News

Nobody Minding the Store

The Jackson City Council grudgingly approved about $45,000 of payments to the U.S. Treasury Department Tuesday after the city failed to manage two federal law-enforcement grants. The council voted 6-0, with Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes absent, approving a $40,394 payment to the U.S. Treasury Department because the city misspent money from a 2004 local law-enforcement grant, and another $4,687 repayment of a 2002 local law-enforcement grant. The action increased the city claims docket from $2,304,563 to $2,349,645.

Melissa DiFatta

I first met my wife at Hal & Mal's after an art opening. I asked for her phone number. She replied: "I'm Melissa Baria. If you want to call me, you can remember my name and look it up in the phone book."

BREAKING: Supreme Court Rules Against Berry

Update: Today, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the appeal of doomed prisoner Earl Berry. His attorney, Jim Craig, released the following statement:

‘Wishy-Washy Approach To Public Policy'

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton dismissed rumors at a Monday press conference that he had forced a local contractor into subcontracting a Louisiana company he originally favored to remove debris from an April 4 storm in North Jackson.

Big Fix Rig Needs Cats to Spay This Week

If you have a cat that needs to be fixed—you know who you are—the Big Rig Fix is doing low-cost spays and neuters in Jackson five days a month, and are in town this week (May 1-3) with not enough cats to fix. They can do up to 40 cats a day, and right now only have six scheduled for Saturday, and none for the other days.

Agency in Jeopardy Over Ad Oversight

House Democrats and Gov. Haley Barbour are squaring off against one another regarding how the state spends advertising dollars. The House and Senate were unable to come to terms with a Mississippi Department of Employment Security reauthorization bill on the last day of the regular session, and the department now verges on the point of evaporation.

Quincy Jackson

The life of Quincy Jackson, Rainbow Co-Op's gregarious new outreach coordinator, contains the kinds of surprise twists and dramatic turns more befitting a character in a television sitcom or convoluted novel.

Barbour Toots Own Horn, Rags Musgrove

Gov. Haley Barbour released a statement today about, well, himself. Here it is, verbatim: When Haley Barbour became Governor of Mississippi in January 2004, Mississippi was in its worst financial shape since the Great Depression. The State was in a $720 million budget hole; the State's Rainy Day Fund reserves had dropped 90%, to less than $25 million; and there were loud calls for tax increases.

Gov to Allow Public Comment on Tax Study – May 19

[Verbatim statement] Mississippi citizens and interest groups will have the opportunity to speak to members of the Governor's Tax Study Commission, Chairman Leland Speed announced today. The opportunity for public comment will take place on Monday, May 19, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mississippi Telcom Center.

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Voter ID Regulations

A U.S. Supreme Court known for its anti-regulatory bent today voted 6-3 to uphold Indiana's voter-identification regulations, making Republicans happy and clearing the way for voter-ID laws in other states, including Mississippi. Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, a Republican, praised the ruling in a statement:

JPS Board Moves Toward New Superintendent

In a special meeting Sunday, the Jackson Public Schools board agreed to employ the Mississippi School Board Association to help in the district's hunt for its next superintendent.

JSU's Jaymar Johnson Goes In Sixth Round of Draft

The Associated Press is reporting that the Minnesota Vikings chose Jackson State University receiver Jaymar Johnson in the sixth round of the NFL draft today. The No. 198rd pick overall, Johnson is the first player from a Mississippi college to be drafted in the 2008 NFL draft and the first JSU player to be drafted since 2000.

Melton Hires ‘Rogue' Debris Removers?

Two council members say Jackson Mayor Frank Melton has enlisted a Louisiana company to do rogue debris removal work in the city. "These guys were on the street all over the city this morning," said Council President Leslie McLemore. "They have not been authorized by the council to do this work. The council has already selected a private contractor for that work." McLemore said he believed Nungesser Industries, of Pearl River, La., is doing unauthorized work, at the behest of Melton.

Radio Free Jackson

The show streams live at wlezfm.com.

Join Todd Stauffer and Kamikaze at noon on WLEZ (107.3 FM) as they talk about race and the media with Rebecca Miller and Queen, the JFP's newest columnist.

Lott Uses Old Campaign Cash to Help Lobbying Clients

The Associated Press is reporting that former Sen. Trent Lott is redirecting leftover campaign millions to lawmakers who can help his new high-profile lobbying clients—and it's legal:

Berry Killed on His Birthday?

As Earl Berry's attorneys continue their protests that the state's method for killing inmates is flawed, Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood filed a motion this week to reset the execution of Earl Berry for the 1987 murder of Mary Bounds to May 5incidentally Berry's 49th birthday.

Ridin' the Wave: The JFP Interview with Ronnie Musgrove

Former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove has his eye on Sen. Trent Lott's old seat. He's running on a "throw the bums out" platform against his opponent, and the Republican Party.

Bill Minor: ‘I Hate to Be So Blunt'

Mississippi journalist and columnist Bill Minor spoke with Adam Lynch of the Jackson Free Press yesterday about his views on the prosecution of his son, Paul Minor, and discussed the newly disclosed information that his son's prosecutor, Robert Coughlin, is now under federal investigation. The JFP had called Minor for response to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee's report last week about possible selective prosecution in Mississippi and other states by the Bush administration's Justice Department. His remarks follow, verbatim.

Forthcoming U.S. Chamber ‘Lawsuit Climate' Report a ‘Phony'?

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's "Institute for Legal Reform" plans to release a report Wednesday ranking Mississippi as the 48th worst "legal climate" in the country. In response to "Lawsuit Climate 2008: Ranking the States,", the Mississippi trial-attorney group, the Mississippi Association for Justice, released the following statement today, headlined the "U.S. Chamber's Phony 'Rankings' Serve Extreme Corporate Agenda." The statement, e-mailed to the JFP, follows verbatim.

JFP Launches 'JFP 3.0' Beta

April 14, 2008–We've switched things over to the new content management system, imported everything over from the databases and -- hopefully -- we've even gotten your user account transferred over correctly. (See the "login" link at the top-right of the screen.) Please take a look around and note any problems on this thread...you can also post requests, suggestions, criticisms and so on in this section. (And please write me at [e-mail missing] if you are having trouble with your user account and aren't able to post on this thread.)

Come Fly With Us on Earth Day

Happy Earth Day, Jackson! Last week's print edition of the JFP was devoted to all things green—and positive actions you can take to give back to this great planet we've been loaned—from urban farming to holding clothes swap parties. For great ideas, visit our Culture Blog, and read Brandi Herrera Pfrehm's fun, but serious cover story about Jackson recycling. Meantime, tell us what you're doing to live more green.

WAPT: Former JSU Student Shot, Recovering

WAPT is reporting that former Jackson State student Lamar Smith, 24, of Lithonia, Ga., was shot once last night. He was treated and released from St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Former Planned Parenthood Head Faye Wattleton Honored Tonight Downtown

[verbatim invitation) In the Spirit of Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) We seek to support minority businesses and downtown Jackson revitalization, Women For Progress of Mississippi, Inc.and Southern Rural Black Women's Initiative Cordially invite you to attend a reception honoring Ms. Faye Wattleton, co-founder of the Center for Advancement of Women.

Update: State Wants Berry Executed on May 5 ... His Birthday

As Earl Berry's attorneys continue their protests that the state's method for killing inmates is flawed, Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood filed a motion yesterday to reset the execution of Earl Berry for the 1987 murder of Mary Bounds to May 5—incidentally Berry's 49th birthday. Hood's announcement came after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted Berry's stay of execution Monday after ruling last week that lethal injection is not unconstitutionally cruel. "The higher court's ruling has cleared the way for us to move forward in the Berry case," Hood said in a statement. "Our filing today will request that an execution be set to take place within 30 days." Berry's attorneys, however, argue that the court's decisions does not render Mississippi's lethal-injection method constitutional.

Fed Dollars for New Sirens?

Hinds County supervisors are applying for up to $1.6 million in federal grant money to replace the county's 67 emergency sirens. Supervisors Robert Graham, Peggy Calhoun, and George Smith visited U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson last week to discuss funding new sirens with a grant from the Department of Homeland Security. Graham is optimistic about their chances.

More Pay for JPD Awaits Barbour Approval

Mississippi Sen. David Blount, D-Jackson, said legislation he sponsored to pay the Jackson police department $16,000 survived a conference committee and is now waiting for Gov. Haley Barbour's signature. "The chief and I talked about this months ago. I've been working hard on it all session, and I appreciate very much the help of Lt. Gov. (Phil) Bryant and Sen. Alan Nunnelee in helping to pass the bill," Blount said this week.

Karl Rove Called to Testify About Probes, Including Minor and Diaz

The House Judiciary Committee today requested that presidential adviser Karl Rove appear to testify "concerning the troubling issue of the politicization of the Department of Justice during this Administration." It also released a report (PDF/323kb), "Allegations of Selective Prosecution in Our Federal Criminal Justice System," that talks in detail about the stringent prosecution of attorney Paul Minor and Supreme Court Justice Oliver Diaz, raising concerns that the prosecutions might have been a way for Republicans to weaken Democrats in Mississippi. Minor was convicted and is serving time in federal prison; Diaz was acquitted.

Ellington