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New Film Incentives for Mississippi
[verbatim] Jackson, Miss. (May 13, 2008) – Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has signed HB 1351, creating new incentives for the motion picture and television industry. The rebate program applies to feature, television, documentary and commercial production, and is effective immediately. "The film industry is important to Mississippi, as it is an industry in constant growth," Governor Barbour said. "We consider ours a long term commitment to community and economic development and to the creation of jobs in all sectors in every corner of our state.
Melton Protégé History Complicated
Mayor Frank Melton says he will be waiting for Michael Taylor to get out of prison, probably before he is 21. "He is too good of a kid to give up on," Melton told The Clarion-Ledger last week. "I will be there for him when he gets out." Currently, Melton is refusing to speak to the Jackson Free Press.
Obama, Wicker Win Mississippi ‘Early Voting'
Sen. Barack Obama is the presidential choice of a majority53 percentof Mississippi public and private school students who voted in the 2008 Mock Election. "This year, 514 schools are signed up to participate in our Promote the Vote program," said Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann in a statement. "Of those 514 schools, 328 submitted their results for the Mock Election portion of Promote the Vote. This is a tremendous turnout for our students and a great way to get them started in the democratic process." Vote program.
Court Denies Death-Row Appeals
[Verbatim from attorney general] Jackson, MS-The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has ruled on an appeal by four Mississippi death row inmates who filed suit claiming the State's method of lethal injection is unconstitutional. The suit was dismissed by U.S. District Judge W. Allen Pepper back in July based on the statute of limitations. In other words, the inmates waited too long to file their lawsuit. The Court of Appeals ruling upholds Judge Pepper's ruling. "We anticipated the court's affirmation of Judge Pepper's ruling in this case," said Attorney General Jim Hood. "The statute of limitations had run on these cases. This was simply an attempt by these inmates to slow down the legal process surrounding their executions."
Barbour: ‘I Expect There to Be a Debate'
At a press conference that just concluded at the University of Mississippi, Gov. Haley Barbour said that the debate is happening Friday night, as far as he is concerned: "It's going to be a great debate tomorrow night ... we're excited about it and that the state gets to host it."
Koinonia Coffee House To Hold Grand Opening on June 6
As the Jackson Free Press alerted you in our Young Influentials issue several weeks ago, Koinonia Coffee House is about to open in West Jacksonthis Friday. We urge everyone to help make Koinonia a wide success. Here's a verbatim press release from the owners:
Barbour's ‘State of the State' on MLK Birthday
Mississippi Public Broadcasting will air Gov. Haley Barbour's "State of the State" address on Monday, Jan. 15, at 6 p.m. You can hear a live feed on MPB's Web site. The Jackson Free Press will be live-blogging the speech at our new statewide political newswire, StateDesk.
3 More Soldiers Die in Iraq; 8 in Last 3 Days
On the day that a high-level White House office was indicted for trying to cover up lies told to justify invading Iraq in the first place, three more American soldiers were killed there. Our prayers go out to their families. AP reports:
Vote in JFP Best of Jackson Poll Until Friday, Dec. 15
Remember: Time is running out. Get those ballots in! Vote here.
QB, Mississippi Native Steve McNair Found Dead
The Associated Press is reporting that former NFL quarterback Steve McNair, formerly of Mount Olive, Miss., is dead:
AP: Search Warrant Served on Dickie Scruggs
The Associated Press is reporting:
Senate Joins House in Passing ‘Sudafed' Bill; Barbour Supports
The Mississippi Senate today passed a bill requiring that pseudoephedrine be sold by prescription only in the state. The drug is a key ingredient in both cold medicines and methamphetamine, or meth. The House passed the bill last week. Minutes ago, Gov. Haley Barbour released a statement in support of the bill:
BREAKING: Boilwater Notice Lifted for Most of Jackson
[Verbatim from city] BOIL WATER NOTICE LIFTED FOR SURFACE WATER SYSTEM
Mayor Johnson announced during a press conference today that the Health Department reported that water samples taken from the city's surface water system were all clear. The boil water notice for the approximately 175,000 residents on the surface water system is now lifted. The well water system in southwest Jackson's pressure is still building and when it reaches an acceptable level, testing will begin for it. City crews expect that testing should begin Monday. Residents on that system are still on a boil water notice. Please see the details below.
JFP, Other Alts Stand with Phoenix New Times
The Jackson Free Press is proud to stand up today, alongside our sister papers in the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies against the efforts of elected officials in Phoenix, Ariz., to both thwart the public's right to know and to use the criminal-justice system to intimidate the alt-weekly by subpoenaing personal information of its Web site users. Follow the saga here in a verbatim press released issued today by AAN.
Hood and Barbour Disagree Over State Farm
Today, Jim Hood sent out a statement asking the governor and insurance commissioner to follow Florida's lead and require State Farm and other insurance companies to continue writing policies in the state. In a response, the governor say no. Both statements are below verbatim. First, the AG's:
Have a Happy, Safe and LOCAL ‘Black Friday'
The Jackson Free Press wishes everyone a safe and loving Thanksgiving. And if you are one of the brave souls who actually shops on "black Friday," please remember that our locally owned businesses will be less crowded and more interesting and unique than chain stores (and they have much more creative gift wrap and much more personal service!). And if you need a mall, please be sure to visit Jackson's own Metrocenter Mall to help re-invest in our city. Meantime, the attorney general's office offers the following tips for safe shopping:
White House, Congress Rolls Back Student Loans, Grants
New York Times is reporting:
Barbour Announces New Coast Housing Effort
Under fire for diverting federal funds away from low- and middle-income housing for Katrina survivors, Gov. Haley Barbour today announced a new housing plan for public-sector employees on the Gulf Coast. Per a verbatim statement from his office:
FEMA Clears Disaster Relief for Hinds County
[verbatim from Gov. Barbour's office] Governor Haley Barbour has been notified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency that Hinds County will receive a major disaster declaration from the President due to the April 4 severe storms and tornadoes. "I am grateful to FEMA for making a serious review and recognizing that sufficient damages did exist even though preliminary information didn't make our case very well. FEMA gave us a fair second chance, which resulted in this decision that will help speed recovery from these devastating storms," Governor Barbour said.
