He said, BP said
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant's response to the oil spill has been anything but dramatic and has often sent conflicting messages. Bryant criticized the national media during a May 12 press conference for "overreacting" and said the oil spill was not the Exxon Valdez.
$300 Fill Ups?
Gas prices in the U.S. are around $2.90 a gallon for regular, ringing up a tidy $58 tab for a 20-gallon SUV fill up. In the United Kingdom, that same tank of gas will set you back more than $145, according to NationMaster.com.
Science Unclear on Gulf Future
Problems resulting from the April 20 deadly explosion of a British Petroleum oil rig could be nothing compared to the potential complications.
Shrimp Processors Fear for Livelihood
Wally Gollott, owner of the Gulf Pride Seafood Company in Biloxi, leads me to a large metal door at the company's freezer, down the street from where 43,000 pounds of shrimp are being peeled and packed by 30 or so workers.
How Much Will This Cost Us?
With more oil still to come, gauging the Gulf oil spill's economic impact is a tricky thing. Researchers at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi's Harte Research Institute estimate that the spill puts $1.6 billion worth of economic activity and services at risk for the Gulf region.
Just Five Years to RiverWalk?
Jackson developer David Watkins wants to move the Town Creek out of its traditional bed and replace it with a scenic, man-made canal stretching from Mill Street to the creek's Pearl River confluence.
16th-Section Logging Too Zealous?
A former Forestry Commission employee is alleging that poor oversight and a new focus on aggressive logging is making statewide timber theft easier.
Lottie W. Thornton
Poised and graceful, Lottie W. Thornton settles into a white oak rocking chair her father made. The walls of her home are lined with awards from Jackson State University's Alumni Association, and from service and teachers organizations. She points to two plaques on her dining room table.
Nunnelee Snags GOP Nomination
In yesterday's Republican primary for Mississippi's 1st Congressional District, state Senator Alan Nunnelee took home 51 percent of the vote, reports UPI. Henry Ross, former mayor of Eupora garnered 33 percent and former FOX News commentator Angela McGlowan took 16 percent.
Executive Summary Scant on Details
Read the executive summary (PDF, 221KB)
Oil Found on Miss. Barrier Island
Residue from the Gulf oil spill has washed up on Petit Bois Island, Gov. Haley Barbour announced in a press conference this afternoon. A two-mile long strand, approximately one meter wide reached the six-mile long island south of Pascagoula this morning, Barbour said. Crews have already begun cleaning up the oil, using shovels, and should finish in a day.
City Council Expands Smoking Ban
Read the city's amended smoking ordinance.
Regions Plaza Facelift, Steam Room Grille Moves
Regions Plaza downtown is set to begin $1 million in improvements this month. The Hertz Investment Group is updating fixtures and floors in the building to help attract new tenants. Duckworth Realty, which has managed the building for Hertz since late 2009, has brought on four new tenants recently, including Disability Rights Mississippi and Hayes Dent Public Strategies.
JFP People of the Day: Laura Crawford and Russ Roca
When Laura Crawford and Russ Roca quit their day jobs to bike around the country, they had only one requirement: As long as they were having fun, they would continue to travel.
[Balko] Lessons From the Death of Aiyana Stanley-Jones
On the morning of May 16, a Detroit police officer fatally shot 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones in the throat during a police raid on her home. The police were looking for a homicide suspect. They found him in the apartment above the one where Stanley-Jones was shot, where he surrendered without violence. In response, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing cautioned last week not to put the blame squarely on police.
Community Events and Public Meetings
4:30 p.m., Small Business Administration Loan Clinic at Regions Plaza (210 E. Capitol St.), in the SBA Conference Room on the 10th floor. Learn about the variety of SBA products used to guaranty loans ranging from $5,000 to $2 million as well as approved and participating lenders in the area. Space is limited. Call or go http://www.sba.gov/ms online at to register. Free; call 601-965-4378, ext. 11.
Well…Wellness
Starting on a new wellness program can be difficult in the beginning. Other than forgetting exactly what I was planning to change, I have been in the process of moving into a new house. That's been a long tiring process and has made it difficult to eat balanced meals, go to the gym and yoga. My new (and possibly haunted) house in much closer to my workout facilities. On a positive note, my arms, legs, and abs have been getting a fantastic work out from moving heavy boxes up the stairs.
My Road to Wellness
My road to wellness is a familiar one but not one I take often. It's more like the road to Grandma's house. Over the river looks so familiar. You go around the corner through the woods and you think excitedly, "Oh! We're almost there!" You love visiting Grandma's, but rarely to you stick around and live there. It's hard to stay healthy and stick to your diet plan. It's difficult to break away from work sometimes and just take a little downtime. And the cupcakes they keep bringing to work? Impossible to resist~!
Next BP Attempt to Cap Oil Could Increase Flow
In the wake of Saturday's failure of a "top kill" procedure to stem the gusher of oil in the Gulf of Mexico, British Petroleum will again attempt to cap the flow. This newest procedure, however, involves cutting the leaking pipe from the blowout preventer, increasing the flow for three or four days until a new containment dome can be put into place to allow the company to siphon off the oil, reports The Miami Herald.
Speedbumps on the Road to Wellness
The road to wellness is met with roadblocks, detours and speed bumps. I mentioned this observation to JFP Managing editor Ronni Mott last week and she agreed. I'm come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as a "normal" week at the JFP and this can make it hard to find time to get into a workout routine. Two weeks ago, we were on deadline for BOOM and last week we were trying to fit in an extra day of work because of the Memorial Day Holiday.