http://www.meridianstar.com en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:13:00 +0000 http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_310091611.html http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_310091611.html Drug agents find pot in 18-wheeler Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:45:00 +0000 http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_310004533.html http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_310004533.html JACKSON (AP) — Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour told lawmakers Thursday he wants more power to reduce state spending when times are tough. Meeting with members of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Republican said he wants the authority to cut the budget by 10 percent when the House and Senate are not in session. Under current state law, the governor can cut up to 5 percent. For larger cuts, the governor has to call the House and Senate back to the Capitol. Barbour said the change would give him — and future governors — more flexibility for financial management. However, he’s unlikely to get what he wants because legislators jealously guard their power to decide how much money state programs receive. The House and Senate would have to approve the change. ‘‘We do the best we can, and it is trial-and-error,’’ Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, told reporters after the meeting with Barbour. ‘‘If we get in bad shape, he can call us back and we’ll deal with it. But spending is the purview of the Legislature, not the governor.’’ Rep. Cecil Brown, D-Jackson, agreed. ‘‘Why would we want to turn the budget over to one person, no matter who that person is?’’ Brown said. During their meeting Thursday, lawmakers reduced their estimate for the state’s general fund for the current fiscal year, which began July 1 and ends next June 30. The new estimate is nearly $4.6 billion, down from about $4.9 billion. With federal stimulus payments, a lawsuit settlement and some other money on top of the general fund, state spending had been close to $6 billion. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:31:00 +0000 http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_309003124.html http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_309003124.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:22:00 +0000 http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_309002507.html http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_309002507.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:02:00 +0000 http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_306120311.html http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_306120311.html Man killed in crash at ATV races Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:49:00 +0000 http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_305014931.html http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_305014931.html VICKSBURG (AP) — An urgent need for radio and other communications that work everywhere in the county, without ‘‘dead zones,’’ is the top need for Warren County law enforcement, a county grand jury reports. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:29:00 +0000 http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_302002911.html http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_302002911.html PASCAGOULA (AP) — A Hattiesburg woman testified Wednesday that she saw a young man shoot her husband last year when the couple stopped for directions at a Moss Point gas station. Linda and Michael David Porter had gotten lost going to their grandson’s football game. Linda Porter testified during the capital murder trial of 16-year-old Darwin M. Wells, one of four teens accused in the Oct. 23, 2008 shooting death. Wells is the first to go on trial. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:27:00 +0000 http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_302002852.html http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_302002852.html JACKSON (AP) — Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said Wednesday he’s postponing a special legislative session he intended to call this week for a project that promises up to 500 jobs in the economically struggling Delta. Barbour said the $300 million manufacturing plant is still planned, but the company needs more time to prepare. He said the session is being delayed because of a ‘‘technical issue.’’ Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:50:00 +0000 http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_301164242.html http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_301164242.html Miss. governor: Economic special session postponed Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:10:00 +0000 http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_301104030.html http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_301104030.html Voters approve alcohol sales Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:35:00 +0000 http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_300233528.html http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_300233528.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:57:00 +0000 http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_300233455.html http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_300233455.html JACKSON (AP) — Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour on Tuesday named a black lawyer to a judicial post for the first time during his nearly six years of office, choosing an attorney who previously criticized the lack of diversity in the governor’s appointments. Barbour appointed Malcolm O. Harrison to serve the unexpired term of former Hinds County Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter, who resigned July 30 after pleading guilty to federal charges stemming from a judicial bribery case. The four-year term for the Hinds County circuit judgeship ends Jan. 3, 2011. Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:23:00 +0000 http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_300002324.html http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_300002324.html BAY MINETTE, Ala. (AP) — The governors of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi have announced the launch of an alliance designed to create an aerospace and aviation corridor from Panama City, Fla., to Louisiana. Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:23:00 +0000 http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_296093504.html http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_296093504.html 2 men die in Miss. Hwy. 42 accident Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:12:00 +0000 http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_295001214.html http://www.meridianstar.com/StateNews/local_story_295001214.html JACKSON (AP) — Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said Wednesday he will call lawmakers into special session late next week to consider incentives for a company to develop a $300 million manufacturing plant in the Delta, one of the poorest parts of the state.