News

Jackson State Community College Student Center Grand Opening

Precut Jackson State Community College had their grand opening ribbon cutting on January 16.

The renovations on this "one stop shop" began in 2011.

This is one of the final parts of renovations in a nine year, campus wide renovation project.

This set of renovations is only phase one with phase two to begin in spring and includes plans for a new coffee and snack bar.

There are plans in the future to build more buildings on the campus including a nursing and allied health building.

Mayor Jimmy Harris and Senator Lowe Finney were on hands in addition to the Chamber of Commerce to cut the ribbon on the newly renovated student center.

President Dr. Bruce Blanding spoke about this renovation, past renovations that have been done on the campus, and future plans for the campus. (AUDIO)

Obama Takes 23 Executive Actions For Gun Control

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is taking 23 executive actions aimed at curbing gun violence that don't require congressional action, including measures to encourage schools to hire police officers, increase research on gun violence and improve efforts to prosecute gun crime.

The executive actions are part of an overarching package assembled by a task force led by Vice President Joe Biden. The measures come a month after the mass shooting in Newtown, Ct., that killed 20 elementary school children.

Obama is directing the Centers for Disease Control to research gun violence and is seeking rules to ensure that law enforcement conducts background checks before returning seized firearms.

He intends to nominate Todd Jones as director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Jones is the agency's acting director.

Wednesday School Closings 01.16.13; Jackson Madison County Schools Closed

Crockett County Schools - Closed Wednesday Jackson Madison-County
Alamo City Schools - Closed Wednesday
Bells City Schools - Closed Wednesday

Dyer County Schools - Closed Wednesday

Henderson County Schools - Closed Wednesday
Lexington City Schools - Closed Wednesday
Lauderdale County Schools - Closed Wednesday
Benton County Schools - Closed Wednesday
Hardin County Schools - Closed Wednesday
Chester County Schools - Closed Wednesday
McNairy County Schools - Closed Wednesday
Hardeman County Schools - Closed Wednesday
Perry County Schools - Closed Wednesday
Carroll Academy - Closed Wednesday
Dyersburg City Schools - Closed Wednesday

Vann Drive Christian Academy - Closed Wednesday
Immaculate Conception Preschool in Union City - Closed Wednesday

Zaxby's Warns Customers Of Potential Fraud

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - A Georgia-based restaurant firm says suspicious computer files have been found at some of its locations, prompting it to warn customers about the potential for fraud.

Zaxby's Franchising Inc. said in a statement that the suspicious files may have resulted in unauthorized access to credit and debit card information at more than 100 stores.

The Athens-based firm says the affected stores are in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi and Virginia.

Company officials say the issue involves malware files, which could have been used to export guest names and credit and debit card numbers. The company says it notified law enforcement of the potential criminal activity.

Zaxby's says a forensic investigation hasn't determined whether credit or debit card data left the processing systems of any stores.

State of Emergency Declared Due To Inclement Weather

The State of Tennessee has declared a State of Emergency, as of 4 p.m., CST, on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, due to freezing rain and icy conditions in West and Middle Tennessee, and because of the possibility of severe flooding in East Tennessee from the rainfall that continues to move across the state.

The State Emergency Operations Center currently is activated to Level III. The National Weather Service has Ice Storm Warnings currently in effect for West and Middle Tennessee, and Flood Warnings in effect for portions of East Tennessee.

Tennesseans should remember to “Take it Slow in Ice and Snow” and to limit travel as much as possible, and to never drive or venture into standing water.

If travel in unavoidable, be sure to have an emergency kit in your automobile to include blankets, warm and sturdy boots, a flashlight, and a hand-powered charger for mobile devices.