News

Clean Indoor Air Act battle on House floor

Marianne Dixon

It's not difficult at all for Marianne Dixon, 33, to talk about her job, her husband or Jackson, the city she calls home. Taking a seat at a round, four-top table near the Hal & Mal's bar, with her eyes sparkling and cheeks glowing, Dixon tells all.

Barbour: 'Why I'll Veto the Tax Bill'

*verbatim via e-mail* There has been a lot of discussion over the past few days about Senate Bill 2310, which proposes to eliminate the sales tax on groceries and increase the tax on cigarettes. Despite the initial claims that this proposal is simple and revenue neutral, this bill in fact shortchanges our towns and cities which are already strapped in post-Katrina times and destroys our ability to increase needed funding for education in the future.

Fleming welcomes Lott to US Senate race

Open Thread for this week

House Bill 882

House finally passes seatbelt law

Rep. Erik Fleming Launches JFP Blog

Follow news about the legislative session and ask direct questions of Rep. Erik Fleming, D-Hinds, on his new JFP blog.

JFP Unveils Amped-Up 2006 Capitol Blog

Jan. 1, 2006—The Jackson Free Press has blogged about the state Legislature since we launched three sessions ago. This week, we introduce our even better JFP Capitol Blog just in time for the return of the state Legislature. This will be the definitive site for breaking news and daily coverage of the Mississippi State Legislature, as well as commentary by JFP bloggers and special guests involved in the issues. It is also a one-stop portal for the JFP's in-depth coverage and analysis of Mississippi politics and policy-making. Also don't miss Rep. Erik Fleming's JFP blog, where he is answering questions from citizens about news and actions in the Legislature and his own record.

Tobacco/Grocery tax package passes

Convention Center At Risk?

In 1995, Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. and local business leaders managed to convince legislators to authorize more than $17 million to build the Telecommunications and Conferencing Center, now due for a ribbon-cutting in a couple of weeks on Pascagoula Street. Johnson had fought to promote the idea of the Telecommunications Center to the state Legislature, which often shied away from dispensing money for capital city projects. The project began with numerous false starts, including stalls over the building's location. One failed proposal suggested using the dilapidated King Edward Hotel as the home of the center.

Kim And Klarissa Hardy

Everyone has heard of the Hardy boys—that determined brotherly duo—but even they would be no match against the Hardy twins. Kicking off our Young Influentials line-up this year, Kim and Klarissa Hardy, 22 and natives of Texas, are forces to be reckoned with on the Jackson State campus and beyond. Kim Hardy has risen as student government association president, while Klarissa Hardy holds the title of Miss JSU. These offices are only the beginning of the Hardy twins' list of joint and solo community involvement.

Response to State of the State Address

Barbour's ‘State of the State' Address

"Thank you. Lt. Governor Tuck, Speaker McCoy, ladies and gentlemen of the Legislature, fellow Mississippians. Thank you for being here for my third State of the State address. I apologize for being hoarse, but I struggled with a bad cold last week*sore throat and all. For you Legislators who think that means my speech will be shorter than last year*don't get your hopes up!

Fleming says wrong question being asked in the Senate race

Just for the record (Disclaimer)

Trent Lott: Donate Abramoff Money to Katrina Victims

Legislature Funding a ‘Field of Dreams'

It's amazing the lengths these yucks will go in order to try to make up for the precious manufacturing jobs lost in the state due to NAFTA madness. And, thanks, Haley for your role in that, dude. Ledge:

Is Tuck Her Own Woman?

Here's an story from Bobby Harrison at the Daily Journal from back in December that discusses her new support for a tobacco tax and other ideas that Mr. Barbour might not be happy with.

Erica Flannes

Erica Flannes, 28, met me inside Fondren Corner, just about where she sets up for Fondren's ARTMix.

2005 Year In Review, Part 2: To Hell and Back

The second half of 2005 turned out to be the most interesting six months any of us have lived through in a while. On the positive side, the city continued its march toward greatness - with increasing numbers of younger people turning up in the "Bold New City" and finding that it was not the city they had left after high school, or heard negative things about from afar. Their energy, despite obstacles, keeps the city moving forward, and the Jackson Free Press is thrilled to be the forum where people who believe in the city turn for news and community-building.

Education Funding a Big ‘Question Mark'

The Clarion-Ledger editorializes about the upcoming legislative "Katrina session" today:

Delta Legislators Point Fingers at Barbour

The Delta-Democrat Times is reporting:

Tate's the Treasurer, Man

State Treasurer Tate Reeves also has a new Web site up and running in time for the 2006 legislative session. It's kind of brown and flat and ugly, and seems to be mostly about Mr. Reeves the Treasurer. (Isn't a little early for him to start running again?) A JFP reader pointed out in e-mail, also, that it is very unusual for a state treasurer's office Web site to have the name of the elected official as the domain. I don't know if that's true, but the thing does seem a bit self-focused.

Abortion Foes Want More Restrictions

The Associated Press is reporting:

Miss Keke

Growing up gospel—that's Miss KeKe, aka the Queen of Mississippi's "Fokus." This 25-year-old Jackson native says her faith in God and hard work brought her to where she is today. She is a promoter in the music industry, helping local artists launch their careers.

What To Do This New Year's Eve in Jackson

Traditionally New Year's Eve means a celebration with family and friends. Here's the lowdown about your favorite spots around town. Our advice is to call right away for reservations.

City Ends Precinct-by-Precinct Crime Stats

Not that it made the front page as any story about the previous administration and crime stats used to, but The Clarion-Ledger has a story today about how the new police chief is officially ending the weekly precinct-by-precinct crime stats, so she can supposedly take a more "holistic" look at crime in Jackson. Of course, this is direct defiance to the Maple-Linder recommendations that the Metro Crime Commission/SafeCity (with Melton as chairman) pushed so hard and for so long. And it brings to mind all those angry editorials the Ledge wrote about the last administration's handling of crime stats. So, why is the city closing ranks on crime statistics? More from the Ledge:

Have a Wonderful Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah

The Jackson Free Press wishes you and yours a loving, safe and peaceful holiday. Look for our next issue out on schedule on Dec. 28, 2005—our New Year's issue and 2005 Year in Review, one of our biggest issues of the year. Cheers, the JFP Staff.

Chassity Dykes

This is what you'll likely hear seconds after you step into Chassity Dykes' consignment shot, Nu 2 U.

Ellington