News

Gorgeously Green at JSU

In an effort to make a positive change on campus and around the community, Go Green JSU week at Jackson State University runs through Thursday, Oct. 29. "Going Green: It's Up to JS'U'" is a service learning project of the Department of Mass Communications at the university.

Servia Fortenberry

If anyone is more American than apple pie, it would have to be Servia Fortenberry. Fortenberry, 39, is a native of Magnolia, Miss., and mother to two sons, Malcolm Williams, 18, and Edward Howard, 10. She became a Jackson transplant in 1997 when a truck lost control on a rainy day and hit her eldest son, putting him into a coma and a body cast for more than six weeks at a Jackson-area hospital. The accident forced her to move to the city where she became a temporary office worker at the mayor's office, and eventually worked her way into a permanent position. She decided to stay in Jackson permanently.

Barbour Appoints Malcolm Harrison to DeLaughter's Old Judge Spot

Verbatim from Gov. Barbour's office this morning:

Jackson, Mississippi – Governor Haley Barbour today announced the appointment of S. Malcolm O. Harrison, of Jackson, as Circuit Court Judge for the Seventh Judicial District, Sub-district 4, serving Hinds County. Harrison will serve the unexpired term of former Judge Bobby DeLaughter, who resigned July 30; the term ends January 3, 2011. "I am very pleased that Malcolm Harrison has accepted this important judicial position," Governor Barbour said. "He brings extensive criminal and civil experience to the Circuit Court bench from his distinguished service as a prosecutor and as a lawyer in private practice. I appreciate his continued dedication to public service as he takes on this new role.

Barbour Joins Aerospace Alliance

Yesterday, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour joined fellow Republicans Gov. Bob Riley from Alabama and Gov. Bobby Jindal from Louisiana, in forming the Aerospace Alliance. Executives from two defense contractors, Northrop Gruman and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) joined the governors hoping to create a new multi-state aerospace corridor and secure a bid to build the $35 million KC-45 aerial tanker.

Mayor Appoints New Department Heads

Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. announced during the Jackson City Council meeting this afternoon that he was appointing Pieter Teeuwissen as city attorney and Corrine Fox as director of the Department of Planning and Development.

Parents, Educators Call on JPS to Renew Music Program

UPDATED October 26, 2009

Complaints inundated Jackson Public Schools Board members after a tie vote on Oct. 20 failed to renew a music education program that serves elementary students across the district. The roughly $300,000 program, a collaboration with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, brings professional musicians into schools to teach string performance to over 400 students. The program also brings all JPS elementary students to Thalia Mara Hall for full orchestra performances and offers smaller ensemble performances at individuals schools.

Chavez Brings the Light

The Ward 2 People's Task Force and the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement joined forces Saturday to hand out about 4,000 free compact fluorescent light bulbs to Mississippi residents. People could pick up the squiggly shaped, low-energy bulbs at New Hope Church on the campus of Tougaloo College, True Gospel Church in Forest, and at Greater Northside Baptist Church and United Christian Church in Jackson.

Lukisha Cork

Lukisha Cork, 35, knows an opportunity worth grabbing when she sees it. The Greenville mother of four boys, aged 12 to 17, will be receiving her certified nursing assistant certificate on Friday, along with four of her family members. The family can credit Lukisha for their newly acquired skills.

Community Events and Public Meetings

Go Green JSU Week Oct 26-29, at Jackson State University, College of Liberal Arts (1400 John R. Lynch St.). This week of events includes a fashion show, an art exhibit and an Arbor Day celebration. Free; visit gogreenjsu.webs.com.

Barbour to Speak at Health Care Symposium

Tuesday, Oct. 27, Mississippi College will host "The Business of Healthcare" symposium at the Jackson Convention Complex. Gov. Haley Barbour will present the keynote address, and other speakers include political columnists Andy Taggart and Jere Nash, and Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant.

Burkhalter Stepping in as Interim U.S. Attorney

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder picked federal prosecutor Don Burkhalter to serve as interim United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi today. Burkhalter, who served as No. 2 under former U.S. Attorney Brad Pigott during the Clinton administration, will replace Stan Harris, who had been serving as acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi since the departure of Bush-appointed U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton.

JSU Gets $500K Entergy Grant

Jackson State University is dedicating a laboratory and a new power-systems degree track in its engineering program, thanks to a grant from Entergy. The power company has awarded JSU with $400,000 to purchase equipment for a new laboratory and an additional $100,000 for student scholarships.

Laura Dees

Soon after Laura Dees gave birth to a baby girl named Ella Cate on May 1, 2008, Dees' daughter was diagnosed with a heart condition that thickened the valves of her heart and decreased blood flow. After several tests, cardiologists determined Ella Cate's heart function was decreasing and that she needed a heart catheterization. On the morning of July 10, 2008, while doctors were preparing Ella Cate for surgery, she passed away.

Weekend Happenings

Ever feel the need to cut up and act like a damn Yankee? You'll get your chance tonight at Sophia's, located in the Fairview Inn in Belhaven, starting at 6:30 p.m. For a mere $39, you can enjoy a traditional New England-style clambake with the Dillionaires playing in the background. Tonight is also opening night for the newest Fondren Theatre Workshop production of "The Monster Monologues" at The Cedars beginning at 8 p.m. If you'd rather get up than hunker down, head over to Touch Nightclub where DJ Icey will be spinning starting at 10 p.m. For details and more stuff to do, go to Best Bets

Update: School Board Meeting Cancelled

UPDATED October 23, 2009

The Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees has canceled a special meeting today, because "additional information is needed for a recommendation to approve Qualified School Construction Bond Projects," according to a release. The agenda was to include time for public participation "for general comments and/or proposed policy issues."

Hearing on Renaming Library Racially Divided

Two sides are fighting for a name for the library on Northside Drive, and both were divided along racial lines at today's special hearing. Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes, who heads the council planning committee, is advocating for the library to be named after African American Jackson Advocate publisher Charles Tisdale who died at the age of 80 in 2007. But members of the literary advocate group Jackson Friends of the Library want the library named after author Ellen Douglas, who is white.

Bus Strikers Want Deal Soon

Union bus drivers for Hinds County schools say the part-time pay for drivers isn't enough to keep food on the table.

Jackson Home Prices Bucking National Trend

While most of the country continues to see a drop in home prices in the wake of the housing and foreclosure crises, Jackson home prices will be going in the opposite direction. The average home across the nation will lose 11.3 percent of its value between now and June 30, 2010, predicts Fiserv, a Wisconsin-based financial information and analysis company. The company expects values in Jackson, however, to rise by 0.1 percent.

Kathryn Stockett

The Mississippi Library Association's Authors Award Committee will honor author Kathryn Stockett tonight at a banquet held in the University of Southern Mississippi's Thad Cochran Center.

Holocaust Denier Goes Underground to Ridgeland Hotel

UPDATED October 22, 2009

Holocaust Denier David Irving informed the Jackson Free Press that his public engagement, originally planned for City Hall at 6 p.m. Wednesday, was going underground at an undisclosed location, so to speak. "I've spoken with my partner, and we've decided that it would be best not to allow journalists," Irving said, remarking on the continued publicity surrounding his appearance. The Jackson Free Press broke the story Monday, Oct. 12, that white supremacist Richard Barrett was bringing Irving to speak in the Jackson City Hall. The publicity caused a national Jewish organization to ask Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. to deny the visit, and Irving to disavow association with Barrett.

State Unemployment Rate Drops Again

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Mississippi dropped to 9.2 percent in September, representing 112,500 people collecting unemployment benefits, down from 9.7 percent in August, which represented a 1 percent drop from July. The September rate is slightly lower than the national rate of 9.5 percent. The unadjusted rate in the state was 8.8 percent, a drop of 0.9 percent. The adjusted rate removes the influences of regular events such as weather and holidays.

Mike Huckabee Criticizes Government Emergency Assistance

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee used his address at Salvation Army's annual dinner in Jackson last night to criticize the role of government in assisting in emergencies such as Hurricane Katrina. "Frankly, I'd rather see the kind of help that people need come through a relief agency than necessarily just come in a check in the mailbox from the government," Huckabee told reporters before the dinner.

Parents Should Make Plans for Getting Kids to School

With school bus drivers employed by First Student threatening a strike beginning Thursday morning, the Hinds County School District is urging parents to make alternate plans for getting their kids to school tomorrow.

Weill Lone Vote Against New Chiefs

The Jackson City Council confirmed Police Chief Rebecca Coleman and Fire Chief Raymond McNulty after a brief hearing yesterday. Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes was not available for the hearing, and could not be reached to explain his absence. The remaining members confirmed both leaders with a 5-to-1 vote.

JPS Board Drops Music Program

The Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees failed to renew funding for a music education program yesterday, effectively discontinuing a 42-year-old collaboration with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. Board members voted 2-2 on renewing the program. Members Jonathan Larkin and Ann Jones voted for renewal, and Delmer Stamps and Ivory Phillips voted in opposition. Board President Sollie Norwood was absent due to illness.

Costs Mounting for Levees, Lake Plans

Legislators say the chances of the Mississippi Legislature approving funding to build levees in Jackson and surrounding counties are slim, especially since it has taken so long to reach consensus on how to mitigate flooding along the Pearl River.

Julieta Mendez

The poster on Julieta Mendez's office wall at Catholic Charities reads "Communication: Build bridges, not walls." By working and communicating with immigrants, Mendez is building bridges for people in the community.

Council Confirms Coleman as New Police Chief

In a 5-to-1 vote today, the Jackson City Council confirmed Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr.'s candidate for Jackson police chief, Rebecca Coleman. Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill was the lone dissenting vote; Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes was absent.

Rains Hurt State Fair, Helped Local Restaurants

The weather was unkind to the Mississippi State Fair last week, but the near-constant rain was a boon for one segment of Jackson: downtown restaurant owners. Fair director Billy Orr estimates that roughly 500,000 people attended this year, down from nearly 610,000 last yeareven after the addition of an extra day Monday.

Weill Challenges Mayor Over Bond Money

The Jackson City Council and Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. got off on the wrong foot at the Monday work session after Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill inquired whether the city administration was spending a portion of a recent $26 million street-paving bond on budget items the council had not approved.

Ellington