The flu bug is creating a lot of absenteeism at schools along our coast. About 66 students were absent from Popps Ferry Elementary in Biloxi this week, where even the nurse had to go home to be tested for the flu. Long Beach schools have seen close to 200 confirmed cases of the flu since the Christmas break. The Bay-Waveland School District is dealing with a second round of the illness. The Pascagoula-Gautier School District says it seems to be worse at the elementary school level, and absentees there are up to 10-12% from the usual 5%.
--
It looks like Sears employees will be keeping their jobs. A bankruptcy judge has approved the sale of the retailer to Chairman Eddie Lampert for over five-billion-dollars. The deal is expected to close today. The sale will reportedly save over 400 stores and about 45-thousand jobs.
--
MBI agents are continuing to investigate the deadly exchange of gunfire with state troopers that left a Gulfport man dead Wednesday evening. He's been identified as 25-year-old Miles Dylan Cooper. He was the driver of an SUV carjacked from a gas station that was pursued from Harrison County into Stone County. Cooper sped off when a trooper attempted to get the vehicle to stop. Two passengers in the SUV suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.
--
Bond is set at just over 700-thousand-dollars for a 74-year-old Waveland man charged with 12 counts related to the molestation of children. Harry Trest appeared in a Hancock County courtroom yesterday for the bond hearing. He was arrested earlier this week on four counts each of sexual battery, child molestation and disseminating sexually-oriented material to a child. Police say other family members have since come forward alleging that they too were touched inappropriately by Trest while they were children.
--
A bill is headed to the Mississippi Senate after clearing the house that blocks state government from investing in any business that boycotts Israel. The legislation cleared the lower chamber yesterday on an 88-10 vote. The Clarion Ledger reports that if given final legislative approval and signed by the governor, Mississippi would join 27 other states with laws on the books discouraging boycotts of Israel.
--
Lawmakers are running short on time to reach a deal on border security to avoid another government shutdown. They only have until February 15th to make a budget deal with the White House to avert a shutdown. Democrats and Republicans have been trading offers all week to provide funding for technology and fencing on the U.S. border with Mexico. Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby said he's hoping for a deal by Monday.