Community Events and Public Meetings
4 p.m., Jackson City Council Work Session at Jackson City Hall (200 S. President St.). The Jackson City Council holds its work session, open to the public. Free; call 601-960-1033.
Feinberg Visits Coast
Washington, D.C., attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who starts his job of overseeing the BP claims process today, is hosting three meetings on the Mississippi Gulf Coast this morning regarding payments for victims of the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster.
Mmmm Turkey
I absolutely believe a person can be bullied by food. Picture it, Jackson, Mississippi. A hot muggy August afternoon in the JFP office and a can of "Mexican Layered Dip" Pringles walks into my life. We had a good time for a short while but I had to let the relationship go, It wasn't good for me.
Getting It Together
I haven't been as consistent with my Road to Wellness goals as I should have been. Actually, I forget about them quite often. I totally forgot about finding a new hobby, I still forget to stretch in the morning because the pets are begging for their breakfast, and don't even ask me about going outside for 15 minutes. The last class I was in was very challenging, and I have a deadline looming, so thinking about anything else has been difficult to do. Therefore, I've come to the conclusion that the road to wellness is way longer than 12 weeks. For me, it's going to take much longer to learn to stop putting my needs on the back burner. I may need to just pick a goal and work on that for a while, and then I can move on to the next one. I think it would be better to meet one goal at a time than to meet none at all.
Me and My Cardio
I like three things about a workout on the elliptical:
I've developed a strong appreciation for the elliptical machine -- I'd never really used one successfully until this Road to Wellness challenge, and now -- unless they're all taken when I get to the gym -- I'm spending about 45 minutes at least four days a week on one.
City in Crossfire of Sewer Service Contract
The city of Jackson is caught in the middle of two conflicting court orders regarding its controversial sewer services contract. The orders come after an Aug. 12 appeal the city made to the Mississippi Supreme Court to retain its current provider, Jackson Water Partners, until the Supreme Court resolves a lawsuit United Water Services filed over the city's bidding process.
Browne Announces Fondren Parade Details
After announcing her decision to split from Mal's St. Paddy's Parade earlier this year, author and Boss Queen Jill Conner Browne said this morning that Fondren is the ideal location to host the annual Sweet Potato Queen homecoming and parade in March 2011.
This Weekend: Music, Sweet Music
Tonight, Jackson Free Press editor-in-chief Donna Ladd performs during the Mississippi Opera's "Dance with the Stars fundraiser" (the event is sold out but you can still donate to the Mississippi Opera by calling 601-960-2300). There's a lots of live music around town this weekend, so get ready to have plenty of places to go rock out. But in between jam sessions, be sure see the "One Fine Sunday in the Funny Pages," exhibition at North Park Mall, showing through Aug. 31. The exhibit showcases artists from around the country. Head to the Alamo Theatre (333 N. Farish St.) for The Eclectik Soul album- release concert at 9 p.m., $15 tickets; includes appearances by Sunni Patterson and Nicole Marquez. Then make your way to Dreamz Jxn (426 W. Capital St.) to see Storage 24, SMAASH and Bad Eye Mike at 9:30 p.m., $5 until 11 p.m., $10 after. Jackie Bell and Roosevelt Robinson perform at 930 Blues Cafe at 9:30 p.m., $10, and PyInfamous, Skipp Coon and 5th Child will break it down at the "Back to Basics: Back to School Edition" concert at Suite 106 (106 Wilmington St.) at 10 p.m., $10 ($5 with two JPS school supply items).
David Ringer
As a child, if David Ringer wasn't able to identity a bird, he would rush to the many books his mother had about birds and flip through them. As far back as he can remember, the Ohio native has always had a deep passion for the natural world.
Barbour Reverses on $98M for Schools
After soundly criticizing the federal Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act earlier this month, Gov. Haley Barbour has apparently reversed his decision, telling lawmakers and school officials yesterday that he will apply for funds to help Mississippi schools.
Courts Conflict on City Water Contract
Read Judge Yerger's order (PDF)
State Street Repairs; New Farish Hotel Announced
Two development projects announced today will add to Jackson's renaissance. Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. announced a $586,000 street paving project on State Street between Woodrow Wilson and Seneca avenues, and Watkins Development Vice President Jason Goree announced the national Hotel Indigo chain is planning to open a boutique hotel in the Farish Street Entertainment District.
Edwards Denies Influence on Book Purchases
Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Lonnie Edwards spent nearly an hour at a press conference yesterday sharing the story that inspired him to write a book, but skirted around specific questions on how his former school district purchased and used that book.
Linda St. Martin
Linda St. Martin got Gov. Haley Barbour's attention Tuesday when she stood up at the inaugural Gulf of Mexico Commission meeting. She soundly criticized the governor for failing to include commercial fisherman and shrimpers on his hand-picked panel addressing recovery on the Coast from the BP oil disaster.
JPD Preparing for Football Season
Read this week's crime report (PDF)
Water Sewer Hikes Likely
Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. proposed a budget that that will likely contain water and sewer rate increases. The mayor called the rate hike "modest" and said city residents would see an average $3 increase per month for water and a $1.32 per month increase for sewer, amounting to a $52 annual increase in fees.
[Dennis] Not a Guns-and-Gold Republican
Intervention is never easy. It generally implies that the subject of the intervention has an addiction that they themselves have not yet fully perceived to be a problem.
Wait: I've Heard This Before
Recently, someone sent me a link to a site set up about the old white-supremacist Citizen's Council (citizenscouncil.com)--a supposedly upstanding racist group that famed newspaper editor Hodding Carter Jr. called the "uptown Klan."
The Art of Engagement
After a day at the pool, Brad Alexander told his girlfriend Ashley Pittman that they had to go pick up a frame from One Blu Wall gallery for his mother. Alexander and Pittman entered Fondren Corner near Rooster's, and Alexander made eye contact with gallery owner Christina Cannon through the glass front of her gallery.
Green Couch, No Covers
In an old brick warehouse in downtown Hattiesburg, Paul Burch strums roots music on his guitar. Warm light bounces off hardwood floors and his comfy brown jacket as the song picks up. He breaks a guitar string but keeps playing. The cameras of "The Green Couch Sessions" keep rolling.