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Neglected Vietnam Veterans Memorial Finally Gets Attention

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Neglected Vietnam Veterans Memorial Finally Gets Attention


By WARREN KULO, The Mississippi Press

OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. (AP) — On Memorial Day, a ceremony was held on the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial in honor of each the nationwide vacation and in commemoration of the twenty fifth anniversary of the memorial’s completion.

State and native dignitaries, together with numerous Vietnam veterans and native residents, attended, sitting contained in the hanging memorial which, in line with many, has the best aesthetic enchantment of any of the Vietnam memorials situated in every of the 50 states.

For a few years, nonetheless, the memorial was largely uncared for. With the committee charged with the memorial’s maintenance having dwindled down to only 3-to-4 overwhelmed members, the memorial sat soiled and unkempt, with repairs wanted in locations.

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The way it arrived at that time requires a little bit of a historical past refresher.

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Initially deliberate for a parcel of land in Biloxi, the memorial web site was moved to Ocean Springs after it was decided the memorial’s closing design wouldn’t match on the Biloxi property. In Might 1994, the memorial committee and Metropolis of Ocean Springs signed an settlement to construct the memorial on 4 acres on the civic middle grounds.

With native and personal donations supporting a $750,000 grant from the state, a ceremonial groundbreaking for the memorial happened on Might 29, 1995, with greater than 1,000 folks, together with then-Gov. Kirk Fordice, in attendance. The next 12 months, on Dec. 5, precise development started, and on Might 31, 1997, the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial was devoted and opened to the general public.

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As soon as it opened and the preliminary pleasure over the memorial dissipated, donations started to dry up and the upkeep and maintenance of the memorial started to be problematic.

After donating the $775,000 for development (half of the $1.5 million initially dedicated) the State of Mississippi has barely lifted a figurative finger to assist the memorial.

“That’s completely appropriate,” mentioned a longtime memorial committee member, who requested to not be recognized. “They put up a couple of indicators out on the interstate to direct folks to the memorial. It took us seven years to get these put up. Then, after (Hurricane) Katrina took them down, it took one other 5 years to get them changed. So, yeah, the state hasn’t been actual cooperative.”

As well as, the committee member mentioned efforts to get native Veterans of Overseas Wars or American Legion chapters to help proved fruitless. “For no matter cause, they might not assist with the memorial committee. I don’t know why,” he mentioned.

Nor was any assist coming from the federal authorities, the identical federal authorities which despatched to Vietnam the 667 Mississippians whose images adorn the memorial’s partitions.

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“I did have one (federal) elected official say he was going to get the committee some cash for the memorial,” the committee member mentioned. “I don’t know if he had a slush fund or one thing, but it surely by no means panned out. I don’t rely rather a lot on the federal folks.”

Now, nonetheless, with the unique committee primarily disbanded, reinforcements have come on board to provide the memorial the eye it wants.

Ocean Springs alderman Rob Blackman was contacted roughly two years in the past to go to the memorial web site and “see how uncared for the location had develop into,” Blackman mentioned. “I hate to make use of the phrase neglect, however that’s what it was.”

Blackman started to hunt out volunteers, enlisting the assistance of the town fireplace division and youthful veterans.

“Anyone who would assist, actually,” Blackman mentioned. “It took us a couple of 12 months, however we lastly received it again in respectable form. Now the town is taking the lead, as a result of it’s on our property. Our parks & recreation division has stepped as much as deal with groundskeeping and I’m going to ensure now we have cash budgeted for stress washing annually, so we don’t let it get within the situation it was in.”

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However these preliminary efforts, whereas wanted, aren’t sufficient. The memorial nonetheless wants quite a few repairs. There are cracks within the inside flooring, discoloration in locations, and different harm. Blackman has turned to state officers within the hopes of acquiring the state’s monetary assist for the memorial for the primary time since that preliminary donation 25 years in the past.

Blackman mentioned he is spoken with state Reps. Kevin Felsher and Hank Zuber about discovering funding “to assist us sooner or later preserve the memorial on the best path.”

Maybe most necessary to the memorial’s future, nonetheless, is the participation of a youthful technology of veterans who’re passionate concerning the memorial.

“We had a gathering with an entire group of veterans who all wish to be concerned,” Blackman mentioned. “A youthful technology of veterans has stepped up and their assist shall be invaluable.”

The longtime committee member, himself a Vietnam veteran, agreed.

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“It actually is,” he mentioned when requested if it was heartening to see new volunteers coming in. “It’s good to see different folks coming in and getting concerned — and different Vietnam veterans, as properly.

Copyright 2022 The Related Press. All rights reserved. This materials will not be revealed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.



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What channel is Mississippi State football vs Missouri on today? Time, TV schedule to watch Week 13 game

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What channel is Mississippi State football vs Missouri on today? Time, TV schedule to watch Week 13 game


Mississippi State football comes off a bye week with a chance to earn a win over nationally-ranked Missouri on Saturday.

The Bulldogs (2-8, 0-6) last played on Nov. 9 in a loss at Tennessee and have two more games against SEC opponents this year.

The Tigers (7-3, 3-3) lost a back-and-forth game at South Carolina last weekend.

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Here’s how to watch the Mississippi State football vs. Missouri game today, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:

Mississippi State vs. Missouri will broadcast nationally on SEC Network in Week 13 of the 2024 college football season. Taylor Zarzour and Matt Stinchcomb will call the game from the booth at Davis Wade Stadium, with Alyssa Lang reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers. 

  • Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
  • Start time: 3:15 p.m. CT

The Mississippi State football vs. Missouri game starts at 3:15 p.m. CT Saturday from Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville.

Clarion Ledger reporter Sam Sklar’s prediction: Missouri 37, Mississippi State 20

The Bulldogs are allowing 41 points per game in SEC play, and it’s difficult to see Missouri not having the same level of success. Expect big days from Burden and/or Wease, plus running back Nate Noel as MSU loses another game by double digits. 

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Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Nov. 22

  • Odds:  Missouri -7.5
  • O/U:  61.5 points
  • Money line: Missouri -300, Mississippi State +240
  • Aug. 31:  EKU, W 56-7
  • Sept. 7:  at Arizona State, L 30-23
  • Sept. 14:  Toledo, L 41-17
  • Sept. 21:  Florida, L 45-28
  • Sept. 28:  at Texas, L 35-13
  • Oct. 5:  OPEN DATE
  • Oct. 12:  at Georgia, L 41-31
  • Oct. 19:  Texas A&M, L 34-24
  • Oct. 26:  Arkansas, L 58-25
  • Nov. 2:  UMass, W 45-20
  • Nov. 9:  at Tennessee, L 33-14
  • Nov. 16:  OPEN DATE
  • Nov. 23:  Missouri, 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network
  • Nov. 29: at Ole Miss, 2:30 p.m. on ABC and ESPN+

Record: 2-8 (0-6 SEC)

  • Aug. 29:  Murray State, W 51-0
  • Sept. 7:  Buffalo, W 38-0
  • Sept. 14:  Boston College, W 27-21
  • Sept. 21:  Vanderbilt, W 30-27 2OT
  • Sept. 28:  OPEN DATE
  • Oct. 5:  at Texas A&M, L 41-10
  • Oct. 12:  at UMass, W 45-3
  • Oct. 19:  Auburn, W 21-17
  • Oct. 26:  at Alabama, L 34-0
  • Nov. 2:  OPEN DATE
  • Nov. 9:  Oklahoma, W 30-23
  • Nov. 16:  at South Carolina, L 34-30
  • Nov. 23:  at Mississippi State, 4:15 p.m. on SEC Network
  • Nov. 30: Arkansas, TBD

Record:  7-3, 3-3 SEC

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SMU drops nonconference game at home as Mississippi State finds bench-led boost

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SMU drops nonconference game at home as Mississippi State finds bench-led boost


Reserve KeShawn Murphy scored 16 points and led a quartet of Mississippi State bench players in double-digit scoring and the Bulldogs beat SMU 84-79 on Friday night.

Reserves RJ Melendez scored 15 points, Riley Kugel 13 and Claudell Harris Jr. 10. Josh Hubbard was the lone Mississippi State (5-0) starter in double figures with 14 points on just 4-for-18 shooting. The Bulldogs’ starters went 10 for 33 from the floor compared to the 18-for-35 effort from the bench.

Why was former NBA star Dwyane Wade at Moody Coliseum for SMU-Mississippi State?

Cameron Matthews made a layup with 5:13 remaining to break a tie at 66. Murphy made a 3-pointer and Kanye Clary made 1 of 2 free throws and Mississippi State led for the remainder.

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Reserve Kario Oquendo scored 13 points for the Mustangs (4-2), Matt Cross, Boopie Miller and Samet Yigitoglu all had 12 points and B.J. Edwards scored 10.

Mississippi State will get almost a full week off before returning to action on Thanksgiving night at the Arizona Tipoff in Tempe. The Bulldogs play their first game of the event against UNLV.

The Mustangs will head to Palm Springs, California, for the Acrisure Holiday Invitational, where they face Cal Baptist on Tuesday.

Find more SMU coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

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Attorneys want the US Supreme Court to say Mississippi’s felony voting ban is cruel and unusual

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Attorneys want the US Supreme Court to say Mississippi’s felony voting ban is cruel and unusual


By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court should overturn Mississippi’s Jim Crow-era practice of removing voting rights from people convicted of certain felonies, including nonviolent crimes such as forgery and timber theft, attorneys say in new court papers.

Most of the people affected are disenfranchised for life because the state provides few options for restoring ballot access.

“Mississippi’s harsh and unforgiving felony disenfranchisement scheme is a national outlier,” attorneys representing some who lost voting rights said in an appeal filed Wednesday. They wrote that states “have consistently moved away from lifetime felony disenfranchisement over the past few decades.”

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This case is the second in recent years — and the third since the late 19th century — that asks the Supreme Court to overturn Mississippi’s disenfranchisement for some felonies. The cases use different legal arguments, and the court rejected the most recent attempt in 2023.

The new appeal asks justices to reverse a July ruling from the conservative 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which said Mississippi legislators, not the courts, must decide whether to change the laws.

Stripping away voting rights for some crimes is unconstitutional because it is cruel and unusual punishment, the appeal argues. A majority of justices rejected arguments over cruel and unusual punishment in June when they cleared the way for cities to enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outside in public places.

Attorneys who sued Mississippi over voting rights say the authors of the state’s 1890 constitution based disenfranchisement on a list of crimes they thought Black people were more likely to commit. A majority of the appeals judges wrote that the Supreme Court in 1974 reaffirmed constitutional law allowing states to disenfranchise felons.

About 38% of Mississippi residents are Black. Nearly 50,000 people were disenfranchised under the state’s felony voting ban between 1994 and 2017. More than 29,000 of them have completed their sentences, and about 58% of that group are Black, according to an expert who analyzed data for plaintiffs challenging the voting ban.

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To regain voting rights in Mississippi, a person convicted of a disenfranchising crime must receive a governor’s pardon or win permission from two-thirds of the state House and Senate. In recent years, legislators have restored voting rights for only a few people.

The other recent case that went to the Supreme Court argued that authors of Mississippi’s constitution showed racist intent when they chose which felonies would cause people to lose the right to vote.

In that ruling, justices declined to reconsider a 2022 appeals court decision that said Mississippi remedied the discriminatory intent of the original provisions in the state constitution by later altering the list of disenfranchising crimes.

In 1950, Mississippi dropped burglary from the list. Murder and rape were added in 1968. The Mississippi attorney general issued an opinion in 2009 that expanded the list to 22 crimes, including timber larceny, carjacking, felony-level shoplifting and felony-level writing bad checks.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in a 2023 dissent that Mississippi’s list of disenfranchising crimes was “adopted for an illicit discriminatory purpose.”

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