Updated: 5:31 PM The March of Dimes announced a five-year campaign to reduce premature births.

Updated: 5:28 PM One business leader projects small growth in the economy this year, at least in part because of consumer debt.

Updated: 5:18 PM Top intelligence officials testified before a senate panel Tuesday in Washington.

Updated: 10:55 AM It has been a month since the hanging death of a Kemper County man and the autopsy results are still not available.

Updated: 10:52 AM Lauderdale County residents who try to cheat on car tag purchases could pay an even higher price on their property taxes.

Updated: 10:49 AM A bill passed by the state Senate would, if adopted, require five-year-olds registered for kindergarten to attend classes.

Updated: 10:54 AM Area schools still have many absences due to the flu and flu-like symptoms. Some schools had to close for a couple of days, but things are getting a little better.

Updated: 8:03 PM Law enforcement received a report Monday of a White male posing as an FBI agent.

Updated: 8:04 PM A bridge on Allen Swamp Road has been closed because of safety concerns.

Updated: 8:01 PM A local man was charged with felony child abuse over the weekend.

Updated: 11:14 AM The number of Mississippi lawsuit verdicts rated in the nation's top 100 decreased last year.

Updated: 11:12 AM The Department of Human Services problems seem to be getting a little better, but there are still problems.

Updated: 11:06 AM With the possibility of a war with Iraq looming, pilot training at NAS Meridian seems to take on added significance.

Updated: 11:04 AM Peavey Electronics announced a reduction of 79 positions worldwide, citing general market conditions and consolidation efforts.

Updated: 6:23 PM The price of gasoline shot up 10 cents a gallon virtually overnight in the Meridian area.

Updated: 11:05 AM The announcement of an acting principal for West End Elementary School is set for Tuesday.

Updated: 6:20 PM The Noxubee County School District joined a growing list of school systems that closed for a couple of days due to flu or flu-like illnesses.

Updated: 11:57 AM The Bush Administration Friday raised the national terror alert from yellow to orange, citing a U.S. intelligence warning of a "high risk" of terrorist attack, a senior administration official said.

Updated: 9:49 AM The manager of Meridian Regional Airport won a major award, bestowed by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Updated: 9:50 AM The Mississippi Senate Thursday passed a bill to strengthen Mississippi's Open Meetings law.

Updated: 6:28 PM Federal marshals took meridian attorney Dwayne Watts to Pensacola, Fla., to insure he appears before a U.S. Magistrate.

Updated: 6:53 PM Illnesses among students have caused another school system to halt classes for a couple of days.

Updated: 6:52 PM The president of the Meridian School Board told a task force of teachers and principals what's wrong with local schools and asked for help to find a remedy.

Updated: 6:43 PM Closely related to such big name stars as Oprah Winfrey and Morgan Freeman. Katharine Esters is a woman on a mission for change and has even made a mark on Meridian.

Updated: 2:41 PM UWATEC AG announced a recall of dive computers sold in 1995 and 1996 and Trak Inc. announced a recall of snowshoe bindings.