Two academic programs at Delta State University are on the hot seat because of low graduation rates.

The (IHL) board is expected to review eliminating or consolidating some academic programs as a result of statewide cuts at the state universities.

The journalism degree and communications and theatre arts program are labeled as continued with stipulations by the board because they graduate a very small number of students a year.

IHL regulations require at least five graduates a year for a degree program.

A mound bayou man enters a guilty plea on federal charges involving an illegal check cashing scheme.

Jimmy Stokes pled guilty in September to formulating a plan to defraud Planters Bank in Cleveland through a fraudulent check cashing scheme in January 2004.

Prosecutors say that stokes along with others, deposited two bogus checks totaling $1 million into his bank account.

Instead of waiting for the checks to clear, Stokes gave the teller $500 to make the money available in his account and then wire it to other accounts.