[Kamikaze] Hip-Hop Wins Again
Have no fear, readers. Your friendly neighborhood rabble-rouser is back after a self-imposed hiatus. I had to take a short vacation to shake the haters off. But before your mouths start to water, I'm sorry to say I won't be dignifying those folks with a response. My mother said never give a fool (or in this case—fools) an audience. Unwarranted hating can be pretty costly in this day and age.
JFP EXCLUSIVE: Jackson Crime Surges
Read the story that the city is talking about, based on a report the Jackson Free Press unearthed on Monday. You saw it here first.
Haley Barbour Refuses to Pardon Black Man
Clyde Kennard was convicted of purchasing $25 worth of chicken feed he knew to be stolen. He died in 1963 after being released early due to intestinal cancer. The only witness against him has recanted his story. Barbour agrees that Kennard was wronged but refuses to pardon. Barbour may become the first governor in U.S. history to refuse to pardon someone he has publically proclaimed as innocent. This story is gaining national attention and is being discussed on numerous blogs. It has 4 stars on yahoo. For more info go to http://www.clydekennard.org
Tragedy at Jackson State—May 4, 1970
It's never too late to remember.
Today is the 36th anniversary of the tragic shootings at Jackson State University, as well as Kent State University, where police killed students protesting. Take a few moments to read up on the history of this dark era of American history. Listen to a piece by NPR's Ed Gordon here. Read more on Kent State here. Read a new piece about "Kent State Conspiracies" here.
[In Memory] Florence Mars, 1923-2006
I didn't know Florence Mars growing up in Neshoba County. She was from a different part of town—the side that had old money. I don't have memories of her walking around town in her floppy hat like Sen. Gloria Williamson describes, or driving her little bug around town as former Neshoba Democrat editor Stanley Dearman does. I don't remember seeing her at the Neshoba County Fair. I certainly had no reason to visit the stockyard that she owned, the one that white folks boycotted for awhile.
What We Have To Lose
It was with a great deal of concern that I emerged from reading Adam Lynch's story on the city's budget woes in last week's Jackson Free Press ("Bleak House," 4/10/06), because it confirmed for me a fear that I have about Mayor Frank Melton's administration. Right now, the city appears to lack serious fiscal leadership at the top.
[Grayson] I Was A Wood Street Girl
Typical sixth-graders aspire to become lawyers, doctors and professional athletes, but I was not your typical sixth-grader. I was raised on what came to be known as the worst street in Jackson: the infamous Wood Street. And my goal was to be a drug dealer.
Put The Pros On The Police Beat
As of this writing, Donna Ladd has spent at least 30 hours over two weeks with Mayor Frank Melton in interviews, phone calls, ride-alongs, press conferences and visits at his home to meet the young men he fosters. A good deal of her reporting went into the cover story for this issue, second in a series of interviews and stories on the complicated man who is our mayor.
Shooting Blanks
"I've made a lot of enemies from that abortion bill, but I'm tired of Republicans beating the hell out of Democrats over that issue."
Blogs
- Casino-Mogul Trump Going Against the Odds With 'Muslim Ban'
- Town Hall with Dr. Kai Smith
- VIDEO: One on One With Chief Vance
- 'Taking Back Our Community' Meeting Planned for Thursday in South Jackson
- Sandra Bland Traffic Stop Video Hits YouTube
- AG Hood Wants Explanation in Byrom Death-Sentence Reversal
- In the Fight for Jackson's Future, Who Can Immigrant Communities Trust?
- Jim Hood Orders 2 Executions then Defends U.S. Human Rights in Geneva 10 comments
- Does 'Open Carry' Actually Increase Gun Violence?
- Where's the Money? MSDH Withheld $600K from DV Shelters