Editorials

Editorials

Whatever courts decide, pardons mess poorly handled
The Greenwood Commonwealth:
Former Gov. Haley Barbour’s pardon fiasco is getting more intriguing and mysterious by the day.
In the latest development, The Associated Press reported that some of the files for the 198 pardons issued by Barbour in his last few days in office are missing. Among the missing files are those for the five inmates, including four murderers, who worked as trusties in the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion.

February 4, 2012
Teen pregnancy requires serious discussion, not just platitudes
By The (Jackson) Clarion-Ledger:
In his State of the State address, Gov. Phil Bryant set out as a policy for his administration to tackle the issue of teen pregnancy — a formidable goal.

February 3, 2012
Costa Concordia incident shows importance of hydrologic science
From the Univeristy of Southern Mississippi:
The recent maritime accident involving the cruise ship Costa Concordia validates the need for advances in ocean mapping and navigation technology, according to faculty in The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Marine Science who specialize in hydrographic science.

February 2, 2012
State budget process should be reasonable discussion
By The (Biloxi) Sun Herald:
Mississippi’s budgeting process has drifted far, too far from the bottom line.
As a prime example, we cite the state Department of Health, which contends it needs at least $30 million to meet basic needs and an additional $6 million from the state to match a $13 million grant for life-saving medications.

February 1, 2012
Judge correct to alter ruling on legal fees
By The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune:
U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier amended his decision to create a fund for payment of potential legal fees in the BP oil spill litigation, appropriately removing unwarranted penalties for people and businesses who opted out of the court fight. That’s a welcome move.

January 31, 2012
Cutting Health
By The (Jackson) Clarion-Ledger:
Officials at the Mississippi Department of Health are stunned by a proposed slashing of its state funding to $20.7 million — the lowest level it has seen since 1990, when it received $20.3 million.

January 28, 2012
Bill requires ship channels be dredged to proper depth
By The (Opelousas, La.) Daily World:
Two days before Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La., was to meet with our editorial board — a Panamanian-flagged coal freighter was magically transformed into an exclamation point.
The 73-foot ship, the Rondeau, was easing its way down the Mississippi River near Venice and was about to enter the Gulf of Mexico when it ran aground.

January 26, 2012
Perhaps it’s time for state to consider lottery for school funds
By The Natchez Democrat:
Is Mississippi ready to gamble with its future?
The Legislature will decide, but maybe it’s time to give the matter serious thought.

January 26, 2012
Schools at top of state’s ‘to-do' list for development
By The (Jackson) Clarion-Ledger:
During the excitement of the new Legislature being seated and statewide officials being sworn in, Mississippians may not have noticed that a new “blueprint” for the state’s development was also launched.

January 21, 2012
Both hopeful, dire plans out for coastal restoration
By The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune:
The state’s updated plan for coastal restoration lays out two vastly different pictures of the future for Louisiana — one dire, one hopeful. In the first, nothing is done to combat the complex forces that have already caused this state to lose 1,883 square miles of land since the 1930s.

January 20, 2012
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