Stories for June 2007

Radio JFP Says Goodbye to Brian Johnson Today

Turn into WLEZ, 103.7 FM, today at noon for Brian Johnson's last broadcast. Yes, we'll talk about Frank Melton's latest shenanigans, and Todd will probably do weird voices. You might even hear Donna beg Brian not to go. You can also hear the show live at WLEZ online.

Book Party to Honor JFP Award Winners

Young Americans Lean Left

A new poll conducted by the New York Times, CBS and MTV shows that Americans aged 17-29 lean toward the political left.

U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton in Accident

The JFP's prayers go out to the U.S. attorney.

The Associated Press is reporting that U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton was in a Jeep accident on a remote part of his property in Pike County. He is in a Jackson hospital. No information on his condition has been released.

More Glory, Less Grease

Grant Nooe knows food. He knows saté from sauté and semifreddo from shabbu-shabbu. With a handful of ingredients and a grill, he can fly you to the moon (or at least to Asia), but mostly, Nooe is a down-to-earth guy. He speaks frankly, maintains eye contact, gestures when excited. And he gets excited when he talks about food, particularly that food we've known longest—southern home-cookin', in all its greasy glory. Except that Nooe's mission is to help southern food change its image—more glory, less grease.

Eat and Run

Lenny's Sub Shop in Fondren Now Has Wi-Fi

The Best In Sports In 7 Days

Pro basketball, NBA Draft (6 p.m., ESPN): Today is when we learn were Jackson State superstar Trey Johnson will begin his pro career.

Saturday, June 30 - Adios Karaoke for Brian Johnson

The Merry Month Of June

Unlike many fellow Jacksonians, I actually look forward to the month of June, despite the impending heat and humidity. That's partly because it's Jubilee!JAM Month—and this year the Jackson Free Press was extremely pleased to partner with JAM to help get the word out about its return to Capitol Street and its emergence, once again, as a high-caliber downtown music festival. Word is it was extremely successful and has put the JAM organization on the footing it needs to continue bringing national acts to downtown Jackson. We look forward to being a partner with JAM for many years to come.

Allen Leaves Polarized Council

City Council President Ben Allen resigned last week, prompting a special election in Ward 1 and immediately changing the balance of power in city government. Although Allen became a Melton critic this year, voting against many of the mayor's proposals, he remained the one councilman able to forge compromises on a council deeply divided over the Melton administration. Allen's departure has apparently emboldened Melton supporters, while Melton critics deprived City Council of a quorum by walking out on a June 25 meeting.

Melton Accuses, Councilman Objects

Photos by Brian Johnson and Adam Lynch

Mayor Frank Melton suggested that City Councilman Marshand Crisler and his brother Johnny Crisler were the focus of an investigation by the FBI in an interview with WJTV last Thursday. The next day, Crisler called a press conference to say that Melton's comments were an "egregious and malicious attempt to impugn" his family's character.

Dems Spar for House Seat

Incumbent Rep. Cecil Brown is facing Democrat challenger Stacey Webb in the August primary for District 66, which covers parts of north Jackson, in the Mississippi House of Representatives.

The Race Conversation

Race in Mississippi usually comes with many tons of baggage and several degrees of heat. Certainly, it's unusual to have the words "race" and "dialogue" on the same page, let alone the same sentence.

Fleming's Little Secret

The home shopping Web site Cafepress.com no longer carries women's thong underwear featuring the logo of Mississippi House Rep. Erik Fleming, D-Hinds. Up until this week, anybody looking to keep Fleming close to their ... er, heart ... could grab a credit card and promote Fleming where it counts most.

Taylor and His Guns

A young man who was mentored by Mayor Frank Melton is out of jail, though he was arrested only months ago for carjacking, a felony. Michael Taylor has lived off and on with Melton for years at his north Jackson home.

Melton and His Guns

After presiding over a trial that found Frank Melton not guilty of four felony counts related to the Aug. 26, 2006, Ridgeway incident, Coahoma County Judge Joe Webster is giving Melton back his guns.

Then There Were Six

An additional four staff members at Columbia Training School have been suspended with pay, bringing the total to six, according to Department of Human Services Director Don Taylor. DHS is currently investigating staff at the school for shackling at least five students for more than a week because another student said the girls planned to escape.

Cold Cases Bill Must Pass

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act. That legislation would authorize $10 million a year over the next decade to create a unit at the Department of Justice that would pursue unsolved civil rights cases.

[Stiggers] A 'Sicko' Nation

Mr. Announcement: "On this episode of 'All God's Churn Got Shoes,' Nurse Tootie McBride and her certified nursing assistant, Nurse Tasha, are determined to beat down poverty in the ghetto. To complete this monumental task, they need a loan from Rudy McBride, president of Let Me Hold Five Dollars National Bank. But first, Tootie and Tasha must convince Rudy to loan them 'da money.'"

[Kamikaze] Three Strikes, And You're Out

I was browsing through a copy of the Mississippi Link the other day, and I was hit with a startling reality. It was a moment of clarity like no other. I scanned the page several times over just to make sure that my eyes didn't deceive me. But alas, it was true. Pictures don't lie.

FBI Raids Barbour Niece

Gov. Haley Barbour's niece continues to be the object of federal scrutiny over Hurricane Katrina contracts. Last Thursday, FBI agents raided the Mississippi office of Alcatec LLC, owned by Rosemary Barbour. Rosemary Barbour is married to Hinds County Superintendent Charles Barbour, who is Haley Barbour's nephew.

[Grayson] Stand Up To Crime

Once again, crime has the Capitol City in disarray. Like so many others in Jackson, Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon was robbed outside her home on June 9. The robbery occurred in broad daylight, a bold move by another dumb criminal, who authorities say they have arrested.

JUST IN: McAllister, Watkins Snag Standard Life

Developer David Watkins has just informed the Jackson Free Press that the Jackson Redevelopment Authority has chosen a proposal presented by him, Deuce McAllister and Historic Restoration Inc. to restore the Standard Life Building. JRA chose their proposal from three, including one from TCI of Dallas, with close connections to controversial businessman Gene Phillips, a friend of Jackson Mayor Frank Melton. (See post below.) Earlier today, TCI won their bid to develop the $180 million Convention Center hotel.

We Are Family: A Klan Child Fans A Different Flame

Photos by Kate Medley

Little Shirley Seale was in her room at the back of her wood frame house when she saw flames through her window. The Natchez girl, who was 5 in 1968, stared out at the green cow pasture that opened up beyond the window. She could see dozens, maybe a hundred people, wearing mostly whitebut some black and redchoir-like robes with pointy hoods covering their heads. A cross decorated the front of each robe.

Phillips Group Close to Jackson Contracts?

The Jackson Redevelopment Authority has chosen a development consortium out of Dallas, Texas, with very close ties to controversial developer Gene Phillips as the developers of the Convention Center hotel, and may hand them the contract to refurbish the Standard Life building shortly, according to The Clarion-Ledger.

Guarding White Christians

The first Seale on record was a bodyguard—at 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds, Solomon Seale guarded King Alfred the Great, who ruled as the "King of the Anglo-Saxons" from 871-899. According to a two-volume, bound genealogical history of the "Seale" name on the shelf in the Franklin County Library in Meadville, the name likely came from the Old English word "seolth," which meant the most important house, or hall, in the village.

They Got the Man They Wanted

Here's the Ledger edit-boyz' latest too-little-too-late whine about their mayor:

It is really hard to watch The Clarion-Ledger whine about Frank Melton. He is exactly the person they endorsed. His history showed that he was "rude" and "outrageous" and couldn't "stay on point." Where were they when it could have made a difference??? Sigh.

BREAKING: Melton to Veto Payroll

Mayor Frank Melton vowed to veto an amendment City Council made to the city's payroll this morning.

The Clarion-Ledger Has SOME Nerve

It continues to astound me how The Clarion-Ledger tries to take credit for the James Ford Seale conviction, even The Clarion-Ledger had dropped the ball on the case (as had the authorities), reported that Seale was dead and Jerry Mitchell had declared that there would never be justice in the case. They deserve some credit for work years ago on it, but they really ought to be a bit more humble than this, considering that they couldn't figure out how to factcheck whether Seale was really dead before reporting it:

BREAKING: Councilman Accuses Melton of Lying

Jackon City Councilman Marshand Crisler accused Jackson Mayor Frank Melton of lying on a WJTV interview last night. In the interview, Melton told WJTV that an FBI investigation into the city is connected to a Jackson Public School bond management contract that Crisler's brother, Johnny Crisler, won over Integrated Management Service last month.

Unrealistic Proportions

Having a Betty Page body in a Kate Moss world

There is only one thing I hate shopping for:jeans. It seems that The Gap is the only place that caters to my body type. I have curves. I have a tiny waist with pin-up hips and I am only 5' 2". I really don't like having to pay $70 to $80 bucks for a pair of jeans either. It's the only thing besides shoes I will spend more money on.

NBA Draft: What Was He Thinking?

From Deadspin: "This young man is Kendaris Pelton, a part-time player for Southern Miss. And by part-time, we mean that he played in seven games. And he has declared for the NBA Draft."

SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO

"It's clear from [the] opening track…that Ford and Shaw are in love with the shape-shifting possibilities of sound, like Daft Punk at their most hallucinogenic." – Q, June 2007. "…in these 10 perfectly weighted pieces of contemporary electronic pop, Simian Mobile Disco rifle through history (hip-house, Italo-disco, 808 State) to produce the definitive sound of now." – NME, 6/17/07

A-1 Pallets Files Restraining Order

Hinds County Chancery Court Judge Dewayne Thomas granted a temporary restraining order against the city of Jackson yesterday on behalf of A-1 Pallet Company.

Wake Up Jackson! - Phase III

Wake Up Jackson Civic Association

The organization is now registered with the Secretary of State's office. Also, we now have an address for correspondence:

A Journey of Bones

During her largely improvised closing argument, federal prosecutor Paige Fitzgerald stumbled upon one of the most poetic moments in the James Ford Seale federal kidnapping trial.

Patricia Wynn

Local artist Patricia Wynn's passion for life pervades everything she touches. Her artwork, volunteer efforts and the community in which she lives thrive under her care.

Pancake Races and Depression Herbs

Breakfast at the Bolton house was a big deal when I was a kid. Our bawling cows and squawking chickens thought it was fun to awaken at the crack of dawn, and our rooster actually believed the lie that roosters crow at 4 a.m. I don't know the last time you were up at 6 in the morning shoveling doo-doo, but it's nice to have some sustenance to keep you going.

As American as Burek Pie

If any grape bespeaks the sunny climes and fearless attitude inherent to California, Zinfandel does. Whether it's the bold, fruity flavors or its tendency toward a high alcohol content, Zinfandel successfully represents the state that stands as a mecca for loud celebrities.

The Best In Sports In 7 Days

Pro baseball, Mississippi at West Tenn (7 p.m., Jackson, Tenn., 930 AM): The M-Braves wind down their series in lesser Jackson. If you have time, visit the Casey Jones Museum.

Southwick Must Go

Last week, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee postponed a confirmation vote on Leslie Southwick when it became clear that the committee would reject his nomination. This is at least the third delay since President George W. Bush nominated Southwick last January to the Fifth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals, a court just under the U.S. Supreme Court. The Fifth Circuit covers parts of Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.

[Stiggers] It's a Long Way Down

Philmo Jones: "When I lost my good-paying corporate job, after the Twin Towers fell on Sept. 11, a series of unfortunate events changed my life.

A Libertarian Appeal

Recently, I was involved in a political conversation in which I made a comment about the Constitution, noting how rarely politicians cite it as a document limiting governmental power. My interlocutor dismissed the argument, saying, "Yes, but it isn't relevant today; it's so old."

[Hutchinson] Do Blacks Kill Whites Because They're White?

A recent murder trial in Tennessee shows an aspect of violent crime in America that isn't much talked about: Whites are far more likely to be the victims and blacks their assailants in interracial crimes than the other way around.

No. 32, May 30 - June 20

<b><em>Best Chicks Ever</b></em>

Thank you for all your hard work that resulted in the "best-ever" Chick Ball. Donna and her gang at the Jackson Free Press have truly outdone themselves this year. These ladies have raised over $7,000 for us up to this point, and the money is still coming in. Thank you also to every business and individual who donated an item for auction or raffle and to the entertainers who kept us mesmerized all evening. All these wonderful items and talent made the night even more special!

Obama Preaches to the Choir

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama stopped by Jackson last Friday for a public appearance at Farish Street restaurant Peaches and a fund-raising event at the TelCom Center.

Candidates Weigh in on Education

The three candidates for lieutenant governor had their first debate June 13 in Biloxi, as part of the Mississippi Department of Education Summer Conference. The debate, funded by the Mississippi Department of Education, focused on education issues.

Bringing Back the Rod

Jackson Public School Board member Sollie Norwood is speculating on the possibility of returning corporal punishment to JPS. Norwood placed the discussion item on the June 18 JPS agenda and argued that a high number of parents might favor the discipline measure.

Hands Off Farish

Mayor Frank Melton's plan to demolish almost 80 abandoned and dilapidated structures inside the Historic Farish Street District hit a speed bump June 14 after the Jackson Historic Preservation Commission made clear it was unwilling to approve the mass demolition.

King Edward on the Rise

Jackson attorney and developer David Watkins touted progress on the renovation of the dilapidated King Edward Hotel June 19, predicting the project will be finished by spring 2009.

Balancing the JPS budget

Jackson Public Schools will begin its 2007-2008 year with a balanced budget, despite state mandates for more teachers and rising fuel costs.

The FBI's Turn on Frank Melton?

Photos by Jaro Vacek and Brian Johnson

The FBI has subpoenaed documents from the city of Jackson, including but not limited to the activities of Mayor Frank Melton, according to Special Assistant to the City Attorney Pieter Teeuwissen.

Supes Mull Prisoner Health

During Monday's regular board meeting, Hinds County supervisors discussed a potential change in medical service for inmates, which the county currently handles on its own. The meeting was open to the public, but crucial details had already been discussed privately—with no notice provided to the media.

Ben Allen Resigns From City Council

City Council President Ben Allen announced his resignation from the City Council today. His resignation will be effective Friday, June 22.

The Regulator: The JFP Interview with Gary Anderson

Photos by Roy Adkins & Adam Lynch

Gary Anderson wants to be Mississippi's insurance commissioner, and he's not pulling any punches in the race. The Byhalia native knows a thing or two about politics: He worked under former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove as chief fiscal officer and served as director of the Mississippi Department of Community Development. He broke ground as the first African American in both those positions. He made similar inroads in his private life, as the first African American to hold the position of senior vice president of Union Planter's Bank, and he put up a hard but unsuccessful fight against Republican candidate Tate Reeves in 2003 for the office of state treasurer.

What Happened to Men?

The problems are with men and the money is coming to study those problems.

Recently, the has been a resurgence within academic communities to study men and male behavior. And, when there is a surge to study something in academia, we can be sure that means there are problems brewing and a host of federal dollars in the pipeline.

The Earliest Speech I Ever Gave

So after a jam-packed week in Seattle and then in Portland), I got up Sunday morning to drive the hour or so to a town I'd never visited to speak to a church about race relations in Mississippi (and in Oregon, and everywhere in between). My talk to the First Christian Church, as described today in the Albany (Ore.) Democrat-Herald, came about because of an interview I did on NPR back in January after the Seale indictments.

WLBT: Robbery Suspect Arrested

More details as they develop.

WLBT is reporting that police have arrested John Wayne Mangum, 20, for the armed robbery of Councilman Margaret Barrett-Simon.

Hey Obama: Screw the Horse Race!

I returned to Jackson this week to discover that the Barack Obama campaign, assisted by local Democrats, tightly controlled his quick visit to Jackson last week. The media were allowed to follow him into Peaches restaurant (where Kate Medley and I took Joe Biden last year, for the record), and then were banned from his fund-raising event at the TelCom center, leading at least one JFP blogger to believe the media had ignored his visit. Unfortunately, the problem is that the media weren't really invited.

College World Series: Louisville 12, Mississippi State 4

Mississippi State became the first team eliminated from the College World Series when Louisville beat the Bulldogs 12-4 on Sunday in Omaha, Neb. The Bulldogs finished their eighth trip to the CWS with an 0-2 record. MSU's only previous 0-2 exit was in 1971 when the Bulldogs went to the series for the first time.

The NAMIWalks Fundraiser is back! Help me "Stomp Out The Stigma of Mental Illness"!

I am writing you today to tell you about an upcoming event that I am participating in that is both very important and very exciting to me. It is NAMIWalks for the Mind of America, NAMI's signature walkathon event that is being held in Jackson, MS at Mayes Lake State Park on October 06, 2007. Registration begins at 9 AM, and the walk begins at 10 AM.

College World Series: North Carolina 8, Mississippi State 5

Mississippi State got off to a bad start in the College World Series on Friday night. The Bulldogs blew a four-run lead and lost to North Carolina 8-5. The Bulldogs play Louisville in a loser's bracket game on Sunday (1 p.m., ESPN/620 AM).

JFP Wins Top Honors for Melton Investigation, Cedric Feature, Africa Columns

The Jackson Free Press took first, second and third places in the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies Awards, which were just announced at the convention in Portland, Ore.

College World Series: Polk Comes Out Swinging

On the eve of Mississippi State's first College World Series game since 1998, Bulldogs coach Ron Polk traded verbal jabs with the NCAA over new academic rules. The Bulldogs play North Carolina on Friday (6 p.m., ESPN2/620 AM).

UPDATED: James Ford Seale Guilty On All Counts

After approximately two hours of deliberation, the jury in the federal kidnapping and conspiracy trial of James Ford Seale returned a unanimous verdict of guilty on all counts. The jury found Seale guilty of two counts of kidnapping and one count of conspiracy in the abduction and murder of Charles Moore and Henry Dee.

Breaking: Seale Convicted

From The Associated Press:

A federal jury on Thursday convicted reputed Klansman James Ford Seale of kidnapping and conspiracy in the 1964 deaths of two black teenagers in southwest Mississippi.

Ole Miss Baseball Coach Agrees To Contract Extension

From Ole Miss Athletics Media Relations:

OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss athletics director Pete Boone and head baseball coach Mike Bianco have agreed to a contract extension running through the 2011 season, Boone announced on Thursday.

Preservation Commission Rejects Demolitions

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton's plan to demolish almost 80 abandoned and dilapidated structures inside the Historic Farish Street District hit a speed bump today after the Jackson Historic Preservation Commission made clear it was unwilling to approve the mass demolition.

Inside the Journey for Justice

I find myself sitting at the end of a pew, tape recorder in hand, admiring how the light shone through the stained glass windows on a sweltering day in Mississippi. I look to my left and on the other side of the church sits Thomas Moore, hands folded, pondering the words he is about to deliver to the congregation. I am immersed in the soulful voices of the choir, as I wait in anticipation for Thomas to move purposefully to the front of the church.

My Father's Hands Have Style

Honoring my Dad's most impressionable quality for Father's Day

People say you can tell a lot about a person from looking into their eyes, but with my father it is his hands that reveal his history, his nature, his strength, and his elegance. I have always loved his hands. They are physically strong as well as strong in presence. The way he holds a pen to write a check or sign a work document with the cuff of the sleeve of his suit perfectly framing his lower palm as he sits at his desk at work is an image that is permanently etched in my mind. You can see hard work in their texture, knowledge in their expression, and class in the way they hold a martini.

The Best In Sports In 7 Days

Pro basketball, San Antonio at Cleveland in NBA Finals (8 p.m., Ch. 16): Will this be the night the Spurs hoist their fourth NBA championship trophy?

The Road To Omaha

Mississippi State baseball coach Ron Polk insists that he doesn't read the Internet message boards where Bulldog fans have spent recent years grumbling about the legendary coach.

Jimmy Robinson

There are few faces in his community that Virden Addition Association President Jimmy Robinson does not recognize. He is the epitome of what draws a neighborhood together: a talkative nature and the kind of ambient nosiness associated with Mayberry's Aunt B.

Stand By Your Man

This issue is full of men-folk: men we love and those we like, guys we've known for a while and those who are coming through town for the first time, dudes we sometimes question and some others we love to hate.

Councilwoman Robbed

Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon was robbed at gunpoint over the weekend. An assailant, armed with "a sawed-off shotgun" came up to her and her husband on Saturday and demanded her purse.

A Fire Chief At Last?

The city of Jackson may be getting a fire department chief after about two years of stalling. Jackson Mayor Frank Melton said he will be bringing Assistant Chief Vernon Hughes up for a confirmation vote next week.

‘It's About Ethics'

Democratic Insurance Commissioner candidate Gary Anderson signed a statement Monday pledging to refuse contributions from any insurance company, insurance company PAC or insurance company executive or corporate officer.

Hood Sues State Farm

Attorney General Jim Hood announced he is suing State Farm Fire and Casualty Company for failing to honor policies covering damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. Hood said Monday that State Farm had reneged on terms spelled out in a Jan. 23 settlement agreement.

Close Columbia Training School

This Tuesday, the Juvenile Justice Committee of the Mississippi House of Representatives heard testimony from families and experts about abuse at Columbia Training School, where eight girls were allegedly shackled at the ankles, some of them for more than a week, because another student falsely claimed they planned to escape. One former student also reported that male staff members had solicited sexual favors from girls at the school.

[Stiggers] Look Out, David Hasselhoff!

Boneqweesha Jones: "As day transitions into night, a young 'brotha' rides the mean streets of his neighborhood. With dutiful purpose, he pumps the pedals of a pink five-speed banana-seat bicycle.

[Kamikaze] Celebrate Jackson With JAM

Webster's Dictionary defines an institution as a "significant practice, relationship or organization in a society or culture." An institution is baseball on a summer's eve. It's apple pie cooling on a windowsill. It's the Superbowl.

[Fainberg] Saving Our Children

America's health-care delivery system is riddled with racial and economic disparities—certainly old news. But here in the South, these words resound with a troubling new accuracy as the youngest members of our communities are dying.

Men We Love

With Father's Day just around the corner, the Jackson Free Press has renewed its annual tradition of honoring the men we love. They are activists, news men, politicians, espresso Dadaists and rock stars. They are fathers and sons, brothers and husbands. These men we love exemplify all we adore and honor in men.

‘Stand Up' Acts

This Friday and Saturday, Jubilee!JAM returns to Capitol Street in downtown Jackson. National juggernauts Ludacris and The Black Crowes headline, but hometown heroes Jesse Robinson, Jonezetta, Kamikaze, Storage 24, Owen Beverly and Colour Revolt deserve the limelight for keeping music alive in Mississippi. We didn't have room for all the locals, so we focused on Colour Revolt and Beverly as two emerging Mississippi artists. Go out and support all of them, and holla at the national acts, too. For a full schedule, visit Jubilee!JAM's website.

Crime Plan: More of the Same

Mayor Frank Melton said he is responsible for the remarkable rise in violent crime in the city last Friday. "I am accountable for that, and the buck stops with me," Melton told reporters.

Dropping the Gay Bomb

Has anyone noticed the blog buzz about the military's efforts to develop a so-called gay bomb?

Here's the

JubileeJAM! Traffic Disruptions Announced

[Verbatim Release]Please help us make the public aware of the following traffic disruptions as Jubilee!JAM begins build-out for this weekend.

Organzations Invited to City Meeting

No, my friends, that is not a typo in the headline. Or rather, it is not my typo.

Divest for Darfur: $400,000 by June 15

The Save Darfur Coalition has a campaign called Divest for Darfur to encourage investors to withdraw their money from companies who help fund genocide in Darfur.

AG Sues State Farm

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood announced today that he had filed a complaint against State Farm Fire and Casualty Company for refusing to cover damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.

On (NOT) Supporting Our Troops

Soldiers returning from Iraq are finding it difficult to get mental health treatment.

Day 9: Documentary Starts Court Firestorm

Defense attorneys started the morning off by raising objections to the testimony of Charles Marcus Edwards, the prosecution's star witness, based on footage shown on MSNBC this weekend of a Canadian Broadcasting Corp. television documentary about the case. In the afternoon, they used footage from the film to try to chip away at Edwards' credibility.

On To Oxford

Ole Miss' baseball season ended Sunday with a 7-1 loss to Arizona State in Game 2 of the super regional at Tempe, Ariz. And the game wasn't as close as the score might indicate. There goes Doctor S' dream of an all-Mississippi College World Series championship. This is the third straight season the Rebels have lost in a super regional, falling one step short of reaching the CWS.

James Ford Seale: A Re-Birth, of a Fashion

Now that the trial is going on, a bit of new media background on the declaration that Seale was dead has been added to the record. I just read a post on the Hungry Blues blog. He quotes a new article by John Fleming in the Anniston Star about the false reporting about Seale's greatly exaggerated death.

On To Omaha

Mississippi State defeated Clemson 8-5 on Saturday, sending the Bulldogs to the College World Series for the first time since 1998. An NCAA super regional-record crowd of 13,715 saw the Bulldogs complete a sweep of the Tigers in the best-of-three series, proving that Mississippi's cow college is better than South Carolina's cow college. The Bulldogs became the first team to advance to the CWS. The Bulldogs will play the winner of the South Carolina-North Carolina super regional on Friday.

Bulldogs Take Game 1

Mississippi State moved within one victory of a trip to the College World Series Friday with an 8-6 victory over Clemson in Game 1 of the Super Regional at Starkville. The teams play Game 2 of the best-of-three series on Saturday (11 a.m., ESPN/620 AM). Game 3, if needed, is Sunday (noon, ESPN2/620 AM). The game drew 12,620 fans, the largest crowd in NCAA Super Regional history. Looks like playing at 11 a.m. on a weekday morning really hurt attendance, huh?

Melton Plan: Cameras and Night Court

Mayor Frank Melton addressed the city's remarkable increase in violent crime with a tour of dazzling technology at the new Technical Operations Center.

Day 8: Franklin County Editors, Past and Present

This morning, Judge Henry Wingate agreed to allow the government to show the jury a racial epithet-filled letter that James Ford Seale allegedly wrote to the Franklin Advocate on July 23, 1964—two and a half months after he is accused of abducting and helping kill Henry Dee and Charles Moore, and six days after then-Franklin Advocate Editor and Publisher David Webb was announced as the publicity director of the Americans for the Preservation of the White Race, a Natchez-based front organization for the Ku Klux Klan, according to Mississippi Sovereignty Commission files.

Show Me Yours, I'll Show You Mine…Style, I Mean

I want to see more style in Jackson's nightlife.

My boyfriend teases that I only go out to see cute outfits on other girls. It's true. I love dressing for a night out but I also love to see other people expressing themselves with fashion. Not just the women, the men too. It's intersting, and some times disturbing, to see how people adorn themselves. From ripped jeans to stilletos, everyone feels best in ther own style.

Council to Pay $50K in Ridgeway Fees?

Attorneys for Jackson police detectives Michael Recio and Marcus Wright are asking for $50,000 in compensation from the city, according to Councilman Leslie McLemore.

Skatepark Rockin' ‘n Rollin'

Skateboarding legend Mike Vallely is scheduled to perform at Doc*36 Skatepark (931 U.S. 80 West, Dock 36, Jackson) on Sunday, June 10 at 6 p.m. First, Vallely and his band Revolution Mother will perform a concert. Then Vallely will put on a skateboarding demo at 7. Tickets are $10. For more information, call 601-985-9797.

King James Just Like Mike

From Slate: LeBron James has led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals, which start Thursday at San Antonio (8 p.m., Ch. 16). And the NBA's newest superstar looks more and more like Michael Jordan, on the court and off.

Steve Rozman

Steve Rozman, 66, is leading the charge for civic engagement and social responsibility at Tougaloo College, around the state and across the nation.

The Truth Can Hurt

A reckoning happened last week in the James O. Eastland Federal Courthouse in Jackson. A lot of truth came out before anyone ever took the stand to testify in the James Ford Seale trial for the kidnapping of Charles Moore and Henry Dee.

Melton Mismanagement Hits the 'Bottom Line

This week, city officials finally handed in their budget revisions to the City Council, detailing cuts that will be made to city departments in order to reconcile a nearly $4 million deficit. Those cuts represent a sad state of affairsthe manifestation of Mayor Frank Melton's mismanagement of the city.

[Stiggers] Dig Deep

Ernest "Monday Night Football Head" Walker: "It looks like U.S. troops will be overseas a little while longer. Meanwhile, questions that reflect uncertainty loom in the thoughts of wondering poor and middle-class families. How will you pay the rent when the government is slow with the check, especially after your loved one returns home? The price of gasoline is high, and you ask why, as the children cry, because you can't drive to the grocery store to buy milk and cereal. I know; it's a sad-case scenario. Nevertheless, Brotha Hustle and I have an idea to eliminate the people's depressed and despondent thoughts."

[Davis] Secret Holds And Open Government

Congress is on the verge of having a single member derail the most meaningful reform in years of the federal Freedom of Information Act.

[Gregory] Do-overs

I work with kids daily in my "grown up" job. Sometimes, these daily interactions cause the strongest desire for a glass of wine that I've ever had. Sometimes, these interactions amaze me in their ability to prove to me that kids under the age of 10 can be the most profound creatures in the world. This is only after you get past their annoying habit of asking "what" everything in the whole world is.

Summer Arts Preview

A sweltering Mississippi summer is the perfect time to find something creative to do to get your mind off the heat and humidity–preferably, something indoors, at least until the sun goes down. There's no need to look very far for activities to fill your coming days and nights. There are art exhibit openings galore. Beyond that, the Mississippi Museum of Art opens its new doors, and a new studio makes its way to Brandon. One innovative exhibit, at Swell-O-Phonic, fuses together skateboard and hip-hop cultures with a backdrop painted by several local artists specifically for the event this month. There's Tougaloo's Art Colony, where you can go to learn new techniques from masters. And if you're more interested in purchasing art than learning how to produce it yourself, there will be the "Mother of All Art Auctions," July 19. All of that, and we haven't even gotten beyond the visual arts. You won't lack for things to do in the capital city this summer. Be inspired while you're staying cool.

From The Ancient To The Avant Garde

The importance of art in Mississippi has been steadily growing, and the new Mississippi Museum of Art, scheduled to open June 9, is a landmark event in the history of art here.

Pencils, Snakes, And Cowboys

Photos by Jason Triplett

Jayson Triplett, Starkville-based artist and one half of roots-rock duo Superstar Donkey Donkey, has a child's imagination with a grown-up's sophistication. Triplett discussed his creative beginnings, the importance of street art (which Triplett's style heavily draws from) and some of the secrets behind whimsical characters like the "Sad House" that the artist portrays in both still and animated form. Triplett's multimedia exhibit "The Continuing Ballad of Franco the Kid" opened at the Ink Spot Gallery Friday, June 1, and will be on display the entire month.

Summer Movies Sizzle

One of the best things to do to avoid the Mississippi heat is to sit in an Antarctic-chilled movie theater in a bucket seat with a big, buttery, unhealthy bucket of popcorn and over-sized soda watching something blow up, a protagonist being wooed by a potential lover or laughing until your stomach hurts because of some supporting character's shamefully silly shenanigan. This summer is no different. There are a plethora of summer motion pictures from which to choose. Here are some of the most anticipated.

The Museum Reborn

Photos by Roy Adkins

When museum director Betsy Bradley walked me through the new Mississippi Museum of Art building in February, the mostly finished museum felt like a chrysalis—placid and even ordinary on the outside, but host to a dramatic metamorphosis within. Formerly the home of the Commission for International Cultural Exchange, the interior had been gutted and redone in glass and steel. It was a sunny day, and the lobby was full of sparkling winter light, a striking contrast with the enclosed, artificially lit lobby of the Arts Center.

Girls Shackled, Abused at Columbia

June 5, 2007 This story appears in this week's print edition of the Jackson Free Press. Eight adolescent girls were shackled, some of them for more than a week, at Columbia Training School because another student said they planned to escape. The girls suffered bruises from tripping in the shackles, along with blisters and cuts to their feet and ankles.

Fleming sets hearing on NSF fees

Day 5: Of Guns and Freedom

By his own admission in court on Tuesday, it was Charles Marcus Edwards who first fingered Henry Dee. The young man who lived near him had come back to Chicago and was wearing a black bandana around Franklin County. That was a sign of trouble to the members of the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Edwards' friends and adopted family.

Our Broken (Mental) Health System

This is a first in a series of columns and comments on mental health in Mississippi.

Mayor Presents Budget Revisions

After months of delays, the mayor's administration finally handed over budget revisions to address the city's $3.9 million budget shortfall.

Embrace the Pale

I don't think skin cancer would flatter me. I'm using sunscreen.

My grandmother died of skin cancer before I was old enough to remember her. She was absolutely gorgeous. She had smooth milky skin, green eyes, and beautiful curly black hair. She looked like she belonged in a movie with Cary Grant. I see her beauty and I'm inspired to stay out of the tanning salons and wear sunscreen. I wish more people could do the same.

JPS Board Chooses Bond Manager

After a month of legal and procedural battles, the Jackson Public School Board awarded management of $122 million of a $150 million bond to Preferred Management Group and California-based Jacobs Engineering at a special May 31 meeting. The project involves building new schools, renovating some existing schools and expanding others.