SPLC Attacks State's School-to-Jail Pipeline
Jody Owens shared this morning an upsetting example of what's wrong with juvenile justice in Mississippi. A child suffering from depression, he said, cried out while in custody at Henley-Young Juvenile Justice Center. "Shut the hell up," the guard told him. The child later cut his wrists.
Pups Promote Self-Esteem
Looking at the squat brick building on Bailey Avenue, with its barred windows and dreary outside decor, one wouldn't imagine that it houses one of the most spectacular organizations in Jackson. The moment you step through the double doors, though, it is readily apparent that you are in the midst of something special.
Robert Barbour
Jackson businessman Robert Barbour saw an empty lot in Midtown as an opportunity to engage with the community. Barbour, who owns Star Grocery on Bailey Avenue, will turn the space into a family festival Saturday during "Mid-Town ThrowDown."
City to Host Energy Savings Program
The City of Jackson will host an Energy Efficiency Program Aug. 10 and 11 at the Mississippi Arts Center (201 E. Pascagoula St.) from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Election Confusion Results in Unknowns
The Hinds County Sheriff's race wasn't the only primary race contested yesterday. Gay Polk, Democratic candidate for state representative of district 73, says she received several calls from voters in her district who were not able vote for her because she wasn't on the ballot.
Democratic Candidates on the Road Again
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Candidate of the Day: Cindy Hyde-Smith
Now that state Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith won the Republican primary Tuesday in her bid to become Mississippi's agricultural commissioner, she's helping her daughter start a new school year.
Crime: How to Prevent It?
Last night on Facebook, I saw some folks posting about the awful crimes we've seen in Jackson of late, including the Lanier High School student, may he rest in peace. Some of the comments seem to be headed the direction we often see a year or so before mayoral elections kick in: blaming the chief and mayor for not speaking out more. Having covered—or been mired in—the Frank Melton campaign and then mayoral tenure, that kind of language makes me nervous, and just sounds political even if it's not meant to. We're gearing up to do a special issue here on big ideas about crime: how to prevent it, respond to it, talk about it, debate it in a more intelligent, proactive way that doesn't devolve into fingerpointing and the kind of sensationalism that makes it harder to actually prevent crime. As we shape that issue, I want to hear your thoughts and big ideas, as well as see any links to best practices and such that we should incorporate into our issue, and the city's approach.
City Issues Boil Water Notice
The city of Jackson issued a boil-water notice for residents at Dorothy Lake and Pine Cove yesterday due to a water line break.
Tales of a First-Grade Rocker
As my siblings and I were growing up, my daddy turned us on to The Statler Brothers, Oak Ridge Boys, Kenny Rogers and for balance, the gospel group The Happy Goodman Family. I knew the words to "Elvira" long before learning "Jesus Loves Me," but we enjoyed all types of music.
Grow Your Own Garden
Much of the food we eat has poor nutritional quality, and many of us value the quantity of our food supply more than its quality. For the sake of convenience and cost, we limit our consumption of whole foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables and turn instead to refined, processed, pre-packaged and pre-made foods.
Back to School Goodies
Back to school means a new grade with new teachers, new uniforms and sneakers. Best of all, it means new accessories and supplies. Up your cool factor a little this year with items that have character and express your personality.
Education Update
Mississippi Curriculum Test 2 scores for the 2010-2011 school year show that for the first time in Mississippi more than 50 percent of students in each grade scored proficient or above in language arts. Each year, students in third through eighth grades take the tests, meant to measure school and district performance.
Buying the News
Everybody does it. That's essentially the explanation ABC broadcaster Chris Cuomo gave for the television network's practice of paying for photographs—a tricky way of paying sources to speak.
Searching for Dems at the Fair
As Democratic governor hopeful Johnny DuPree took the stump at the Neshoba County Fair, he looked at a majority-white crowd waving signs supporting Phil Bryant and Gov. Haley Barbour.
Time for Justice
"The wheels of justice grind very slowly, but sometimes they grind in the right direction." Hinds County Circuit Court Tomie Green spoke those words to Cedric Willis March 6, 2006, as she was exonerating him of all charges against him, setting him free 12 years after his arrest.
[Stiggers] Loosen the Screws
Sometimes events in life force you to make adjustments, just like that company did when it laid you off. It's time for you to loosen those screws. Rise up and move forward. Hijacking a plane won't help you.
[Kamikaze] What We've Learned
It's frustrating. Those of us who preach progression, who practice tolerance, see it daily. Despite the Herculean efforts of most of us, we still have some among us who are not willing to embrace diversity.
[Purvis] Dealing with the Devil
DeeDee didn't attend church much, but he was a man who believed in a day of judgment.
Measuring Progress: The Evolution of Downtown Jackson Partners
Downtown Jackson Partners President Ben Allen resembled a proud father during a presentation to downtown property owners at the Mississippi Museum of Art on May 26. A video displayed images of a vast cityscape, streets filled with smiling young professionals and renovated lofts.