Mississippi

The Mississippi Department of Transportation said crews will close two U.S. 49 ramps to I-20 and two lanes of I-20 overnight in Rankin County for bridge rail repair from 9 p.m. June 24 to about 6 a.m. June 25.

Organizers of ENS Sign Awareness Day say the blue-and-white signs at railroad crossings help motorists summon aid if a vehicle becomes stuck on the tracks.

Forecasters predict an increase in showers and thunderstorms this evening into the overnight hours, with a localized flash-flood threat west of the Mississippi River due to recent heavy rainfall.

Northeast Mississippi Community College’s Adult Education program at Booneville announced that student Lee Pender earned a high school equivalency diploma. The program said it is proud and wished him success.

Forecasters say an early summer heatwave will begin this weekend and intensify next week. They warned that current pleasant temperatures may be short-lived and urged people to stay cool and monitor forecasts.

Blue Mountain Christian University said the newly named Jessie Mauney Center for Healthcare Education has new furniture and smart TVs installed and is one step closer to opening.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation said its crews frequently clear roads and remove debris after storms, sometimes arriving in MDOT trucks. The department said it marked National Public Service Day by honoring its employees.

Dalton Keith Wages, 21, was sentenced June 23 to 45 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter with a gun enhancement and related charges, the district attorney’s office said.

Delyon A. Harris, 29, was arrested and charged with felony shoplifting following repeated thefts at a Tupelo retail store, police said.