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Annual 'Taste of Mississippi' Benefits Stewpot

This year's "Taste of Mississippi: Homegrown Hunger Relief" is scheduled for Monday, March 30, beginning at 7 p.m. at Highland Village in Jackson. More than 40 area restaurants and beverage vendors have confirmed that they'll be dishing up tasty treats and pouring libations this year, all to benefit Stewpot Community Services.

Filmmaker Grant Deadline Extended

The Mississippi Film and Video Alliance (MFVA) has extended the deadline for the Emerging Mississippi Filmmakers Grant program until March 27, 2009. The purpose of the grant is to help develop emerging Mississippi film/video artists as the next generation of Mississippi's legacy of storytelling.

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Take Advantage of St. Paddy's Specials

The celebration has already started, so don't miss out on the biggest city-wide party this year.

See party sites below along with a whole slew of food, drink and merchandise specials offered by local Jackson vendors, below. See the map for locations (click on it to see a larger version) and check with individual vendors for more details.

Bulldogs at the Brew Pub

Why leave downtown and drive 45 minutes to go watch the game? Come over to Hal & Mal's and watch the 2009 SEC champion Mississippi State Bulldogs take on Washington in the NCAA first-round action. Tip off is at 4 p.m. this afternoon, and the crowd will be in front of the big screen in the Brew Pub.

Childers Launches Recovery Tracker Web Site

[verbatim] Congressman Travis Childers (D-MS) (yesterday) introduced the North Mississippi "Recovery Tracker" to promote transparency and accountability during the allocation and implementation of funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Recovery Tracker, which is located on the Congressman's Web site, will allow constituents to trace Recovery Act funds in Mississippi's First District and throughout the state, as well as direct them to helpful resources specific to Mississippi.

Stanford Needed Regulation, Hood Says

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood blamed the lax attitude of the Bush administration for the longevity of famous Ponzi schemes—from the Madoff scandal to the Stanford Financial Group, which has its deep ties in Mississippi.

Melton Sues Democratic Committee

Earlier: Melton to Democratic Party: 'Go to Hell'

The 2009 JFP Interview with Brenda Scott: ‘Magnet For Tourism'

Mississippi Alliance for State Employees President Brenda Scott has been a union organizer for almost two decades. During that time, she's become good at advocating for employees, often with a very loud voice.

Week 10: Land And Text Wars

The Mississippi House continued the Senate's attack on text-messaging while driving last week, approving Senate Bill 2280.

Coal Plant Tax Cut: Is it $160 Million or $1.32 Billion?

The House Ways and Means Committee may be making a $1.16 billion miscalculation regarding an ad valorem tax exemption bill for a Kemper County coal plant. The committee appears to be considering a massive $1.32 billion tax exemption for the plant, though lobbyists for the development could be playing down the numbers, telling legislators that the exemption is only $4 million.

Ridgeland Bans Pit Bulls

Yesterday, aldermen in the Jackson, Miss., suburb of Ridgeland joined nearby Clinton and Richland in passing an ordinance banning pit bulls. The Ridgeland ordinance also bans Staffordshire bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and wolf/dog hybrids. Rottweilers were included on a previous draft of the ordinance, but don't appear on the final ordinance.

Advocates to Legislature: Stop Delaying Cigarette Tax Increase

[Verbatim from Communities for a Clean Bill of Health]

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Charly Abraham

Anxiously sitting at a corner table in the Hal & Mal's Restaurant downtown, 58-year-old Charly Abraham talks about his passion for music.

Mississippi Tourism to Benefit from Tax Incentive Bill

On Tuesday, one of the bills Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour signed into law expands tourism sales tax incentives to casinos for developing resorts and tourism projects unrelated to casino activities. The projects can include theme and water parks, museums and sports facilities, among others.

The 2009 JFP Interview with Frank Melton, Part III: Money & Taxes

In Part III of his Feb. 26 interview with JFP editor Donna Ladd, Frank talks about his finances, including his property-tax troubles.

Melton to Democratic Party: ‘Go to Hell' (Updated)

Mayor Frank Melton told the Jackson Free Press Tuesday that the Jackson Municipal Executive Democratic Committee can "go to hell" for disqualifying him to re-run as a Democrat in the May primaries. "As far as I'm concerned, that Democratic Committee can go to hell, and you can quote me on that," he said in a phone interview soon after the committee voted unanimously to reject him from the ballot.

City Money Out of Jackson's Hands?

Senate Bill 3268, which Gov. Haley Barbour signed into law March 11, authorizes the city of Jackson to hold a referendum vote on whether or not to approve an additional 1 percent sales tax increase. It is expected to annually generate at least $21 million, 70 percent of which is designated for road repair and 30 percent to hire and maintain police and firefighters.

Recio Attorney Challenges Retrial

Also see: Full JFP Melton Blog/Archive/Trial Documents

Cynthia Stewart, the attorney representing Michael Recio, filed a motion (PDF) today accusing federal prosecutors of violating government policies by retrying Recio and Jackson Mayor Frank Melton. Recio is Melton's former bodyguard and his co-defendant in a case concerning the destruction of a Ridgeway Street duplex in August 2006.

Mississippi Received $180 Million in AIG Bailout Bucks

Despite Gov. Haley Barbour's objections over taking federal bailout funds, Mississippi was one of six Southern states to receive $100 million or more from the American International Group—AIG—bailout money, according to the Institute for Southern Studies Facing South online magazine.

Spring Break Lunch with the Mayor

[verbatim] The City of Jackson's Safe Neighborhood and Youth Development Division will host "Lunch With the Mayor in the Park" at Lake Hico Park on Thursday, March 19, 2009, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Area youth on spring break are invited to eat a picnic lunch with Mayor Frank E. Melton and experience educational programs presented by the Jackson Fire Department and the Solid Waste Division's "Go Green" initiative.

Senate Sends Anti-Obesity Bill to Governor

In an effort to address Mississippi's obesity epidemic, the Legislature has passed HB 1530 and sent it to Gov. Haley Barbour for his signature.

$20 Million Loan Approved for Old Capitol Green

UPDATED

Gov. Haley Barbour approved a $20 million loan for the Old Capitol Green infrastructure improvements Monday, in a move that the development's supporters consider a critical early step.

Governor Signs DNA Bill

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour signed SB 2709 into law yesterday. The bill mandates that the state preserve DNA evidence and conduct DNA testing on biological evidence.

Feds: Melton Jury's Racial Makeup is Not a Factor

Also see: Full JFP Melton Blog/Archive/Trial Documents

Federal prosecutors argued Monday that concerns about racial demographics of the jury pool for Jackson Mayor Frank Melton's upcoming federal re-trial should not factor into the jury selection process.

District Taking Second Look at Stimulus Allocations

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson told the Jackson Free Press today that the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District was rethinking a plan to allot $12.2 million in stimulus money for road and bridge repair in Hinds, Madison and Rankin Counties. Thompson complained that the current plan gave economically distressed Hinds County $3.5 million, while giving financially affluent Madison County $4.2 million and Rankin County $4.5 million. The city of Jackson, a metropolitan area carrying the most paved roads in the state—and the most in need of repair—only qualified for $1.2 million under the plan.

Mississippi Soldiers Head Back to Iraq

This May, nearly 3,200 Mississippi Army National Guard soldiers will begin final training before shipping out to Iraq, reports WAPT.

MEMA Sends Warning to Louisiana

Emergency cottages sold to Louisiana-based Henderson Auctions are not fit for human habitation, says the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, which transferred title on 232 units to the auction house.

Legislators Make Child-Selling Illegal

A 2008 case where a Yalobusha County woman attempted to sell her granddaughter for $2,000 and a car prompted legislators to enact a law making selling children in Mississippi a crime, reports the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

MSU Wins SEC Tournament

Mississippi State is headed for the NCAA basketball tournament after defeating Tennessee, 64-61, on Sunday in the SEC Tournament championship game.

Update: MSU To Play For SEC Title; JSU Falls In SWAC Final

Mississippi State will play in the SEC Tournament championship game (Sunday, noon, Ch. 12) after upsetting LSU, 67-57, in Saturday's semifinals. The Bulldogs, who last won the SEC Tournament in 2002, will play Tennessee in the final.

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