Wright to receive more than $175,000 in back pay

Lowndes County School District Superintendent Lynn Wright has been awarded $175,043.95 in back pay following the conclusion of his 2011 lawsuit against the district.

School meals aren’t what they used to be as emphasis, preferences change

Maybe it was a paper sack, crumpled and creased, taped together and shoved unceremoniously in a backpack every morning. Maybe it was a metal lunch box stuffed with the obligatory peanut butter and jelly sandwich and, if you were lucky, a Little Debbie cookie. Maybe you didn’t bring anything at all, preferring to eat in the cafeteria instead.

MSMS celebrates milestone while looking to future

Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science students have become an integral part of life on the Mississippi University for Women campus — so much so that when class dismisses each summer, faculty members miss the bright young scholars, said Dr. Jennifer Miles, vice president for student affairs at MUW.

Local reaction mixed to merit pay for teachers

Educators across the Golden Triangle are watching closely as state lawmakers weigh the pros and cons of performance-based teacher incentives.

Columbus schools make three key hires

With the start of school less than a week away, the Columbus Municipal School District is rushing to fill key positions and personnel vacancies.

Lowndes Schools wait on unitary status ruling

It will be at least a month before the Lowndes County School District learns if its bid for unitary status will be granted, but those who attended Tuesday’s court hearing in Oxford were optimistic.

Lowndes Schools make their case today

The Lowndes County School District will finally have its day in court, appearing today at the U.S. Federal Courthouse in Oxford to argue its case for unitary status.

Few bright spots in child well-being survey

Despite small gains, Mississippi once again ranks last in the nation for children’s well-being, with lingering effects of the recession continuing to loom over more than a third of the state’s households.

Cook hired as Chamber CEO in Lamar County, Texas

A former Columbus-Lowndes Development Link employee has found a new home as president of the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce in Paris, Texas.

Borsig admits error in hiring of felon

Mississippi University for Women President Dr. Jim Borsig was contrite yet firm during a Thursday news conference in which he minced no words explaining how a flawed hiring policy may have contributed to the embezzlement of roughly $30,000 from the MUW Foundation.

Miss. granted ‘No Child Left Behind’ waiver

Mississippi joined more than half the states in the nation this week, when it was granted a waiver from the most challenging aspects of the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act.

New provost named at MUW

Key staff positions continue to fall into place at Mississippi University for Women, with the college naming its new provost and vice president for academic affairs earlier this week.

Dr. Dan Heimmermann, who hails from the University of Texas at Brownsville, will join MUW’s leadership team Aug. 1.

Big Joe Shelton named manager of Main Street Macon

Mississippi bluesman Big Joe Shelton has been named manager of Main Street Macon.

Former MUW accountant arrested for embezzlement

A former Mississippi University for Women accountant was arrested today and charged with embezzling roughly $30,000 from the MUW Foundation while employed with the university.

Financing delays Silicor as deadlines approach

The beginning of September will mark one year since a California-based solar silicon manufacturer chose Lowndes County for its sprawling new facilities. But after pushing the start date back several times, the company may soon be faced with having to request an extension or risk losing the hefty incentive package that state and local officials worked so hard to craft.

Columbus schools approve budget, announce hirings

With summer rapidly drawing to a close and students headed back to the classroom Aug. 6, the city school board seemed determined to tie up loose ends at Tuesday night’s meeting, finalizing next year’s budget and announcing a number of key personnel positions.

Cadence mum on management shake-up

Three days have passed since the resignations of two banking center presidents in Columbus and Starkville, but Cadence Bank officials remain tight-lipped on the management shakeup.

Cook and Annunciation art students get boost from grant

Cook Elementary Fine Arts Magnet School, already a model school for arts integration, has received a grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission to continue the program and build upon the foundation they’ve developed over the past few years.

Police investigate Sunday morning shooting incident

The Columbus Police Department responded to shots fired at a vehicle early Sunday morning but were unable to locate the shooter. Officers were dispatched Sunday

CMSD budget shows reduced personnel costs

The Columbus Municipal School District held a public hearing Saturday morning to discuss a proposed $40.5 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year.