Mississippi Wins 'Development Deal' Award for Continental Tire Plant
Gov. Phil Bryant announced at MEC Capital Day on Thursday that Mississippi won the Business Facilities’ 2016 Economic Development Deal of the Year for sealing the deal with Continental Tire, which is set to open a tire plant outside of Clinton in Hinds County. “To be chosen as the top ...
Mississippi Religious Leadership Conference: 'We Will Not Be Silent' About Hate Crimes
Below is an open letter from the Mississippi Religious Leadership Conference reproduced in full: An Open Letter to All Mississippians and Our Leaders We, the undersigned religious leaders, educators, community leaders, and citizens of Mississippi, hereby express our alarm at the increase in hate crimes and acts of abuse against ...
State Supe Releases Annual Report
State superintendent Dr. Carey Wright released her annual report today, which includes how and where school districts spend their state, federal and local dollars. Data included in that report show that school districts use state funds to operate at least half of their budgets on average, while local and federal ...
Mississippi Picnic in Central Park Cancelled for Good
Last year, the organizers of the boisterous and well-attended annual Mississippi Picnic in Central canceled it in the wake of House Bill 1523's passage. "Any law such as HB 1523 that discriminates against even a single member of our community cannot be tolerated, and therefore we have decided to stand ...
Blues Marathon Traffic Advisories for Jan. 9
The Mississippi Blues Marathon takes place this Saturday, January 9, 2017, throughout Greater Jackson. As a result, some streets will be closed and some intersections make take time to get across.
JSU one of only four HBCU’s ranked among top 200 research universities in the country
Verbatim from the Jackson State University public relations department: When it comes to federal research expenditures, Jackson State University is one of only four Historically Black Colleges and Universities listed by The Center for Measuring University Performances’ top 200 research universities in the country. A joint venture between Arizona State ...
JPD Arrests 18-Year-Old, 2 Juveniles for Carjacking
The following was released verbatim by the Jackson Police Department: CORRECTION: JPD issued a correction for the street name to Newton Street, the change has been made below. On Monday, January 2, 2017, at approx. 7:53PM, Jackson Police Officers responded to Texaco Gas Station at 3140 Woodrow Wilson regarding a ...
Mississippi Man Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime for Murdering Transgender Woman for Her Gender Identity
The following was released by the Department of Justice and reprinted here verbatim: First Case Prosecuted under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act Where Victim was Targeted Because of Gender Identity WASHINGTON – Joshua Brandon Vallum, 29, of Lucedale, Mississippi, pleaded guilty today to a ...
DOJ: Aryan Brotherhood of Mississippi Member Sentenced to Life
From the U.S. Department of Justice, verbatim: ARYAN BROTHERHOOD OF MISSISSIPPI GANG MEMBER SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR RACKETEERING CONSPIRACY AND RELATED OFFENSES WASHINGTON – A member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Mississippi (ABM) gang was sentenced to life in prison for his participation in a variety of violent ...
Board Calls for Nominations for JSU Campus Search Advisory Committee
The following was released, verbatim, from the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning: The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning has issued a call for nominations for members of the Jackson State University Campus Search Advisory Committee. Representatives from all stakeholder groups, including students, alumni, faculty, staff and ...
States and Feds Reach Settlement With Ashley Madison Owner
Mississippi will receive over $52,000 after state and federal officials settled with Ashley Madison, an online dating website that caters primarily to married men, after a July 2015 data breach that led to leaks of users who had accounts on the site in 13 different states. In a press release, ...
Ronnie Crudup Jr. Announces Mayoral Candidacy
Local nonprofit executive director and community activist Ronnie Crudup Jr. has announced his candidacy for mayor of the city of Jackson. The Jackson native is set to make a formal announcement tomorrow morning. In a press release, Crudup Jr. said he is running to bring hope back to the city. ...
Council to Consider Settlement for Mayor's Lawsuit
The City Council's agenda for their regular meeting tonight, Dec. 13, at 6 p.m. in City Hall includes a possible settlement with the former executive assistant to Mayor Tony Yarber, Kimberly Bracey, alleging the mayor of sexual harassment, sexual discrimination and a hostile workplace. Bracey alleged in a lawsuit filed ...
Variety Says Trump to Remain Executive Producer of Celebrity Apprentice
In today's edition of "lowering the optics of the American Presidency," Variety is reporting that President Elect Donald Trump will keep a credit on Celebrity Apprentice, despite the "cutting of ties" that the show's network, NBC, made with Trump after comments he made about Mexican immigrants in 2015.
Lieutenant Governor Tourism Meet-Up
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves met with Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, both Republicans, in Cleveland, Miss., today to talk tourism. The lieutenant governors met with members of the Mississippi Tourism Association to discuss tourism possibilities in the area and between the two states. The Delta Regional Authority is working with ...
Gov. Bryant Announces Opioid and Heroin Abuse Task Force
Gov. Phil Bryant created a task force today to address drug abuse in the state, specifically for the abuse of opioids and heroin. Opioid abuse is up nationally and has been for the past two decades. Opioids include prescription pain killers, some nervous system depressants and some stimulant drugs, according ...
U.S. Justice Dept. Announces (More) Federal Prison Reforms
The Department of Justice announced a series of reforms for federal prisons today. Reforms include building a school district within the system and improving the halfway houses that serve as re-entry homes for inmates in the system. The DOJ also announced plans to improve programs for women in prison and ...
Welcome Brian Stauffer to Jackson
If you're driving around Jackson today, consider tuning in to Mix 98.7 for a special "telethon" program they're doing for Batson Children's Hospital. And, when you do, listen closely to the new voice you're hearing at that remote alongside Shannon Steele -- that's Brian Stauffer, my (Todd Stauffer's) brother. Brian's ...
Updated: AG Hood: Legislature Has to Make EdBuild Contract Public
Attorney General Jim Hood sent a letter to legislative leaders today reminding them that they must release the EdBuild contract to the Transparency Mississippi website, despite their own House Management Committee rules. Last week, several news organizations attempted to get access to the contract between the Mississippi Legislature and the ...
EEOC Issues Guidance on 'National Origin' Discrimination
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued updated enforcement guidance on national origin discrimination to replace its 2002 compliance manual section on that subject today. “EEOC is dedicated to advancing opportunity for all workers and ensuring freedom from discrimination based on ethnicity or country of origin,” said EEOC Chair ...