Mississippi

Impact Assistance Funds will Help Gulf States, Alaska and California to Restore and Protect Coastal Areas

April 20, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Six U.S. coastal states will share nearly half a billion dollars from offshore oil and gas revenues in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 to help restore and protect coastal wetlands, wildlife habitat and marine areas, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today. The funds are available for approved uses by Alabama, Alaska, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and their coastal local governments.    » read more »

February 26, 2009 -- Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour announced today United Chair, owned by Haworth Inc., will add at least 125 new jobs at its Bruce, Miss., facility. The company’s Bruce plant currently employs approximately 180 people.

“This is great news for the state of Mississippi, especially during these tough economic times,” Governor Barbour said. “We are delighted that Haworth is increasing its operations at the Bruce facility and will be creating at least 125 new jobs there. This consolidation is going to have a very positive impact on Calhoun County and the surrounding area.”    » read more »

Brings funded Ground Zero projects to almost $155 million awarded since December

February 26, 2009 -- Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour announced today that an additional $11.5 million has been awarded for Hurricane Katrina recovery projects in Hancock County.

The projects are part of the third round of the $200 million ‘Ground Zero’ Program, which applies specifically in Hancock County, where some of Hurricane Katrina’s most serious damage occurred.    » read more »

Governor Haley Barbour said today an additional $60 million has been awarded for Hurricane Katrina recovery projects in Hancock County.

January 29, 2009 -- The projects compose the second round of funding in the total $200 million 'Ground Zero' Program, which applies specifically in Hancock County, where some of Hurricane Katrina's most serious damage occurred. A total of $145 million in Ground Zero funding has been designated for Hancock County projects so far.    » read more »

August 22, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. 1st Class George Stanciel, 40, of Greenwood, Mississippi, died Aug. 19 at Forward Operating Base Gary Owen, Iraq, of wounds suffered when the base came under mortar attack.

He was assigned to the 370th Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, Bamberg, Germany.

Source: DoD

August 11, 2008 -- (JACKSON, Mississippi) - Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has called a special election for September 23, 2008, to fill a vacancy in the state House of Representatives due to the recent resignation of Representative Daniel “Danny” Guice, Jr.

Guice, of Ocean Springs, had served in the Legislature since 1984 before he was appointed by the Governor to fill a vacant four-year term on the Mississippi Parole Board. Under Mississippi law, Guice was not allowed to concurrently serve as a member of the House of Representatives and the State Parole Board.

“I appreciate Danny’s distinguished years of service in the Legislature and look forward to his contributions as a member of the Parole Board,” Governor Barbour said.    » read more »

BILOXI, Miss., July 1, 2008 -- Lights, camera, action! The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Mississippi Transitional Recovery Office (TRO) raised the curtain on a new initiative created especially for young citizens. FEMA in the Classroom is designed to empower and educate elementary school-age children to protect themselves, their families and their pets.

The program, designed by Public Affairs staff from FEMA's Mississippi TRO, uses various hands-on projects and other activities to explain disaster preparedness topics such as creating a family disaster kit, drafting a family communications plan and pet preparedness.    » read more »

ATLANTA, Ga., June 23, 2008 -- Families and individuals in Bolivar, Warren, Washington and Wilkinson counties who suffered damage from severe storms and flooding that began March 20 have two weeks to register for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The deadline is July 7.

Those who have not yet registered should call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The TTY number for the speech- or hearing-impaired is 1-800-462-7585. The registration line is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, including July 4. Online, register anytime at fema.gov.    » read more »

May 28, 2008 -- The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Mississippi and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and tornadoes on April 4, 2008.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in Hinds County.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.    » read more »

May 21, 2008 -- Chicago, IL – Today, Mississippi Democratic Party Chair, Superdelegate and former United States Congressman Wayne Dowdy endorsed Barack Obama.

Dowdy is the 308.5th superdelegate to endorse Obama. Obama is now 61 delegates away from securing the nomination, and has won a majority of the pledged delegates.

Barack Obama: Photo courtesy Barack Obama campaign    » read more »

May 20, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Cpl. William J. L. Cooper, 22, of Eupora, Mississippi, died May 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

   » read more »

ARLINGTON, Va. (05/12/2008) - National Guard members in four states were called out by their governors to assist civil authorities May 12 after tornados crossed the Southwest May 10 and flooding on the Delaware coast left communities in need of emergency assistance.

Arkansas Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Lucas Jennings discusses tornado response missions in Arkansas: Arkansas National Guard photo

Since May 7, the National Weather Service has confirmed at least 42 tornados in the southern Plains and the southeastern and middle Atlantic regions of the nation with the strongest tornado recorded May 10 as an F-4. It developed from a super cell storm that tracked through three states.    » read more »

May 08, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of four Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Casey L. Casanova, 22, of McComb, Mississippi.

Cpl. Miguel A. Guzman, 21, of Norwalk, California.

Lance Cpl. James F. Kimple, 21, of Carroll, Ohio

Sgt. Glen E. Martinez, 31, of Boulder, Colorado.

All four Marines died May 2 in Al Anbar province, Iraq, supporting combat operations.

They were assigned to the Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Source: DOD

April 21, 2008 -- JACKSON, Mississippi - Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour today declared a state of emergency exists in the North Panola School District, authorizing the state Department of Education to take immediate corrective action.

“After reviewing documentation provided by the state Department of Education, I am convinced that existing conditions in the North Panola School District jeopardize the educational interests of the children enrolled there. My declaration of an emergency will give the department the authority to take immediate steps so the district can begin to recover from serious leadership and management deficiencies,” Governor Barbour said.    » read more »

April 18, 2008 -- JACKSON, Mississippi – Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour said today he will appeal the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s denial of his request for federal disaster assistance in the wake of destructive tornadoes that struck the City of Jackson and Hinds County on April 4, 2008.

Tornado damage: Devastation following a 2002 tornado in Columbus, Mississippi. Photo by Anita Westervelt / FEMA    » read more »