Mistrial declared in fatal Southaven shooting

Thursday, July 29th, 2010, 3:37pm

By Chip Washington - bio | email

SOUTHAVEN, MS (WMC-TV) - A mistrial was declared this week in the case of a Mississippi man charged with shooting his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend to death.

Benjamin Talbert was on trial this week for killing Brandon Talley in August of 2009, but by a count of 11 for murder and one against, the jury was hung and the case was declared a mistrial.

"We felt confident we had proven it was a deliberate design murder, but you have to take the verdicts as they come," Assistant District Attorney Smith Murphey said.

Murphey argued that Talley was executed when he was shot three times, saying Talbert was well aware of what he wanted to do.

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Hollywood Casino supports Responsible Gaming Education Week

Submitted by Steve Crain, WMCTV.com

Thursday, July 29th, 2010, 10:57am

Information provided by Hollywood Casino Tunica

On Monday, August 2, 2010 Hollywood Casino® Tunica will launch its week long “Bust the Slot Myths” educational campaign to support the American Gaming Association’s Responsible Gaming Education Week held August 2 – 6.

This year’s American Gaming Association’s (AGA) theme, “Taking the Mystery Out of the Slot Machine,” will focus on educating casino employees and the public about how slot machines work and correcting some of the misconceptions about them. Understanding how casino games work is a key component of responsible gaming, and helping gaming employees learn more about how slot machines work is an important part of empowering them to educate casino patrons about what it means to keep it fun.

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Fed court won't dismiss ex-Desoto jailers' lawsuit

Submitted by WMCTV Web Staff

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010, 1:26pm

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A federal appeals court has refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed by three former DeSoto County Sheriff's Department workers who alleged they were wrongfully fired for reporting the beating of an inmate by another employee.

The lawsuit was filed in 2005 in U.S. District Court in Oxford.

The plaintiffs - Tammy Williams of Hernando, Earl Russell of Coldwater and Cheryl Hambrick of Southaven - alleged in their lawsuit that they witnessed the beating of a prisoner in handcuffs.

The plaintiffs made out reports detailing the alleged beating and less than 24 hours later they were fired for baseless and frivolous reasons, according to the lawsuit.

Named as defendants were then-Sheriff James A. Riley and two deputies.

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Mississippi man goes to trial for murder of ex-girlfriends new beau

Submitted by WMCTV Web Staff

Monday, July 26th, 2010, 4:15pm

By Chip Washington - bio | email

SOUTHAVEN, MS (WMC-TV) - A Mississippi man faced trial Monday on charged he shot his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend to death.

Brendan Talley, 18, was known as a kind young man who would never hurt anyone. Benjamin Talbert is on trial for killing Talley last August at the Oak Hollow Apartments in Southaven.

Nicole Kenney was Talley's friend.

"I mean he was laid back, friends with everybody, just came in and did his job," Kenney said. "He was so sweet with her."

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Telecommuting Saves $10K Per Employee Yearly

Submitted by Ken Adams on Sunday, July 25th, 4:10 pm

"Action News 5 received the following news letter from greenbiz.com"

Businesses that let 100 employees work half of their time from home can save more than $1 million a year according to Telework Research Network's (TRN)

Companies would save in electricity, real estate and related costs from parking lot leases, furniture, supplies, maintenance and space consolidation. Fewer unscheduled absences, less sick time and from employees working while sick or waiting for personal appointments (cable installation, delivery, etc.) that would normally result in a full day off of work.

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MDEQ Announces recycling grants for local governments

Submitted by Ken Adams on Sunday, July 25th, 3:28 pm

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has announced the availability of grants for cities and counties for recycling and materials conservation projects. Eligible projects include funding for recycling equipment and supplies, educational programs, and promoting the purchase of products with recycled content. Eligible local governments may submit grant proposals for a potential funding award of up to $100,000.

The deadline to submit an application is 3:00 pm, Friday, August 13, 2010. For more information, click here.

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Clarksdale police chief acquitted

Submitted by WMCTV Web Staff

Friday, July 23rd, 2010, 10:23am

SOUTHAVEN, MS (AP) - Clarksdale Police Chief Gregory Hoskins has been found innocent of charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after an incident at a Southaven convenience store last summer.

The Commercial Appeal reports a DeSoto County jury acquitted Hoskins of the charges on Thursday. Hoskins had appealed his municipal court conviction to county court.

Hoskins was arrested on June 21, 2009, after he got into an argument with a clerk at the Circle K in Southaven.

Hoskins claimed the clerk was rude, cursed him and told him he could go across the street to the Shell station for gas.

Hoskins said he went to the Shell station, where he was arrested by officers responding to the disorderly conduct call from the Circle K clerk.

Information from: The Commercial Appeal, http://www.commercialappeal.com

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