News

We, the Unhealthy

Last year, Mississippi ranked No. 1 overall for the unhealthiest citizens in the U.S. and No. 49 in the number of physicians per capita. A quarter of our 2-year-olds haven't received their shots, and the rate of babies dying in Mississippi is higher than anywhere else in the country. We're No. 2 for number of adults with diabetes; a third of adults are obese; a third has high blood pressure; and a third gets no exercise whatsoever.

Will Senate Allow Stimulus Discussion?

Last week, the Mississippi House passed a resolution to override Gov. Haley Barbour's decision to reject some of the stimulus funds for the state. Barbour has stated that he will not accept more than $50 million to extend unemployment benefits.

Resuscitating Voter ID

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports that Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant wants the voters to decide whether the state should require Voter ID

DNA Preservation Bill Passed

The Mississippi Legislature passed a bill mandating that the state better preserve crime scene DNA evidence and conduct DNA testing on biological evidence.

Hood Warns of Stimulus Scams

[verbatim from the Mississippi Attorney General's office]

Attorney General Jim Hood, along with the Federal Trade Commission, is warning consumers about bogus web sites and emails promising to help them qualify for a payment from President Obama's economic stimulus package. The scammers tell consumers they can help with only a little information or for a small payment from the consumer.

Harvey Johnson Holds Open House

2009 JFP City Election Blog/Archive

BREAKING: Faye Peterson: 'I Offer Leadership'

2009 JFP City Election Blog/Archive

Bill for Pardon and Parole Accountability on Hold

Yesterday, the Mississippi Senate passed a bill that would make the governor's right to pardon convicted felons more accountable to their victims and to the communities where they committed their crimes. But rather than sending HB 2 to Gov. Haley Barbour for his signature, the bill is on hold pending a motion to reconsider.

Melton Behind on Taxes, Again

Full JFP Melton Archive/Blog Here

2009 JFP Interview with Melton, Part I

Melton Retrial Scheduled For May 11

2009 JFP Interview with Melton, Part I

Supreme Court Upholds Drug Lawsuit

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of consumers and against drug makers, upholding a $6.7 million award to a musician who had her arm amputated following an injection.

Arts Preview Correction: Mal's St. Paddy's Parade

Begorra! In this week's Spring Arts Preview, Mal's St. Paddy's Parade was erroneously listed as taking place Friday, March 20, 2009. The correct date is Saturday, March 21, 2009.

State Jobless Rate Tops 9 Percent

The Mississippi unemployment roles swelled in January to 9.2 percent, a rate higher than the national average of 8.5 percent. In December, the state reported a 7.6 percent rate.

'Criminalizing' Kids

Donte Thompson says he hardly learned anything in alternative school. Forbidden to talk from the moment he stepped on the school bus, Donte did what little work he received using water-damaged, outdated textbooks.

Democratic Candidates Weigh In

Jackson mayoral candidates agreed during a Saturday forum that the current administration was failing to make Jackson all it could be. The forum, hosted by The Young Democrats of Mississippi, featured several Democratic Jackson mayoral candidates.

Katie McClendon

If you're a member of the Jackson Progressives, a student at the UMC, or you've seen The Vagina Monologues at Rainbow, you're probably familiar with Katie McClendon.

DOA: Voter ID, Early Voting and Sex Ed

Senate Republicans chose to kill a political effort yesterday that they've been championing for years because they were unwilling to offer early voting to Mississippi residents.

2009 JFP Interview with Frank Melton, Part I: Health

The day after Mayor Frank Melton got a reprieve from prison due to a hung jury, he held a brief press conference in City Hall to talk about his plans for the city. Soon afterward, Jackson Free Press editor Donna Ladd approached Melton for a new set of JFP interviews and then sat down with him for nearly three hours in his mayoral office on Thursday. Following is part 1 of that interview.

Nissan to Expand Canton Plant

Despite declining auto sales worldwide, Nissan announced plans today to expand its Canton, Miss. plant to produce a new commercial vehicle, according to a release:

Wicker Seeks to Deny Funding for U.N. Agency

Yesterday, Mississippi Republican Sen. Roger Wicker announced in a release that he has introduced an amendment to bar U.S. funds from the United Nations Population Fund. The Obama administration's $410 billion omnibus budget apportions $50 million to UNFPA, which promotes "the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity," according to its mission statement.

Deuce McAllister Nissan Files For Bankruptcy

Deuce McAllister Nissan filed for bankruptcy on Tuesday.

Gannett Stock Plunges 24% Today; Down to $2.22 Share

The Gannett Corp., owner of The Clarion-Ledger, a newspaper in Mississippi, took a dramatic hit in the stock market today as its stock price plummeted 24 percent in one day, closing at $2.22 a share, the Gannett Blog reports:

Melton Came Within Two Votes of Conviction

Within days of coming within two votes of going to federal prison, Mayor Frank Melton revealed to the Jackson Free Press last Thursday for the first time publicly that he plans to run for re-election. "Yes," he replied when asked in his City Hall office if he is running for a second term. "I really want to stay close to the people," he added. Melton said that it took him three years to figure out what the job of mayor is about and that he's learned from his mistakes.

Power Companies to Tie Charges to Prime Rate

The Mississippi Public Service Commission issued a final order today to the utility companies to use the prime rate of interest when calculating carrying charges.

Lewis Leaves City Job, Seeks Council Seat

Jackson City Council President Dr. Leslie McLemore has confirmed that former Community Improvement Division Code Enforcement head Joe Lewis left his city job as of last Friday to pursue the Ward 6 Council seat currently held by Marshand Crisler. Crisler is running for the mayor's office.

Minor Appeal Set

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in the appeal of Jackson attorney Paul Minor on April 1, in Austin, Texas.

One in 69 Mississippians Behind Bars

A new study from the Pew Center on the States reveals that one in 38 adult Mississippians is in prison or jail, or on probation or parole. The state's ranking is No. 3 for those in prison or jail, with 11,617 adults behind bars, or one in every 69 citizens.

AP: Obama DOJ Releases Secret Bush Terror Memo

The Associated Press is reporting:

Reeves Blasts Stimulus, Predicts Rotten State Revenue

State Treasurer Tate Reeves slammed President Barack Obama's stimulus plan on Monday, saying Obama had chosen to "outsource" the leadership on the package to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Study Reveals Conservatives Prefer Porn Online

A new study published in the Journal of Economic Perspectives indicates that eight of the top 10 "red" statesstates that identify themselves as more conservative and religious than others, and who also gave their electoral votes to John McCain in last year's run for the White Housealso buy more online pornography than other states.

Ellington