Mississippi
13-Year-Old Rape Victim from Clarksdale Gives Birth
The closest abortion clinic for a 13-year-old Black girl in Cleveland, Miss., who was raped is 600 miles away in Chicago. Although Mississippi has a near-total abortion ban, pregnant people can get an abortion if they have been raped or if the pregnancy is causing life-threatening conditions. But the girl and her mother were unaware of the exception, and the 13-year-old had her baby this summer, Charlotte Alter reported for TIME on Aug. 14.
A stranger raped Ashley in the yard outside her house in fall 2022, her mother says. They learned she was pregnant on Jan. 11, when she was about 10 weeks along. TIME used pseudonyms for the girl and her mother, calling them Ashley and Regina, to protect the identity of the juvenile rape victim.
“I wish she had just told me when it happened. We could have gotten Plan B or something,” Regina told TIME, mentioning the emergency contraceptive that can prevent pregnancy up to 72 hours after sex. “That would have been that.”
Ashley and her mother reported the rape to the police, but the girl still was not able to get an abortion in the state because Mississippi does not have an abortion clinic anymore. The Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Mississippi’s last clinic that was better known as the Pink House, closed its doors in July 2022 following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Regina thought of taking Ashley to Chicago to get an abortion, but she did not have the money to get there or to pay for the procedure, and she could not take time off work. So the 13-year-old had her baby this summer.
Limited Access to Care
The Woman’s Clinic in Clarksdale, Miss., can attend to normal pregnancies, but people with high-risk pregnancies would need to travel 72 miles each way to see a specialist in Memphis, Tenn. Mississippi does not have adequate prenatal care in half of its counties, either. Dr. Katherine Sacks, associate director of health economics at the Milken Institute, said going without prenatal care can be fatal.
“There’s definitely an overlap between where you see high maternal mortality and where you see maternal care deserts,” she told the Mississippi Free Press on Aug. 2.
Ashley’s pregnancy was healthy, but child mothers have higher risks of pregnancy-related mortality. Pregnant girls aged 10 through 19 have higher risks of puerperal endometritis, eclampsia and systemic infections than women between the ages of 20 and 24, the World Health Organization says. Babies of young mothers are likely to be born prematurely or at a low weight or to have a “severe neonatal condition.”
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch got the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, permitting states to have abortion restrictions at any phase of pregnancy. The court upheld the state’s law that bans abortions after 15 weeks. Before the ruling, Ashley could have traveled 90 minutes north to Memphis, Tenn., or two hours south to Jackson, Miss., to receive an abortion.
Democratic candidate for attorney general Greta Kemp Martin said Ashley’s story is an all-too-common one in Mississippi after lawmakers restricted access to abortion.
“What we are seeing in this post-Dobbs landscape that was created by my opponent is that we have restricted policies across the state that do not allow women to get the care that they need,” she told MSNBC on Aug. 19. “And even the exceptions that are in place are narrowly interpreted and in some cases are fearfully applied. And in this case in particular, it failed.”
She added that the question of how victims of rape would gain approval to get abortions is unclear because the state offers no “clear process for granting these exceptions.” And if an exception is granted, a doctor may refuse to do the procedure, the candidate said.
“I believe there has to be some broad interpretations of these exceptions,” she said. “Even the exception that allows an abortion for the life of a mother, we have physicians who are fearful of even utilizing that exception to treat their patients because they’re afraid they’ll be penalized, they’ll be criminalized, (or) they’ll have their license taken away from them.”
Martin said lawmakers need to add more exceptions for abortions, like in cases of incest.
‘Life Begins at Conception’
Abortion is unacceptable in any case, even if a child is raped, House Speaker Philip Gunn told reporters in 2022.
“I believe life begins at conception,” he said. “Every life is valuable. And those are my personal beliefs.”
Several Republican candidates spoke of their support for the anti-abortion movement at the Neshoba County Fair, including Gunn. He touted the six “pro-life” measures he and his Republican colleagues put into place over his 12 years as a member of the House of Representatives, including passing House Bill 1510 in 2018, which banned abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
“What happened was that bill worked its way all the way to the United States Supreme Court, and it was the bill that overturned Roe v. Wade,” Gunn said at the Neshoba County Fair on July 26, 2023.
‘Stay Safe’
Regina made a police report after learning that a rapist had impregnated her daughter, naming a potential suspect. The police reportedly did not do anything until after Charlotte Alter asked them several times if they had updates on the case, and they eventually got a DNA sample from Ashley’s baby. Clarksdale Assistant Police Chief Vincent Ramirez told TIME, though, that the case was “high priority” since Ashley is a minor.
“It’s a pretty high priority, as a juvenile,” he told TIME, “but sometimes they slip a little bit because we’ve got a lot going on, but then they come back to it.”
The girl and her family are moving to be away from her rapist and closer to family, Alter said on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Aug. 15. Regina made a GoFundMe to help the family pay for bills and relocation expenses and keep Ashley in school.
“Regina and Ashley hope that these funds can help them give Peanut (the baby) a better life,” the mother wrote on the fundraiser note.
Ashley will start seventh grade online this fall and transition to in-person classes. She told TIME her advice for girls was to “be careful when you go outside, and stay safe.”
Mississippi
Why Mississippi State football loss to Arizona State revealed a strong Jeff Lebby culture
It was 11:10 p.m. Saturday in Starkville when Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt barreled into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game.
At that point, it would’ve been fair for Mississippi State football fans to call it a night. The Bulldogs (1-1) trailed 27-3 at ASU in the final minute of the second quarter. They were dominated in just about every statistical category. New coach Jeff Lebby looked like he was headed toward his first loss, and an embarrassing one.
And even if you gave the second half a chance, eyes just a crack open, that wasn’t encouraging either. Arizona State (2-0) took the opening drive of the third quarter for a field goal while eating 8 minutes, 27 seconds of game time. That just about decided the game before Mississippi State touched the ball in the second half.
Wrong.
Instead, MSU scored touchdowns on three of its next four drives and cut the score to 30-23 with 5:27 to play. The defense, which was torched for 346 rushing yards, needed one more stop to let the offense try to tie it. It would’ve been the largest comeback in program history.
Mississippi State’s path to a bowl game seems murkier than it was a week ago. But in the long-term, there’s still encouragement after the 30-23 loss.
“Our guys battled in an incredible way in the second half, and we’re going to hold on to that,” Lebby said in his postgame radio interview. “We’re going to find ways to get back in the building, get back to work and be able to walk into Davis Wade (Stadium) with a ton of confidence and ready to go win a football game.”
The encouragement from Mississippi State’s comeback effort
Lebby said after beating Eastern Kentucky 56-7 in Week 1 that there is an abundance of teachable moments in wins, just like losses.
There is plenty to point to after losing to Arizona State.
Mississippi State came out incredibly flat. The Sun Devils scored on their first five possessions. The MSU offense had one field goal, two punts, a fumble returned for a touchdown and a turnover-on-downs in the first half. MSU had -13 rushing yards in the first half.
There were concerns entering the game about the travel distance, late kickoff and high temperature. But let’s be real, Mississippi State was playing so poorly at the start that it was hard to judge if those were factors.
“I got to do a better job getting these guys ready to go play out of the gate,” Lebby said. “I thought our energy, our effort and our emotion was really good, but then we did not play clean there in the first quarter, so that part was frustrating.”
The Bulldogs outscored the Sun Devils 20-0 in the final quarter and a half. It was a surprise. Arizona State was rolling. Mississippi State was not.
MORE: Introducing Sam Sklar, the Clarion Ledger’s new Mississippi State beat reporter
For Lebby, a first-time head coach at any level, let it be a learning moment for him. It was his first time getting pinned in a corner. The Bulldogs adjusted correctly in the second half like good coaches do.
The rushing offense and defense both need to improve. Badly. Quarterback Blake Shapen has been impressive in his first two Mississippi State games and the wide receiver room is deep and talented as ever, but they can’t be the only answer.
That’s just for this season.
Mississippi State has its first tally in the loss column. But it isn’t a strike against Lebby leading the future of the program.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
Sam Leavitt leads ASU to convincing victory in 1st career start
Leavitt and the Sun Devils cruised past visiting Wyoming 48-7 on Saturday night at Mountain America Stadium.
The Arizona State football team elevated its play on the field in its 48-7 win over Wyoming in Week 1.
It is elevating its uniform game for Week 2 against Mississippi State.
ASU football is wearing a gold alternate jersey against the Bulldogs at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Saturday night.
The jersey includes maroon “Arizona State” lettering and maroon numbering, along with a noticeable Big 12 logo.
The Sun Devil football team unveiled the uniform last month, with Athletic Director Graham Rossini posting that “you’ll see this on the field early this season.”
On Thursday, ASU football announced that it would be wearing the uniform against Mississippi State with a video that said “Modern shine, with a classic design.”
On Friday, it posted another look at the uniform.
More: Arizona State vs Mississippi State live score updates, analysis for college football game
ASU vs Mississippi State schedule, TV: How to watch college football game
Promising look: Arizona State football’s 2024 win prediction doubles after Week 1 victory over Wyoming
Social media reacted favorably overall to ASU football’s uniform vs Mississippi State:
Do you like the look for ASU football?
ASU vs. Mississippi State picks: Who wins Week 2 college football game?
Looking promising: Arizona State football makes huge leap in college football ranking, Big 12 power rankings
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
WARREN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – There are questions about a bus company’s track record after a fatal bus crash in Mississippi on Saturday, August 31.
Seven people died when a passenger bus traveling on Interstate 20 left the roadway and overturned. The Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) said that 41 passengers and two drivers were enroute to Dallas from Atlanta.
Autobuses Regiomontanos owned the bus in the crash. The company, which is registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), has had a troubled record in recent memory. It consists of lawsuits, driver fitness violations and even another fatal crash in 2023.
According to the DOT, the company, based in Laredo, Texas, operates 17 vehicles and employs 39 drivers. The company currently has a ‘conditional‘ safety rating. It is given to companies with ‘inadequate‘ safety controls. Still, companies with this rating may continue to operate.
Its most recent compliance review occurred in July 2023. Using data available from the DOT’s Safety Management System, it has had 155 inspections. Of those inspections, 58 had violations. Nearly all were vehicle maintenance violations.
Three infractions between October and December of 2023 involved issues with vehicle tires. Other infractions included 16 brake or air brake violations and citations for having two buses with no or defective emergency exits.
Seven victims killed in Mississippi bus crash identified
Other inspection violations related to the bus company’s drivers. All violations occurred this year. They include the following:
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(1) Operating a commercial vehicle without corrective lenses or hearing aids as indicated on the driver’s medical certificate (2) Operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) while not possessing a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL).
-
05/13/2024
-
05/14/2024
-
05/14/2024
-
05/28/2024
-
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Operate a CMV while not in possession of a CDL on person.
DOT data indicates that company buses have been in four separate accidents over the last two years. A November 2022 crash required a bus to be towed away and another in April 2023 resulted in someone dying. Below is the record.
|
Date |
Location |
Deaths |
Injuries |
|
10/16/2023 |
Louisiana |
0 |
1 |
|
4/15/2023 |
Texas |
1 |
2 |
|
11/23/2022 |
Tennessee |
0 |
0 |
|
9/24/2022 |
Arkansas |
0 |
1 |
The NTSB is investigating the crash in conjunction with MHP. NTSB officials said they will look at the carrier’s safety record and protections for bus occupants.
Community comes together to help Mississippi bus crash victims
Autobuses Regiomontanos violated several provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), it failed to have an ADA training program in place for its employees and contractors, failed to file required ADA compliance reports and failed to ensure that all lifts on its buses were properly maintained.
In 2015, the company entered into a settlement agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.
The company was also named as a defendant in a $708 million lawsuit filed by New York City City in January. The city accused Autobuses Regiomontanos and other charter bus and transportation companies of taking migrants to the Big Apple on behalf of the State of Texas.
The DOT advises travelers to do the following before they book their next bus trip.
-
Search for bus companies
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Verify that a company is authorized to operate
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Review the company’s safety records
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Make sure the company is licensed and insured
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If appropriate, report a company
DOT agencies advise consumers that unless a motor carrier has received an unsatisfactory rating or has been ordered to discontinue its operations, it is authorized to operate on the nation’s roadways. Additionally, readers should not conclude that a carrier is safe or unsafe by only using data from DOT agencies. For more information, click here.
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