News

Jason Marlow

Jason Marlow, the 2007 Best Filmmaker, isn't a guy who is going to wait for success to come knocking. At 27, he's seen more of the world than most of us ever dream. He recently returned from a trip to China, where he met several Oscar-winning filmmakers working on a new project. "It turned out to be awesome," he said. The people were just people, not what he thought of as "Hollywood" types, he told me, and were welcoming and supportive.

Obama Is In the Race ... or Almost

He has launched his new presidential exploratory Web site, where you can read a transcript, or watch a video, of Obama explaining why he is (almost) in the race:

Blog/Read Verbatim ‘State of the State' at StateDesk

Right now, head over to StateDesk. We've just posted the full speech verbatim, so you can read along and comment as Gov. Barbour reads his speech. It's also live on MPB right now.

Bush's Version of Iraq Ignores Facts

Mark Seibel, the head of international coverage for McClatchy news service, published a detailed piece this weekend dissecting how the Bush administration—especially Bush, Secretary of State Condaleeza Rice and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley—is playing fast and loose with the facts in their latest push to ramp up the war in Iraq:

Honoring Dr. King: Toward Justice in Mississippi

Jacksonian Martha Bergmark, who runs the Mississippi Center for Justice here, has an inspiring call to action (especially for social-justice attorneys) printed at MSNBC.com/Newsweek today, in honor of Dr. King's birthday today:

Just In: Rep. Leonard Morris of Batesville Dies

The Clarion-Ledger is reporting that Rep. Leonard Morris has died:

ALERT: Prison Escapee May Be in Jackson

Terry S. Thomas, 50, was seen Thursday in downtown Jackson, the release said.

Per a release posted on The Clarion-Ledger's site:

Barbour's ‘State of the State' on MLK Birthday

Mississippi Public Broadcasting will air Gov. Haley Barbour's "State of the State" address on Monday, Jan. 15, at 6 p.m. You can hear a live feed on MPB's Web site. The Jackson Free Press will be live-blogging the speech at our new statewide political newswire, StateDesk.

LeFleur Lakes Critic Tom Pullen on Radio JFP Friday

Tune into WLEZ, 103.7 FM, at noon Friday, Jan. 12, 2007, for Radio JFP, Jackson's news and entertainment variety hour. Joining host Todd Stauffer will be editors Donna Ladd and Brian Johnson to talk about the week's news, as well as Tom Pullen of the Pearl River Basin Coalition to talk about flood control, the need for green space for economic development, and why he opposes the LeFleur Lakes proposal. You'll also hear songs from musicians playing out in Jackson in the next week.

Probation Office: Melton Under Curfew, No Kid Contact

The Clarion-Ledger is reporting that a probation official wrote a letter to Melton this week containing harsh warnings against violations of his bond:

City Releases JPD Crime Plan

You have to see this to believe it.

In December, the Public Eye made a public records request for "The Jackson Police Department's most current plan for fighting crime. If parts are unreleasable, state why and provide releasable portions of plan."

Education Rally Draws Hundreds; MAEP Passes

The House came out swinging this morning, passing five bills through floor votes. The most significant bill the House passed was was HB 238, fully funding The Mississippi Adequate Education Program with more than $2 billion. After an hour-long debate, the vote passed 119 to 1, with only Republican Rep. Steve Horne, of Meridian, holding out in opposition.

LeFleur Lakes Developer Plans to Go Around Corps

The Northside Sun has two intriguing pieces this week for John McGowan's next plan on how to get his LeFleur Lakes development to move ahead, one a slight news piece about a positive (and unscientific) poll on his Web site, and more interesting, a publisher's note by Wyatt Emmerich. He says that McGowan now wants to go around the federal government—and is worried that the new bill to restrict eminent domain in the Legislature will hurt his chances:

Mississippi's Infant Mortality Rate Rises

WLOX in Biloxi is reporting:

Barbour to Make Anti-Crime Announcement Thursday

Update: Barbour's statement is posted verbatim over on StateDesk.

Young Dems Oppose Minimum-Wage Amendment

Breaking news over at StateDesk.

Loome: Big Rally for Education Thursday

[verbatim from Nancy Loome of The Parents Campaign] Things are really heating up at the Capitol, and pro-education legislators are looking to The Parents' Campaign network members (you!) to win full funding for our children! All eyes are now focused on next week's rally, and legislators have said that your attendance there will be the key to a full-funding victory. WE REALLY NEED YOU THERE NEXT THURSDAY!

The iPhone arrives…In June

You've got to feel as sorry as you possibly can for the richest man in the world. After all, here's Bill Gates on Monday, giving the keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show, one of the largest technology shows on the planet, and he's one of the most important people in the history of modern computing. He's amassed a fortune by being perhaps the person most instrumental in shaping our experience of computers in homes, businesses and governments around the world.

Scotta Brady

Her disposition is calming; her voice, smooth; and she gives careful consideration to even the simplest questions. Scotta Brady, self-proclaimed yogi and owner of Butterfly Yoga in Fondren, says she feels at home in her yoga studio. Not only does she live in Fondren; her parents do as well. When she first opened the studio, however, in August 2002, it was downtown in the former Gallery 119 space. But she always intended to move the studio to Fondren.

Barbour Announces Alternative Coast Housing

[verbatim statement] Governor Haley Barbour today announced additional information regarding the state's Alternative Housing Pilot Program that was granted more than $280 million in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Under this plan some FEMA travel trailers and mobile homes would be replaced with more sustainable alternative housing, which Mississippi's plan identifies as Park Models, Mississippi Cottages, and Green Mobile units. The Governor's Office is hosting meetings this week with local and state officials of Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties concerning the program.

Pelosi Be Damned: House Votes to Up Minimum Wage

The House passed an ambitious minimum-wage bill before adjourning on Tuesday. HB 237, which passed 68-to-50, calls for every state employer to raise minimum wage to $6.25 by July 1, 2007, and to raise it again to $7.25 beginning Jan. 15, 2008. Before approving the bill, representatives voted 64-to-54 for an amendment exempting part-time high school or college student employees from the bill, arguing that employers hiring part-time students would be likelier to do without the labor than pay higher costs. Amendment opponents argued that businesses like Wal-Mart would likely discriminate against full-time workers in favor of part-time students if the bill became law.

City Council Feuds Over Secrecy

A meeting of the City Council descended into bitter acrimony Monday over whether or not to go into closed session regarding a construction contract. Reginold Harrion, deputy city lawyer for public works, told the council that the city opened competitive bids for a bulldozer for a solid-waste facility south of Byram. The council initially accepted the bid of lowest bidder Lyle Machinery last July, but then rescinded their award and handed the contract to second-lowest bidder Puckett Machinery on Dec. 5, when Lyle Machinery did not deliver the bulldozer by the 120-day deadline, Harrion said.

Democrats May Deny Funds for Iraq Surge

The Associated Press is reporting: In a blunt warning to the White House, congressional Democrats said Monday they may seek to deny funds for the type of short-term troop buildup that President Bush is expected to announce for Iraq Wednesday night. As Democrats began their first full week in the congressional majority, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he would "look at everything" to wind down the war effort, short of cutting off support for troops already deployed.

Monticello Mayor: No Payments for Jackson

Mayor Dave Nichols II of Monticello has a letter in The Clarion-Ledger today opposing the move to pass a PILT (payment in lieu of taxes) bill for the capital city. It reads in part:

JFP on WLEZ 1.5.07 Podcast

Finally, we get Radio JFP recorded...we must be out of "beta." Enjoy.

JFP_WLEZ_10507.mp3 (26.3MB)

Jackson Gets New FBI Head

... and he seems to have a pretty impressive resume. Bets are that he'll stay busy in these parts:

Fred Brink, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and 21-year FBI veteran, today was named the new special agent in charge of the FBI's Jackson Division. Brink is coming to Mississippi from his post as special agent in charge of the FBI's special operations division in New York. Link

Rep. Leonard Morris Out of Surgery, Still Critical

The Associated Press is reporting: State Rep. Leonard Morris, D-Batesville, remained in critical condition Friday, a day after having kidney surgery. A spokeswoman for the University of Mississippi Medical Center said a tumor was removed. Lawmakers who had spoken with Morris before the surgery said the whole kidney was supposed to be taken out, but it was unclear whether that was done. The hospital would not release more information without the family's consent. [...]

[Lott] The Oreck Challenge

Before this column takes on the big issues expected in the Senate this year, I want to address something all Mississippians should note. It's a lesson about corporate citizenship and corporate responsibility that our state should resolve to remember, particularly as we try to bring new jobs here.

Lewis Runs for Sheriff

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Photo: Jackson Police Commander Tyrone Lewis, left, declaring his entry into the 2007 Hinds County sheriff's race. Melton political operative Bob Hickingbottom is on the right.

Partnership Replacement Clears House Committee

The House Public Health Committee produced a replacement for the strangled Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi today. Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, who is chairman of the committee, made it clear that he was seeking to replace the Partnership after former tobacco lobbyist Gov. Haley Barbour and State Treasurer Tate Reeves challenged the legality of the Partnership in court last year.

Ellington