Despite best efforts, cigarette tax negotiators fail to negotiate

JACKSON — House-Senate negotiators didn’t give in and agree Tuesday to resolve the Legislature’s three-month stalemate on how to raise the state cigarette tax and preserve the car tag discount.

Town & Tower Club to meet Wednesday

The Town & Tower Club will host its spring quarterly meeting at Mississippi University for Women on Wednesday

Henderson Ward Stewart kids walk to school Wednesday

STARKVILLE — Those who enjoy healthy activities and saving the environment have a chance to combine both in Walk to School Day on Wednesday.

Community members to help interview Starkville principal hopefuls

STARKVILLE — The process is under way to hire new principals for Starkville’s junior high and high school, and certain community members will soon have their chance to have a say in the process at an interview session April 27.

Leaders vow to reach pact on car tags

JACKSON — State legislators are getting increasingly agitated in seeking a compromise on raising the cigarette tax to help prevent car tag prices from going up.

A miscarriage of decency and justice

In Friday’s paper, at page 8A top right, there appears a VERY SHORT news item about Paul Minor not being allowed to attend his wife’s funeral. I consider this to be a very important and very disturbing story. I think your paper could have done a much better job of reporting this outrageous miscarriage of decency and justice. To me, it’s a lot more important than one more drug bust or one more laying on of hands on some yute.

Renaming The W

Renaming The W is of secondary importance. The only change really needs at that fine old college is in the office of president!

Some Mississippi nursing schools struggle

Mississippi University for Women is one of 10 Mississippi nursing schools to meet all standards for accreditation last year, but half of the state’s nursing programs were not as lucky. A recent report from the state College Board of Mississippi shows that half of Mississippi’s universities and colleges that offer nursing programs did not meet all of the state’s standards last year.

Columbus officer hit by car at festival; injuries minor

A Columbus Police officer directing traffic at Sunday’s Mississippi Kid Festival was struck by a vehicle, but did not suffer serious injuries, according to a Columbus Police Department official.

Crime Report 4-20

The Columbus Police Department reported the following incidents:

Aspiring music writer waiting to bloom

Jeremy Swain is probably the most musically educated flower shop employee in Columbus. After graduating from the Berklee School of Music in Boston in May, this Columbus native suddenly found himself with a degree in jazz composition and could find no one who needed any jazz composed.

New Hope baseball team sweeps series from Hernando

The New Hope High School baseball team wrapped up its opening round series in the Class 4A playoffs with Hernando in two games Saturday.

New Hope (20-9) won game two 7-4 at Hernando on Saturday after winning the opener 6-1 at home Friday.

If New Hope would have lost game two, the teams would have had to play the final game of the series Saturday.

Roses and thorns

A pre-emptive thorn to the Columbus voters who won’t participate in city elections this year. Turnout is expected to be low, and more disheartening is an apparent lack of interest in running for local office: The number of candidates running for mayor and council posts is half of what it was in the last election.

Huckabee to speak this week at MSU

Former Arkansas governor and U.S. presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee will be among the featured speakers for Mississippi State University’s 22nd annual Mississippi Insurance Day.

MSU to celebrate Earth Day by signing commitment

As part of Mississippi State University’s continued effort to go “green,” President Mark Keenum on Wednesday will sign the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.

Dozens nabbed in Lowndes drug roundup

It started at 5 a.m., with authorities from the Columbus/Lowndes Metro Narcotics Unit, the Mississippi Department of Corrections, Mississippi Highway Patrol and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics making the rounds on Northside Columbus and along areas like Dale Drive in Lowndes County.

Pate’s case headed to grand jury

A man who police believe killed his wife and later tried to take his own life was bound over to the Lowndes County grand jury Thursday afternoon.

Public forums planned for candidates in city mayor, council elections

Columbus voters during the next few weeks will have multiple chances to hear from candidates seeking Columbus government positions.

1,000 more defense-related careers predicted for area

JACKSON — About 800 people are employed by Lowndes County’s four defense-related manufacturers, and they’re priming to hire more workers in the midst of the economic recession, said the county’s chief industrial recruiter.

Evans benefit concert Sunday, rain or shine

Organizers say The Mississippi Kid Festival, a medical fund benefit concert for Columbus resident and Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Ean Evans, will be held Sunday, come rain or come shine.