MPB News on Demand - Local News

Friday June 1, 2007
	Is Mississippi Prepared for Hurricane Season?
	For many around the county today is simply June first. But along the Gulf Coast it means the first day of hurricane season and forecasters have predicted an above-average year. We have a team report this morning from MPB’s Sandra Knispel and Gary Michiels on how well Mississippi is prepared.
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	Seale Jury Selection Continues
	It's day 3 of jury selection in the civil rights era kidnapping and conspiracy trial of James Ford Seale. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports.
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	Gubernatorial Race Heats Up over College Funding
	Legislators were not there, but one Gubernatorial candidate was at the capitol Thursday, calling for a special session. MPB's Patty Davis reports.
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Monday June 4, 2007
	West Point Plant
	This afternoon, Governor Haley Barbour will officially announce new jobs for West Point at a facility that will assemble armored vehicles for the Marine Corps. MPB’s Sandra Knispel has more.
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	Seale Jury To Be Seated
	A panel could be selected today to hear the kidnapping and conspiracy case against reputed Ku Klux Klansman James Ford Seale. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports.
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	Stennis to Test J2 Engine
	NASA has announced plans to build a new rocket engine test stand at the John C- Stennis Space Center in Hancock County. MPB's Patty Davis has more.
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Tuesday June 5, 2007
	Civil Rights Cold Case Trial
	Emotions are running high from Testimony in the Federal kidnapping and conspiracy trial of 71 year old James Ford Seale. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.
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	Homeland Security Meeting
	A congressional hearing was held on the Gulf Coast yesterday to review FEMA preparedness plans. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports, they discovered some problems.
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	West Point Plant to Produce Armored Truck
	Of the more than 3,500 U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq more than half were struck by explosive devices. A Mississippi company is now part of the production of blast-proof trucks to help protect the troops. MPB’s Sandra Knispel reports.
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	Casino Prep for Storm Season
	Casino operators on the Gulf Coast are fine tuning their hurricane preparedness plans. MPB's Gary Michiels fills us in.
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Wednesday June 6, 2007
	Klansman Testifies
	Confessed Klansman Charles Marcus Edwards makes a surprise move in court yesterday. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.
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	Capitol City Crime
	Jacksonians are distressed after an FBI report indicated Mississippi's capital city had the highest increase of violent crime in the country. But as MPB's Scott Phillips reports, not everyone is convinced the numbers are accurate.
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	Snake Day: Mississippi Style
	As you spend more time outdoors this summer, experts say there's a good chance you're sharing your space with a snake. MPB's Patty Davis reports, most are harmless, but a few can be dangerous.
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	Hunger Awareness Day
	The Mississippi Food Network and Operation Shoestring in Jackson teamed up with hunger relief organizations around the country yesterday to observe Hunger Awareness Day. 21% of Mississippians live under the poverty level. MFN spokeswoman Marilynn Blackledge says, of the working poor that are eligible for food stamp assistance, only 51% are participating.
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Thursday June 7, 2007
	Reaction To Seale Trial
	A Retired Navy diver, told jurors in the James Ford Seale kidnapping trial yesterday that his team found a human skull, and engine block in the old Mississippi River. MPB's Lawayne Childrey gets reaction.
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	I-20 Drug Ring Busted
	Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies say the breakup of a drug distribution ring in Vicksburg will make west Mississippi safer for everyone. MPB's Scott Phillips has this report.
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	Hurricane Preparation
	Fourth District Congressman Gene Taylor of Bay St. Louis believes there is a quicker way to get emergency supplies into the coastal areas that have taken the impact of a hurricane. He says rather than traveling through roads covered with fallen trees, use the water ways.
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	Economic Development-Housing Conference
	At the annual housing and economic development conference in Jackson this week, the focus was balancing the influx of major employers like Toyota with the continuing need for affordable housing. John Rounsaville (ROUNS-ville), Director of USDA Rural Development in Mississippi says to improve the quality of life in a community, there needs to be jobs AND housing.
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Friday June 8, 2007
	Witness Testifies Seale in KKK
	A friendship gone bad puts a retired southern baptist preacher on the witness stand against reputed klansman James Ford Seale. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.
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	First Day of Shrimp Season
	Shrimp season is underway on the Gulf Coast and the first days catch was encouraging. But the money they get for their work is discouraging. MPB’s Gary Michiels has the report.
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	14M Museum
	New facilities housing the Mississippi Museum of Art are ready to open to the public tomorrow after officials had their ribbon cutting ceremony yesterday. MPB's Scott Phillips has this report.
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	History Inspired Mississippi Poet Wins Pulitzer
	Gulfport native Natasha Trethewey, who won a 2007 Pulitzer Prize for her Mississippi-inspired poetry, is coming home this weekend. She'll be picking up another award and probably more of the literary inspiration that she often finds in her birthplace. MPB's Ellen Ann Fentress reports.
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Monday June 11, 2007
	Guard Send-Off
	Nearly 400 Mississippi National Guard soldiers are mobilizing this week in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. MPB's Scott Phillips reports Mississippians in Houston held a send off for the 288th Sapper Company yesterday.
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	Till Bill Hearings
	Reputed Klansman James Ford Seale will not take the stand in his kidnapping and conspiracy trial. Seale has pleaded not guilty to the 1964 south Mississippi slayings of 19 year olds, Henry Dee and Charles Moore. If convicted, Seale could face up to life in prison. Since 1989, authorities in Mississippi and six other states have re-examined 29 civil rights-era murders, with 22 convictions. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports on a new proposed federal civil rights cold case unit.
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Lott on Insurance

Senator Trent Lott is continuing his efforts in Congress to bring about some kind of reform that would eliminate the confusion over what losses are covered by homeowner and business insurance policies. He says solving the problem won’t be easy.

*Senator Lott has proposed legislation to remove the insurance industry’s anti-trust exemption.

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	Jackson Gas Prices Lowest in Nation
	Being at the bottom is not always a bad thing. Especially when it's for low gas prices. As of Monday, Mississippi's capitol City was listed at the bottom of the list for the price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline. MPB's Patty Davis made a call to Don Redman of Triple AAA in Atlanta.
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Tuesday June 12, 2007
	No Settlement No Rebuild
	More than seventy thousand homes on the Gulf Coast were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Many of those homeowners want to rebuild but they are facing an overwhelming obstacle. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports on the post Katrina insurance crises.
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	AG Files Suit Against State Farm
	Attorney General Jim Hood is filing a breach of contract suit against State Farm. He claims the insurer has failed to live up to its promise to help thousands of policyholders affected by Hurricane Katrina. MPB's Scott Phillips has this report.
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	Former Klansman Opens Up
	A Confessed Klansman, testified yesterday that he remained tight lipped about what happened during the 1964 slayings of two black teenagers to save his own life. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.
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	Shelter Volunteers Needed
	As the Gulf Coast enters the thirteenth day of the 2007 hurricane season a major problem has been discovered. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports on critical shortage of disaster response volunteers.
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Wednesday June 13, 2007
	Shackled Teens Talk to Juvenile Justice Committee
	A House committee is looking into more allegations of abuse at one of Mississippi's training schools after students allege they were shackled for over a week. MPB's Scott Phillips has this report.
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	Prosecutors Rest In Seale Trial
	Federal Prosecutors rested their case yesterday in the federal kidnapping and conspiracy trial of reputed Klansman, James Ford Seale. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.
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	A Cottage Forever
	A new alternative housing unit that is designed to replace FEMA camper trailers will soon be delivered to the Gulf Coast. But not every community is sold on the plan. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports.
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Thursday June 14, 2007
	Seale Trial Heads To Jury
	The defense has rested in the James Ford Seale federal kidnapping and conspiracy trial. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.
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	Lt Gov Debate
	More than two hundred educators from across the state turned out yesterday at the Gulf Coast coliseum for a debate between the three candidates for Mississippi Lieutenant Governor. One of the hottest issues was the absence of early childhood education programs. MPB's Gary Michiels was there and files this report.
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	Choctaw Election Goes to Run Off
	New leadership may be coming for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians if Tuesday's election results are any indication. MPB's Scott Phillips reports on what impact this could have on the tribe...and all of central Mississippi.
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	Home Schooling in Mississippi
	State law requires all children to be educated, but it doesn't say where. MPB's Patty Davis looks at home schooling in Mississippi.
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Friday June 15, 2007
	Seale Found Guilty
	A federal jury has found reputed Klansman James Ford Seale guilty of kidnapping and conspiracy charges in connection to the 1946 slayings of two black teenagers. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports on yesterdays verdict.
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	Teaching Civil Rights
	With last night’s conviction of James Ford Seal, teaching the dark side of Mississippi’s history is an ongoing exercise of dealing with the past. MPB’s Sandra Knispel reports.
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	Soldiers Depart
	More Mississippi National Guard soldiers are on their way to Iraq. A sendoff was held for members of the 113th military police company based in Brandon yesterday. But how do family members left behind feel as public sentiment on Iraq seems to be changing? MPB's Scott Phillips has this report.
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	Bridge Construction Collapse
	An investigation will begin today on an accident that left one man dead and one man missing. MPB’s Gary Michiels Reports.
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Monday June 18, 2007
	Neshoba County Memorial
	Mississippians gathered at the Mt. Zion church outside Philadelphia yesterday to pay tribute to civil rights workers murdered in Neshoba County in 1964. MPB's Scott Phillips has this report.
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	Franklin County Reacts To Seale Verdict
	Citizens of Franklin County are speaking out about the conviction of reputed Klansman James Ford Seale. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.
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	Stress and Strain of Katrina 2nd Anniversary
	As the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina draws near, the emotional and mental strain of recovery is taking its toll on Gulf Coast residents who survived the catastrophic event. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports.
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Tuesday June 19, 2007
	West Nile Numbers Rise
	A new case of West Nile Virus in Jones County brings the total number of cases in the state to five so far this year. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports how the death of one Madison County woman is causing that county to declare a health related state of emergency.
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	Lt Gov Candidates Debate
	Republican candidates for Lieutenant Governor again debated the issues yesterday, this time before the Hinds County Republican Women's club. MPB's Scott Phillips has this report.
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	Flood Maps Delayed
	Rebuilding on the Gulf Coast has been slower than expected. One of the reasons is that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has not released the final guidelines on how high residents need to build back their homes. The preliminary flood elevation maps were expected to be finalized by August of this year. But according to Rob Lowe, the FEMA Region Four Program Manager, these maps will be delayed until late Fall of 2008.
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Wednesday June 20, 2007
	Immigration Reform Bill Protest
	A group calling itself Numbers U-S-A delivered more than 27 hundred signatures opposing a new immigration reform bill to Senator Trent Lott's Jackson Office yesterday. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.
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	Ridgeland Goes Smoke Free
	Last night the city of Ridgeland became the latest municipality in Mississippi to go smoke free. MPB's Scott Phillips has this report.
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	Coast Guard Cutter Design Flaws
	The new seven hundred and fifty million dollar Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf was built by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in Pascagoula. The vessel is designed to lead the way in the Coast Guard’s new Deep Water Defense program. But now there is concern about design flaws. Commander Brendan McPherson is the press assistant to the Commandant of the Coast Guard. *Fourth District Congressman Gene Taylor is concerned about a problem that he believes could cause the hull to crack, which, in turn, could lead to the vessel sinking. The changes requested by the Coast Guard will be made to the next six cutters that will be built. When they are completed, the Bertholf, and a second ship, that is now being constructed , will be modified.
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Thursday June 21, 2007
	Scruggs Sues State Farm
	A Team of six attorneys for the Scruggs Katrina Group came to Pascagoula to make the announcement of their racketeering lawsuit filed against State Farm Insurance yesterday. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports.
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	UMC To Expand Medical School
	A forty four million dollar expansion of the University of Mississippi School Of Medicine has gained the support of the state college board. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.
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	Limited Government
	A nonprofit conservative group is urging Mississippi candidates this year to embrace the principals of limited government. But as MPB's Scott Phillips reports, not all candidates are sold on the idea.
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Friday June 22, 2007
	U.S. Attorney General at Ole Miss
	U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales visited Oxford yesterday, touching briefly on the controversial voter ID ruling by a U.S. District Court in Mississippi earlier this month. MPB’s Sandra Knispel has more.
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	Civil Rights Education
	Mississippians looking to improve race relations in the state are launching a yearlong program they hope will open dialog through civil rights education. MPB's Scott Phillips has this report.
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	Gubernatorial Candidates on the Coast
	Two gubernatorial candidates were on the Gulf Coast yesterday. One was campaigning and the other was attending a recovery milestone. MPB’s Gary Michiels has the report.
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	Jeff Davis Conservator
	Misspent 16th section land funds plus a growing deficit landed Jefferson Davis County School District in a financial hole. Last month the state board of education hired a retired administrator to help dig them out. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports on the districts progress.
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Monday June 25, 2007
	Candidates Grilled by Press
	Two candidates for Mississippi’s top spot outlined their plan of action if they were elected. School violence and funding for education were among the issues discussed. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports.
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	Civil Rights Cold Case Bill
	The U.S. Justice Department wants congress to approve a bill that would fund legislation to investigate "cold case" murders from the Civil Rights era. But as MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports, legal wrangling over funding has stalled the bills chances of ever becoming law.
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	No Child Left Behind at Center of National Education Association Annual Conference
	Next week delegates from Mississippi will be heading to Philadelphia for the National Education Association's annual conference. MPB's Scott Phillips reports No Child Left Behind will be one of the conferences top issues.
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Tuesday June 26, 2007
	Allstate Settlement
	Another insurance company has agreed to a settlement with more than 280 of its policy holders over disputed hurricane Katrina damage claims. The agreement is the result of a class action suit filed by the Scruggs Law firm of Pascagoula. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports.
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	New Abortion Law
	A law going into effect next week will subject doctors to new rules they must abide by in order to perform abortions in Mississippi. MPB's Scott Phillips has this report.
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	New Road Rules
	Starting July 1st, Mississippi drivers will be required to slow down and move away from emergency and road crews that are parked with lights flashing. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.
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Wednesday June 27, 2007
	Fire Summit
	With Mississippi having one of the worst fire deaths per capita, state fire safety officials are hoping a meeting of the minds will help to reverse that trend. MPB's Scott Phillips has this report.
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	Coast Immigrants
	While the U.S. Senate was giving new life to a immigration reform bill yesterday, two organizations on the Gulf Coast were searching for answers to the growing number of undocumented immigrants in South Mississippi communities. MPB’s Gary Michiels has the report.
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	Columbia Training School Abuse
	Six Columbia Training School employees have been suspended with pay pending an investigation into alleged abuse. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more on the all girl school.
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Thursday June 28, 2007
	Drought Impacts Cattle Farmers
	The choking drought that's killing crops and turning streams into dusty trails is now causing cattle farmers to start selling off their herds. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.
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	HIV Education is Working
	More than six thousand Mississippians have been diagnosed with the HIV virus since the disease was first reported over 25 years ago. That's why advocacy groups are urging for more testing as MPB's Scott Phillips reports.
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	MS-AL Hurricane Conference
	Two Gulf Coast states recently devastated by major hurricanes are working together to be better prepared for future threats. The combined effort has attracted the attention of national emergency officials. MPB’s Gary Michiels Reports.
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	Trouble at Gentry High
	Gentry High School in Indianola like many other schools in the Delta faces myriad problems. But at this school, many teachers say the new administration is making things worse. MPB’s Sandra Knispel reports.
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Friday June 29, 2007
	Election Commission Appeals Federal Ruling
	The Mississippi Election Commission has voted to appeal a federal ruling that requires Mississippi to hold closed primaries. MPB's Scott Phillips has this report.
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	Eagle off Endangered List
	The American Bald Eagle once thrived in the United States, but it nearly became extinct forty years ago as a result of the pesticide DDT. But as MPB’s Gary Michiels reports, the eagle is soaring again.
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	Child Care Rating System
	Does your child's day care center make the grade when it comes to preparing them for school? MPB's Lawayne Childrey examines The Mississippi Child Care Quality Rating System.
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