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Clarion-Ledger's Metro-State Election Archive

Here's where the Ledge is collecting the multitudes of stories they've done to date on the Jackson City Elections. Note that the room is pretty empty so far. You'd think that being that Jackson deserves its own Crime Watch link on the Web site of a statewide newspaper (which seems to have moved off the front page at least), you'd think we'd get our own archive of city election coverage. There's some OK stuff there about the Council races, but I keep wondering when they're going to cover the mayoral election. WOW.

Monday Alert: Help Save Education Funding

[verbatim from Coalition for Children and Public Education]: Please try one more time to effect some positive outcome for education funding through phone calls. I know you've called already, but please call again today. WE DO NOT WANT TO GO TO SPECIAL SESSION. The outcome of a special session will almost surely be worse than that of a regular session. Please call 5 to 10 people and ask that they each call 4 or 5 people to spread the word that calls need to go out today. Be sure you, all those you call, and all those they call phone your Senator, the LT. Governor and Sen. Little. If your senator is among the 30 who voted against the Bryan Amendment, please make sure to call him or her. Those 30 senators and their phone numbers are listed below.

A Blanket of Love: The JFP Interview With Tougaloo President Beverly Hogan

Tougaloo College's name is a Choctaw word that means where two streams cross, Dr. Beverly Hogan, 53, told me as we sat in her office, talking about her alma mater, which she now leads as its first female president.

JFP Writers to Blog about Mayoral Candidates

Motorola County Limits

March 30, 2005 A resolution to a public-safety communications problem, proposed by Jackson Police Chief Robert Moore and Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr., was shot down at the Hinds County Emergency 911 Council meeting on March 23. The resolution, earlier introduced at the March 22 Jackson City Council meeting, endorsed the upgrade of the city's public-safety communication system from an analog system to a digital system. It was also intended to address communication incompatibility issues between the county and the city.

Melton Responds to Johnson re: Debate Negotiators

NewStandard: Age Discrimination Law Gains Strength

The NewStandard reports:

Johnson Announces Debate Reps; Questions WLBT Link

C-L: Registration Time Running Out for Vote

The Clarion-Ledger reports:

WLBT: Crime on Hwy. 80 Gets Political

WLBT responded to Frank Melton's press conference on Highway 80 with this story:

[Johnson] Things Are Happening on Highway 80

[Melton] Highway 80–The Forgotten Commercial Corridor

Salter Takes on Taxation Myths; Barbour Responds

Update: Pasted below (in the comments) is a statement from Barbour, in minutes ago, about his take on the state's "budget myths." Enjoy.

Democratic Club to Host Mayoral Forum - April 9

[Just In] JPS Superintendent's Remarks on Full Funding

These are the remarks of Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Earl Watkins today at a press conference at the Department of Education calling for the governor and the hold-out members of the Senate to adequately fund public education.

ISSUE: As The Housing Crumbles

March 30, 2005 In his Feb. 14, 2005, press conference in front of Bobbie Johnson's house on Lamar Court, mayoral candidate Frank Melton complained that "half" the housing in Jackson is crumbling. It's hard to quantify the figure Melton used, but there are indeed several neighborhoods and clusters of houses that are either abandoned and rundown or occupied and unlivable.

Election Watch: City Council, Ward 2

March 30, 2005 Candidates for Ward 2 include incumbent Democrat Leslie Burl McLemore, a JSU political science professor who helps organize the annual Fannie Lou Hamer school, specializing in recognizing both the sacrifices lost and the rights won during the Civil Rights Movement. McLemore has held the position as Ward 2's councilman for six years, and currently heads the City Council as president.

Jackson ministers to endorse Mayor Johnson

Mayor Johnson to Hold Rally in West Jackson April 16

Mayor Johnson Nominated for World Mayor 2005

[Breaking] Education Funding Talks Break Down

[Just in from a "plumber" (our new word for unnamed source)]: "Budget negotiations, especially funding for education have completely broken down. The House has held firm for (close to) full funding of the MAEP. The Senate began showing movement towards a tobacco tax last night until Barbour started making calls (read "threats"). Legislators will be on MS Pub Broadcasting's "Quorum" tonight at 7:00pm. Watch and call in with questions! Click for how to help get education fully funded ...

Jasmine Gargoum

Politics and theater go hand in hand for Jasmine Gargoum, 21. A Millsaps senior whose double major is theater and political science, she has experience in the real world with both fields. For almost a year she has been employed as the office assistant at the State Democratic Headquarters.

URGENT: How to Help Get Education Funded NOW

Please call the House members and encourage them to hold their position in

The conference committee on HB 1646 (MAEP funding) is still negotiating. The House, under the leadership of Rep. Cecil Brown, is holding out for full funding. The Senate, under the leadership of Sen. Mike Chaney, is not there yet.

C-L: Auditor's MBN probe supports few charges

The Clarion-Ledger reports:

Bush Approval Slipping With Men, Conservatives

AP is reporting:

President Bush's job approval slipped into the mid 40s in national polls released this week as he lost some support among men and other groups of core supporters. Public approval for Bush slipped from 52 percent in a CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll over the weekend to 45 percent in that same poll released Thursday. A CBS News poll released earlier in the week found Bush's approval slipping six points to 43 percent.

Auditor's MBN Probe Supports Few Charges

The Clarion-Ledger reports:

MPB to Broadcast JFP Editorial Friday A.M.

[Editorial] Mr. Barbour: It's Time to Start Governing

Listen to Mississippi Public Broadcasting Friday morning at 5:35 and 7:35 to hear an excerpt from the JFP's most recent editorial read as part of "Opinion Round-up." Following is the excerpt you will hear:

Frank Melton to North Jackson: "It's Over!"

Mayoral hopeful Frank Melton has called his race against Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. before it ever began. "It's over!" he exclaimed to 35 wealthy women gathered at a breakfast meet-and-greet-and-fund-raise event Monday, March 14, at Bravo! restaurant in Highland Village. At the same event, he told them he needed to raise a half-million dollars for his campaign to unseat Johnson and needed their help.

[Alert] Support Public Education Today

Here's what you can do right now to demand full funding of Adequate Education. An alert just in from Parents for Public Schools; the Jackson Free Press stands with PPS on this issue. Please pick up the telephone now. Keep reading to see who to call.

Akinwole Uhuru

Strength and determination are two words that give meaning to a name, specifically the name Akinwole Uhuru. As a 22-year-old Tougaloo College senior, Uhuru says that every time his name is called, it reminds him of his purpose—a purpose that involves selflessly giving back to his community by focusing on America's struggle with poverty. His goals are to make a difference in the lives of those who are without, while at the same time encouraging those who do have to lend a helping hand.

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