JPD Promotes 27 to Sergeant
In a ceremony unseen in Jackson since 2002, Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. and Police Chief Rebecca Coleman presented sergeants badges to 27 city police officers yesterday during a promotion ceremony at the Jackson Police Academy.
The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Inducts Six
On June 12, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inducted seven new members Among the inductees were Teresa Edwards, Leta Andrews, Chris Weller, Teresa Weatherspoon, Gloria Ray, and Rebecca Lobo. Opened in 1999, the Hall of Fame is located in Knoxville, Tennessee, and the Hall of Honor is complemented by such artifacts as a 1901 rule book and the WVU jersey worn by Georgeann Wells, who was the first woman to dunk in a college game.
City to Move Forward on Fortification Renewal
UPDATED: This story has been updated with additional information about the project's cost and expected completion date.
Doing Good: Jackson Is Art
At first glance, the Jackson Community Design Center isn't easy to recognize; it is merely another red brick building on Capitol Street. But step inside and you'll find a creative room with paintings and various other artwork. This artistic wonderland is the work site for 30 teenagers from the Boys and Girls Club of Central Mississippi.
Sean Saville
Since the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico April 20, the entire Gulf Coast region has experienced environmental threats to human and animal populations. Many organizations and individuals have stepped up to help in the cleanup efforts. Among them is Sean Saville, the National Audubon Society's national field director, who is supervising bird clean-up efforts along the Coast for the society.
Community Events and Public Meetings
5 p.m., America Reads-Mississippi Member Recruitment at Jackson State University (1400 John R. Lynch St.), at the Sally M. Barksdale Educational Resource Center. ARM members tutor full-time during the school day, before and after school, over breaks and in the summer. Members support school and community efforts to increase parental and community support and involvement, recruit volunteers and attend monthly training to gain skills necessary to meet service obligations. Members who successfully complete 1,700 hours in one year will receive the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award worth $5,350, which can be used to attend college or pay off current qualified student loans. Call 601-979-1474.
Obama in Gulfport Today
President Barack Obama begins his fourth visit to the Gulf Coast this morning, starting in Gulfport. Gov. Haley Barbour said that he will be on hand to welcome the President. Obama will be touring the U.S. Coast Guard command center and meet with locals before he heads to Theodore, Ala., this afternoon, reports gulflive.com.
Mississippi Produce 101
From now until October (maybe a little later in the southern third of the state), Mississippi roadsides will be peppered with local fruit and vegetable stands. Many of them also sell home-canned goods such as pickles, jellies and sauces. If you happen to be on your way somewhere you'll return from soon and see one of these, stop and find out what they have. Most of the time, they'll tell you what's best and how they cook it. They're good people, you'll have fun stopping by and you're bound bring home something wonderful.
Majority White Jury in Flowers Trial
The fate of Curtis Flowers, a man on trial for the sixth time, is now in the hands of a jury consisting of 11 whites and one African American in Montgomery County where the racial make up is 54 percent white and 44 percent African American.
Report Finds Struggling Households in Hinds County
Read the report (PDF, 2.1 MB)
Where to watch The FIFA World Cup
This weekend, all eyes will be on South Africa for the 2010 World Cup. Although America's favorite sport is football, in other countries, what we call soccer is their "football." Here are a few local bars where you can watch the games this weekend:
Katrina Byrd
While walking home from her job at the YMCA on Farish Street as a teenager, Katrina Byrd noticed a man in a truck following her. Moments later, the man attempted to abduct Byrd by forcing her into his car.
Music, Fun and The World Cup
Tonight, the place to see and be seen is ArtRemix, the Mississippi Museum of Art's after-hours party. Starting at 5 p.m., the event features live music from Jesse Robinson, Nekisopaya and Will Kimbrough, along with food and drinks. Admission is $25 at the door, $20 for members. The opening ceremonies for The World Cup are also starting tonight and many local bars are offering front row seats to see it on screen. See a listing of World Cup showings here.
Gusher Twice as Big; BP Grants to Miss. Upped to $65 Million
Yesterday, government scientists announced yet again that the amount of oil gushing from the BP well in the Gulf of Mexico is at least twice as much as previously believed. The new "official" amount is now between 20,000 and 40,000 barrels per day, reports The New York Times. That means that for the past 52 days, 840,000 to 1.68 million gallons have been spewing into the sea every day.
Rocky Road to Wellness
(And that's not rocky road ice cream.) Someone once told me that the minute we humans decide on a course of action and make a commitment, the next thing that invariably happens is that all the reasons show up why we can't keep our commitments. "It's not a good time," "I don't have the money," "Whose idea was this anyway?" are among my favorites, regardless of the actual commitment. Hmmm... talk about a pattern of behavior.
Supreme Court Justice Graves Named to 5th Circuit
President Barack Obama named Mississippi Supreme Court Justice James Graves to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals today.
Food Court Wellness
I just got back from an extended weekend in Dallas with thousands of my closest friends at Project A-Kon, the longest running anime convention in North America. I have been attending this event for about a decade now (seriously? Sheesh!) and I always look forward to it as my big vacation of the year. There are so many things that pull me back each year, and seeing all my out of state (and some international) friends for one long weekend of pure chaos is just part of that attraction. Something is happening nearly 24 hours a day from Thursday though Sunday. How do you keep up with that AND stay healthy?
Fishermen Uncertain About BP Claims; Hood Demands Action
Biloxi charter boat captain Tom Becker said he filed a $40,000 claim with BP due to a drop in business following the April sinking of the BP offshore oil rig, but said the last four years offered a poor income record to file with his claim thanks to Hurricane Katrina and the economy.
Vance Urges JPD Fuel Conservation
Read this week's major crime report (PDF, 44 KB)
Dave Wetzel
To say that Dave Wetzel is a morning person would be an understatement. At a humid morning at the Jackson Zoo, Wetzel has already been awake for approximately five and a half hours.