[Kamikaze] Politics, as Usual
We are a nation of extremes. And as we've been inundated with debate after debate in this Republican primary season, it has been even more prevalent. I watched as Republicans jockey to position themselves as the "most conservative" while trying to discredit the front runner, whom they deem "moderate."
Ward 3 Election Update
A week away from the Jan. 25 deadline to qualify for the election to fill the Ward 3 City Council seat, it looks like eight candidates intend to run. Here are the people who have either told the JFP they intend to run or who have filed papers with the city clerk's office as of press time yesterday:
[Barkley] Act on Your Beliefs, Guv
Forgiveness and second chances should be the cornerstones of our criminal-justice and correctional systems in Mississippi.
Pushing Kids Out
Feeding the 'Cradle-to-Prison' Pipeline
Drodriquez Williams watched the news that night about the twin towers at the World Trade Center collapsing Sept. 11, 2001. It shocked the 9-year-old boy. Every time he saw the footage of the collapsing skyscrapers in New York City, he felt the need to do something grow deeper.
‘It Can Be in Ward 3'
Jackson needs more investment in businesses and needs it quick. That's how Albert Wilson, who is running for the Ward 3 City Council seat, thinks the city can boost both its tax base and the number of opportunities for its citizens.
Jewish Film Fest: Best of the Best
Michael Steiner screened about three dozen films for the upcoming Jewish Cinema Mississippi 2012 film festival. As co-chairman of the January event, he and the other screening committee members narrowed that batch of 30-something movies down to four that they consider to be the best in recent Jewish and Israeli-themed cinema.
Walking the Thin Purple Line
"Carnage," based on the Tony award-winning play "God of Carnage" ("Le Dieu du Carnage") by French dramatist Yasmina Rez, explores civility, savagery and vomiting on art books. The movie opens without drama on a long, static shot of a local park where a group of 11-year-old boys are playing.
Welcome to the Terrordome
Just before the Senate convened on Monday, a young lawmaker tried to jam a fistful of blue and white pieces of paper into an already overstuffed bill box.
deborah Rae Wright
deborah Rae Wright, who doesn't capitalize her first name, has lived in an early 20th-century home on west Jackson's Grand Avenue for 11 years. The 59-year-old lives with her current companion, a well-behaved cairn terrier (think Toto) named Zach, whom she rescued a few years ago.
Stuart Irby Found Dead
Jackson businessman Stuart M. Irby, 58, died last night of an apparent suicide.
WLBT reports that Irby's caretaker found him hanging in his home at about 8 p.m. Police do not suspect foul play.
MDOC Handbook: No Killers in Guv's Mansion
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood will ask a circuit court judge on Jan. 23 to invalidate the pardons of at least 10 felons whom ex-Gov. Haley Barbour granted clemency before leaving office.
Elections Flap Results in New Voting Machines
Jimmie Lewis got fired today. About 20 minutes later, the Hinds County emergency operations director got his job back.
Lowest Tax Burden
Mississippi residents have the lowest tax burden in the nation. Mississippi Development Authority was quick to spread this news.
Shirley Williams
Shirley Williams, executive director of the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project, is preparing her organization to face a 31 percent funding reduction in 2012 after Congress recently voted to reduce funding to legal-aid programs.
Criminalizing Kids for Being Kids
Just as I'm finishing a story on the harm zero-tolerance policies have done to school children, I hear that Sen. Sampson Jackson II has introduced a bill in the Legislature that would require certain appropriate conduct from public school students.
Dems React to Pardongate
Haley Barbour's granting clemency to more than 200 people precipitated so much fallout that there's now fallout to the fallout.
Growing MLK's Community
In an empty lot next to a BP gas station on Northside Drive, Erika Roberts pointed to a few tall twigs poking out of the muddy ground, almost indistinguishable from surrounding grass. They don't look much like an orchard, but soon they will be blackberry bushes, blueberry bushes and muscadine vines.
John W. Franklin
For 24 years, John W. Franklin has worked to preserve African American history at the Smithsonian Institution. Last week, Jackson State University's Margaret Walker Center honored John W. Franklin with one of its annual For My People Awards.
Community Events and Public Meetings
7 p.m., Eat Jackson's Bread Pudding Throwdown, at Old Capitol Inn (226 N. State St.). The event includes a bread pudding contest, a gourmet coffee tasting, a bourbon tasting and door prizes. Raphael Semmes performs. Proceeds benefit the Proceeds benefit the Craig Noone "Rock It Out" Memorial Scholarship Fund. $40; visit eatjackson.com.
Dems Call for Bi-partisan Pardon Reform, Attack Barbour Apologists
This came last night, verbatim:
JACKSON-Rickey Cole, Executive Director of the Mississippi Democratic Party, praised Democrats in the legislature for their leadership in working to reform Mississippi's pardon process.Cole said, "Long before this media circus began, Democrats in the Mississippi House and Senate have been working to protect Mississippi families and improve our system of justice. This will mark the fourth straight year that Democrats have worked to bring openness and fairness to the pardon process. Republicans have killed these bills in the past. I hope they're finally ready to join together in a bipartisan consensus to do what is right and what the people demand."