Monday, November 30
BREAKING: Corps Says ‘No' to Lake Plans
Read More: Archive of JFP's Pearl River/Lakes Coverage
Hood Calls Foul on Entergy Upgrade Plan
Entergy Mississippi Inc. announced last week that it would be investing $500 million in "upgrading and bolstering" Mississippi transmission facilities between 2006 and 2013.
Bryant Announces Govt. Reorganization Plan
State legislators will consider reform and reorganization of state government in January, Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant said today. At a news conference this morning, Bryant released a report detailing recommendations for improving efficiency and accountability in Mississippi's government.
Miro Lago
Miro Lago can boast of being the first working manager of the King Edward Hotel in more than 40 years, since the business closed its doors in 1967. The King Edward Hotel, which is reopening as a Hilton Garden Hotel, is a fitting place for him, really. Lago, whose whole name is Argimiro Dimas Lago, III (His dad, Argi, used the first part of the name, while Miro took the second part) enjoys putting himself neck-deep in history. Before coming to Jackson, Lago ran a steamboat that cruised along the Mississippi River, was a front office manager in the Ponchartrain Hotel in New Orleans, built in 1927, and also ran the luxurious Maison Dupuy hotel in New Orleans' French Quarter.
Public Meetings and Community Events This Week
4 p.m., Jackson City Council work session at Jackson City Hall (200 S. President St.). Call 601-960-1033.
Saints: 11-0
The New Orleans Saints surprised the New England Patriots (and a fair bit of the sports media) with a healthy drubbing in the New Orleans Superdome in front of a national crowd on Monday Night Football.
Council to Vote on Melton's Legal Fees
On tomorrow's agenda for the Jackson City Council is the question of whether to pay former Mayor Frank Melton's legal fees and those of his two bodyguards. City Attorney Pieter Teeuwissen and Councilman Kenneth Stokes are bringing the question to the council Tuesday, according to WAPT.
Friday, November 27
Miss. State Wins Egg Bowl, 41-27
Throw out the records. This is the Egg Bowl. This year's annual rivalry between the Ole Miss Rebels (8-3) and Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-7) is the most appealing Egg Bowl in the last half-decade, or longer.
Wednesday, November 25
Shop Local and Online
The Web site http://www.etsy.com is an online marketplace that buys and sells handmade and vintage items. The majority of the people who place their products on the site are not large business owners; rather they are local (often "hidden") artists who are making products and selling them on the Internet. One of the most interesting things about this site is that it is a gateway between shoppers and local artists.
Shaggy's
Imagine yourself back in the '70s, in a VW van with a disco ball, lying on the couch telling your buddy to pass the J. You're looking good in John Lennon glasses and your shag hairstyle with a pair of corduroy flare-out pants and a tie-dye T-shirt. You greet your friends with, "what's happenin" and "let's boogie."
Love in a Bottle: Edible Gifts
My experience with Secret Santa has been a never-ending cycle of gag gifts and prepackaged hot cocoa in holiday mugs. Two years ago, I received a parcel that changed my mind, filled with exquisite jellies and preserves, like rare gems on a drift of packing peanuts.
Shake, Shake, Shake
So, you already have a snow globe from every state, plus Guam and Puerto Rico? Then, get creative and make your own original shakers.
Holga Happiness
Throughout our relationship, my boyfriend Mason and I have photographed our road trips and special dates with cheap disposable camera film. This tactic occasionally results in grainy and out-of-focus pictures, but it also consistently yields dazzling, comical images.
Tablescapes Made Easy
Despite whatever opinions you have about Sandra Lee, Martha Stewart or any other domestic goddess, setting a table can make a party even more festive. With the holidays coming, you will have plenty of opportunities to decorate, so take the opportunity to design your table décor as well.
Reindeer Games
My time line for the Christmas holidays usually goes a little something like this: wake up pre-dawn, cook, cook, cook, herd children, guard turkey, eat, clean kitchen, collapse. Even after everyone has devoured the last crumb of sweet potato pie, I am still obliged to entertain my guests with a smile on my face. This year, I say focus on the food and let the family entertain themselves with one of these games.
Hosts, Take Note
As a child growing up in Mississippi, I observed many gracious hosts and hostesses. With the passing years, I came to especially appreciate the hospitality of my parents, as friends and neighbors came to our house to enjoy leisurely Sunday afternoons and holidays. These events included boisterous laughter, heartfelt conversation and usually a decadent meal from the grill.
Party Fouls
Worst-case scenario: Dinner is over, and your out-of-state guests remain for more dessert and a drink. They are very relaxed. What would your reaction be? Would you (a) politely ask them to leave or (b) just walk to the door and open it?
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
NFL football, Green Bay at Detroit (11:30 a.m., Ch.40) and Oakland at Dallas (3:15 p.m., Ch. 12): You can sleep off your Thanksgiving dinner by watching these two turkeys.
Why I Like the Senate Health Care Bill
This past week I learned something surprising and encouraging about the health-care reform bill in the Senate -- something that you may not know if you've only listened to mainstream media coverage. (If you're listening to right-wing talk radio or FOX News about health-care reform then, well, bless your heart.)
This Black Friday, Shop Local First
Black Friday this, and Black Friday that. Do you really, truly want to get up with the chickens and wait outside some big-box retailer to save a few dollars on the same gift everyone else is buying? Truly?
[Stiggers] ‘Amazing Gracie's' Thanks
Brotha Hustle: "It's been a while since members of the Hustle family have come together for Thanksgiving. It's really nice to see familiar faces, like my second cousin Gracie Hustle, former all-star point guard for the Cootie Creek Community College ladies basketball team.
[McInnis] Behind the HBCU Merger
Don't be fooled into thinking that Gov. Haley Barbour's recommendation for merging the state-funded HBCUs is about the current economic crisis.
Opposition to University Mergers Strong
Gov. Haley Barbour's proposal to merge some state universities continues to draw ire. On Nov. 20, students rallied at Jackson State University to protest Barbour's suggestion that the state's other two historically black universities, Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State, be merged into JSU.
Big Budget Wars
Gov. Haley Barbour is in crisis mode. The state is up against a $715 million budget shortfall in fiscal year 2011, by his estimates, and another $500 million shortage in fiscal year 2012.
What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving?
OK, as we all anticipate a great Thanksgiving meal or two or three, let's take time to give thanks for what we have. What are *you* grateful for? Please share below.
Sweet Obscura
After years of drawing comparisons to fellow Scots and the sweet-pop band Belle and Sebastian, Camera Obscura is becoming the indie-pop band to watch.
[Herman's Picks] Vol. 8, No. 11
After stuffing yourself with turkey, you might be ready for a strong drink and loud music to wash all that family time down.
JPS Weighs Bullying Policy
The bullying got so bad that LaShron Cooley's daughter began to feel physically sick before school. As a sixth-grader in the International Baccalaureate Program at Northwest Middle School, the girl was teased for being bookish and sticking out. Her mother is from Detroit, and some classmates accused her daughter of talking "white."
Curnis Upkins
Curnis Upkins, 27, knows what he wants. He wants his neighborhood to support the kind of diversity found in thriving communities. Serendipitously for him, he gets paid to create opportunities for his community to flourish.
Insurance-Reform Bills Big on Change
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had a lot to be proud of at the end of October when the House released a new and improved bill to reform health care and health-care coverage. The 10-year $894 billion package, she said, would expand coverage to more than 36 million Americans.
Mississippi Invitational in its Last Week at MMA
The show was recently reviewed favorably in the industry magazine Art in America.
After this week, the 2009 Mississippi Invitational exhibition is history. This year's exhibition is the seventh such survey of Mississippi art, including a variety of works from a diversity of artists. Selected by New York based-based curator Peter Plagens, the exhibition features artists including Duncan Baird, Cleveland; Brent Fogt, Jackson; Marita Gootee, Starkville; Philip R. Jackson, Oxford; David Lambert, Jackson; Annabelle Meacham, Senatobia; Christopher Miner, Jackson; Mathew Grant Puckett, Jackson; Lee Renninger, Gulfport; and Amanda Sparks, Jackson.
Tuesday, November 24
Lies, Damn Lies and ‘Dangerous' Rankings
Heard that Jackson is one of the "most dangerous" cities? Read the fine print.
More Trouble for Yazoo Pumps
Last week, environmental groups pounced on an August lawsuit filed by the Board of Mississippi Levee Commissioners over the federal rejection of a plan to drain the southern portion of the Mississippi Delta.
Latasha Willis
Today we honor one of our own: new JFP event listings editor Latasha Willis. The best way you can honor Latasha? Send your events calendars for the next three months to her by next Tuesday, Dec. 1 at [e-mail missing].
[Balko] A New Trial for Cory Maye
Mississippi's Court of Appeals affirms a right to a local jury.
Need Your Winter Arts Preview Listings ASAP!
I am currently working on the Winter Arts Preview, which will include events from Dec. 9 to Mar. 9. If you have any events that you would like to include, please send them to me as soon as possible by emailing {encode="[email protected]" title="[email protected]"} or adding your event to jfpevents.com. Even if you just have the date of the event and do not have all of the details yet, send it to me anyway, and you can always contact me later with any updates or changes. If you send an email, be sure to include any high-resolution photos you may have. Don't delay; do it today. Thanks!
Hinds to Receive Federal Transportation Funds
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced yesterday that Hinds County will receive $1.425 million to replace pavement on Siwell Road. The road is a key link in the 18-mile corridor connecting the Interstate 20 Norrell Road interchange to the Interstate 55 Byram-Clinton corridor, according to a release.
Monday, November 23
Three JPS Schools Make Highest Grade
Three Jackson elementary schools received the state's highest rating according to new data released this morning by the Mississippi Department of Education. Those elementary schools, Power APAC, Davis Magnet and McWillie, received "Star School" ratings, the highest possible under the new state accountability system. All three schools are home to special programs or curricula: Power APAC houses a performing arts program, Davis Magnet offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program, and McWillie offers Montessori instruction.
New Breast Cancer Guidelines Spark Controversy
Last week, two separate groups released new recommendations regarding cancer screening for women. On Nov. 16 the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force reversed decades of previous recommendations regarding mammograms to detect breast cancer. Then, on Nov. 20, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released their new guidelines for Pap smears, a procedure for detecting cervical cancer. Both sets of recommendations raise the age when women should begin getting tests, and increase the time between regular testing.
Ricky Moore
Ricky Moore will retire from his position as Hinds County's assistant director of emergency operations on Nov. 30. Moore, a Jackson native, has held the post for 20 years, and his retirement, which he announced Nov. 6, comes after he was passed over for promotion to the top spot with the county's Emergency Operations Center.
Public Meetings and Community Events This Week
4 p.m., Jackson/Hinds Library System Board of Trustees meets at the Eudora Welty Library (300 N. State St.). The trustees will discuss matters concerning the local library system. Free; call 601-968-5825.
Discuss the Saints: ‘Ten and Oh'
The Saints started the day in Tampa Bay by going three-and-out, punting, and then watching the Buccaneers march down the field against their depleted secondary and score seven points. What wasn't clear from that opening drive was this: Those seven were the only points that Tampa would score for the rest of the game.
MDE Releases New School Ratings
This morning, the Mississippi Department of Education released the details of its new public school ratings system, after more than two years. The MDE needed the new accountability model "to align with the State Board of Education's goals and a new, more rigorous curriculum implemented two years ago by the State Board," according to a release.
Friday, November 20
Go carLESS
"The camera! There's no battery!" he said, as the cheers of protesters drowned out his voice.
This afternoon, I was in my office working on this week's issue when my phone rang. When I answered, I was met by the panicky voice of JFP reporter Adam Lynch.
Ole Miss Students Social Networking Against Klan
The Mississippi White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan plans to protest the University of Mississippi's decision to drop a controversial pep song Saturday before the football game against Louisiana State University. In response, Ole Miss students of all races are using Facebook to organize opposition and counter-demonstrations.
Students Vent Outrage at Anti-Merger Rallies
Jackson State University students are organizing a rally on the steps of the State Capitol at 1 p.m. today in protest of Gov. Haley Barbour's recommendation to merge the state's three historically black colleges and universities.
The Gift of Fashion
On Saturday, Michelle Obama will meet Beyonce at the KenFolk Family Foundation's fashion show, "THEshow," to raise money for the Community Outreach for Social Awareness, an organization that provides free health screenings and education to the citizens of Madison, Hinds and Rankin Counties.
Marianne Hill
Dr. Marianne Hill, senior economist at the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, wants to see the status of women improve in Mississippi.
Happenings in Jackson This Weekend
If finding the perfect, one-of-a-kind holiday gift is what you're after, this is one weekend to get it done. Head to the Mississippi Trademart today until 6 p.m. today or tomorrow from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. for the annual Handworks Holiday Market. Admission is $5. If your tastes run more to a fabulous dinner and contributing to worthy causes, make sure to check out "A Taste of New York," tonight at the Fairview Inn. Along with food from seven top local chefs, you get wine, music, performance artists, carriage rides and more. $125 for dinner or $60 for the reception only; call 601-948-3429 (extension 316) for more info. Where's the best place to look when you're planning your weekend? Start with the JFP Best Bets page to find these events and more.
FBI Seeks Cold-Case Next of Kin
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is reassessing more than 100 unsolved civil rights era cold cases, and is searching for victims' next of kin to notify the families of their results, according to a release from the agency. In 33 of the cases, the FBI has not found next of kin, including 11 from the Jackson division, listed below.
Thursday, November 19
IHL's Bounds: ‘We're in a Financial Crisis'
The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning heard some rotten numbers at this morning's IHL meeting. Gov. Haley Barbour recommended a flurry of budget reductions for the state's eight colleges and universities, spurring Higher Education Commissioner Hank Bounds to speak on the possibility of extreme cuts in university staffing, the elimination of some education programs and tuition hikes.
Dea Dea Baker
When Dea Dea Baker graduated from the University of Colorado in 1978 with a business degree, she never thought she would leave her adopted home of Boulder to come back to her hometown of Jackson. Love, however, had other plans for Baker.
Jackson Violent Crimes Drop Again; Property Crimes Increase
Major crimes rose slightly last week in Jackson, with a drop in violent crime offset by a rise in property crimes, especially house burglaries. According to statistics released at a Jackson Police Department command staff meeting this morning, patrol officers reported 21 violent crimes last week, down from 36 the previous week, and 186 property crimes, up from 158 the week before. Those figures are consistent with recent trends: For the year to date, violent crime is down 10.8 percent over 2008, while property crime is up 0.9 percent.
Corps Responsible for Katrina Flooding, Court Rules
More than four years after Hurricane Katrina roared out of the Gulf of Mexico, yesterday a federal court ruled against the Army Corps of Engineers for their failure to properly maintain a shipping channel, reports CNN.
Wednesday, November 18
University Mergers Loom?
Rumors of university consolidation gave way to outright threats Monday when Gov. Haley Barbour released his executive budget recommendations for the 2011 fiscal year. Painting a dismal picture of the state's finances for the next three years, Barbour called for consolidating the state's eight public universities into five institutions.
Love Thy Neighbor
I grew up in the Episcopal Church, and it was the center of everything my family did. From Sunday school to youth group and potluck dinners, the church provided a sense of community and belonging.
New Chief Shakes Up JPD Staff
New Jackson Police Chief Rebecca Coleman announced several changes to her command staff on Friday. The moves include promotions and some shifting of responsibilities among deputy chiefs.
[Stiggers] Eating Like Kings
Mr. Announcer: "Ghetto Science Public Television presents 'Cooking with Grandpa Pookie!' Tonight's guest is Brotha Hustle, the Ghetto Science Team's roving and mobile entrepreneur. On this segment of the program, Grandpa Pookie and Brotha Hustle will show you how to eat well on a recession budget."
[Kamikaze] Show. Me. Some. Passion.
I call myself a moderate for a reason. I find myself shying away from the lunacy that lurks on the outer fringes of both parties.
[Murphy] Breaking Out
I'm often struck by the way that many people live half-truthfully, editing out personal information that they deem unsavory to others. I'm not sure if this is a southern phenomenon, or simply a trend among those of us who are the black sheep in our families.
Nature vs. Nurture
In the western world, the earliest works depicting homosexuality come from the ancient Greeks, where the practice of adult men having sexual relations with male youths was considered quite normal. The term lesbian dates back to the Greek poetess Sappho, born on the island of Lesbos between 630 and 612 BC. Plato (427 to 327 BC) praised same-sex relationships in his early writings.
Safer Schools Now
School is not always the most comfortable, or safest, place for a gay student.
Ceara's Season
Ceara Sturgis' home in Wesson, Miss., is filled with cookie jars. Ancient, smiling caricatures of 1950s-era "Campbell's Kids" join recent additions featuring the likeness of the M&M characters.
Dusty Grooves, Re-Imagined
The Black Hollies' precise work at merging a number of iconic musical styles, from blues-influenced British rock to the cool and detached American psychedelic rockers of the mid-1960s, will convince you to trade your iPod for a record player and a stack of scratchy 45s.
Provoking Art
Ben Rinehart engineers paper. He folds simple, familiar forms like hand-operated fortune tellers kids made in third grade. He creates modern folk art in the shape of pop-up books and three-dimensional blocks. The pieces are mainstream American artifacts.
Running to Reconnect
Running isn't just a corporal experience. I lace up my New Balance trainers and hit the trails in the afternoon not just to keep my physical body sound, but also my mind.
Cookin', Schmookin': Help Is On the Way
On Thanksgiving you have two options: Do the cooking, or let someone else cook for you. Luckily, local restaurants and food distributors can fill in and make Thanksgiving easier.
A DIY Thanksgiving
Want to cook Thanksgiving dinner yourself, but don't know where to start? Tired of the same old recipes? Here are some new options, from my kitchen to yours.
Leftovers? Make Soup (Duh)
Thanksgiving is a time to relax, enjoy a good meal, and make new memories with family and friends. Alas, this warm and fuzzy feeling is soon dispelled once the guests have gone home, and you are left with enough leftover food to feed Santa and all the elves.
Turkey Trivia
Turkey time is here. Hallelujah. Before you dive into your towering plate of gobbler, take a minute to get to know this fabulous poultry that wows dinner tables across the nation.
A Good Deed
It is easy to get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season that we forget about those less fortunate. This year, before beginning your own holiday shopping, we urge you to reach into your kitchen cabinets for food items for one of the shelters below that feed the homeless and less fortunate families of Jackson.
A Salty Solution
If you grew up feasting on a dry, chewy, tasteless bird every year, here's the good news: Turkey meat can be juicy and even flavorful, thanks in part to a technique known as brining.
Spice Box: SAGE
Thanksgiving turkey wouldn't be the same without the peppery, somewhat astringent flavor of sage. It's used in poultry seasoning and stuffing for holiday meals, but plenty of good cooks don't know what to do with this velvet-leaf herb outside cornbread dressing and the roast turkey behemoth of the holiday season.
Alt.Thanksgiving
We've had it all before: roast turkey, stuffing, dinner rolls and pumpkin pie. It is easy to get tired of the typical Thanksgiving meal, specifically when the post-turkey drowsiness sets in.
Barbour: First, Do No Harm
Call us suspicious, but we don't believe for one minute that Gov. Haley Barbour thinks the Mississippi Legislature will vote to merge the state's three historically black universities, while not touching Ole Miss or Southern. (We do believe they might merge Mississippi University for Women with Mississippi State, though.)
Johnson Picks New JPS Board Members
Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. announced his picks for the Jackson School Board last night. The returning mayor fell back on the ward rotation method in making his selections. He re-appointed board member Jonathan Larkin to finish his term, which will last another year and a half, on behalf of Ward 1, and appointed retired JPS Deputy Superintendent for Elementary Schools Kisiah Nolan to fill the Ward 4 slot. Johnson appointed retired cardiologist George Schimmel for the Ward 7 slot.
Ivory Harris
Ivory Harris remembers the Northwest Jackson neighborhood of Presidential Hills where he grew up as a "living, breathing community." As a student, a teacher and a public servant, Harris has never strayed far.
JPS Board Renews Music Program, Delays Bullying Policy
The Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees renewed a popular music education program last night, after its failure to do so last month resulted in weeks of outcry from parents and education advocates. Board members voted 4-0 to approve the district's contract with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, which provides concerts to all JPS elementary schools and string instruction to over 400 students.
Capital Murder Conviction Reversed
The Mississippi Appeals Court has reversed Cory Maye's murder conviction for the Dec. 26, 2001, killing of Ron Jones, a police officer in Prentiss, Miss., a tiny community of 1,000 residents in Jefferson Davis County. The court has remanded the case for a new trial.
JPS Extends Strings Program
The Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees has approved a revised contract with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra to extend the strings program through the end of the current school year, reports WAPT. Board President Sollie Norwood was absent from the meeting and did not cast a vote, however, the rest of the board voted 4-to-0 to retain the program.
Tuesday, November 17
Barbour's Budget Hits Women, AG, Schools Hard
Gov. Haley Barbour released a budget proposal yesterday calling for a 12 percent cut in the state budget for most agencies and the consolidation of the state's historically black colleges and universities. The proposal, which reflects the state's fiscal year 2011 revenue estimates of a $715 million shortfall, picks and chooses which agencies should receive the majority of cuts.
Calhoun Questions Youth Detention Center Staffing, Transparency
Hinds County's youth detention center is once again the target of criticism, despite the county's recent agreement with a watchdog group that has voiced concerns about the facility in the past. Supervisor Peggy Calhoun raised the possibility of overstaffing at the center, also known as Henley-Young, during a meeting of the county Board of Supervisors on Monday, Nov. 16.
[Balko] Absolute Immunity on Trial
Bush's former solicitor general tries to roll back prosecutorial abuse.
Pat Chambliss
Pat Chambliss, 52, is the volunteer executive director and one of the founding members of Dress for Success in Jackson. A national organization started in 1997 in New York, the organization's goal is to provide "suits to self sufficiency," Chambliss says.
Discuss the Saints: 9-0
The Saints are good enough to beat every team on their schedule. So why are they keeping these games so close?
Monday, November 16
Barbour Wants to Merge State's Black Universities
In his budget proposal today to the Mississippi Legislature, Gov. Haley Barbour proposed consolidating Jackson State University, Alcorn State University and Mississippi Valley State University. He also wants to roll Mississippi University for Women into Mississippi State University. He also called for most state agencies to cut their budgets 12 percent.
JFP Hosts Domestic Abuse Forum at Welty Library
Why do men abuse? Why do women stay? How can the community stop the cycle of domestic abuse in a state that is among the most dangerous for women?
The Battle to Sell "Green" Power to Utilities Comes to Jackson
Mississippians who generate their own electricity through green technologies should be able to sell any excess back to power companies, Julia O'Neal told a legislative panel this morning. O'Neal said the process of net metering allows individuals to sell excess electricity generated through the use of solar panels or windmill generators, back to power companies at market rates. Net metering is necessary to offset customers' investment in personal power generation, she said.
Robin Webb
Concert pianist, composer and activist Robin Webb, 52, has been living with HIV and AIDS for more than two decades. Diagnosed in 1988 as HIV positive, his doctor told him in 1990 that the virus had progressed. "You have AIDS," he told Webb. "... You need to put your house in order."
Public Meetings and Community Events
6 p.m., Domestic Violence Awareness Forum at the Eudora Welty Library (300 N. State St.). Moderated by Donna Ladd, Jackson Free Press editor-in-chief, the panel will discuss how to make Mississippi a safer place for women. Free; call 601-362-6121, ext. 16.
State Earns "F" from March of Dimes but Shows Improvement
Mississippi received a failing grade from the second annual March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card, but the organization states that it showed improvement on some criteria. The report, released yesterday on the seventh annual Prematurity Awareness Day, says as a whole, the United States gets a "D," with more than a half million newborns not getting the healthy start they deserve. No state received an "A" on the report card and only Vermont received a "B."
JxnPro Benefit for Stewpot @ F. Jones Corner THURSDAY 7PM
ADMISSION IS A CANNED GOOD(S), CLOTHING, OR DONATION!
Jackson Progressives will be holding it annual Benefit for Stewpot THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19 at 7pm. This years event will be held at F. Jones Corner, one of Jackson's newest, hottest spots.
Barbour to Announce Budget Recommendations
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour will provide the state with his recommendations for the budget today. With revenues lagging behind estimates for the last year, politicians and pundits expect the announced cuts to be deep and wide.
Friday, November 13
DeLaughter Sentenced to 18 Months
Update: U.S. District Judge Glen Davidson sentenced DeLaughter to 18 months this afternoon.
Crazy Cat Opens New Fondren Location
Fondren shoppers have another place to indulge their sweet tooth. On Monday, Nov. 9, Highland Village confectioner Jon Lansdale opened a second location of his Crazy Cat Bakers in the Fondren Corner building. Crazy Cat is selling grab-and-go lunches and drinks, along with its renowned cakes, brownies and cookies, in the small 16 foot by 16 foot space that used to house Cosmo Tots children's boutique.
John Dooley
John Dooley is turning his passion for scuba diving into a business. Two weeks ago, Dooley won a $10,000 grant from the Mississippi Technology Alliance to develop Diver's D\Lyte, a performance drink that Dooley invented for scuba divers.
It's the Weekend!
Disregarding any gloom and doom on this Friday the 13th, go start the weekend right at the Eudora Welta Commons with gumbo and tunes at 7 p.m. For a mere five bucks, The Dixie Nationals and the Scramblers will play for your auditory pleasure, while chef Phil Harris is sure to tickle your taste buds. For something a bit more cerebral, head to Millsaps College at 7:30 p.m. for "Music and Martial Arts" featuring music from Japan and a martial arts demo from the Japan-America Society. Need more options? Start your search on the JFP Best Bets page.
[Burnham] Stakes Raised for Mississippi Schools
Appointed as State Superintendent of Education
The difference between Mississippi's old school-accountability rating system, which rated schools from Level 1 to Level 5, and the school and district accountability system that the state will implement this school year is like the difference between competing for a state championship and a national championship. It is just like Ole Miss and MSU football competing for state bragging rights compared to competing for national bragging rights. There is a big difference.
Thursday, November 12
Jackson Violent Crime Down 10.1 Percent
Major crimes in Jackson decreased again last week, according to statistics released this morning at a Jackson Police Department meeting. Officers reported 154 property crimes, down from 226 the week before, and 32 violent crimes, up slightly from 25 the previous week. For the year to date, violent crime is down 10.1 percent from 2008, while property crimes are up 1.1 percent over last year.
Barbour Visits Iraq; Talks State Budget Cuts
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour spent Veteran's Day in Iraq visiting some of the 124,000 American troops there, including more than 3,500 from the Magnolia state, mostly from the Tupelo-based 155th Brigade Combat Team. Barbour joined fellow Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue of Georgia, and two Democrats, Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal and Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski.
Wyatt Waters
The Mississippi Arts Commission has announced that Clinton artist and area favorite Wyatt Waters, known statewide for his watercolor paintings, will receive a 2010 Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts. The award honors five artists each year in the performing, visual and literary arts throughout the state. Past recipients include Eudora Welty, Bill Dunlap and Dr. Samuel Gore.
Judges Order Two Off Mississippi Death Row
In separate cases, federal judges have ruled that two Mississippi inmates on death row in Parchman are mentally ill. Both cases stem from 1981 crimes, and the two inmates have each served 27 years.
Wednesday, November 11
Consolidation: The Same Old Story?
The issue of school consolidation is popping up in anticipation of another cash-strapped legislative session. Calls for merging some of the state's 152 public-school districts aren't new in lean budget years, despite a lack of evidence of its value.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
High school football, Jackson Prep vs. Jackson Academy in MAIS AAA- Division I championship (7 p.m., Mississippi College, Clinton, 970 AM, 930 AM): It seems like these two play in the final every year. JA won the regular-season game.
A Dark Side to Glory
The first 11 months of 2009 have given fans rare insight into the Celebrated Sports Hero.
Angelia Budhraja and Rickey McAlister
Over several years, international borders and different cultures, Angelia Budhraja and Rickey McAlister found each other.
Seeking the Authentic
Since I'm one of those folks who was "brought back" to Mississippi by a native, I sometimes feel like I have a unique vantage point. Mississippi reminds me enough of my boyhood Texas to be a second home to me, and yet it's weird enough to feel like "a whole'nother country."
JFP Food Blog Live! First-ever JFP Food Issue Is Out!
Today we launched our brand new food blog -- http://www.jfpfood.com -- and published our first-ever (!) food issue, dedicated to both cooking and dining (and a bit of drinking). It's a huge 52-page issue; hats off to ShaWanda for editing and assigning it; Kristin for great design; Ronni and Lacey for busting their butts editing it; and all the freelancers for such great work!
National HIV/AIDS Town Hall Comes to Jackson
The White House Office of National AIDS Policy selected 14 cities for community discussions to develop and implement a national HIV/AIDS strategy. Among the stops is Jackson on Monday, Nov. 16.
Stop Barbour's Power Grab
Gov. Haley Barbour does have gall, you have to hand him that. Since he came home from Washington, D.C., in 2003 to serve as Mississippi's governor, he has reconfigured the balance-of-power at the state capitol.
[Stiggers] Just Pay Me Back
Rudy McBride: "Greetings to all of my loyal customers journeying through this world of woe during this global recession. This message is dedicated to the wayfaring strangers traveling to that bright land of no sickness, toil or danger. This message is for people waiting for promises to become successful realities."
On the Delta's Tamale Trail
Three of us, women who have lived all over the country but with firm roots in Mississippi, pile into Lizzie's silver hatchback in search of a Mississippi birthrightDelta-style tamales.
Tamale King
Willie Harmon, 65, founder and patriarch of the Hot Tamale Heaven family, is at first skeptical about talking over the phone. But once he realizes we are talking tamales, he lights up the phone with anecdotes and the kind of laughter that carries well from Greenville to Jackson.
Food Factoid: Nachos
Have you ever sat down in front of humongous pile of nachos and wondered, "Who was the genius that invented this amazing conglomeration of crispy chips, melted cheese, chunky salsa and chopped beef?"
Anatomy of a Tamale
Tamales are an ancient food, the word stemming from tamalii, the Aztec language's term for "wrapped food." The Mississippi hot tamale is a different beast than its ancestor, the Mexican tamal.
Culinary Cognates
Latin America has hundreds of variations of dumplings cooked in natural husks, leaves and bark.
In the Kitchen with Pat and Robert
It's 6 o'clock on a Wednesday evening, and a steady stream of cars is queued at the drive-up window at Tony's Tamales. Robert Mosley is leaning over a microphone, running the register and taking customers' orders in rapid-fire.
You Give Me Fever
After traversing the Mississippi Delta on a quest to find the grail of the hot tamale world, I worried I'd overextended myself; so much spice in such a short time may have blown my gustatory circuits. In truth, I came back with a deeper appreciation of barbeque, the blues and the flavors that inspired the evolution of our state's unique tamales.
Tale of Two Taquerias
If you are also disappointed in the Mexican fare Jackson has to offer, never fear. Taqueria Guanajuato brings delicious and, most importantly, authentic Mexican food to the greater Jackson area. On Highway 49 in Richland, the taqueria has a handful of tables and a wall full of coolers stocked with everything from Jarritos fruit drinks to that sought-after Coca-Cola made with real sugar instead of corn syrup, and an impressive display of horchata. The menu boasts traditional fare such as barbacoa and sesos, or beef brains. For those fearful eaters, the pollo is moist and evenly spiced, and the carne asada and the carnitas are palate pleasing as well. All tacos are served with a tray of chopped cilantro, sweet onions and lime as well as grilled cactus and onions.
JFP Cookbook Poll: What one cookbook can't you live without?
"I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence," Amy Sedaris (Grand Central Publishing, 2008, $15.99). "It's not just a cookbook, it's a way of life. She is so funny!," ֖Ashley Jackson, JFP account manager
Kitchen Essentials
I graduated from college with only margarita glasses and a muffin pan to fill my kitchen. Since those two items can only go so far, I made a post-college IKEA pilgrimage to fill in the holes.
[Serving It Up] Nick Apostle & Derek George
Nick Apostle, owner of Nick's and The Mermaid Café, and Nick's chef Derek George grew up with food. Apostle, 58, has Greek family origins, and George, 36, grew up in Davenport, Iowa, with a mother who enjoyed cooking ethnic foods.
Southern and Healthy
No, "healthy southern" is not an oxymoron.
Being Flaky: Pie Crusts 101
If you are an inexperienced baker and the thought of tackling a homemade pie crust from scratch causes your throat to tighten and your palms to sweat, it's easy to head to the freezer section of your grocery store and pick up a ready-made pie crust.
Carpe Donut
I am a firm believer in guilt-free eating. That doesn't mean irresponsible eating, although I've certainly done my share of that. In fact, let's go ahead and get the disclaimers out of the way now.
What I Learned from Tyler Florence
On the last day of October, with a reprieve from the rain, my son Mateo and I headed out to the Viking Classic not for golf, but to see Food Network chef Tyler Florence's cooking demonstration.
Mississippi: A Beer Wasteland?
I'm a girl who doesn't venture far from Red Stripe (or Michelob Ultra on diet days). When I hear the word "gourmet," I rarely think beer.
Freedom Now
"The Historic Alamo Theatre presents Freedom Play," written by Arkansas native Jennifer Davis, on Nov. 14. Davis is the founder of the Underground Railroad Neighborhood project in Arkansas. T.U.R.N. promotes literacy through drama and theater and helps fund the production.
Sacred Sounds of Guy Beck
Born in Manhattan to a jazz musician father and an interior designer mother, Guy Beck spent his teenage years in Syracuse, N.Y., practicing classical symphony music from composers like Brahms on piano, listening to the Beatles and playing electric base for his surf-inspired rock band, The Islanders.
[Herman's Picks] Vol. 8, No. 9
For many, November is a sobering wake-up call to tighten one's budget in preparation for looming holiday expenses.
[Doyle] From Dixie, With Love
As a University of Mississippi graduate excited about the progress of his alma mater in the past decade, a strong distaste for the likes of Richard Barrett is interwoven into my DNA.
Beth Poff
Beth Poff laughs her best laugh as she ponders the question, "What do you do in your spare time?"
Why Foreign Businesses Dig Mississippi
The state of Mississippi currently has 30,231 businesses that count as foreign-owned, or are owned by corporations, LLCs, unlimited liability partners or other business organizations. The list includes companies such as Calgon Carbon from New Zealand, Rolls-Royce and BP America Production from Britain, and MG Industries from Germany, among many others.
Maintaining the Sexy
Eight Magnolia Roller Vixens, wearing team colors of black and blue, drop their bags on the concrete floor and start lacing up their skates. Sumati "Lizbeth Von Lush" Thomas, Jacqueline "Princess Sledge Rammer" Sledge-Prince and Bonnie "Golden Goonie" Dickerson stand a few feet apart with their hands pressed to their foreheads in a salute.
Independent Woman
Peggy Calhoun's office in the Hinds County Circuit Court building has a big window overlooking Pascagoula Street and Jackson's City Hall. It's a privileged perch. Most of her fellow Hinds County supervisors have offices across the street in the County Chancery Court building. That distance is fitting for a woman who prizes her independence.
President Obama's Speech at Fort Hood Memorial (Transcript)
Yesterday, President Obama spoke at a memorial for the Americans murdered at Fort Hood last week. In honor of the victims, and all veterans today, here are his comments, verbatim:
Smoking Ban Results in Fewer Heart Attacks
While many Jackson citizens have yet to see the health benefits of a smoking ban enacted by the city last February, the city of Starkville, which banned smoking in 2006, is seeing a payback for the decision in better health. In a study released Monday, Starkville showed a marked reduction in heart attacks, down 27 percent, in the past three years, reports NEMS360.
Tuesday, November 10
[Balko] Death of a Watchdog
In an age when journalism has been inflicted not only by ballyhooed budget woes and challenges from new media, but also a glut of dubious trend stories, horserace political coverage and endless navel-gazing about the state of the profession, Pete Shellem merely freed four wrongly convicted people from prison in a period of 10 years with his reporting.
PSC Moving to Next Fight on $2.4B Coal Plant
The Public Service Commission announced a unanimous agreement to continue hearings into the need for a new $2.4 billion coal plant in Kemper County. "The Public Service Commission finds that Mississippi Power Company (MPCO) has demonstrated that public convenience and necessity requires or will require additional generating capacity and energy as early as 2014. Further, after a review of the entire record, the commission notes that the record contains no credible evidence to support a finding that MPCO has no need or that this commission should not proceed to Phase two of these proceedings," Commissioner Lynn Posey wrote in a release Monday.
Dem Support for Power Grab Not Likely, Holland Says
Joint Legislative Budget Committee member Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, says House Democrats will not readily agree to hand Gov. Haley Barbour more power to personally cut the state budget. "We're likely to give the governor that kind of authority on the same day we'll agree to consolidating the school districts and universities and reorganizing government," Holland said.
Justin Vaughn
Justin Vaughn, a 26-year-old designer, is the founder of Jackson-area T-shirt screen-printing company, Unik Ink, pronounced "unique" ink. A lifelong resident of Madison, Vaughn graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in art, emphasizing graphic design. He learned his trade during college working as a designer for a screen-printing company.
Free Flu Meds Available
The Mississippi State Department of Health is making antiviral medications available to uninsured and underinsured patients. In an agreement with selected pharmacies, the department is offering Tamiflu and Relenza from state stockpiles to Mississippians who can't afford them.
Monday, November 9
Levee Board Pushs Corps on Lakes Plans, Again
At a meeting this morning, the Levee Board again pushed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to justify the $4 million the Corps has said it will cost just to revisit the feasibility and costs of two controversial Lakes plans it says are unlikely to happen.
Hood Fights Cyber Crime, Online Predators
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood continued his efforts to combat cyber crime today, unveiling an Internet safety video created in collaboration with Comcast Cable. The video, which will be available to Comcast subscribers and on the attorney general's Web site, is aimed at parents and children.
Public Meetings and Community Events This Week
Nov. 9 and 10, Southern Hospitality Conference at the Hilton Jackson (1001 E. County Line Rd.). The Mississippi Hotel and Lodging Association hosts this annual conference for the tourism and lodging industries in the state. Call 228-436-0630.
Roy Wheat
Some of the most honorable and selfless men and women in our country's history have served in the armed services. Mississippian Roy Wheat entered this category with a heroic, selfless act during the Vietnam War.
Ida Weakens to Tropical Storm
This morning, the National Hurricane Center downgraded Ida from a hurricane to a tropical storm, with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph. The late season gulf storm was off the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle as of 9 a.m., and is moving north and east at roughly 17 mph.
Saturday, November 7
BREAKING: Health Care Reform Passes U.S. House 220-215
One Republican joined 219 Democratic members of the U.S. Congress minutes ago to pass H.R. 3962 to reform health care in America. Rep. Joseph Cao, of the 2nd District of Louisiana joined Democrats to pass the legislation. A cheer went up in the chambers when the 218th vote was cast by Rep. John Dingell, a Democrat of Michigan's 15th District. Thirty-nine Democrats voted against the legislaiton.
Friday, November 6
Radio Show of Shows: Part II
Transcript from this morning's show:
FJ:Good morning and good grief, this is Fearless Jackson and you are listening to your favorite morning radio show in the entire neighborhood. How is the morning pizza? Short broadcast today since the mailman keeps forgetting to collect the mail around here. Know what that means? The bills aren't getting delivered. Oh, who am I kidding? I am only saying this in the off chance someone at the bank listens to my show. What are the odds of that?
Protesters Demand Epps Stop Inmate Abuse
Members of the Southeastern Christian Association, Operation Help Civil Rights Group, and Mothers of Inmates protested outside Mississippi Department of Corrections headquarters on President Street in Jackson today, lobbying for fair treatment of sons and husbands who are inmates in MDOC correctional facilities.
JFP People of the Day: Barbara Taylor and Jerry Mosley
Barbara Taylor and Jerry Mosley are walking together this weekend. Tomorrow, Taylor will lead a team from the Community Services Department of the Mississippi State Hospital in NAMIWalks, a benefit for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Here's What's Happening this Weekend
Two words for this weekend: Mistletoe Marketplace. If you haven't even begun to think about the upcoming holidays, this annual event presented by the Jackson Junior League will get you so psyched for everything Christmas that you just might sit on Santa's lap this year. It's happening at the Mississippi Trademart and closes at 7 p.m. Saturday. For more information, see the JFP Best Bets page.
New Look, New Name for Downtown Restaurant
Suniora Page bounced back from bad luck to a new career. After being laid off from her job as a manager at the Nissan plant in Canton in October 2008, Page took a job as a cashier at Miller's Grocery in the City Centre building downtown. When she heard that the owners were looking to sell the location, she decided to make the leap to ownership and purchased the restaurant.
Attorney General Info Initiative Launched
In an effort to have Mississippi residents understand the resources available to them through his office, Attorney General Jim Hood announced a statewide educational initiative yesterday.
NAMIWalks is tomorrow!
There's still time to give if you wish to do so. You can donate online at http://www.nami.org/namiwalks09/MIS/lwillis or send a check to:
Thursday, November 5
GOP Senators Agree to Unemployment Extension
After a days-long stand off, U.S. Senate Republicans agreed to unanimously support extending unemployment and homebuyers' credits yesterday.
Police Search for Suspect in Rash of Auto Burglaries
Jackson's Precinct 4 saw a rash of auto burglaries last week. Violent crime, however, remains down in the city.
Bill Chandler
Bill Chandler, executive director and founder of Jackson-based Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance, does not let being 68 stop him from doing good. He is an advocate for immigrant rights throughout the state of Mississippi. For this work, he was named a 2009 Purpose Prize Fellow, an award for entrepreneurs over 60 who use their experience to tackle society's biggest challenges in second careers started in the second half of life.
Toys for Tots Registration This Weekend
The City of Jackson and the U.S. Marine Corps has announced its annual child signup for the coming holiday season. Registration will be held at the Jackson Medical Mall near the Subway Sandwich Shop (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Drive) on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 8 from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
Wednesday, November 4
JFP INDEX: VIP White Jackson
The November 2009 edition of The Clarion-Ledger's now-shrunken VIP Jackson Magazine is a study in how (not) to publish an extremely white publication in a majority-black metroby a company that supposedly prides itself on media diversity.
A Promising Season
These are heady times for the Mississippi State and Ole Miss men's basketball teams.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Men's college basketball, Millsaps at Jackson State (7:30 p.m., Jackson): The Majors tangle with the Tigers in an exhibition contest.
Going Rogue
On his county-provided laptop, Phil Fisher has replaced the standard mouse icon with a sword. A former Marine and a current brigadier general in the Mississippi Army National Guard, Fisher has a bit of the warrior in him, and his stint on the Hinds County Board of Supervisors has been marked by vocal opposition to many of the board's actions.
Johnson Fumbles
Mayor Harvey Jr. Johnson rode back into the mayor's office on a platform of openness to the media and the voting public, but he recently left himself vulnerable to criticism on this very issue.
[Stiggers] I Have a Scheme
Miss Doodle Mae: "It was one of those dreary and rainy evenings. The staff and I had just finished our store-closing duties. Jojo suggested that we wait until the heavy rain lighten up before going home."
[Kamikaze] To Our Health
I have to shamefully admit that it's been over a decade since my last trip to a doctor's office. That's any doctor's office, anywhere, for any kind of checkup.
Shades of Gray
On the evening of Oct. 27, the mayor of McComb, Miss., was in the city's board room, arguing with his city attorney about fractions. The mayor wanted to block a vote to fire the city's accountant.
Saw a Train a Comin'
If you are a fan of Johnny Cash, or are curious about the nature of the iconic "Man in Black," you owe it to yourself to make time to read "Johnny Cash: I See A Darkness".
What a Wonderful Film?
With Casablanca as a backdrop for this tangled web of shady ladies, traffic violations and contract killings, "What a Wonderful World" tells the story of Souad the prostitute, Kenza the traffic cop and Kamel the hit man.
Dangerous Man
Gritty distortion lingers in the speakers as James Louis Carter "T-Model" Ford politely nods at his cheering fans and briefly puts his guitar in his lap. He produces a flask from his jacket pocket and unscrews the lid.
[Rob In Stereo] Not A Comeback
I am generally pretty understanding of bands who decide to dust off their instruments and go back on tour, but there are a certain few groups who should not be permitted to reunite under any circumstances.
The Pulpit of Bacon
It's no secret that I love bacon. Granted, I hardly ever eat or even buy pork bacon anymore. Instead, I stock the refrigerator with turkey bacon.
The Path of Least Drama
Everyone who reads me regularly knows that I despise the question "Why does she stay?" when asked about domestic-abuse victims.
Is Beleaguered Bon Air Back?
The city of Jackson announced new funds for the development of the Bon Air Subdivision on West Capitol Street last weeka project with a long trail of controversy behind it.
Aria da Capo
A grade school principal with strong features looks angrily at the girl before him who dared to speak her mind. He then throws a book across the room, barely missing her.
Leona Bishop
Leona Bishop, 37, will be the first to tell you: Where she started is nowhere near where she is today. However, where she is today is exactly where she needs to be.
Green Grads Hit the Ground Running
Laborers' International Union Local 145 President James Anderson said at yesterday's graduation ceremony that he trained his students well before sending them out into the workforce. "We had 14 students. It was a three-week class. They actually built a little house out back, and put in the doors, windows and walls, and weatherized it all," Anderson told the Jackson Free Press.
Burnham Selected as Superintendent of Schools
The Mississippi Board of Education announced its unanimous selection for Superintendent of Schools yesterday: Dr. Tom Burnham, 56, who held the position from 1992 to 1997. Burnham replaces Interim Superintendent Dr. John Jordan, who took on the job when former-Superintendent Dr. Hank Bounds took the position of Commissioner for Higher Education in July.
Tuesday, November 3
No Quorum At JPS Board Meeting
Only two board members appeared at this evening's meeting of the Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees, not enough for a three-member quorum. Board members H. Ann Jones and Jonathan Larkin were present and listened to public comments, many of them from parents protesting the board's Oct. 20 decision to discontinue a music education program. Both Jones and Larkin favored renewing the Strings in the Schools program, which brings Mississippi Symphony Orchestra musicians into schools to perform and teach.
[Balko] Bad Prosecutors, Mississippi and Beyond
Anthony Caravella walked away from a Florida prison last month. He served 26 years for a rape and murder that DNA testing has shown he didn't commit. Caravella was 15 at the time he was arrested and has an IQ of 67. A confession that his attorneys say was beaten out of him by police interrogators played a part in his conviction. Caravella's prosecutor, Robert Carney, has put at least two other people in prison for murder who were later cleared of the crimes. Carney is now a judge in Broward County, though he recently announced he's retiring at the end of this year.
Parents Prepare to Defend Music Program at JPS Meeting
Parents of children in a Jackson Public Schools music program are gearing up to defend it at a school board meeting today, but as of this writing the issue was not on the meeting agenda. The JPS Board of Trustees failed to the renew the program Oct. 20, voting 2-to-2 on the district's $300,000 contract with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, which the district had maintained for 43 years. The board meets today at 5:30 p.m.
Council Renames Northside Library for Tisdale
The Jackson City Council voted 5-to-2 this morning to name the city library on Northside Drive after former Jackson Advocate Publisher Charles Tisdale, who died at age 80 in 2007. The council voted along racial lines, with black members Kenneth Stokes, Charles Tillman, Frank Bluntson, Chokwe Lumumba and Tony Yarber voting in favor of the decision and white members Margaret Barrett-Simon and Jeff Weill voting against.
Andrew Chaikin
Award-winning science journalist and space historian Andrew Chaikin is touching down in Jackson, Miss. today. Chaikin, who has been writing books and articles about space exploration and astronomy for a quarter of a century, will visit the city planetarium and speak at Millsaps College tonight. Chaikin is best known as the author of "A Man on The Moon: The Voyages of the Apollo Astronauts," the book that was the basis of Tom Hanks' exhaustive 12-part HBO miniseries "From the Earth to the Moon," which added a whole new dimension to the words "Houston, we have a problem."
State Tax Revenues Down Again
Mississippi tax collections for October were behind estimates for the month by 6.74 percent, or $28.5 million, Gov. Haley Barbour stated yesterday. For the year to date, the first four months of the fiscal year, which began in July, are down 7.5 percent, or $111.7 million.
Monday, November 2
Supreme Court Refuses to Decide Statute of Limitations in Seale Case
Former Klansman James Ford Seale will remain in prison, at least for now. The U.S. Supreme Court today refused to address a question from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to decide whether too much time had passed for the case against Seale to proceed. "While we are disappointed that the U.S. Supreme Court chose not to decide the statute of limitations issue now, we look forward to our opportunity to present the issue to the court again when the remaining issues in the appeal have been finally resolved by the 5th Circuit," Seale's attorney Kathryn Nester said.
Hinds Supes Appoint New County Attorney
At a board meeting this morning, Hinds County Supervisors appointed Sherri Flowers to replace Malcolm Harrison as county attorney. Harrison became Gov. Haley Barbour's first African American judicial appointment in October, when the governor picked him for the Hinds County Circuit Court seat formerly held by Bobby DeLaughter.
Public Meetings and Community Events
Nov. 1-7, Jackson State University Homecoming 2009 at Jackson State University (1400 Lynch St.). A week of activities for students and alumni. Cost varies; visit http://www.jsums.edu/studentlife/.
Laurence C. Jones
A hundred years ago, Laurence Clifton Jones established The Piney Woods School in rural Rankin County with $2 and three students. Jones, born Nov. 21, 1884, in St. Joseph Mo., graduated from the University of Iowa in 1908. He turned down a job at Tuskeegee Institute in Alabama, opting instead for the Utica Institute in Mississippi.
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Plea in Seale Case
In a statement today, the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a plea from the 5th U.S. Court of Appeals to decide whether the statute of limitations had run out in the case of reputed Klansman James Ford Seale, convicted in 2007 of federal kidnapping charges for his involvement in the murders of Charles Moore and Henry Dee in 1964.
Flu Vaccine Available Today
Officials with the Mississippi Department of Health have announced that the H1N1 swine flu vaccine is available in the state as of today in county health clinics and some schools reports the Sun Herald. At this time supplies are limited, and certain groups will have priority, including pregnant women, children from 6 months to 4 years old and infant caregivers.