BILOXI HIGH ‘TIL I DIE
The Sun Herald said the school district of Biloxi has been dragged into a national discussion over the appropriateness of schools using Native American words or imagery for mascots. The Biloxi High School band was a part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival parade in Washington D.C. last week, during which they caught the attention of Indian Country Today Media Network. The ICTMN claimed that the headdresses that the members of the marching band wore were offensive and inappropriate. An online petition has been made to ask the Biloxi Indians to get rid of their mascot, and it has already gotten over 680 supporters. Biloxi High School is fighting back— they made a counter petition in response in an effort to keep the mascot, and it has already collected more than 1,900 signatures. Biloxi High alumni and author of the counter petition, Kristen West is proud of her high school’s mascot. “The BHS Indian mascot and headdress is not to be offensive, rather to show our pride and honor to be able to represent our strong history here in Mississippi,” West said. It will be interesting to see whether or not this discussion affects institutions like Florida State or the Atlanta Braves.
WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOUR DRINK DOESN’T TASTE QUITE RIGHT….
Who put rat poison in my cup? In Marshall County, Melvin Moore of Red Banks was charged with attempted murder this week. He was taken to jail after allegedly spiking his girlfriend’s iced tea with rat poison. According to WREG News, the couple had been in a relationship for almost five years when he committed the shocking act. The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department admitted that this was one of the strangest cases they have seen thus far, but that the couple had experienced domestic issues in the past. Deputies said that Moore brought his girlfriend a can of sweet tea, but after drinking a few sips she called the police after noticing a strange taste. “So when she got to inspecting her drink, she realized there was something that looked like rat poison or something of that nature in her drink,” Police Captain Jason Mills explained. The woman did not have to take a trip to the hospital. Moore’s bond is set at $750,000 for the crime.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
The Hattiesburg American reported two Mississippi prisoners are challenging the constitutionality of the state’s lethal injection procedures. The two prisoners are condemned to the death penalty. Their lawyer, Jim Craig, filed a suit in the U.S. District Court in Jackson on their accounts. He claimed that Mississippi’s methods of execution provide risks of excruciating torture that violate the Eighth Amendment’s injunction against cruel and unusual punishment. Craig said Mississippi plans to execute prisoners by using a new substance they haven’t used before. His lawsuit states that the drug is “untried and untested,” which creates a substantial risk for his clients.
NORTH MISSISSIPPI ON TOP
Northeast Mississippi has steadily improved in the unemployment category. In fact, the jobless rate for the region reported an unemployment rate of 6.5 percent in March, which was at 8.7 percent just a month before. The Daily Journal confirmed that April of 2006 was the last time that the region has had a 6.5 percent jobless rate. That being said, this is the 20th consecutive month in which there has been a jobless rate under 10 percent. Northeast Mississippians have been reported as saying, in the words of Princess Vespa from “Spaceballs,” “Hey, I don’t have to put up with this! I’m rich!”
Compiled by Lizzie McIntosh
