Two Mississippi Senate bills that have gained national attention will help protect the lives of teenagers during the Christmas holiday season.  

Senate Bill 2616 makes it illegal to sell or give alcohol to a person under the age of 21, setting out a punishment of up to $1,000 for a first offense conviction. Subsequent convictions carry a maximum fine of $2,000, a year in prison and loss of business permit.  

Senate Bill 2280 increases by six months, the time required for an intermediate and beginning driver to obtain a permanent license, giving them more time to learn from an experienced driver and develop safer driving skills. It also bans text messaging by intermediate and beginning drivers.  

From Staff Reports and the American Chronicle

Hattiesburg - Brooke Cruthirds is the crurator of a unique Mississippi Landmark: the African American Military History Museum. Over 1500 guests have come through the doors of the museum since it opened on May 23rd, the official grand opening to the public. Since that time the museum has seen a steady flow of visitors from across the State and the nation. “We knew that the numbers would be positive, but this is really encouraging,” said Hattiesburg Convention Commission Executive Director Rick Taylor.

JACKSON — In an incredible story that seems more like a hollywood movie or from the 1900’s, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee says the U.S. Justice Department is investigating an incident in the Mississippi Delta in which he was told a mostly white group used weapons and “vigilante” techniques to search for a black burglary suspect. The FBI says it is also looking into the circumstances surrounding the burglary arrest in Sumner during which residents reportedly took it upon themselves to search for the suspect. Democratic U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson represents Tallahatchie County, where witnesses say the manhunt occurred last week. It’s near where black teenager Emmett Till was lynched in 1955. Thompson said Justice officials confirmed they’re investigating.

Dawn Moss continues her work behind the scene

On Monday, August 4, a celebrity panel of judges determined the winner of the “2009 Miss Black USA” crown, Miss Black Pennsylvania, Shayna Rudd. Mississippian Alicia Lewis came in 2nd. The winner  also received an academic scholarship along with a host of other prizes.

Dawn Moss, the 1996 Miss Black USA winner, a International Fashion guru,a Managing Partner for Carolina Kitchen restaurants and spokesmodel for 4Life research is the Executive Producer of the pageant. Her job she said “is to oversee the entire production, make sure everyone does what they are suppose to do, up until the queen is crowned.”

College student Alicia Lewis takes 2nd place

The Miss Black USA Pageant has come home, to Prince George’s County. After years of having the pageant bounce around the globe in places as far away as west Africa as well as big-name cities like Las Vegas, the Miss Black USA pageant is making its first appearance in Prince George’s County, where it was founded. Throughout the last week, some 25 contestants from across the U.S. settled into the Aloft Hotel in the National Harbor development in Oxon Hill. “I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else than in Prince George’s County,” said Karen Arrington of Upper Marlboro, who founded the pageant, which entered its 22nd year.

Juneteenth, the holiday observed by some states that celebrates the freeing of Texas slaves after the Civil War, will become a national holiday this year if the Rev. Ronald V. Myers Sr. is successful in his crusade.
Myers, a medical doctor and national chairman of the Juneteenth Holiday Campaign, visited Lubbock’s Patterson Library on June 5th, to promote the national observance of the holiday and to donate a book about Juneteenth to the library.

Jessica Tolliver moved with her family to Hattiesburg from the country near Progress, outside of Magnolia, Mississippi. Leaving the South Pike school district, she joined with other students who parents wanted them to have a good education with a Christian foundation.

Part of the annual Azalea Festival

On Tuesday, March 31, the McComb Community Relations and Tourism Bureau sponsored “A Little Blues, Bo, and Barbeque”  as part of the annual Azalea Festival.

Visitors enjoy the free BBQ beef, sausage dogs, and other items catered buy C&D Smokehouse.

Bo Diddley memorabilia was on display in the Pike County Chamber of Commerce Pike Room on Railroad Boulevard.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of MS and the MS State Conference NAACP are calling for state and federal officials to investigate an incident that occurred in Sumner, MS on August 20, 2009.

Our offices received several calls alleging that Tallahatchie County Prosecuting Attorney John Whitten led a heavily armed “militia” consisting of private citizens in search of a suspect accused of breaking and entering. According to initial reports, the incident allegedly involved vigilante and terrorizing activities by public officials in Tallahatchie County.

Madison native talks about her pageant experience

 Last summer I had the privilege of being an associate producer of the Miss Black USA Beauty Pageant in Las Vegas. It was a very rewarding experience. So when my good friend, executive producer, Dawn Moss called I didn’t’ hesitate to fly to Washington D.C. The site of this year’s pageant.

This year I was just an observer but Mississippi received a blessing with one of our own, Ms Alicia Lewis from Madison, MS who won 1st runner up. I interviewed her this week and the following is my interview with Ms Mississippi.

Naomi Sims was the first Black SuperModel

Naomi Sims, considered by many to be the first black supermodel, died over the past weekend following a long battle with cancer, according to her son, Bob Findlay. She was 61.

The Mississippi native was born on March 30, 1949, in Oxford, MS, grew up a foster child in Pittsburgh and broke into the modeling business in the mid-sixties after moving to New York City. At 5’10”, with dark skin, Sims had not been considered particularly attractive as a teenager.

Wyatt Emmerich Hates to Talk Race, But If He Has To …
Lots of folks are talking about Wyatt Emmerich’s endorsement of Crisler in the Northside Sun this week in which he says he hates to talk about race. BUT:

The Senate was recessed on Wednesday, April 1, in anticipation of being called back in May when we and the House of Representatives expect to have more details on how Federal Stimulus money can be used to prepare the state's 2010 budget.

Lt. Governor Bryant has said that when Senators return, he expected a brief stay, incurring none of the expenses associated with a Special Session. However, the Lt. Governor and the Speaker of the House could call back the Senate before May if they deemed it necessary.

Among the issues the Senate could debate upon returning are a cigarette tax increase to offset the cost of other taxes, especially those associated with car tags, which could potentially rise more than 150 percent. The Senate has proposed a 62 cents per pack increase. This would be separate from the 64 cents federal tax that was started on April 1.

JACKSON (AP) — Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Steve Simpson says the black troopers who are alleging discrimination won’t meet with agency officials.
And he said the group hasn’t provided any documentation to support their claims.

“Right now, it’s just yelling from the rooftops,” said Simpson, who met Thursday with a legislative committee that investigates state offices.