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Employers Shouldn't Dictate Birth Control Choices
Dr. Beverly McMillan is against birth control. Or at least any kind of hormonal birth control, from the regular pill to the morning-after pill, all of which she considers to be a form of abortion. The head of Pro-Life Mississippi, McMillan wants your employer to be able to tell you what kind of birth control your health insurance can pay for. Never mind that you pay for your insurance with your own labor, and often partly with your money.
Melton Mentees Get Second Chance
The late Mayor Frank Melton may well be smiling from his grave over the good fortune bestowed by Gov. Haley Barbour and the city of Jackson to two of the troubled men he mentored over the years.
JFP Wins Multiple Awards for 2011 Work
The Jackson Free Press got amazing news from Detroit Friday afternoon when we learned the Association of Alternative Newsmedia was presenting us a coveted first-place public-service award for our team coverage of the personhood effort last fall.
Believe Her
Words count. One thing has become clear in reading Managing Editor Ronni Mott's cover story about sexual assault and rape this week.
Day 3: Defense Down to 2 Witnesses, If That
Reporting by Brian Johnson
After examining their witness list, based on the judge's limitations on discussion of past drug activity on Ridgeway Street, defense attorneys' acceptable list of witnesses has dropped to only two witnesses—drug users Tammy Callahan and another female—and the jury may never hear from them. The judge has said that testimony would be proper only outside the presence of the jury to ensure that their testimony is relevant to the case before he approves allowing the jury to hear their testimony.
JFP to Discuss Melton Verdict on WLEZ Friday
Be sure to tune in at noon Friday to Radio JFP on WLEZ (103.7 FM) to hear Todd Stauffer, Brian Johnson and Donna Ladd discuss the Melton verdict and other news. If you can't get near a radio, the live stream is at http://www.wlezfm.com/.
See Breaking Melton News in NoiseBlog
To view breaking stories about the arrest of Frank Melton, please see the JFP's breaking-news NoiseBlog. Those Melton entries will be archived here at a later day, so please booklink the MeltonBlog as well for future use.
Trial Date Set for Melton, Bodyguards
The Associated Press is reporting that Frank Melton, Michael Recio and Marcus Wright are headed to trial on April 23 for the demolition of the Ridgeway Street duplex and instructing at least one minor to help with the crime. For background, see Adam Lynch's breaking Sept. 1 story here and news and blog updates on JFP's MeltonBlog .
The Melton Tapes: Donna Ladd's Interviews with Frank Melton
In spring 2006, Mayor Frank Melton broke his 14-month silence toward the Jackson Free Press, after refusing to give an interview to the newspaper after critical coverage of his campaign by JFP editor Donna Ladd, who was later joined by Adam Lynch and Brian Johnson. Over several weeks, Ladd spent many hours interviewing Melton, and went on two ride-alongs with him and police officers on the Mobile Command Center. Here are transcripts of those interviews:
Melton Missed Swimming Pools, Dog, Kids
Melton said this in The Clarion-Ledger today about his time in jail:
Is the Melton Administration Breaking the City?
More details when Adam Lynch returns from City Hall.
The Clarion-Ledger is reporting that the Melton administration revealed to City Council today that they still need $3 million in order to balance the city's budgeteven though Council has already adopted a 2008 budget, which was supposed to balance the budget. The city wants to borrow the $3 million from the city's 7 million reserve fund. Administration officials refused to show up at a 2 p.m. budget meeting to answer questions about the shortfall, the Ledger reported.
PDFs of Documents Filed in U.S. v. Melton
Most recent filings are listed at the bottom.
Touted Melton Attorney Wins Death-Row Case
Houston attorney Craig Washington, whom Frank Melton had said will defend him in his upcoming trial for destroying a Ridgeway Street duplex, has won in his effort back in Texas to keep client Tyrone Williams off death row. Williams, who was convicted on 58 counts of conspiracy, harboring and transporting immigrants, was responsible for the deadliest smuggling operation to date, back in 2003, when he abandoned his truck with over 70 immigrants on board. Nineteen of them suffocated in the back of his tractor-trailer in the sweltering heat. Washington withdrew from Melton's gun trials last fall, due to obligations back in Texas.
BREAKING: Lawn Crew Owner Arrested Again
A spokesman for the Hinds County Sheriff's Department confirmed that Frederica Brunson, 23, also known as Jermaine Butler, was arrested today for possession of a stolen automobile and contempt of court. Brunson, who owns the Wood Street Lawn Service, was last arrested Dec. 4, 2005, for armed robbery of the Headliners Barbershop near Wood Street. He was also arrested for rape in 2001.
Open Thread for Melton Trial Here
Have at it.
Meantime, read the JFP's Melton blog/archive here. And read the Sept. 1, 2006, story by Adam Lynch that revealed the Ridgeway Street demolition and led to the trial this week. See photos of the Ridgeway destruction here.
Judge Webster: No Jail for Melton
Judge Joe Webster just dimissed probation violation charges against Mayor Frank Melton. The order reads in part:
Ladd Profiles Frank Melton in Reason Magazine
JFP Editor Donna Ladd writes about Mayor Frank Melton's shenanigans for Reason Magazine. The piece starts:
Day 3: Jury May Have Case by Noon Today
<i>Watch for updates.</i>
Word from the courthouse is that the judge may send the case to the jury by noon today. So far, defense attorneys have put no witnesses in front of the jury and may not be able to.
Judge Green: Court Should Sanction Danks
Today, Judge Green filed a motion with the Mississippi Supreme Court asking the court to sanction Melton's defense attorneys (PDF, 114 KB) for accusing her of a crime "without just cause."
Just in: City Attorney Charges ‘Threats'
<i>City Attorney and Staff Exited Executive Session at Mayor's Request
A statement just came from City Attorney Sarah O-Reilly Evans about the City Council meeting she and others walked out of yesterday, as reported by Adam Lynch yesterday. Verbatim: