LUY-Development

Category: Local News

  • Early voting begins Saturday in Louisiana runoff election

    Early voting begins Saturday in Louisiana runoff election

    BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana’s weeklong early voting period begins Saturday. The governor’s race tops the ballot, along with elections for secretary of state, legislative seats and a state Supreme Court justice.

    Gov. John Bel Edwards is fighting for a second term, with Republican businessman Eddie Rispone within striking distance of ousting the Deep South’s only Democratic governor.

    Polls show the race is tight as national GOP leaders work to defeat Edwards. President Donald Trump plans a pro-Rispone rally Wednesday in Monroe, as he works to try to nationalize the race. Edwards is remaining focused on Louisiana-specific issues, suggesting that partisanship in Washington shouldn’t influence votes for governor.

    Election Day is Nov. 16. Early voting continues through Nov. 9, except on Sunday, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at parish registrar of voters offices or other designated locations.

    Twenty-four House seats and five Senate seats in the Louisiana Legislature remain to be settled, with the outcome of the House competitions determining whether Republicans reach the veto-proof, two-thirds supermajority they’ve already claimed in the Senate.

    Voters also are deciding whether Republican Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin or his Democratic challenger Gwen Collins-Greenup will be Louisiana’s chief elections official. Their runoff is a rematch of the special election Ardoin won last year. Ardoin was a top deputy to former Secretary of State Tom Schedler, who resigned last year amid sexual harassment allegations. He took over the position, then won the election to serve the final year of Schedler’s term.

    Collins-Greenup has worked in notary and real estate businesses and is a former city court administrator and clerk of court employee. She’s done little fundraising for the race.

    Voters in the New Orleans area will choose a new Louisiana Supreme Court justice to fill a seat left vacant when former Justice Greg Guidry was confirmed to a lifetime federal judgeship. The runoff is between Will Crain, a state appeals court judge from Madisonville, and Hans Liljeberg, a state appeals court judge from Metairie.

    The secretary of state’s office said 175 elected positions are on the ballot, along with 123 local propositions.

  • Planet Fitness Natchez Ribbon-Cutting

    Planet Fitness Natchez Ribbon-Cutting

    The Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce Ribbon-Cutting for the New 12,000 square foot Natchez Planet Fitness was today at 11AM. Planet Fitness presented a $5,000 check to the Natchez Recreation Department as a token of appreciation & excitement for the bright future here in Natchez!

    Planet Fitness Natchez will offer state-of-the-art cardio machines and strength equipment, 30-minute express circuit, fully equipped locker rooms with day lockers and showers, numerous flat-screen televisions, HydroMassage loungers, massage chairs, tanning beds, a Total Body Enhancement booth and more. Planet Fitness is excited to add a ‘Judgment Free’ experience to Natchez, where residents can break a sweat for just $10 a month. You still have a chance to join for $1 down…..offers ends Monday, November 11th! Join NOW for this great deal.

  • Two computer hackers have pleaded guilty to concocting an extortion scheme that entangled Uber in a yearlong cover-up of a data breach that stole sensitive information about 57 million of the ride-hailing service’s passengers and drivers

    Two computer hackers have pleaded guilty to concocting an extortion scheme that entangled Uber in a yearlong cover-up of a data breach that stole sensitive information about 57 million of the ride-hailing service’s passengers and drivers

    SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The pleas entered Wednesday in a San Jose, California, federal court by Brandon Charles Glover and Vasile Mereacre resurrected another unseemly episode in Uber’s checkered history.

    Glover, 26, and Mereacre, 23, acknowledged stealing personal information from companies that was stored on Amazon Web Services from October 2016 to January 2017 and then demanding to be paid to destroy the data.

    Uber met the hackers’ demand with a $100,000 payment, but waited until November 2017 to reveal that the personal information of both its riders and drivers around the world had fallen into the hands of criminals.

    U.S. Attorney David Anderson ripped into Uber for not immediately alerting authorities about the loss of so much personal information that could have been used for identity theft and other malicious purposes.

    “Companies like Uber are the caretakers, not the owners, of customers’ personal information,” Anderson said in a statement.

    Uber declined to comment on the guilty pleas and Anderson’s criticism.

    The San Francisco company has previously said it mishandled the data breach. By the time Uber came clean about the incident, it had ousted its co-founder, Travis Kalanick, as CEO. Dara Khosrowshahi was then brought in to replace Kalanick and burnish an image that had been tarnished by revelations of rampant sexual harassment within Uber’s ranks , attempts to dupe government regulators and accusations of stealing self-driving car technology .

    As part of their scheme, Glover and Mereacre also tried to blackmail Lynda.com, part of professional networking service LinkedIn, according to authorities. Instead of meeting those demands, LinkedIn tried to identify the extortionists, the government said.

    The two men each face up to five years and prison and a $250,000 fine. A status conference about their sentencing has been scheduled for March 18 before U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh.

  • Attention binge watchers: There’s life beyond Netflix, Hulu and Amazon

    Attention binge watchers: There’s life beyond Netflix, Hulu and Amazon

    Streaming choices are about to proliferate with the debut of Apple TV Plus on Friday and Disney Plus in two weeks. HBO Max and Peacock arrive next year. With discounts and other incentives, consumers can sample them all to figure out which ones to keep.

    Here’s a look at the new streaming challengers and what you get with each:

    APPLE TV PLUS

    Apple’s entry into the streaming business.

    Launch date: Friday

    Price: $5 a month

    Promotions: Seven-day free trial. A year free to buyers of a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod Touch or Mac.

    Original shows: A Jason Momoa series called “See” and “The Morning Show,” a comedy starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carrell. The service will launch with nine original shows and movies, with more expected each month.

    Other shows and movies: None.

    DISNEY PLUS

    Disney’s entertainment service, featuring shows and movies from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic.

    Launch date: Nov. 12

    Price: $7 a month or $70 a year. Getting Disney Plus with ESPN Plus and Hulu, both owned by Disney, will cost $13 a month.

    Promotions: Seven-day free trial. Free year with all Verizon Wireless unlimited plans and when customers switch to Verizon’s Fios Home Internet or 5G Home Internet.

    Original shows: “The Mandalorian,” a live-action “Star Wars” series created by Jon Favreau. A prequel to the “Star Wars” movie “Rogue One.” A series about the Marvel character Loki. A rebooted “High School Musical” series. A documentary series focused on Disney.

    Other shows and movies: Animated classics, including “Aladdin” and “The Jungle Book,” will be available at launch; others will be added as streaming deals with other services expire. Movies released in 2019 or later will go to Disney Plus rather than a rival streaming service first. Disney Plus will also house past seasons of “The Simpsons,” which Disney got through its purchase of Fox’s entertainment business.

    PEACOCK

    The service from Comcast’s NBCUniversal will carry 15,000 hours of video at launch.

    Launch date: April 2020

    Price: Undisclosed

    Promotions: Free for many Comcast cable and internet customers.

    Original shows: Reboots of “Battlestar Galactica” and “Saved by the Bell.” Comedy series “Rutherford Falls,” from Michael Schur, creator of “The Good Place” and “Parks and Recreation.”

    Other shows and movies: “30 Rock,” ?Will & Grace,” and “Cheers,” though these won’t stream exclusively on Peacock. Peacock will get “Parks and Recreation” and “The Office” once existing deals with Netflix expire. “Bridesmaids,” ″E.T.” and other movies from Universal Pictures, Focus Features and DreamWorks Animation.

    HBO MAX

    A souped-up version of HBO from AT&T’s WarnerMedia, with some 10,000 hours of video at launch.

    Launch date: May 2020

    Price: $15 a month

    Promotions: Free for about 10 million existing HBO subscribers — those who get HBO through AT&T distribution platforms such as U-Verse and DirecTV, and those who get the HBO Now streaming service directly from HBO, rather than a cable or online partner such as Amazon. Free for customers of AT&T’s higher-tier wireless and broadband offerings.

    Original shows: A “Game of Thrones” prequel called “House of the Dragon.” ″Raised by Wolves,” a sci-fi series directed by Ridley Scott. “Strange Adventures,” a DC Super Hero anthology series.

    Other shows and movies: HBO shows and movies, including theatrical releases that HBO licenses. Programs from the Warner Bros. studio, including “Friends,” ″The Big Bang Theory,” ″The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” and “Pretty Little Liars.” The animated comedy “South Park.” New CW shows “Batwoman” and “Riverdale” spinoff “Katy Keene” will also be available to stream after the season ends.

  • Winter is coming: Halloween house party puts ‘Fun’ in FUNdraiser

    Winter is coming: Halloween house party puts ‘Fun’ in FUNdraiser

    NATCHEZ — Fire and ice is a theme of the popular HBO television series “Game of Thrones,” and that theme is the inspiration for the third annual PURRfectly Spooktacular HOWLoween PAWS Event from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday.

    Every year for the past three years, the family of Dr. Geoff Flattmann has opened the doors to their house at 1046 U.S. 61 South for the party that raises money for the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society.

    For the second straight year James Kennedy of the Bravo television show “Vanderpump Rules” will be the live DJ for the party.
    Last year’s event brought out approximately 200 people, Geoff Flattmann said.

    After the party, Lisa Flattmann said, James Kennedy, said, “I’ll see you next year.”

    “That means he’s coming back,” Lisa said.

    Geoff said the party started out when Lisa began hosting a jewelry party for women several years back but then the event quickly evolved into a Halloween party.
    “This will be the third year in that the format,” Geoff said. “It has been a successful fundraiser for the Humane Society. It is kind of her (Lisa’s) baby.”
    Every dollar collected at the event goes to the humane society, Geoff said.

    “The generosity and willingness of people in community to donate to the cause is amazing,” Geoff said.

    Lisa said she enjoys hosting the party each year and she begins planning the next theme even before she is through creating the current theme and transforming her house into a Halloween party venue.

    “What makes this exciting at least from our vantage point is that I simply adore Halloween and all of the festivities that go with it and every year,” Lisa said. “I’ve been transforming the house into different themes to invite people to come and tour.”

    Lisa said she strives to make the event fun each year and uses the hash tag “#notaboringFUNdraiser” on social media to promote the event.

    “I do ‘Fun’ in capital letters, because I want it to be the kind of thing that people look forward to every year, and it is about raising awareness for a cause, which is the shelter,” Lisa said. “If I can bring those two passions of mine together then I have ultimately met my goal to bring happiness and enjoyment to this time of year to the cause.”

    Lisa said she hopes this year’s theme of Fire and Ice will have some surprises for visitors.

    Tickets for the event are $35 per person, which includes food. The party is for people 15 years old and older and tickets can be purchased at the shelter 601-442-4001. Armbands are provided for anyone under the age of 21.

    -story from The Natchez Democrat

     By Scott Hawkins of the Natchez Democrat

  • Catholic youth raising funds and raising blood pressure at haunted house tonight

    Catholic youth raising funds and raising blood pressure at haunted house tonight

    Per the Natchez Democrat

    By Ben Hillyer

    The St. Mary Basilica Youth opened its Haunted House filled with frightful sights Tuesday evening. The CYO fundraiser will also be open from 6:30-8:30 p.m. today, with the last tour at 9:30 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. A concession stand will also be selling treats. Proceeds from the event benefit the St. Mary Youth programs and events/trips.

  • City Considers Cash Shift To Promote TV And Movie Production

    City Considers Cash Shift To Promote TV And Movie Production

    NATCHEZ, Miss. (AP) — Some officials in a southwest Mississippi city want to shift money earmarked for business recruitment and to promote film and television production.

    Natchez aldermen this week voted 5-1 to research whether up to $100,000 in property tax revenue could be redirected.

    The money now goes to Natchez Inc., an economic development authority serving Natchez and Adams County.

    A group called Film Natchez seeks $200,000 to promote area video production.

    The Natchez Democrat reports Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis proposed the switch.

    Mayor Darryl Grennell says he thinks a state law governing Natchez Inc. forbids such a move.

    Natchez Inc. Executive Director Chandler Russ says his group supports film production and is willing to pass additional money through to Film Natchez, but opposes diverting the $100,000 because it pays his group’s operating budget.

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    Information from: The Natchez Democrat, http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/

  • Plaque Stolen From Mississippi Veteran’s Cemetery

    Plaque Stolen From Mississippi Veteran’s Cemetery

    NATCHEZ, Miss. (AP) — A veteran’s cemetery in Mississippi says a bronze marker was stolen from the entrance of the memorial.

    The Natchez Democrat reports the plaque was noticeably missing Thursday from the Natchez National Cemetery and was reported stolen.

    Robert C. Winkler, assistant director of the Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Association, says the marker was posted at the entrance across from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs plaque. He says the bolts holding the marker were pulled from the wall.

    Winkler says the cemetery was established in 1866 and the stolen plaque, that reads “Natchez National Cemetery,” was posted in 1930.

    He says the plaque is about 18 inches (46 centimeters) wide, 24 inches (61 centimeters) tall and weighs about 30 to 50 pounds (22 kilograms).

    The investigation is ongoing.

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    Information from: The Natchez Democrat, http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/

  • Jones Lumber plans $18 million expansion in Natchez, adding 35 jobs

    Jones Lumber plans $18 million expansion in Natchez, adding 35 jobs

    MBJ staff

    Jones Lumber Co. is expanding its Mississippi grade-lumber operations with an $18-million corporate investment in Natchez that will create 35 jobs.

    Jones Lumber has operations in locations throughout Mississippi, all of which produce hardwood mats. In January 2018, the company acquired the former Rives and Reynolds lumber mill in Natchez, where it will specialize in grade lumber. Jones retained Rives and Reynolds’ existing 50 employees, and the company is investing in new equipment and facility upgrades.

    “Jones Lumber Co. is looking forward to our growth in Natchez, and our investment in and expansion of our facility indicates our commitment to the area, Chief Financial Officer Chad Ervin said in a release.

    The Mississippi Development Authority is providing a $234,243 grant for road improvements. Adams County is providing matching funds in the amount of $24,000. Adams County also is granting property tax abatements.

    “Mississippi ranks first in the U.S. in the number of tree farms, comprising approximately 20 million acres of forestland. The Mississippi Development Authority is proud to support Jones Lumber as they optimize our timber resources to achieve their goals in Mississippi,” said MDA Executive Director Glenn McCullough Jr.

    Jones Lumber also has mills in Bay Springs, Sandy Hook, Gloster and Hazlehurst.

  • Residents In Adams County Owe Over $2M In Trash Fees

    Residents In Adams County Owe Over $2M In Trash Fees

    NATCHEZ, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi county is looking at ways to hold residents accountable for more than $2 million owed in outstanding garbage collection fees.

    The Natchez Democrat reports Adams County property owners collectively owe the sum to the local government, but the county is legally required to continue providing trash pickup service anyway.

    Administrator Joe Murray says the garbage collection fee per household is $15 a month, and payment is required for renewing vehicle tags. But he says the debt problem has persisted for decades.

    During a Board of Supervisors meeting Monday, attendees suggested adding the fee to existing taxes, but a motion didn’t move forward.

    Murray says a House bill that’ll take effect in January could add relief by authorizing the county to collect debts against a person’s income tax refund.

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    Information from: The Natchez Democrat, http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/