News

JPD Touts Community Policing Program

The Jackson Police Department is hailing a northwest Jackson neighborhood-watch program as an exemplary model of community policing. Introducing the Woodhaven Homeowners Association Citizen Patrol at a command staff meeting this morning, JPD Deputy Chief for Community Relations Tyrone Lewis called the group a "spearhead for the city of Jackson."

Brittany Hickman

Brittany Hickman never thought she would be a lobbyist, but when she started speaking out on legislation to advance women's rights, she realized the process was much easier than she thought.

Barbour Asks EPA to Stop Casino

Read Barbour's letter to the EPA

Edwards' Book Sales OK Under State Law

The controversy surrounding Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Lonnie Edwards, whose former Georgia school district spent $16,169 on copies of his book, isn't relevant under existing state law, Mississippi Ethics Commission Executive Director Tom Hood said Monday.

JRA Seeking $61K Delinquent Rent

The Jackson Redevelopment Authority is looking to clear up a $61,253 bill lingering from Watkins and Young PLLC for office space in the renovated Union Station.

City Balances Budget by Refinancing Debt

Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. announced a 2011 fiscal-year budget containing no layoffs, but promising significantly more long-term debt. The $313.6 million budget, which begins in October, is a $10.6 million decrease over the city's operating budget from the previous year.

JRA May Help Fund Capitol Green

The Jackson Redevelopment Authority voted today to work with a developer to form a funding strategy for an automated parking garage and communal air-conditioning unit for the proposed $1.3 billion Old Capitol Green project in downtown Jackson.

Jackson Legislators Push Barbour on Water Bonds

Also see: Jackson Singled Out for Bond ‘Lobbying'

Council Moves to Reject Profiling

An Aug. 19 Jackson City Council Planning Committee hearing on a new anti-discrimination ordinance created a stark contrast to many anti-immigrant rallies around the country.

City Purchases 311 Software

The Jackson City Council yesterday approved the purchase of two software packages that will allow citizens to make and track complaints and requests related to city services online. The two purchases are the technological backbone of the city's proposed 311 system, one of Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr.'s pledges from his campaign.

Tripp Segars

Even from an early age, Tripp Segars knew the direction his life would take. When he was 4, he went on a preschool field trip to the "Mr. Knozit Show," a local children's television program in Columbia, S.C. When Mr. Knozit asked him what he'd like to be when he grew up, Segars replied: "I want to goes [sic] to the office and bes [sic] a lawyer like my daddy."

Hood To Push ‘Spice' Bill

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood is asking Gov. Haley Barbour to include a bill banning synthetic marijuana during Friday's special legislative session.

Towing Companies Protest City Agreement

Three tow truck companies' refusal to remove a city-owned vehicle yesterday is the first casualty in a protest over the Jackson City Council's recently enacted wrecker-rotation policy, which caps the fees for towing services inside the city limits.

John Read

As the publisher and editor of Stay Tooned!, a magazine for cartoonists, John Read has turned his passion for cartoon art into a career.

New South Jackson Grocery Store Opening

The city of Jackson is set to dedicate $50,000 to transforming a former Kroger on Raymond Road into a Vowell's Marketplace. The new grocery store, a franchise of the Mississippi-based Vowell's chain, will bring 50 jobs and $10 million in sales to the city, said John Michael Holtmann of Duckworth Realty, which brokered the deal.

Mississippi Improves in Child Disaster Response

Mississippi now meets national standards to assist children during unprecedented disasters.

In a

Tow Companies Refusing City Business

Three local wrecker-service companies are refusing to tow city owned large commercial vehicles after the city lowered towing fees at an Aug. 10 City Council meeting. Trey Ward, owner of Ward's Wrecker Service, confirmed that the three wrecker services are refusing to tow a city asphalt truck out of protest against the revised city towing ordinance.

City to Vote on Renaming Ordinance; Lynch Street Grant

The Jackson City Council will likely adopt a new ordinance tomorrow that will change requirements for residents to rename city streets and municipal buildings for the third time this year.

Legislature to Tackle Development Project

The Mississippi Legislature will convene Friday for a special session to approve incentives aimed at luring a $500 million economic development project to the state. Gov. Haley Barbour announced the session Aug. 20 but gave few details on the project, witholding the company name, industry and potential locations.

JFP Elephants of the Day: Rosie and Juno

Rosie and Juno, two African elephants that have lived at the Jackson Zoo for more than two decades, will soon find new homes at the Nashville Zoo at the end of this year, the Jackson Zoo announced today.

Community Events and Public Meetings

4 p.m., Jackson City Council Work Session at Jackson City Hall (200 S. President St.). The Jackson City Council holds its work session, open to the public. Free; call 601-960-1033.

Feinberg Visits Coast

Washington, D.C., attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who starts his job of overseeing the BP claims process today, is hosting three meetings on the Mississippi Gulf Coast this morning regarding payments for victims of the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster.

City in Crossfire of Sewer Service Contract

The city of Jackson is caught in the middle of two conflicting court orders regarding its controversial sewer services contract. The orders come after an Aug. 12 appeal the city made to the Mississippi Supreme Court to retain its current provider, Jackson Water Partners, until the Supreme Court resolves a lawsuit United Water Services filed over the city's bidding process.

Browne Announces Fondren Parade Details

After announcing her decision to split from Mal's St. Paddy's Parade earlier this year, author and Boss Queen Jill Conner Browne said this morning that Fondren is the ideal location to host the annual Sweet Potato Queen homecoming and parade in March 2011.

This Weekend: Music, Sweet Music

Tonight, Jackson Free Press editor-in-chief Donna Ladd performs during the Mississippi Opera's "Dance with the Stars fundraiser" (the event is sold out but you can still donate to the Mississippi Opera by calling 601-960-2300). There's a lots of live music around town this weekend, so get ready to have plenty of places to go rock out. But in between jam sessions, be sure see the "One Fine Sunday in the Funny Pages," exhibition at North Park Mall, showing through Aug. 31. The exhibit showcases artists from around the country. Head to the Alamo Theatre (333 N. Farish St.) for The Eclectik Soul album- release concert at 9 p.m., $15 tickets; includes appearances by Sunni Patterson and Nicole Marquez. Then make your way to Dreamz Jxn (426 W. Capital St.) to see Storage 24, SMAASH and Bad Eye Mike at 9:30 p.m., $5 until 11 p.m., $10 after. Jackie Bell and Roosevelt Robinson perform at 930 Blues Cafe at 9:30 p.m., $10, and PyInfamous, Skipp Coon and 5th Child will break it down at the "Back to Basics: Back to School Edition" concert at Suite 106 (106 Wilmington St.) at 10 p.m., $10 ($5 with two JPS school supply items).

David Ringer

As a child, if David Ringer wasn't able to identity a bird, he would rush to the many books his mother had about birds and flip through them. As far back as he can remember, the Ohio native has always had a deep passion for the natural world.

Barbour Reverses on $98M for Schools

After soundly criticizing the federal Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act earlier this month, Gov. Haley Barbour has apparently reversed his decision, telling lawmakers and school officials yesterday that he will apply for funds to help Mississippi schools.

Courts Conflict on City Water Contract

Read Judge Yerger's order (PDF)

State Street Repairs; New Farish Hotel Announced

Two development projects announced today will add to Jackson's renaissance. Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. announced a $586,000 street paving project on State Street between Woodrow Wilson and Seneca avenues, and Watkins Development Vice President Jason Goree announced the national Hotel Indigo chain is planning to open a boutique hotel in the Farish Street Entertainment District.

Edwards Denies Influence on Book Purchases

Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Lonnie Edwards spent nearly an hour at a press conference yesterday sharing the story that inspired him to write a book, but skirted around specific questions on how his former school district purchased and used that book.

Ellington