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Langston Cooperating; Feds Seek His Release
An accidentally published motion reveals agents are working for an early release for convicted attorney Joey Langston, and that more investigations related to Langston are underway. U.S. attorneys filed a motion for downward departure in U.S. District Court Wednesday, explaining that Langston has helped prosecutors pursue investigations on convicted attorney Dickie Scruggs, and has "assisted in the further investigations of (Hinds County) Circuit Court Judge Bobby Delaughter and others."
Melton's Tax Woes
Hinds County is just now charging Jackson Mayor Frank Melton taxes due on a nearly 10-year-old, 60-foot-by-40-foot, two-story addition to his home.
EEOC Finds Racial Discrimination at MDPS
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has found evidence that the Mississippi Department of Public Safety engaged in discriminatory practices against black state troopers. In a June 1 letter, EEOC acting Area Director Willie Schaffer wrote, "there is reasonable cause to believe" that MDPS "engaged, and is engaging in, unlawful employment practices in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The documentary, statistical and testimonial evidence disclosed (MDPS) discriminated against blacks as a class because of their race with respect to assignments, demotions, discharges, discipline, harassment, hiring, intimidation, hostile work environment, promotion and the overall terms and conditions of their employment.
Federal Stimulus: ‘We Need to be Ready'
The stimulus is coming, and it's bringing big money. The Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review told the Mississippi House Ways and Means Committee that the economic impact of the federal stimulus package on the state could equal $5.12 billion, (equivalent to almost 6 percent of Mississippi's Gross State Product) after tax breaks.
Speaker McCoy Fires Back
Republicans had predicted House Speaker Billy McCoy's vengeance after his close re-election to the leadership post, and McCoy did not disappoint. The speaker assigned no chairmanships this session to Republicans, and removed other Republicans from last year's committee chairmanships.
Two Lakes Back on the Table
Engineers favoring a plan to flood the Pearl River and create a myriad of islands say the plan will be cheaper than a similar plan involving a smaller lake and only two islands.
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.
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.
Council Seeks $2.6 Million for Pay Increases
The Jackson City Council's budget committee passed a motion yesterday, 3-2, asking the Johnson administration to locate funds to finance a $1,000 per employee pay raise, a cost increase of about $2.6 million, according to the preliminary estimate of Jackson Chief Administrator Rick Hill.
Diaz Calls on D.C.
Former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Oliver Diaz outlined allegations of political persecution last week at a Washington, D.C., forum. The Sarah McClendon Group, a government and media watchdog association, held a forum on alleged selective prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice during the Bush administration. Speakers said that the U.S. Department of Justice, under former President George Bush, targeted Democratic politicians and Democratic fundraisers with indictments and media-saturated investigations with the help of conservative-appointed judgesin hopes of swinging elections toward Republicans.
Recio Demoted; McMillin Confirmation Set for Dec. 10
City Councilman Marshand Crisler and Leslie McLemore confirmed today at a special council meeting to approve the city payroll that Melton bodyguard Michael Recio is no longer an assistant chief and is back working in the mayor's office. Neither Melton or Recio would comment to the Jackson Free Press about the demotion.
Melton Admits 'Failure' on Crime Issue
Download audio of Melton press conference on 12.30.08 (.wav, 15.42MB)
City's First Female Police Chief Fired ... Again
Jackson Mayor Frank Melton decided Wednesday to remove Shirlene Anderson from her post as police chief of Jackson for what WAPT 16 News calls the second time. Following rumors posted on the JFP Web site mid-day, Melton announced a new decision to remove her from her post in a press release late Wednesday. Melton said he plans to retain Anderson as a special assistant to the mayor to coordinate the city's emergency services.
Hood Settlement Under Suspicion
Attorney General Jim Hood offered no guess as to what media outlets are looking for in a sealed February 2008 settlement between his office and State Farm and Fire and Casualty Company. Jackson New Media, Inc., publisher of the Y'all Politics blog, filed motions to intervene and unseal the settlement this month, joined by three TV stations: Jackson's WLBT, Hattiesburg's WDAM and WLOX in Biloxi.
Suburbs Reaping More Stimulus Road Funds
Two aspects of the federal economic stimulus will not be making much of a touchdown in Jackson. The Mississippi Department of Transportation revealed a nearly $200 million list of 44 projects around the state that will benefit from President Barack Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but Hinds County is only slated for a tiny fraction of that, with only $400,000 going to the installation of a traffic signal on Highway 80. Jackson's neighbor, the more economically affluent Rankin Countythe seat of major expansion as Jackson residents flee to suburbswill be getting $14 million of that for a new overlay.
Melton: ‘How Dumb Can You Be?'
Jones County Circuit Court Judge Billy Joe Landrum gave Jackson Mayor Frank Melton the keys to the courtroom at a hearing today, allowing him to belligerently insult the attorney for the Democratic committee that expelled him from the primary ballot last week and avoid answering questions he did not wish to address. Landrum has been put in charge of a suit to decide whether or not Melton can legally run for re-election as a Democrat.
Council Anxious Over Farish Street Zoning
Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon is nervous about potential rezoning efforts connected to the Farish Street Entertainment District. Renovation of the Farish Street project has been ongoing for about a decade, stalled by strict guidelines for construction in a historically designated area, city/developer disagreements and a host of money issues. The massive endeavor changed hands last year from Memphis' Performa Chairman and CEO John Elkington to the Jackson developer of the King Edward and Standard Life projects, David Watkins, after Performa took a hit from the national economic downturn and was unable to secure reliable funding.
Chandler Video Stirring JFD Pot
The Jackson Fire Department is shaking over a tape that firefighters claim Assistant Chief Todd Chandler helped make back in the 1990s. The video features what Local 87 Union President Capt. Brandon Falcon describes as Chandler ridiculing black recruits. The video allegedly shows Chandler, wearing a jacket with his name on it, speaking in a broken caricature of the black dialect, while a white superior—allegedly retired firefighter Ken Daniels—corrects his melodramatically moronic behavior.
Sweet Alleges Bias Against Hinds Judges
Jackson attorney Dennis Sweet claims Hinds County Senior Judge Swan Yerger violated the U.S. Constitution when he barred the county's black circuit court judges from hearing more serious cases.
Many New Mississippi Voters, But More Postage Required
The stamp box on your absentee ballot envelope isn't big enough, says Hinds County Circuit Clerk Barbara Dunn, but the NAACP and the U.S. Post Office say they will make sure that your vote will be counted.