Whitney Barkley
Growing up, Whitney Barkley never dreamed she would be a lawyer.
Council Approves Capitol Street Construction
The Jackson City Council approved a memorandum of understanding last night granting Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. the authority to continue to change Capitol Street into a two-way street.
Hinds Youth Center Director Resigns
The troubled Hinds County Youth Detention Center has lost its second director in one year. Clifton Strong resigned July 20, only one month after he accepted the director position. Strong follows the previous director, Darron Farr, who resigned in March after managing the detention facility, also known as the Henley-Young Juvenile Justice Center, for two years.
Neshoba County Fair Sked
The week-long Neshoba County Fair is a summer tradition of family, fun, festivities and politics in Philadelphia, Miss. On Thursday, candidates running for office kick off the political speeches, and Gov. Haley Barbour wraps things up. The speeches take place at the pavilion in the fair's Founder's Square. For more information, visit neshobacountyfair.org. Follow the Jackson Free Press for updates on the political speeches.
Ridgeland Apartment Complex says "Jackson" crime has spilled into Madison WHAAAA??
In the latest in Jackson bashing news: I have a colleague who recently showed me the weekly newsletter from his apartment complex. While the actual complex will remain nameless, it IS, indeed, located in Ridgeland. Well, I thought you guys would get a kick out of something I read in said newsletter ... just as my colleague thought I would. My eyes almost popped out of my head like I was in a Looney Toons cartoon.
‘Fresh Air' Returning to MPB
Mississippi Public Broadcasting is reinstating the nationally-syndicated radio program "Fresh Air," two weeks after its decision to cancel the show for "inappropriate content" drew widespread criticism. In a statement released today, Executive Director Judy Lewis said that MPB would return "Fresh Air" to its radio schedule on Aug. 2 in a new, 9 p.m. time slot. MPB will also air notices that the show may include adult content, Lewis said.
Hedonistically Healthy
I'm not big on deprivation. Never have been, and I've been blessed to not feel like I've had to deprive myself much over the years in order to be healthy or to maintain a decent weight. Of course, I suppose I've been blessed that I'm not a big fan of many habits that are really bad for you, like eating meat or smoking. To me, those things aren't hedonistic pleasures. They are habits that offend my sensibilities.
City to Vote on Water Main Price Increase
The Jackson City Council is expected to vote on a $222,208 price increase for the installation of a 54-inch water line at tonight's city council meeting. The project is necessary to increase water capacity to the downtown area to accommodate ongoing development, city spokesman Chris Mims said.
Businesses Gear Up for Sales-Tax Holiday
For the second year in a row, the Mississippi Department of Revenue is holding a sales tax holiday in time for back-to-school shopping. From 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 30, to midnight Saturday, July 31, the state will waive its 7 percent sales tax on clothing and footwear.
Robert Dudley
Former Hattiesburg resident Robert Dudley will succeed Tony Hayward as BP's new CEO, the embattled oil company announced today. Dudley, who has been directing BP's cleanup operations in response to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, is the first American to head the British company. Hayward will step down Oct. 1, the BP board said.
Barbour to Hire Outside Counsel to Fight Choctaw Casino
Read Barbour's letter to Hood
Thompson Kicks off Economic Summit
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi's Second Congressional District, urged local governments to increase contracts with minority businesses during the Mississippi Economic Recovery and Procurement Summit this morning.
Panel Tweaks State Grading System for Schools
Mississippi's model for evaluating schools and school districts could change next year, if the state Board of Education approves changes recommended by a panel today. The state Commission on School Accreditation, which reviews the state's grading system for schools and school districts, voted today to recommend two changes to the state Board.
Community Events and Public Meetings
56th Biennial Gamma Phi Delta Sorority National Conference July 27-31, at Hilton Jackson (1001 E. County Line Road). The theme is "United in Heart, Sisterhood and Services." Visit gammaphideltasorority.com for a schedule. $300, $250 youth advisors; e-mail [e-mail missing].
Larry "Butch" Brown
Mississippi Department of Transportation Executive Director Larry "Butch" Brown's fun at the Beau Rivage casino ended early Friday morning when Biloxi police arrested him for disorderly conduct and public intoxication, the Sun Herald reported Friday.
The Way I See Things
While driving Sunday morning, I saw a church sign that read, "Life is 10 percent how you make it and 90 percent how you take it." This reminded me of another technique I learned years ago to deal with stress - rational emotive behavior therapy, also known as REBT. REBT has to do with the theory that the way a person views a situation results in negative emotions, not outside forces. For example, instead of saying, "He made me angry," you would say, "The way I perceived his behavior made me angry." That way, you can change your inner dialogue before your emotions end up in the driver's seat.
Saints Tour Comes to Jackson
The New Orleans Saints are bringing their bragging rights to Jackson today. The "Championship Tour" will make a stop at the Jackson Convention Center (105 E. Pascagoula St.) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Literate Wind Down
One of my Wellness plans was to actually sit down and
JRA Mulls ‘Union Market' Downtown
The city is soliciting community input on an empty storage space across from the King Edward Hotel in downtown Jackson that could become an open-air market, dubbed "Union Market," Jackson Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Jason Brookins told an audience of the Young Professionals Alliance yesterday.
AARP: Consumer Advocate Needed For PSC
AARP state Director Sherri Davis-Garner says she wants a consumer advocate working in office of the Mississippi Public Service Commission.