Mississippi Clarion LedgerView CommentsWhen the ran on the field Saturday to face Vanderbilt, the team carried the new Mississippi state flag . Senior defensive end , a native of Starkville, Mississippi, carried the flag to lead the team."I was very proud to finally get to wave a flag that unites all Mississippians," Jones said after the game. "That was a huge moment for me and the whole state."Preliminary results showed 72% of voters approving the new magnolia-centric flag design. On the new flag, 20 stars encircle a magnolia blossom on a dark blue background with red...…Mississippi Clarion LedgerView CommentsWhen the ran on the field Saturday to face Vanderbilt, the team carried the new Mississippi state flag . Senior defensive end , a native of Starkville, Mississippi, carried the flag to lead the team."I was very proud to finally get to wave a flag that unites all Mississippians," Jones said after the game. "That was a huge moment for me and the whole state."Preliminary results showed 72% of voters approving the new magnolia-centric flag design. On the new flag, 20 stars encircle a magnolia blossom on a dark blue background with red...WW…

Mississippi Clarion LedgerView CommentsA warden who left Louisiana's largest prison in January 2016 following a string of investigative articles about his private financial dealings has been tapped to run Mississippi's prison system.Gov. Tate Reeves announced the decision to hire Burl Cain at a press conference Wednesday.Cain spent 21 years as warden at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, which is commonly known as Angola. The Baton Rouge Advocate reported that Cain was  the crooked county commissioner from "The Dukes of Hazzard."Cain is a Louisiana native whose...…Mississippi Clarion LedgerView CommentsA warden who left Louisiana's largest prison in January 2016 following a string of investigative articles about his private financial dealings has been tapped to run Mississippi's prison system.Gov. Tate Reeves announced the decision to hire Burl Cain at a press conference Wednesday.Cain spent 21 years as warden at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, which is commonly known as Angola. The Baton Rouge Advocate reported that Cain was  the crooked county commissioner from "The Dukes of Hazzard."Cain is a Louisiana native whose...WW…

Mississippi Clarion LedgerView CommentsThe Mississippi flag with its Confederate battle emblem is expected to come down across the state in the coming days as lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Sunday to choose a new banner. removes the current flag and begins the process of picking another design. The bill now goes to Gov. Tate Reeves, who has pledged he will sign it. The House voted 91-23 and the Senate 37-14 to approve the flag-change legislation. The historic vote followed days of heated debate and pressure from business and religious leaders, government officials,...…Mississippi Clarion LedgerView CommentsThe Mississippi flag with its Confederate battle emblem is expected to come down across the state in the coming days as lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Sunday to choose a new banner. removes the current flag and begins the process of picking another design. The bill now goes to Gov. Tate Reeves, who has pledged he will sign it. The House voted 91-23 and the Senate 37-14 to approve the flag-change legislation. The historic vote followed days of heated debate and pressure from business and religious leaders, government officials,...WW…

Emily Wagster PettusAssociated PressView CommentsJACKSON — Some Mississippi residents are rebelling against the Legislature's decision to retire a Confederate-themed state flag, and they are being encouraged by conservative legislators who fought the change.Organizers of a group called said Monday that they are starting an initiative to put the retired flag and three other flag designs on the statewide ballot.“What the legislators did, in my opinion, was 100% wrong,” said the group's leader, Dan Carr. “We should give the people of Mississippi the right to vote on this flag.”Getting...…Emily Wagster PettusAssociated PressView CommentsJACKSON — Some Mississippi residents are rebelling against the Legislature's decision to retire a Confederate-themed state flag, and they are being encouraged by conservative legislators who fought the change.Organizers of a group called said Monday that they are starting an initiative to put the retired flag and three other flag designs on the statewide ballot.“What the legislators did, in my opinion, was 100% wrong,” said the group's leader, Dan Carr. “We should give the people of Mississippi the right to vote on this flag.”Getting...WW…

Mississippi Clarion LedgerView CommentsA rescue effort in central Mississippi produced something of a size most people will never encounter, a 124-pound alligator snapping turtle."His head is huge," said Christy Milbourne, executive director of Central Mississippi Turtle Rescue. "It is bigger than mine."I would say his feet were bigger than my hand if you include the claws, which are really long and sharp, maybe 6 to 8 inches across or more. That is the largest one I've seen personally outside of a museum.", located in Florence, provides care for sick or injured turtles and tortoises. In...…Mississippi Clarion LedgerView CommentsA rescue effort in central Mississippi produced something of a size most people will never encounter, a 124-pound alligator snapping turtle."His head is huge," said Christy Milbourne, executive director of Central Mississippi Turtle Rescue. "It is bigger than mine."I would say his feet were bigger than my hand if you include the claws, which are really long and sharp, maybe 6 to 8 inches across or more. That is the largest one I've seen personally outside of a museum.", located in Florence, provides care for sick or injured turtles and tortoises. In...WW…

Mississippi Clarion LedgerView CommentsNissan on Wednesday said it would halt production at its Canton facility and others in the U.S. for two weeks due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The production outage — affecting about 5,250 employees in Canton — will last from March 20 through April 6. "The company is taking this action to boost containment efforts where possible around the COVID-19 coronavirus," spokeswoman Lloryn Love-Carter said. "Currently, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 coronavirus at any Nissan facility. Areas deemed business-essential...…Mississippi Clarion LedgerView CommentsNissan on Wednesday said it would halt production at its Canton facility and others in the U.S. for two weeks due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The production outage — affecting about 5,250 employees in Canton — will last from March 20 through April 6. "The company is taking this action to boost containment efforts where possible around the COVID-19 coronavirus," spokeswoman Lloryn Love-Carter said. "Currently, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 coronavirus at any Nissan facility. Areas deemed business-essential...WW…

Mississippi Clarion LedgerView CommentsThe state Health Department announced 13 more cases of the novel coronavirus in Mississippi on Wednesday, with new cases in Bolivar, Coahoma, DeSoto, Madison and Perry counties, bringing the total to 34. There have been no deaths so far. The department said it has tested 510 people as of Wednesday.Harrison, Leflore and Pearl River counties now have four cases each, while Hinds County has the most at six. There are also unconfirmed reports of positive tests in counties not listed by the Health Department. Wednesday morning...…Mississippi Clarion LedgerView CommentsThe state Health Department announced 13 more cases of the novel coronavirus in Mississippi on Wednesday, with new cases in Bolivar, Coahoma, DeSoto, Madison and Perry counties, bringing the total to 34. There have been no deaths so far. The department said it has tested 510 people as of Wednesday.Harrison, Leflore and Pearl River counties now have four cases each, while Hinds County has the most at six. There are also unconfirmed reports of positive tests in counties not listed by the Health Department. Wednesday morning...WW…

Mississippi Clarion LedgerView CommentsThe five largest medical centers in Mississippi have no ICU bed space for new patients – coronavirus or otherwise – and are being forced to turn patients away, even as COVID-19  continue to surge.In some cases, patients are being sent to facilities out of state and as far away as New Orleans. In many hospitals, patients admitted to the ER are being forced to spend the night before they receive treatment."(Wednesday), five of our biggest hospitals in the state had zero ICU beds. Zero," State Health Officer Dr. Thomas...…Mississippi Clarion LedgerView CommentsThe five largest medical centers in Mississippi have no ICU bed space for new patients – coronavirus or otherwise – and are being forced to turn patients away, even as COVID-19  continue to surge.In some cases, patients are being sent to facilities out of state and as far away as New Orleans. In many hospitals, patients admitted to the ER are being forced to spend the night before they receive treatment."(Wednesday), five of our biggest hospitals in the state had zero ICU beds. Zero," State Health Officer Dr. Thomas...WW…

Hattiesburg AmericanView CommentsPine Grove in Hattiesburg is providing a free COVID-19 stress and anxiety help line for Mississippi residents. Pine Grove officials said they understand the changes in daily life due to the COVID-19 pandemic may seem overwhelming at times.Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services — one of the nation’s comprehensive treatment campuses — is working to help Mississippi’s citizens during the coronavirus pandemic by providing the free, state-wide community support phone line.The emotional support line is...…Hattiesburg AmericanView CommentsPine Grove in Hattiesburg is providing a free COVID-19 stress and anxiety help line for Mississippi residents. Pine Grove officials said they understand the changes in daily life due to the COVID-19 pandemic may seem overwhelming at times.Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services — one of the nation’s comprehensive treatment campuses — is working to help Mississippi’s citizens during the coronavirus pandemic by providing the free, state-wide community support phone line.The emotional support line is...WW…

Clarion LedgerView CommentsGov. Tate Reeves on Friday said he had been prepared to announce more businesses could reopen, but said a spike in coronavirus cases and deaths caused him pause, and he will wait at least through the weekend to allow more reopening.The Health Department announced 20 additional deaths and 397 new cases of coronavirus in Mississippi on Friday, bringing the state's total cases to 7,212 with 281 deaths. The report marks the highest number of new cases and deaths reported in one day in Mississippi to-date, although some of the deaths reported...…Clarion LedgerView CommentsGov. Tate Reeves on Friday said he had been prepared to announce more businesses could reopen, but said a spike in coronavirus cases and deaths caused him pause, and he will wait at least through the weekend to allow more reopening.The Health Department announced 20 additional deaths and 397 new cases of coronavirus in Mississippi on Friday, bringing the state's total cases to 7,212 with 281 deaths. The report marks the highest number of new cases and deaths reported in one day in Mississippi to-date, although some of the deaths reported...WW…