Lesbian Teen Sues School District over Yearbook Photo
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Mississippi filed a lawsuit against Wesson Attendance Center in Copiah County today demanding compensation for damages and attorneys' fees after the district excluded a photo of lesbian student Ceara Sturgis from the senior page of the school's yearbook for wearing a tuxedo.
Mississippi Attorney Files BP Racketeering Suit
Read the complaint
Restaurant Openings, Sustainable Planning
Chip Matthews, owner of the nightclub Fire, wants to bring spice to downtown every day of the week. Matthews opened Fuego, a Mexican restaurant, in the former sports bar adjoining Fire on Aug. 4. Fuego serves a variety of Mexican dishes, including steak fajitas and huevos chorizo, from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m., all week.
Malvina Hoffman
American sculptor Malvina Hoffman's work and writings live in the Mississippi Museum of Art's archive, but tonight the public has the opportunity to see and learn about her life during "Unburied Treasures," the museum's monthly art lecture series.
[Balko] Cops Don't Check Civil Rights at State House Door
The debate over whether citizens should be permitted to record on-duty police officers intensified this summer. High-profile incidents in Maryland, Illinois, Florida, Ohio, and elsewhere spurred coverage of the issue from national media outlets ranging from the Associated Press to Time to NPR. Outside the law enforcement community, a consensus seems to be emerging that it's bad policy to arrest people who photograph or record police officers on the job.The Washington Post, USA Today, the Washington Examiner, The Washington Times, and Instapundit's Glenn Reynolds, writing in Popular Mechanics, all weighed in on the side that citizen photography and videography can be an important check to keep police officers accountable and transparent.
A Small Victory Along the Road!
After my last blog and a poor cholesterol report from the doc, the results of my 2nd round of blood work came in letter form to my home address. "Dear Lydia, We are pleased to inform you that the result(s) of you lab work done on 07/14/2010 was/were normal. We recommend this evaluation be repeated in one year." And a little hand written note on the bottom of the letter read, "Cholesterol 165. Great job! Keep up the good work!". I lowered my cholesterol 52 points in 3 months! It's good to know that I can control this and I don't have to take medication to lower my cholesterol (maybe a few vitamins, but that's cool with me).
Report Finds 80 Percent of Oil Remains in Gulf
Read the report.
Council Planners Mull Zoning for Care Homes
The Jackson City Council Planning Committee is researching the possibility of imposing new zoning requirements on any new businesses that conform to the state's definition of a "personal care home."
Hinds Signs Old Capitol Green Support Agreement
The Hinds County Board of Supervisors approved a tentative agreement today with the City of Jackson and New York City-based developers Full Spectrum Inc. establishing financial support for infrastructure related to the proposed Old Capitol Green development in downtown Jackson. The memorandum of understanding follows a 2009 state bill authorizing a $20 million loan for the long-delayed project.
Carl Gibson
Carl Gibson has only been in Jackson for nine months, but he has already become a fixture of the city's music and arts scenes. The Kentucky native drums and performs poetry at open-mic nights around the city, so it wasn't a stretch for him to write about karaoke die-hards for the Jackson Free Press in July.
Week's Events
Monday, Aug. 16, 6 p.m., You Have the Mic at Afrika Book Cafe (404 Mitchell Ave.). The open political forum for discussing Jackson's current issues is hosted by Othor Cain and Mista Main of Hot 97.7 FM on Mondays from 6-8 p.m.
MDOT's Hall: Higher Gas Tax Needed
Mississippi Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall, a Republican, called for new sources of revenue to finance the state's highways and highway maintenance in an interview with the Better Mississippi Report. The state's 18-cents-per-gallon tax isn't enough to keep up with costs, he said, promoting a higher tax and toll roads in the state.
McKinnon: GOP Blundering on Immigration
Interesting piece from GOP strategist Mark McKinnon, who takes the GOP to task for suggesting it makes sense to challenge the 14th amendment. Aside from the other arguments discussed here at the JFP previously (an "anchor baby" is not a quick path to citizenship for the parent and being a citizen-by-birth doesn't not immediately grant you immunity from deportation), McKinnon makes a broader argument that it's un-Republican (I'd say un-American) to worry over birthright citizenship when the real issue is securing our borders.
Moving JPS to Metrocenter a ‘Game Changer'
Jackson developer David Watkins said this morning that other cost savings justify the estimated $1 million annually it would cost Jackson Public Schools to relocate its administrative offices into the empty Belk store site in the Metrocenter Mall.
State Waits for Education Jobs
House Education Chairman Cecil Brown, D-Jackson, claims Gov. Haley Barbour reacted before knowing all the details when he criticized a federal bill that will provide the state with $97 million for education, saving 2,000 teaching jobs.
Melissa Dearman
Baker Elementary School is getting kids excited to read. The south Jackson elementary school recently won "School of the Year" honors from America Reads Mississippi, a literacy program that brings AmeriCorps volunteers into schools to tutor reading and increase community support for literacy. Volunteers work with students one-on-one during the school day, using library books that complement classroom lessons. Melissa Dearman, the school's administrative assistant, received the "Site Supervisor of the Year" award for her work overseeing the school's AmeriCorps volunteers.
Dog Days of Delight
If you can sneak out of work a little early this afternoon, head over to PrissyKatz Boutique (Swinging Bridge Market, 24 Holiday Rambler Lane, Suite 305 Byram) to have author J. Auberney sign your copy of "Just a Shadow of Me" ($10 book) at 4 p.m. Or, hurry over to Lemuria (202 Banner Hall, 4446 Interstate 55 N.) at 5 p.m. where Nevada Barr will sign her new book, "Burn" ($25.99 book), and stick around to hear her read from the novel at 5:30 p.m.
Miller: Too Soon to Declare Gulf Victory
Louie Miller, the state director of the Sierra Club, disagrees with Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Director Bill Walker's assessment that it's time stop Gulf municipalities' clean-up work connected with the BP oil well.
House Panel Considers Animal-Cruelty Law
Also see: Give Me Shelter: Protecting Animals, Prosecuting Abusers