News

Andre Jordan

Twenty-three year-old Andre Jordan is a Mississippi virgin. That will change today, though, as the crew and cast of "Legally Blonde," in which Jordan stars, roll into Jackson for the first stop on the national tour of the show.

Hinds Supes Approve Eco-Devo Authority

In a move aimed at increasing the county's economic competitiveness, the Hinds County Board of Supervisors voted today to convert the county's economic development district into an economic development authority. The name change signifies an expanded function: The rechristened "Hinds County Economic Development Authority" can issue up to $50 million of its own bonds, backed by the county's tax collections.

Community Events and Public Meetings

Project Homeless Connect Week Sept. 20-24. The week of events is designed to educate, empower and connect those affected by homelessness in the metro area. Events include the photography exhibit "That's Not All There Is: Snapshots and Stories of the Homeless" at Eudora Welty Library (300 N. State St.), the One Stop Service Fair on Sept. 21 at Smith Park (302 E. Amite St.) from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. which provides resources for the homeless, The Mixin' It Up concert Sept. 23 featuring homeless and former homeless musicians at Smith Park from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., and the Conference on Homelessness Sept. 24 at Galloway United Methodist Church (305 N. Congress St.) from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Free; call 601-960-2178.

BP Seals Well; Gulf Coast Still Struggles

Federal officials confirmed that BP has permanently sealed the well at the site of the April 20 Deepwater Horizon oil-rig explosion, The Sun Herald reported yesterday.

Johnson Places Priorities on Hwy. 80 and Capitol Street

Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. touted his plans this morning for expanding Metrocenter Mall to contain office and retail space that would model life-style centers in Ridgeland and Flowood.

Jackson Advocates Call for Less Rhetoric; More Action

Community leaders called for an audience of more than 250 to move from rhetoric to action and to help shape a better future for Jackson's youth during Operation Shoestring's "A Conversation about Community" event last night.

Kelly Boutwell

For the past five years, diners at BRAVO! have had Kelly Boutwell to thank for the restaurant's exemplary wine list. The Millsaps graduate, 27, is leaving her post as sommelier at BRAVO! next month to change career paths.

It's the Weekend, Baby

The old WJMI slogan "It's the weekeeeeeeend, baby!" fits in well with all there is to do in Jackson in the next few days. First, get away from your personal three-ring circus and see a real circus tonight. The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus presents its "Illuscination Tour," and it is back in town at the Mississippi Coliseum. The show starts at 7 p.m., or you can go tomorrow at 2 p.m. or Sunday at 6 p.m. Tickets are $14-$45 and tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.

Hood To Appeal Judges' Death Sentence Dismissal

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood will appeal a federal order throwing out the death sentence of Quintez Hodges who was convicted of capital murder in 2001 for killing his ex-girlfriend's brother, the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reported yesterday.

Two Men Freed After 30 Years

Forrest County Circuit Judge Bob Helfich set two men free today who were convicted 30 years ago for a rape and murder they did not commit.

Supreme Court May Hear Seale Appeal

Reputed klansman James Ford Seale has appealed his case to the U.S. Supreme Court in what will probably be his final chance to have his 2007 kidnapping and conspiracy convictions overturned. On Tuesday, the court announced it will consider whether to hear the appeal during a Sept. 27 conference.

State Wrongly Fired Whistleblower

Read Johnson's Ruling (PDF, 224 KB)

Dr. Jorge Salazar

When heart surgeon Dr. Jorge Salazar performed a first-time procedure on Zavin Arellano's tiny heart last month, he took his job seriously, knowing that the baby's parents trusted him to save their infant's life.

JPD Honors Officers; Crime Drops For The Week

Read this week's crime report

County Can't Afford City Curfew for Minors

The Henley-Young Juvenile Justice Center does not have the resources to house children picked up for violating a proposed curfew reinstatement, county officials told the Jackson City Council Planning Committee members yesterday.

Above and Beyond

Washington Koen Media along with local and outreach partners invite citizens of cities across the nation to a public conversation they're calling "Beyond the Bricks," which promotes advocacy on behalf of black males enrolled in public schools.

Bond Commission Grants City's $6 million Bond

The standoff between the city of Jackson and members of the State Bond Commission over $6 million in interest-free loans for city water infrastructure repairs seemingly has ended.

A Boom of Our Own

When a tree grows, it marks the passing of each year in distinct rings—thick rings represent the fat years when it grew quickly; thin rings for the leaner years when it barely grew at all. If Jackson were a tree trunk, its ring for 2010 would be one of the thickest, yet.

Progress, Progress, Progress

The Jackson Redevelopment Authority is working to finance the initial construction of the Old Capitol Green project this month.

Scott Sisters Rally Draws Hundreds to Capitol

Hundreds gathered on the south steps of the state Capitol today to rally in support of Jamie and Gladys Scott, two Scott County women serving life sentences for a 1993 armed robbery that allegedly netted them $11 each.

Waiting for the Convention Center Hotel

Capital City Center, the long-awaited convention center hotel and multi-use development planned for four blocks of Pascagoula Street, could begin construction by the end of this year if developer MJS Realty is able to secure funding.

Peace in the MPB Valley?

After being absent from Mississippi Public Broadcasting offices for at least two weeks, Executive Director Judy Lewis resigned Sept. 8. A news release that afternoon announced her decision to leave her post after one hot summer controversy.

Hinds Sheriff Forced to Cut Jobs

Hinds County Sheriff Malcolm McMillin said he was not happy with the fact that almost all of the furloughs required by county supervisors to balance the fiscal year 2011 budget were coming out of his department.

Neil Polen

Neil Polen vowed that once he graduated from Mississippi State University, he would move away from the state and never return. But during his last year at MSU's School of Architecture, located in Jackson, Polen experienced a change of heart.

Tougaloo to Host National Education Conversation

Ashington Koen Media along with local and outreach partners invite citizens of cities across the nation to a public conversation they're calling "Beyond the Bricks," which promotes advocacy on behalf of black males enrolled in public schools. The tour kicks off in Jackson Sept. 18 at Tougaloo College and will stop at nine other cities.

Council Passes Budget Without Tax Increase or Pay Raises

Despite Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes' request, the Jackson City Council approved a city budget for fiscal year 2011 this afternoon without a tax increase or a blanket pay raise for all city employees.

Courthouse Vandals Target Obama

An act of vandalism that occurred on the front of the new U.S. federal courthouse on Court Street in Jackson may have threatened President Barack Obama.

Filming, Cupcakes and Marketing

Filming for DreamWorks Studios' "The Help," the adaptation of Jackson native Kathryn Stockett's bestselling debut novel, has largely taken place in Greenwood, but the production is coming to Fondren Sept. 23. Crews have begun facade work on a row of North State Street businesses to match the film's 1960s setting.

State Lacks Affordable Legal Services

The state needs attorneys to donate their legal services in order to overcome a shortage of free civil legal service aid for residents, Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Jesse Dickinson told reporters at the Mississippi Supreme Court today.

JFP Persons of the Day: Jamie and Gladys Scott

For their supporters, Jamie and Gladys Scott have become emblematic of a broken criminal-justice system in Mississippi. Jamie, 36, and Gladys, 38, were 19 and 21 respectively when they were arrested and charged with armed robbery. Prosecutors alleged that the two young women had masterminded the robbery of two men in Forest on Christmas Eve, 1993. In court testimony, witnesses gave conflicting accounts of how much the robbery netted, some saying that the men lost $200 and others saying the sisters each received $11. In October 1994, a Scott County jury sentenced them to two life sentences each.

Ellington