Author: Imported Author 1852163

LEXINGTON, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi man accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend and the baby she was carrying has been released from custody while the case is under investigation.

Terence Sample was released Tuesday after posting bond, Holmes County Sheriff Willie March told the Clarion Ledger. Sample had been denied bond three times but was released after a state appeals court asked a lower court to reconsider.

Sample is charged with two counts of kidnapping and capital murder.

McKayla Winston, 21, disappeared days before her body was found July 1 next to a rural road. Winston was expected to give birth July 4.

Mississippi Department of Human Services documents show Sample, 33, was scheduled to have a paternity hearing July 3 in Attala County Chancery Court but the hearing never took place.

The state crime lab has not released a cause of death for Winston or the baby, March said.

District Attorney Akillie Malone Oliver said this week that Winston’s family is “outraged” about Sample being released from custody.

Prosecutors say Sample and Winston met the night she was last seen in late June. Oliver has said Sample became mad after learning Winston wasn’t going to put the baby up for adoption.

Sample’s attorney, Richard Carter, said during a court hearing Aug. 1 that prosecutors had presented “no proof there has been a murder.”

JACKSON, Miss. – Flu activity is increasing in Mississippi and nationwide, according to Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) officials.
Nationally, flu is impacting children ages 4 and under, with more hospitalizations in that age group than any other, and 11 pediatric influenza deaths so far. In Mississippi, one pediatric flu death has been reported this season.
“We’re seeing geographic spread as well an increase in flu activity, and we are receiving reports of nursing home outbreaks,” said MSDH State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs.
“Again, it’s very important to get your flu shot to protect yourself and those around you from getting the flu. It’s not too late as peak season in Mississippi usually starts this month and lasts through March,” said Dobbs.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the predominant flu strain circulating now is H1N1, which has a tendency to affect children.
“Remember that 80 percent of pediatric flu deaths last year were in children who were not vaccinated against the flu,” said Dobbs. “With school starting back after the holidays, now is an optimal time to make sure your child, as well as your entire family, has gotten their flu shots.”
Flu shots are recommended for all those six months and older. Those 18 and under who are eligible for the Vaccines for Children program can receive flu vaccination for $10. Insurance, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is accepted for children’s flu shots.
Only those adults who are underinsured or uninsured and who meet certain high-risk criteria qualify for a flu vaccine at MSDH county health department clinics. Flu shots for insured adults are now widely available through private physicians, pharmacies, and retailers.
While vaccination is the best protection, basic infection control measures can also reduce the spread of flu and should be taken whether or not individuals are vaccinated. These measures include covering your mouth when coughing and sneezing, staying at home when you or your children are sick, and washing your hands frequently.
To locate a county health department clinic in your area or for more information on flu, visit the MSDH website at HealthyMS.com/flu.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A federal judge has approved the settlement in a racial profiling lawsuit that African American residents filed against a Mississippi sheriff’s department.

Under the agreement, the Madison County sheriff must establish an “unbiased policing policy” and set new rules about traffic checkpoints and encounters with pedestrians.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi filed the lawsuit in 2017, saying officers in the majority-white Jackson suburb have unconstitutionally targeted black drivers and pedestrians in majority-black neighborhoods and have disproportionately subjected them to searches and seizures.

U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves on Thursday approved the agreement that was filed Sept. 23. It says the sheriff’s department does not admit to any “unconstitutional, illegal or otherwise improper conduct.”

Officers will be required to have training about cultural diversity, bias and police-citizen interaction.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) — At least 22 soldiers were injured as hundreds parachuted onto a Mississippi military base during a night training exercise.

U.S. Army spokesman John Pennell told WDAM-TV that the paratroopers were among 650 soldiers jumping from C-130 planes Wednesday night. Some were blown off course from their intended landing zone and into a stand of pine trees. Several became entangled in the branches and had to be rescued.

“Paratroopers from across the brigade and Camp Shelby are assisting in getting others out of the trees,” Lt. Col Matt Myer, commander of 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, wrote on the battalion’s Facebook page early Thursday. “All of the accounted for jumpers are being afforded access to phones to call their loved ones.”

Pennell said at least 15 of the people hurt at Camp Shelby were treated by medics, and another seven were hospitalized. Staff Sgt. John Healy said none of the injuries are considered to be life-threatening.

Camp Shelby Cmdr. Col. Bobby Ginn says the troopers belong to the 4th Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division stationed at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.

Mississippi National Guard spokeswoman Lt. Col. Deidre Smith said soldiers continued to jump into the drop zone after the injuries, with units trying to account for their members.

“Once all soldiers have been accounted for, our goal is ultimately to continue training,” Smith said in a statement. “Despite the challenges that we currently face, soldiers always place the mission first.”

Smith said the base works to reduce risks associated with airborne operations, with a nearby hospital in Hattiesburg on alert and emergency vehicles on standby at Camp Shelby.

About 3,000 troops from the Alaska base are participating in a monthlong training called “Operation Arctic Anvil.” The Mississippi base is devoted to large-scale training, with convoys of military trucks a common sight on nearby highways and military aircraft frequently seen overhead.

Pennell promised more information once a safety investigation is complete.

CARROLLTON, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi man who shot and killed his wife and two other people at her birthday party earlier this year after she tried to stop him from driving drunk has been indicted on charges of capital murder and aggravated assault.

The Greenwood Commonwealth reports a grand jury handed up indictments Tuesday against Michael Barnhill.

The victims were 39-year-old Brooks Hooker Harrell, her husband, 44-year-old Jim Harrell; and 27-year-old Marlee Jones Barnhill, the suspect’s wife.

Carroll County Sheriff Clint Walker says the Barnhills had been invited to the Harrells’ home to celebrate Marlee Barnhill’s birthday. Walker says Barnhill became drunk during the course of the evening, then angry when the others discouraged his drunkenness.

Walker says Barnhill then went to his truck, returned with a .40-caliber pistol and shot the victims.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The two main candidates for Mississippi governor held dueling news conferences Wednesday to accuse each other of wanting state government to dig deeper into people’s wallets.

Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood and Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves are competing in the Nov. 5 election, along with two candidates running low-budget campaigns.

Appearing at a concrete business in Canton, Reeves said he stands by his own record of pushing lawmakers to phase out the franchise tax.

Hood spoke at his own campaign office in Jackson and said the franchise tax cut helps out-of-state corporations but not working people.

Reeves said Hood couches criticism of the franchise tax cut “in terms of ‘these big bad out of state corporations,’” while ignoring locally owned businesses.

“Well, the reality is that ‘these big, bad out-of-state corporations’ … they employ literally tens of thousands and really hundreds of thousands of Mississippians,” Reeves said. “And so when he’s talking about raising axes, he’s probably talking about raising taxes on your employer.”

Hood said he does not know if the Republican-led Legislature would be willing to repeal the franchise tax cut but he pointed out that some Republican lawmakers had already proposed slowing down the reduction to see how state tax collections are affected.

“Tate’s tax giveaways have broken our economy,” Hood said.

Reeves said Hood is proposing programs that would cost hundreds of millions of dollars and require tax increases. Hood responded that Reeves is a “desperate politician” who is making things up.

“I’m the only one in this race who hasn’t ever raised taxes,” Hood said.

Hood said rural hospitals are struggling because Reeves and other Republicans have rejected $1 billion a year Mississippi could receive if it expanded Medicaid to the working poor. Expansion is an option under the federal health overhaul that then-President Barack Obama signed into law in 2010. The federal government would pay 90% of the expansion cost, which is higher than the rate of about 75% it already pays for the existing Medicaid program in Mississippi, one of the poorest states in the nation.

Mississippi is among the 14 states that have not expanded Medicaid.

Hood said he supports a plan proposed by the Mississippi Hospital Association, to have hospitals pay for the state costs of Medicaid expansion. Hood said that would help keep rural hospitals alive.

“He made some claims about expansion of health care,” Hood said of Reeves. “That won’t cost us anything. The hospitals will pay the match of what it costs the state, and he continues to ignore that, and that’s what’s been successful in other states.”

Reeves repeated his own opposition to Medicaid expansion and said hospitals would pass along their costs.

“The patients are going to pay for it because the hospitals, as you know, don’t have this $220 million in extra money lying around,” Reeves said.

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (AP) — A retired Mississippi police chief appointed to act as the temporary city manager of Pascagoula has announced he’s leaving the role after less than a month.

The Sun Herald reports Kenny Johnson announced his Oct. 31 retirement less than two weeks after city leaders appointed him to the role. The former Pascagoula police chief says he notified officials about his impending retirement Monday after meeting with the state public employee’s retirement system.

Councilwoman-at-large Jennifer Colmer says the city planned to hire a new manager by Oct. 30, so Johnson’s announcement wasn’t surprising. Johnson was appointed after the city’s attorney and manager, Ryan Frederic, abruptly announced he was going on medical leave. Officials have since separated the roles, so Johnson would only serve as the attorney upon his return.

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) — An elected official in south Mississippi is telling judges that he failed to make sure court papers are filed on time.

The Sun Herald reports that Stone County Circuit Clerk Jeffrey O’Neal spoke in a trembling voice Tuesday as he appeared before all four circuit judges who hear cases in the area.

The judges are considering a contempt charge against O’Neal because his office did not file sentencing, probation and commitment orders in at least 36 criminal cases.

Judge Lisa Dodson told O’Neal the lack of documents is “creating havoc all the way down the line.”

The judges are giving the clerk’s office some time to catch up on filing papers. O’Neal must file a report on his progress by late November and appear before the judges Dec. 13.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Department of Health is confirming two more cases in the state of lung illness connected to vaping.

The department says Tuesday that the new cases bring the state’s total to seven cases, which includes one person who died weeks ago.

All seven have been in people between 18 and 34 years old.

The department said that as of Oct. 15, the U.S. had seen 1,479 cases of lung illness in 49 states, the District of Columbia and one territory. Thirty-three deaths had been reported from 24 states.

JACKSON, La. (AP) — One person is dead after a wreck involving a prison bus.

It happened just before 6:30 a.m. Tuesday near the Dixon Correctional Institute in East Feliciana Parish.

News outlets report a car crossed the center line of Highway 68 South and hit the bus head-on. Louisiana State Police Trooper Taylor Scrantz says the car’s driver, 19-year-old Austin Dixon, of Gloster, Mississippi, had on a seatbelt but suffered fatal injuries.

Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections spokesman Ken Pastorick says 24 trusty inmates and six guards, including the bus driver, were on the bus. Three inmates and two officers were transported for treatment.

Pastorick says the trusties were headed to Baton Rouge to work in the Capitol Complex government buildings to perform janitorial, lawn care, maintenance, and kitchen work.