News

Council Approves Capitol Street Construction

The Jackson City Council approved a memorandum of understanding last night granting Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. the authority to continue to change Capitol Street into a two-way street.

Hinds Youth Center Director Resigns

The troubled Hinds County Youth Detention Center has lost its second director in one year. Clifton Strong resigned July 20, only one month after he accepted the director position. Strong follows the previous director, Darron Farr, who resigned in March after managing the detention facility, also known as the Henley-Young Juvenile Justice Center, for two years.

Neshoba County Fair Sked

The week-long Neshoba County Fair is a summer tradition of family, fun, festivities and politics in Philadelphia, Miss. On Thursday, candidates running for office kick off the political speeches, and Gov. Haley Barbour wraps things up. The speeches take place at the pavilion in the fair's Founder's Square. For more information, visit neshobacountyfair.org. Follow the Jackson Free Press for updates on the political speeches.

‘Fresh Air' Returning to MPB

Mississippi Public Broadcasting is reinstating the nationally-syndicated radio program "Fresh Air," two weeks after its decision to cancel the show for "inappropriate content" drew widespread criticism. In a statement released today, Executive Director Judy Lewis said that MPB would return "Fresh Air" to its radio schedule on Aug. 2 in a new, 9 p.m. time slot. MPB will also air notices that the show may include adult content, Lewis said.

City to Vote on Water Main Price Increase

The Jackson City Council is expected to vote on a $222,208 price increase for the installation of a 54-inch water line at tonight's city council meeting. The project is necessary to increase water capacity to the downtown area to accommodate ongoing development, city spokesman Chris Mims said.

Businesses Gear Up for Sales-Tax Holiday

For the second year in a row, the Mississippi Department of Revenue is holding a sales tax holiday in time for back-to-school shopping. From 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 30, to midnight Saturday, July 31, the state will waive its 7 percent sales tax on clothing and footwear.

Robert Dudley

Former Hattiesburg resident Robert Dudley will succeed Tony Hayward as BP's new CEO, the embattled oil company announced today. Dudley, who has been directing BP's cleanup operations in response to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, is the first American to head the British company. Hayward will step down Oct. 1, the BP board said.

Barbour to Hire Outside Counsel to Fight Choctaw Casino

Read Barbour's letter to Hood

Thompson Kicks off Economic Summit

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi's Second Congressional District, urged local governments to increase contracts with minority businesses during the Mississippi Economic Recovery and Procurement Summit this morning.

Panel Tweaks State Grading System for Schools

Mississippi's model for evaluating schools and school districts could change next year, if the state Board of Education approves changes recommended by a panel today. The state Commission on School Accreditation, which reviews the state's grading system for schools and school districts, voted today to recommend two changes to the state Board.

Community Events and Public Meetings

56th Biennial Gamma Phi Delta Sorority National Conference July 27-31, at Hilton Jackson (1001 E. County Line Road). The theme is "United in Heart, Sisterhood and Services." Visit gammaphideltasorority.com for a schedule. $300, $250 youth advisors; e-mail [e-mail missing].

Larry "Butch" Brown

Mississippi Department of Transportation Executive Director Larry "Butch" Brown's fun at the Beau Rivage casino ended early Friday morning when Biloxi police arrested him for disorderly conduct and public intoxication, the Sun Herald reported Friday.

Saints Tour Comes to Jackson

The New Orleans Saints are bringing their bragging rights to Jackson today. The "Championship Tour" will make a stop at the Jackson Convention Center (105 E. Pascagoula St.) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

JRA Mulls ‘Union Market' Downtown

The city is soliciting community input on an empty storage space across from the King Edward Hotel in downtown Jackson that could become an open-air market, dubbed "Union Market," Jackson Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Jason Brookins told an audience of the Young Professionals Alliance yesterday.

AARP: Consumer Advocate Needed For PSC

AARP state Director Sherri Davis-Garner says she wants a consumer advocate working in office of the Mississippi Public Service Commission.

Butch Bailey

Butch Bailey thinks Mississippians are missing out on something divine: gourmet beer.

Tropical Storm Stalls Work on Relief Well

Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen called for an evacuation of hundreds of workers and vessels at the Deepwater Horizon blowout site in the Gulf of Mexico late Thursday night, The Washington Post reported today.

Burns Met Death Unafraid

Moments before the executioner filled Joseph Daniel Burns' veins with the lethal drug cocktail that would end his life, Burns, his voice soft but steady, apologized to his victim's family.

Dr. Keisa Mathis

When Dr. Keisa Mathis opened an e-mail from the American Heart Association in May, she was disappointed that she hadn't received a medical research fellowship she applied for. But she had accidentally overlooked the good news: Just one year after starting her post-doctorate fellow at the University Of Mississippi Medical Center, the American Heart Association awarded Mathis a two-year grant to continue her research on the connections between lupus, renal injury and hypertension.

JPD Pushes Communication

Read this week's crime report

House Approves Safe Drilling and Cleanup Legislation

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation yesterday to make oil-spill clean up and deepwater drilling safer, the Associated Press is reporting.

‘Always a Coach'

It's not hard to tell that Brent Southern is a coach. Peppering his conversation with phrases like "when the whistle blows" and "read all the angles," the attorney describes the Hinds County Court position he is seeking as a coaching job—rewarding but with long hours.

Willis Suit Moves Ahead

Jackson resident Cedric Willis said he will still get his day in court regarding his malicious prosecution suit against the city of Jackson, though the judge has moved the court date to September.

State Faces Multiple Rate Hikes

Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney said he will refuse to grant a 44.4 percent rate- hike requested by Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance on Mississippi homeowner insurance customers. Chaney said that the Mississippi Insurance Department's actuarial analysis found the 44.4 percent rate increase to be unsubstantiated.

Women Speak Out

We asked JFP readers and domestic-abuse victims to share their stories. Here are a couple of the many responses we received. I always thought I was too strong, smart and grounded to be caught up in the cycle of domestic violence, but here I am. The funny thing is, while I was with my abuser, I defended him. I lied to myself and made excuse after excuse for his behavior, not because I condoned it, but because I didn't understand the subtleties of domestic violence.

U.S. Supreme Court Delays Execution ... Briefly

6:37 p.m. UPDATE: WLBT is reporting that the U.S. Supreme Court has denied Burns' petition.

Tiff Over Hinds TIF

The developer of a south Jackson housing development is asking Hinds County to support infrastructure developments, but at least one supervisor remains skeptical of the request.

Burns' Execution ‘Very Likely'

Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps briefly spoke with reporters at Parchman Penitentiary at 2 p.m. today.

Starting Again: Mississippi Laws Trap Women In Abuse

Claire sat with her back to the wall on the washed-out blue bedspread covered with big cabbage roses, once pink, now faded nearly to white. The neat little room barely had space for the old-fashioned wood-framed double bed, a black desk and office chair, and a high bookcase stuffed with official-looking 2-inch binders and children's movie DVDs.

Watkins Unveils Master Plan for Metrocenter

Read the master plan Powerpoint. (PDF, 1.6 MB)

Ellington