Study set on how ending history test to change school grades
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi's Board of Education voted Thursday for more study on how scrapping a required U.S. history test would affect school ratings.
The board directed an internal task force to study whether it's possible to stop the test without changing scores used to assign A to F grades to schools and districts. Changing scores is unpopular because the board might assign grades in a way that reduces A-rated schools and increases F-rated schools.
A state commission beneath the board previously voted to stop giving the history test, and public comment on the proposal generally favored the change. Students formerly had to pass exams in history, English, algebra and biology to graduate. Now, there are alternate routes to graduate, but some Mississippi students still don't earn a diploma because they fail one or more of the tests.
Teacher groups and others who say students are overtested are seeking the change.
The state can't drop any of the three other high school tests because they're federally required, but can stop giving the history test. However, the history test is counted in the state's grading system, and the federal government would have to approve any change to the grading system. No changes will take place this school year, but Mississippi would have to act early next year in time to win federal approval to drop the test in the 2020-2021 school year.
The U.S. history class would still be a requirement for high school graduation.
LUMBERTON, Miss. (AP) — A woman is suing a Mississippi police department where she was the sole female officer.
News outlets report Tiffany Mcclure sued the city of Lumberton for discrimination on Wednesday, saying she was fired last year as a result of her gender, "under the guise of insubordination." She says she was fired by Chief Shane Flynt, who later resigned after a video shared online reportedly showed him smoking marijuana.
She says in the lawsuit that Flynt made sexist comments and indicated that he didn't want to have female police officers.
The city of 2,000 people also is being sued by former police Chief Carlus Page, who accused Lumberton of religious discrimination.
Mississippi police: Teen mom fractured slain son's skull
GULFPORT,
Miss. (AP)
— Police in Mississippi say a teenage mother charged with killing her 3-month-old son is accused of fracturing his skull and leg.
The Biloxi Sun-herald reports the investigation has revealed the child also had brain bleeding and severe hemorrhaging when he was admitted to a Gulfport hospital in September. Gulfport police say 17-year-old Yakira Yaffa Nicole Caffrey didn't offer a reasonable explanation of how he was injured. She's charged with second-degree murder. The newspaper reports investigators determined the infant had been abused, and a coroner ruled the death a homicide.
The outlet says Caffrey was unable to appear Wednesday at a preliminary hearing in Justice Court to determine if her case will go to a grand jury. Harrison County Prosecuting Attorney Herman Cox said a new hearing date will be set.
2 Mississippi men get 15 years each for robbing postman
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Two Mississippi men have been sentenced for robbing a postal carrier in 2016.
U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst said in a news release Thursday that a chief U.S. district judge had sentenced 36-year-old Edward Mobley to 15 years and 2 months and 26-year-old Jerome Benamon to 15 years. A third defendant, 26-year-old Khalil Slayton, pleaded guilty to armed robbery of a postal driver and will be sentenced later.
Evidence shows that the trio carried out the armed robbery at the Porterville, Mississippi, Post Office. The driver fought back after one of the defendants pointed a pistol at his head. The firearm discharged, but no one was hurt.
Hurts says money was taken from the driver and the robbers fled in different directions but were arrested after a thorough investigation.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Recreational fishing for red snapper will be allowed on Veterans Day this year in Louisiana waters and adjacent federal waters.
The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says Secretary Jack Montoucet has signed a declaration approving an additional day of red snapper fishing on Monday, Nov. 11.
The department news release says it will be in addition to the current weekends-only season that is open until further notice.
Louisiana is operating under its second year of a permit that allows the state to manage the private recreational red snapper season in state and federal waters. Under the program, participating anglers are allowed to fish red snapper in the state territorial seas and adjoining federal Exclusive Economic Zone waters from shore to 200 nautical miles.