News

BREAKING: City Budget $13 Million in the Hole

The city administration updated an earlier estimation of a $3.9 million budget deficit today at the 3 p.m. budget meeting. "The city is currently out of budget about $13.1 million," said city Director of Administration Rick Hill, who then recommended the city make drastic cuts to the Department of Parks and Recreation and JATRAN, as well as engage in a debt restructuring plan that would get the city about $4 million in up-front money, but cost the city about $5 million over the course of 15 years. The $113,000-salaried City Attorney Sarah O'Reilly-Evans said she will get an extra $35,000 in attorney fees by being involved in the debt restructuring plan, thanks to a stipulation in her employment contract.

Crystal Utley

Advising 450 out-of-state pro bono lawyers along with 30 Mississippi lawyers and 120 law students on how to help thousands of people recover from "the biggest natural disaster we've ever seen" is overwhelming, Crystal Utley says leaning forward, her pale blue eyes widening.

Face-off: Faye Peterson v. Robert Smith

The Aug. 7 primaries produced three run-off races in Hinds County, but the DA's race overshadows the other two races, pitting both old foes and warring factions against one another. Peterson got the most votes with 39 percent, while Smith collected the second highest ranking at 33 percent on Aug. 7. Challenger Michele Purvis came in third, with 27 percent, disqualifying her from the run-off.

JUST IN: Faye Peterson's New TV Ads

NEW: The System Was Broken

Someone just sent us the links to three new Peterson ads that are on youtube. They feature very interesting people in the community. we've also heard that there a number of hard-hitting radio ads out there by Margaret Barrett-Simon, Bennie Thompson, and maybe Leslie McLemore and John Horhn. Anyone heard those? Here are the videos:

Cases DA Peterson Has Tried

Here is a preview of information we have in the print edition this week. We did some factchecking in response to Robert Smith's comment that Peterson isn't involved in trying cases in her office. Here are some of the cases she herself has tried and the outcome of the cases.

BREAKING: Sheriff McMillin Endorses D.A. Faye Peterson

Hinds County Sheriff Malcolm McMillin endorsed Hinds County District Attorney Faye Peterson over Democratic challenger Robert Smith this morning. McMillin announced his endorsement to the Jackson Free Press, saying he opposes Smith because of an alignment with Jackson Mayor Frank Melton, and opposed "Melton's attempt to expand his sphere of influence to county offices."

Council Delays Budget Band-Aid

The Jackson City Council voted to hold items in the Monday Budget Committee meeting, including a vote to refinance the city's debt. The refinancing would give the city enough to cover its $3.9 million budget deficit, but cost the city about $110,000 in fees and dump higher interest rates upon the city over the next 10 years. Council members say they want to see the administration's alternatives to the debt refinancing before moving ahead with approving the move.

BREAKING: Michele Purvis Endorses D.A. Faye Peterson

Former Hinds County District Attorney candidate Michele Purvis endorsed incumbent Faye Peterson over the weekend. "When looking at the remaining two candidates, based upon experience I feel she is the best person for the job as far as the community is concerned and what's best for the community. ... I know (the Jackson Free Press) did not believe me when I was running, but again, my only reason for running was trying to make a difference for the community," Purvis said Monday. "With the problems we're having with crime and things of that nature, I just believe Faye is the best person to try and correct those things."

Melton to Address ‘State of the City'

[Verbatim from Carolyn Redd] Jackson, MS - Mayor Frank E. Melton will address the City of Jackson in his State of the City Address on Friday, Aug. 24, at 10:30 a.m. at the Alamo Theater. The Mayor's address will focus on Housing and Economic Development. He will be flanked by the City Council, the City's CAO and Department Directors. The Melton Administration will also honor city employees with 25 and 30 years of service. The State of the City Address is open to the general public. Doors will not be open to the Public until 10:15 a.m.

Bloomberg: Barbour Friends, Family Profiting from Katrina

Also see: Jackpedia: Haley Barbour

JFP Re-launches Truthwatch as Reader Forum

As Mississippi heads into the fall campaign season, the Jackson Free Press has re-launched the Truthwatch blog, in order that readers might question and test statements made by candidates. Truthwatch was active during the last city elections in Jackson. Now the blog has been converted into a reader forum so that readers might start their own posts, asking questions about statements made by candidates and in their ads. We encourage your participation. The first two new questions involve statements that Hinds County District Attorney Faye Peterson and her challenger Robert Smith made the day after the primaries. She accused him of "being in bed with criminals" (Truthwatch #43), and he accused her of "not being involved with cases" in her office. (Truthwatch #42). Go take a look and help us out.

The Welty Ladies

Eudora Welty's living female relatives include her nieces Mary Alice Welty White (director of the Eudora Welty House) and Liz Welty Thompson (librarian at the State Law Library) of Jackson; her great-nieces Leslie Thompson Jacobs (a Jackson social worker) and Elizabeth White (an Atlanta attorney); her great-great nieces Emily and Natalie Thompson (four-year-old Jackson pre-kindergartners).

Jeff Weill Apparent Winner of Ward 1 Seat

The Clarion-Ledger is reporting that candidate Jeff Weill took just over 50 percent of the vote to replace Ward 1 Councilman Ben Allen Tuesday night. Weill ran on a platform of fighting crime and not raising taxes—two issues that tend to resonate in the city's most affluent ward.

BREAKING: City Hires Attorneys Due to FBI Probe

At City Attorney Sarah O'Reilly-Evans' request, the Jackson City Council voted Tuesday to accept outside counsel from Phelps Dunbar regarding potential civil lawsuits pending against the city for actions due to the mayor's actions against a nightclub, a duplex, an alleged criminal's elderly mother and a pallet company. Federal agents have subpoenaed numerous city employees, including City Attorney Sarah O'Reilly-Evans, according to sources inside the city, in an FBI probe of the activities of Mayor Frank Melton. O'Reilly-Evans suggested today that the council seek help from an outside firm in defending the city from potential civil lawsuits relating to the FBI's probe.

ANALYSIS: Council Dodges Numerous Bullets

The Melton administration this week proposed to dip into the city's budget reserves in an attempt to cauterize the bleeding city budget—and even pay rent on police precincts that are months behind. The news of the budget crisis came in the wake of city moves to waive millions of dollars in fees to downtown developers.

Gannett for Sale?

The Wall Street Journal is blogging about the possibility that the Gannett Corp., which owns The Clarion-Ledger, may be girding itself to be sold:

Time to turn the page

Ward 1 Candidate Forum at Christ United

Councilman Ben Allen just alerted us that WJNT 1180 and the Northside Sun are sponsoring a "Meet the Ward 1 Candidates" forum tonight, Thursday, Aug. 9, at Christ United Methodist Church (6000 Old Canton Road) in the fellowship hall from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. All candidates will be making statements and answering questions.

Clarion-Ledger Tiptoes Back Into Hinds DA Race

Read/hear interviews with the D.A. candidates

James Bowley

"Take your family to a mosque or Hindu temple or synagogue this week. They need it and might learn something," reads the new bumper sticker that 44-year-old Dr. James Bowley recently designed for his green Nissan Sentra. Dr. Bowley, a native Nebraskan now in his fifth year as a religion professor at Millsaps College, professes and participates in this kind of interfaith dialogue both inside and outside the classroom.

Sharpton Defends the 'Jena 6'

Photos by Chelsi West & Maggie Burks

In the small, pastoral town of Jena, La., police arrested six black students 15 to 17 years old and charged them with attempted second-degree murder and conspiracy after a string of racially charged events climaxed with a school fight on Dec. 4, 2006.

Replacing Ben: Four Men Compete in a Changing Ward

Photos by Darren Schwindaman

Retiring Councilman Ben Allen got a super send-off Monday from friends and family at Bravo! Restaurant in Highland Village. A crowd containing personalities such as secretary of state candidate Delbert Hosemann, fellow council members, Ward 1 residents—and even Gov. Haley Barbour—showered gratitude upon the former councilman for more than 10 years of service.

Let the Big State Races Begin

As the dust settles on last night's primaries, one huge issue looms as the big statewide races begin in earnest: the Katrina effect. Get ready for a populist debate on insurance reform—not to mention health care, tobacco taxes and education—like this state has never seen as attorney John Eaves challenges Haley Barbour for governor; Rep. Jaimie Franks takes on Phil Bryant for lieutenant governor (and control of the Senate); and Gary Anderson battles Mike Chaney for insurance commissioner.

Gary Anderson Sends George Dale to the Showers

Democratic challenger Gary Anderson defeated incumbent Insurance Commissioner George Dale 51-49 percent Tuesday night. Dale had mounted his re-election campaign under intense scrutiny for his support of and by the insurance industry in the wake of Katrina. The tort-reform lobby had campaigned heavily for him, saying he was the candidate to counteract "lawsuit abuse" and accusing him of being the candidate for "personal injury lawyers." Many victims of Katrina have sued their insurance companies for trying to pay their policies, in most cases saying they lost their homes due to wind, not water. Because only a slab was left in many cases, policy holders could not point to a water line, as insurance companies said they needed to do. Many people on the Coast are still living in FEMA trailers.

Pro-Choice Candidate Defeats Erik Fleming

It appears that Kimberly Campbell, who was forced out of the Jackson City Attorney's office for questioning city policy, has defeated Rep. Erik Fleming for the District 72 Hinds-Madison seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives.

McMillin Kicks Butt; Peterson Leads into Runoff

Predictably, Sheriff Malcolm McMillin won the right to keep his site over challengers tonight, including Mayor Frank Melton's choice, police spokesman Tyrone Lewis. WAPT guest political analyst Matt Friedeman summed it up well: "Mayor Melton is a loser tonight."

Problems at the Polls? Post Here.

Be sure to include which precinct you voted in, what time and even descriptions of the poll worker if you had a serious problem. And, remember to call the secretary of state's office at 800-829-6786 to report problems. Call us here at the Jackson Free Press if you have a really egregious experience and think we should try to get out there: 601.362.6121 ext. 2, 5 or 7.

Where the Elections Parties Are

These are the ones we've heard about. Feel free to add others:

we are just staying at the headquarters at 1755 Leila drive and preparing for a run-off which will be on august 28th and then the general election. we are low key and it will be really a working night for us. we are inviting everyone to stop by. probably between 9 and 10:30 as we will know where we are then.

Secretary of State: Heavy Turnout Expected Tuesday

[Verbatim/Aug. 6, 2007] Secretary of State Eric Clark today predicted that voter turnout in Tuesday's party primaries will be up slightly from the last statewide primary election and anticipates 710,000 ballots will be cast in races from Governor to Coroner. "I encourage every Mississippian to vote in these primary elections," Clark said. "Many important races will be decided tomorrow, not just in November."

Creshawna Wilson

After being in Jackson for only a year, Creshawna Wilson, 19, of Indianola, Miss., has already made her mark on the city. Her desire to make changes in the media captured the hearts of the folks at Mississippi Public Broadcasting, earning her a five-year summer internship with MPB education services.

Ellington