Belle elected Aberdeen mayor

Aberdeen voters have returned Cecil Belle to the mayor’s office.

Main Street merchants concerned about lack of parking

The Starkville Board of Alderman Tuesday faced a couple of delicate matters associated with the city’s continued growth – downtown parking and redistricting.

City geared up Bulldog Weekend, Cotton District Arts Fest

More than 40,000 people are expected to descend upon Mississippi State University and Starkville this weekend, as the city will play host to both Super Bulldog Weekend and the Cotton District Arts Festival.

Arrests made in death of Alabama man

More arrests have been made in connection with the death of a Beaverton, Ala. man.

Local students semifinalists in Presidential Scholars Program

The Mississippi Department of Education said four public high school seniors from Mississippi, including Columbus and Starkville students, have been chosen as semifinalists for the 2012 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

Police crack down on underage drinking over weekend

It was a busy weekend for the Starkville Police Department, as 56 arrest citations were issued, during a city-wide crackdown on selling beer to minors.

EMCC receives nursing accreditation

After years spent meeting every requirement of the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, East Mississippi Community College made the grade last week.

Bill puts new limits on abortion providers

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant on Monday signed a law that will put new regulations on the state’s only abortion clinic, starting July 1. The Republican said he’s not bothered by the possibility that the clinic’s owner will sue to try to block the new mandates.

“If it closes that clinic, then so be it,” Bryant said during a bill signing ceremony in his Capitol office.

Defending champion South Carolina sweeps MSU

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Mississippi State University baseball team scored two runs in the ninth inning Sunday but couldn’t muster enough offense to overtake the No. 7 University of South Carolina in a 6-4 loss at Carolina Stadium.

MSU (21-15, 5-10 Southeastern Conference) suffered its first sweep in league play this season, while the two-time defending national champion Gamecocks improved to 27-10 and 8-7.

MSU, Alabama complete softball sweeps

OXFORD — Cranking out a team-high 14 hits in a Southeastern Conference game, the Mississippi State University softball team completed a three-game series sweep of the University of Mississippi with a 10-3 victory Sunday at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.

The win helped MSU (25-19, 8-14 Southeastern Conference) surpass last year’s win total of 24 in 56 games.

Jury: Race played role in white attorney’s firing

A federal jury in Aberdeen has decided that race played a part in the majority-black Greenwood Leflore Hospital board firing its white former attorney.

County officials to celebrate National Government Month

The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors and other county officials this month are celebrating National County Government Month to highlight county government programs and services; the theme for this year’s celebration is healthy counties, healthy families.

Starkville group’s goal: health insurance for all

Roughly 43 percent of Mississippians, between the ages of 19 and 26, don’t have health insurance.

Four-lane Highway 45 S. to open today

The Mississippi Department of Transportation says a newly reconstructed portion of Highway 45 with four lanes will be opening Monday.

‘Kitchens’ important to Columbus Girlchoir

Two kinds of kitchens are important to the Columbus Girlchoir this spring.

Former American Idol makes child’s wish come true

Five-year-old Mary Margaret Sullivan has never spoken a word.

“When she doesn’t like something, she frowns,” her dad, Mike Sullivan said. “When she wants something or she is happy about something, she blows kisses. That’s how she talks.”

On Saturday the child that cannot speak simply couldn’t shut up.

Kidnapping charges dropped against MSU students

Starkville Municipal Court Judge Rodney Faver Friday dismissed charges, stemming from a March 1 kidnapping, against three Mississippi State University students.

Library to observe Holocaust Remembrance Monday

In honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day observed across the world, the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library will host several events Monday, April 16, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the meeting room of the Chebie G. Bateman building at 314 Seventh St. N.

Lineup taking shape for Wolf blues fest

Organizers of the 17th annual Howlin’ Wolf Memorial Blues Festival set for Aug. 31 in West Point have a few months to go, but several acts are already confirmed.

After an acclaimed debut at the festival last year, Missouri native and Living Blues award winner Marquise Knox will return, by popular demand.

MUW art majors eager for senior exhibit

Nine Mississippi University for Women art students will be featured in an upcoming senior exhibition in the Eugenia Summer Art Gallery on campus. The public is invited to a free reception Friday, April 20, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the gallery located in the Art and Design Building.