may not necessarily improve safety. Researchers found that both phone types increased the risk.

Industry officials contend cell phones are just one form of distraction: many drivers eat fast food, push buttons on their stereo, apply makeup or talk to other passengers.

"Talking on a cell phone is one of many possible distractions and by narrowly focusing on just this one could create a false sense of security with drivers," said John Walls, spokesman for CTIA -- The Wireless Association.

Matt Sundeen of the National Conference of State Legislatures said state lawmakers have lacked the kind of conclusive data that was used in the past to bolster arguments for tougher drunken driving or seat belt laws.

"You don't have that wide body of accepted evidence yet on the driver distraction debate," Sundeen said.

The NHTSA survey was conducted between June 6 and June 25 at 1,200 road sites across the nation. Trained observers watched vehicles go by and charted what the driver was doing. The ages of drivers are estimates based on their observations.

The survey found that 10 percent of drivers between 16 and 24 were holding cell phones to their ears, compared with 8 percent in 2004. Only 1 percent of drivers ages 70 and above were using handheld cell phones.

Many states have sought restrictions for young drivers using cell phones. Ten states and the District of Columbia carry the prohibitions, with many of the laws approved in the past year.

The National Transportation Safety Board, meanwhile, voted in September to recommend that all states make it illegal for teenagers and new drivers to talk on the phone while driving.

Brian Schaffner, 24, who works for a political consulting firm in Washington, D.C., said his cell phone is "almost a part of me" and admits using it behind the wheel. But he doesn't think it affects his driving.

"I'm probably young and arrogant, thinking that I can't hurt myself, but for the most part I feel perfectly safe using when I drive," Schaffner said.

Women were more likely than men to use handheld phones behind the wheel, with 8 percent of women driving and talking into their cell phone, compared with 5 percent of men.

For the first time, the government examined drivers manipulating hand-held devices at the wheel, including dialing, typing a text message or playing a video game. Only 0.2 percent of drivers were observed fiddling with the gadgets.

Richard Roy, a state legislator in Connecticut who sponsored the state's ban on handheld devices, predicted the new data would help states pursuing similar laws.

"It will make it easier for other lawmakers to a get a law passed," Roy said.

Tour Benefits Musicians in New Orleans

2005-12-19T08:43:00.000-06:00

Playing music, raising funds

The Associated Press

Willie Nelson (from left) Arlo Guthrie, New Orleans Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and Ramblin' Jack Elliot perform Saturday at the final leg of the Arlo Guthrie & Friends "City of New Orleans" tour in New Orleans to raise money for musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina.

NEW ORLEANS — Folk singer Arlo Guthrie and Willie Nelson gave a sold-out crowd something they've needed since Hurricane Katrina — good music, a good time and a reminder of what they love most about this city.

Guthrie welcomed the crowd late Saturday at legendary Tipitina's, his last performance in a two-week railroad tour to raise money for musicians left homeless and without a place to work after Katrina.

"I'm so happy to be here," Guthrie said, drawing hollers and applause.

Crystal Gross was among the 800 or so people at the benefit concert. She said her apartment in the city survived, but she wanted to do her part to help people who were less fortunate.

"Besides, when else do you get to see Willie Nelson at Tip's?" said Gross, who had moved back to New Orleans in July, about a month before Katrina struck.Gross said the city has been glum since Katrina, but Guthrie and Nelson have changed that, at least for the moment.

"It's so good to see people out again. It's good to see people with smiles on their faces," she said.

Inspired by TV coverage of the hurricane's aftermath and by learning that Amtrak had resumed its "City of New Orleans" service to the city, Guthrie hopped a train in Illinois two weeks ago and scheduled performances along the route with other musicians.His 1972 hit, The City of New Orleans, recounts life on the train, with the chorus "Good morning America, how are you? Don't you know me, I'm your native son, I'm the train they call the City of New Orleans."

Guthrie arrived in New Orleans on Thursday and performed at Tipitina's on Friday with Ramblin' Jack Elliott and others. He added that show after finding out that Saturday night's grand finale performance with Nelson was sold out."We are thrilled that we have been able to make some small dent in all that is wrong down here," Guthrie said.

In an interview before the show, Nelson said he hoped his visit would encourage musicians to return and get the New Orleans music scene back on its feet.

"We want to see them come back," he said, "but I want them to have a place to come back to, a place to live."Nelson took the stage after 11 p.m. and, following his set he joined Guthrie with a stirring rendition of the Steve Goodman song City of New Orleans that Guthrie made popular in 1972. The song was based on a train operated by Illinois Central before the creation of Amtrak. The City of New Orleans name was discontinued in 1971, but Amtrak christened an overnight train that runs much of the same route in 1981.

Money and equipment from the Arlo Guthrie & Friends benefit tour will be donated to performers and to churches and schools that have music programs. Tour spokeswoman Cash Edwards did not have definitive figures on how much the tour has raised.The tour is one of several efforts to help New Orleans' musicians. Singer Harry Connick Jr. and saxophone player Branford Marsalis are working with Habitat for Humanity to create a "village" for musicians who lost their homes to the storm.

Drunken Santas Run Riot in New Zealand

2005-12-18T01:36:00.000-06:00

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- A group of 40 people dressed in Santa Claus outfits, many of them drunk, went on a rampage through Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, robbing stores, assaulting security guards and urinating from highway overpasses, police said Sunday.
The rampage, dubbed "Santarchy," began early Saturday afternoon when the men, wearing ill-fitting Santa costumes, threw beer bottles and urinated on cars from an overpass, said Auckland Central Police spokesman Noreen Hegarty.
She said the men then rushed through a central city park, overturning garbage containers, throwing bottles at passing cars and spraying graffiti on office buildings.
One man climbed the mooring line of a cruise ship before being ordered down by the captain. Other Santas, objecting when the man was arrested, attacked security staff, who were later treated by paramedics, Hegarty said.
The remaining Santas entered another downtown convenience store and carried off beer and soft drinks.
"They came in, said 'Merry Christmas' and then helped themselves," store owner Changa Manakynda said.
Two security guards were treated for cuts after being struck by beer bottles, Hegarty said. Three people, including the man who climbed on the cruise ship, were arrested and charged with drunkenness and disorderly behavior.
Alex Dyer, a spokesman for the group, said Santarchy was a worldwide movement designed to protest the commercialization of Christmas.

2 MS Bars Ranked in Nation's Top 100

2005-12-16T08:40:00.000-06:00

Ground Zero, Eight 75 ranked among Top 100 pubs in nation

By Billy Watkins
bwatkins@clarionledger.com

Clarion-Ledger file photo

Uniqueness and quality of service helped earn Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale a spot on Nightclub & Bar magazine's Top 100 list. The club, which opened in 2001 and offers authentic Delta blues, is co-owned by actor Morgan Freeman and Bill Luckett.

Here's one thing Hurricane Katrina couldn't blow away: Eight 75's spot on the list of Nightclub & Bar trade magazine's Top 100 establishments in the country.

Eight 75 was located in Biloxi's Beau Rivage resort, which was heavily damaged by the storm Aug. 29 and remains closed.

"Because we work ahead, we had time to pull Eight 75 after Katrina hit," says Taylor Rau, editor of the Oxford-based publication. "But the bar was just too good and deserved its place on there. And it's our understanding that it will reopen at the end of August, which is really good news."Eight 75 joins Clarksdale's Ground Zero Blues Club as the only Mississippi watering holes to make the prestigious list.

"I think it's pretty darn exciting when a juke joint in a town of 21,000 people can be listed right up there with places in Miami, New York, Las Vegas and Chicago," says Bill Luckett, who co-owns Ground Zero along with actor Morgan Freeman. "I'm more impressed the more I think about this list."

Joe Ellis/Clarion-Ledger file photo

Eight 75, located in Biloxi's Beau Rivage resort, was named one of the Top 100 nightclubs in the country by Nightclub & Bar magazine. Beau Rivage officials say the resort and the bar should reopen in late August.

The players

Ground Zero Blues Club, Clarksdale. Open: Monday and Tuesday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday 11 a.m.-midnight; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Music performances are held every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings. An open mike jam session along with a blues artist is held each Thursday night.

Eight 75, Biloxi's Beau Rivage resort. Currently closed due to damage from Hurricane Katrina. Scheduled to reopen in late August. Known for its Vegas-style lighting and plush decor.

Nightclub & Bar magazine. Based in Oxford for the past 21 years, it covers every aspect of the nightclub industry. For information, visit www.nightclub.com on the Web.

Eight 75 and Ground Zero Blues Club earned their spots because of uniqueness and quality of service, Rau says.

"There is a widespread appreciation for authentic Delta blues, and we think Ground Zero Blues Club is singlehandedly spurring a lot of interest across the country," he says. "Of course, having Morgan Freeman's name attached to it doesn't hurt, either."

Freeman is attending a film festival in Dubai, located along the Arabian Gulf Coast, and probably hasn't learned of the honor yet, Luckett says.Ground Zero Blues Club opened May 11, 2001 in a 103-year-old building that used to serve a store and cotton company.

"People from Europe approached me about opening an authentic blues club in Mississippi," Luckett recalls. "I got to thinking about that old saying that sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees. They could see something that was right before my eyes.

Clarion-Ledger file photo

Ground Zero Blues Club occupies a historic building in Clarksdale.

"Then the roof fell in on a club that Morgan and I used to enjoy frequenting (The Crossroads in Clarksdale) and had to close. So it was up to us to replicate an old juke joint to help produce and perpetuate blues music."

The club has been featured on documentaries, country music videos and news reports on CNN and The Food Network.

"Seems like there is always a camera rolling in here," says Ground Zero manager Rachel Lawton.Some celebrities who have visited Ground Zero: Elvis Costello, Robert Plant, Paul Simon and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Eight 75 — which got its name from its address, 875 Beach Boulevard — "was very prolific with its food and beverage operations, added a nice touch of flair and pizazz to the casino overall. It had state-of-the-art lighting, design and decor," Rau says.And it will have it again, advises Mary Cracchiolo, Beau Rivage's assistant director of public affairs.

"Things are subject to change, but as it stands right now the casino will be back Aug. 29, and that is supposed to include Eight 75," she says.

Cracchiolo says she is "honored" by the club's inclusion on the list but not totally surprised."It's a very contemporary nightclub that could hold up to any in Vegas," she says. "It appeals to hip young crowds and also to professionals meeting there for pre-theater drinks. It has it all — plus couches, plasma TV screens and real quality cocktails that our staff learned exactly how to make."

Several factors were taken into consideration while compiling the list, Rau says."It could've been a list of 1,000," Rau says. "Pairing it down was a tough, painful process. But a few things that might keep somebody out: If they're not proficient with marketing, advertising and promotion. If they're not proactive in making a name for themselves in the industry. A poor attitude toward their patrons.

"What we looked at was annual revenue; marketing and ad promotional abilities, through network feedback from guests; uniqueness — in other words, if it's a theme club, is it really going to stand out in the club's locale."

At least four theme clubs made the cut. 115 Bourbon Street Pub is located in Chicago "but has one of the largest and best Mardi Gras parties in the United States," Rau says.B.E.D in Miami offers its patrons plush beds instead of tables and chairs.

Club Deep in Miami features a see-through dance floor located above an aquarium holding several species of fish, including sharks.Beach Bar at the W Hotel in San Diego is a rooftop lounge with sand on the floor and a full-sized volleyball court.

Rau already has heard from several angry nightclub owners, wondering why their nightspots weren't included.

"I tried to be as soft as possible, but I'm very candid," he says. "Sometimes I have to say 'We simply haven't seen an effective means of getting your name out there.' Most of the time they listen because they know we have a pretty good network out there."Nightclub & Bar is celebrating its 21st year in print.

Rau and his staff also produce two other monthly magazines: Beverage Retailer and Salud! y Buen Provecho, a magazine aimed at Latinos. They circulate nationwide and in Canada, Asia and South America."Our primary readers are owners or managers of nightclubs and bars," says Rau, who attended journalism school at the University of Mississippi. "Bartenders. Servers. A lot of supply companies that make serving trays and things like that."

The stories in the current issue range from hard news topics such as McCain Foods earning $5.6 billion in its most recent fiscal year, which ended in June, to a feature about George's Majestic Lounge, a 79-year-old bar in Fayetteville, Ark., known for its library of college yearbooks.

Top 100 nightclubs

1. 115 Bourbon Street Pub (Chicago)
2. 32 Degrees (Philadelphia)
3. AJ's (Destin, Fla.)
4. Ampersand (New Orleans)
5. Ava Lounge (New York)
6. Aria (Boston)
7. Avalon and Spider Club (L.A.)
8. Beach Bar at the W Hotel (San Diego)
9. B.E.D. (Miami)
10. Billy Bob's Texas (Fort Worth, Texas)
11. Blue Martini (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.)
12. Cabo Wabo Cantina (Lake Tahoe, Nev.)
13. Caramel Bar and Lounge (Las Vegas)
14. Carlos & Charlie's (Lake Travis, Texas)
15. Carousel Bar (New Orleans)
16. Casbah (Atlantic City, N.J.)
17. Chilkoot Charlies's (Anchorage, Alaska)
18. Club Chameleon (Las Vegas)
19. Club Deep (Miami)
20. Coyote Ugly (New York)
21. Crobar (New York)
22. Dave & Buster's (Dallas)
23. Denim (Philadelphia)
24. Dream (Washington, D.C.)
25. e4 (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
26. Eight 75 (Biloxi, Miss.)
27. Elements, the Lounge (Sea Bright, N.J.)
28. Eleven50 (Atlanta)
29. ESPN Zone (Baltimore)
30. Elysium (Detroit)
31. Excalibur (Chicago)
32. Fado Irish Pub (Atlanta)
33. First Avenue (Minneapolis)
34. Flatiron Lounge (New York)
35. Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce (Hollywood, Calif. and Las Vegas)
36. Fox Sports Grill (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
37. Vicci (Austin, Texas)
38. Galapagos (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
39. ghostbar (Las Vegas)
40. Green Parrot (Key West, Fla.)
41. Good Hurt (Los Angeles)
42. Ground Zero Blues Club (Clarksdale, Miss.)
43. House of Blues (New Orleans)
44. ICE (Las Vegas)
45. Jillian's (Dallas)
46. Jimmy'z At The Forge (Miami)
47. Kahunaville (Wilmington, Del.)
48. Key Club (Hollywood, Calif.)
49. Le Passage (Chicago)
50. Light (Las Vegas)
51. Long Street (Columbus, Ohio)
52. Lotus (New York)
53. Mango's Tropical Cafe (Miami)
54. Marquee (New York)
55. Medusa (Seattle)
56. Mercy Wine Bar (Addison, Texas)
57. Midnight Rodeo (San Antonio)/Wild West (Houston)
58. Mickey's Hangover (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
59. Mynt (Miami)
60. Mie N Yu (Washington, D.C.)
61. Nikki Beach (Miami)
62. Ocean Club (Honolulu, Hawaii.)
63. Pangea/The Gryphon (Hollywood, Fla.)
64. Pat O'Brien's (New Orleans)
65. Prey (Los Angeles)
66. Pure (Las Vegas)
67. Pin-Up Bowl (St. Louis, Mo.)
68. Purple Moon (Flint, Mich.)
69. Rain in the Desert (Las Vegas)
70. Remote Lounge (New York)
71. Rise (Denver, Colo.)
72. RockStar (soon to be renamed) (Destin, Fla.)
73. rumjungle (Las Vegas)
74. Senses (Memphis, Tenn.)
75. Sharkeez (Huntington Beach, Calif.)
76. Shelter (Los Angeles)
77. Sherlock's Baker Street Pub (Houston)
78. Six (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
79. Sloppy Joe's (Key West, Fla.)
80. Studio 54 (Las Vegas)
81. Tabu Ultra Lounge (Las Vegas)
82. The Abbey (West Hollywood, Calif.)
83. the bosco (Ferndale, Mich.)
84. The Crocodile Cafe (Seattle)
85. The Dresden Room (Los Angeles)
86. The Funky Buddha Lounge (Chicago)
87. The Greene Turtle (Ocean City, Md.)
88. The Library Bar & Grill (Tempe, Ariz.)
89. The New Crown & Anchor (Provincetown, Mass.)
90. The Ranch (Midland, Texas)
91. The Viper Room (Los Angeles)
92. Tipitina's (New Orleans)
93. Tobacco Road (Miami)
94. Tongue & Groove (Atlanta)
95. Tootsie's Orchid Lounge (Nashville, Tenn.)
96. Top of the Mark (San Francisco)
97. Vine Street Lounge (Los Angeles)
98. Whiskey Blue (Los Angeles)
99. World Bar (New York)
100. XYZ (Los Angeles)

Beer-for-votes Conviction Upheld

2005-12-16T08:29:00.000-06:00

The state Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of a Tallahatchie County man who offered beer and money in a bid to get people to vote by absentee ballot in a 2003 election.

Greg Eason was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $500 in November 2004 on one count of conspiracy and eight counts of voter fraud.

According to the indictment, Eason and Minnie Saulsberry paid people $5 to $10 or provided two or three beers in exchange for votes. The incidents occurred before the Aug. 26, 2003, runoff election for Tallahatchie County supervisor.According to the court record, Saulsberry was sentenced to one year probation and fined $100. She had testified against Eason.

On appeal, Eason argued he was not allowed to attack Saulsberry's bias against him.Appeals Judge Billy Bridges, writing Tuesday for the court, said the jurors were told that Saulsberry had pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against Eason.

Bridges said defendants have the right to confront witnesses against them, and the trial judge did not violate that right.

NCAA Reverses Ruling: Sounds Fishy to Me

2005-12-15T17:03:00.000-06:00

All Tubby Smith had to do was clean out his desk. Had he done that then this whole Randolph Morris mess would have been solved a lot sooner.

Sure, the suspension would have been the same -- 14 games or roughly half the season for the Kentucky sophomore -- but the entire process could have been wrapped up long ago. Morris might not have ever gone through a week of being told he couldn't play for the 2005-06 season. It was only a week before Thursday's revised ruling but it still had to sting not knowing if he could play this season.

The NCAA requested over the summer the infamous fax that Morris sent to Smith on May 9, 2005, showing that his intentions were to test the process instead of actually leaving for good and signing with an agent.

"We had asked for it but never received a copy of it,'' said Wally Renfro, spokesperson for the NCAA.

So what happened?

According to Kentucky, the fax was misplaced. Smith found it while rifling through his desk this week.

Renfro wanted to make sure it was clear: the new decision to suspend Morris for 14 games instead of the entire season wasn't an appeal to the Student Athlete Reinstatement Committee. Instead, because this was new information, it was a re-consideration from the NCAA staff.

The three-sentence fax, the finding of which could go down as Kentucky's Holy Grail this season if Morris ends up being a savior for the post-challenged Wildcats, put a different spin on Morris' intent.

After thanking the staff for all of their efforts, the last two sentences saved Morris' season when he stated: "I would like to announce my intentions to 'test the waters' in the 2005 NBA draft. My intent is not to obtain an agent so as to maintain my collegiate eligibility.''

The case Morris and Kentucky made revolved around the fact that if he really wanted to leave for good then he would have signed with SFX instead of simply just asking for their advice. Morris claimed he wasn't fully aware of the rules when he took expenses in advance, $7,328.96 from nine NBA teams, as well as going to an SFX-paid $75 workout at a Chicago health club the week of the NBA draft camp. SFX then put out a news release saying Morris was staying in the draft. It wasn't until he went undrafted that Morris decided he should go back to Kentucky.

Morris stated in his initial appeal that he wanted to play college basketball and didn't discuss his options with Smith because of the difficulties of making that call. Not using Kentucky as a sounding board and seeking advice from an agent hurt his case with the NCAA.

The Morris family also included a canceled check for $2,000 to the United Negro College Fund to show that it had started a three-step payment process to pay back the workout expenses. A payment schedule was included with the second payment of $2,500 due on Jan. 31, 2006 and one for $2,828.96 set for March 7, 2006.

Morris said in his personal letter to the NCAA that his intention was to remain at Kentucky for the rest of his eligibility.

When informed of the decision Thursday, Morris was naturally excited. He has practiced throughout the season. He still can't travel until he is eligible. His first game will be the SEC opener against Vanderbilt in Lexington Jan. 10.

Morris will miss Saturday's game against Louisville, Iona (Dec. 23), Ohio (Dec. 30 in Cincinnati), Central Florida (Jan. 3) and at Kansas (Jan. 7).

The Wildcats have been searching for answers in the post. Morris averaged 8.8 points a game last season and clearly wasn't NBA worthy since no team had interest. But he is talented enough to help the Wildcats (6-3), who were in a desperate state for post defense, rebounding and scoring after suffering a 26-point loss to rival Indiana last Saturday in Indianapolis.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com

Yes, I'll Choose Hanging

2005-12-15T13:19:00.000-06:00

Methods of Execution Used by States
(click the state to get specific information about the methods authorized)

Method	# of executions by method since 1976	# of states authorizing method	Jurisdictions that Authorize
Lethal Injection	836	37* states + U.S. Military and U.S. Gov't	Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado,Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming, U.S. Military, U.S. Government New York's death penalty was declared unconstitutional on June 24, 2004.
Electrocution	152	10 states (Nebraska is the only state that requires electrocution)	Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, [Illinois], Kentucky, Nebraska, [Oklahoma], South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia
Gas Chamber	11	5 states (all have lethal injection as an alternative method)	Arizona, California, Maryland, Missouri, [Wyoming]
Hanging	3	2 states (all have lethal injection as an alternative method)	New Hampshire, Washington
Firing Squad	2	2* states (all have lethal injection as an alternative method)	Idaho, [Oklahoma], Utah Utah offers the firing squad only for inmates who chose this method prior to its elimination as an option.

Convict's Last Words Accuse His Son

2005-12-15T08:35:00.000-06:00

By Kathleen Baydala and Jimmie Gates

J.D. Schwalm/The Clarion-Ledger

Despite the cold steady rain, protesters gathered outside the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman on Wednesday evening to pray for John B. Nixon Sr. and Virginia Tucker, the woman he was hired to kill in 1985. Nixon was executed Wednesday evening after spending 20 years on death row.

PARCHMAN — Condemned killer John B. Nixon Sr. said the state was illegally killing him as needles were being inserted into his arms inside the execution chamber on Wednesday evening.

"I did not kill Virginia Tucker. I know within my heart who did, and it hurts me in my heart to acknowledge it was a son of mine and a Spanish friend of his and another person in Jackson," Nixon said while inside the chamber.

Strapped to a gurney, Nixon began to hum a little and moved his head to the left. The former Utica mechanic sighed twice and drifted out of consciousness from the lethal injection, ending Mississippi's first execution in three years.

The state medical examiner pronounced Nixon dead at 6:25:08 p.m.

"It was quick and fast," said Rankin County Sheriff Ronnie Pennington, who witnessed the execution.

Rick Guy/The Clarion-Ledger

Elena Voisin, 8, of Jackson bows her head Wednesday evening at Smith Park in downtown Jackson during a candlelight vigil in remembrance of Virginia Tucker and the man convicted of her murder, John B. Nixon Sr. Nixon was the seventh person executed in Mississippi since the death penalty resumed in 1976.

By the numbers

5

U.S. prisoners executed this month

60

U.S. prisoners executed in 2005

1,004

People executed in U.S. since death penalty resumed in 1976

Source: National Coalition To Abolish The Death Penalty

Nixon was convicted in Tucker's 1985 slaying inside her Brandon home and had been on death row for about two decades at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman in Sunflower County.

"I wish to thank God for the opportunity to have lived long enough to witness this day," said Joey Ponthieux, the victim's son, in a written statement.

At age 77, he became the oldest person executed in the United States since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.Gilbert Jimenez, who later testified against Nixon, and Nixon's sons, John B. Nixon Jr. and Henry L. Nixon, also were convicted in connection with the murder. All three have been released from prison.

Nixon and three others were paid $1,000 each by Elster J. Ponthieux, Joey Ponthieux's father and the victim's ex-husband, to commit the crime.Elster Ponthieux is serving a life sentence for capital murder at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Rankin County.

Members of Nixon's family, including his sister, Ruth Lee, witnessed the execution. According to witnesses, Nixon's family sobbed quietly. They did not comment afterward.

One of Nixon's daughters, Dorothy Nixon-Clark, remained at her home in Texas on Wednesday but said in a news release that her father's execution "is just and called for. My sympathies go with the remaining family of the victim," said Nixon-Clark, who also wrote about her father's "violent outbursts towards anyone in his path."Thomas Tucker and Joey Ponthieux also witnessed the execution. Tucker remained silent, and Ponthieux said a quick prayer.

For more than two decades, Nixon appealed his conviction several times. Gov. Haley Barbour denied his request for clemency Sunday. The U.S. Supreme Court denied his petition for a stay of execution Wednesday morning.Daryl Neely, Barbour's policy adviser and representative at the execution, said Nixon told him around 5:45 p.m. that he was "ready to go and face what he had coming."

"The fact that he faced execution at age 77 is a result of his own choices," Joey Ponthieux said in his statement. "The idea that any condemned prisoner should have their execution stayed solely on the basis of age, rather than on fact and evidence, is an affront to our legal system and is quite frankly, repugnant."

Throughout the day, Nixon's mood changed, according to corrections officials.In the morning, officers reported he was in a good mood and chatting. But, as the execution time neared, Nixon became somber.

"He's not playing anymore," Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps said earlier. "Time is caving in on Mr. Nixon, and it appears to me that he is realizing that."Epps and officials observed Nixon in Unit 17 of the state penitentiary during a portion of his visitation with family members Wednesday afternoon.

The quote Nixon gave his attorneys to pass on — "That I was where I would be/then should I be where I am not/here I am where I must be/where I would be I cannot" — was taken from a Mother Goose poem titled Katy Cruel.

A white van, serving as a hearse, carried Nixon's body away.One of his sisters claimed the body, Epps said.

Others involved Elster J. Ponthieux is serving a life sentence for ordering John B. Nixon Sr. to kill his ex-wife, Virginia Ponthieux Tucker. He is housed at Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Rankin County and was first eligible for parole in January 1996. His next parole hearing is in April.

John B. Nixon Jr., son of John B. Nixon Sr., was not at the home when Virginia Tucker was killed. He was released from prison Nov. 25,1989, after serving 3 1/2 years of a five-year sentence for accessory after the fact to capital murder.

Henry L. Nixon, son of John B. Nixon Sr., chased Thomas Tucker as he escaped from the crime scene, firing a shot that grazed his head. He was released from prison June 30, 1995, after serving nine years of a 20-year sentence for conspiracy to commit capital murder.

Gilbert Jimenez wrestled Virginia Tucker to the ground before she was shot by John B. Nixon Sr. Jimenez agreed to a plea bargain and testified against Nixon Sr. He was released from prison Oct. 28,1994, after serving about 8 1/2 years for conspiracy to commit capital murder.

Development Anticipated in Madison

2005-12-14T08:50:00.000-06:00

Development anticipated

Madison's Grandview Boulevard nearly ready to open

By Sylvain Metz
smetz@clarionledger.com

J.D. Schwalm/The Clarion-Ledger

Preparations continue for the opening of additional sections of Grandview Avenue in Madison on Tuesday. The roadway has received new asphalt and landscaping.

MADISON — The southern portion of Madison's latest commercial thoroughfare may be several weeks from opening, but that hasn't prevented motorists from dodging road signs to help break in the new four-lane Grandview Boulevard .

Stretching from Madison Avenue north to the southern end of the Wal-Mart Supercenter parking lot on the east side of I-55, this connecting strip will give motorists a north-south corridor between Mississippi 463 down to West Jackson Street in Ridgeland.

Plans call for widening Cotton Hill Road and Sunnybrook Road to help accommodate traffic. Work on that portion of the corridor is at least 18 months away, according to Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler.

The extension of Grandview will open up 150 acres for commercial development, Butler said.

"A lot of people are speculating about what will go in there," she said. Butler said she has reviewed five different developers' plans for the city, each of which includes a Target. So, if that's any indication, "I expect to see a sixth Target" proposed, she said.Madison County Developer Buster Bailey, who owns the land, could not be reached for comment.

The growing retail market is a boon for the city and a welcomed convenience for local residents.

It means "I don't have to drive to Jackson for a lot of these things," said Gluckstadt resident Clayton Roberts. "I think it's fantastic."The opening of the road coincides with the opening of the new 17-screen movie theater just south of the Wal-mart Supercenter. The Grandview, a $15 million movie house owned and operated by Malco Theatres of Memphis, is scheduled to open in mid-January.

In addition to movies, the theater will feature an expanded concession stand, Internet cafe with Wi-Fi, an arcade and party room, said Malco sales and marketing coordinator Karen Scott in a statement.Although scheduled to open this past summer, the construction was hampered by Hurricane Katrina, she said.

Looking on the north side of Mississippi 463, road work has proceeded along Galleria Parkway, home to Parkway East.

Begun in June, roadwork is all but completed on the first 2.5- mile stretch of the parkway which reaches to Bear Creek.The parkway opens 360 acres to commercial and residential development.

Developer Dick Ambrosino estimates the road largely will be completed by the end of the year, barring rain delays.The balance of the 4.8-mile parkway, from a point north of Bear Creek up to Weisenberger Road in Gluckstadt, will be built by landowners.

Ambrosino's development incudes a residential subdivision and retail center.

The subdivision, known as Fontanelle, will be a 277-lot development adjacent to the Galleria that will include a variety of upscale homes.The centerpiece will be two lakes, separated by a weir, totaling 15-20 acres stocked with bass and catfish. The 22- to 23-foot-deep lakes, now completed, will feature water fountains.

So far, Ambrosino said he has more than 40 commitments for homes in Phase I, which will total 83 lots.Construction of the Galleria, which will feature a mix of local and national retailers on 150 acres, is expected to start about a year from now, Ambrosino said.

Total investment is estimated about $500 million.

Thousands of Iraqis to vote in U.S.

2005-12-13T15:45:00.000-06:00

DEARBORN, Michigan (AP) -- Akeel AlMosawi was so excited to cast his ballot in the Iraqi national election Tuesday that he arrived at the polling place a half-hour early.

The truck driver was in a group of about 10 voters who stood in line outside a Dearborn banquet hall, waiting for the polls to open at 9 a.m.

"I can't wait. I can't sleep last night," AlMosawi said.

Iraqi expatriates across the globe will help elect Iraq's 275-member National Assembly, which will legislate in the coming four years and choose the first fully constitutional government since the collapse of Saddam Hussein's rule in 2003.

Organizers said they expect tens of thousands of Iraqis to vote Tuesday through Thursday at polling sites around the country, including in Pomona, California; Nashville, Tennessee; and areas outside San Francisco, California; Washington D.C., and Chicago, Illinois.

Election Day for most citizens in Iraq is set for Thursday.

Some Iraqis who live in the United States were planning on traveling hundreds of miles to cast a vote.

"We'll drive 250 miles and be happy about it," said 35-year-old Albert Rasho, who plans to travel with three friends from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Pomona. He left Iraq 15 years ago to avoid mandatory military service under Saddam Hussein. "I want to see my country free after all Saddam did."

Eligible expatriate voters may be U.S. citizens, but must be 18 years old or older, born in Iraq and hold citizenship there. Iraqis born in the United States who can prove their father is Iraqi also may vote.

Like Rasho, many expatriates have not been home since fleeing Iraq. When the U.S. military toppled Hussein, many thought they could soon return and visit family still in the country. But insurgents and suicide bombers have since led daily attacks that have claimed thousands of Iraqi and U.S. lives.

"My family told me not to come because of the situation," said Ridiya Al-Marayati, 62, a Shiite Arab housewife in Pomona who canceled a trip to visit her sister and elderly mother in Baghdad last year.

Only about 10 percent of the estimated 240,000 eligible Iraqi voters in the United States cast ballots last January for a constitutional assembly, Iraq's first free elections in decades.

Organizers expect the numbers will be much higher this time because at stake is a permanent government and expatriates can register and vote on the same day. Last time they had to make two trips.

"We've got people calling from as far away as Canada, saying they plan on coming to vote," said Mosadek Alattar, who is in charge of California voting sites. "This is becoming like a celebration for us."

Skydiver Survives Fall, Gets Baby Surprise

2005-12-13T11:01:00.000-06:00

SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (AP) -- Shayna Richardson was making her first solo skydiving jump when she had trouble with her parachutes and, while falling at about 50 mph, hit face first in a parking lot.

Although badly hurt, she survived -- and doctors treating her injuries discovered she was pregnant. Four surgeries and two months later, Richardson said she and the fetus are doing fine.

"Just this last week we went and saw the doctor and we've got arms, we've got legs. We've got a full face. The baby is moving around just fine. The heart rate looks good. So not only did God save me but he spared this baby," she said.

Richardson, 21, of Joplin, Missouri, was skydiving in Siloam Springs on October 9 when her main parachute failed.

"I heard a snap and I started spinning and I didn't know why. I didn't know what to do to fix it. I didn't know how to make it stop," Richardson told Fort Smith, Arkansas, television station KFSM.

She cut away her primary chute so her reserve could deploy, but it didn't open all the way. She spun out of control, heading straight for the asphalt below.

"At the end I said, 'I'm going to die. I'm going to hit the ground. I'm going to die,"' she said. "I don't remember it. I don't remember hitting the ground. I don't remember the impact or anything that came with it."

Rescuers got her to a hospital in Fayetteville, where Richardson underwent surgery. She broke her pelvis in two places, broke her leg, lost six teeth and now has 15 steel plates.

"I went into the first surgery where they cut me from ear to ear and they cut my face down and they took out all the fractured egg-shelled bones and put in steel plates," Richardson said.

During treatment, doctors found that Richardson was pregnant, which was a surprise to her. She said she would not have jumped had she known.

"To hit the ground belly first -- that's dangerous. I mean at any stage of pregnancy that's dangerous. That's not something you want to do let alone at 50 miles per hour," Richardson said.

Her fall was videotaped and Richardson said she was able to watch it, without qualms.

"I wanted to watch it," said Richardson. "And the whole reason I'm comfortable with watching it because I know how it ends."

Richardson said her due date is June 25. She plans to make her next parachute jump in August.

Police: Campus Leader Held Up Bank

2005-12-13T10:02:00.000-06:00

Sophomore class president allegedly made off with $2,871

BETHLEHEM, Pennsylvania (AP) -- As Lehigh University students prepared for final exams this week, they found themselves grappling with the news that the sophomore class president had been arrested for allegedly robbing a bank.

"I didn't believe it when I first heard it," said Kathryn Susman, an 18-year-old freshman engineering student from Hereford, Maryland.

The robbery occurred Friday afternoon. Authorities said Greg Hogan, 19, handed a note to a teller at a Wachovia Bank branch, saying he had a gun and wanted money.

Hogan, the son of a Baptist minister, was picked up at his fraternity house later that evening and charged with robbery, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.

Police said he got away with $2,871.

One of his frat brothers, Patrick Thornton, described Hogan as "very energetic," the sort of student who would cheer on the college football team wearing body paint.

"It's by far the most interesting story we've ever encountered here," added Thornton, editor The Brown and White, the student newspaper.

The university's student Senate president, Kip Wallen, drove Hogan to the bank, but had no idea that Hogan allegedly intended to rob it, said Wallen's lawyer, Karl Longenbach. Wallen has not been charged.

"I believe once all the facts are reviewed and uncovered, the conclusion will be reached that he (Wallen) had in fact nothing to do with the crimes with which the other individual is charged," Longenbach said.

Police told The Morning Call of Allentown that Hogan admitted robbing the bank. He was released Saturday after posting $100,000 bond, a prison spokesman said. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for January 31.

Hogan did not immediately return a telephone message left Monday by The Associated Press on his cellular telephone voicemail.

Hogan graduated in 2004 from the University School, a private school in the upscale Cleveland suburb of Hunting Valley. His father, the Rev. Gregory J. Hogan, is the pastor of First Baptist Church of Barberton in Barberton, Ohio, and has served as a city councilman in Seven Hills, Ohio.

Hogan also was a former fraternity rush chairman and a cellist in the university's orchestra.

"You have to think of how much he had going for him -- class president, studying at Lehigh," said Steve A. Juisti, 19, a sophomore civil engineering student from Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. "You have to question his reasoning, obviously. The big question is why."

When a student is charged with a crime, the university's Office of Student Conduct, a disciplinary committee of teachers, staff and students, decides what action to take regarding the student's status at the school, said Dina Silver, a school spokeswoman. Sanctions can range from a warning to expulsion.

Tempe, Arizona Wants Wi-Fi for All Residents

2005-12-12T11:58:00.000-06:00

TEMPE, Arizona (AP) -- Call it a municipal status symbol in the digital age: a city blanketed by a wireless Internet network, accessible at competitive prices throughout the town's homes, cafes, offices and parks.

Tempe, the Phoenix suburb that is home to Arizona State University, is due to have wireless Internet available for all of its 160,000 residents in February, becoming the first city of its size in the United States to have Wi-Fi throughout.

Tempe officials hope that by making high-speed Internet as accessible as water or electricity across its 40 square miles, it will attract more technology and biotech companies -- and the young, upwardly mobile employees they bring.

An increasing number of the nation's cities are looking at using Internet access as an economic development tool. Few cities have gotten as far as installing systems, "but most cities are realizing that it may be something that they want to do," said Cheryl Leanza, legislative counsel for the National League of Cities.

Philadelphia is developing a citywide high-speed system with EarthLink Inc. Unlike Philly or Tempe, New Orleans is building a free system, though the network speed will be limited.

The Tempe network is being installed by NeoReach Wireless, a subsidiary of Bethesda, Maryland-based MobilePro Corp. Roughly 400 antenna boxes mounted on light poles throughout the city will be used to stitch together the network, to which NeoReach will sell access, primarily through other providers.

The network uses a so-called "mesh" setup, meaning it passes wireless signals from pole to pole and automatically reroutes transmissions if one of the transmitters breaks down.

Speeds will vary depending on the number of users logged into the same access point.

The network is strong enough only to be picked up outdoors or through one wall, meaning those who want service in their businesses or homes will need a box that serves as a signal booster and router.

The city of Tempe gave the company access to its light poles in exchange for use of the network in transmitting data to and from city offices and vehicles, said Karrie Rockwell, a spokeswoman for NeoReach.

Two hours of free access each day also will be available for Internet users on the Arizona State campus or the nearby Mill Avenue retail district, where the network began a year ago as a pilot project and has proven popular.

Robert Jenkins, 50, sits at a coffee house on Mill Avenue a couple of times a week with his laptop, downloading larger files that take too long at home when he uses his mobile phone to access the Internet.

NeoReach will directly sell service to outdoor users for $3.95 per hour or $29.95 per month. The resellers of NeoReach access have not yet announced pricing, but Rockwell said it will be cheaper than DSL or cable Internet access.

Cable operator Cox Communications Inc. charges $49.95 per month for customers who don't get Cox phone or TV service. Qwest Communications International Inc. charges $44.99 and $54.99 per month, depending on the speed.

Tempe signed a contract with NeoReach after asking for bids -- which prevented it from having to start its own utility and probably quelled potential objections to the city's involvement in a Wi-Fi network.

Elsewhere in the nation, cities have run into heavy resistance from telecom companies, which argue that the free market should dictate the cost and availability of service.

At least 14 states have passed laws limiting municipal Internet service, and other states are expected to consider similar limits, Leanza said. Arizona does not have such a law.

Judge Orders Extension of FEMA Hotel Program

2005-12-12T11:02:00.000-06:00

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AP) -- A government program that put Hurricane Katrina evacuees in hotels while they sought other housing must be extended a month beyond the deadline set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a federal judge ruled Monday.

Judge Stanwood Duval extended the program until February 7.

The temporary restraining order came from a class action lawsuit filed in November by advocates for hurricane victims. Attorneys pressing the lawsuit said FEMA has failed to provide aid to many who qualify and that information on the aid has been slow to reach those who need it most.

Web Site Focuses on Happy News

2005-12-12T09:20:00.000-06:00

DALLAS, Texas (AP) -- Carrie Rodgers is so engrossed by cable-television news shows that her husband calls her a news addict, but lately she has found another source to balance the onslaught of stories about war, crime and natural disasters.

Two or three times a day, the 28-year-old insurance agent in Columbia, South Carolina, turns to a Web site called HappyNews.com.

She often clicks first to a section called "Heroes," which recently featured stories about U.S. troops rescuing two cheetah cubs in Ethiopia and the induction of 12 people into the Hall of Fame for Caring Americans.

"There's so much going on in the world that is so sad," Rodgers said. "You can go anywhere and find depressing news. I'm glad somebody has stepped up and shown there are still good people in the world."

HappyNews is the brainchild of Byron Reese, chief executive of Austin, Texas-based PageWise Inc., which publishes several how-to and advice Web sites. He decided the world needed a refuge from all the unpleasantness served up by newspapers and television news shows, so he launched HappyNews in July.

"This is asking the question, what is news?" Reese said. "News is supposed to give you a view of the world. The news media, the way it has evolved, gives you a distorted view of the world by exaggerating bad news, misery and despair. We're trying to balance out the scale."

On December 2, The New York Times, Washington Post and Los Angeles Times Web sites led with news that 10 U.S. Marines in Iraq had been killed by a bomb, the deadliest attack against American troops there since August.

HappyNews went with "Emily, the stowaway cat, is coming home," about a Wisconsin tabby that got stuck in a cargo container and wound up in France.

Other lead stories on HappyNews recently included: "Man decks house with synchronized lights," and "Washington grape growers reap record harvest."

Some items come from The Associated Press, which HappyNews added last month. Others are rewritten from press releases or come from 150 "citizen journalists," who must follow standards for fairness, accuracy, spelling and grammar, and provide sources so HappyNews can fact-check their stories.

Editor Patricia Meyer and a small staff select about 40 items to post on the site each day. They reject any story that may draw objections from more than 5 percent of their estimated 100,000 regular readers.

Almost all political stories are rejected. Coverage of the war in Iraq has been limited to things such as Marines celebrating Thanksgiving and volunteers sending teddy bears to Iraqi children.

The 30,000 job cuts announced by General Motors Corp. last month? You won't read it in HappyNews, but stories about hiring are welcome. Even sports stories are mostly out of bounds, "because one team wins and one team loses," Reese explained.

The staff favors stories about health, science, the arts and heroes. A new section called HappyLiving offers tips on everything from barbecuing to finding a baby sitter.

The mainstream media has struggled for years with balancing hard news, seen as more important, and softer feature stories. Surveys have shown that many readers want more good news, and newspapers and television have responded by offering more entertainment and celebrity coverage, said Tommy Thomason, director of the journalism school at Texas Christian University.

"Unfortunately, the events we need to respond to as informed citizens are not good," Thomason said. "If you know all about synchronized Christmas lights, that won't help you be informed when you're voting on the people who will lead the country."

Advertisers have been slow to find HappyNews. The only paid ads are mostly unobtrusive Google links on each page. Without divulging figures, Reese acknowledged the site is losing money, but he expressed confidence that eventually it will turn a profit.

As far as readers, Reese said there is no clear geographic pattern -- it doesn't appear that one part of the country likes happy news more than others do -- but about 60 percent of the readers are women.

The company also says it doesn't actively market the site. Carrie Rodgers can't recall exactly how she heard about it a few months ago, but now she sends friends free HappyNews bumper stickers.

Sam Stapp, a security officer in Louisville, Kentucky, stumbled across it while Web surfing a few weeks ago. He enjoyed the story about the Marines' Thanksgiving observation and was appalled by the mainstream media's heavy coverage of the 10 Marines killed in one attack this month.

"It's strongly tilted negative," he said of the mainstream media. "They won't tell you what those same 10 Marines were doing that helped the Iraqi people because nobody cares about that. I'm just sick of it."

3 Ole Miss Students Killed in Crash

2005-12-12T00:03:00.000-06:00

The loss of three female University of Mississippi students early Saturday in a deadly accident on I-55 North near Batesville is the latest calamity to grip the Oxford campus."This is one more terrible tragedy involving the lives of University of Mississippi students," Jeffrey Alford, associate vice chancellor for university relations, said Saturday."The death of a young person is always painful. How many more of these tragedies can we stand?"
Freshman Graham Carson, 18, of Marks; freshman Camille Willis, 19, of Batesville; and sophomore Leslie Pitcock, 19, of Pope died about 1:30 a.m. after they were ejected from a Jeep Cherokee driven by Joshua McDowell, 19, of Courtland, said Lt. Steve Gladney of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol.They were coming back from Friday night's Class 5A high school championship game in Jackson between South Panola and Meridian.
Carson, Willis and Pitcock were not wearing their seat belts, said Gracie Gulledge, Panola County coroner.Carson and Willis died immediately, Gulledge said. Pitcock was flown to a hospital in Memphis and died a few hours later, Gulledge said.McDowell, who was wearing his seat belt, was treated at a hospital in Batesville and released later Saturday, Gulledge said. McDowell was northbound on I-55 when the Jeep left the roadway, went into the median, returned into the northbound lanes, left the roadway on the right side and rolled, Gladney said. He said investigators are trying to determine why the Jeep entered the median. Finals at Ole Miss and most Mississippi colleges and universities concluded Friday. Even so, news of the deaths spread quickly to students and Ole Miss faculty. Friends of the young women said Pitcock was Carson's "big sister" in their sorority, Delta Delta Delta, and Willis was a member of Chi Omega sorority. Big sisters serve as mentors to their little sisters, especially during the younger member's pledgeship but also through life. Lauren Tucker, 20, a junior from Jackson, Tenn., was the sorority big sister of Pitcock."I was supposed to always be there for her (Pitcock), but she was always there for me. I couldn't have picked a better little sis," Tucker said. Pitcock "was always worried if you were having a good day. "I'm going to miss her a whole, whole lot, and I know the sorority is going to miss her a whole lot. I talked to her Sunday. ... She was saying how she couldn't believe how fast her first year and a half of college had gone by," Tucker said. Pitcock was majoring in family and consumer sciences and management and marketing, Tucker said. She was a graduate of Senatobia Junior-Senior High. Delta Delta Delta member Lindsey Phyfer, a junior from Jackson, Miss., said Carson "was just always full of energy. She just always seemed like she was happy."Pitcock, she said, "was just really artistic. Today at the Tri Delta house, I was showing our maids Leslie's picture on the composite, and they all recognized her because they said they remembered her smiling face.""Leslie and Camille (Willis) were best buddies. Graham and Camille were really close, too," Phyfer said.
"It's (Monday, the day of all three women's funerals) just going to be a long day."Ole Miss has had more than its share of tragedies in recent years, including the deaths of three male students in an August 2004 fraternity house fire and the violent killings of two female students, one in 2004 and another last month. Longtime Dean of Students Sparky Reardon knew those who died and their families."They were just three wonderful young women," Reardon said. "As a community, spread out as we are right now during the holidays, we have one ache in our hearts."You know that you do everything you can to love them while they are here, and you encourage them to be careful, especially during the holidays," Reardon said. Leslie Pitcock had come to him recently to inquire about studying abroad next summer in Italy, a country Reardon has visited. "She was very interested in studying abroad," Reardon said. Pitcock was a frequent customer at Lamia's Boutique in Highland Village in Jackson. Sandra Strain, a member of the family that operates the business, sobbed Saturday. "She was just friends with everybody," Strain said about the tall, dark-haired girl. "She felt sorry for people who were picked on ... She always felt sorry for the underdog . I tell you, I have never met anyone like this in my life."At Saturday's playoff in Jackson for the Class 1A state high school football championship, the three women were remembered in the pregame prayer.

Katrina Victims Held for Meth

2005-12-12T00:01:00.000-06:00

Police find lab operating in evacuees' hotel room

GULF SHORES, Ala. — Two Hurricane Katrina evacuees from Pascagoula were arrested and charged after they were found cooking methamphetamine in a motel room here paid for by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, authorities said.Held on $1 million bond each late Saturday on charges of unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance were Jason Alan Cook, 22, and Jamie Lyn Murphy, 25.Cook also is being held on a $5,000 bond on other drug-related charges; Murphy is being held on $6,000 bond on other drug-related charges, officials at the Baldwin County Jail said Saturday night.Gulf Shores Police narcotics investigator Tommy Green said the man and woman were charged with manufacturing the controlled substance methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.According to Green, Cook was pulled over for a traffic violation Friday morning, and the arresting officer found he was in possession of meth and drug paraphernalia.
Cook led police back to the Phoenix All Suites, where investigators found Murphy and a makeshift meth lab, Green said."It was a very dangerous, volatile situation that could've been tragic if they'd have had a fire or explosion," he said.Murphy, who also is charged with possession of marijuana, had rented the room through a FEMA hurricane displacement program, according to Gulf Shores police.
Police did not know how long the two had been staying at the hotel, Green said.FEMA spokesman Jay Eaker confirmed that Phoenix All Suites billed the agency.

Rick Comegy Signs 4-year Contract with Jackson State

2005-12-10T13:12:00.000-06:00

Price tag $155,000, but 'we've got him'
By Michael Wallacemwallace@clarionledger.com

Jackson State University ushered in a new era of football on Friday, introducing former Tuskegee coach Rick Comegy as the top Tiger.Comegy, 52, agreed to a four-year contract with a base salary of $155,000 a year, making him the highest-paid coach in JSU history. It also is one of the top three salaries in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and is nearly double what JSU paid former coach James Bell."We did what we had to do to get the coach we had to have," JSU President Ronald Mason Jr. said Friday at a campus news conference attended by nearly 200 administrators, alumni, players and fans.
JSU had to seek alternative funding to close the deal with Comegy, who reportedly earned about $140,000 a year as coach and athletic director at Tuskegee. About $103,000 of Comegy's annual JSU salary will be paid out of the school's athletic department budget, Mason said. The additional $52,000 a year will come from JSU's private Tiger Fund, which subsidizes some athletics projects.Mason said Comegy will not serve as coach and athletic director. JSU must replace outgoing athletic director Roy Culberson, who is leaving next month. Mason said a search committee has been formed to target candidates to replace Culberson.
"With the size and demands of our athletic department, we need to keep those two roles (coach and athletic director) separate," Mason said.Comegy gets to focus on rebuilding a program that struggled under Bell, who was fired Oct. 31. His teams won just eight games and lost 23 over two and a half seasons.Mason said Comegy has been given a budget to stay within to hire assistant coaches. But Mason would not disclose the amount Comegy will have to work with to hire as many as six full-time coaches.
"I come here with the purpose of doing all I can to get this program to the standards we've all come to expect from Jackson State football," Comegy said. "I don't have all the answers. But I won't stop working to find them."Comegy comes to Jackson with a resume that includes 90 wins, four conference championships and a black college national title in his 10 seasons at Tuskegee, a private NCAA Division II school located in eastern Alabama. The Chester, Pa., native also has coached at Central (Ohio) State, where he won a NAIA national championship in 1995, and at Cheyney (Pa.) State.
The JSU job is Comegy's first at the NCAA Division I-AA level, where schools can offer up to 63 scholarships compared to a maximum of 36 at a Division II school.Comegy's salary at JSU puts him in the same range with Southern's Pete Richardson and Grambling's Melvin Spears, who earn between $150,000 and $200,000 a year.Robert Cook, chairman of JSU's Tiger Fund, said he believes Comegy will be worth the money.
"I'm a firm believer that you pay for what you get," Cook said. "We're very supportive of the administration's decision with the handling of coach Comegy's contract. We were very much in favor of getting the best coach we could. We got him."