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[City Buzz] no. 17 January 24 - 31

Convention Center Commissioners picked two construction companies to begin building the Convention Center, seven months after the groundbreaking. The construction contract, worth more than $52 million, will go to two companies, both inside the city of Jackson.

Pallet Ping-Pong

Photos by Adam Lynch & Jaro Vacek

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton is continuing the war with A-1 Pallet Company this week, saying he will move ahead with the proposed demolition of the company despite a strengthened restraining order against the city.

Lakes Plan Still Alive, Despite Vote?

Photos by Melissa Webster & Mississippi Museum Of Natural Science

Also see: Archive of Two Lakes/Pearl Coverage

Campbell Takes on Fleming

Rep. Erik Fleming, 42, is defending his seat against challenger Kimberly Campbell in the District 72 Demo-cratic primary this year. Fleming has held the post since 1999, and he said he has too many things to finish to leave.

Bringing Back the Rod

Jackson Public School Board member Sollie Norwood is speculating on the possibility of returning corporal punishment to JPS. Norwood placed the discussion item on the June 18 JPS agenda and argued that a high number of parents might favor the discipline measure.

Demolition Down on Farish

Photos by Adam Lynch

Mayor Frank Melton announced that he intends to demolish more than 30 dilapidated homes on Farish Street, near the Church Street junction. "I'm taking them all down, and we're billing the owner. We're thinking they'll cost $1,500 a piece," Melton told members of the press on Monday.

Two Districts Competitive in 2008?

Both U.S. House District 1 and former Sen. Trent Lott's seats could prove competitive this year, despite a decades-long trend of Republican domination in Mississippi.

[City Buzz] No. 22 February 14 - 21

Dennis Grant, Probation Services Company Offender Services Coordinator said in a letter to Mayor Melton that he has not received proof of Melton's recent surgery in Texas. Melton's bond for his felony indictments requires him to report any departures from the state. A delay in the mayor's heart surgery required he file details with Grant.

Primary Decides Winner in District 26

Senate District 26 is a sprawling giant compared to neighboring Districts 27 and 28. It swaggers over the northern and western portions of the capital city and expands as far west as Bolton and Edwards. It's a largely rural district, but has urban pockets filled with people who love their politics.

Back to the Past?

Spanking could be on its way back to Jackson Public Schools if some board members have their way.

Melton Targets Talk Back

Photos by Dennis Sweet & Adam Lynch

Jackson attorney Dennis Sweet and Jackson business owner Charlotte Reeves are striking back against what they described as Jackson Mayor Frank Melton's attempt to sway public opinion in civil lawsuits filed against him and the city. Melton made hard allegations against plaintiffs who are suing him and the city for civil rights violations last week.

Dems Bolster Power in Legislature

Photos by Adam Lynch

The Mississippi Legislature moved into Nov. 7 looking on the surface much as it did prior to the elections, party-wise. But education proponents say the new Legislature will likely be more friendly to issues such as full funding of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program and an increased tobacco tax, and the new House line-up may mean trouble ahead for Republican districts.

Council Questions High Pay

The city council questioned an extra $35,000 that City Attorney Sarah O'Reilly stands to make on two Tax Increment Financing deals the council approved last week. The council also discussed in a closed session the dizzying pay for former Interim Fire Chief Todd Chandler, now a firefighter again.

Tuck to Revisit Tobacco Tax

g forward a bill seeking to raise the cigarette tax.

Dems Spar for House Seat

Incumbent Rep. Cecil Brown is facing Democrat challenger Stacey Webb in the August primary for District 66, which covers parts of north Jackson, in the Mississippi House of Representatives.

[City Buzz] no. 14 February 7 - 14

Photos by Brian Johnson and Jaro Vacek

The Jackson City Council is considering putting a moratorium on digital signs throughout the city, with the council set to debate the issue more thoroughly at its Feb. 13 meeting.

‘Major Extortion'?

Photos by Brian Johnson & Darren Schwindaman

Council members Marshand Crisler, Ben Allen and Margaret Barrett-Simon told the Jackson Free Press Monday that city Chief of Staff Marcus Ward threatened Jackson School Board member Jonathan Larkin's re-appointment to the board if he does not approve a bid for a contract by a company supported by the mayor's office. According to the three council members and sources connected to JPS, Ward told Larkin that the mayor's office would not submit Larkin's name to the Council for re-confirmation if he did not approve a contract bid by Jackson business Integrated Management Services PA, for work related to the $150 million bond issue—a bid that is reportedly much higher than the next lowest bid.

[City Buzz] no. 16 Janurary 17 - January 24

U.S. District Judge L.T. Senter Jr. gave State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. a heavy blow last week, telling them that they have to cover a policy holder's hurricane wind damage unless they can absolutely prove that storm surge was the cause of destruction.

Debate Highlights Party Loyalties

Photos by Adam Lynch

Republican State Auditor Phil Bryant and Democratic Rep. Jamie Franks sparred before a modest crowd of about 200 at Biloxi's Saenger Theater last Wednesday. The event was more a locked-down forum than a debate, with no chance for rebuttal. With only eight harmless questions, the candidates avoided touchy topics like commitment to the governor or the $55 million beef plant fiasco.

Run-offs: Sparring In Other Offices

Charles Stokes and Dorothy Benford are vying just as furiously for the Hinds County tax assessor's office as they were on Aug. 6.