Judge to hear pardons challenge from Hood

JACKSON — A Hinds County judge will hear arguments from Attorney General Jim Hood who is challenging dozens of pardons issued by former Gov. Haley Barbour.

Hattiesburg woman charged in DUI death

HATTIESBURG — A 37-year-old Hattiesburg woman is in the Forrest County Jail charged with driving-under-the-influence/causing death or mutilation.

Man found guilty in second murder trial

MERIDIAN — Julius Wesley Kiker, of Lucedale, has been convicted for a second time in the shooting death of his wife, Renee Kiker, at their Lucedale home on March 6, 2002.

Budget cuts recommended for health care programs

JACKSON — Legislative budget writers want to slash the state general fund appropriation for the state Department of Health to $20.7 million — the lowest level it has seen since 1990, when it received $20.3 million.

2 dead, 100 hurt in Alabama as storms pound South

CLAY, Ala. — Severe storms and possible tornadoes pounded the South on Monday, injuring more than 100 people and killing at least two in Alabama, including a man who lived in an area devastated by a deadly twister outbreak in the spring.

Mississippi casinos win more in December

JACKSON — Mississippi casinos won more money from gamblers in December, the only month in 2011 that gaming revenues were higher than in 2010.

Previous offender arrested on charge of suspicion of burglary

A 19-year-old man is being held in connection to a Friday-morning burglary.

Davanta Hayden was arrested Friday morning on Mill Street after police received a stolen-property tip, Cpl. Donnie Elkin said. Charges are still pending and could be issued on Monday, Elkin said.

MSU men earn rare win at Vanderbilt

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Rick Stansbury drew up a play in the huddle, something his Mississippi State University men’s basketball team hadn’t used this season. He saw Vanderbilt overplaying Dee Bost, and his senior guard made it work.

Bost scored on a layup with 51.8 seconds left in overtime and No. 18 Mississippi State edged Vanderbilt University 78-77 Saturday night, snapping the Commodores’ eight-game winning streak.

Henry, Ole Miss hold on to beat Georgia

ATHENS, Ga. — Terrance Henry can’t really say why the University of Mississippi men’s basketball team struggles so badly at the free-throw line.

As long as the Rebels win, however, Henry believes his team will be just fine.

“We’re used to it,” Henry said. “That’s our M.O. We grind it out on defense, take what we can get on offense. It wasn’t new to us, so we were used to a game like that.”

Henry scored 24 points, Nick Williams and Murphy Holloway added 12 and Mississippi held off a late surge from Georgia for a 66-63 victory on Saturday.

Alabama nearly upsets No. 2 Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Trevor Releford slashed between three University of Kentucky defenders, hit a floater and slid into the front row. No matter how hard the University of Alabama guard tried, the Wildcats always had an answer for him and the rest of the Crimson Tide.

Releford scored all 17 of his points in the second half, but No. 2 Kentucky hit its final eight free throws in the closing minute in the Wildcats’ 77-71 victory over Alabama on Saturday.

Celebrity rooster back home in Ocean Springs

Carl the rooster is back in Ocean Springs.

Carl is one of a small band of roaming roosters who have become a quirky novelty of downtown Ocean Springs.

Improvements planned for Bluecutt Road

Bluecutt Road is expected to see $1 million in improvements in the coming months. The City Council Tuesday approved a plan to widen the turning lanes at the intersection of Bluecutt and Military roads, where Huddle House is located, and at Bluecutt and Seventh Street North, near Heritage Academy.

City of Columbus moving forward on pedestrian bridge project

The city of Columbus is moving forward on the renovation of the historic Highway 82 bridge across the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway into a pedestrian walkway.

Police to meet with subject in BCS video

NEW ORLEANS — An Alabama sheriff says a relative is on his way to New Orleans to meet with police in connection with a video taken after the BCS football championship game that appears to show an unconscious LSU fan being abused by someone in Alabama attire.

Two Pascagoula teens arrested, accused of vandalism

PASCAGOULA — Two teenagers have been arrested, accused of setting fires at Pascagoula’s recreation complex.

DA seeks home of doctor nabbed in drug case

VICKSBURG– The Vicksburg home of a Tallulah, La., doctor who was arrested on 300 counts of prescription fraud is the target of a forfeiture civil suit brought by Warren County District Attorney Ricky Smith.

Four sentenced in drug case

HATTIESBURG — A federal judge has sentenced four people who authorities say were involved in a south Mississippi methamphetamine distribution ring.

Governor’s Mansion trusties booted in Mississippi

JACKSON — Gov. Phil Bryant has ended a decades-long practice of state prison trusties working at the Governor’s Mansion.

Report backs changes to college employee plan

JACKSON — A study of a special retirement savings plan for Mississippi public university employees recommends changing how the state’s contribution levels are set.

Judge dismisses challenge to uniform policy

TUPELO — A federal judge has upheld a uniform policy in Lee County that requires detention center officers to wear pants furnished by the sheriff’s department.