Former Minister Pled Guilty to Fondling and Sexual Battery Charges
A judge in Tishomingo County Circuit Court has sentenced Roy Steven Roberts, 64, to serve 12 years on each charge. Prosecutors recommended for Roberts to only serve 8 years in prison, but Judge Paul Funderburk gave him the tough sentence since he denied his guilty during the pre-sentence investigation. Looking back at Roberts record, in 2017 he was wanted in Texas for the Mississippi charges. He was captured and then set free on a $30,000 bond until his hearing Thursday, February 6th, 2020. The post Former Minister Pled Guilty to Fondling and Sexual Battery Charges appeared first on News Mississippi.
Senator Wicker introduces ‘SHIPS Implementation Act’
Senator Roger Wicker has introduced a bill to bolster America’s naval fleet. Building upon Wicker’s 2017 SHIPS Act, which made it the policy of the United States to reach a 355-ship Navy, the new ‘Securing the Homeland by Increasing our Power on the Seas (SHIPS) Implementation Act’ would authorize the use of multiple cost-saving measures and direct the Navy to procure 39 new ships over the next four fiscal years. “Our nation’s Navy is still the envy of the world, but our adversaries are quickly catching up. It is time for Congress to get serious about investing in our fleet and give our sailors and Marines the tools they need to stay ahead of those who wish us harm.” “In the near term, the SHIPS Implementation Act would empower our Navy to reach its 355-ship goal by authorizing the procurement of specific vessels and cutting costs. Over time, my proposal would help to decrease risk for the Navy and provide greater certainty for the industrial base,” Wicker said. Wicker introduced the initial legislation in 2017 as a result of a Navy-wide “force structure assessment” that solicited inputs from all regional commands about their current and projected needs. However, Wicker says that even with a reinvigorated shipbuilding effort by the Trump administration over the last 3 years, the Navy’s shipbuilding budget still falls between $4 and $5 billion short of the level required to reach a 355-ship Navy. Wicker’s SHIPS Implementation Act would expand his 2017 legislation by providing a strategic framework and additional support to help the Navy reach its fleet goal. Among other provisions, the SHIPS Implementation Act would: Direct the Navy to start construction on at least 12 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, 10 Virginia-class submarines, two Columbia-class submarines, three San Antonio-class amphibious ships, one LHA-class amphibious ship, six John Lewis-class fleet oilers, and five guided missile frigates across FY2021-2025; Authorize the award of shipbuilding contracts for three San Antonio-class amphibious ships, one America-class amphibious ship, two Columbia-class submarines, and six John Lewis-class fleet oilers in FY2021; Recognize the strategic value of the Columbia-class submarine program by authorizing the use of the National Sea Based Deterrence Fund to support the Columbia-class submarine program with funds in addition to the Navy’s shipbuilding budget; Introduce stability to the Navy’s acquisition process by requiring steady shipbuilding rates to be maintained for each vessel class; Authorize the use of several cost-saving measures, including multi-year or block buy contract authorities when appropriate; and Minimize risk for the Navy by requiring shipbuilding prototyping to occur at the subsystem-level in advance of ship design, to the maximum extent practicable. The post Senator Wicker introduces ‘SHIPS Implementation Act’ appeared first on News Mississippi.
MSU projected to finish 2nd in SEC West, Ole Miss 6th
College baseball season begins one week from today. Ahead of the 2020 season, Vanderbilt has been projected to repeat as SEC champions following a vote by the conference’s coaches. The Commodores received 8 of the 14 votes. Mississippi State got one of the remaining votes with Arkansas, Auburn and Georgia also getting one and Florida receiving two votes. * Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team In the SEC West, the Bulldogs are projected to finish in 2nd – behind Arkansas. Ole Miss was picked to finish 6th in the West. 2020 SEC Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll Eastern Division 1. Vanderbilt (9) 2. Florida (3) 3. Georgia (2) 4. Tennessee 5. South Carolina 6. Missouri 7. Kentucky Western Division 1. Arkansas (5) 2. Mississippi State (4) T3. Auburn (2) T3. LSU (3) 5. Texas A&M 6. Ole Miss 7. Alabama The coaches also selected All-SEC teams with Mississippi State and Vanderbilt leading the way with five selections. 2020 SEC Baseball Coaches Preseason All-SEC Team First Team C: Casey Opitz, Arkansas 1B: Cade Beloso, LSU* 1B: T.J. Collett, Kentucky* 2B: Justin Foscue, Mississippi State 3B: Austin Martin, Vanderbilt SS: Casey Martin, Arkansas OF: Daniel Cabrera, LSU OF: Alerick Soularie, Tennessee OF: Heston Kjerstad, Arkansas DH/UTL: Matt Goodheart, Arkansas SP: Emerson Hancock, Georgia SP: Asa Lacy, Texas A&M RP: Tyler Brown, Vanderbilt Second Team C: Ty Duvall, Vanderbilt 1B: Josh Hatcher, Mississippi State* 1B: Rankin Woley, Auburn* 2B: Noah Campbell, South Carolina* 2B: Harrison Ray, Vanderbilt* 2B: Riley King, Georgia* 3B: Tyler Keenan, Ole Miss SS: Jordan Westburg, Mississippi State OF: Jud Fabian, Florida OF: Tyler Gentry, Alabama OF: Rowdey Jordan, Mississippi State* OF: Zach DeLoach, Texas A&M* DH/UTL: Tanner Allen, Mississippi State SP: Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt SP: Tanner Burns, Auburn RP: Cody Greenhill, Auburn Mississippi State opens its season at home with a 3-game series against Wright State on the 14th. Ole Miss welcomes #1 Louisville to Oxford. The post MSU projected to finish 2nd in SEC West, Ole Miss 6th appeared first on News Mississippi.
Brothers donate $26 Million to Ole Miss for STEM facility
Business professionals Jim Duff (left) and Thomas Duff (right), of Hattiesburg, visit with UM Chancellor Glenn Boyce about their gift of $26 million toward construction of a new STEM facility on the Oxford campus. Ole Miss students, such as those pictured in this Coulter Hall chemistry lab, will benefit from state-of-the-art active learning spaces in the new 202,000-square-foot building. Photo by Bill Dabney/UM Foundation (Story written by Tina H. Hahn, University of Mississippi) With eyes on increasing job opportunities and boosting the economy, business leaders and brothers Jim and Thomas Duff, of Hattiesburg, have committed $26 million to the construction of a state-of-the-art science, technology, engineering and mathematics facility at the University of Mississippi. Chancellor Glenn F. Boyce announced today (Feb. 5) the top gift for the 202,000-square-foot building, which will be the largest single construction project in Oxford campus history, with a $160 million total project budget. The Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation is projected to be one of the nation’s leading student-centered learning environments for STEM education. “There is a critical need to increase the number of graduates in STEM fields to support growth and innovation in our state, region and nation, and strengthen the pipeline for training engineers, tech entrepreneurs, and science and math teachers,” Boyce said. “We are deeply grateful to the Duff brothers for this significant investment in our vision to produce graduates who fulfill critical needs, improve STEM teaching in our education systems and contribute as scientifically aware citizens in our society. “Jim and Thomas are dedicated to enriching educational opportunities in Mississippi, and we guarantee that their investment will have a significant return as its far-reaching impact is felt. In the coming years, STEM job creation will outpace non-STEM jobs, and STEM professionals earn higher salaries, yielding more attractive opportunities for our students in Mississippi and beyond.” Thomas Duff, a member of the state Institutions of Higher Learning board – the governing body responsible for policy and financial oversight of the state’s eight public universities – shared the motivation behind their gift. “Jim and I recognize the importance of educating Mississippi students in STEM fields,” he said. “It is absolutely crucial to our state’s future to have an educated STEM workforce. In addition, we want to see talented high school graduates in our state have exceptional opportunities to prepare for some of the most rewarding careers possible. It’s what they deserve, and it’s what Mississippi needs.” The Duff brothers contributed $1 million previously to support UM’s Flagship Constellations in memory of their father, the late Ernest Duff, who was the first in his family to pursue higher education. He earned an undergraduate and law degree from Ole Miss, where he served as the Associated Student Body president, was inducted into the student Hall of Fame, served on the Mississippi Law Journal staff and graduated first in his law school class. In addition, Jim Duff’s daughters, Margaret and Caroline, are law and liberal arts students, respectively, at Ole Miss. Jim Duff said his family values educational opportunities and wants to expand them in Mississippi. “Tommy and I are impressed that part of the STEM facility’s mission will involve outreach to our state’s kindergarten-through-high school teachers,” Duff said. “We need our teachers introducing the idea of STEM fields to their students, inspiring them to major in STEM fields in college. “This outreach will also include STEM activities for the community, improving the overall science literacy of our state and region.” According to the National Math and Science Initiative, 60 percent of jobs created in the 21st century will require skills possessed by only 20 percent of the current workforce. The United States may be short as many as 1 million skilled workers over the next decade. The nation ranks 17th worldwide for the number of science degrees awarded annually. The Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation will be an important tool to bolster science literacy in Mississippi by providing active learning classrooms and state-of-the-art labs to prepare STEM majors and K-12 teachers of those subjects. The 202,000-square-foot facility is poised to be the crown jewel of the university’s Science District along University Avenue. The additional space and technological advances offered by the Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation are critical to serving the student enrollment. The university’s ability to expand STEM courses, especially those that require laboratory work and other research, is stymied by a lack of classroom and laboratory space – and particularly by a lack of nontraditional teaching spaces that facilitate active learning. Some active learning classrooms have been set up ahead of the building and professors have seen positive responses from students. With construction slated to begin in 2020, the Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation will be located in the Science District, with one side facing the Grove and another facing Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and The Pavilion at Ole Miss. Thousands of people will pass this new campus landmark daily. It will house lecture halls as well as chemistry, biology, physics, engineering and computer science labs. Lower student-instructor ratios will be in place, and various disciplines will be spread throughout the building to promote interdisciplinary teaching and learning. Among other building highlights, students will enjoy technology-enabled active learning, or TEAL, labs and a visualization lab, similar to a small IMAX theater for 3D visualization. Engineering students will have access to dedicated lab spaces, including fabrication and testing equipment, for their senior design projects. Several common areas will give students space to study both individually and in small groups, and a STEM tutoring center will provide additional support. Such innovations appealed to the Duff brothers, who are widely known for their entrepreneurial spirit and for responding to opportunities with solutions, Thomas Duff said. What began as a small-town enterprise quickly grew under the leadership of the Duff brothers, who saw unique opportunities for the development of solution-providing companies. That forward-thinking force
DOJ launches investigation into Mississippi prison system
Photo courtesy of MDOC The Department of Justice has opened an investigation into Mississippi’s prison system. Amid the recent outbreak of violence in Mississippi’s prisons, the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division will investigate the living conditions at four facilities including the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman along with the Southern Mississippi Correctional Institute, Central Mississippi Correctional Facility, and the Wilkinson County Correctional Facility. According to the DOJ, the investigation will focus on whether the Mississippi Department of Corrections “adequately protects prisoners from physical harm at the hands of other prisoners at the four prisons, as well as whether there is adequate suicide prevention, including adequate mental health care and appropriate use of isolation, at Parchman.” The investigation will be conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA). Under CRIPA, the Department has the authority to investigate violations of prisoners’ constitutional rights that result from a “pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of such rights.” Over the past month, 15 inmates have died in state custody. Officials have attributed many of the deaths to gang violence inside of prison walls. Recently, Governor Tate Reeves announced that he has instructed the MDOC to begin the process of closing Unit 29 at Parchman, a central location of violence in recent weeks. Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch stated that her office will work alongside the DOJ as the investigation begins. “Since taking office on January 9th, I have been made aware of the conditions with the Mississippi Department of Corrections and my office immediately took a proactive position to meet and address these challenges. I visited Parchman personally and my staff and I have had conversations with the Department of Justice and others about next steps. I will work closely with the U.S. Department of Justice in their investigation and I am committed to ensuring safety and justice for all parties,” Fitch said. The ongoing situation in Mississippi’s prisons has drawn national attention. The MDOC is currently being sued by Roc Nation, a company owned by rapper Jay-Z. The post DOJ launches investigation into Mississippi prison system appeared first on News Mississippi.
Bill of the Week: HB 587
This bill, House Bill 587, the main caption states, “TO REQUIRE THE PARTY THAT DOES NOT PREVAIL IN AN ADVERSE POSSESSION ACTION TO PAY COURT COSTS AND ATTORNEY’S FEES.” What does this mean? Basically that if you sue someone and you do not win, you are responsible for paying back their court costs and attorney fees they had to pay. This bill is introduced by Republican, House of Representatives member, Randy Boyd, who is over District 19. The next step for this bill is to go through the appropriate committee it was assigned to, which is Judiciary A House Committee. From there, it will come back to the House to vote on or make any changes and if it is passed it will then go to the Senate. The post Bill of the Week: HB 587 appeared first on News Mississippi.
Rebels, Bulldogs, USM wrap up National Signing Day 2020
It was a relatively quiet National Signing Day in Mississippi with both Ole Miss and Mississippi State signing a small number of recruits. Mississippi State signed a majority of its class during the early signing period in December, but the Rebels end the 2020 recruiting cycle with a smaller class than expected. Below, you can read a recap of NSD from SportsTalk Mississippi’s beat reporters in Oxford and Starkville and take a look at Southern Miss’ 2020 class. Kiffin calls small 2020 class ‘good,’ expects better results in years to come Story by SportsTalk Mississippi Ole Miss Beat Reporter Brian Scott Rippee Lane Kiffin didn’t mince words when describing his first signing class at Ole Miss. The newly-minted head coach is pleased with what he has, knows the class is small and declared the results will be better in the future. “I know every coach gets up here and says this is the best class ever,” Kiffin said. “This is a good class with good players, but we will sign better classes every year we are hereafter this, deeper classes that fill all areas of need. We just didn’t want to reach for kids.” The group sits at 18 kids with two transfers, eight mid-year enrollees and a couple of possibilities still out there — most notably five-star running back Zach Evans. It was always going to be an uphill battle. Kiffin took the job 11 days before the early signing period began, inked 12 signatures in December with a makeshift coaching staff, spent the next month filling out his own roster of assistants while simultaneously getting kids to campus and building relationships with a finite amount of time. To be clear, Ole Miss undoubtedly whiffed on a few today. Donovan Kaufman reaffirmed his pledge to Vanderbilt. Two-sport phenom Malachi Wideman is off to Tennessee. Marcus Henderson signed with Arkansas and the Rebels lost a commitment to Georgia in three-star corner Daran Branch. Kiffin cited a lack of time to build long-term bonds as a major factor. **Signing day live tracker, who the Rebels got and who they missed** “We lost some kids, obviously, like everyone does,” Kiffin said. “A lot of that was relationship-based. Other places had longer and more established relationships than we did. We are looking forward to next year already to build those relationships.” The approach was more about signing the best prospects available rather than meeting needs, a byproduct of a lack of time and unfamiliarity of his own roster. Kiffin preached patience, citing roster attrition the spring and an entirely new scheme. “Whenever you implement a new system, you’ve got to be careful just adding players,” Kiffin said. “We don’t really know our roster. We haven’t worked with these kids. It’s a different scheme. I think what usually happens is after spring, kids start to change positions and do different things in different roles.” Ole Miss still needs to pad its deteriorating defensive line depth as it waves goodbye to Qaadir Sheppard, Benito Jones, Austrian Robinson and Josiah Coatney. The Rebels signed three defensive linemen and missed on one (Henderson) that would have helped greatly on the interior. “We left ourselves some room and didn’t reach on kids just to fill spots,” Kiffin said. “That puts us in position for kids that are still out there and also puts us in a position for grad transfers, regular transfers and we can save some room for next year too.” It is a bit unfair to make sweeping assumptions this staff’s recruiting acumen given the short window of time they’ve been in place. But it is also fair to criticize them for what is perceived as a weak close to this 2020 class. When Kiffin arrived in Oxford, he talked about hiring a staff that would recruit nationally and develop a footprint that extends further than Ole Miss is traditionally accustomed to. On paper, the group Kiffin has assembled appears to be equipped to do so. Time will tell whether that actually comes to fruition, and the 2021 recruiting cycle will be a far better indication. “We’ve already started on next year’s class, having a whole year to do that.” Coach Mike Leach Recaps Mississippi State’s Short Signing Day 2020 Story by SportsTalk Mississippi MSU Beat Reporter Brian Hadad There wasn’t any drama for Mississippi State on this Signing Day, as the Bulldogs added four players to their Class of 2020, three of which were committed prior to this morning. Coach Mike Leach welcomes these four players to Starkville… OLB Jamari Stewart DB Kyle Cass WR Rufus Harvey QB KJ Costello Of that group, only Harvey made a Signing Day decision, flipping his pledge from Arkansas State to Mississippi State early Wednesday morning. The jewel of this group is Costello, the grad transfer from Stanford who will be expected to be Mississippi State’s starter for the season opener against New Mexico. Leach noted that the Bulldogs intentionally left some spots free, as he expects to be active in seeking players through the transfer portal. Full Leach Signing Day Press Conference Southern Miss – 2020 Recruiting Class Courtesy of USM The post Rebels, Bulldogs, USM wrap up National Signing Day 2020 appeared first on News Mississippi.
Good Luck Downtown Tupelo!
The Downtown Tupelo Main Steet Association (DTMSA) is one of eight semifinalists for the 2020 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA). According to the DTMSA, downtown Tupelo has built on its legacy as being the home of Elvis Presley and transformed its Main Street, from a buttoned-up corridor that closed at 5, to a bustling district with live music, art galleries, and farm-to-table restaurants. The DTMSA says a $14 million streetscape project changed the face of Main Street, and a new development doubled the footprint of their downtown. The city is thriving, with 83 businesses opening in the last five years generating over 1,300 jobs. A three-time GAMSA semifinalist, Tupelo Main Street embraces the “Tupelo Spirit” with a range of inclusive community events and festivals. “The Great American Main Street Award is a top honor within the commercial district revitalization field,” said Patrice Frey, President & CEO of the National Main Street Center. “These eight outstanding semifinalists have demonstrated the impressive economic and community growth that is possible when commercial districts harness the power of the Main Street Approach. They’re a model for Main Street programs across the country working to achieve comprehensive, preservation-based revitalization.” According to the National Main Street Center, the reinvestment statistics from this year’s semifinalists show the impact of their work. Together, these eight semifinalists have brought in over 1 billion dollars in public investment and half a billion dollars in private investment, generated 9,498 jobs, opened 459 new businesses, rehabbed 734 buildings, and logged 192,371 volunteer hours since their programs’ inceptions. GAMSA semifinalists were selected from a nationwide pool of accredited Main Street America applicants based on their successful and innovative uses of the Main Street Approach. The winner will be announced on May 18th in Dallas, Texas. The post Good Luck Downtown Tupelo! appeared first on News Mississippi.
Governor Reeves announces criteria for Corrections Commissioner
Governor Tate Reeves has announced the criteria for the next Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC), as recommended by the group of experienced Mississippians tapped to help with the nationwide search. Assisting Governor Reeves in finding a permanent leader for the Department, Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs, Jr. and the other search members created an expanded job criteria to provide for a Commissioner who can reform MDOC and make Mississippi competitive with other states across the country. “Mississippi deserves a strong, experienced leader at the helm of the Department. Someone who can rebuild trust in the system. We are raising the level of expectation in our Department leadership to ensure the safety and dignity of inmates, officers, and all Mississippians,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “On behalf of the entire group, I am honored to submit this recommendation to Governor Reeves as we scour the country for the best possible candidate. We are committed to helping the Governor find the right person for the job and for Mississippi as soon as possible. After looking at all the qualified candidates, we plan to make our final recommendation to Governor Reeves for a permanent Commissioner by early April,” said Mayor George Flaggs, Jr. The search group has set February 29, 2020 as the final date to submit resumes for consideration. Mississippi Commissioner of Corrections Position Opening The Office of the Governor of the State of Mississippi is now accepting resumes for consideration to appointment as Mississippi’s next Commissioner of Corrections. This position provides overall management of the Department of Corrections to include its correctional facilities, administrative functions, and probation services. Of utmost importance is ensuring safety of personnel, offenders and the public while maintaining the efficiency of operations, emergency preparedness and adherence to policies and procedures set forth by Mississippi law. Candidates must demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively and maintain good working relationships with the community, the legislature, local, state and federal agencies, law enforcement, and the courts in the various counties of the State. Qualified candidates for the Commissioner of Corrections should have at least a bachelor’s degree in a field of study pertinent to the position. Work experience dealing with correctional institutions is preferred. In addition, all candidates should have management experience, including experience managing fiscal budgets. Candidates demonstrating excellent leadership skills and a proven ability to reform an organization or a governmental agency will be given the upmost consideration. The Governor’s appointment must be affirmed with the advice and consent of the Mississippi Senate. Selected candidates may be subjected to multiple interviews and a background investigation. All resumes must be submitted to mdoc.resume@govreeves.ms.gov by February 29th, 2020. The post Governor Reeves announces criteria for Corrections Commissioner appeared first on News Mississippi.
Senate votes to acquit President Trump in impeachment trial
As expected, the Senate has voted the acquit President Trump and bring the impeachment trial to an end. A total of 67 votes were needed to remove the President from office on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, but the Republican-controlled chamber voted 52-48 against impeachment on the first charge and 53-47 on the second. The votes were largely done along party lines with the lone exception of Utah Senator Mitt Romney voting to convict the President on the charge of abuse of power. Mississippi Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith voted to acquit the President on both counts. In a statement following the vote, Wicker echoed his speech from the Senate Floor on Wednesday, stating that he believes the impeachment process was being used by Democrats for political posturing. “The founders of our nation gave Congress the power to remove a president from office in extreme circumstances, with overwhelming evidence, and with broad support. The House impeachment managers failed to meet this high standard in every respect.” “From the beginning, the effort to impeach President Trump was a partisan exercise with a predetermined outcome. The articles passed by the House did not allege a crime, let alone the ‘high crimes and misdemeanors’ required by the Constitution. The House managers have contradicted themselves time and again by claiming their case is proved ‘beyond any doubt,’ while simultaneously admitting their case is incomplete by requesting additional witnesses and evidence. With only unsubstantiated accusations of actions that do not constitute crimes, there is no reasonable argument for removing this duly-elected president from office.” “The events that brought us to this point are an indication of America’s real and unfortunate political divisions. But today’s vote is also a testament to the wisdom and endurance of our system of government. The checks and balances afforded to Congress cannot be abused for partisan gain or to deny the will of voters by overturning an election.” “I hope Americans can put this episode behind us, and that Congress can now return to the work of the people.” Senator Hyde-Smith spoke on the Senate Floor this morning ahead of the vote and said that after listening to both arguments, she saw no grounds for impeachment. “Those prosecuting the President failed on a legal and constitutional basis to produce the evidence required to undertake the very serious act of removing a duly elected President from this office.” The House voted to impeach the President in December. Among those voting against impeachment were Mississippi Congressmen Trent Kelly (MS01), Michael Guest (MS03) and Steven Palazzo (MS04). Congressman Bennie Thompson (MS02) voted with his fellow House Democrats to convict the President on both charges. “The articles of impeachment are the culmination of a three-year political witch hunt against our President. Rammed through the House in an unprecedented and shallow fashion, the allegations have proven to be nothing more than a messaging failure ahead of the presidential election. Our country must move on from this sham and focus on the real issues facing America.” – Congressman Palazzo The acquittal of President Trump was the expected result after the Senate blocked a motion to allow additional witnesses in the trial on Friday. The post Senate votes to acquit President Trump in impeachment trial appeared first on News Mississippi.