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Frederick Bell: Parole Board pulls plug on release

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Outcry prompts Parole Board to pull plug on releasing convicted killer

A Mississippi man serving life for murder will not be paroled, the Parole Board decided Wednesday, reversing a previous decision to free him after more than 30 years in prison. 

Frederick Bell was convicted of capital murder for the May 1991 shooting of death 21-year-old Robert “Bert” Bell (no relation) during a store robbery in Grenada County. 

Gene Bell, Bert’s younger brother, told Mississippi Today that Frederick Bell won’t be reconsidered for parole for two years. Frederick Bell had been set to be released at the end of September. 

He had originally received a death sentence, but several court rulings in the past decade paved the way for him to be resentenced and become eligible for parole. Frederick Bell was resentenced to life without parole when the Mississippi Supreme Court found he was mentally disabled and then life with possibility of parole. 

One reason Bell was denied parole is because of how his pending release was advertised to the public. Sen. Angela Burks Hill, R-Picayune, had questioned whether the Parole Board followed state law, which says notification must go in a newspaper published or circulated in the county where the crime was committed. 

In a Monday interview with Supertalk Radio, Gene Bell said the notice of Frederick Bell’s release was advertised in the Clarion Ledger rather than the local paper, the Grenada Star. 

In July, the Parole Board sent a letter to Gene Bell about its decision to parole Frederick Bell because members found he had been rehabilitated. 

In response to the board’s actions, Bert Bell’s family members, Grenada community members, state lawmakers and law enforcement groups around the state signed a petition and wrote letters to the Parole Board and Gov. Tate Reeves to ask that Frederick Bell’s parole be denied. 

Bell remains at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, according to prison records. 

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Mississippi News

Trump says he will issue an executive order Monday to get TikTok back up

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www.wjtv.com – The Associated Press – 2025-01-19 09:20:00

SUMMARY: President-elect Donald Trump announced that he will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the deadline for TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to find an approved U.S. buyer. This decision follows the removal of TikTok from app stores due to a federal law requiring ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations or face a ban, citing national security concerns. Trump’s order would delay the law’s restrictions, offering ByteDance more time to negotiate a sale. Despite challenges, including TikTok’s legal disputes, Trump emphasized the app’s potential value and the importance of keeping it operational in the U.S.

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Mississippi News

Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: January 17-19

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www.wjtv.com – Kaitlin Howell – 2025-01-17 07:20:00

SUMMARY: This weekend (January 17-19), Mississippi offers a variety of events. Highlights include the JSU Tiger Parade of Champions in Jackson, Fleet Feet Coffee Run, and several Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations. The Bridgid Ferguson Trio and Storytelling Festival also take place in Jackson, along with exhibits like “Of Salt and Spirit.” In Vicksburg, enjoy the Winter Youth Rodeo and Peruvian Delights Wine Dinner, while Natchez hosts a Krewe of Phoenix Ball and a Farmers Market. The Pine Belt features Artrageous in Hattiesburg and karaoke in Laurel. Other events include jazz, comedy, and live performances across the region.

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Mississippi News

Biden to address the nation days before Trump's inauguration

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www.wjtv.com – The Associated Press – 2025-01-15 10:43:00

SUMMARY: Joe Biden’s presidency aimed to “restore the soul” of America post-Trump, but despite bipartisan legislative successes and international alliances, he struggled to change the political landscape. Four years after defeating Trump, Biden faced electoral defeat as Trump made a political comeback. Polls show only a quarter view Biden favorably, even lower than Trump during his presidency. Although Biden touted achievements in infrastructure and economic recovery, rising costs and inflation eroded public support. As he prepares to leave office, questions persist about his legacy and the permanence of the political shift towards populism, leaving Biden’s ambitions unfulfilled.

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