News

Daily Journal: ‘Childers, Musgrove, Davis Talk About Crisis'

Patsy Brumfield of the Daily Journal talks to several of the state's congressionals and candidates for Congress about the financial crisis. (Interestingly, the paper's headline leaves out the name of senatorial candidate Erik Fleming of Jackson, who is also quoted in the piece. OK, we will refrain from pointing out that they left out the black candidate because we're sure it was on oversight.) Anyway:

Coca-Cola Providing Recycling at State Fair

[Verbatim] JACKSON, Oct. 1, 2008- Jackson Coca-Cola Bottling Company, in partnership with the Mississippi State Fair Commission, Hinds Community College and the Hinds County Sheriff's Office, announced today plans to make recycling an option for visitors at this year's Mississippi State Fair. Jackson Coca-Cola Bottling Company employees will place 20 recycling bins, shaped like Coca-Cola bottles, on the state fairground's Midway near concession stands during the State Fair, October 1-12, 2008.

Crye-Leike Realtors Achieves 100% in United Way Campaign

[Verbatim] RIDGELAND, MS., – Crye-Leike, Realtors congratulates it's sales associates and employees in Ridgeland Mississippi for their support of the 2008 United Way Campaign. Under the leadership of Broker Associate Shari Lackey-Culver, the sales team achieved 100% participation. "I want to thank my fellow associates for their support and for realizing that we really can make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate," said Shari. "While we always hope to raise more money than we did the year before, it's equally important to have everyone participate and together we can have a profound impact on the lives of our neighbors.

Alltell Arena Update Thursday and on WLEZ Wednesday

[Verbatim from Ben Allen of Downtown Jackson Partners] ARENA MEETING UPDATE

If you are receiving this email, you are one of 70 people confirmed for our Arena Meeting and Luncheon, Thursday October 2nd, at theTelCom Center. The time for lunch has been changed to 11:30 until 12:20. Representatives from the Governor's Office, the Senate, the House, the Council, the Board of Supervisors, MDA, JRA, the Mayor, Chamber, JCVB, DFA, UMMC, JSU, the City, Clarion Ledger, JFP, JPD, JPS, HCEDD, WAPT, CCCC, Arts Council, Mississippi Mainstreet, Mississippi Business Journal, Jackson Progressives and a host of citizens are pre-registered. The program will begin at 12:30 sharp. If you know of others who wish to come to the meeting at 12:30, please ask them to e-mail me at [e-mail missing]. Seating is limited. *The 11:30 until 12:20 "Deli Sandwich Buffet Luncheon" is filled.

Barr Praises House for Rejecting Wall Street Bailout

[Verbatim] Atlanta, GA – "Few people thought it could be done, but members of Congress listened to the people rather than the establishment to vote down the proposed $700 billion bailout of Wall Street," notes Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party presidential nominee. "Their courageous action gives us a chance to start over. Our starting point should not be a government bailout. It should be a market work-out," says Barr. "The bailout package was flawed from front to back, starting with its price tag," Barr explains, noting that a Treasury Department spokesman admitted to Forbes.com that the data was 'not based on any particular data point.'

Hosemann Travels Abroad to Promote Military Voting

[Verbatim] Jackson, MSAt the request of the United States Department of Defense (DoD) and the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann is one of five Secretaries of State from across the nation currently visiting our troops overseas. The bipartisan trip was designed to connect personally in the field with military men and women, to encourage them to cast their vote in the 2008 General Election and to discuss the process of military voting.Â

297,000-square-foot Distribution Facility Available in Baldwyn, Miss.

* 202,320 square feet -Distribution/Manufacturing

A 297,000-square-foot Distribution / Warehouse / Manufacturing facility is available 20 miles from new Toyota plant in Blue Springs, Miss.:

Working Women Demand Family and Economic Policy Focus

[Verbatim] As Governor Palin and Senator Biden prepare for the V.P. debate, much attention will be paid to the role of women voters and how they may decide the outcome of the elections. In the meantime, a growing working women's movement is advocating for policies that value families at work, such as paid sick days, equal pay and the flexibility to take time off to care for a sick child or attend a parent-teacher conference. Polling shows Americans, particularly women, support these issues. While many are asking how Sarah Palin manages work and family responsibilities, advocates argue the real issue is making it possible for all workers to meet their family responsibilities without risking their jobs or their paychecks.

SEIU: Stand Up for Main Street

[verbatim] WASHINGTON, DC – With Congress continuing to debate a bailout of Wall Street banks, Senators will hear from voters this week calling for action on the economic priorities of Main Street. The two million-member SEIU (Service Employees International Union) announced today it will make 150,000 calls this week to Senators running for reelection, criticizing them for failing to take action on a broader stimulus package to ease the economic pain of working families.

Walker's Drive-In Now Open Monday Nights

Walker's Drive-In in Fondren is open for business on Monday nights.

Hotel Owner Sentenced in Price Gouging Case

[Verbatim from Attorney General Jim Hood] Jackson, MS-A Jackson hotel owner has been sentenced in a price gouging case investigated and prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office, Division of Consumer Protection. Ibraham K. Khoder, age 60, (address 10713 Hill Tree) owner of the Select 10, 4639 I-55 North Jackson, MS, was cited for misdemeanor Price Gouging on September 1, 2008 during the State of Emergency Declared for Hurricane Gustav. Khoder entered a plea of no contest to the charge yesterday in Hinds County Justice Court. Judge Frank Sutton found him guilty and ordered him to pay a fine of $500, plus restitution to the consumer ($17) and court costs.

Barbour Proclaims October as Dine Out Mississippi Month

[Verbatim] Mississippi Hospitality & Restaurant Association is pleased to announce that Governor Haley Barbour has proclaimed the month of October as Dine Out Mississippi Month. Recognizing the importance of the restaurant industry to Mississippi's economy, Governor Barbour states, "Mississippi's restaurants are a cornerstone of our economy,"

Study Guide for Veep Debate

[Verbatim] WASHINGTON, DCThe Wonk Room has released a new study guide to educate those watching the vice-presidential debate about Gov. Sarah Palin's positions on domestic and foreign policy and the errors the McCain-Palin campaign commits in explaining their stance on the issues.

Will McCain's Health-Care Plan Raise Taxes?

The Center for American Progress is announcing a new report Wednesday that finds "McCain Health Plan Will Raise Taxes, Take Away Missouri Families' Health Care." Verbatim:

Justice Dept. Narrows Focus Of Melton Trial

Prosecutors filed three motions yesterday aimed at preventing irrelevant defense arguments in the upcoming federal trial of Jackson mayor Frank Melton. Melton and two bodyguards, Michael Recio and Marcus Wright, were indicted in July on civil rights charges stemming from their involvement in the Aug. 2006 partial demolition of a duplex on Ridgeway Street. Melton, Recio and Wright were acquitted on state charges related to the incident in April 2007.

Musgrove Camp Decries Scruggs Smear

Sen. Roger Wicker's supporters at the National Republican Senatorial Committee are attempting to link his Democratic opponent, Ronnie Musgrove, with incarcerated lawyer Paul Minor, as well as Mississippi attorney Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, who pled guilty this year for attempting to bribe a Lafayette County Circuit Court judge for a favorable ruling in a dispute over $26.5 million in legal fees from a mass settlement of Hurricane Katrina cases. A U.S. District Court found Minor guilty of corruption in March 2007 for racketeering and bribery, along with former Judges Wes Teel and John Whitfield, for accepting the bribes.

Wanted: Weather Observers in Mississippi

[Verbatim] The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, better known as CoCoRaHS, has recently expanded into Mississippi and is looking for volunteer weather observers across the Magnolia State! CoCoRaHS, which is being sponsored by the Office of the Mississippi State Climatologist and the National Weather Service, is a unique, non-profit, community based network of volunteer weather observers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and report precipitation amounts (rain, hail and snow). By using low-cost and self-provided measurement tools, the aim of CoCoRaHS is to provide the maximum amount of data for natural resource education as well as research applications, because, as we say "every drop counts."

WSJ: ‘Completely Green' Sarah Palin Cramming for Debate

The Wall Street Journal is reporting on the struggle to get Gov. Sarah Palin ready for her vice presidential debate Thursday, and that Todd Palin is upset that his wife has been separated too much from her family:

Travis Childers: Why I Voted Against the Bailout

Congressman Travis Childers just released a statement on why he voted against the $700 billion bailout today. Verbatim:

House Rejects Bailout Plan; Dow Plummets

CNN is reporting the bailout plan went down in the U.S. House of Representatives by a 228-205 vote. Mississippi Rep. Chip Pickering voted for it; Reps. Bennie Thompson, Travis Childers and Gene Taylor voted against it. (View roll-call vote). CNN:

Visualize the Debate

Here are the buzz words from Friday's first presidential debate:

McCain's ‘Failed State' Gaffe

One of the surprises in Friday night's debate was Sen. John McCain blatant gaffe about Pakistan being a "failed state"ironically in a moment when he was trying to show that Obama is the "naive" one. From McClatchy News:

Lott: John was in Pain

I asked former U.S. Senator Trent Lott what he thought were the political costs of McCain's attempt at stalling the debate. Here is what he had to say:

Albright: Obama was right about Kissinger question

I was able to catch up with former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in the Media filing tent. I asked her what were the political costs of John McCain almost stalling the debate. Here's what she had to say:

CBS Poll: Obama Won Undecided Voters in Debate

Per Mark Ambinder at The Atlantic:

Reactions From The Square

OXFORDJudging from applause, the McCain supporters on the Square are still most excited about his running mate. McCain's biggest applause line by far was his Sarah Palin "maverick" shout-out.

Maverick, Maverick, Maverick

OXFORDA succinct blog post, but I'm pretty sure John McCain just managed to fit the word "maverick" four times in a single sentence. Impressive. You know what type of person takes such superfluous freedom with the English language? A maverick type of person, that's who.

Doyle's back online after Media tent drama

When you last heard from me, I was documenting John Kerry's choice of Southern foods in the University of Mississippi's lavish media facilities by the Ford Center. Make no mistake, after checking out the spread a few hours before the beginning of tonights' debate, there was at least a small piece of me that wished that I hadn't spent the last three days, well, doing my job, and instead hanging out in the Media Tent filling up on the copious amounts of free food and booze waiting around for some of the pseudo-celebrity national journalists. As a University of Mississippi alum, I have been trying my very best not to glowingly describe my University like a complete homer, but you have to admit, the media facilities here impressive, and most of the journalists holed up in them would probably kill for a newsroom as high-tech as the Big Tent.

Jackson, Miss., to KKK: Drop Dead

Time:

OK, maybe not dead exactly. But let it be said that the citizens of Jackson, Miss., do not give a flying bigot what these irrevelant creeps think of us. There it is.

Free Speech Alley Is Free Of Speech

Anyone anticipating protests on the level of those at this year's Republican convention would be sorely disappointed. The designated protest area, an old football field across the street, behind a music building and down a hill from the Ford Center, was almost entirely empty when Matt and I visited it this afternoon. The 10 port-a-potties at one edge of the field nearly outnumbered people. A handful of Ole Miss students, writers for the Daily Mississippian, sat in a circle on the grass, smoking quietly and enjoying the late afternoon sun. Only as we we were leaving did we find true protesters, two Oxford residents carrying a sign that read "911 Was An Inside Job.

Ellington