Hinds County Circuit Judge, Swan Yerger, has ruled an amended initiative to retain the flag and its confederate battle banner can go on a statewide ballot in 2002. The judge s ruling came after reviewing arguments made by a group of Mississippians including an Oxford bookstore owner, a writer and a Jackson restaurant owner who filed a legal challenge over the constitutionality of the initiative. Flag supporters call the judge s decision a victory for the democratic process and southern heritage. Opponents who say the flag is a racist symbol were looking to governor Ronnie Musgrove s 17-member commission to propose alternative designs called the ruling unfortunate. Initiative backers now have to come up with 90-thousand signatures of registered voters in the state s five congressional districts to get the measure on the ballot.
Dogs know things - they have a sense about people.
Sometimes, they lick your hand and wag their tails, commiserating with You in times of sorrow, despair, or even on days when one is simply feeling a bit blue. On other days, they ignore you unless they are hungry, ready to go hunting, or they spy a Frisbee in your hand. Perhaps the only ray of sunshine in the continuing saga of the tragic death of young Reynard Johnson of Kokomo, was dutifully reported in the Columbian-Progress, Marion County's community newspaper, on Page One. A story that criticized respected forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden's conclusion, that the youth died of suicide by hanging with no foul play.