Stories for September 2011

Friday, September 30

Dedmon Pleads Not Guilty

During his arraignment hearing this morning, Rankin County teenager Deryl Dedmon pled not guilty to the capital murder of James Craig Anderson.

Chamber: Young People Want to Be Heard

Jackson's young people want to be heard and are demanding more ways to have fun, socialize and network, according to a new study the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership revealed this week. Market Street Services, an Atlanta-based consulting firm that the GJCP chose to oversee its long-range plan, sent representatives to Jackson this week to meet with chamber leaders and local officials.

Duff Dorrough

Sept. 30, 2011

It's the Weekend!

Fall is here and the weather is perfect for a weekend of outdoor events. Grab your bike this afternoon and head to Rainbow Grocery in Fondren at 6 p.m. for the Jackson Bike Advocate's monthly community bike ride. The ride will take a six-mile loop down State Street and stop briefly at Hal & Mal's. If you're in the mood to shop and unwind, attend circa. Urban Artisan Living's Jazz Night at 7 p.m. The event features Pam Confer and a cash bar with artisan beer, light wine, soft drinks and juice. Light snacks included. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at the door. For more entertainment options, check out JFP Music Listings

City Accepting Applications for Business Development Grants

<i>Verbatim from City of Jackson</i>

Beginning October 3, 2011, the City of Jackson's Office of Economic Development will accept applications for its Small Business Development Grant (SBDG) and Storefront Improvement Grant (SIG) programs.

Thursday, September 29

Study: ‘Green Economy' Growing in Mississippi

The number of "green jobs" in Mississippi will grow by 18.5 percent over the next 10 years and add 9,000 new jobs to the state, if a recent survey is correct. Mississippi's overall employment is expected to grow 12 percent during that time.

Robert Poore

Robert Poore, one of the landscape architects for the Art Garden at the Mississippi Museum of Art, pointed to the reflection of the new green space in the glass walls of the Jackson Convention Complex. Although the earliest plans for the garden didn't take the huge virtual mirrors across the street into account, much of the planning did consider refracting light. "It's all about light and from all different directions," he told the Jackson Free Press this morning.

Study: States Must Improve Civil Rights Education

http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/v3/images/uploads/freedom_rider.jpg

Wednesday, September 28

Armed and Dangerous

Leandra Medine, a New York City blogger also known as The Man Repeller, has termed the recent bracelet craze as an "arm party." And being that I'm a huge fan of both (over) accessorizing and The Man Repeller, I had to gather up some guests for a party on my arm—well, both arms!

Foods That Heal

Having a healthy immune system through proper nutrition is a key to combating illnesses. Supplementing your diets with foods high in nutrients like antioxidants, phytochemicals and enzymes will have a direct effect on your health.

What Is It About the French?

What gives? They drink wine, they eat baguette after baguette, they love rich sauces and pasta, they inhale cheese like it's air. Yet, French women tend to look fabulous, and thin, every time you see one out in public. Don't believe me? Go get lost on the subway in Paris and just observe; I'm speaking from experience here.

You might be a foodie if ...

• You have every menu in Jackson memorized.

• You eat at Parlor Market three times a week even if can't afford toilet paper. At least at the bar.

Eating for Heart

Heart disease is the number-one killer in the U.S. You can reduce your risk of heart failure and coronary artery disease, which is the blockage of vessels that supply blood to the heart, by maintaining good cholesterol and blood pressure levels, and making healthy eating and exercising part of your lifestyle.

Get Smart

Yes, Mississippi is the most obese state. We're too sedate, and our diets suck. No news there.

Feed Your Brain—And Your Kids'

Brain science is exploding with new research showing why it's vital to not only feed your stomach, but to feed your brain. In Doctors Health Press last week, Dr. Victor Marchione, author of The Food Doctor newsletter, says that anyone who wants to be healthier or lose weight must pay attention to what your brain needs.

Raw and Naked

My wife looked incredulously at the glass before her. "It's green," she said. This was not the typical cup of coffee I usually bring her.

Donna's Power Smoothie

I'm just going to be honest. Once my day starts, I don't always eat enough fruit, and as a vegetarian, I need non-animal forms of protein and other nutrients. I get too busy to think about it, though.

‘Curry is a Technique'

Grandma Modak, a quiet, kind woman who wore simple white saris, gave my mother a wonderful gift. She taught her how to make mouth-watering curry chicken from West Bengal. Although the word "modak" refers to a sweet dumpling favored by the Hindu god Ganesh, curry chicken defines the Modak side of the hyphen.

The 10-Day Food Challenge

Food rules? Really? Really. After finding the website http://www.100daysofrealfood.com, which led me to Michael Pollan's "Food Rules: An Eater's Manual" (Penguin, 2009, $11), I finally got it. While I profess to eat well, a large portion of the time I don't.

Armchair Farming

I grew up swearing I would never step foot in a garden again. My stepdaddy's hobby was growing stuff, and he would produce way more watermelons, tomatoes, potatoes and what not than any of us could eat. Which was great: I loved his yield.

The Power of the Family Dinner

Drive by any fast-food restaurant at 5:30 p.m., and you may be amazed at the number of people in the drive-through line. You may be one of them. In our hurry to pick up prescriptions or drop off the kids, we grab a burger and a kid's meal, then gulp everything down on the way to our next destination.

Regina's Solutions

With centuries of history, stories and legends, the stately antebellum homes and ageless oaks of Natchez create a wonderland of southern romanticism. Situated in the middle of it all is the bed and breakfast Twin Oaks (71 Homochitto St., Natchez, 601-445-0038) a classic Greek Revival home. It's there that Regina Charboneau, a seventh-generation Natchezian hangs her hat.

New For Fall

It isn't common around Jackson for restaurants to change their menus or have seasonal dishes. Below are the exceptions to the rule. Check out these local restaurants already planning fall foods or with changes coming soon. (If no changes are listed, keep an eye out.)

@JxnRestaurantWk

Guys, what's your favorite part of being a chef in Jackson? #chefchat

A Content Veggie Life

When friends quiz me on why I'm a vegetarian, I answer honestly: "for every reason." Todd and I decided to give up meat—all animal flesh; not just red meat—13 years ago this month because we read a stealthy Dean Ornish book that pushed vegetarianism to help keep weight off and prevent heart disease. But the truth is that I've always been vegetarian in spirit.

Pescatarian, Thank You

People ask me all the time why I pass up the pork loin. Simply put: I don't want it. No iota of my palate wants a hot dog, having been denied them nine years and counting.

Eat Right for Nutrients

More than half of U.S. adults take dietary supplements, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Some consumers mistakenly think supplements give them a way out of eating healthy, making up for a nutrient-deficient diet. Supplements can't, however, substitute for eating well and having a healthy lifestyle.

Power of Love

Let's just be honest. Science frowns on the idea that certain foods have the power to, you know, increase your libido. (If you don't know what that is, you shouldn't be reading this anyway. Next story.)

Mood Food

Food greatly affects our moods. Chamomile tea can calm us, strong coffee can invigorate us, and comfort food makes us feel loved. Science backs up many food choices we make to improve our mood.

Food Porn

OK, it's not really pornography—it's more like high-art erotica—but if you want an aphrodisiac with absolutely no calories, do I have a book suggestion for you. "La Figa: Visions of Food Form" by Chef Tiberio Simone with photography by Matt Freedman is a gorgeous, adults-only coffee-table book. Or perhaps it would be better on the night stand.

Let There Be Apples

If you want to change the world, you've got to feed people. Seriously, sharing food and drink is a powerful way to build community. Offering hospitality is welcoming to people—even those who might not agree with you totally.

Glasgow: Classic(al) Rock

Sitting with a guitar in lap and notepad on the ground awaiting inspiration is a luxury foreign to Sam Craft. Instead, an idea will hit him while driving down the freeway or when he's in a complicated social setting. When he is finally able to rush home, Craft struggles to remember the elusive idea.

Back Roads of Righteousness

While The 484 South Band claims to have started in 2005, it really began 20-something years ago in the small paper-mill town of Monticello, Miss.

Lies and Damn Lies

As movies shift from mindless summer action adventures to more award-worthy releases, you may hear a lot about "Moneyball," starring Brad Pitt.

Give ‘Em a Break

I am going to go out on a limb and write about two quarterbacks who have already met up in Monday Night Football: Rex Grossman and Tony Romo.

JFP Top 25: Week 5

LSU continues its march to a showdown against Alabama in November. Both teams have big tests in the way; Florida plays the Tigers and the Crimson Tide this month. We'll see plenty of other big tests played out this month including Wisconsin vs. Nebraska this weekend.

Primitive Power

My husband balanced a lumpy, orange sweet potato in one hand. His other hand was poised on the juicer. He arched an eyebrow while I tried to keep my mind open. The sweet potato was way too large to fit in the juicer, so he cut it in chunks and fed it into the slender cylinder. I watched, knowing I would have to drink the juice and not react in any negative way. The juicer pulverized and liquidated the sweet potatoes in mere seconds.

Eat to Help Mississippi

Yes, you heard that right. We urge all of our readers to start eating and feeding your family well—not only for selfish reasons, but because Mississippi needs you. It needs you to be fit, energetic and have a fully functioning brain because we have many challenges ahead in our city and state. We need all hands on deck and healthy.

[Stiggers] Operation Backlash

In the ghetto criminal justice system, the people are represented by two members of the McBride family: police officer and part-time security guard at the Funky Ghetto Mall Dudley 'Do-Right' McBride and attorney Cootie McBride of the law firm McBride, Myself and I. This is their story.

[Kamikaze] Address Causes, not Symptoms

When is enough going to be enough? When will be fed up? No, better yet, when will we get mad? It's these times that challenge the passion in positive Jacksonians.

[Mott] I Surrender

My sister Inga was a Diet Coke junkie. She kept spare quart bottles of the stuff in reserve so she wouldn't run out. If you saw her out and about, chances are she had a Diet Coke in her hand; it was a fixture, like "Weeds" Nancy Botwin's ubiquitous Starbucks iced coffee.

Lavell Crawford's Big Day

The phrase "larger than life" usually describes an entertainer's persona on stage, not his physical appearance. For Lavell Crawford, it's the other way around.

Many Kinds of Magic

It's not every day that I pick up a novel that surprises me on every level and sets all my senses on fire. But this happened with "The Night Circus", the first novel by Erin Morgenstern, a quirky and inventive writer who lives in Salem, Mass. (yes, of witch fame), who studied theater and studio art at Smith College.

Power Choices

Food is powerful, very powerful. In short supply, it causes starvation and war; in over-abundance, it causes obesity and gluttony. Food has the ability to both help cure and cause disease, and politicians and businessmen use it to create and destroy cultures (as recently as the invention of the TV dinner).

Aiming Against Government

District 73 Rep. Jim Ellington was busy getting ready for a fundraiser for the Central Mississippi National Rifle Association on Sept. 22 when he gave this interview. The Raymond resident has kept his seat in the Mississippi House for the past 24 years, and like most Mississippi Republicans, Ellington is in favor of the least government intervention possible.

Outcome of PERS Study Uncertain

Speculation has been running rampant since August, when Gov. Haley Barbour appointed a commission to study the Public Employees' Retirement System.

Oberhousen: Hinds County Needs Fresh Leaders

Brad Oberhousen, Democratic candidate for Mississippi House of Representatives in Hinds County's District 73, is the kind of guy you could meet and easily have a three-hour conversation with. He is easy going, agreeable and is slow to make campaign promises. Oberhousen, 33, is an attorney and owner of the Oberhousen Law Firm in Jackson. The Terry resident earned his bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University in 2000 and his law degree from Mississippi College in 2002.

Angela Grayson

Angela Grayson has been baking since she was a teenager. "How long does that take?" and "what are you going to put in that?" were among the many questions she would ask her grandparents when they were in the kitchen together. She is now putting that knowledge to work.

Byram-Clinton Corridor Receives Federal Funds

Hinds County has received $1.2 million from the Federal Highway Administration to develop the Byram-Clinton Corridor, Hinds County District 3 Supervisor Peggy Calhoun announced yesterday.

Tuesday, September 27

Income Down; Poverty Up

America's income and poverty in 2010, the first full year since the recession "officially" ended:

Courts to Adopt ‘Fair' Rules for Criminal Cases

A proposed set of rules to govern the state's criminal cases would streamline court proceedings and make cases fair for prosecutors, defendants and victims, Mississippi College School of Law professor Matt Steffey said today.

A Club for Grown-ups and Meals for a Good Cause

Old Skool Club 101 is a new nightclub open in Jackson, with a specific audience in mind: No one under 25 years old allowed.

Larry McNeil

Jackson State University Athletics Department has named Larry McNeil as its interim women's basketball coach for the upcoming basketball season. In 2012, Jackson State will begin a national search for a full-time basketball coach. In the meantime, McNeil will lead the team for the 2011-2012 season.

MDES to Host Green Jobs Conferences

The Mississippi Department of Employment will release a study on the state's green job economy this week at its green job conferences.

Monday, September 26

Homeless Man Found Dead in Fondren

Police discovered the body of a homeless man this morning in Fondren behind the Yana Club on Hartfield Street.

Council Approves Hotel Financing Agreement

Developers of a proposed convention center hotel said they could move forward on a $96.1 million project now that the Jackson City Council has approved a cost-sharing agreement for the development.

Grant Helps Families toward Self-Sufficiency

A national program is helping Jackson-area families in need get on the path to self-sufficiency and financial stability.

UPDATED: LaTonya King Found Safe

On Saturday, Sept. 24, family members reported LaTonya King, 31, missing to the Jackson Police Department. The authorities received the report around 1 a.m. from concerned family members who suspected that King was involved in a car accident.

Community Events and Public Meetings

Sports League Registrations, at Jackson Medical Mall (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.). The Department of Parks and Recreation is conducting registration for the upcoming season from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays. Call 601-960-0471.

Friday, September 23

Homeless Conference Promotes Self-Sufficiency

Despite the fact that 34-year-old Andrew Black works as a bagger at McDade's Market, he slept in Poindexter Park last night because he has been unable to find affordable housing.

Learning to Work Together in a ‘Donut City'

In the late 1980s, a researcher visiting Jackson made Phil Hardwick a prediction. "Jackson is going to become a donut city," the researcher said, with people moving out of the urban center and into the suburbs. She was right.

Justin White

Sept. 23, 2011

Thursday, September 22

Dedmon Indicted by Grand Jury

On Monday, a Grand Jury indicted Deryl Dedmon on capital murder charges for the murder of James Craig Anderson.

Yes on 26 Launches Fake Website

The campaign working in support of the Personhood Amendment has launched a fake website to attack the Political Action Committee working against the ballot measure that would redefine the word person in the state Constitution. "Yes on 26" is using the site to call out Mississippians for Healthy Families' registered officers Nsombi Lambright of the ACLU and Kay Scott of Planned Parenthood. The site attacks the organizations for their position on abortion rights.

Legislators Promise to Keep ‘13th Check'

This morning, legislators tried to calm fears about upcoming recommendations from the Public Employees' Retirement System Study Commission, saying they would not be in favor of ending the "13th check," or cost of living adjustments for state retirees.

Do Regulations Really Kill Jobs Overall? Not So Much

It's become a mantra on Capitol Hill and a rallying cry for industry groups: Get rid of the job-killing regulations. In recent days, with nearly every one of the GOP presidential candidates repeating that refrain, the political echo chamber has grown even louder. Earlier this month, President Obama also asked the Environmental Protection Agency to back off more stringent ozone regulations, citing the "importance of reducing regulatory burdens" during trying economic times.

Mary Thompson

When Mary Thompson can help a woman get back into permanent housing and find stability, she knows she has done her job.

High School Counselors Pick Millsaps College

U.S. News and World Report's newest edition of "America's Best Colleges" has named Millsaps College as a "High School Counselors' Pick" for the second year in a row.

Wednesday, September 21

Reinventing Soul Music

Who do you get when you mix India Arie's soulful voice with Johnnie Taylor's blues style? You get Tasha Taylor, Johnnie Taylor's youngest daughter who is carrying on the family's tradition of musical excellence.

Fear and Loathing at Sneaky Fest

The following account may or may not be a truthful re-telling of my day at Sneaky Fest Aug. 27, 2011.

The Best In Sports In 7 Days

Mississippi schools keep embarrassing us. Last week: Ole Miss 'teddy bears' vs. Vanderbilt.

What if the SEC expands?

If the SEC can get the Aggies and Seminoles into the fold, it is likely they would want two more teams to form a 16-team super conference. Texas A&M joining the SEC is a double edge sword as far as recruiting is concerned.

JFP Top 25: Week 4

Week three was tough for the bottom of the JFP Top 25. Four schools dropped out allowing four new schools to jump in the poll. Dropping out was Mississippi State, Ohio State, Auburn and Arizona State. Finding their way into the Top 25 are Baylor, West Virginia, Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt.

Comegy Gets a Gold Star

There has not been too much to be happy about this season from the big schools in college football. In fact, after three weeks, a lot has been downright ugly.

A New Face for Chinese Cuisine

For the better part of three decades, Ding How (6955 Old Canton Road, Ridgeland, 601-956-1717) was Jackson's choice for a Chinese buffet. Originally opened in 1979 by Lina Lynn's aunt on Interstate 55, Ding How was the first Chinese buffet in Jackson. Lynn took control of the restaurant in 2009, and she decided it was time for a change.

The Science of Addiction

Addiction is described in the "Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book" as "cunning, baffling, powerful." Its reach is widespread. Else Pedersen, executive director of Bridge House, an addiction treatment center in New Orleans, La., estimates 10 to 15 percent of the population has an addiction.

Booked Solid

It's been a few years since autumn meant back to school for me, but this year I've embarked on a semester as an adult learner. This adventure is courtesy of the Business Advantage Program at the Else School of Management at Millsaps College, in which 20 or so other professionals and I get 15 weeks of business classes two nights a week for three hours a night. It means that on the nights we don't have class, I have ... homework.

The Eye of the Needle

I usually ponder, ruminate, tweet, blog, joke and seethe about some or another issue for a week or more before I write a new editor's note. This week, though, I had trouble locking onto a topic--probably because I'm so sick of divisive politics that my brain feels like just vegging in front of an Ashton Kutcher TV show with the rest of America.

Council Gets Hotel Details, Finally

Jackson City Council members finally got the details on a proposed convention center hotel Monday at a council work session, but some still had questions about the city's role in funding the project.

Dialing Up Solar

Solar energy has generated a lot of attention in Mississippi in recent weeks as the Legislature approved an incentives bill to persuade Calisolar, a California-based silicon manufacturing company, to build a factory in Columbus.

Playing Catch-up on Net Metering

Mississippi is one of only four states in the nation that has not implemented net metering, a consumer-oriented energy policy. Through net metering, consumers who generate renewable energy—such as wind, solar, or biomass fuels—sell any excess energy they produce to their utility companies. The practice allows consumers to cut down on their utility bills. Net metering subtracts the amount of energy a customer produces from the energy they consume.

Voters, Choose Wisely

Politicians are good at distracting voters. They seem to be getting better at it all the time. With the majority of them lawyers, it may just be a matter of their training: shift the attention of a jury (or a voter) to where you want them to look, not at what really needs to be looked at.

[Stiggers] Hustle Mania

The objective of the 'Hustle Mania 2011 Entrepreneur Start-Up Conference' is to help laid off workers understand the benefits of being their own boss and generating jobs in their communities, since the government and corporations seem unwilling and unable.

[Lee] My Health Is At Stake

In 2008, I was living in Colorado and facing a ballot initiative known as Amendment 48 to the state Constitution. It aims to define personhood as beginning at the moment of egg fertilization. In a statewide election, 73.2 percent of voters opposed the change, and defeated the amendment.

Unmasked Letterer

Gloria's eyes grow bigger. Fear turns to defiance. Her face zooms in and out as Johnny Lowe's fingers deftly move across the screen of his iPad. His eyes shine.

The No-Name Problem

When feminist leader Betty Friedan passed away in February 2006, traditional and online media were flooded with stories from women who were affected in some way by her 1963 book, "The Feminine Mystique." Scholarly eulogies attempted to explain or contextualize the book's significance to the American feminist movement. My favorite assessment came from the feminist blogger Echidne of the Snakes, who emphasized Friedan's role as "name-giver."

Ivan Rider Drives ‘Daisy'

Director Ivan Rider returns to Jackson to direct "Driving Miss Daisy" at New Stage Theatre.

Hood vs. Simpson

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, a Democrat, and his Republican opponent Steve Simpson accused each other last week of conflicts of interest.

The JFP Interview with Steve Simpson

When Stephen Simpson stands over you with his 6-foot-7-inch frame, you might want to think twice before disagreeing with him. The Republican will tell you that "it's easy being on the right side," and makes no apologies or excuses for his position on issues. Perhaps it's his boisterous confidence that has aided his career as he progressed from attorney to circuit-court judge and Department of Public Safety commissioner.

Strong Opinions

Addie Green has strong opinions about life's basic necessities. She is running for a seat on the Public Service Commission, she said, because water, phone and sewage bills are too high. The PSC approves utility-rate increases, answers complaints from the public, and decides whether utility companies should construct new facilities and who should pay for them.

Being Proactive

Public Service Commissioner Lynn Posey was traveling when he called for this interview. As he was talking about his family—Kathy, his wife of 27 years, his son, Hunter, and his daughter, Kaitlyn—the call dropped. When he called back, Posey feigned indignation at the bad cell phone service and blamed it on Northern District Commissioner Brandon Presley, before laughing and admitting he was still in his Central District.

Council Demands Farish Audit

Despite a recommendation from the city's legal department, Jackson City Council members voted at its meeting last night to conduct an audit of the Farish Street Entertainment District.

A Security Requirement with No Teeth?

In less than a month, convenience-store owners in Jackson's city limits must hire security guards if their business is open from midnight to 5 a.m.

Tamu Green

Tamu ("sweet" in Swahili) Green speaks with enthusiasm and conviction about his vision for Mississippi. Like a proud parent of a star athlete showing off his trophies, he walks between unopened boxes in his new office in Ridgeland. He describes how the computer equipment and robotics gear will be used for young people.

Tuesday, September 20

Convention Center Hotel to Become Reality?

Jackson City Council members finally got the details on a proposed convention center hotel Monday night at a council work session.

STEPS Makes a Comeback

The Mississippi Department of Employment Security has funds available for its Subsidized Transitional Employment Program and Services, a program that provides wage subsidies to employers who, in exchange, provide a paid hourly wage and a transferable work skill to workers.

Greg Grimes

Greg Grimes has already dealt with a stray-cat problem this morning. He's also looking at someone's water leak. As the city of Jackson's constituent services manager, he takes complaints from residents and solves their problems.

Hood Announces Guide for DV Victims

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood announced a new information guide for domestic violence victims at a press conference yesterday.

Monday, September 19

Calhoun: Jails Becoming Mental Health Centers

Hinds County wants help dealing with a rising population of incarcerated prisoners who suffer from substance abuse and mental health issues. The board of supervisors passed a resolution today formally asking legislators to support the development of a "behavioral health treatment court collaborative" in the 2012 session.

Bright Future

Despite the recent high-profile bankruptcy of Solyndra, a solar panel manufacturer in Fremont, Calif. that was backed by a federal loan guarantee, proponents of solar power in Mississippi said the state is poised to take a leading role in alternative energy.

Rickey Cole

Rickey Cole's political activism started at the age of nine when he would help his parents put up signs supporting Mississippi's first female treasurer, Evelyn Gandy.

Community Events and Public Meetings

Project Homeless Connect Week. The theme is "Paving the Road to Self-Sufficiency." At Smith Park (302 Amite St.), the homeless service fair is from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sept. 20, and the concert is from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 21. The art show and reception is from 3-6 p.m. Sept. 22 at Stewpot Community Services (1100 W. Capitol St.). The homeless conference is from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at Galloway United Methodist Church (305 N. Congress St.). Free; call 601-960-0335.

Stion Opens in Hattiesburg

The city of Hattiesburg celebrated the opening of a new solar-panel manufacturer last week.

Sept. 19, 2011

Friday, September 16

Fondren Blows a Fuse

Entergy is on the scene repairing the pole now.

Two loud explosions rang out in the Fondren business district just before lunch; the culprit, it seems was a semi truck taking out some power lines behind McDade's Market in the Woodland Hills shopping center.

Simpson Defends Ethics of Consulting Contract

Attorney General Jim Hood's re-election campaign is accusing opponent Steve Simpson of using his former position as commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety to secure his current consulting contract with a national driver's license kiosk company. In response to media inquiries about the contract, Hood's re-election campaign manager Jonathan Compretta said that Simpson awarded a contract to L1 Identity Solutions days before he stepped down as commissioner.

Construction Bids Debated for City Project

Jackson Redevelopment Authority board members made no excuses for late bids yesterday when they approved a construction contract for Century Construction Company to renovate the Richard J. Porter Building for city office space.

Jackson Is Learning, Yarber Says

Jackson has been "teetering between lucky and learning" for the last 20 years, Ward 6 Councilman Tony Yarber said at Friday Forum this morning. The city has problems, but is learning how to turn pockets of success into models for the whole city, Yarber said.

Andrew Stankevich

Andrew Stankevich tried to start a group for gay students at Mississippi College School of Law, but administrators told him they were morally opposed to the idea. Stankevich said he has the letter that they sent him.

It's the Weekend!

This weekend is a great time to catch an art show. Starting Friday, Diane M. Jordan's quilt exhibit at the Mississippi Craft Center (950 Rice Road, Ridgeland) hangs through Sept. 30. The event is free; call 601-856-7546. At Historic Canton Square, Arts on the Square is from 4-8 p.m. today and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 17. Free; call 601-859-5816. Dreamz JXN hosts Can't Feel My Face Friday. The Brick Street Trio puts on a free show at 7 p.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church (205 W. Main St., Raymond) and Zeebo is at Ole Tavern. Later, you can enjoy soulful house music during Deep Friday at 10 p.m. at Salsa Mississippi Studio and Club (605 Duling Ave.). The show is $5; email [e-mail missing]. Finally, Jacob Lipking is at Fatsumo Sushi (3100 N. State St.). Need more options? See our Best Bets

Hinds Adopts Budget

The Hinds County Board of Supervisors passed the county's budget yesterday just hours before a midnight deadline.

Thursday, September 15

JPS Has More Star Schools

Jackson's public school performance for 2011 is a mixed bag of successes and failures, according to new data from Mississippi Department of Education. While five Jackson public schools rate as star schools, the district's graduation rate fell to 63.6 percent from 68.6 percent in 2010.

Thompson to Co-Sponsor Autism Act

At least 8,139 children in Mississippi have autism, according to a July 1 report from the Mississippi Autism Advisory Committee. The Legislature established the committee earlier this year to suggest strategies to combat a rise in autism rates.

Spike Lee

It wasn't enough for filmmaker Spike Lee to make one documentary about the anger and outrage of Gulf Coast residents in the months after Hurricane Katrina. His new documentary, "If God is Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise," revisits the Gulf Coast as residents continue to rebuild their lives from the storm and BP oil crisis.

Joe McGinniss' Book on Sarah Palin: Truth or Tall Tales?

McGinniss' book "Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin" comes out Sept. 20, and the claims he makes in the book are raising eyebrows - and tempers - according to the New York Times' Janet Maslin.

Let Him Die?

In the last televised Republican presidential debate on CNN, moderator Wolf Blitzer asks the candidates what should be done if a man without health insurance is seriously injured and cannot guarantee payment of the medical bills. While Ron Paul responds, some of the audience members give a shocking response.

[Column] A Jobs Crisis We Can Solve

President Obama is proposing important steps toward doing what Americans have been asking for since the financial collapse of 2008--putting a focus on families and jobs.

Rigby's Continual Reinvention

For many girls growing up in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Cathy Rigby was the petite Olympic gymnast with blonde pigtails who popularized the sport in the United States. For children growing up since then, Rigby is best known as Peter Pan.

Wednesday, September 14

Fall ‘11 Trend Report

Ready for fall fashion? If not, then may I present the Trend Report, where we view upcoming trends and styles for the fashionista in you.

Deep Awareness

In the fall of 1991, Deborah Harris, then 39, picked up a couple of muffalettas for lunch from a local restaurant in Shreveport, La. She went downtown to the rooftop of the First United Methodist Church to meet her new beau, David Dykes, then 48. Anxious about his leaving town that afternoon, a strange feeling started to come over Deborah as they ate and exchanged a few kisses on the rooftop. When they were done eating, David drove Deborah back to her office at Southern University, only a block away.

‘Anybody Can Do It'

Basketball was her game. Football officiating is her profession. Sarah Thomas, a 37-year-old mother of two sons (Bridley, 10, and Brady, 7), wife to Brian Thomas and full-time pharmaceutical sales representative, is also a college-football official.

Odyssey of Discovery

Back in July 2006, I found myself on the edge of a new life. Four months earlier, I'd been laid off from a job after nine years. I was at loose ends, not particularly thrilled about continuing in a profession I didn't love any more, but not knowing what else I could do to support myself.

The Out-of-Towners

The month of September has started out as a barnburner for Jackson musicheads like me.

The Best In Sports In 7 Days

I'm trying to pick myself off the floor from my pick-em beat down.

JFP Top 25: Week 3

After two week of college football, there is not much turnover in the JFP Top 25 poll at top of the poll. The top 10 stays the same as last week. There's major turnover from 11 to 25. For the first time ever we have teams drop out of the poll and new teams enter.

Happy Delicious Birthday to You

A little over a year ago, I got a call from Jackson Free Press Editor-in-Chief Donna Ladd asking if I had heard about the new restaurant called Parlor Market being constructed on Capitol Street. I had not, and she suggested that I drive down and introduce myself to the owner, Craig Noone.

Healthy Meals for Hectic Days

Those on-the-go days, filled with work and other errands are the most difficult aspect of maintaining a healthy diet. By the end of the day, it's tough to motivate myself to cook something healthy. Wouldn't it be easier to heat up something out of a box or go out to eat?

Double Chic

I found so many great pieces while I was out shopping for our fall trends shoot.

Teen Births Have High Cost

Instead of focusing on emotions, the Women's Fund of Mississippi is highlighting the cost of teen births to advocate for comprehensive sex-education in the state's public schools. Last week, the organization released the study, "Do You Know What You're Spending On Teen Pregnancy in Mississippi?" showing that the state's high teen birth rate costs taxpayers $155 million each year.

From Vacant to Vibrant

Many people in Mississippi put significant effort into successfully reviving downtown areas and making them welcoming places. But to get downtown, people often have to drive past worn-out, unoccupied strip malls overgrown with weeds.

Preparing for Battle

Twenty years ago, when Cristen Hemmins was a student at Millsaps College, two teenagers pulled out a gun and abducted her in the campus parking lot. The young men raped her and shot her twice as she fled to a gas station for safety.

Sex Education is Not a Partisan issue

For so long, Mississippi's public officials, and its community and school district leaders have shied away from talking about sex to avoid the potential political consequences. Last week however, the Women's Fund of Mississippi began advocating for school districts and parents to teach children comprehensive sex education.

[Stiggers] Agitate, Agitate, Agitate

A change might come when tons of letters of concern from angry minority voters pile up in politicians' offices.

[Kamikaze] The Green Light

I remember making my transition from doing music full time to more community-oriented exploits. I like to categorize it as maturation. It was about seven or eight years ago, and I decided to dust off my writing talent and get back into print. It had been a while; I left a cushy Associated Press job to dive into the music business. But I felt the writing bug again and wanted to share my stories with a new audience.

Mississippi's Storm

Ask any Mississippian, and they'll tell you where they were the week of Aug. 29, 2005, the week Hurricane Katrina hit. They'll tell stories of the eerie silence waiting for the storm. For those who stayed on the Gulf Coast, they'll tell of the snarling and groaning as Katrina choked trees and reduced homes to cement foundations, and of devastation massive and humbling.

[Rhodes] Hopeful Realism

As a Christian minister and public theologian, my days are spent in prayerful reflection about souls—not just the immaterial part of us, but all of who we are. For me, to be human is to be a soul—an embodied spirit, a spirited body. And every day, I'm passionate about serving people holistically, touching and transforming mind, body and spirit: all that we are and all that we have.

A Long Time Coming

In 1983, Jackson landscape architect Steven Horn presented Jackson city leaders with a detailed plan to revitalize Farish Street. His plan, under the city's guidance, would transform a two-block section of Farish Street into an entertainment district that would include a B.B. King Blues Club and resemble New Orleans' Bourbon Street—only classier.

Longtime Standards

Cowboy boots, straw hats, a couple of purses and a pair of high-heeled shoes fill the front window at Dennis Brothers Shoe Repair (325 N. Farish St., 601-354-9125). Men's boots sit on top of the glass counter inside. On the side, rows of men's and women's shoes are for sale.

Anderson Family: No Death Penalty

Read the family's letter.

The Past Lives On

The heart of the historic Farish Street district follows North Farish Street from Amite to Fortification streets. The street is named for Walter Farish, a former slave who lived on the northeast corner of Davis and what is now Farish Street. The district is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Beloved Farish

On its Facebook page, the Farish Street/Main Street Project says that it "seeks to stimulate revitalization in the Farish Street Historic District by encouraging cooperation and building leadership in the business, residential, church, city, state and community partners of the District."

Fire in Carson's Belly

Dorsey Carson, 40, has lived in northeast Jackson most of his life. He calls himself one of the "floodplain kids," youngsters who lived there during the Easter Flood of 1979. Carson graduated from Mississippi State University in 1993 and got his law degree from the University of Georgia in 1996. He has spent time in Atlanta and London, but returned in 2002 to Jackson where he lives with his wife, Susan Hays Carson, and 15-month-old daughter, Hays Elizabeth Carson. He is a Democrat challenging Republican incumbent Bill Denny in the Nov. 8 election for the District 64 House seat.

WAPT's Fondren T-Shirt ‘Controversy'

WAPT aired an interesting piece yesterday, which implied that Swell-O-Phonic's T-shirts are causing controversy. The piece highlights the T-shirt slogans such as "Brandon, We Ain't Pearl Dammit," and "Don't make me go South Jackson on You."

Denny: A Busy Man

State Rep. Bill Denny, R-Jackson, is a hard man to find. He doesn't seem to have a campaign website or someone to send out press releases. When I called the number listed on his official page at the Mississippi House's website, his wife was apologetic, but said he was a busy man and not interested in an interview. When a coworker gave me his cell phone number, he reiterated that he was busy and said he did not have time for an interview as he was in the middle of door-to-door campaigning.

Leron Jackson

When people told Leron Jackson he couldn't make it, he never believed them. "Knowing about the things I went through inspires people to go out and do great things," he says, "The work grew on me and made me the person I am today. I'm happy my mother got me out there."

Kosher Gospel

A young, black man dressed in an embroidered jacket sits at the piano. He belts out a gospel tune in layers of emotion. Sweat pours down his face as he sings a familiar--but not instantly recognizable--religious song with a multi-textured and robed back-up choir.

Census Data Show Increase in Poverty

New U.S. Census data released yesterday reveals that the poverty rate in Mississippi rose from 15.6 percent to 22.9 percent in 2009, The Mississippi Economy Policy Center reports.

Tuesday, September 13

Hinds Election Sparring Continues

Read Dennery's announcement

New Caterer Opens Downtown

The Copper Iris Catering Co. Inc. (115 N. State St.) has been open for less than two weeks, but its owners are already talking about changing, perfecting and adding variety to the menu.

Ivan Rider

Ivan Rider returns to Jackson to direct "Driving Miss Daisy," opening tonight at New Stage Theatre.

"It's the theater of my heart," Rider told the Jackson Free Press this morning. "I'm delighted to be back."

Conference for Advocacy Groups Scheduled

The William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation at the University of Mississippi is hosting a conference for progressive service and advocacy groups Sept 22.

Monday, September 12

Tired of empty strip malls? Me too.

Last week I spent some time learning about the Mississippi Development Authority's new plan to revitalize old, ugly strip malls, called the Retail Center Revitalization Program. (Read more here or in our print edition Wednesday.) MDA brings up a good point: While the Mississippi Main Street and others have made much-appreciated strides in making downtown areas beautiful places, many of the arterial roads leading into town are littered with drab concrete rectangles made even less attractive by the addition of for-sale signs that won't budge. The building's original owners and tenants have long ago moved on to a newer strip mall, leaving a stubborn suburban blight that diminishes the beauty of other parts of town that the community is rightfully proud of.

Advocates Gear up For Personhood Battle

Anti-abortion advocates celebrated a Mississippi Supreme Court ruling last week that OK'd a Nov. 8 ballot initiative asking voters whether the state Constitution should define when life begins, but the battles over the proposed amendment are far from over.

Upcoming Parkway CEO will Remain in Florida

The incoming CEO of Jackson-based real estate company Parkway Properties plans to remain in Florida after he takes the reins in January.

Jennifer S. Love

Jennifer S. Love, a Mississippi native and Jackson State University graduate, is the new assistant director of the FBI's Security Division. Love most recently served as acting assistant director of the FBI's Inspection Division.

Community Events and Public Meetings

Fall Community Enrichment Series, at Millsaps College (1701 N. State St.). Most classes start the week of Sept. 19 and fall into the categories of arts and crafts, computer, dance, health and fitness, heritage and history, home and garden, language and literature, money and business, music, personal development and special offerings. Contact the Continuing Education office for a list of classes. Fees vary; call 601-974-1130.

JFP is Turning 9—What's Your Favorite JFP Memory?

I'll include a couple to get us going:

We need your help, JFP Nation. Our 9th birthday issue publishes this week, and we want to include favorite JFP-related moments (funny or serious) from staffers, readers, freelancers, etc. Please post below. We'll put what we can in the print edition. Thanks, all!

Barbour to Raise Funds for Republican PAC

Gov. Haley Barbour has joined American Crossroads, a well-funded conservative Political Action Committee that heavily influenced the 2010 elections, The Washington Post reported last week.

Friday, September 9

‘Bullish' Gas ‘Fracking' Could Prove Boon for State

Recent, and controversial, advances in drilling technology have put the state in a unique position to attract new industry and create new energy-related jobs, natural-gas industry leaders yesterday told a packed forum at the Jackson Convention Center. The state is prime to benefit from the recent natural-gas boom due to our extensive pipeline system, our potential to store natural gas in underground "salt" domes and even possibly from our own deposits of shale—the drilling industry's new favorite place to find untapped reserves of both natural gas and oil.

JPS Board Members Question Music Funding

Some members of the Jackson Public School board said the district is spending too much money on its strings program at a board meeting Tuesday night. The program will get a funding increase of almost $33,000 this year.

Capt. Ken Chapman

Capt. Ken Chapman claims he taught Aretha Franklin how to do the Bankhead bounce for a performance at the opening ceremony for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. She was going to sing "Respect," and he thought the move would work great when she got to the "sock-it-me, sock-it-me, sock-it-me" part.

American Jobs Act: Why Obama is Right and Wicker Is Wrong

Make no mistake: The American Jobs Act introduced by President Obama last night in a fiery speech last night in Congress is one thing -- stimulus. It's exactly what we need and, finally, it's exactly what we're getting out of this president.

Davis Drops Out of Supervisor's Race

Republican candidate Roger C. Davis confirmed this week that he is dropping out of the race for Hinds County District 1 supervisor against incumbent Robert Graham.

City to Host 9/11 Memorial Events

Several events are scheduled today to honor the victims of 9/11 as the ten year anniversary of the terrorist attacks approaches.

Thursday, September 8

Supreme Court OKs Ballot Initiatives

Read the personhood ruling

Council Adopts Budget with Raise Compromise

Jackson City Council adopted the city's $317 million budget for fiscal year 2012 today after debating how to balance the budget and provide additional raises for the city's employees.

Rehabilitating Retail Space

The Mississippi Development Authority is testing a program to beautify old strip malls and make them useful again. The Retail Center Revitalization Program will award grants of up to $50,000 to help community developers turn concrete eyesores into welcoming spaces.

JFP People of the Day: Outstanding Educators

Parents for Public Schools of Jackson and the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson honored four outstanding teachers in the Jackson Public Schools: Diane Setzer, Mary Cook, Barbara Stevens and La'Keshia Opara-Nadi. All four received a 2011 Outstanding Educator award during a luncheon yesterday at the Jackson Medical Mall.

JFP Radio @ Noon: Gubernatorial Candidate Johnny DuPree and JFP Sports

Update: The podcast has been posted at JFPRadio.com; interview with DuPree is at the top of the hour.

Obama to Address Nation Tonight

President Barack Obama is expected to release details about a $300 billion jobs package during a televised speech at 6 p.m. tonight.

Important Correction Regarding The Home Repair Grant Call

The phone number originally listed to get more information about the grant is incorrect. Please do not call the Jackson Medical Mall with questions. Instead, contact the city of Jackson at 601-960-1438. Here is the corrected listing. The JFP sincerely apologizes for the error.

Wednesday, September 7

BOY is Back in Town

"We left Mississippi as men," the invitation teases. "We return as BOY."

Down-Home Recipe

Blend tangy, honey-infused mandolin with a simmering string bass, and then add a double-layer of hot, finger-licking guitars. Jackson-based Anna Kline and the Grits and Soul Band satisfy a hunger for some good old-fashioned down-home music. Every tempting offering from Grits and Soul is seasoned with authentic southern spice and smothered in warm velvety vocals.

The Full Circle

He was a tall, kind of goofy-bumbling-professor type who was nice to me, even though I was there to whisk his daughter away. We did not get much time to talk and get to know each other on this first meeting, as is to be expected given the circumstances. I learned a lot about Charles that day, however, when Catherine took me to the den saying, "You've got to check this out."

The Best In Sports In 7 Days

The NFL live chat starts this Sunday. Post your thoughts and read our in-depth break down of the action at http://jfpsports.com.

Iron Doc Heads to Kona

Emerging from the water in the Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas last May, Dr. Larkin Carter found himself 10 minutes off his normal pace. The 49-year-old, originally from Meridian, had struggled in his 2.4-mile swim.

JFP Top 25: Week 2

We have a slight change at the top of the JFP Top 25 this week: LSU gets rewarded for playing a top-5 team, Oregon, and moves to the top of the poll. No teams fell out of the rankings, but several moved around. The biggest tumble was Notre Dame from 18 to 25, a seven spot fall. The biggest jump was LSU from third to first.

The Aging Brain

An aging brain can be frightening. Many of us fear succumbing to Alzheimer's disease or yielding to dementia.

My Mediterranean Veggie Life

Last summer was a season of new experiences for me. One experience that I now revisit almost every week is my encounter with Greek and Mediterranean foods.

Pampering the Self

Sometimes it's nice to get away and indulge yourself. I tend to joke that living and working downtown, where I walk everywhere, makes driving to the suburbs feel like a trip to a whole other country. I decided to make an excursion of sorts out of the experience and do some pampering to get ready for fall.

Family Files Wrongful Death Suit

Morris Dees is not singling out Mississippi in his organization's efforts to seek justice for an alleged hate murder of James Craig Anderson because he was black.

‘Disparity' Study Call Disrupts Session

Percy Watson knew that getting the Mississippi Legislature to fund a disparity study was a long shot, but he had hoped it would somehow make it through the Republican-majority Senate last week. The House Ways and Means Chairman's measure, however, ultimately failed, with Gov. Haley Barbour indicating that he would veto the bill if it came to his desk with the disparity study, Watson said.

Council Mulls JATRAN Cuts

Jackson's bus service could face cuts to deal with a tight budget and low ridership. JATRAN has proposed shortening some bus routes and combining others in areas with few riders.

City Urges Residents to Prepare for Pearl River Flooding

See earlier coverage of the rising Pearl River

Journalism and Ethics

If you take one point away from Valerie Wells' cover story this week, let it be this: Mainstream media have agendas that don't always serve the needs of the citizens who rely on it. As more and more news outlets fall under the control of media giants and entertainment networks, the need to seek out and tell hard truths often falls by the wayside in favor of double-digit profits.

[Stiggers] The Invisible Man

This poem titled 'Return of the Invisible Man: Observations of an Unemployed Poet' is my personal expression about black men, like me, experiencing the highest unemployment rate of all gender/race categories.

Cracking a Marriage

Any marriage, good or bad, looks easier from the outside than it ever does when you're inside it. They're like fragile statues, marriages. The slightest crack can cause shattering, even if it takes years for the crack to spread and multiply.

Southern-Style Laughs

Black Rose Community Theatre (103 Black St., Brandon) presents the comedy "Divorce Southern Style" Sept. 14-18.

[Rhodes] Monuments of Hope

I have long admired Martin Luther King Jr. and the movement that made him a global leader. I remember seeing a framed portrait of him while visiting a poor village in Brazil and being amazed by how global this southern black man was and is.

[Queen] Reaching for Greatness

'It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with you. Always.' —Oprah Winfrey

News Wars: The Rise and Fall of The Clarion-Ledger

Orley Hood and Walter Philbin lugged their laundry bags into the laundromat near the Jitney 14 on Fortification Street. They sorted their clothes, put their coins in the slots and waited for the first wash cycle to begin. Then Philbin pulled out a stack of old Associated Press wire stories he'd been saving.

Polk Wants a Do Over

Hinds County residents who voted in Terry's Dry Grove precinct Aug. 2 may need to return to the polls to vote again for a Democratic candidate for the District 73 Mississippi House of Representatives seat.

Not for Lack of Inititative

While some voters worry about abortion, voter ID and eminent domain, others are passionate about gambling, federal meddling in health care and--that hallowed Mississippi tradition--football.

Ronnie Agnew

On Sundays, Ronnie Agnew and his eight brothers and sisters piled into his father's 1967 Buick LeSabre and headed to church. "My mom and dad were very religious," he says. They didn't let the kids watch a lot of TV, but they watched "Sesame Street" when it hit Mississippi Educational Television in 1970.

Newspaper Bites Self

Coincidentally, today's Editor & Publisher e-blast featured a story about USA Today's long-standing habit of padding their official "paid" subscriber numbers with the "freebie" newspapers they distribute through hotel chains. (If you've done much business travel, you may have seen a copy outside your door or in the lobby.) They do this by offering a low price to the hotels for those copies, and then convincing the hotels to put a disclaimer in small print, saying that the guest can request a 75 cent refund from the hotel if you don't want the paper. If you don't complain, USA Today interprets that to mean you "bought" the paper and counts it.

How Brunson Green ‘Helped'

Much has been written lately about the friendship between Jackson natives Kathryn Stockett and Tate Taylor, the author and director, respectively, of "The Help." But a third Jackson native served as producer of the hit movie. Brunson Green, 43, will talk about the journey from best-selling novel to No. 1 movie when he speaks at Millsaps College at 7 p.m. Sept. 13.

Report: Teen Births Cost State $155M

Mississippi's high teen birth rate costs taxpayers $155 million annually, a Women's Fund of Mississippi study released today finds.

Tuesday, September 6

State to Receive $38M from Medicaid Fraud Suit

verbatim statement:Jackson, MS--Attorney General Jim Hood has won the State more than $38 million in a Medicaid fraud suit.

Family Files Wrongful Death Suit Against Teens

Family members of the late James Anderson decided not to speak this morning as previously planned at a press conference to announce a wrongful death lawsuit they have filed against Rankin County teens for the beating and murder of Anderson because he was black.

Council Tackles Bike Trails

The City Council voted today to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 and approved the next phase of repairing Fortification Street, but did not vote on the fate of an equestrian statue of Louis XIV.

Pat Harrison

The south Mississippi rivers rising with days of heavy rain make up the Pat Harrison Waterway District, named in 1962 for a key U.S. senator.

James Anderson Family Gets Help from SPLC

Also see: Hundreds March to Heal and Denounce

Red Cross Opens Shelters

The American Red Cross has opened shelters in Jackson for families affected by flooding in the Jackson area. The Following shelters are open:

Monday, September 5

Pearl River Rising, City in State of Emergency, Shelters Open in Metro

See Weather Service and MEMA warnings about metro here as they come in.

Mayor Declares a State of Emergency, Watching Pearl River

This morning Mayor Harvey Johnson, Jr. declared a State of Emergency for the city of Jackson as a precautionary measure in light of the recent storm. There have been some reports of flash flooding and several downed trees. City crews are working to clear any streets and we have been in contact with Entergy about downed power lines. We anticipate the bulk of the rain to moving out of the area this afternoon. However, the City urges residents to continue to be cautious and to be on the lookout of any flooded streets or low lying areas.

Friday, September 2

Minority Jobs, MDA at Center of Special Session Debate

Several black representatives have expressed concerns today that a proposed funding bill to bring 1,800 jobs in the state will overlook minorities. In a special session Gov. Haley Barbour called for today, the Mississippi Legislature will vote on $175 million in bonds and incentives for two technology plants to open in Mississippi and a tax-rebate program for Pascagoula-based Huntington Ingalls shipyard to create an additional 3,000 jobs.

Sargent Plans for Future of JPS

Interim Superintendent Jayne Sargent will only be at Jackson Public Schools for six months to a year, but she is working on technology and curriculum changes that will help the school system in the future.

Abigail Phillips

Abigail Phillips, 22, recently came to Jackson to make a difference. As a service member of Food Corps, a national non-profit organization, she builds and tends school gardens, helping children learn about whole foods and balanced diets.

Stop That Laboring

Start the long Labor Day weekend off tonight unwinding with friends. Head to Dreamz JXN for Can't Feel My Face Friday, The Irish Frog in Clinton to hear Davey Arwine and Nick Blake or Ole Tavern for the Thomas Jackson Orchestra. To find your new favorite watering hole, check out the JFP Music Listings page for the best in Jacktown and surrounds, from MCs to rock to jazz to gospel, every day of the week.

Gulf Storm Bringing Slow, Heavy Rains

Experts expect Tropical Depression 13 in the northern Gulf of Mexico to become a tropical storm today. The National Weather Service reports that this system will hit central Mississippi Saturday with heavy rains of 5-10 inches.