News

Barksdale Offers JPS ‘The Price of Eggs' for Supe Search

Jim Barksdale, former president and CEO of Netscape, has officially offered the school board financial assistance to hire and retain the best superintendent that money can buy.

Local Party Chairs React to Party Switchers

Political leaders at the county level can have tremendous sway in elections. A strong county chairperson can motivate loyal precinct captains to get the party faithful to the polls on Election Day, which is just as much about numbers and turnout as it is about character and ideas.

Light Bulbs and Awards

Oil and gas company CITGO provided more than 1,000 energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs to Jackson residents last weekend.

Jeff Maddox

Country music songwriter and singer Jeff Maddox has a single that's getting airplay across the United States and overseas, but so far he hasn't heard his song on radio stations at home. Maddox, 42, grew up in Pearl and lives there still, writing music and recording albums.

PERS Commission Report Delayed

Public employees and politicians anxious to see recommendations from a commission studying the Public Employees' Retirement System will have to wait a while longer.

One-lake Project Could Offer Flood Reduction

Early analyses of a proposed one-lake development along the Pearl River reveals that flood-reduction benefits are possible, said Pearl River Vision Foundation team member Dallas Quinn.

City Council Questions Farish Developers

City Council members questioned Farish Street developers about their request for $8 million in bonds during a work session this morning.

Albert Wilson

Almost as soon as Albert Wilson learned Councilman Kenneth Stokes was running for a Hinds County supervisor's position, he decided he wanted to campaign for the job of representing Ward 3. Last week, Wilson made his candidacy official.

Community Events and Public Meetings

Charity Funding Seminars. American Charity Assistance Network gives ways to fund charities, churches, and nonprofits at no cost. Also, learn how to become a paid volunteer. Call 769-233-6285.

JSU President: ‘Pay Teachers More'

Communities need to pay teachers more, says Carolyn Meyers, president of Jackson State University. "I think our whole system, nationally, is topsy-turvy," she said this morning at Koinonia Coffee House. "This is where we need our best people to do their best work, and we need to pay them."

Oberhousen Leads in Hinds House Race

Brad Oberhousen, a Democrat who is running against Republican incumbent Jim Ellington for the House District 73 race, is currently leading with 53 votes. His win could signal a much needed gain for Democrats who are fighting to hold their own in the House.

Ballot Initiatives Draw Reaction

While the proposed Personhood amendment garnered most of the attention locally as well as from national media, voters approved two other controversial statewide ballot measures on Tuesday.

Bennie Hopkins

As Bennie Hopkins prepares for his new role as the city of Jackson's director of planning and development, he reflected on what he has learned from working with Corinne Fox, who is ending her 45-year career in regional and urban planning today.

It's the Weekend!

Take time to help out a good cause this Veterans Day weekend by participating in one of the many fundraisers being held in the area. Today at the Jackson Zoo (2918 W. Capitol St.), veterans with ID get free admission. Call 601-352-2580. One Brave Night, a fundraiser for the HIV/AIDS nonprofit A Brave New Day, is at 7 p.m. at Safe Harbor United Church of Christ (1345 Flowood Drive, Flowood). Admission is $11 and up; call 601-713-3999. The Orchestras and Strings Concert is at 7:30 p.m. at Belhaven University Center for the Arts. The event is free; call 601-974-6494. See the one-act plays "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You" and "The Actor's Nightmare" at 8 p.m. at Millsaps College, Ford Academic Complex (1701 N. State St.). Tickets are $10, or $5 for students; call 601-974-1372 to RSVP. Also, Dreamz JXN hosts Can't Feel My Face Friday. Later, the Salsa Fling kicks off at 9 p.m. at Salsa Mississippi (605 Duling St.) with music from Cucho and Jesus. Saturday, the dance workshops start at 11 a.m., and the 60s salsa party is at 10 p.m. Prices are $15 for the workshop, $10 for the party, and $45 for the full pass; call 601-213-6355. Finally, Guillermo and Hellbender perform at Ole Tavern, and Mississippi Shakedown plays at Martin's at 10 p.m. Need more options? See our Best Bets

Rep. Brandon Jones Not Conceding

Rep. Brandon Jones, D-Pascagoula, posted a message on Facebook today saying he is still reviewing election totals against his opponent for the Mississippi House of Representatives, Charles Busby.

Farish to Face More Delays Without Financing

The opening of the Farish Street Entertainment District's venues could be pushed back again to the fall of 2012 if the Farish Street Group does not receive $8 million in bonds from the Jackson Redevelopment Authority, Watkins Partners Vice President Jason Goree said yesterday.

Tollison Defecting to GOP?

State Sen. Gray Tollison, D-Oxford, may switch political parties. One newspaper report speculates that Tollison's endorsement of Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant over fellow Democrat Johnny DuPree could be one indication of the rumor's validity.

Jackson Major Crimes Overview: 10/31 to 11/6

Here's a snapshot :

The Jackson Police Department released its overview of major crimes for the period between October 31, 2011 and November 6, 2011.

Claire Holley

Although Claire Holley didn't spend her childhood sitting on a picturesque front porch swapping family tales, Mississippi's culture and landscape has still managed to work its way into her pensive, country-folk music.

Mississippi House Remains In Limbo

Republicans are salivating over the prospect of taking over the Mississippi House of Representatives even as votes from Election Day continued to be counted throughout the state today. But Democrats are holding out hope that they may retain control of the House.

Angela Taylor

Angela Taylor grew up in a family that taught her to help others and be an independent thinker. "My parents were active in the Civil Rights Movement," she says. They helped establish an integrated hospital waiting room in Wayne County, and named each of their children after people in the movement.

Second Chances

Michael Williams is the man behind the movie projector at the Russell C. Davis Planetarium. He is responsible for making sure the independent art films and sky shows run on schedule without any technical glitches.

‘Take Risks; Make Changes'

Jackson Public Schools has nine months to hire a new superintendent before interim Superintendent Jayne Sargent's contract expires in July.

Redistricting Redux

Mississippi's ongoing battle over redistricting will keep going on at least into the near future.

State's Biz Climate Iffy

Gov. Haley Barbour touted his administration's pro-business bona fides for the last time in his role as state government's chief executive before a throng of mostly business folks at the Mississippi Economic Council's Hobnob event Nov. 2, perhaps engaging in a bit of legacy preservation.

JRA Considers Financing Farish Street

The Jackson Redevelopment Authority board is considering a proposal to allocate $8 million in urban renewal bonds to the Farish Street Group for the redevelopment of the Farish Street Entertainment District.

Craig Noone's Unfinished Business

People leave unfinished business. Sometimes they just move on to other projects. Or they meet with tragedy, leaving others to complete the unfinished business. It is the living who follow through on these unfinished dreams, plans and business. They are the ones who can help define the life of the deceased and leave an undying legacy.

Jim Hood Eases into Third Term

By 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, supporters at Jim Hood's re-election party were only mildly paying attention to the four television monitors showing election returns in the King Edward Hotel's banquet room.

What Craig Taught Me

I met Craig Noone the summer of 2008 at Stephan Pyles Restaurant in Dallas, Texas. I had just graduated from culinary school in Austin, moved back to Dallas and landed a dream job working for my then-culinary idol, Stephan Pyles, at his flagship restaurant in the arts district downtown.

Ellington