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Dickie Scruggs Arrested on Bribery Charges

The Sun-Herald is reporting that the feds have arrested Scruggs and others for trying to bribe a judge:

Recio Demoted; McMillin Confirmation Set for Dec. 10

City Councilman Marshand Crisler and Leslie McLemore confirmed today at a special council meeting to approve the city payroll that Melton bodyguard Michael Recio is no longer an assistant chief and is back working in the mayor's office. Neither Melton or Recio would comment to the Jackson Free Press about the demotion.

Vanessa Barry And Kembral Barrera

"You feel it, and you live it!" Vanessa Barry says as she rises from the table at Borders to demonstrate. Barry and her best friend, Kembral Barrera, are coincidentally both wearing pink shirts, black pants and heels. They turn slowly to face each other, arms outstretched, hands working and feet stomping in time to imaginary castanets. Jackson's only two flamenco dancers come from very different backgrounds, yet their passion for Spanish culture—and particularly this ancient dance—has brought them together.

Ben Allen and Mike Peters on Downtown WLEZ-FM

Ben Allen and Mike Peters are on the radio right now at WLEZ-FM (103.7 FM)( talking about the potential of downtown development RIGHT NOW. Streams live at http://www.wlezfm.com.

Prayer Vigil of Hope and Relief Funds for Latasha Norman

[Press release] Attend a Prayer Vigil of Hope, the second vigil for the missing Jackson State University student Latasha Norman, at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28 on the Gibbs-Green Plaza on the JSU campus. Norman, 20, a junior accounting major, has been missing since Tuesday, Nov. 13. The vigil is open to the public.

Bloomberg: Lott Considering Lobbyist Offers

Bloomberg is reporting that Trent Lott's son has confirmed that he is considering lobbyist offers. Read more here.

Hood: Victim's Mother Asked Him to Prosecute Bell

Attorney General Jim Hood told the Jackson Free Press Tuesday that he will personally prosecute George Bell III for the murder of Heather Spencer at the request of Spencer's mother, Linda Francomb.

AP: Search Warrant Served on Dickie Scruggs

The Associated Press is reporting:

Breaking: Nutt Going To Oxford

Houston Nutt has agreed to become the new football coach at Ole Miss, The Associated Press and the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal are reporting. Nutt resigned Monday after 10 seasons at Arkansas. He was 75-48 with the Razorbacks, winning or sharing the SEC West title three times.

Council: No to Payroll ... and Bodyguard Raises

The Jackson City Council failed to approve the city payroll by a 3-to-3 vote at a special meeting this afternoon. Council President Leslie McLemore, Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon and Ward 6 Councilman Marshand Crisler opposed the payroll, with Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill, Ward 4 Councilman Frank Bluntson and Ward 5 Councilman Charles Tillman in favor. Members opposed the payroll because of controversial pay raises for Mayor Frank Melton's bodyguards Michael Recio and Marcus Wright, and two others, including the lieutenant who signed off on the raises when the mayor made him chief for three days after the last chief would not approve the raises.

USM Dismisses Bower

Jeff Bower is out after 17 seasons as football coach at Southern Miss. Bower was reportedly forced to resign at a Monday morning meeting with USM officials. The school scheduled a news conference for 4 p.m.

Sen. Trent Lott to Resign by End of Year

Read More Here...

[AP] Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi, the Senate's No. 2 Republican, plans to resign his seat before the end of the year, congressional and Bush administration officials said Monday. Lott, 66, scheduled two news conferences in Pascagoula and Jackson later in the day to reveal his plans. According to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of the announcement, Lott intends to resign effective at the end of the year.

The Game That Cost a Coach His Job

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WJTV is providing video of the post-game press conferences plus the firing announcement of the Ole Miss coach:

Ole Miss Tells Coach O To Go

Ole Miss fired football coach Ed Orgeron on Saturday. Orgeron, who coached the Rebels for three seasons, was fired less than 24 hours after the Rebels lost to Mississippii State 17-14 to finish the season 3-9 and 0-8 in the SEC ... and just three weeks after receiving a vote of confidence from UM officials. The Rebels went 10-25 under Coach Yaw-Yaw, with a 3-21 mark in SEC games.

State Wins Egg Bowl; Ole Miss 0-8 in SEC

Story at the Amazing SportsBlog.

Think Global, Shop Local This Holiday Season

The Jackson Free Press urges our readers to shop at locally owned businesses and from Jackson artists and craftspeople as much as possible this holiday season. If you resist the urge to crowd into chain stores, you will get more unique and memorable gifts—and you will support the local economy. And remember that the city of Jackson needs our sales taxes, so even if you have to go to Target (and honestly, who doesn't for something?, please choose the one in the city.

Missing JSU Student Getting National Attention

The disappearance of Jackson State student Natasha Norman is finally making its way to the national spotlight, as her father was interviewed on MSNBC today. WAPT reported that ABC has also contacted him to do an interview as well. The story even made Paul Harvey's News & Comments today and even mentioned Malcolm McMillin by name when he said, in effect, that her case would've made national headlines quicker if she were white.

Don London

At 10:30 on a Saturday morning, Don London, 62, is already hard at work in his basement office at Stewpot Community Services on Capitol Street. Volunteers and service recipients come and go through his office with friendly hellos and practical questions.

Walker on the Run

Christopher Walker told the Jackson Free Press three weeks ago that either someone from his old Wood Street neighborhood would shoot him, or he would shoot one of them. And he blamed that inevitability, as he characterized it, on his former mentor, Mayor Frank Melton.

BREAKING: McMillin Says That Lee Vance Is JPD No. 2

More details to come.

Sheriff Malcolm McMillin, now doubling as chief of the Jackson Police Department, has just confirmed to Adam Lynch of the Jackson Free Press that he has named Lee Vance as his assistant chief and second in line to the chief.

Christopher Walker Accused of Shooting?

Update: Christopher Walker called the Jackson Free Press today to say that he has not been arrested and did not shoot Craig Spiva. More details soon.

Watch Mayor-Sheriff Press Conference

WJTV has posted the video of the press conference this morning announcing Sheriff McMillin's new job. Check it out below.

Exclusive: Sheriff McMillin on ‘JFP on WLEZ'

The new police chief, Sheriff Malcolm McMillin, left the press conference this morning and immediately joined Radio JFP for an hour-long, commercial free interview, with WAPT also present. Listen to most of the interview (the first ten minutes were lost because the online feed was down) at http://www.wlezfm.com/index.php/site/JFP_on_WLEZ/.

Update: Sheriff McMillin is New Chief

Update: Just came in on text message...Mac is the new chief. Donna and Adam are covering and will be in with the scoop. (Listen to the radio show at noon for more: WLEZ-FM, 103.7FM.)

City's First Female Police Chief Fired ... Again

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton decided Wednesday to remove Shirlene Anderson from her post as police chief of Jackson for what WAPT 16 News calls the second time. Following rumors posted on the JFP Web site mid-day, Melton announced a new decision to remove her from her post in a press release late Wednesday. Melton said he plans to retain Anderson as a special assistant to the mayor to coordinate the city's emergency services.

Fondren Unwrapped, Thursday, Nov. 15 5-9pm

Just wanted to give everyone the heads up about Fondren Unwrapped on November 15th between 5 and 9 pm. We all hope everyone can come out, as its sure to be a festive evening!

Saidamirkhon Rakhimov

"In my country," Saidamirkhon Rakhimov begins, then stops himself, smiling. "My friends are always making fun of me for saying 'in my country,' he says, leaning back into his chair, momentarily distracted by the muted soccer game playing above my head. Said's country is Uzbekistan, a former Soviet republic just north of Afghanistan. Said grew up in Tashkent, the capital city, and earned a master's degree in international law from Tashkent State University of Law.

Chief Anderson Out; Gerald Jones Interim Chief

[Verbatim from the city] DIFFICULT DECISION LEADS TO CHANGE IN JPD LEADERSHIP

Mayor Frank E. Melton announced Wednesday that he is implementing a change in leadership at the Jackson Police Department. Police Chief Shirlene Anderson has been offered a new position as a special assistant to the Mayor. In this new capacity, Anderson would coordinate all emergency services, including police, fire and disaster response. She would also oversee interagency communications between local, county, state and federal law enforcement.

ACLU to Protest JPD

When ACLU Public Education Coordinator Brent Cox attempted to observe a police interdiction in front of Rainbow Whole Foods Co-op Grocery on Sept. 14, police arrested and charged him with "disobeying a police officer" and "interfering with the duties of a police officer." Cox said the officers did not read him his Miranda rights, and refused to give him their badge numbers.

MBN Confiscates, Returns ACLU Tape

Last month, a Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics officer confiscated a videotape of an interdiction from ACLU workers who had gathered outside their offices on Jefferson Street to observe the arrest, which was taking place in a parking lot across the street. Last week, an MBN officer and an attorney personally returned the tape after ACLU Staff Attorney John Williams wrote a letter to MBN's attorneys and deputy director, demanding that they return the tape within 10 days.

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