Barbour to Challenge Health Care Reform
Gov. Haley Barbour yesterday asked Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood to challenge the constitutionality of the health-care reform legislation passed by the U.S. Congress on Sunday. If Hood refuses to sue, however, Barbour intends to file suit himself, according to a statement from his office.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
College baseball
Southern Miss vs. Ole Miss (6:30 p.m., Trustmark Park, Pearl, 97.3 FM)Men's college basketballNIT, Texas Tech at Ole Miss (6 p.m., Oxford, ESPN, 97.3 FM)Women's college basketballNCAA Tournament, Mississippi State vs. Ohio State (6 p.m., Pittsburgh, ESPN2)
Mal's St Paddy's Parade Photo Gallery #2
The second gallery by Kip Caven of the St. Paddy's Parade features nearly 100 photos of fun-loving Jacksonians.
Mal's St Paddy's Parade Photo Gallery #1
Album #1 of photos taken on Saturday March 20, 2010 in downtown Jackson by Kip Caven for LoungeList.com.
Lawmakers to Rally for Education Funds Tomorrow
House Education Committee Chairman Cecil Brown, D-Jackson, will lead a rally in support of education funding tomorrow in the rotunda of the state Capitol at 11 a.m. The rally comes in the wake of further budget cuts to K-12 education by Gov. Haley Barbour and in anticipation of budget negotiations between the House and Senate.
Show to Go On Without Sweet Potato Queens
Mal's St. Paddy's Parade founder Malcolm White told the Jackson Free Press today that he has not spoken to Sweet Potato Queens founder and author Jill Conner Browne about her plans to move the Queens' part of the annual parade to Ridgeland next year. "She's totally in charge of that: she made the announcement; she made the decision," White said. "I know probably less than you do. I have not talked with her; I don't have any details."
Mosque Construction Planned in April
The Mississippi Muslim Association will break ground on a mosque off Highway 51 in Madison next month, following the approval of a 3-to-2 vote by the Madison County Board of Supervisors today.
Community Events and Public Meetings
11:30 a.m., Stress Presentation, at Jackson Medical Mall (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.), in the Community Meeting Room is presented by the Jackson State University chapter of the Master of Social Work Sorority, Inc. Free; call 601-982-8467.
Martha Bergmark
When Martha Bergmark left a turbulent Mississippi in the 1960s, she had no plans to return. But at the top of a successful law career in Washington, D.C., she decided to return to her home state and improve the lives of others.
Thompson Provides State's Only Yes on Health-Care Reform
Of Mississippi's three Democratic representatives to the U.S. House, only Bennie Thompson of the state's second congressional district voted for H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Rep. Travis Childers, district 1, and Rep. Gene Taylor joined 26 other Democrats voting no. The bill was passed solely by Democrats in a 224-to-206 vote, reports The New York Times.
Haley Barbour: Heath Reform ‘Crammed' Down Americans' Throats
Also see: Immediate Effect of Health-Reform Bill
Shortly after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the historic health-reform bill, Gov. Haley Barbour released the following statement, verbatim:
It's Easy Being Green
Knowing that I am a soon-to-be true Jacksonian and Fondrenite is truly a dream come true. The excitement and anticipation running through my veins has been like a shot of espresso chased by a Red Bull and followed by a 12-pack of Pixie Stix! What a rush! As you may know, I was a fool and tried to keep up with the Jones' and the Naysayers until recently. My change in scenery is a dream I did not realize I wanted at all. But, education makes boys into men and the ignorant (that was me) wise.
Barbour Leads Anti-Health Reform Rhetoric
Gov. Haley Barbour and other opponents of health-care reform are making final efforts to derail an upcoming House vote on the Senate health-care package this Sunday.
St. Paddy's A Boon for the City
The roughly 70,000 visitors who will descend on Jackson this weekend for Mal's St. Paddy's Parade will bring more with them than green clothing and a strong thirst. The parade, now in its 28th year, has an overall economic impact of $6.8 million for the city, according to the Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau. The crowds that gather downtown for the parade also spend money on hotels and food and other goods, giving many city businesses some of their most lucrative days of the year.
Events: Green and More Green This Weekend
It's time for Jackson's biggest citywide party, all centering on Mal's St. Paddy's Parade, which steps off at 1 p.m. Saturday at State and Court streets in downtown Jackson. Even if you're not a parade kind of person, venues all over are stockpiling their green beer and other Irish favorites. Fenian's is holding its annual two-day indoor-outdoor St. Patrick's block party, for example, Underground 119 is having a street party, and then there's the after-parade street party at Hal & Mal's. If you can still keep going, F. Jones Corner is hosting a late-night party until 4 a.m. Start your search for weekend goings-on with the St. Patty's Sched and if you don't see what you're looking for head to the JFP Events Calendar for even more options.
Charly Abraham
Charly Abraham knows how to throw a party and for the past 22 years, he has proved just that as the main organizer for Mal's St. Patty's Parade.
Bill Adds Teeth to Stalking Law
Sitting on Gov. Haley Barbour's desk this morning awaiting his signature is a bill designed to give Mississippi's stalking laws some bite. House bill 1309 revises and strengthens the definition of stalking and creates more appropriate penalties.
City Works to Cover $2.3 Million Shortfall
The city will look at savings within each department to cover a potential $2.3 million *shortfall in sales tax estimates for fiscal year 2010, Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. told council members today.
Mims: Budget Holds No Cuts to City Services
Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. will deliver a presentation to the city council at an afternoon committee meeting today that will entail a plan to cover budget shortfalls without cutting city staff or services, city spokesman Chris Mims said.
Jackson Police Battling Burglaries
Jackson police reported 226 crimes last week, up from 177 the previous week, according to crime statistics released at a Jackson Police Department command staff meeting this morning. Officers reported 190 property crimes, up from 144 the previous week, and 36 violent crimes, a slight increase from the 33 reported the week before. Auto burglary increases occurred in Precincts 2, 3 and 4 while house burglaries rose in Precincts 1, 3 and 4.