29 Mar Nichols Elementary School must be reopened

Posted at March 29, 2014 in In the News by Mississippi Center for Justice

Sun Herald NISREEN HASIB & T. 'LT' EDWARDS Jr. As students from Chicago's Northwestern University School of Law and the University of Chicago Law School, we consider ourselves extremely lucky to have spent March 17-21 serving the Biloxi community. During this time, we volunteered with the Mississippi...

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14 Mar Law students head to Biloxi to gain experience

Posted at March 14, 2014 in In the News by Mississippi Center for Justice

Sun Herald Patrick Ochs Some college students choose to spend their spring break on the slopes in Aspen, Colo., or on an all-inclusive cruise. A select group of law students from Boston University, Virginia and Duke opted instead to put their studies to the test this week...

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14 Feb Federal agency finds state violates job reporting requirements for Gulfport port

Posted at February 14, 2014 in In the News by Mississippi Center for Justice

Sun Herald Anita Lee GULFPORT -- The Mississippi Development Authority has failed to adequately document the number of jobs at the port, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says, meaning the federal government can apply unspecified sanctions unless reporting is brought into compliance with federal...

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13 Feb Advocacy group launches housing discrimination project

Posted at February 13, 2014 in In the News by Mississippi Center for Justice

Mississippi Public Broadcasting Evelina Burnett The Mississippi Center for Justice says housing discrimination remains one of the most prevalent forms of injustice in the state. MPB’s Evelina Burnett reports on their new statewide project to combat unfair practices in housing. A 2008 study found that African Americans in...

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10 Feb Banks, credit unions offering alternatives to payday loans

Posted at February 10, 2014 in In the News by Mississippi Center for Justice

Mississippi Public Broadcasting Evelina Burnett Mississippians take out an estimated 4 million pay day loans every year, at effective annual interest rates topping 500 percent. MPB’s Evelina Burnett reports, some nonprofits and banks are working together to offer alternatives to this costly credit. Alisha has worked at this...

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27 Jan When lenders sue – part 4

Posted at January 27, 2014 in In the News by Mississippi Center for Justice

Westmoreland Times Story by Paul Kiel, ProPublica. Mayeta Clark, Mike Tigas and Eric Sagara contributed to this report. In Mississippi, the poorest state in the country, the largest installment lender is Tower Loan. Mississippi laws prevent installment lenders from charging the triple-digit rates common in some other states,...

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24 Jan Small loan alternative seminar held in Gulfport

Posted at January 24, 2014 in In the News by Mississippi Center for Justice

Sun Herald Cecily Cummings The Gulf Coast Community Foundation held a small loan alternative seminar Friday morning in the conference rooms of Lookout Steakhouse in Gulfport. Participants gathered to talk about what can be done to provide alternative lending opportunities to people who are struggling financially. The meeting...

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16 Jan Director: Port of Gulfport project will create promised jobs

Posted at January 16, 2014 in In the News by Mississippi Center for Justice

Sun Herald Anita Lee Port of Gulfport announcement expected GULFPORT -- The state port's executive director, Jonathan Daniels, assured community members Thursday night an expansion and restoration project funded with $570 million from the federal government will create the jobs promised. Daniels said he and the port staff are...

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13 Dec When Lenders Sue, Quick Cash Can Turn Into a Lifetime of Debt

Posted at December 13, 2013 in In the News by Mississippi Center for Justice

ProPublica Paul Kiel ProPublica, Dec. 13, 2013, 10:47 a.m. Five years ago, Naya Burks of St. Louis borrowed $1,000 from AmeriCash Loans. The money came at a steep price: She had to pay back $1,737 over six months. “I really needed the cash, and that was the only thing...

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07 Dec Gulfport Branch NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet is Dec. 15

Posted at December 07, 2013 in In the News by Mississippi Center for Justice

Sun HeraldThe Gulfport Branch NAACP will hold its Freedom Fund Banquet from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Hard Rock resort and Casino, 777 Beach Blvd., Biloxi. During the banquet, the organization will honor former Mississippi Supreme Court Judge Fred L. Banks Jr., one...

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