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JACKSON — Mississippi Treasurer Lynn Fitch says it now appears that sometime in 2014 will be the earliest that the Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition plan will reopen for additional enrollments.
Like most investors, the plan had an excellent first quarter in the stock market. That could cut its projected shortfall. But the board that runs the plan voted Wednesday to trim its assumption about how much money the fund will make on future investments. Under accounting rules, that will drive up the amount of the shortfall.
The board, at Fitch's request, did not sell new contracts during last fall's enrollment period. Under the plan, contracts cover future college costs, with money invested for when students enroll.
A year ago, the fund was more than $80 million short of future tuition needs.
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JACKSON — Mississippi's attorney general says the governor does not have legal authority to operate the Division of Medicaid by executive order.
Attorney General Jim Hood's nonbinding opinion, issued Wednesday, contradicts claims by Republican Gov. Phil Bryant and could increase pressure on Bryant to call the Legislature into special session to reauthorize the state Medicaid program.
Unless something changes, the program is on track to end after June 30, putting health care at risk for 644,000 Mississippians.
Hood, a Democrat, issued his opinion in response to questions from Democratic lawmakers. His opinions are nonbinding but provide guidance for state leaders.
During the legislative session that ended in April, lawmakers locked up in a partisan dispute over whether to expand Medicaid. They did not reauthorize the program or set its budget.
OXFORD — The Oxford Police Department is going to enforce those traffic laws affecting cyclists, motorcyclists and other means of alternative transportation.
Assistant Police Chief Kevin Stark tells the Oxford Eagle that cyclists are expected to follow the same rules of the road as any other vehicle, even though the vehicle doesn't have four wheels.
"We're going to have to take a proactive stance on rules and regulations involving cyclists," Stark said. "We have been getting an increased amount of complaints from walkers and drivers about bicycles."
Complaints include cyclists running through red lights, passing cars on the right in an intersection and not stopping at stop signs.
"The rules of the road apply to bicycles as well as motor vehicles," Stark said. "We want to make sure the road is safe for everyone."
Cyclists can get traffic violations for just about anything a motor vehicle can and some of these tickets come with hefty fines.
"Our cars have increased. Our bicycles and cyclists have increased. It's become a road-sharing issue," Stark said.
Mississippi state law requires all drivers, bicycles, motorcycles and automobiles to follow the same laws and Stark said Oxford police will just be enforcing the laws that are, and have been, on the books.
"But we don't want to just go out there and write a bunch of tickets without educating people first," he said. "That's out first goal — just to inform and educate the public so everyone is safer on the roads."
Southern Mississippi is looking for a new athletic director.
University President Rodney Bennett announced on Wednesday morning in Hattiesburg, Miss., that the one-year contract for Jeff Hammond will not be renewed after it expires on June 30.
Hammond — a former Army major general who played quarterback for the Golden Eagles in the 1970s — made several important decisions during his tenure, including firing football coach Ellis Johnson after one disastrous season that ended with an 0-12 record.
He also hired basketball coach Donnie Tyndall, who won 27 games in his first season.
But Bennett, who was hired in April, said he wanted new leadership in athletics.
"It is important to me to hire my own executive staff in certain high profile areas and assemble my own leadership team," Bennett said. "Nonetheless, there is a place for General Hammond in my administration, and I have extended an opportunity for him to continue to serve USM in other areas. I am hopeful that he will accept my offer."
Hammond also had to deal with an athletic department that was $1.2 million in debt. He sold a home football game back to Nebraska in 2012 and also scheduled a road game against Arkansas — which includes a hefty payout — for the upcoming season in an effort to generate more funds.
Bennett did not elaborate about Hammond's proposed new position.
Hammond, who was not at Wednesday's press conference, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Associate athletic director Jeremy McClain will be the interim athletic director, but is not a candidate for the full-time job.
Bennett said a search committee — which includes former Georgia football coach and athletic director Vince Dooley — will begin the process of finding a new athletic director. Bennett said he hopes to have a new candidate in place by the end of August.
It will undeniably be an important hire. Bennett said Southern Miss is "at a critical juncture in determining our future."
Southern Miss is trying to find its place in the NCAA's changing conference landscape. The Golden Eagles have watched several longtime rivals and Conference USA members — like Memphis, Tulane and Houston — leave for bigger conferences.
Southern Miss has had a decent amount of recent success, including a C-USA football championship and a trip to the NCAA tournament in basketball during the 2011-12 school year, but average facilities and a relatively small market have hurt the program's chances at latching onto a more high-profile conference.
"While I have not pre-determined who our next athletics director will be, because of my contacts in athletics, I know of several highly qualified individuals from around the country who I hope and suspect will apply," Bennett said. "There will be a national search, and I am confident that highly qualified, experienced candidates will be excited about this opportunity."
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Follow David Brandt on Twitter: @davidbrandtAP
JACKSON — The Mississippi State Department of Health is reporting the second human case of West Nile virus for 2013.
The case was reported in Forrest County. In April of this year, one case was reported in Madison County.
The MSDH only reports laboratory-confirmed cases to the public.
In 2012, Mississippi had 247 WNV cases and five deaths.
MSDH State Epidemiologist Dr. Thomas Dobbs says Mississippi is entering into the high-risk West Nile season and the state typically sees more human cases in July, August and September than in other months.
Health officials say Mississippians should take precautions to protect themselves from mosquitoes.
Fitch: 2014 earliest to open prepaid college plan
Jun 19, 2013 | 240 views | 0 
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Hood: Gov can't run Medicaid by executive order
Jun 19, 2013 | 517 views | 0 | 10 | |
| 10 | | Attorney General Jim Hood (AP)
Oxford police to crack down on cyclists
Jun 19, 2013 | 576 views | 0 | 19 | |
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Southern Miss not renewing AD Hammond's contract
Jun 19, 2013 | 1149 views | 0 | 21 | |
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Second West Nile case reported for 2013
Jun 19, 2013 | 616 views | 0 | 20 | |
| 20 | | West Nile virus carrying mosquito. (AP)