Legislators Return to $5.5 Billion Budget Deal
The Mississippi Legislature will return to Jackson tomorrow to reconvene its regular session, put on hold three weeks ago in anticipation of $187 million in additional federal stimulus funds. In the meantime, top lawmakers have come up with a $5.5 billion budget for the 2011 fiscal year that does not rely on those funds, which have yet to materialize reports The Sun Herald.
Crossroads Film Festival Winners Announced
The Crossroads Film Society today announced the winners of its 2010 festival competition. The festival continues today at the Malco in Madison; all the winning films will screen. See the Crossroads festival site for schedule of other film screenings. The winners are:
Downtown Trees on the Chopping Block?
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Business Accelerator Hopes to Speed Entrepreneurs
A new collaborative venture run by Jackson's New Horizon Ministries seeks to promote entrepreneurship and develop the city's existing small businesses. The Jackson Business Accelerator will connect potential entrepreneurs and current business owners with resources, program manager Michael Harris said at a press conference this morning.
It's the Weekend
Spring is in full bloom, just in time for the 10th annual Crossroads Film Festival. The weekend festival is packed with workshops, screenings and after-parties. For a complete schedule and ticket prices visit festival's Web site. or read this week's JFP issue. Tonight you can meet filmmakers at Sal and Mookie's Pi(e) Lounge from 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. At 9:10 p.m., the festival will feature a music video showcase at the Malco Grandview at 221 Grandview Blvd. in Madison featuring local musicians such as J-Tran, Law School, Storage 24, Johnny Bertram and Furrows. If you'd rather stay downtown tonight, be sure to attend "Operation Spring Fling: A Benefit for Operation ShoeString," 7 p.m. at the Mississippi Museum of Art. The event will feature food and live entertainment by Horse Trailer and Wiley & The Checkmates. All proceeds go to benefit Operation Shoestring, an organization that provides afterschool programs and assistance to low-income families in Jackson. If you need more entertainment options, check out the JFP's Best Bets.
Bill Minor
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Mississippi Roads to Blame for Wrecks
The magnolia state ranks in the top ten for road-condition related vehicle crashes, reports WLBT. The 2006 cost to Mississippi for those wrecks stands between $103.4 million and $131.4 million.
Medical Mall Pitches Projects
The Jackson Medical Mall Foundation has several large economic-development projects pending, but Hinds County appears unable to support them, for the moment. Primus Wheeler, executive director for the foundation, asked the county Board of Supervisors at a work session this morning for $1.8 million to support an expansion on the Medical Mall's northern end. The Board has already allocated $2 million in bonds that would be its most likely source of funding, to another project.
Police Search for Shooting Suspect
The Jackson Police Department is searching for a suspect believed to have shot and killed a man outside the Texaco station on North State Street last Sunday morning.
Michael Wallace
The American Bar Association is a sore topic for Jackson attorney Michael Wallace, who is now representing Mississippi in a multi-state lawsuit against health-care reform.
Tonight: JPS Hosts Moms Conference
Jackson Public Schools is hosting its first ever Moms Conference tonight planned exclusively for JPS mothers, grandmothers, aunts and other female role models, celebrating "mothers as lifesavers." The conference kicks off at 5:30 p.m. at Galloway Elementary School (186 Idlewild St.), with registration starting at 4:30 p.m.
[Modak-Truran] And We're Rolling
The independent film scene is less robust than 20 years ago when it was the ultimate cool. The major studios have a tough enough time reaping profits today, and with a few exceptions such as Participant Media, the big players have virtually abandoned personal film-making because the numbers don't add up.
A Movie Theater in Jackson?
The exodus from Jackson to the suburbs over the last several decades took a heavy toll on movie theaters inside the city limits. As more theaters popped up outside the city limits, several theaters closed in Jackson leaving the city without a place for Jacksonians to catch a flick.
Larry Emmett & Michael Parker
Larry Emmett and Michael Parker have been together for 18 years, but they couldn't get married before 2003, when Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage.
Canoodling by the Icebox
The Bradford pear trees have finally announced the arrival of spring. For my husband, Mason, and me, this means it's time to open up the windows, forgo the soups and stews of winter, and enjoy refreshing springtime recipes.
Perfect Date Cocktails
Looking to impress your date tonight? Try some of these drink recipes to get them in the mood!
Lake 255 Makes its Debut
The Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District Levee Board is considering decreasing the size and depth of its Lower Lake plan to save portions of LeFleur's Bluff Park and its adjoining campgrounds and hiking trails from inundation.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Doc Sez: These spring games are crucial for your favorite college team. It might be the only game your heroes win this year.
Stop Stalling Flood Control
It becomes more clear with every Levee Board meeting that the strategy of hard-core Two Lakes development supporters is to stall any alternative plan that could render their plan moot—even though the local levee board has voted to pursue other options. That strategy is severely flawed.
Bring Back Cartoons
When did ads and previews start taking up 30 minutes of good quality movie time? When I was a kid, cartoons preceded every movie on the silver screen. And while cartoons weren't the feature, at least they weren't advertising.