Fans will be allowed to watch MSU’s opening practices

STARKVILLE — Fans will have several opportunities to get a look at the 2011 Mississippi State football team prior to the season opener, coach Dan Mullen announced Friday.

Panel upholds vacating of death penalty for Hodges

JACKSON — A federal appeals panel has ruled that because of erroneous jury instructions, Quintez Wren Hodges was denied a fair sentencing hearing when he got the death penalty for the slaying of his ex-girlfriend’s brother.

2011 Dispatch Pet Calendar Entries (link)

View the entries in the 2011 Dispatch Pet Calendar contest. Voting forms can be found in the print edition of the Dispatch. All proceeds go to benefit the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society and Newspapers in Education.

Governor Candidate Profile: Phil Bryant

JACKSON — Phil Bryant was part of a Jaycees group invited to the White House in 1986 to meet President Ronald Reagan. He remembers sitting in the Roosevelt Room, near the Oval Office, and being in awe as the broad-shouldered Republican icon strode into the room, a mere 12 feet away, and urged the young civic-group presidents to become leaders in their own communities.

Governor Candidate Profile: Dave Dennis

JACKSON — Republican Dave Dennis says he’s running for Mississippi governor because he believes the state will face “a phenomenal leadership void” when Haley Barbour leaves office after two terms, and he believes he can fill it.

MSN: Downtown Columbus featured in MSN Local Edition (link)

MSN Local Edition featured some of the country’s most vibrant downtown areas. Columbus was on the list.

Governor Candidate Profile: Bill Luckett

CLARKSDALE — Bill Luckett still vividly remembers his first work in helping renovate buildings. He was a ninth grader, and he sanded walls for house painters in his hometown of Clarksdale.

“That whole summer, I had no fingerprints.

Governor Candidate Profile: Johnny Dupree

HATTIESBURG — Democrat Johnny DuPree points to his record as Hattiesburg mayor to show what he’d like to do if he’s elected governor of Mississippi.

16th Circuit Drug Court ready to accept referrals

The 16th Circuit District Drug Court started accepting referrals of non-violent first-time offenders this past week at the start of the Clay County Circuit Court term.

Columbus on the schedule for Cornel West, Tavis Smiley Poverty Tour

Columbus is one of the 15 cities broadcaster Tavis Smiley and Princeton professor Cornel West will visit this fall during their “Poverty Tour: A Call to Conscience.”

Keeping balance will be tough for schools

Let the arms race begin.

On one hand, you have Mississippi State, which announced last week that its athletic department received a school-record $37.6 million in gifts and pledges through the Bulldog Club and Bulldog Foundation in the 2010-11 fiscal year.

On the other hand, the University of Mississippi announced it would have a “major announcement” Aug. 9 regarding the unveiling of a capital campaign by the athletic department and the school’s Athletic Association Foundation.

Visualization helps anglers compete against Mother Nature

Fishing for weekend anglers can mean anything from taking free time to get away from reality to competing in tournaments.

For many of us, it is all of the above. There is nothing more fun than to get some free time and to grab a fishing pole and to head to the water.

Alcorn school district unveils solar power system

CORINTH — New solar collection panels will be used to teach students and bring in money for Alcorn County Schools, officials say.

Police: Repo man dragged car owner down driveway

CHULAHOMA — A tow truck driver from Horn Lake was held on $200,000 bond Sunday after allegedly dragging a man 85 feet down a gravel driveway while repossessing a car in Marshall County.

Miss. eminent domain initiative in court

JACKSON — A Hinds County judge is scheduled to hear high-stakes arguments Monday over a proposed constitutional amendment to prevent governments from taking property for anything but a public project.

Federal judge: Biofuels deal was a scam

NATCHEZ — A federal judge agrees with regulators’ charges against a man who claimed he had developed a revolutionary process to more than double fuel production from soybeans — and to do so without waste or the tiniest bit of pollution.

Zeta Phi Beta’s fan drive helps beat the heat

For a third consecutive year, the ladies of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. (Phi Lambda Zeta chapter) have been helping families in the Golden Triangle area beat the heat by collecting fans and funds to distribute to families in need through their Beat the Heat Fan Drive.

MSU send-off parties signal new school year

For the sixth summer in a row, Mississippi State University alumni chapters will hold annual Send-off Parties around the nation. The events are held for new and prospective students, parents, alumni and friends.

Prairie settlers explored in author’s talk Wednesday

Genealogist and author Thomas Locke Mayfield will give a book talk on his newest book “Voices from the Prairie: Stories of Life on the Prairie” Wednesday, July 27, at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library from noon- 1 p.m.

CAC to host Possum Town Quilters exhibit

The Columbus Arts Council will host a free gallery reception to open an exhibit of work by the Possum Town Quilters on Thursday, Aug. 4, 5:30-7 p.m. at the Rosenzweig Arts Center. Light refreshments will be served.