News

Paul Tauchar

Jackson metro business owner Paul Tauchar considers social networking the secret of his success--but instead of only using Facebook or Twitter, he prefers actual human contact.

Ex-Animal Control Officer Pleads Guilty

Former Canton animal control officer Alonzo Esco pleaded guilty today to one count of animal cruelty and one count of illegal dumping in connection with an animal-cruelty case that drew strong condemnation from animal-welfare groups.

Levee Board Hopeful on Lake 255

Members of the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District are hopeful that Mississippi's congressional delegation will strong-arm top officials at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers into reconsidering a Corps-rejected Lake 255 on the Pearl River.

Uniting Medicine and Humanities

John Montgomery and Kendra Schneider spent five weeks this summer at the University of Mississippi Medical Center wearing official hospital name badges. They talked to patients, observed tests and consulted with people all over UMMC.

Loosening the Beer Bottleneck

Kevin Slark is a beer connoisseur. He can tell the difference between a Belgian Abbey-style Leffe and a German Helle Weissebier. He is also, if not a criminal, someone who spends a good many hours in a legal gray area.

Your Rx Kit

Nothing is worse than being sick, but being sick your first time away from home can be particularly rough. Grab a container with a lid and fill it with these must-have items. Keep it nearby in your dorm, and you'll be ready to hit the books (or the parties) again in no time.

City Lowers Towing Fees

Members of local wrecker-service companies claim that the City Council's Tuesday decision to lower towing fees in Jackson will hurt their business.

Kenneth Johnson

"I like having everything at my fingertips," Kenneth Johnson says about Jackson.As the director of leasing for the redevelopment of the Jackson Square Outlet Mall, the 26-year-old is dedicated to creating even more options for Jacksonians.

Mississippi Eligible for Education Funds From Feds

Mississippi is eligible for additional education and Medicaid funds after the U.S. House passed a $26 billion state aid bill yesterday.

City Anti-Immigration Profiling Ordinance Stalls

Ward 2 Councilman Chokwe Lumumba's proposed anti-immigration profiling ordinance stalled this morning, after Jackson City Council president Frank Bluntson placed the ordinance back into the planning committee for further debate during today's City Council meeting.

City to Consider Commuter Tax

Read the 2008 Census Report on commuter data.

Millsaps Honored, New Businesses Open

The Princeton Review has picked Millsaps College in for its annual guide "The Best 373 Colleges." The list focuses on schools' academic quality and singles out Millsaps for its encouragement of classroom discussion. In addition to listing the school in the top 20 for encouraging discussion, the book also ranks Millsaps as a top-20 college for the amount of student interaction across races and classes.

Samuel Bryant

Samuel Bryant may have left Mississippi for 52 years, but he is hoping his experiences as a community organizer and artist in Portland, Ore., will help his goal of facilitating interracial dialogues in Jackson.

DMR Director Stops Oil Spill Work

Read DMR Director Bill Walker's letter

Congressional Delegation Blesses Lake 255

Mississippi's two U.S. senators and Jackson metro members of Congree sent an Aug. 5 letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, urging the Corps to include a small lake design in its preferred levees-only plan. The proposed "one lake" plan would not flood valuable wetlands north of Lakeland Drive.

Allison Goldman

The story of Judy Frieze Wright, a Jewish Freedom Rider who was arrested in Jackson in 1961, inspired Allison Goldman to educate others about the role of Jews during the Civil Rights Movement.

Community Events and Public Meetings

4 p.m, Jackson City 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.

Doing Good: Catholic Charities Host Homes

Two years ago, after seeing the need to provide safe places for homeless and runaway youth, Catholic Charities in Jackson began "Host Homes," a program that provides displaced youth with a stable environment.

JPD Mourns Officer's Death

The Jackson Police Department is mourning the death of officer Glen Agee who suspect LeTwan Smith allegedly shot Friday night.

Court Ends Melton Business Battle

The Mississippi Supreme Court closed another distant chapter in the litigious mayoral career of Frank Melton this week, when it affirmed a lower court's decision to dismiss a temporary restraining order that business owner Charlotte Reeves filed in 2007 to protect her company from demolition.

Magnus Eklund

In the early 90s, Magnus Eklund began taking yoga to ease his back pain, but the peace of mind he experienced inspired him to share the practice with others.

Education Advocates Promote Racial Dialogue

At a community forum this morning, Jackson Parents for Public Schools Executive Director Susan Womack said that the community must address race issues to over come challenges facing the majority-black Jackson Public Schools District.

Hunting, Salutations and an EP Release Party

This afternoon, sporting types--and those hoping to discover the hunter within--should head to the Mississippi Wildlife Extravaganza at the Mississippi Trademart (1200 Mississippi St.). The three-day fundraiser for the Mississippi Wildlife Federation kicks off today, showcasing hunting and fishing products from 3-9 pm. Adult admission is $7; children under 12 get in free on Friday. If you're feeling aesthetically lacking, take in some photography at Light and Glass Studio (523 S. Commerce St.) and check out the Gallery Listings for more art. This evening grab a bite at a local restaurant like BRAVO! or Julep. Find your flavor with the JFP Restaurant Listings and the Menu Guide.

Oil Stopped, Gulf Restoration Begins

Read the report on oil removal

Reeves Defends State Bond Allocations

A Jackson legislator said the city got a raw deal out of the State Bond Commission's recent decision to not allocate $6 million in interest-free bonds to repair the city's aging water system.

Barbour Repeats Health-Care Scares

Federal health-care reform will burden Mississippi with higher Medicaid costs, Gov. Haley Barbour told business leaders at a summit yesterday. Barbour claimed that the legislation would cost the state $230 million annually in additional Medicaid expenses, a charge he has made previously, without regard to the law's benefits.

Ellington