Jefferson Davis letter donated to Columbus Library

The Columbus-Lowndes Public Library has announced the donation of a letter written by Confederate President Jefferson Davis to Winfield H. Worthington of Columbus on July 14, 1877.

Hurricane Katrina among Gordy Series topics

The Gordy Honors College Forum Series opens Thursday, Jan. 19, at 6 p.m. at Nissan Auditorium in Parkinson Hall on the campus of Mississippi University for Women. The Forum Series continues through April, presenting lectures, film and undergraduate research.

Barbour ‘very comfortable’ with pardons

RIDGELAND — Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said Friday he’s “very comfortable” with his final-days decisions to grant pardons or other clemency to more than 200 people, including convicted killers — decisions that outraged victims’ families and dismayed even some of his most devoted supporters. Coming Sunday: Lowndes County woman speaks out about Barbour’s pardon of man convicted of killing her grandson

Susan Estrich: The people have spoken

The people have spoken — all 126,185 of them. That’s how many votes turned Mitt Romney into the Republican nominee, for all intents and purposes. In a country with more than 300 million people, less than a tenth of a half of a percent have picked one of the two men who could be the next president of the United States.

South Pike schools chief leaving in June

MAGNOLIA — South Pike School District Superintendent Dr. Bill Gunnell says he will leave when his contract expires in June. Gunnell tells the Enterprise-Journal that he wants to explore other opportunities.

Campaign staffer hired as House Speaker assistant

JACKSON — The Mississippi House of Representatives will pay $110,000 a year to Nathan Wells, a former campaign worker and state Republican Party employee, to act as an assistant to new House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton.

State schools get C- from Education Week report

JACKSON — Mississippi’s K-12 schools once again trail in an influential measure of school performance.

Lowndes inmate one of 21 whose release is challenged by AG

Twenty-one inmates who received pardons or other reprieves from former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour remain in custody until a court battle is resolved over whether Barbour properly handled their orders to go free.

Lawyer: Sisters will push new governor for pardon

JACKSON– Two sisters released from a Mississippi prison last year on condition that one donate a kidney to the other were saddened and disappointed they weren’t among dozens receiving full pardons from the governor, one of the women said Thursday.

Richardson leads players leaving Alabama for NFL draft

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The national champion University of Alabama football team will once again try to keep rolling after losing three underclassmen to the NFL draft.

All-Americans Trent Richardson, Dont’a Hightower and Dre Kirkpatrick said Thursday they’re leaving school to start pro careers, three days after helping the Crimson Tide to its second national title of their careers.

Ole Miss women beat Arkansas for first SEC win

OXFORD — Danielle McCray grabbed a huge defensive rebound with 22.9 seconds remaining, and Nikki Byrd added two free throws with 19 seconds left to help the University of Mississippi women’s basketball team to a 60-54 victory against the University of Arkansas on Thursday night at Tad Smith Coliseum.

Ole Miss receives NLI from EMCC’s Wallace

OXFORD — University of Mississippi football coach Hugh Freeze received a National Letter of Intent on Thursday from Bo Wallace, a quarterback from East Mississippi Community College.

The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder will enroll at Ole Miss for the spring semester, and will begin competing in the 2012 season with three years of eligibility remaining.

Misuse of fuel card, state vehicle alleged

JACKSON — The deputy administrator of the Mississippi Homeland Security office is on administrative leave without pay following his arrest for alleged misuse of a state vehicle and Fuelman card.

USDA to shutter 11 offices in Mississippi

JACKSON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it plans to close 11 offices in Mississippi as part of a $150 million cost cutting measure that includes 259 closures nationwide.

Only 1 shows to comment on offshore lease sales

JEFFERSON, La. — Only a petroleum industry representative showed up at a public hearing on proposed oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico.

Kathleen Parker: Pious baloney 2.0

WASHINGTON — One thing we’ve learned since the Republican primary season began: There’s an awful lot of pious baloney out there.

Froma Harrop: The missing ‘humanity clause’ at Bain

During the Great Depression, my father toiled in a box factory. The workers were all flat broke, he recalled, and desperate for every nickel. But when overtime hours appeared, the men made sure they went to a guy with kids. The laborers were obeying the unwritten and unenforceable “humanity clause,” whereby one gives up some personal gain in deference to another’s screaming need.

Collins named National Guard leader

JACKSON — Gov. Phil Bryant has appointed retired Brig. Gen. Augustus L. “Leon” Collins as adjutant general of the Mississippi National Guard.

Study: 75 percent of non-white voters against ID

JACKSON — A study finds that more than 75 percent of non-white voters in Mississippi voted against a measure to require photo identification before someone may vote.

Lowndes County arrest report

The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office reports the following arrests Jan. 4 through Jan. 10: