NPR asks the question:
Should the U.S. stop changing its clocks?
Or, to put it another way, should Americans stop going "off" Daylight Saving Time every winter?
There are parts of the U.S., including Arizona and Hawaii, that don't change their clocks. Here's a question: Should the rest of the nation just stay on "summer time" permanently so that our evenings always (sort of) last longer?
Friday, March 25, 2011
Sun Herald providing more ammo for Barbour naysayers.
Gov. Haley Barbour had hand in release of convicted killer Joseph Goff
The Sun Herald has learned that Gov. Haley Barbour helped in the early release of convicted killer Joseph Goff, whose release today after serving eight years of a 20-year sentence has drawn outrage from law enforcement and the community.
A spokeswoman for Barbour on Thursday had said, “The inmate’s release is set by state sentencing laws. The governor has no role.”
But 130 days of the time off Goff received was granted by Barbour in Executive Order 956 for work Goff did cleaning up after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Simpson, Quitman, Marion and Walthall counties, according to South Mississippi lawmakers, the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Attorney General’s Office.
Barbour’s office has not yet responded to a follow-up call from the Sun Herald today seeking further comment and information.
“This is just unbelievable, to give a murderer 130 days off because he cleaned up after a storm, which is what an inmate should be doing anyway,” said state Sen. Michael Watson, R-Pascagoula. “It’s beyond me, to be honest with you. I’m almost at a loss for words.”
Goff shot and killed Kyle Todd, 19, while Todd was standing by a Christmas tree inside his family’s Gautier home on Dec. 8, 2001. Todd died in his mother’s arms. He was a former valedictorian at Gautier High School and the son of Carla Todd, president of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.
The Sun Herald has learned that Gov. Haley Barbour helped in the early release of convicted killer Joseph Goff, whose release today after serving eight years of a 20-year sentence has drawn outrage from law enforcement and the community.
A spokeswoman for Barbour on Thursday had said, “The inmate’s release is set by state sentencing laws. The governor has no role.”
But 130 days of the time off Goff received was granted by Barbour in Executive Order 956 for work Goff did cleaning up after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Simpson, Quitman, Marion and Walthall counties, according to South Mississippi lawmakers, the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Attorney General’s Office.
Barbour’s office has not yet responded to a follow-up call from the Sun Herald today seeking further comment and information.
“This is just unbelievable, to give a murderer 130 days off because he cleaned up after a storm, which is what an inmate should be doing anyway,” said state Sen. Michael Watson, R-Pascagoula. “It’s beyond me, to be honest with you. I’m almost at a loss for words.”
Goff shot and killed Kyle Todd, 19, while Todd was standing by a Christmas tree inside his family’s Gautier home on Dec. 8, 2001. Todd died in his mother’s arms. He was a former valedictorian at Gautier High School and the son of Carla Todd, president of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.
Listen to Governor Barbour speak live at 9 am at Rediscover God Breakfast in Iowa
Governor Barbour has just taken the stage at the Rediscover God Breakfast in Iowa. Other guests include Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich and Michelle Bachmann.
You can listen live by going HERE
You can listen live by going HERE
14 caught with hands in the cookie jar
14 charged in fraud scheme
A tip from one person who refused to participate in a health insurance fraud scheme has led to the arrests of 14 people accused of stealing more than $500,000 from the State and School Employees Health Insurance Plan.
State Attorney General Jim Hood said Thursday 10 state employees conspired with three Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Mississippi workers to submit fraudulent insurance claims. The 14th person was not employed by the state or the insurance company.
In return for approving the false claims, the Blue Cross/ Blue Shield workers got kickbacks from the state employees.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield administers the state and public school employees' self-funded insured plan.
A Blue Cross/Blue Shield spokesman couldn't be reached late Thursday.
But Hood said Blue Cross/Blue Shield alerted authorities to the scheme and has reimbursed the state-funded plan.
The 14 face charges of insurance fraud, mail fraud and false representation.
Insurance fraud carries a maximum three years in prison. Mail fraud carries a maximum five years in prison.
"They need to go to jail," Hood said. "They are taking from all of us."
Hood called the case the largest theft from the employee health plan since he was elected in 2003.
"We have a hard enough time now trying to get claims paid. We don't need people stealing from taxpayers," Hood said.
A tip from one person who refused to participate in a health insurance fraud scheme has led to the arrests of 14 people accused of stealing more than $500,000 from the State and School Employees Health Insurance Plan.
State Attorney General Jim Hood said Thursday 10 state employees conspired with three Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Mississippi workers to submit fraudulent insurance claims. The 14th person was not employed by the state or the insurance company.
In return for approving the false claims, the Blue Cross/ Blue Shield workers got kickbacks from the state employees.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield administers the state and public school employees' self-funded insured plan.
A Blue Cross/Blue Shield spokesman couldn't be reached late Thursday.
But Hood said Blue Cross/Blue Shield alerted authorities to the scheme and has reimbursed the state-funded plan.
The 14 face charges of insurance fraud, mail fraud and false representation.
Insurance fraud carries a maximum three years in prison. Mail fraud carries a maximum five years in prison.
"They need to go to jail," Hood said. "They are taking from all of us."
Hood called the case the largest theft from the employee health plan since he was elected in 2003.
"We have a hard enough time now trying to get claims paid. We don't need people stealing from taxpayers," Hood said.
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