JSU Shooting Details Sketchy
Details about the shooting death of 19-year-old Nolan Ryan Henderson at the Palisades apartments over the weekend are slowly emerging, but much still remains unknown.
With Pressure On, JSU Releases Statement About Henderson Shooting
The statement, verbatim:
Amid allegations that JSU football players may have killed Nolan Ryan Henderson last weekend, as I blogged about this morning, Jackson State University just released a statement calling for information about the shooting. No one from JSU is speaking directly to the press about the latest allegations, which have taken social media by storm today (#justiceforryan on Twitter), but they released a statement that did not address the football-player allegations, which Henderson's brother, Damien, is passing around via social media, along with other friends and family, suggesting that JSU has not acted quickly enough to identify the killers. The statement is below, verbatim, and comes after the Henderson family met with JSU administration including Dr. Carolyn Meyers this afternoon at Jackson State. It's also interesting to note that Henderson's mother had agreed to go on JSU's TV-23 tonight with a JSU representative, but then backed out, saying that she plans to sue the university. This information came from Brad "Kamikaze" Franklin, the host of the program who is also a columnist for the Jackson Free Press.
Tyler Edmonds Says He's ‘Dusting Off' After 5th Circuit Loss
Tyler Edmonds, who was tried as an adult for allegedly helping his sister kill her husband when he was only 13, was rebuffed yesterday by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He and his mother, Sharon Clay, sued Oktibbeha County officials for coercing a confession out of him while one of the police officer's kept his mother out of the room with his foot against the door. Using that confession, Edmonds was accused of helping his sister Kristi Fulgham pull the trigger to kill her husband, Joey Fulgham, but later acquitted after getting a new trial.
Cassandra Wilson Brings Music to Town
Starting any new business venture in the current economic climate is risky. The fact that Cassandra Wilson, an internationally renowned two-time Grammy award winner, would stick her neck out and bring a new music venue to Jackson sings volumes about the confidence she has in her home town.
Biz Roundup: JSU Boosts Economy
Jackson State University contributes an estimated $413 million and 8,700 jobs to Mississippi's economy annually, according to a study released Monday by the university.
Arielle Wallace
A Jackson high school student has received a national award for her artwork. Arielle Wallace's printmaking skills have earned her a gold medal in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.
Cousin of Shooting Victim Says JSU Football Players to Blame
A cousin of Jackson State University student Ryan Henderson, gunned down last weekend at a pool party, is blaming JSU football players for the shooting. On her Tumblr page this morning, Shelby Davonna wrote: "My cousin Ryan was brutally murdered by members of the Jackson State University football team after he accidentally bumped into a player during a pool party. The problem could have been resolved when Ryan apologized, but instead he was jumped 3 times, chased around an apartment complex, and eventually was shot in the face."
Laurel Leader-Call to Close
The Laurel Leader-Call plans to close this week. The paper announced that this Thursday's edition will be the last for the newspaper, which celebrated its 100th birthday last year.
Jackson Rallies for Trayvon Martin
"An injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere." The crowd of protesters cheered as Ward 6 Councilman Tony Yarber gave the tweaked quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a rally cry on the steps of City Hall Sunday.
Space Explorers for a Day
At Walton Elementary School on a Friday afternoon, students in one of the classrooms sat on the floor, rapt attention focused on one of their classmates who was sitting on a replica space toilet. Outside in the parking lot, another student sat in a miniature space shuttle cockpit, which lurched side-to-side as he steered it.
Michael Brown
Michael Brown is coming back from California. A Clinton native and former captain of the Stanford University soccer team, Brown has signed with Mississippi Brilla FC.
Community Events and Public Meetings
7 p.m., Taste of Mississippi, at Highland Village (4500 Interstate 55 N.). Enjoy gourmet dishes, a silent auction and live music. Hunter Gibson and the Gators, and Pryor and the Tombstones perform. Proceeds benefit Stewpot Community Services. $65 in advance, $80 at the door; call 601-353-2759.
JSU to Hold Vigil for Shooting Victim
Jackson State University plans to hold a candlelight vigil this evening in honor of a freshman who was killed in a shooting over the weekend.
Bad Crime News Week for Rankin County
Rankin County suffered a one-two punch this week on the crime news front. Yesterday, the U.S. Attorney's office announced that three Rankin County men, Dylan Wade Butler, 20, John Aaron Rice, 19, and Deryl Paul Dedmon, 19, would be the first sentenced under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act for committing a hate crime that resulted in murder. The three men, and up to four accomplices, worked together to kill James Craig Anderson last summer.
Candidate for Second District Releases Campaign Jingle
Cobby Williams, a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, recently released a campaign video, or "jingle."
State Executes William Mitchell
William Mitchell was already affixed to the metal table with thick, heavy, tan leather straps when prison guards escorted witnesses into the execution viewing rooms at Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. Dressed in a red jumpsuit and surprisingly clean black and white sneakers--MSP's version of Converse's All-Star--Mitchell's bulky 6-foot-1-inch frame filled every available inch of the gurney that was bolted to the floor. Underneath the slab, curiously, sat a small, wooden step stool.
Three Plead Guilty to Felony Hate Crimes
The federal government used the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, passed in Oct., 2009, for the first time Thursday in a case where the defendants actions resulted in a victim's death.
Michael Thomas
Giving minority-owned businesses contracts with large organizations helps the minority-owned businesses find more jobs and grow Jackson's business community, said Michael Thomas, vice president of finance and operations at Jackson State University.
It's the Weekend!
Today, the Zippity Doo Dah Weekend continues with Sweet Potato Queen activities throughout the day at Fitzgerald's and Everyday Gourmet (1625 E. County Line Road, Suite 500); details at http://www.zippitydoodahparade.com. The Margaret Walker Center unveils the Frankye Adams Johnson Black Panther Party Papers and Exhibit at 4:30 p.m. at Jackson State University (1400 John R. Lynch St.) at Ayer Hall. The event is free; call 601-979-3935. Rooster Blues and Continental play at Ole Tavern. Chimney Choir and Wooden Finger perform at 8 p.m. at Sneaky Beans. Luckenbach plays at Burgers and Blues. Need more options? See our Best Bets.
Veterans, Students Remember Civil Rights Movement
Several events this weekend are planned to honor people who participated in the Civil Rights Movement and to remember the struggle for racial equality in Mississippi.