More Redistricting Fireworks Ahead?
The battle over African American-majority legislative districts continues this week in the state capitol after a confusing series of dueling redistricting proposals failed to stick--two from the Mississippi House of Representatives; one from the Senate; and a fourth especially controversial effort by Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant.
[Dickerson] Dances with Panthers
Suddenly, the big cat began moving toward me, slowly at first, then faster...
St. Paddy's 2011 Schedule of Events
Whether you party hard or hardly party, there's plenty for you to do this weekend for Mal's St. Paddy's Parade.
Who's Who
The Mal's St. Paddy's Parade comes with 29 years of history and traditions old and new, so a cheat sheet is helpful. Here are a few of the key players and things to know as you plan.
Marching for a Cause
I'm always looking for any excuse to don a costume, so naturally, I love a parade. This month packs in two of them: The Mal's St. Paddy's Parade, led by Hal & Mal's co-owner Malcolm White; and the Zippity Doo Dah Parade, headed by former St. Paddy's favorites, Sweet Potato Queen Jill Conner Browne and her "wannabees."
The History of the Mal's St. Paddy's Parade
In the early '80s, Malcolm White had been throwing yearly St. Patrick's Day parties at the bar and restaurant he managed, George Street Grocery, the present location of the Ole Tavern on George Street. The parties were great, but he had bigger things in mind.
Parade Pet Survival Guide
When the body senses a stressor, it acts to protect itself. Stored fuels (sugars and fats) release a burst of energy, breathing rate increases sending more oxygen to the blood, muscles tense preparing for action and senses become more acute (hearing more sensitive, pupils enlarge and smell is sharper).
Enjoying the Parade with Wee Ones
If you're planning to spend an afternoon at the Mal's St. Paddy's parade with small children, you probably want to do some planning. Here are some suggestions of the things you might need to keep the whole family happy.
St Paddy's Shopping Guide
Before you head out to strut your stuff at the Parade this Saturday, why not spend some green at some of Jackson's finest, and generate some green for the city?
Stylish St. Paddy's Costumes
At the Mal's St. Paddy's Parade, you will see families in jeans, college students in sundresses, and a wide variety of people wearing outlandish costumes. Just about anything goes. To join the throngs of wildly costumed parade participants and spectators, here are some inexpensive DIY costume ideas to get you started.
O' Me, O' My, O' Tux
I hate to admit it, but I've been marching with a krewe for about 15 years, and I've never taken the time to learn its origin story. So when my editor shot me a note to ask if I would do a short piece on the O'Tux Society, I took it as an excuse to bother our Fearless Leader Malcolm White with questions I've always been too embarrassed to ask. I mean, if I'm a member, I should know this stuff already, right?
Verde Do Krewe
As a child, one's only real responsibility is to have fun, and obey our parents and other authorities. As we get older, though, things change. Careers, mortgages, families and countless other responsibilities begin to weigh down and consume our time. It's an understatement to say that growing up is bittersweet, but it is. It takes a special adult to remember how to let loose and have fun.
Parade Recovery Tips
Many folks consider the Mal's St. Paddy's Parade the best day of the year in Jackson, and we all want to make the most of it. However, after all the revelry, the next day can leave you with regrets (or at least a headache). Here are 10 tips to help you recover from the fun.
Jackson ‘White Flight' Slows In Last Decade
The release of 2010 Census data earlier this year may have been a gut-check for Jackson's leaders, but the numbers were hardly surprising. News reports, however, were quick to seize on them: Jackson's population dropped 5.8 percent over the last decade, from 184,256 in 2000 to 173,514 in 2010. Meanwhile, the five-county metropolitan statistical area--which includes Copiah, Hinds, Madison, Rankin and Simpson counties--grew 8.4 percent.
Donovan Childress
Donovan Childress sits relaxed across the table, scratching his beard and looking ahead with an expression that regularly breaks into a wide, affable smile.
Murrah Coach off the Hook, For Now
Murrah High School Basketball Coach Marlon Dorsey will not face simple assault charges for whipping basketball players with a weight belt, a Hinds County Judge ruled yesterday.
State Economic Picture Improves
In light of an improved economic outlook, a panel of state lawmakers agreed today to adopt slightly higher estimates for state revenues in the 2011 and 2012 fiscal years.
Workshops and Financing
Clarence Chapman, developer of the Timber Falls housing subdivision in south Jackson, expects a health clinic and small grocery store to be among the first commercial tenants of his multi-stage project, which he anticipates costing $400 million total. Chapman said that he has spent $56 million on the project already.
Mark LeVaughn
Mississippi Medical Examiner Dr. Mark LeVaughn was ice-cool at his introduction ceremony yesterday. Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Albert Santa Cruz officially announced LeVaughn as the state's new chief medical examiner, and pointed out that the state has not had a real chief medical examiner since 1995.
[Balko] Leviathan's Lawyers
Attorney General Eric Holder's announcement last month that the U.S. Justice Department's Office of the Solicitor General would no longer defend the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act in federal court spurred some interesting discussion among legal scholars and commentators about the decision's rationale and significance.