LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, Dec. 21 -- Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following news release on Dec. 20, 2023: Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement after filing an amicus brief on behalf of 23 state attorneys general with the Colorado Supreme Court in defense of the First Amendment rights of cakemaker Jack Phillips and Masterpiece Cakeshop, Inc.: "Jack Phillips has already successfully fought for his right to speak consistent with his beliefs before th  more

ATLANTA, Georgia, Dec. 20 (TNSrep) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southeast Regional Information Office issued the following report on Dec. 20, 2023, entitled "Mississippi Job Openings and Labor Turnover - October 2023": * * * Mississippi had 80,000 job openings in October 2023, compared to 83,000 openings in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table 1.) Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that the job openings rate in Mis  more

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, Dec. 21 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued the following news release on Dec. 20, 2023: As required by the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) today held Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Lease Sale 261. The sale generated $382,168,507 in high bids for 311 tracts covering 1.7 million acres in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. A total of 26 companies participated in the lease sale, submitting 35  more

KEESLER AFB, Mississippi, Dec. 22 -- The U.S. Air Force Keesler Air Force Base (81st Training Wing) issued the following news: By Senior Airman Trenten Walters, 81st Training Wing Public Affairs On December 19, Keesler welcomed a familiar face, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne Bass, who explored the base to gain a firsthand perspective on how the 81st Training Wing is executing its mission. Chief Bass represents the highest enlisted level of leadership, as her position includes offer  more

KEESLER AFB, Mississippi, Dec. 21 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: By Senior Airman Trenten Walters, 81st Training Wing Public Affairs On Dec. 19, Keesler Air Force Base welcomed a familiar face, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne Bass, who explored the base to gain a firsthand perspective on how the 81st Training Wing is executing its mission. Bass represents the highest enlisted level of leadership, as her position includes offering guidance to the enlisted force and   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Coast Guard issued the following news: By AJ Pulkkinen, MyCG Team writer The Commandant has directed the creation of new field commands in the marine safety and response communities. Eight National Centers of Expertise (NCOEs) and 18 Marine Safety Units (previously Marine Safety Detachments) will be individual field commands. "These new commands will create greater leadership opportunities ... and provide increased professional d  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration issued the following news release on Dec. 20, 2023: The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA), today will announce the 22 finalists of the Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program (Recompete). Recompete targets the hardest-hit and most economically distressed areas where prime-age (25-54 years) employment is significantly lower th  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce issued the following news release on Dec. 20, 2023: The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA), today will announce the 22 finalists of the Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program (Recompete). Recompete targets the hardest-hit and most economically distressed areas where prime-age (25-54 years) employment is significantly lower than the national average, with the goal  more

LEXINGTON, Mississippi, Dec. 22 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news release on Dec. 21, 2023: * * * A $16,000 Award Will Help Save Cherished Lexington Landmark. * * * A $16,000 Partnership Grant Program (PGP) award provided by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) through one of its members, BankPlus, is helping restore the historic Lundy House in Lexington, Mississippi to its former glory. The   more

JACKSON, Mississippi, Dec. 21 -- Gov. Tate Reeves, R-Mississippi, issued the following news release: Governor Tate Reeves has appointed the Honorable James Kent McDaniel of Brandon to fill the vacancy in the Office of County Court Judge for Rankin County, Place 2, until such position is filled by special election. Additionally, Governor Reeves issued a writ of election declaring that a special election will be held on November 5, 2024, to fill the vacancy. "I'm thankful for Judge McDaniel's wi  more

JACKSON, Mississippi, Dec. 22 -- The Mississippi Department of Education issued the following news release on Dec. 20, 2023: Today the Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) named Dr. Lance Evans, the superintendent of the New Albany School District, the next state superintendent of education. The SBE selected Dr. Evans after conducting a national search. He will assume the position on July 1, 2024, succeeding Dr. Ray Morgigno, who was appointed to serve as interim state superintendent of   more

NATCHEZ, Mississippi, Dec. 21 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi issued the following news release: Three individuals were sentenced for their respective roles in a scheme to steal houses from the United States Department of Agriculture. Barry Martin, 47, of Georgia was sentenced to 46 months in prison; Fiesta Kagler, 59, of Georgia, was sentenced to 46 months in prison; and Ella Martin, 69, of Jayess, Mississippi, a former USDA employee, was sentenced   more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Dec. 22 -- The Tennessee Military Department issued the following news release: Tennessee's Adjutant General, Warner "Nubbin" Ross, was promoted to the rank of major general during a ceremony held at Tennessee's Joint Forces Headquarters in Nashville on Dec. 21, at 9 a.m. The intimate ceremony, held in Ross's office in the Mott Building at the National Guard headquarters, was presided over by Maj. Gen. Jimmie Cole, Tennessee's Deputy Adjutant General. "This is a long ove  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Dec. 22 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee issued the following news release on Dec. 20, 2023: Vernon Sanders, 57 of Meridian, Mississippi, was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release, as well as restitution of more than $3.3 million, announced United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee. Sanders also was ordered to forfeit $383,260. In December 2020,  more