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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 27 November 2018

7 nooses found by Mississippi Capitol before Senate runoff

By EMILY WAGSTER PET- Confederate soldier, and a the nooses and signs were
TUS, Associated Press video showing her praising found starting shortly be-
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — a supporter by saying, “If fore 8 a.m. Monday outside
State and federal investi- he invited me to a public the Capitol in downtown
gators are trying to find out hanging, I’d be on the front Jackson.
who hung seven nooses in row.” She said the hanging The matter is under inves-
trees outside the Mississippi remark was an “exagger- tigation by the Mississippi
Capitol early Monday, a ated expression of regard” Department of Public Safe-
day before a U.S. Senate for the supporter, but the ty, Mississippi Capitol Police
runoff that has focused at- remarks drew sharp criti- and the U.S. attorney’s of-
tention on the state’s his- cism in a state with a 38 fice.
tory of racist violence. percent black population. “With our law enforcement
The Mississippi Department She apologized “to anyone partners, we are actively
of Public Safety says the that was offended.” looking into these acts of
nooses were accompanied In this photo provided by WLBT-TV a noose hangs on a tree on Espy is trying to become hate and intimidation,” U.S.
by handwritten signs refer- the state capitol grounds in Jackson, Miss. on Monday, Nov. 26, the first African-American Attorney Mike Hurst said in
ring to Tuesday’s election 2018. U.S. senator from Mississippi a statement. “Let me be
as well as to lynchings — Associated Press. since Reconstruction. perfectly clear — there is
most of them in the state’s sought information about one who respects the lives Neither Espy nor a Hyde- absolutely no place in our
turbulent past, but also one them from the public. of lynch victims.” Smith campaign spokes- state for these unaccept-
recent case that remains One sign referred to the Another sign read: “We’re woman would comment able symbols or tactics to
under investigation, of a Tuesday runoff between hanging nooses to remind on the nooses. intimidate others. If we find
black man whose body appointed Republican Sen. people that times haven’t Chuck McIntosh, a spokes- evidence beyond a rea-
was found hanging in cen- Cindy Hyde-Smith, who is changed.” man for the Mississippi sonable doubt that a fed-
tral Mississippi. The depart- white, and Democrat Mike Hyde-Smith has drawn fire Department of Finance eral crime has occurred,
ment posted photos of the Espy, who is black. The sign for a photo showing her and Administration, which these criminals will be swift-
signs on social media and also read: “We need some- wearing a replica hat of a oversees the Capitol, said ly prosecuted.”q

Slick roads, blowing snow delay air, road travel in Midwest

By NOREEN NASIR, Associ- of Aviation says more than and paid the price. So I was
ated Press 1,200 flights were canceled able to spend the evening
CHICAGO (AP) — A wintry at O’Hare between mid- here at beautiful O’Hare
storm brought blizzard-like night and 3 p.m. Monday, and had plenty of com-
conditions to parts of the after 700 flights at the air- pany,” said Mark McCoy,
Midwest early Monday, port were canceled Sun- referring to all the other
grounding hundreds of day. At Midway Interna- travelers stranded at the
flights and causing scores tional Airport, where 123 travel hub. “It’s all part of
of accidents and at least flights were canceled on the Thanksgiving travel ex-
one death on slick roads Sunday, another 71 flights perience,” McCoy said.
crowded with people re- had been canceled as of One couple was faced
turning from work after the midnight. with an unexpectedly long
Thanksgiving weekend. One Chicago native try- layover in Chicago after
The Chicago area was ing to fly to Orlando, Flor- spending two weeks with
slammed with up to a foot ida, chided himself for not their son in Thailand. Bob
(30 centimeters) of wet Crews de-ice an American Airlines plane at O’Hare Internation- heeding the forecast, but Kernez, 61, said he and his
snow, and whiteout condi- al Airport on Monday, Nov. 26, 2018, in Chicago. maintained his sense of hu- wife were contemplating
tions stalled commuter traf- Associated Press. mor. getting a hotel room in the
fic on the roads. The Na- of snow fell at Chicago’s centimeters) fell at Midway “I knew it was right around city but were unsure if they
tional Weather Service said O’Hare International Air- International Airport. the corner, and behold I wanted to leave the air-
7.5 inches (19 centimeters) port and 4.9 inches (12.5 The Chicago Department stayed that one extra day port. q