Stories for September 2019

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Monday, September 30

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Sheriff, ACLU Propose Plan in Mississippi Racial Bias Case

A central Mississippi sheriff's department would adopt an "unbiased policing policy" and set new rules about traffic checkpoints and encounters with pedestrians, under a proposed agreement in a racial profiling lawsuit.

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UPDATE: Jackson's $7 Million Water Bill Fix Passes; Zoo Closure Ends Worker Benefits

At a special meeting late last week, the Jackson City Council blocked a $7-million emergency loan to fix its water-sewer system, which has been plagued with problems since the City signed a $90-million contract with Siemens Inc. for a new meter and billing system.

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Jackson Tourism Awards, Pro Bono Awards and Butler Snow Recognition

The Mississippi Tourism Association honored representatives of the state's tourism industry at the Governor's Conference on Tourism at the Trotter Convention Center in Columbus, Miss., from Sept. 22-24.

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Jack Abraham

Jack Abraham passed for 351 yards and three touchdowns and Southern Mississippi rolled to a 31-13 victory over UTEP in a Conference USA opener on Saturday.

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10 Local Stories of the Week

There's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them.

Friday, September 27

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FEMA Opening 2 Disaster Recovery Centers in Mississippi

Two disaster recovery centers are opening in Mississippi to help people affected by storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that happened in February and March.

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'Almost Social Terrorism': Abortion Clinic Protests Hurt Their Business, Owners Say

Clinic workers, as well as Fondren residents and business owners urged the Jackson City Council to pass an ordinance that would limit some of the protesters' activities outside Mississippi's only abortion clinic.

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DOSSIER: County Documents At Risk, Public Meeting Confusion, No to WJTV

The Jackson Free Press scored a transparency victory this week, at least for now, when the Hinds County Board of Supervisors provided us a list of the documents it plans to destroy, which I addressed in last week's Dossier after reporter Seyma Bayram learned about the impending destruction.

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Tom Kepner Receives NCADD Lifetime Achievement Award

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence honored Tom Kepner on Sept. 19 as the Bronze Key Recipient for his service to the community during the organization's 70th Annual Celebration: A Night of Honor event.

Thursday, September 26

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Mississippi Businessman Indicted in Massive Fraud Scheme

Federal prosecutors say a Mississippi businessman has been indicted in one of the nation's largest health care fraud investigations.

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Mississippi Confirms Its 1st Death Connected to Vaping

The Mississippi State Department of Health is confirming Mississippi's first death related to vaping.

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UPDATED: Abortion Clinic 'Buffer Zone' Draws Ag Commish, Protesters to City Hall

The City is set to vote on a proposal to limit protest activities outside the state's only abortion clinic.

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JSU Historical Marker, USM/ICC Transfer Program and MSU Esports Egg Bowl

More than 200 Jackson State University administrators and alumni traveled to Natchez, Miss., on Friday, Sept. 20, to place a historical marker honoring the university at its founding location.

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Garrett Shrader

Mississippi State University quarterback Garrett Shrader introduced himself to the nation Sept. 14 in his first action of the 2019 season as the team faced Kansas State University. The freshman made a highlight that went viral on social media.

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Whistleblower Complaint Says Trump Abused Power

A secret whistleblower complaint at the center of an impeachment inquiry alleges that President Donald Trump abused the power of his office to "solicit interference from a foreign country" in next year's U.S. election. The White House then tried to "lock down" the information to cover it up, the complaint says.

Wednesday, September 25

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Mississippi Leaders React to Trump Impeachment Inquiry; MAE Endorses Hood

Democratic Mississippi Congressman and U.S. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson supports an impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump. Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and U.S. House Rep. Steven Palazzo dismissed concerns about Trump urging the Ukraine president to launch an investigation into possible 2020 opponent Joe Biden.

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Emmett Till Cousin on Inquiry: 'What is the Holdup?'

The government is still investigating the brutal slaying of Emmett Till, a black teenager whose death helped spur the civil rights movement more than 60 years ago.

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Will Hoge

Grammy-nominated country music singer-songwriter and producer Will Hoge is making his way to Jackson to share the stage with Stephen Kellogg at Duling Hall as part of the "Gentlemen on the Road" tour.

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Memo: Trump Prodded Ukraine Leader on Biden Claims

President Donald Trump repeatedly prodded Ukraine's new leader to work with Rudy Giuliani and the U.S. attorney general to investigate Democratic political rival Joe Biden, according to a rough transcript summarizing the call released Wednesday.

Tuesday, September 24

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Pelosi Expected to Announce Impeachment Probe into Trump

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to announce a formal impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump late Tuesday, acquiescing to mounting pressure from Democratic lawmakers following reports that Trump may have sought a foreign government's help in his reelection bid.

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Water Main Break Update

Due to 16-inch water main break caused by a contractor hitting a line, the affected areas are South Jackson and Downtown. Jackson Fire Department is on stand-by to assist Henley Young Detention Center if needed. Updates will go out when available.

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Hood Says Reeves Blocked Vaping Bills After E-Cig Donations; Lt. Gov. Denies

Democratic Mississippi governor candidate Jim Hood claims his opponent, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, has blocked bills to regulate vaping after receiving campaign donations from vaping companies; Reeves denies it.

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Philip Shirley

Author Philip Shirley, a resident of The Town of Lost Rabbit near Madison, says the inspiration for his most recent book, "The Graceland Conspiracy," first struck in the early 2000s, when he read Gail Brewer-Giorgio's "Is Elvis Alive?" and other books on conspiracies surrounding Elvis Presley.

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Mississippi Man Tried 6 Times for Murder Moved to Local Jail

A Mississippi man tried six times for murder is back in a local jail, awaiting a possible seventh trial.

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OPINION: Climate Change Threatens Mississippi, Demands Action in Jackson

"Climate change is real. It is human-made and poses an existential threat to our planet."

Monday, September 23

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JPS Improves, City Restrains Zoo Over Zebra, JPD Targets Drug Hubs

The last week saw important developments in Jackson's public schools, its police department and the Jackson Zoo.

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Purple Dress Run, Humana Ridgeland and Mississippi Kidney Foundation Walk

Catholic Charities will host the 8th-annual Purple Dress Run starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17, at The District at Eastover in honor of National Domestic Violence Awareness month.

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Mississippi First Lady Deborah Bryant Meets with Children at Pediatric Center

Monday was far from routine for the kids at the Pediatric Center of McComb, where the story time included a reading by Mississippi First Lady Deborah Bryant.

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10 Local Stories of the Week

There's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them.

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Election Do-Over Set in Part of Mississippi Senate District

A special election will be Nov. 5 in part of a Mississippi Senate district—the same day as the general election for other offices. A Republican committee certified Biloxi City Councilwoman Dixie Newman as a one-vote winner over state Rep. Scott DeLano for the open seat.

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Analysis: Candidates Spin Numbers on Government Employment

Mississippi has about 3,900 fewer state government employees now than it did five years ago, and the employees' average salary has increased by about $3,700.

Friday, September 20

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JFP Origin and History Quiz

The first person who emails all the correct answers to [email protected] gets $50 in local gift cards.

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William Magee

As football season gets under way, David Magee remembers his son William Magee's love for the University of Mississippi's team. He remembered taking William to Egg Bowl against Mississippi State University when he was 8 or 9 years old and did not want to leave.

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DOSSIER: Hitting Transparency Brick Walls, Scolded for Immigration Coverage

"I'm officially launching my new weekly Dossier, which will spotlight our accountability journalism, whether about how ICE raids are conducted or when public officials aren't being transparent or not following proper protocols for informing the public about how they reach their decisions and the motivations behind policy."

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Mississippi Sheriff Sets Policies Amid Racial Profiling Suit

A county in south Mississippi has settled a racial profiling lawsuit and its sheriff's department is setting new policies that limit officers' use of race or national origin as a reason to stop and question people, attorneys say.

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Hood Denies Dem AG Nominee Claim He's 'Working' to Elect GOP Opponent

Jennifer Riley Collins, the woman who hopes to succeed fellow Democrat Jim Hood in the Mississippi Attorney General's office, is accusing him of working to help her Republican opponent. Hood, the Democratic nominee for governor, denies the charge.

Thursday, September 19

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MSU 'Race in America' Forum, USM Book Talk and Millsaps Teaching Partnership

Mississippi State University alumnus Deadric T. Williams will deliver the keynote lecture for the university's fifth-annual interdisciplinary lecture series, "Race in America," on Tuesday, Oct. 1.

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City to Bail Out Convention Center This Month, But Rejects Request for $790,000

The fledgling Jackson Convention Center asked the Jackson City Council for bailout money this week and got it, but not without pushback from two members, Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes and Ward 1 Councilman Ashby Foote.

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Quez Watkins

Redshirt junior wide receiver Quez Watkins stepped on the field for the University of Southern Mississippi for the first time in the 2019 season against Troy University after missing the first two games of the season against Alcorn State University and Mississippi State University.

Wednesday, September 18

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A New Workforce Café, and Lots of Renovations

The Mississippi Department of 
Finance and Administration in July 
purchased the Sun-n-Sand Motor Hotel on Lamar Street and the Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home on West Street, both 
historic landmarks located in downtown Jackson.

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Adventures in Foodland

Jackson's restaurant scene has been growing lately. Here is some restaurant news from recent months.

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Top 10: Christopher Lockhart

Chris Lockhart, owner of Capital City Kayak Adventures, is constantly aiding Jacksonians in exploring local bodies of water and the outdoors. Here are his top 10 favorite places in the Jackson metro area.

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New Stage Season 54 Preview

For New Stage Theatre's 54th season, the company is putting a focus on plays with a literary bent. New Stage started off with "Into the Breeches," a production that follows a group of women in 1942 as they produce "Henry V" with an all-female cast.

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Sisters in Birth, Inc.

One reason Sisters in Birth Inc. founder and Executive Director Getty Israel decided to create her organization is "because there was a time when I was a single mother without a support group," she says.

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Amber Johnson: Becoming the First

The Jackson City Council honored Amber Johnson during an Aug. 6, 2019, meeting at city hall after she became the first African American woman to receive a Ph.D. from Purdue University's computer-science department.

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Young Influentials 2019

The most influential people sometimes come from unlikely places. Meet more of Jackson's under-40 power group. They're creative, connected, engaged, and making waves in the capital city and Mississippi.

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Rapper Vitamin Cea Wants to Bring More Realness To Hip-Hop

When Charity Hicks was in eighth grade, her friend Jasira introduced her to Nicki Minaj after Jasira remixed one of Minaj's songs. Hicks loved the remix, and it inspired her to write her own.

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Our Black Synthesis of Time

At a recent "Let's Talk Jackson Art" taping, Jeffrey Caliedo unveiled his poem in honor of the late Jackson poet Margaret Walker. Hear him read it at letstalkjackson.com

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New Mural Honors Frances Fortner

Recently, A Plus Signs and Creative owner Scott Allen painted a mural on the side of Fondren Corner above Fondren Nails in Frances Fortner's honor. "I hope it brings the family some joy when they see it," Allen says. "It's a way for the community to be able to remember her also in a positive light."

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A Little Time to Grow

Throughout each month, Gabriel Dinosaur, formerly known as Gabriel Porter, helps organize True Local Market, a mobile farmers market that sets up at Cultivation Food Hall on Saturdays and at other locations as needed.

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Music and Art at WellsFest 2019

Wells United Methodist Church in Jackson will host its 36th annual WellsFest music festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Jamie Fowler Boyll Park on Lakeland Drive.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Jackson Lessons Learned As I Say Goodbye

"As of this 
publication, I must say my goodbye as I leave to start a new job at Teen Health 
Mississippi. Thank you, Jackson. And thanks to all of my co-workers and team members, too. My experience here wouldn't have been as great here at the JFP if it weren't for y'all."

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PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The Press Still Rolls as the JFP Enters Our 18th Year

This issue we celebrate moving into our 18th year of publishing as a voice for Jacksonians who want to see progress in the capital city and the Magnolia State. It's been quite a ride!

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Daisy Carter

During college, Daisy Carter wanted to become an English teacher so she could teach the subject she loves and give back to Jackson Public Schools.

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Hood Calls for Preschool, Teacher Pay, Higher K-12 Spending

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jim Hood on Tuesday detailed an ambitious education program which, if fully implemented, would bring the biggest increase in Mississippi education spending in more than a decade.

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The Road Doesn’t Go on Forever: Medlocke on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Farewell Tour

Since May 2018, Lynyrd Skynyrd has been on a global farewell tour, entitled "Last of the Street Survivors." The Jackson Free Press caught up with Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist and vocalist Rickey Medlocke in advance of the band's Sept. 27 concert at the Brandon Amphitheater.

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Endless Adventures in JXN

In 2019, Visit Jackson invited Eric and Allison Bieller to visit the city. They spent several days in June seeing the 
attractions and going to various restaurants and trying the food here. They also created two YouTube videos of their time in Jackson.

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Ten Ways to Get Some Joy out of the Last Bit of Summer

The official last day of summer is Monday, Sept. 23. This gives you ample time to scratch off a few more things on that summer to-do list, but you must act quickly.

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Local Chicken Sandwiches Win

In the last few weeks, fried chicken sandwiches, and especially spicy ones, have gone viral on social media. We here at the Jackson Free Press like to spend and eat local, so here are some delicious, non-cookie-cutter fried chicken sandwiches you should sample.

Tuesday, September 17

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JFP Questions Destruction of Public Records by Hinds County Board of Supervisors

The Jackson Free Press is asking the Hinds County Board of Supervisors to delay its unanimous vote yesterday to dispose of documents relating to its former administrations as well as former County Administrator's files from 1984 to 2007.

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Jeb Bush Headlining Big-Money Lunch for Reeves After Voucher, Charter Victories

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush plans to travel to Belden, Miss., next month to help raise money for the state's Republican nominee for governor, Tate Reeves, at a high-dollar luncheon.

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The Millennium Temptations

The city council honored the Millennium Temptations with a resolution for enriching community through music of reflection at the Aug. 20 city council meeting.

Monday, September 16

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Mississippi Governor Candidates Agree on 1 Debate Date

Second-term Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and fourth-term Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood say they have accepted multiple invitations for televised debates, but have agreed on only one date—Oct. 10 at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.

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Court: No Voters' Right to Govern Airport, OK to Hide Communications

Capital-city residents do not have the right to govern the Jackson Medgar-Evers Wiley Airport or subpoena records from Mississippi legislators who voted to take over control of the facility, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled late last month.

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PARK(ing) Day, Creative IMPACT Luncheon, Madison IMAX, MANP Grant

The City of Jackson will host PARK(ing) Day, a national event to bring together businesses and residents to transform metered parking spaces into temporary park installations for one day, on Friday, Sept. 20.

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Stace & Cassie

With a new single, "When We Grow Old" and supporting video released on Friday, Sept. 13, married performers Stace and Cassie Shook are looking forward to getting back into the studio to finish recording their long anticipated follow-up record.

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Mississippi Officials Find Spiked CBD Sold in the State

Concerned about illegal drugs, Mississippi authorities took an interest in vape shops and gas stations selling products including the cannabis extract CBD.

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Dem Presidential Candidates Call for Kavanaugh's Impeachment

Several Democratic presidential candidates have lined up to call for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in the face of a new, uninvestigated allegation of sexual impropriety when he was in college.

Friday, September 13

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Caller Demands JFP Not Sully Football Issue with Stories About 'Illegals,' ICE (Listen)

"Y'all get all this crap in there about this damn illegal raid on these illegal aliens that stole jobs from American citizens," he lectured. "I think that really sucks because I wanted to read about football."

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Auditor Calls to Abolish Blues Commission, Cites Misspending

Mississippi's state auditor says accounting and contracting problems at the state's Blues Commission are so severe that the commission should be abolished and its responsibilities handed to the nonprofit Mississippi Blues Foundation.Mississippi's state auditor says accounting and contracting problems at the state's Blues Commission are so severe that the commission should be abolished and its responsibilities handed to the nonprofit Mississippi Blues Foundation.

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Expanded Vouchers Not OK with Either Lt. Gov. Candidate, Short Debate Reveals

The Republican and Democratic candidates for Mississippi lieutenant governor found more to agree than disagree on in Thursday night's 30-minute debate, with similar positions on teacher pay, private-school vouchers and transparency.

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Mississippi Lottery Corp. Chooses Ad and Marketing Firm

The Mississippi Lottery Corp. has chosen a Jackson-based firm to handle advertising and marketing. Maris West and Baker is receiving a three-year contract that includes creating and buying ads for the lottery, which is on track to start selling tickets in December.

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U.S. Civil Rights Advocate Juanita Abernathy Dies at 88

Juanita Abernathy, who wrote the business plan for the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and took other influential steps in helping to build the American civil rights movement, died Thursday. She was 88.

Thursday, September 12

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Democrats Outline Impeachment Hearings as Moderates Wary

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler tried to clear up confusion within his caucus about impeachment on Thursday as the committee approved guidelines for impeachment hearings on President Donald Trump.

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Hood: Reeves Improperly Pushed Frontage Road Project

Mississippi Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood released an investigative report Wednesday that says his rival in this year's governor's race, Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, improperly sought to influence a roadbuilding project near Reeves' neighborhood.

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Judge Disqualifies Attorneys In Water Lawsuit Against City of Jackson

The City of Jackson, a defendant in a lawsuit over how it is handling the current water-billing crisis, sent out two press statements Wednesday night announcing a victory for its defense in the legal action.

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Matt Corral

Expectations grew in the 2019 Grove Bowl as University of Mississippi fans saw their first glimpse of new offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez and quarterback Matt Corral.

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Millsaps Windgate Center, USM Air Force Program and MSU GEAR UP Grant

Millsaps College held a dedication ceremony for its new Windgate Visual Arts Center on Thursday, Sept. 5.

Wednesday, September 11

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AG’s Office Releases Reeves Road Report with Reviews by Two Former Supreme Court Justices

Attorney General Jim Hood released a 43-page investigative report on whether Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves was involved in an attempt to build a $2 million frontage road in Flowood, Miss., which would have connected Reeves' home within a private subdivision to a nearby shopping center.

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#MSELEX: Reeves Says Hood's Mental Health Focus Distracts from Issues; Dems in NOLA

Mississippi Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves is pushing back against accusations that his leadership helped set the conditions for Mississippi's mental-health crisis.

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Jacksonians Must Pay for Recycling, But City Recommendations Fall Short

In the wake of the City's suspension of its recycling program, Jackson residents have limited recycling options.

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Mississippi Man Gets 11 Years for His Part in Cross Burning

A white Mississippi man received an 11-year prison sentence Tuesday for his part in burning a cross near the home of an African American family.

Tuesday, September 10

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Mississippi Launches Statewide Human Trafficking Council

To address rising human-trafficking rates in Mississippi, a collaboration of government agencies has launched the inaugural Mississipi Human Trafficking Council.

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Ken Slay

Madison-based author Ken Slay’s recently released book, “Daily Ponderances - Words of Hope, Humility and Sage Advice in 140 Characters or Less," began as a gift for Slay’s daughter, Mae Slay, on her 21st birthday.

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State News: Charter Schools Legal; OK to Sell 'Veggie Burgers'; Hughes-Hosemann Debate Ahead

Stacey Abrams, who nearly made history in Georgia's race for governor last year, is helping Democrats who are running for statewide office in Mississippi this year.

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Mississippi Board OKs 1 New Charter School to Open in 2020

A state board in Mississippi has approved a new charter school to open next year in the Delta city of Greenwood. Leflore Legacy Academy is scheduled to open for the 2020-21 school year. For the first year, the school will only have sixth grade. Plans call for later expansion to grades six through eight.

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Mississippi Gov Signs Extradition Warrant in Walmart Killing

Mississippi's governor has signed an extradition warrant for the 39-year-old man accused of killing two managers at a Walmart and then setting a fire there.

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All 8 Mississippi GOP Statewide Nominees Campaign Together

Republican nominees for all eight statewide offices in Mississippi appeared together at a campaign rally Monday, and the nominee for governor, Tate Reeves, predicted that all eight will win this fall.

Monday, September 9

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Lee Vance's Priority as Hinds Sheriff: Overhauling Pretrial Detention System

Former Jackson Police Chief Lee Vance said Friday that reforming the pretrial detention system in Hinds County would be a top priority for his administration if he is elected Hinds County sheriff in November.

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Dowell Taylor

At the Aug. 20 city council meeting, the council recognized Dowell Taylor with a resolution for being a world-renowned musician and for his leadership.

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MS Science Fest, MS-FAST Program and Mississippi Community Education Center

The LeFleur Museum District in Jackson will host its annual Mississippi Science Festival, which C Spire sponsors, from Sept. 19-21.

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10 Local Stories of the Week

There's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them.

Saturday, September 7

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Ex-Mississippi Governor Mabus Endorses Kamala Harris for President

Former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus endorsed U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris in the Democratic Party’s presidential primary in a Friday statement that her campaign sent out to members of the press.

Friday, September 6

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Amid Water-Sewer Problems, Jackson 'Millage Rate' Vote a Temporary Fix

Amid an ongoing lawsuit stemming from concerns over Jackson's water-sewer system, the Jackson City Council voted Thursday evening to not change the overall millage rate for fiscal year 2020.

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Mississippi: Veggie Burgers Must be Clearly Labeled

Mississippi is considering new rules that let companies continue to use food-labeling terms such as "veggie burger" and "vegan bacon," as long as the terms are prominently displayed so consumers understand the products are not meat.

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Focus on Money in Mental Health Crisis a 'Red Herring,' Advocate Says

Disability Rights Mississippi praised a federal judge's ruling earlier this week that found the State violates the civil rights of those with mental illness, but a leading mental health advocate pushed back on Attorney General Jim Hood's emphasis on money, rather than a well-funded systemic overhaul.

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Signatures May Get Medical Pot on Mississippi 2020 Ballot

A Mississippi group advocating for medical marijuana legalization has turned in more than 105,000 signatures to get the initiative on the ballot next year.

Thursday, September 5

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Mississippi High Court Affirms Charter Schools' Funding

The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday affirmed the state's method of using tax money to pay for charter schools, rejecting a challenge that sought to cut off local money to the schools.

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Immigration Agency Sets New Contract with Mississippi Prison

A privately run prison in Mississippi says it has a new five-year contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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Letters Show Hood Warned State About Mental Health Crisis for Years

Hours after a federal judge ruled that the State of Mississippi's mental-health system violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood told reporters that he "knew this was coming."

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Dak Prescott MSU Fundraiser, Math Power at USM and JSU Wells-Fargo Grant

Mississippi State University alumnus and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott recently raised $20,000 to support the university's T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability through his Faith, Fight, Finish Foundation.

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Reid Evans

Millsaps College linebacker Reid Evans could be the player who steps in and replaces some of the production Chandler Coleman provided last season. Evans enters his final year in position to be one of the leaders on defense.

Wednesday, September 4

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Judge: Mississippi Violates Civil Rights of Those With Mental Illness

Mississippi must make sweeping changes to its mental-health system so that people with severe mental illness have access to treatment in their own communities rather than being unnecessarily institutionalized in state hospitals, a federal judge in Jackson ruled Wednesday morning.

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Chris Wesley Moore Talks 'A Stranger Among the Living'

Chris Wesley Moore's latest movie, a supernatural thriller titled "A Stranger Among the Living," premieres on Thursday, Sept. 12, at Malco Grandview Cinema. On Wednesday, Aug. 28, Moore spoke with the Jackson Free Press about the movie.

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Jim Hood, Tate Reeves: Real Issues on Center Stage in Governor’s Race

Tate Reeves pushed typical conservative buttons on his way to primary victory. Tammy Pearson said he spent too much time "relying on his name-dropping of Trump," adding, "This is a state election, not a national election. This is Mississippi."

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OPINION: Use the Arts to Teach History, Math, More

With an arts-integrated curriculum, students have a newly found yearning for education. Such a curriculum is simple but profound—make school fun again. The result is quality education, teaching through art disciplines.

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City’s Water Crisis: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

At its Aug. 20 meeting, the Jackson City Council passed an ordinance to allow administrative hearings for water-and-sewer bill complaints. The City will hire a hearing officer to consider evidence and findings from both customers and the water and sewer business administration manager.

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‘Hispanic Project’ Seeded Dangerous Poultry Jobs

In the mid-1980s, Shannon Evans took a job at a rural poultry plant in Mississippi. There, she witnessed a parade of slime-soaked horrors, including amputations.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Media: Horse-Race Election Reporting Signifies Nothing

It is vital to stop treating elections like a fun, two-sided thrill ride, which (usually male) political reporters and campaign strategists love—and they're getting paid either way, even if your hospital closes.

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Emelie Hebert

Artist and massage therapist Emelie Hebert has a lot of land—almost 3 acres to be exact—where she creates her artwork, glass beads and ceramics, and also hosts workshops, demonstrations and other events.

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Pho and Family Business

Pho Huong opened in Ridgeland in October 2017 after the Hong sisters, Thoung and Lily Hong, decided that the area needed more diverse restaurant choices.

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Food Truck Mash-Up

Food Truck Mash-up, a food truck competition that USA Today Network first started in New Jersey in 2006, is coming to Mississippi on Saturday, Sept. 28, at Lakeshore Park on the reservoir.

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Chalking Downtown Up

While Eli Childers has been busy around Jackson painting murals for places like Coffee Prose, he has also been using another medium: chalk.

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Innovate Mississippi New Venture Challenge

Innovate Mississippi will host its 11th-annual Mississippi New Venture Challenge Pitch Competition on Thursday, Oct. 3, at the Clyde Muse Center on the Hinds Community College campus in Pearl.

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Keep on Kicking in Jackson

Two years ago, J.D. Burns and Bobbie Flanders were struggling to find a lineup for a band that would work. The original Kicking began with four members, but two of them left the band early on.

Tuesday, September 3

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Mississippi Sex Traffickers Target Children, Homeless LGBT Kids

Young people in Mississippi are among the most vulnerable targets and least visible victims of trafficking, the executive director of Mississippians Against Human Trafficking said.

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Reducing City's Health-Care Costs Is Priority for Jackson City Council

Rising health-care costs prompted the Jackson City Council to focus on ways it can help at its Aug. 22 budget meeting.

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Kenneth Vance

Kenneth Vance acknowledges the value of serving others. As an outreach worker for Grace House, a nonprofit organization that focuses on housing those in need, he is able to do just that.

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Analysis: Campaign Ads Bring Cute Kids and Scary Politicos

Mississippians could get a reprieve from political advertising now that the rush of the party primaries is over. Starting in about mid-October, though, people who are easily annoyed by political ads will have to keep their TV remotes handy.