Irby, Sameerah's, Mangia Bene
The Stuart C. Irby Company and Sonepar USA's new 8,500-square-foot Jackson facility is open for business. The retail space and distribution center, located at the corner of Silas Brown and President Street, represents $6 million in investment to the area. Irby bought international electrical equipment Sonepar USA in 2005.
Amphibian of the Day: Endangered Mississippi Gopher Frog
The Mississippi gopher frog is an eccentric little creature. The nocturnal amphibian is secretive and quite particular about where it lives: It only breeds in one pond in the world.
Anti-Abortion Groups Protest Contraceptive Rule
About 60 people in Jackson took part in a rally Friday to protest a rule that requires health insurance for most employees to cover contraceptives.
Legal Question Could Delay Execution
On Sunday, Jan Michael Brawner turned 35. Tomorrow, the state could put him to death if he doesn't receive a reprieve. Brawner has asked the Mississippi Supreme Court for a stay of execution on the grounds that a majority of the court doesn't support executing him for the 2002 slayings of his ex-wife, in-laws and 3-year-old daughter.
Joyce Jackson
On Feb. 14, Joyce Jackson finished with enough votes in the Ward 3 special election to get her name on the ballot with frontrunner LaRita Cooper-Stokes for a Feb. 28 runoff election.
Community Events and Public Meetings
Eighth Annual JFP Chick Ball July 28, 6 p.m., at Hal & Mal's (200 S. Commerce St.). The fundraising event benefits the Center for Violence Prevention, and this year's goal is to start a rape crisis center. For ages 18 and up. Seeking sponsors, auction donations and volunteers now. More details: jfpchickball.com and follow on Twitter @jfpchickball. Get involved, volunteer, and donate art, money and gifts. $5 cover; call 601-362-6121, ext. 16.
Utah Firm to Manage Three State Prisons
A Utah private-prison firm will take over running the Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility and two other Mississippi prisons from The GEO Group. Management & Training Corporation, based in Ogden, Utah, will also assume management of East Mississippi Correctional Facility in Meridian and the Marshall County Correctional Facility in Holly Springs.
CJ Rhodes
When the Rev. CJ Rhodes told his professor he wanted to study philosophy, he was met with surprise. His professor assumed that someone with Rhodes' Baptist and Pentecostal background wouldn't be interested in thinking deeply and philosophically about religion--that only aspiring Catholic or Anglican theologians did that.
It's the Weekend!
Today, the artist reception for Rod Moorhead and Betty Press is at 5 p.m. at Fischer Galleries (3100 N. State St.). Press also signs copies of "I Am Because We Are: African Wisdom in Images and Proverb." The event is free; $39.95 per book; call 601-291-9115. The Medgar Evers Homecoming continues with a banquet at 7 p.m. at Hilton Jackson (1001 E. County Line Road); actor Danny Glover is the guest speaker. Tickets are $50; call 601-948-5835. The Detectives Mystery Dinner Theatre presents the play "Marvelous Murder" at 6 p.m. at Parker House. RSVP. Tickets are $48; call 601-937-1752. Art Remix is at 7 p.m. at the Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St.). Lisa Mills and Latinismo perform. Free admission, food $5 and up; call 601-960-1515. The play "Not As I Do" is at 7 p.m. at Belhaven University Center for the Arts. Encore show June 9 at 6 p.m. $15, $12 children under 12 in advance; $20, $15 at the door; call 601-506-7377. Yellow Scarf hosts "Honoring the Masters Series, Part 4" at 8 p.m. Joe Jennings, Alvin Fielder, Dr. London Branch and Charlie Robinson perform. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door; call 347-754-0668. Snazz is at Reed Pierce's. Need more options? See our Best Bets.
City Calls on Companies to Offer ‘Fresh Start'
Jackson is making an effort to stop the revolving door in the state's prison system. One of the biggest keys, according to the Fresh Start Task Force, is helping formerly incarcerated people learn skills and find jobs.
BREAKING: New Election Ordered for Disputed Ward 3 Seat
Update: The jury just ordered a new election for the Ward 3 seat that LaRita Stokes currently holds. More details soon.
City Begins Long-Awaited Fortification Street Improvements
After 10 years of waiting, planning and discussing, a Fortification Street redesign project has finally begun.
Zachary Bird
The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Zachary Bird, a recent Murrah High School graduate, with the 296th pick in the ninth round of the Major League Baseball Draft.
Last-Minute Decisions on Sex Ed
School districts across the state have only a few weeks left to decide on sex-education policies and curricula for next year, but many have yet to make their decisions, including Jackson Public Schools.
Private Prison, Public Problems
Gail Tyree exited U.S. Highway 84 onto Hobo Fork Road and drove through the rose-adorned entrance of the sprawling Adams County Correctional Center. A female correctional officer leaving the prison's main administration building scrutinized Tyree's car as she circled the parking lot.
Melton Mentees Get Second Chance
The late Mayor Frank Melton may well be smiling from his grave over the good fortune bestowed by Gov. Haley Barbour and the city of Jackson to two of the troubled men he mentored over the years.
Whitwell: Getting Things Going
Quentin Whitwell, 39, was born in Memphis and grew up in Southaven and Oxford. His father, Robert Q. Whitwell, served as the U.S. Attorney for northern Mississippi from 1985 through 1993. After graduating from Oxford High School, Whitwell earned his bachelor's degree from Ole Miss in 1995 and his law degree from the school in 1998.
Melissa Edwards
Melissa Edwards grew up surrounded by the influence of architecture through her two uncles who work in design. She did not know of any female architects who could serve as role models, however, but that didn't stop her from entering the field.
Ward 3 Hearing Begins
The hearing to contest the February Ward 3 runoff election began Monday at the Hinds County Courthouse. The judge and lawyers spent the afternoon picking jurors from a pool of nearly 300.
Nissan Workers Move to Unionize
The United Auto Workers and the Mississippi NAACP are supporting efforts by some workers at the Nissan automotive plant in Canton to form a labor union. A full-blown campaign is underway with workers planning to petition the National Labor Relations Board to set a date to put the question to a vote.
Kristen Dupard
Years of learning how to bring poems to life for an audience paid off for Kristen Dupard this spring, as she took home a national trophy for her poetry-recitation skills.
Rep. John Lewis Rallies Dems
Sometimes, Democrats like to feast on red meat, too. At this year's Jefferson Jackson Hamer Dinner, held Friday at the Regency Hotel in Jackson, Georgia U.S. Rep. John Lewis, a civil-rights icon who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., played the role of zookeeper.
Traffic Signal Boxes Become Artists' Canvases
Some of downtown Jackson's traffic signal boxes got a fresh coat of colorful paint recently thanks to a group of local artists.
Bryan Fedrick
Bryan Fedrick was not always fond of snakes. In fact, he was afraid of snakes until age 12 or 13. Now, however, the 34-year-old is a herpetologist who has been teaching snake safety since 2003.
Community Events and Public Meetings
Eighth Annual JFP Chick Ball July 28, 6 p.m., at Hal & Mal's (200 S. Commerce St.). The fundraising event benefits the Center for Violence Prevention, and this year's goal is to start a rape crisis center. For ages 18 and up. Seeking sponsors, auction donations and volunteers now. More details: jfpchickball.com and follow on Twitter @jfpchickball. Get involved, volunteer, and donate art, money and gifts. $5 cover; call 601-362-6121, ext. 16.
City Leaders Prepare ‘Fresh Start'
A few dozen local leaders from a range of fields are working on a program to help keep people from returning to prison after leaving.
Hurricane Season is Here
Officials say Mississippi would be ready if a Category 3 hurricane was headed toward the Mississippi Gulf Coast and due to make landfall in 18 hours.
Eric Stringfellow
Eric Stringfellow has his work cut out for him. As a Jackson Public Schools public-affairs consultant, the district has given him the task of selling an unpopular rezoning plan that will close one school and require students at several other schools to transition to different locations next year.
It's the Weekend!
Today, Elizabeth Johnson and Susie Ranager's art exhibit opens at Brown's Fine Art (630 Fondren Place) and hangs through June 30. Free; call 601-982-4844. Civil-rights leader and U.S. Congressman John Lewis speaks at the Jefferson-Jackson-Hamer Dinner at 7 p.m. at Regency Hotel (400 Greymont Ave.). Admission is $120, $60 for members and $1,000 for tables; call 601-969-2913. Submerged 5.0: The Burner Brothers Bayou Tour is at 9 p.m. at Club Friction at the Joint. Admission is $10 for ages 21 and up, $15 under 21; for information email [e-mail missing]. Big Earl from Pearl and Cool Papa Bell play at Martin's. Need more options? See our Best Bets.
County-level Dems Switch to GOP
In light of President Barack Obama's affirmation of same-sex marriage earlier this month, seven former Democrats decided to go play for the other team.
Blogs
- Boil Water Lifted for Most Jackson ZIPs
- City Responds to Hinds County Emergency Declaration
- ZDD Giveaways and Festival on Mar 25, but No Parade
- Casino-Mogul Trump Going Against the Odds With 'Muslim Ban'
- Millsaps Issues Statement on Trump's Immigration Order
- Court Denies Attempts to Dismiss Election Complaint for "Straw Contest"
- Roll-Off Dumpster Day on February 4
- City: Court Rules Rankin Can Build Own Wastewater Treatment Plant
- LaDarion Ammons Announces Run for Ward 7 Council Seat
- Tornado Warning for Central Hinds, NE Rankin, Madison Counties
Video
- Gov. Reeves Answers Nick Judin's Questions
- Chris McDaniel on Morning Joe
- Word on the street: What would you like to see come to Jackson?
- Trump Rally
- Trump Rally
- More Trump Rally Footage
- Trump Rally
- Kameron Palmer On Saving Our Sons
- Joel D. Swan On Saving Our Sons
- Attorney Martin Perkins Speaks for Inmates