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City Eyes $6M in Upgrades

City Eyes $6M in Upgrades

The city is moving ahead with funding $5.8 million in contracts with Johnson Controls Inc. and Siemens Building Technologies Inc. this week.

Witnesses Praise Edwards' Leadership

Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Lonnie Edwards has made major improvements to the school district but still needs more time, witnesses in the hearing on Edwards' contract said today. Vicki Davidson, the district's director of advanced academic programs, praised Edwards "hands-on" managerial style, which she said was responsible for the improved morale and greater collaboration she sees among district staff.

Ermea Russell

On May 23, Ermea Russell will begin her term as a Mississippi Appeals Court judge. Gov. Haley Barbour appointed her last week.

Community Events and Public Meetings

Introduction to SCORE. Learn more about a nonprofit that helps small businesses grow and succeed. Free; call 601-540-5415.

Burton: Schimmel Pushed Edwards' Ouster

George Schimmel, member of the Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees, drove the board's consideration of whether to replace Superintendent Lonnie Edwards, said Otha Burton, his fellow board member, today. Testifying at an ongoing hearing on Edwards' contract, Burton said that he did not see adequate reasons for replacing the superintendent when his contract expires at the end of June.

In Jackson, ‘Always Something to Do'

Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center Manager Pam Junior dashed arguments that there is little to do in the city of Jackson.

Abigail Susik

With less than 24 hours before The Plant on Highway 80 is transformed into a participatory arts event with more than 40 projects, FIGMENT Jackson Lead Curator Abigail Susik is calm as she helps artists set up their projects.

It's the Weekend

Unleash the animal within this Friday at Zoo Brew, starting at 6 p.m. at the Jackson Zoo. Sample more than 40 specialty beers from Capital City Beverage, margaritas by Paco's Mexican Restaurant and chicken wings from participants in the Tyson's Wing Cook-off competition. The Sole Shakers will perform. Admission to the event is $20 for members, $25 for non-members. Park and ride from Coffee Bus at Highland Village (4500 Interstate 55 N.) or Barnes and Noble at Renaissance for $10. Show your ticket stub for free admission to the 9 p.m. after-party at Underground 119 (119 S. President St.). Or, film-enthusiasts and foodies alike can head to Rainbow Whole Foods Co-Operative Grocery (2807 Old Canton Rd.) for dinner and a movie. Enjoy the Oscar-winning film "Inside Job" and a vegetarian dinner from High Noon Cafe. Later in the evening, catch the funk group Good Enough for Good Times at Martin's at 10 p.m., or hurry your caboose over to a live performance by California pop-rock trio Train at 8 p.m. at the Jackson Convention Complex. Tickets for Train range from $30-50 and can be purchased by calling 800-745-3000. For more music listings, see the JFP Music Listings.

$20 Million Hold-up on Capitol Green?

Old Capitol Green developers cannot take advantage of $20 million in state bonds for infrastructure work because the state and city have not committed to the bonds.

State's African Americans See Higher Unemployment

Like many things in Mississippi, the hardship of unemployment during the Great Recession has fallen unequally on the state's population. African American workers in Mississippi experienced an 18 percent unemployment rate over 2010, according to the national think tank Economic Policy Institute report issued April 28.

Michael Hrivnak

Michael Hrivnak has spent the past few days sending miniature rubber ducks on a test swim through Smith Park's fountain in downtown Jackson. This weekend, more than 300 ducks will race to raise money for Stewpot Community Services during the Arts Alive! festival.

KiOR Heats Up

Biofuels company KiOR has yet to produce any of its vaunted crude oil substitute in Mississippi, but the startup is making big moves on financing.

McGowan Non-Profit Foots Study Bill

Flowood Mayor Gary Rhoads says the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District (aka the Levee Board) is working with a non-profit foundation backed by McGowan Working Partners for one reason: cash.

Political Ad Stirs Controversy

Many residents of both Hinds and Madison counties spoke out this week against a controversial political ad that played on fears of Jackson's "violent crime" showing prior to feature movies in Malco Grandview Theater in Madison. Malco pulled the ad from its theaters May 11.

Metro Facing Sewer Headache

Jackson's outdated sewage treatment plant is dumping too much sludge and waste back into the Pearl River, and the city is paying big bucks to get it into federal compliance.

A Helping Hand

A storage closet inside a homeless day shelter is an unlikely studio for well-known Mississippi folk artist McArthur Chism. But these days Chism is just glad to have a quiet space where he can thread the bottle caps he collects with wire hangers and make crosses, birdhouses and frames.

Marie Owens

Marie Owen wants to create a greater sense of community between her neighbors and the rest of the city through the concept of co-housing. Owen and her sister Hilda Owen attended the Cohousing Conference 2010 in Boulder, Colo., last June, and started laying the groundwork to form a co-housing community in Jackson. "(A co-housing neighborhood) is a neighborhood that's turned inside out. Our neighborhoods now are built for cars, not people," Owen says.

Mississippi Executes Benny Joe Stevens

The state of Misssissippi has executed death-row inmate Benny Joe Stevens. Sunflower County Coroner Heather Burton pronounced Stevens dead at 6:22 p.m. Stevens is the first person executed in Mississippi this year.

Malco Pulls Controversial Political Ad

UPDATED: Malco has issued a follow-up statement, ensuring that campaign ads on its screens will "not happen again." See full statement in comments below.

Arena Study Fundraising; Restaurant Makeover

Former Bombay Bistro owner Parveen Kapoor has partnered with former Jerusalem Cafe manager Victor Hugo to reopen his Indian bistro as a Mexican restaurant called Tres Amigos.

Giraffe of the Day: She-Who-Will-Be-Named

Spring, prime time for school field-trips, is a busy time for Jackson Zoo keepers and staff. On May 5, however, witnesses stood in awe as Diamond the giraffe gave birth to an 87-pound baby.

Mississippi Receives Federal Disaster Designation

<i>Verbatim statement from Gov. Haley Barbour</i>:

JACKSON - Gov. Haley Barbour announced today that residents in 18 counties affected by the severe storms, flooding and tornadoes April 15-April 28 are now eligible for federal disaster assistance.

Tea Party Weighs in on Redistricting

The Mississippi Tea Party wants a federal three-judge panel to toss a redistricting map that favors Democrats.

Tougaloo Opens Civil-Rights Center

Tougaloo College leaders and elected officials gathered Saturday to celebrate the completion of Bennie G. Thompson Academic and Civil Rights Research Center, a project eight years in the making.

Julie Skipper

A four-year downtown resident and a thriving socialite who enjoys the nightlife and all things Jackson, Julie Skipper once vowed to never return to Mississippi upon leaving for scholarly pursuits.

Community Events and Public Meetings

Oral Cancer Screenings May 9, at Jackson Medical Mall (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.). In the Oral Oncology Clinic, located inside the UMHC Cancer Institute at the Thad Cochran Center. Doctors perform full oral exams until 5 p.m. and may refer patients to head and neck specialists for follow-up. By appointment only. Free; call 601-815-1181.

Stevens Execution Set for Tuesday

The state is scheduled to execute death-row inmate Benny Joe Stevens at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the Mississippi State Penitentiary.

Mobile-Food Ordinance Finds Supporters

Jackson residents want mobile restaurants if yesterday's public hearing is any indicaiton.

Community Activist Promotes Dialogue

Brad "Kamikaze" Franklin--community activist, entrepreneur and Jackson Free Press columnist--called on the Jackson community this morning to engage in proactive dialogue and finding connections to move the city forward.

Justin Schultz

Justin Schultz believes that Jackson's arts scene is exceptionally supportive.

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