11/07/2008 21:46. Oxford native and author David Magee recently drove through his home state in a Toyota Prius, enjoying the view - and the 51 miles per gallon he was getting.

So it wasn't much of a surprise for the author of "How Toyota Became No. 1" when the automaker announced Thursday that it was going to build the popular hybrid car in Blue Springs instead of the Highlander sport utility vehicle it had originally planned.

In fact, two months ago, when Toyota said it was pushing Highlander production back a few months, Magee said, "Toyota will be building vehicles in North Mississippi soon. Exactly what and when in this environment is the question."

That question was answered Thursday.

As part of a restructuring of its manufacturing operations in North America, Toyota said it would bring Prius... // Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal