Local News
(10:32 a.m.) Appointments update
The Meridian City Council approved two appointments by new Mayor Cheri Barry this morning. Retired Navy Commander Mark McDonald, who is a Meridian native and who has degrees in Business Administration and Public Administration, was appointed the new chief administrative officer. Bill Ready, Sr., a well-known former civil rights attorney and vocal supporter of Barry, was appointed new city attorney.
For the full story, including comments from Barry, McDonald, and Ready, along with a story on Barry's plans for the school board, pick up a copy of Wednesday's Meridian Star and keep visiting www.meridianstar.com.
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Lauderdale resident gets celebrity wake up call
When Lauderdale resident Rose Marie Schultz answered an early morning call Wednesday, she didn't expect to hear talk show host Kelly Ripa on the other end.
"I thought my friend was calling me, because it was early – a quarter after 8," said Schultz, who is originally from Levittown, Penn. "And here it was Kelly. I said, 'Oh, my God!'"
The co-host of "Live! With Regis and Kelly" and her guest host, rapper and actor Ludacris, were calling to inform Schultz that she was selected the day's participant in "Spring Fling Trivia A Go-Go." -
Open meetings law in limbo
Last week, the Mississippi House passed a bill originally designed to give some teeth to the state's ill-enforced Open Meetings law — but that bill likely won't make it through the week.
Mississippi's Open Meetings law dictates that any public governing body —such as a city council or school board — must conduct all of their business in public. There are a few exceptions that allow a body to discuss something in an closed meeting, and those exceptions are all spelled out in the state law. -
Flash flooding possible
Some of the rainfall totals for Kemper and northern Lauderdale County Wednesday peaked over three inches even though a little more than an inch was recorded at Key Field in Meridian.
Meteorologists with the National Weather Service said flash flooding may be a problem this morning with the latest band of storms that began moving through the area early this morning. And even though forecasts said the rain should be over by mid-morning, creeks and rivers that are already inundated with water may become a problem. -
Jobless rates at 12 percent
Mississippi’s unemployment rate stood at 12 percent in January, up from 10.3 percent in December and higher than the national rate of 10.6 percent.
The state Department of Employment Security released figures Wednesday.
Unemployment ranged from a high of 23.1 percent in Noxubee and Holmes counties to 8 percent in Rankin. -
Local youth set to save lives March 24
Youth in Lauderdale and Newton County will join others across the state and nationwide on March 24 to voice their opposition of Big Tobacco during 2010 Kick Butts Day.
Kick Butts Day is an annual nationwide initiative in which kids lead the effort to snuff out youth tobacco use. As part of this year’s Kick Butts Day celebration, the Mississippi Tobacco-Free Coalition of Lauderdale County is working with students at West Lauderdale Middle, Union Middle, Newton Middle, Calvary Christian High and Oakland Heights Elementary schools to help them educate their peers about tobacco companies’ deceptive marketing practices. -
Raising the Bar
Anderson Health and Fitness Center is raising the bar on fitness and well-being.
On Tuesday, the board of directors of Anderson Regional Medical Center ratified what is described as an "exciting new vision and direction" for the fitness facility. -
100 animals seized in Kemper County
The Humane Society of the United States and the Mississippi Animal Rescue League assisted the Kemper County Sheriff’s Department in the seizure of more than 100 dogs and several cats in Preston on Tuesday.
United Animal Nations also assisted in the rescue of animals in this case of alleged cruelty.
The animals were removed from Raven’s Hope Animal Sanctuary, a non-profit organization that claims to offer animals for adoption. The seizure is the largest known animal rescue in Kemper County. -
Police search for missing teen
Juvenile Detectives with the Meridian Police Department Criminal Investigation Division are seeking information on the whereabouts of a 16-year-old black male, Jeremiah Devontae Murray.
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School Board narrows list of candidates
The Board of Trustees for the Meridian Public Schools announced Tuesday that it had narrowed down its list of interim superintendent candidates to three, but possibly with one more.
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MPD looks for armed robbery suspects
Meridian police are looking for help in identifying suspects in an armed robbery at BP Express Lanes, located at 1019 Highway 39 By-Pass.
Police released surveillance video and still photographs of the robbery Tuesday, in hopes the public can help identify the robbers. - More Local News Headlines
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