By By Steve Swogetinsky/regional editor
Jan. 14, 2002
Rep. Charles Young predicted today at a meeting of the Council of Governments that the state's long-running college desegregation case will be settled during this year's session of the Mississippi Legislature.
The state has proposed a $500 million solution in the Ayers Case, filed in 1975.
U.S. District Judge Neal Biggers Jr. said Thursday if lawmakers provide those assurances, he "will not stand in the way" and the settlement will be accepted by the court. Young, D-Meridian, said House committees will begin discussing the matter this week.
Young briefly touched on other issues. While noting there probably will not be a tax increase, he said lawmakers are looking for ways to fund a teacher pay raise and a raise for state employees.
One issue that is not drawing much attention is congressional re-districting.
The Southern Arts Center, which the Legislature approved for the Bonita Lakes area  but did not fund needs to be kept on the front burner, Young said.
Lauderdale County School Superintendent David Little told Young that financial cuts for public education would be hard to take.