New alert system launched for emergencies, other notifications
STARKVILLE – Residents can sign up for a new, improved system to receive city alerts. Information Technology Director Joel Clements said the system went live
Your questions about upcoming power rate increases, answered
Electric bills are rising across the Golden Triangle starting this fall, with the Tennessee Valley Authority announcing it will raise the wholesale price to provide
Supreme Court to decide whether Alabama can postpone drawing new congressional districts
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to soon rule on Alabama’s request to let it keep new GOP-drawn congressional lines in place as it fights a three-judge panel’s plan to create a second majority-Black district, or something close to it, in the Deep South state.
Mississippi auditor says several college majors indoctrinate students and should be defunded
Calling numerous social science and humanities degree programs “indoctrination factories,” Mississippi’s auditor says the state should defund several college majors and invest in subjects that match the state’s workforce needs.
Some crossings on US-Mexico border still shut as cities, agents confront rise in migrant arrivals
The week began in Eagle Pass with rumors that large crowds of migrants might show up. On Friday, the small Texas border city was scrambling: nearly 9,000 asylum-seekers and counting had crossed from Mexico, an international bridge remained closed and a 3-year-old boy had drowned in the Rio Grande.
White House preparing for government shutdown as House GOP lacks a viable endgame for funding
The White House is preparing Friday to direct federal agencies to get ready for a shutdown after House Republicans left town for the weekend with no viable plan to keep the government funded and avert politically and economically costly disruption of federal services.
Former Mississippi Democratic Party chair sues to reinstate himself, saying his ouster was improper
The former chair of Mississippi’s Democratic Party has filed a lawsuit seeking to reinstate himself as its leader, arguing that he was improperly ousted in July.
Auto workers are expanding their strike to 38 locations in 20 states, targeting Stellantis and GM
The United Auto Workers union expanded its strike against major carmakers Friday, walking out of 38 General Motors and Stellantis parts-distribution centers in 20 states.
Biden administration announces $600M to produce COVID tests and will reopen website to order them
The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it is providing $600 million in funding to produce new at-home COVID-19 tests and is restarting a website allowing Americans to again order up to four free tests per household — aiming to prevent possible shortages during a rise in coronavirus cases that has typically come during colder months.
Mississippi high court blocks appointment of some judges in majority-Black capital city and county
The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday struck down part of a state law that would have authorized some circuit court judges to be appointed rather than elected in the capital city of Jackson and the surrounding county, which are both majority-Black.
Project at old Vowell’s presses on after Corner Market backs out
Renovations to the old Vowell’s Marketplace at 118 Hwy. 12 W. should be complete by year’s end, but the developer is actively looking for another anchor business after Corner Market backed out.
6-month contract offered to CVB CEO
Nancy Carpenter will continue the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO for at least the next six months. After that, she hinted she may explore “other options.”
Officials: Travel crucial for ideas, funding opportunities
“If you don’t go, you don’t grow.”
Speaking to The Dispatch on Friday that’s how Ward 2 Councilman and Vice Mayor Joseph Mickens summed up the need for he and other city leaders to attend conferences and other networking events.
Israel criticizes UN vote to list ruins near ancient Jericho as World Heritage Site in Palestine
A U.N. committee voted Sunday to list prehistoric ruins near the ancient West Bank city of Jericho as a World Heritage Site in Palestine, a decision that angered Israel, which controls the territory and does not recognize a Palestinian state.
Trump launches his fall push in Iowa to lock in his lead before the first Republican caucuses
Donald Trump began a fall press Wednesday to lock in thousands of Republican caucusgoers in early-voting Iowa, where the former president faces sky-high expectations in his campaign for a White House comeback.
Federal judge sets May trial date for 5 former Memphis officers charged in Tyre Nichols beating
A judge on Thursday set a May trial date for five former Memphis police officers who have pleaded not guilty to federal civil rights charges in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols after a traffic stop.
GOP former congressman endorses Democratic nominee in Mississippi governor’s race
The last Republican who lost a general election for Mississippi governor is endorsing the Democratic nominee in this year’s race.
Mississippi GOP governor says his plan would aid hospitals; Democrat pushes for Medicaid expansion
Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves released a proposal Thursday aimed at helping some of the state’s financially struggling hospitals, even as the Democrat who is trying to unseat him has spent months hammering Reeves for opposing Medicaid expansion in one of the poorest states in the nation.
Senate confirms chairman of joint chiefs as GOP senator still blocking hundreds of military nominees
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Gen. CQ Brown as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, putting him in place to succeed Gen. Mark Milley when he retires at the end of the month.
Sheriff says 9 deputies charged in death of man beaten in Memphis jail
Nine Memphis jail deputies have been indicted in the death of a Black man who was having a psychotic episode and died in custody last fall after jailers punched, kicked and kneeled on his back during a confrontation, a sheriff said Wednesday.
