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No Downside to Pullout, Hinds County Supervisor Says
Hinds County is following through with a January decision to pull out of the Pearl River Basin Development District, removing itself from the auspices of the District regarding upkeep along the Pearl River.
Gay Marriage a Civil Right, Protesters Say
Advocates for the state's gay and lesbian community participated in a nationwide protest against Proposition 8 over the weekend. About 70 people met on High Street, between the state Capitol building and the Sillers Building to protest the passage of the California ballot initiative, which changed that state's constitution to prevent California from recognizing the marriage of same-sex couples. California voters approved the constitutional amendment Nov. 4 with about 6.2 million supporting the amendment and 5.6 million in opposition.
DNA Preservation Bill Passed
The Mississippi Legislature passed a bill mandating that the state better preserve crime scene DNA evidence and conduct DNA testing on biological evidence.
Man Arraigned in Jackson for Online Obama Threats
Steven Joseph Christopher of Wisconsin was arraigned today in federal court in Jackson for making threats against President-elect Barack Obama on the Internet chat forum on Jan. 11 and 15. "Threats against the president-elect will be taken very seriously. Use of chat rooms to express those threats is as much a crime as uttering the words. Threats of this nature will be pursued swiftly and vigorously," U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton said in the courtroom. The maximum penalty is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The judge advised Christopher would be held in isolation for his own safety. Christopher was arrested without incident in Lincoln County by sheriffs working with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, thus his appearance in court here.
Johnson Questions Millsaps Police Study
Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. is implying that Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill has sidestepped the traditional administrative process by commissioning a survey related to the numbers of police officers in the city.
Officer Sues Melton, City for Retaliation
Jackson Police Officer Robert Watts filed a notice of intent to sue (PDF) the city Monday. Watts claims Jackson Mayor Frank Melton arranged to have him transferred to a different beat for speaking to FBI agents in the weeks leading up to the mayor's federal indictment. A federal grand jury indicted Melton in July for his role in the destruction of a home on Ridgeway Street. His bodyguard, Marcus Wright, pled guilty for his role in the incident, and is currently working with authorities.
Corps Finally Reveals $2.8 Million Flood Study
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UPDATED: Elected Judges: Battered, Bought ... But Still Better
Pointing out that Gov. Haley Barbour has not appointed one black judge out of 18 judicial appointments to date, two attorneys and a Supreme Court justice agreed at a Saturday meeting that Mississippi's electoral process for deciding state and local judges was superior to a system of appointing judges.
Melton Sues Democratic Committee
Earlier: Melton to Democratic Party: 'Go to Hell'
Hood: State Auditor Disrupted Beef Plant Sting
Attorney General Jim Hood confirmed Monday that State Auditor Phil Bryant had interrupted investigative efforts to obtain evidence against beef-plant owners. Hood's written statement to the media came after lieutenant governor candidate Jamie Franks, who is running against Bryant, announced at a press conference that Bryant had "recklessly" interfered with the beef-plant investigation.
2009 Legislature Convenes in Old Capitol
Perhaps as an omen to the contentiousness ahead, the Mississippi Legislature convened the new session Tuesday in the restored Old Capitolthe building where Mississippi once voted to secede from the union. Gov. Haley Barbour and former Gov. William Winter, governors from different sides of the political aisle, attended the opening ceremony, followed by guests such as noted columnist Bill Minor.
Rights Museum Hidden Costs, Lobbying Questioned
As a vote to approve a controversial placement of a new civil rights museum looms, a commission member is saying that extra taxpayer costs of locating it in a planned development zone near Tougaloo College are being dramatically downplayed by supporters of that plan. "(Consultants) say the road wll be completed by April 8. That's impossible. ...The road is not going to be able to begin construction until the railroad is raised, and I believe there's some funding missing for the railroad at the current time," Civil Rights Commission member Susan Lunardini told the Jackson City Council Thursday.
City Council Revisiting Fuel Theft Today
The Jackson City Council will meet today for an update on the city's continuing problem with alleged fuel theft. In early December, council members voiced concern that more than 80 percent of city employees with city–paid gas cards were not properly tracking odometer readings, and could be abusing the card and stealing from the city. The council gave four recommendations to the city at a Dec. 1, 2008, meeting, and will revisit the issue at 2:30 p.m. today.
$86.7 Million Green Renovation for McCoy Building
Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. met with members of the Hinds County legislative delegation, representatives of the U.S. congressional delegation and local business advocates to celebrate $86.7 million in renovations for the Dr. A. H. McCoy Federal Building, at the corner of Farish and West Capitol streets.
Justice Association Slams Barbour's Request to Court
The Mississippi Association for Justice is accusing Gov. Haley Barbour of playing politics with a wrongful-death case in Bolivar County. "Haley Barbour's recent motion to the Supreme Court to reconsider a previous decision based on tort reform is inconceivable and ill-advised," said Steve Mullins, president of the Mississippi Association for Justice. "His motion is full of false and politically motivated information, and it violates the separation of powers as intended by our founding fathers."
Hughes Demotes Chandler After Video Investigation
Jackson Fire Chief Vernon Hughes announced he was demoting Assistant Chief Todd Chandler to captain status at a press conference today. Hughes re-assigned Chandler to the division of air supply, effective today, after the investigation of a 13-year-old video allegedly featuring Chandler and other white firemen mocking black recruits. Chandler, who has been with the fire department for more than 20 years, denied being the fireman in the video, though Hughes said he was convinced of Chandler's identification in the film.
JPS Board Seeks Budget Audits
The Jackson Public School Board chose not to approve some aspects of the school budget last night, including money for some new buses, textbooks and school nurses, citing the need for more information from the superintendent's staff. Board member Jonathan Larkin said the board did basically approve the district budget, however, amounting to more than $230 million.
Minor Gets Three Hours with Dying Wife
Bill Minor, the father of convicted attorney and Democratic fundraiser Paul Minor, told the Jackson Free Press that his son only has three hours to visit his dying wife in Baton Rouge today.
Post-Surgery, Melton Vows to Help More Kids
Jackson Mayor Frank Melton had little to say at a 10 a.m. press conference Monday. Reporters spent more than 30 minutes setting up cameras in the mayor's ceremonial office, only to hear the mayor offer gratitude to his medical staff and family. Melton presented a model of the new defibrillator now sitting in his chest and declared a new conviction to help the city's youth. "We're losing too many young people," Melton told the press. "…It's very difficult to talk to an 18-year-old one day … and bury him the next. It causes me to lose sleep."
Council to Vote on Police Chief Today
The Jackson City Council is holding a confirmation vote today at 2 p.m. on Hinds County Sheriff Malcolm McMillin as Jackson's next police chief even as some Council members are complaining that the mayor has not provided adequate documentation for the appointment.