Sports Blog

C-USA’s Basketball Preseason Predictions

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Conference USA spent two weeks releasing its Preseason All-Conference USA men’s and women’s basketball team. Unfortunately for Mississippi sports fans, neither the University of Southern Mississippi men’s team nor the women’s team landed a player on that list. In addition to selecting standout players from the upcoming season, coaches from the conference voted on the order that teams would finish, predicting favorites for the upcoming season. The Southern Miss men’s team fell in 10th place in the 14-team league, as the program continues to rebuild after NCAA sanctions. Middle Tennessee State University was the coaches’ pick to win the conference title this year with eight first-place votes. Continue Reading

Sports Blog

Midseason Conerly Trophy Favorites

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This might be the most wide-open season for the Conerly Trophy, which goes to the best college-football player in Mississippi each year. There are plenty of great athletes in our state this year, but no player has overwhelmed the rest of the field. There are still plenty of games left for someone to take the lead on the field. University of Mississippi quarterback Shea Patterson’s season-ending knee injury on Oct. 1 has made the Conerly landscape even less clear. Continue Reading

JackBlog

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

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For the Making Strides of Hinds-Jackson breast-cancer-awareness march on Saturday, Oct. 28, Allstate agency owners and financial specialists from Jackson will come together for the event to secure a grant through Allstate Foundation Helping Hands to The American Cancer Society. Here is a press release verbatim about the event and the grant:

Allstate agency owners and financial specialists from the Jackson area will come together to secure an Allstate Foundation Helping Hands grant to benefit The American Cancer Society at a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. The grant will support the nonprofit organization’s mission to celebrate survivors and raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research, support services and early detection. The agency owners and/or financial specialists will each earn $1,000 for the American Cancer Society by walking during the event, which begins at 9 a.m. at Thalia Mara Hall. Continue Reading

JackBlog

Pearl Youth Court Shutters After Judge Allegedly Kept Mother from Child Due to Unpaid Fees

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On Wednesday, the Pearl Municipal Youth Court closed permanently, and Youth Court Judge John Shirley resigned as youth court judge after Cliff Johnson, with the Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center, told Pearl officials about Shirley’s order blocking a mother from seeing her child until she paid court-ordered fees, a press release from the Center says. Judge Shirley entered an order on Aug. 22, 2016, prohibiting Johnson’s client, referred to as “Mother A” due to strict youth court confidentiality laws, from having any contact with her baby until she paid court fees in full, the press release says. Fourteen months later, Judge Shirley entered an order on Oct. 25 reversing his earlier decision and returning custody to “Mother A.” The mother was not represented by a lawyer in the Youth Court proceedings. Continue Reading

Sports Blog

Saints Win Fourth Straight to Top NFC South

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There is a surprise team sitting atop the NFC South standings this Monday, Oct. 23. Many fans might expect the Carolina Panthers or Atlanta Falcons to be leading the division, but instead, the 4-2 New Orleans Saints are the frontrunners just seven weeks into the season. New Orleans has bounced back nicely after losing its first two games this year. The Saints entered Sunday’s contest against Green Bay on a three-game winning streak but looked shaky early on at historic Lambeau Field. Continue Reading

Sports Blog

Patterson Out, USM and MSU for Bowl Eligibility, and More

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This is quickly becoming a lost season for the University of Mississippi. The NCAA, cell-phone records and injuries have taken turns derailing this season for the Rebels. The NCAA investigation and the cell-phone records of former head coach Hugh Freeze coming to light are both well documented. The problems with the NCAA led to a bowl ban this season, and Freeze resigned after evidence of him calling escort services surfaced. Things haven’t been much better on the field, either. Continue Reading

Sports Blog

Preseason SEC Basketball Predictions

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College basketball took centerstage in the Southeastern Conference this week. The men’s teams had their media day on Oct. 19, and women’s teams had media day on Oct. 18. During the events, members of the media predicted SEC Preseason Players of the Year, All-SEC teams, and the order in which teams will finish. Continue Reading