Local looks to be crowned Miss Mississippi
Kylee Noelle Mcmullen of Cedarbluff will compete for the title of Miss Mississippi USA 2021 on March 11-13 at the Horseshoe Hotel and Casino in Tunica.
The 2020 graduate of Oak Hill Academy is the daughter of Chuck and Wendy Mcmullen of Cedarbluff. The granddaughter of Gene and Georgene Swindol of Siloam, Margaret Mcmullen of Starkville, and Bob and Carolyn Mcmullen of Eupora.
Mcmullen attends Vaughn Beauty College in Aberdeen and plans to focus on hair and makeup artistry after graduating in September of this year.
Her sponsors for the pageant are family and friends. She has also done a fundraiser to offset pageant expenses.
She plans on visiting businesses in West Point and sharing with her followers on social media about all the great places to do business in West Point.
JACKSON (AP) — Mississippi is reporting a single-day record of new coronavirus cases.
The state Health Department said Thursday that the state had 3,255 new cases of the virus as of Wednesday evening.
The first time Mississippi reported more than 3,000 cases reported in a single day was Dec. 30.
The state health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, has warned that he expects case numbers to continue to grow as people start testing positive after attending holiday gatherings.
Mississippi, with a population of about 3 million, has reported at least 5,061 deaths from COVID-19 as of Wednesday evening. The state has had at least 231,490 total cases of coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, the Health Department said.
Group commits $1M for Mississippi computer science education
RIDGELAND (AP) — An organization announced Thursday that it is committing $1 million to help Mississippi school districts start computer science classes.
The money is coming from C Spire Foundation, a charity connected to the Mississippi-based telecommunications and technology company C Spire.
A C Spire news release said the company will ask Mississippi legislators this year to consider making computer science classes available in all elementary schools, middle schools and high schools by 2024-25. The release said 48% of Mississippi high schools currently teach computer science.
“Now more than ever, we need to be equipping all of our children to master the digital tools of the 21st century and providing them with educational opportunities to hone their knowledge and skills on the building blocks of meaningful and relevant learning that will form the foundation of our state’s economic future,” Hu Meena, president and CEO of C Spire, said in the statement.
The release said that Mississippi employers have more than 1,475 unfilled jobs because of a shortage of trained, qualified information technology and computing workers.
C Spire has been promoting computer science education in Mississippi since 2015 with coding challenges, coding academies and accelerated degree programs.
Peco Foods closing 3 Mississippi locations, expanding others
CANTON (AP) — A family-owned Mississippi poultry company said Thursday it is closing three of its locations in the state, while expanding operations at two other locations and a third in Arkansas.
Peco Foods’ facilities in Brooksville, Canton and the hatchery in Philadelphia will be shuttered, multiple news outlets reported.
The company also plans to invest in ramping up the West Point facility and adding operations in Sebastopol and Pocahontas, Arkansas. Those facilities have the capability of expanding product lines to meet customer demand, officials said.
Company officials said the moves are to “further grow in a sustainable direction
based on industry trends.”
“Since Peco’s beginnings as a familyowned company 83 years ago, the industry has drastically shifted,” said Peco Foods Chief Operating Officer Bill Griffith. “By streamlining our operations, we can continue building a sustainable company that will support the families and communities of our team members and customers for years to come. The decisions announced today – each carefully considered – will position Peco strongly for future growth and industry leadership.”
Peco currently employs 7,000 people throughout Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi. It is working to provide affected employees opportunities throughout the company where possible, according to a news release.
JACKSON (AP) — The U.S. attorney for the southern half of Mississippi said Thursday that he will step down the day before Joe Biden becomes president.
Mike Hurst’s last day on the job will be Jan. 19.
U.S. attorneys are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. It’s common for the federal prosecutors to leave their jobs when there’s a change of administration.
Hurst was nominated by President Donald Trump in June 2017 and was confirmed by the Senate that October. Hurst had run unsuccessfully for Mississippi attorney general in 2015.
“I have tried to do everything within my power to make our neighborhoods safer, support our law enforcement, engage and empower our communities and citizens, protect victims, prevent and reduce crime and uphold our constitutional rights,” Hurst said
in a news release.
Clerical error causes 1-month revenue drop in Oxford
OXFORD (AP) — A clerical error by the Mississippi Department of Revenue caused a steep drop in one month’s sales tax revenue in Oxford.
The Oxford Eagle reported that the city saw a 42% decrease in sales tax collections from September to October. The mistake showed up in money the city received from the state in December.
Mayor Robyn Tannehill said that even with the economy affected by the coronavirus pandemic, she wondered why the decrease was so large.
City officials contacted the Department of Revenue, and the department found its error.
Each month, the department sends cities their share of money from sales taxes collected two months earlier. Oxford received its October share in December.