News

Gambling Remains a State Growth Industry

Despite tough times in Mississippi, casino gambling revenue saw another increase last month. Players lost $232.9 million in March, according to an Associated Press report published on Forbes.com, up from $216.5 million in February.

Dry Rankin May Vote To Get Wet

Dry sections of Pearl and Flowood may see liquor sales soon, as Gov. Haley Barbour signed a bill that precedes putting the issue to county voters.

Minor's Appeal Continues

Minor, who is serving 11 years for judicial corruption, is appealing his conviction on the argument that the federal Justice Department under former-President George Bush and former-U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales steered prosecutions against Democrat politicians and fundraisers like Minor in an attempt to swing elections toward Republicans.

Ole Miss Coach Pleads Guilty, Will Keep Job

Ole Miss basketball coach Andy Kennedy pleaded guilty Monday in Cincinnati to a charge of disorderly conduct. UM athletic director Pete Boone said that Kennedy will keep his job. The charge stemmed from a confrontation between Kennedy and a taxi driver last December.

Survey Puts Crisler, Harvey Johnson in the Lead

Washington, D.C. based Democratic political consultants Zata|3 have completed a fourth survey on the Democratic slate of mayoral candidates in Jackson. Brad Chism, president of the company, said in an e-mail that 515 voters responded to a survey conducted last Friday, April 17, providing a 5 percent margin of error.

Mayoral Candidates Speak with Voters

This Thursday, April 23, the Jackson Free Press is co-sponsoring a mayoral debate at the Jackson Convention Complex beginning at 7 p.m.. Submit your questions and get more information in this story. For tickets, contact [e-mail missing] or the Jackson Progressives at [e-mail missing].

Sesquipedalian Delight

In "Alphabet Juice" (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008, $25), Roy Blount Jr. combs through the English language from its roots to its modern tips, and sweeps it into an up 'do of humorous and insightful sounds, usages, commands and complaints.

MDOT Adopts Twitter

Twitter is taking Mississippi by storm. Literally.

Carrie Adams, spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation says her agency will be tweeting evacuees during the upcoming hurricane season, beginning June 1, to alert them with route information.

Mississippi Foreclosures Buck National Trend

New foreclosures in the Magnolia State remain relatively low despite other states reporting rates as high as one in every 55 homes. Mississippi foreclosures fell last month, in fact, by 25 percent, while nationally, foreclosures increased by 24 percent in the first three months of 2009. That statistic represents another 804,000 families losing their homes, bringing the national total to nearly 2 million.

Eclipsing Slave History

America's economy was built largely on the backs of slaves, and the South's "peculiar institution" affected America's cultural development for decades. So, the story of the generation of black Americans that emerged just after slavery ended should make for one of the country's most enriching narratives.

From Taxes to Integration: Tea Partiers Decry Federal Meddling

The local version of nationally coordinated Republican tea parties Wednesday offered plenty of red meat—from cries against "socialism" to a speech using racial integration as an example of how federal meddling didn't work.

Gannett Profits Down 60 Percent

Gannett released its first quarter profits this morning, showing earns fell by 60 percent over the same quarter last year, "slightly surpassing diminished expectations" on Wall Street, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Barbour Signs Bill to Fund Cybercrime Unit

Yesterday, Gov. Haley Barbour signed Senate Bill 2978 into law. Mississippi's Attorney General Jim Hood advocated for the bill, which adds $1 to the fines for some misdemeanors and felonies. That dollar will go to fund Hood's cybercrime unit.

Submit Questions, Get Tickets for April 23 Mayoral Debate Now!

The Jackson Free Press is a sponsor of the April 23 debate featuring Democratic candidates for mayor of Jackson at the Jackson Convention Complex. You can watch a feed of the debate here at jacksonfreepress.com, as well as on the Web site of television sponsor, 16 WAPT, which will also broadcast the debate on Channel 16-2. It will begin at 7 p.m. Moderator Scott Simmons will use questions submitted by Jackson residents; please submit your questions below, or e-mail them to [e-mail missing]. We suggest open-ended rather than yes-or-no questions. Candidates and other sponsors will not see the questions chosen in advance of the debate.

Contractor Sues Toyota, Barbour

A Jackson-based contractor is suing Gov. Haley Barbour, the Mississippi Development Authority and Toyota for denying it the opportunity to bid on a lucrative contract for the $1.2 billion Toyota Prius plant in Blue Springs.

The 2009 JFP Interview with John Jones: 21st Century Man

John Jones is probably one of the most scientifically versed candidates to ever run for mayor of Jackson. Jones' resume is longer than some small-town Mississippi phone books, with experience in electronics training to field engineering, and from air-traffic control to RADAR engineering.

Robert Day

After shuffling the deck of Bicycle playing cards multiple times, magician Robert Day was prepared to choose my card. Judging by the complexity of this "illusion," I was sure he would fail.

Squeezed by Taxes? You're Not Alone

Chewing some gristle on tax day? Here's a bit of news for you. Mississippi's two Republican senators in Washington, D.C., Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker, voted for another tax break for the über-wealthy this month, voting to raise the full exemption on inheritances from $7 million to $10 million per couple and to drop the top rate on fortunes over $10 million from 45 percent to 35 percent.

The 2009 JFP Interview With Faye Peterson

Faye Peterson dropped out of the Jackson mayoral race last week, though some joke she more likely dived out the window just to get away from the crowd.

Feds to Pay Recio's Legal Fees

The federal government will take up the burden of Michael Recio's mounting legal expenses. Cynthia Stewart, Recio's attorney, requested that the court appoint her as a public defender, and yesterday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda Anderson granted her request. Recio is the former bodyguard of Mayor Frank Melton, and is Melton's co-defendant in a federal case based on their roles in the 2006 destruction of a Ridgeway Street duplex.

Jackson Crime Stats for April 6-12

Data for next week will be available Wednesday, April 22.

Major crimes in Jackson decreased again last week, according to Jackson Police Department data released Wednesday. The ComStat report (PDF) for April 6-12 shows a 7.7 percent decrease in major crimes from the previous week, with 13 fewer violent crimes and 3 fewer property crimes. Precincts 1 and 3, in South and Northwest Jackson, respectively, reported decreases in property and violent crime. Precinct 4, in Northeast Jackson, reported a decreased in auto burglaries, especially along the I-55 corridor, where 10 occurred the previous week and only 2 took place last week. the precinct experienced an increase in auto thefts and armed robberies, however. Precinct 2, in West Jackson, reported 13 more property crimes than the previous week and 6 violent crimes, down from 7 in the first week of April.

Last Chance for Free Tax Help

[verbatim] Time is running out for you to file your taxes. The Jackson Medical Mall Foundation (JMMF) and United Way are making it so simple for you to meet the deadline this year. Join us for the final day of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). IRS-certified preparers will be at Center Stage of the Jackson Medical Mall Thad Cochran Center on Wednesday, April 15th from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. You qualify for this FREE program if you or your family's total household income is less than $42,000 a year.

City Election Overview: Wards 3 and 4

Ward 3 stretches across West Jackson, from north of Chastain Middle School to the Poindexter Park neighborhood in the south. With a longtime incumbent, the Ward 3 race is small; only two candidates are challenging Councilman Kenneth Stokes.

Mississippi Passes Tough Price Gouging Law

In the wake of last year's skyrocketing prices at the pumps, Gov. Haley Barbour has signed a bill stiffening penalties for gasoline price gouging. The bill, SB 2032, increases jail time and fines, and bans those found guilty of gouging from selling or distributing gasoline in Mississippi.

Paul Minor's Wife Dies Without Him

Also see: Dem At Your Own Risk

Texting Ban Affects Only Teens

A new bill signed into law by Gov. Haley Barbour last week mandates that teens under 18 with an intermediate license or learner's permit cannot text friends and family while they are behind the wheel.

City Council Forums Begin Tonight

Jackson ABC affiliate station, WAPT, is co-sponsoring several forums/debates for Jackson City Council candidates beginning tonight and running through April 30. The schedule, according to the WAPT Web site is:

Over-Hyping Entergy Win

Republican critics of Attorney General Jim Hood are celebrating a Louisiana Supreme Court decision reducing the fine that Entergy New Orleans has to pay for overcharging ratepayers. Entergy New Orleans is a subsidiary of Entergy Inc., which the state of Mississippi is currently suing for overcharging ratepayers.

Three Lead in Third Mayoral Survey

Zata|3 completed a third Democratic mayoral survey last Friday, April 10. In an e-mail, Brad Chism, president of the company, said "not much changed in a week" since the second survey on April 3 that put Jackson City Councilman Marshand Crisler in the lead.

Easter Baskets and More GOOD Stuff

What better time to think about doing good than Easter weekend. This week, the Jackson Free Press focused on everything from Building a Better Easter Basket to spring cleaning in Getting Rid of Stuff the Green Way.

Ellington