River forces move of ‘Memphis in May’ barbecue contest

As Old Man River continues to rise, the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, in cooperation with local and state emergency management personnel, is closely monitoring Mississippi River levels, which are expected to crest May 10.

Starkville middle school students donate to storm victims

Add Starkville middle-schoolers to the growing list of populations working to relieve the pain of tornado victims.

Oktibbeha men arrested in home invasion

Three Oktibbeha County men have been arrested for an April home invasion which left three victims in the hospital.

Severstal resumes operations at Columbus steel plant

Severstal has resumed operations at its Columbus steel plant following a power outage caused by last week’s severe storms, the company said Friday.

EMCC softball loses at Region 23 tournament

CLINTON – A 12-run fourth inning by the nation’s top-ranked team spelled doom for the East Mississippi Community College softball team in a 16-2 loss to LSU-Eunice on Thursday afternoon in opening-day action of the 2011 NJCAA Region 23 tournament at Traceway Park.

Arrest report 5-5-11

Local law enforcement agencies reported these felony arrests.

Business Briefcase 5-5-11

Dennis J. Erby; Brandt Galloway and Kevin Stafford; Robyn Crossley East.

Saban, Barkley discuss tornado damage in Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban spends much of his spare time in tornado-ravaged parts of Tuscaloosa. Former NBA star Charles Barkley had never seen anything like the destruction in the Birmingham suburbs of Pleasant Grove and Pratt City.

Frazier, Vikings may want mentor for QB Ponder

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Leslie Frazier gazed out the office window at the perfectly manicured practice fields at Minnesota Vikings headquarters, fields just waiting for some action.

Columbus-based Sanderson closes Butler, Ala., plant

Sanderson Plumbing Products is closing its plant in Butler and laying off the plant’s 50 remaining employees.

County to close road Thursday

The Lowndes County Road Department will be closing Pleasant Hill Road from Highway 50 to Tabernacle Road on Thursday for culvert installation, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

UPDATED: How you can volunteer, donate to the tornado relief effort

Ways to donate your time, money and supplies to the storm relief effort.

State College Board wants funding formula revisited

Mississippi spends an additional $1,200 on each student at Mississippi Valley State University and Mississippi University for Women compared with those at Jackson State University and the University of Mississippi.

MSU baseball rallies past South Alabama

MOBILE, Ala. – The Mississippi State baseball team scored 10 times in the seventh inning Tuesday night to rally past South Alabama 15-9 in a non-conference college game at Stanky Field.

The Bulldogs improved to 18-5 in non-conference games this season and 26-18 overall. South Alabama fell to 22-22.

Heritage Academy golf wins AAA state title

GREENWOOD — The Heritage Academy golf team was up for the challenge.

Stalled by rain and soggy conditions Tuesday at Greenwood Country Club, the Patriots fought off the elements and the hunters en route to a score of 318 that was good enough to win the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools AAA championship.

Mississippi River levee blasted, but historic water levels still expected

The dramatic, late-night demolition of a levee sent water pouring onto thousands of acres of Missouri farmland Tuesday, but did nothing to ease the risk of more trouble downstream in some parts of Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Miss. 9/11 families relieved about bin Laden death

Mississippians impacted by the 9/11 terror attacks say they’re relieved Osama bin Laden is dead, although his demise doesn’t alter their memories of a day that jolted Americans’ sense of security.

4-County wrapping up power restoration in storm areas

Crews from 4-County Electric Power Association are wrapping up restoration efforts following a series of deadly storms that swept through the cooperative’s service territory in late April.

MSU baseball beats Alabama to avoid sweep

STARKVILLE — Cody Freeman’s go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning Sunday lifted the Mississippi State baseball team to an 8-5 win against the University of Alabama in a Southeastern Conference game at Dudy Noble Field.

Local teams have strong showings at regionals

OXFORD — The New Hope High School girls track and field team placed second Saturday at the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A, Region 1 meet at Oxford High School.