Compiled by Lizzie McIntosh
TOYOTA: ON THE NAUGHTY LIST
A new push by legislators to cut Mississippi’s financial connections to Iran could have “unintended consequences” for the Toyota Motor Corporation. The Clarion Ledger reported that this measure is a part of the Iran Divestment Act, which passed through the House on Monday and the Senate on Thursday. Toyota is among other auto companies who purchase Iranian crude oil for their products putting them in danger of consequences if the law passes. Lawmakers have until Monday to vote again before the law is able to leave the Senate floor. Toyota provides a huge amount of employment for the state with its $1.3 billion plant near Tupelo. In fact, the plant opened in November of 2011 and employs around 2,000 people. It is unsure how much this bill, if passed, will affect the plant; however, there is a possibility that it very well could.
BECAUSE I GOT HIGH
Afroman took the idea of audience participation a little too strongly Tuesday night. Mississippi rapper Joseph Edgar Foreman, known as Afroman, was arrested Tuesday night in Biloxi on charges of assault. CNN reported that a video was released showing Foreman playing his guitar during the concert then turning around and punching a woman dancing on stage behind him. After she fell, he continued to play without stopping. Afroman claims that he had been bothered by a man off-stage preceding the action and was annoyed by the woman who got on stage. However, he later released an apology saying, “It was wrong. What happened shouldn’t have happened.” Afroman is most known for his Grammy nominated hit, “Because I Got High.” You might need a better alibi than that, Afroman.
AUTISM CONTRIBUTION
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that 10,000 children in Mississippi are living with autism. The Clarion-Ledger reported that the Gertrude C. Ford Foundation in Jackson has donated $1 million to improve the Mississippi Children’s Home Services autism program. MCHS Autism Services include clinical treatment, school-based consultation and parent and teacher training among other services to ensure positive development of autistic children. At this point in time there is no found cure for the disease, but studies have shown that repeated therapy and treatment can help lessen the hindering effects of the disorder. This generous donation by the university’s very own Ford Center could be extremely instrumental in improving care for Mississippi’s autistic children.
STOP COLLABORATE AND LISTEN
Ice is back with a brand new invention. WMC Action News 5 of Memphis reported that two students from Southaven High School attempted an icy prank in order to avoid going to school the next day. On Tuesday night, the two students videoed themselves pouring water onto the parking lot of their school. During the video one of the students can be clearly heard saying, “We might go to jail, but we ain’t going to school.” The culprits’ peers reportedly called them “heroes,” but school administration felt differently. The spokesperson from Southaven High stated, “This is vandalism. DeSoto County School District has a code of discipline to address this type of behavior.” One of the teenagers, at the strong suggestion of his father, later returned to the school to shovel up the ice.
