NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) — The death toll as a result of severe weather and resulting tornadoes across the southeastern United States on Wednesday and Thursday has risen to at least six, officials said. Dozens more have been injured.

In South Carolina, at least three people were killed and five others were injured in York County when a severe storm hit. Two others – an adult and a child – were reported dead in Davidson County, North Carolina after their house collapsed. A sixth person died in Forsyth County, Georgia when a tree fell and crushed a vehicle.

The storms resulted in a number of tornadoes across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and South Carolina, destroying dozens of buildings and leaving thousands of people without power. It was the worst storm for Alabama since a tornado outbreak in April left nearly 330 people killed and more than 2,000 others injured.

Clean-up and some search-and-rescue operations were still ongoing on late Thursday, and officials said the death toll could still rise. This week’s storms left at least 15 people injured.

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JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI (BNO NEWS) — The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday denied a stay of execution for Mississippi death row inmate Benny Joe Stevens, who has been convicted in the slaying of four people, including two children.

Stevens, 52, was found guilty of four counts of capital murder in the October 1998 shooting deaths of his ex-wife Glenda Reid, her new husband Wesley Reid, Glenda’s 11-year-old son Dylan Lee and and a neighbor’s son Heath Pounds, who was 12. It happened at a mobile home in Marion County.

Stevens’ 16-year-old daughter, Erica, was also shot but managed to escape to a neighbor’s home despite being shot in the back. Stevens has attempted to overturn his conviction and subsequent death sentence ever since he was convicted in December 1999.

Numerous appeals have previously been rejected, and a last-minute effort to block Tuesday’s execution was rejected by the U.S Supreme Court. “The application for stay of execution of sentence of death presented to Justice Scalia and by him referred to the Court is denied. The petition for a writ of certiorari is denied,” a statement said.

The ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court means Stevens’ execution at the State Penitentiary at Parchman can go ahead as scheduled at 6 p.m. local time. “The United States Supreme Court has just denied the stay for Benny Joe Stevens and, therefore, the execution will go forward,” Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood said. “Our prayers are with the victim’s family and the defendant’s family.”

Stevens received a number of visits on Tuesday, including from his father, mother, brother, sister-in-law, and a chaplain. Correctional officers posted outside his cell described Stevens as having an ‘upbeat attitude’ and being ‘very talkative’.

For his last meal, Stevens requested four whole fried catfish, eight hushpuppies, French fries, coleslaw, hickory smoked barbeque beef ribs, hot peach cobbler, Blue Bell homemade vanilla ice cream, cokes, ketchup, whole red tomato, and salt and pepper.

The execution, which will be by lethal injection, will be witnessed by Stevens’ father and brother as well as eight members of the victims’ families. Three spiritual advisors, eight members of the media, two Sheriffs, and Stevens’ two attorneys, will also witness the execution.

After his death, Stevens’ body will be released to Hathorn Funeral Home in Columbia, Mississippi.

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BIRDS POINT, MISSOURI (BNO NEWS) — Despite the Ohio River level dropping after the Army Corps. of Engineers breached the Birds Point levee in Mississippi County, Missouri, record-setting levels and flooding are still threatening communities along the river valleys.

The Army Corps. of Engineers late Monday night breached the first section of the Birds Point levee to avoid further flooding, and save the town of Cairo, Illinois, which is located at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and has been in danger of being wiped out by the flooding. Most of its 2,800 citizens have been evacuated.

Immediate reports after the initial levee breaching indicated that the Mississippi River dropped several feet after the explosions, but, even after the Ohio River dropped to 60.62 feet early Tuesday, it remained well above the 1937 record of 59.5 feet.

On Tuesday afternoon, a second section of the levee was breached at New Madrid, Missouri, while the third and final blast is planned to be carried out on Wednesday near Hickman, Kentucky.

The controversial decision would send a tremendous amount of water through approximately 130,000 acres of farmland in southeast Missouri.

Mississippi County Coroner Terry Parker later told KFVS that due to the breaching several cemeteries and grave sites in Mississippi and New Madrid Counties would be flooded, creating the possibility that caskets, burial vaults or skeletal remains may be uncovered and float or be washed along with the current.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and other government offices have been coordinating to handle the possibility and recover any remains found in the water. Identification and re-internment would also be handled by the government.

In addition, a group of attorneys later filed a class action complaint on behalf of farmers whose land was flooded when the levee exploded.

The complaint filed in the United States Court of Federal Claims against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers argued that the property rights of the farmers and landowners under the 5th Amendment to the Constitution were violated when a 15 foot high wall of water was released and flooded their property.

The complaint charges that the action violated the “takings clause” of the 5th Amendment which bars the government from taking private property without due process of law. The complaint asserts that the Corps did not have easements over property in the floodway that are required before the Corps could be allowed to breach the levee at Birds Point.

The complaint was filed on behalf of 14 farming operations and their owners as plaintiffs, but it is seeking certification as a class action on behalf of all individuals and entities affected by the flooding.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) — U.S. President Barack Obama on Saturday signed disaster declarations for the states of Georgia and Mississippi as the death toll from Wednesday’s violent tornado outbreak continues to rise.

Obama had already signed a disaster declaration for the state of Alabama, which has suffered the most damage and casualties from what is now the most deadly tornado outbreak since 1925.

The presidential disaster declarations for Georgia and Mississippi allow Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and associated flooding this month.

“We appreciate the prompt response by President Obama and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate as we begin the arduous process of recovery,” said Georgia Governor Nathan Deal in response to the declaration. “Georgia’s entire congressional delegation jumped into gear on the federal level to seek aid for their constituents, and their diligence has paid off. This assistance will be of great help to the survivors who are reclaiming their lives.”

As of Saturday afternoon, a BNO News count confirmed at least 249 fatalities and 1,730 injured in Alabama alone from the tornado outbreak. In addition, local officials are reporting that hundreds more remain missing, although a part of them could just be with family or friends.

In addition, there are at least 34 fatalities and 163 injured in Mississippi, 34 fatalities and 107 injured in Tennessee, 15 fatalities in Georgia, five fatalities and 50 injured in Virginia, one fatality in Kentucky, two fatalities in Louisiana, and one fatality in Arkansas.

As the combined death toll has now reached 341 as a result of the storms, it is the deadliest tornado outbreak since the 1925 Tri-State tornadoes which killed 747 people. At least 695 of them were killed by a single tornado.

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OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI (BNO NEWS) — At least 3 people were killed after an 18-wheeler crashed into a Mississippi school bus carrying a group of seniors after a campus visit of Ole Miss, local media reported Tuesday.

Calhoun County Coroner Jerry Fleming told WKRG News 5 that two teachers and the driver of the 18-wheeler died, and at least 10 students from Ackerman High School, located in Choctaw County, Mississippi, were injured during Tuesday’s crash.

Gary Bailey, 54, who was driving the 18-wheeler that crashed into the school bus head-on, died. Teacher and Assistant Football Coach Steven Moss, as well as teacher Phyllis Graham were also killed during the accident.

The accident occurred on Mississippi highway 8, around 40 miles south of the University of Mississippi at Oxford.

As investigations into the incident are being conducted, the injured students were transported to local hospitals, and one was airlifted. Their injuries have been reportedly non-life threatening.

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JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI (BNO NEWS) — Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested a man in Mississippi who was thought dead since 1994 on charges of kidnapping, officials said on Monday.

Thomas Steven Sanders, 53, was arrested Sunday morning at Flying J Truck Stop in Gulfport, Mississippi, after a nationwide manhunt took place to capture the man who is suspected of kidnapping Lexis Roberts, 12, from Las Vegas, Nevada, whose body was found in October by hunters in the woods of Harrisonburg, Louisiana.

According to reports, Sanders abandoned his family in 1987 and was declared dead in the state of Mississippi in 1994 by his family members.

Sanders is thought to be missing most of his teeth and has changed his appearance on several occasions. However, he has been reportedly arrested on numerous occasions, but his identity had not been connected with the man who was declared dead 16 years ago.

Numerous investigative agencies, including the Louisiana State Police, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Service, the Office of Louisiana Attorney General, the LSU Forensic Anthropology and Computer Enhancement Services and law enforcement throughout the country have been involved in the case.

The girl’s mother, Suellen Roberts, 31, remains missing.

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JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI (BNO NEWS) – A Benton County, Mississippi supervisor on Thursday was found guilty of committing voter fraud, prosecutors announced.

Tate King was found guilty of one count of voter fraud. He will be sentenced on October 8. King faces a maximum penalty of five years of imprisonment and a fine up to $5,000. He was indicted along 15 other co-conspirators.

King was arrested as part of an investigation on vote buying conducted by the Attorney General’s Public Integrity division. The case stemmed from the August 7, 2007 primary election and the August 27, 2007 runoff elections in Benton County.

So far, two people have been convicted, nine others have pleaded guilty and five defendants are awaiting trial for their involvement in the voter fraud case. Former schools Superintendent Ronny Wilkerson is among those charged.

According to the investigation, King paid people to vote for him on two separate elections. The defendants got involved in a scheme where they paid $40 and a case of beer to as little as $10 per vote to get people to vote for certain candidates.

The five individuals that are awaiting trial are Kenny Ray Bowen, Billy Street, James Bullock, Ronnie Wilkerson and Jasper Buggs. The five co-conspirators were charged with voter fraud offenses.

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JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI (BNO NEWS) – Mississippi health officials said on Thursday that shipments of eggs recalled due to salmonella contamination may have arrived in Mississippi, WAPT TV reported.

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) received a report from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that Mississippi may have received a shipment of eggs contaminated with salmonella that were recalled nationally. MSDH environmentalists are reportedly working with retailers and vendors in the region to ensure that effected eggs are not being served or sold.

Health officials refused to provide details on where the eggs may have been shipped, despite being asked by WATV reporters. They did say, however, that no reported cases of illness in the state were related to the national recall. MSDH said they are working closely with the FDA to monitor the situation.

FDA officials have said that they found positive samples of salmonella that link two Iowa farms to the egg recall. Investigators say that they found salmonella in chicken feed that was sold to the farms, which resulted in egg contamination.

Over 550 million eggs were recalled from the farms this month.

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JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI (BNO NEWS) – British Petroleum is a little behind on the payment claims filed in Mississippi to fund the damages caused by the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, U.S. Attorney General Jim Hood announced on Tuesday.

BP has yet to pay 63 percent of claims filed against BP due to the losses and damage sustained from the coast oil spill.

“It is unfortunate that, despite all its promises about taking care of our residents on the coast, BP is still holding 6,050 actionable claims,” said Attorney General Hood.

Last week, BP revealed that according to its statistics 63 percent or 6,050 of total actionable claims are still being evaluated for payment. There are 1,062 claims from Rental Property Owners from which BP has paid only 363. Restaurant owners have filed 213 claims but only 53 have been paid and regarding boat claims, 695 were filed against 30 payments paid.

In Mississippi, BP has paid a total of $28.6 million, most of them covering property damage and wage loss. The Attorney’s General Office has also insisted BP to establish a faster claims process that will allow victims to track their claims online.

“BP is trying to get by on the fact that they have paid out $28 million, but the reality is that the majority of claims are just sitting on hold,” Hood said.

In addition, the BP claims team announced that it has paid $368 million to individuals and businesses. BP is currently preparing the transfer of responsibility of oil spill-related claims to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF).

Despite the delays, BP made more than $102 million in claims payments during the first two weeks in August. The GCCF is expected to announce new contact and claims payments later this week.

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MIAMI (BNO NEWS) — Tropical Depression Bonnie degenerated into an area of low pressure on Saturday as it started to affect portions of the northern Gulf coast from Louisiana eastward to the Florida Panhandle, forecasters said. Meanwhile, the oil clean-up is set to continue.

Bonnie first formed as a tropical depression in the Bahamas on Thursday morning, before strengthening into a tropical storm on Thursday evening. But as it moved over parts of Florida, it became clear the storm would be weaker than initially forecast.

On Saturday evening, with the storm located about 100 miles (160 kilometers) east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said Bonnie had degenerated into an area of low pressure.

“Little or no weather is currently near the center,” forecasters Avila and Roberts said. “However, there are a few rainbands well to the north of the center which are already affecting portions of the northern Gulf coast from Louisiana eastward to the Florida Panhandle.”

The low is currently moving toward the west-northwest at a speed of 14 miles (22 kilometers) per hour and is expected to continue to do so until Sunday. But, forecasters said, the storm could dissipate completely before then.

Avila and Roberts said a few squalls are likely to spread over portions of the northern Gulf coast and produce total rainfall accumulations of one to two inches over portions of southern Louisiana, southern Alabama, southern Mississippi, and the far western Florida Panhandle. Isolated maximum amounts of three inches are possible.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Jane Lubchenco said the remains of Bonnie should help dissipate and weather the oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

On Friday, the vessels assisting in the clean-up were pulled from the area as the storm approached. But, National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen said, equipment will start to return on Saturday.

“[Bonnie] will spread the surface slick out and thereby lower oil concentrations,” Lubchenco said. “It’s expected to break tar patches and tar mass into smaller tar balls which means faster weathering and faster natural biodegradation.”

Lubchenco said it will also cause more natural dispersion, lowering the oil concentration in the water, and making it more available to natural bacteria that do this natural biodegradation.

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