Colleague says Sen. Burton improving

A longtime Mississippi lawmaker remains hospitalized, days after having a stroke. Republican Sen. Terry Burton of Newton was taken to a Jackson hospital Thursday.

Senate President Pro Tempore Gray Tollison told colleagues Monday that Burton is showing "great improvement." The family of the 62-year-old lawmaker is continuing to ask for privacy.

Burton has served in the Mississippi Senate since 1992. He was a Democrat until switching parties in December 2002.

Burton has said he won't seek re-election this year in his district that covers Lauderdale, Newton and Scott counties.