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Frustrated Voters Overhaul Court
Election Day brought an upset of Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Smith, a U.S. Chamber of Commerce favorite, but the outcome may not have loosened the corporate lobby's influence on the court's decisions. The Chamber spent millions of dollars on past elections promoting judges willing to steer the court in favor of corporate defendants. Their fight continued this year, with some measure of success.
City to Take Over Bus System
A surprised Jackson City Council learned Monday that the city of Jackson is planning to take over its public bus system. The Melton administration informed the council of the new development after the city failed to reach an immediate contract agreement with Professional Transit Management. "We are in negotiations now and hope to reach an agreement soon," Chief Administrative Officer Robert Walker told the Jackson Free Press. "When we have something worked out, I will call you."
JPD Blasts ‘Negative Crime Story'
Using FBI statistics that the agency warns not to take out of context, The Clarion-Ledger reported a 9.3 increase in violent crime for the Jackson area this morning.
Mayoral Debate Gets Rowdy
Jackson's two Democratic candidates for mayor seemed to be working hard to deliver attacks at Thursday's run-off debate. The candidates drew a crowd of about 200 at Jackson State University's Rose Embly McCoy Auditorium. Two-term councilman and former Council President Marshand Crisler, who has been much more at home attacking the questionable decisions of former Jackson Mayor Frank Melton, attempted to dig at his opponent's age and the perception of him being slow moving. Former Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr., who was slightly more aggressive, went after Crisler's lack of experience and his loyalty.
Judge Recuses Herself from Minor Appeal
A controversial judge has removed herself from the appeal of convicted attorney Paul Minor yesterday. Priscilla R. Owen, who was serving on a United States 5th Circuit Court of Appeals three-judge panel overhearing Minor's corruption appeal, removed herself from the case hours before the panel's scheduled meeting.
Rep. John Reeves Pledges to Help Unseat Billy McCoy
Rep. John Reeves, who is fighting in a re-vote today to take back his seat from challenger Adrienne Wooten, sent a letter to Republicans (PDF, 185 KB), asking for their support and vowing to help unseat House Speaker Billy McCoy if re-elected. The House convenes at the beginning of the session to hold a tally on the new speaker, who then assigns chairmanships and decides the political tone of the House. Gov. Haley Barbour and his supporters have targeted McCoy's seat because he is viewed as too progressive.
Mayor Johnson: ‘Look Behind' Millsaps Report
Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson continued to push back this afternoon against a report commissioned by Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill on the Jackson Police Department's staffing. The report, authored by Millsaps College professor Bill Brister, pointed out that Jackson has a higher ratio of civilian employees to sworn officers in its police department than other comparable southeastern cities. Weill has argued that the police department could hire 100 new police officers by cutting its civilian staff to the southeastern average.
PSC's Presley ‘Frustrated' at Mixed Messages Over Entergy
Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley is frustrated at conflicting reports from a sister agency about an audit of Entergy's rate increases in the state. The Public Service Commission refused Wednesday to sign off on an audit report prepared by the Public Utilities Staff--a group under the auspices of the governor--to present to the state Legislature. PSC claimed that the report did not answer all the questions that Mississippi ratepayers need answered.
City Using ‘Old' Money for Paving Efforts
The city is moving forward with a massive repaving effort as crews grind out and cover sections of some of the city's most beleaguered roadways. The road work, touching down in spots all over the city, is the result of a $26.2 million bond the Jackson city council approved prior to the municipal elections this year. The council incorporated the bond into Jackson's 2009 road plan, though the bond is not financing all of the paving happening this year.
New Madison Hospital, Despite Battle
Madison County will soon have a new hospital. The Madison County Medical Center hosted a Sept. 10 groundbreaking ceremony for Madison River Oaks Hospital, a 67-bed hospital covering more than 110,000 square feet. The facility will contain traditional features such as an ICU and ER, as well as a pharmacy, a physical therapy center and a woman's health clinic.
Small Room for Pay Hikes
The Jackson City Council is mulling more budget cuts this week following news of shortfalls.
Agency in Jeopardy Over Ad Oversight
House Democrats and Gov. Haley Barbour are squaring off against one another regarding how the state spends advertising dollars. The House and Senate were unable to come to terms with a Mississippi Department of Employment Security reauthorization bill on the last day of the regular session, and the department now verges on the point of evaporation.
DOA: Voter ID, Early Voting and Sex Ed
Senate Republicans chose to kill a political effort yesterday that they've been championing for years because they were unwilling to offer early voting to Mississippi residents.
UPDATED: Civil Rights Museum a ‘Done Deal'
A Civil Rights museum commission appointed by Gov. Haley Barbour approved the location of a planned National Civil Rights Museum Tuesday with a 22-to-9 vote in favor of a controversial site near Tougaloo College. Commission members, including Tougaloo President Beverly Hogan, voted in favor of the Tougaloo location despite outcry from advocates of a location in Jackson.
Convicted Judge Whitfield Appeals to 5th Circuit
Attorneys for Harrison County Circuit Judge John Whitfield, convicted of bribery alongside Mississippi attorney Paul Minor, filed a motion for review with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday, citing flaws in U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate's refusal to grant Whitfield's motions for release pending his appeal.
5th Circuit Rejects Minor's Request for Bond
Judging from a decision by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday, the cancer-inflicted wife of convicted Mississippi attorney Paul Minor will likely die without her husband.
Commission Scrutinizing Entergy Rate Hikes
Consumer advocates criticized Entergy for not investing in energy conservation this week during a series of Public Service Commission meetings.
Kenneth Stokes
The Jackson City Council voted earlier this month to appoint individuals that historically sided with former Mayor Frank Melton to lead them under the new administration. Ward 4 Councilman Frank Bluntson and Ward 5 Councilman Charles Tillman received unanimous votes for council president and vice president, respectively. Bluntson immediately set about making Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes, the third councilman in the Melton "faction," head of the council's planning committee, so that Stokes could immediately go about bringing up all the agenda items that the more level-headed council leaders of the past kept bottled up in committee.
Gov. Barbour 'Pleased' With President-Elect
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour reported today that President-Elect Barack Obama's Tuesday meeting with state governors on addressing the recession was "cordial."