compiled by Lizzie McIntosh
TTYL
Saturday, according to the Hattiesburg American, the House of Representatives approved a bill to ban texting, posting on social media and emailing while driving. House members approved the bill with a 98-20 count, and it has now been sent to the Senate for further discussion. Making and receiving phone calls would still be permitted; however, drivers caught texting, emailing or using social media will be fined $25 until July 1 of 2016 and $100 following that date. According to the Mississippi Center for Health Policy, an earlier texting ban could have prevented 95 deaths in the state between 2008 and 2012 alone. Mississippi is only one of six states that do not already have a texting ban, disregarding the ban for drivers under the age of 18 and school bus drivers. So next time think twice to avoid the dreaded DWI—driving while instagramming—; it happens to the best of
us.http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/politics/2015/02/06/texting-ban-bill/23009135/
HOG WILD
Debatably, Mississippi’s current largest economic threat is one of the animal variety. According to Cliff Covington, a Mississippi State University wildlife specialist, the hogs are destroying crops, gnawing down trees, demolishing levees and carrying diseases as they breed at an alarming rate. Covington said, “They’re like a goat on steroids. They will literally eat anything.” Wild hogs are credited nationally for $1.5 billion in damages. Killing the beasts in small numbers will have no effect. In fact, Covington suggests that “at least 70 percent of the population must be killed every year to maintain current levels.” Piglet himself has expressed concern at the damages his species has caused. In fact his concern can be heard echoing all the way from the Hundred Acre Woods in his famous words, “Oh d-d-d-ear.” Our thoughts exactly, Piglet.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/02/09/wild-hogs-threaten-miss-economy-expert-says/23146037/
MISSISSIPPI VS. EDUCATION
The Clarion Ledger reported Wednesday that, according to the Schott Foundation for Public Education, there is a rise in the graduation gap between white and black students across the United States. In fact, this gap was at 19 percent between 2009-2010, and rose to 21 percent in 2012-2013. Here in Mississippi, the gap is at 12 percent. However, the state’s graduation rate of black male students is one of the lowest in the nation at 51 percent. In the Jackson Public School District alone, only 28 percent of the black male student population graduate. However, in three states – North Dakota, Vermont and Maine – black male students were proven to be more likely to graduate from high school than their white peers. The report used this information to prove “the fact that when black males are given access to schools and resources similar to those given to white males, their performance levels improve.”
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/journeytojustice/2015/02/11/graduation-gap-rising-schott-foundation-2015/23218415/
CLEAR EYES, EMPTY POCKETS, CAN’T LOSE
The Rankin County school board is bringing in the big bucks, so to speak. It has been reported by the Clarion Ledger that the board is looking into funding a new $9.7 million football stadium. This decision is not final, but is a step toward putting the construction into motion. The high school team is currently practicing at Brandon Middle School, which has been said to be unsafe and too small. Board President Grumpy Farmer said “Rankin’s athletic facilities fall behind others in the state.” No official vote has been taken yet, but soil borings have been done on site where the field would be located. Here’s hoping that Brandon High School is able to build a stadium worthy of Eric Taylor’s approval.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/02/10/rankin-brandon-football-stadium/23181195/
DUDE, WHERE’S MY CAR
These words were in the minds of ambulance drivers early Sunday afternoon after an ambulance was stolen from the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. According to the Daily Journal, the ambulance thief had been taken to the emergency room at the medical center and admitted as a patient earlier in the day. According to Tupelo Police Chief Bart Aguirre, after the police chased the ambulance, “he abandoned the ambulance near a church just west of the Trace Lake exit. After he abandoned the vehicle, he headed into a church, and that’s where the officers apprehended him.” The driver’s identity has not been revealed, and he has not been arrested due to his medical situation. It has been rumored that Ashton Kutcher is thinking about making a sequel based on this incident — utilizing the ambulance instead of a yellow 1984 Renault Le Car, of course.
http://djournal.com/news/tupelo-police-apprehend-ambulance-thief-pontotoc-county/
