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Legislative Tab Comes in at $21 Million

Mississippians are paying a $21 million bill from the state Legislature this year, $2 million more than 2008, according to the state auditor's annual report. The 13-month session, which ended in June, shows that salaries and travel expenses alone were approximately $1 million more than the previous year, reports the Hattiesburg American.

Jackpedia Coming Aug. 12—Need Your Help Compiling It!

1. What is the best thing about living in Jackson? (Be specific! Contact info helps!)

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Two New Exhibits Open at MMA

This weekend, the Mississippi Museum of Art will unveil two new exhibits, "Name Change: One Artist, 12 Personas, 35 Years" and "Mississippi Invitational." The latter is an exhibition of 10 Mississippi artists, selected by New York-based art critic and guest curator Peter Plagens from more than 100 submissions. The show features 47 new works, ranging in media from oils to digital video.

Tougaloo Prez Says Museum Funding Up to Barbour

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Bobby DeLaughter

Former Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Bobby DeLaughter, 55, resigned his job and pled guilty to misleading authorities yesterday. The former judge had five counts against him, all representing various forms of corruption, but he pled guilty to the one count arguably carrying the lightest sentence, that of obstruction of justice. His plea means he'll be spending a little over a year--18 months--in a federal prison, and he will lose his law license.

Auditorium Now Home to Films, and a Cooking Show

The Auditorium's Executive Chef Nathan Glenn is a busy man, and is only becoming busier and busier. On Aug. 25, Glenn will film a pilot for a cooking show that he hopes will get picked up by a network. Glenn will be preparing "cool southern food," such as the Redfish Jimmy, shrimp and Grits and Creole seafood pasta served at the restaurant and music venue, which opened earlier this year in the old Duling School in Fondren.

U.S. Supreme Court Asked To Hear Seale Case

A federal appeals court has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case of James Ford Seale, who was convicted in 2007 for kidnapping and conspiracy for his role in a 1964 civil-rights murder. In a request issued today, a majority of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals asked the high court to decide whether the statute of limitations had expired when prosecutors tried Seale on charges of kidnapping two African-American teenagers, Henry Dee and Charles Moore.

Haley Barbour Recalls Reagan in Neshoba County Fair Speech

Neshoba County Fair/July 30, 2009/Verbatim

Thank you. It's great to be back at the Fair; there's no place like it. A little mud on your boots never should bother anybody over here. This is my sixth speech at the Fair as Governor, and I'm glad to have back with me on stage Marsha, my bride of nearly 38 years. And, speaking to the two dozen of you who have reminded me this morning how far I married over my head, Guys, I don't need any reminding! Y'all just pray our grandchildren look like her.

Technology Upgrades Slated For JPD

The council voted Monday to approve a federal COPS grant request that could award $750,000 to the city of Jackson for hardware sand software upgrades, including 50 precision computer mounts and modems, which will be used to install mobile computers in city patrol cars. The computers are a more rugged version of an office laptop fit for the rigors of police duty—and well capable of alerting the officer of your unpaid municipal traffic citations.

Christopher Miner

Fondren resident Christopher Miner is one of 10 artists appearing in the Mississippi Invitational, an exhibition opening at the Mississippi Museum of Art today. A panel including New York-based art critic Peter Plagens picked Miner—along with fellow Jacksonians Brent Fogt, David Lambert, Matthew Puckett and Amanda Sparks, and five others—from a field of more than 100 artists to showcase local developments in contemporary art.

One Veggie at a Time

On July 1, the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Johnson Foundation ranked Mississippi the No. 1 most obese state in the nation. The year before, CQ Press named the state the No. 1 unhealthiest state in America.

Heather Ivery

On their way to a local shelter for lunch, a steady flow of homeless people stop to greet Heather Ivery, who is sitting on a wooden bench in Smith Park.

JPS May Log Pristine Wetlands

The Jackson Public Schools board may be picking a logger in the next few weeks to clear-cut some wetlands at the end of Westbrook Road in north Jackson. The area, according to Jackson resident Jack Westbrook and local biologists, contains some rare and endangered species, as well as abnormally old trees that survived the last century virtually unscathed.

Jimmie Travis

During the violent, bloody days of the civil rights movement in Mississippi, Freedom Rider Jimmie Travis nearly lost his life. In February 1963, Travis, then 20, was driving a car outside Greenwood with Bob Moses, leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and Randolph Blackwell, voter registration director of the Voter Education Project.

Jackson Crime Stats for July 20-26

Jackson police reported 252 major crimes last week, an increase of 5 percent over the previous week, according to statistics (PDF) released at a Jackson Police Department meeting this morning. Property crime totals increased from 204 to 227, an 11 percent jump, while violent crime decreased from 36 to 25, a 30 percent drop.

DeLaughter to Plead Guilty to Misleading Feds

Suspended Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Bobby DeLaughter is expected to plead guilty tomorrow in U.S. District Court in Aberdeen. The plea will likely spell an end to a five-count indictment against the judge, as DeLaughter accepts a guilty plea to lying to federal authorities over corruption charges.

Fondren's Cosmo Tots Expanding

Swanky children's apparel store Cosmo Tots will soon expand to include clothing and accessories for women. The boutique, which carries designer clothing and accessories for babies and children, opened in Fondren Corner in 2005, and current owners Missy Massey and Liz Spratlin took over the shop in April 2009 with the hope of one day selling women's clothing as well.

Johnson Forms School Board Transition Committee

Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. announced yesterday that he is forming a diverse transition committee to "examine the organization and policies of the Jackson Public School District," according to a release from the city.

Civil Rights Museum in Trouble?

Rumors are circulating that Tougaloo College may have to abandon site development of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum near the college's campus because of funding issues.

Nunnelee Files Campaign Paperwork

Last year, conservative Democrat Travis Childers blew the socks off Republicans by winning one of the most conservative districts in the nation. Republicans saw Childers' victory over Republican Greg Davis—twice—as the end of the era where Republicans dominated national discourse, and as a foreshadowing of the upcoming presidential race, where Democratic nominee Barack Obama trounced his Republican opponent.

Plans for Tunica Hybrid Plant Move Forward

A start-up company that is seeking to build hybrid cars in Tunica County is moving forward after settling a lawsuit with a former business partner. According to court documents, Southaven-based Hybrid Automotive Corporation has made plans with the Mississippi Development Agency to invest $6.5 billion in a plant that would employ up to 25,000 people. The company plans to make hybrid automobiles, prototypes of which should arrive in Mississippi "in the near future," according to filings.

Dr. Samuel Okoye

Jackson physician Dr. Samuel Okoye received national recognition when the Congressional Medal of Honor Society awarded him the Above & Beyond Citizen Honor on March 25. The award is remarkable in part because it comes from a society of all living recipients of the Medal of Honor, the highest military honor in the United States.

Jackson has Lowest Average Gas Price

In a survey of gasoline prices released by the company Lundberg Survey earlier this week, Jacksonians currently pay the lowest prices at the pumps, nationwide. With the average price across the country at $2.49 a gallon, capital city drivers are paying around $2.22.

City Using ‘Old' Money for Paving Efforts

The city is moving forward with a massive repaving effort as crews grind out and cover sections of some of the city's most beleaguered roadways. The road work, touching down in spots all over the city, is the result of a $26.2 million bond the Jackson city council approved prior to the municipal elections this year. The council incorporated the bond into Jackson's 2009 road plan, though the bond is not financing all of the paving happening this year.

This Week's Jackson Public Meetings

Monday, July 27

* Jackson City Council work session at 4 p.m. in City Hall council chambers, 219 S. President Street.

South Jackson May See Overcrowded Classrooms

An influx of new students in South Jackson could prompt a disorienting shuffle of students between area elementary schools. Officials for Jackson Public Schools are projecting an enrollment of 30,933 students this year. That represents an increase of 346, with much of the rise coming from a new housing development in South Jackson. The development, located near Raymond and McDowell Roads, is zoned for Woodville Heights Elementary School.

Minimum Wage Increase Affects Thousands in Mississippi

Last Friday, the federal minimum wage increased by 70 cents an hour, going from $6.55 to $7.25. The increase will affect thousands of workers in Mississippi, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics, which reports that approximately 6 percent of 2008 hourly employees in the Magnolia state worked for minimum wage or less.

Fred Harris

Last night, Jim Hill High School students in Jackson gathered to honor and remember Fred Harris, the school's assistant principal and boy's basketball coach. Harris, 47, died unexpectedly Sunday of a heart attack at the University Medical Center around 5:30 p.m. .

Back-to-School Tax Holiday This Weekend

If buying back-to-school clothes and shoes are on your agenda, this coming weekend is the time to make it happen. On Friday, July 31, and Saturday, August 1, clothing and shoes under $100 will be exempt from Mississippi's 7 percent sales tax.

Johnson Sends ‘First 48' Packing

"First 48," an A&E network program that follows police for the first 48 hours of a murder investigation, won't be shooting in Jackson if Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. has anything to say about it. At a press conference this afternoon, Johnson announced he was vetoing the Jackson City Council's early June decision to allow the program to be filmed, saying he wants Jackson to be seen as a "destination city" and the show wouldn't advance that objective, reports WAPT.

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