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Melton's Boys Come to His Defense
Additional reporting by Ward Schaefer
Three of Mayor Frank Melton's previous mentees, and the mother of another who died more than a decade ago, have filed affidavits in support of their mentor's efforts in what the U.S. Department of Justice believes was a drunken Aug. 26, 2006, double attack on a duplex at 1305 Ridgeway St. One of those affidavits, if true, indicates that federal agents have investigated the long-time rumors that Melton is involved in the city's drug trade, and had asked at least one of the young men to turn evidence on him.
U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq Top 1,900
AP reports:
The war in Iraq passed a sobering milepost Tuesday when U.S. officials reported 12 more Americans were killed - eight of them members of the armed forces, raising to more than 1,900 the number of U.S. service members who have died in the country since the invasion.
Brunini, Watkins Ludlam to Anchor ‘Two Jackson Place'
Just in from David Watkins:
The Brunini law firm yesterday signed on with Parkway to be one of the anchor tenants in the new "Two Jackson Place" office tower to be built in downtown Jackson. The other anchor tenant is Watkins Ludlam.
‘Evil Intent': Why Frank Melton Was Acquitted the First Time
After Mayor Frank Melton and his two bodyguards were acquitted in a Hinds County court last year for the Ridgeway duplex demolition, the JFP's Brian Johnson wrote this analysis of the trial:
Playin' Hurt in Jacktown
Thank you, Jackson, for being you.
We feel confident in saying that there a few headaches in the Jackson area today after hundreds of people packed into the Mississippi Museum of Art for the JFP's Sixth Annual Best of Jackson party. Local restaurants brought so much food that we had to scramble for extra tables. The beer and the wine from Kat's kept flowing. DJ Phingaprint worked the crowd into a frenzy as usual. Fedoras, pinstripes and flapper dresses were in abundance. The highlight of the night came around 7 p.m. when the JSU Sonic Boom drum line marched from outside straight into the packed museum and to the dance floor to perform. And perform they did. (Rumor has it that members of The Weeks tried to join the drum line later, and June Hardwick later reported that she heard them in her house blocks away.) Oh, yes, Josh Hailey outdid his gold lame jumpsuit from last year. Let's just say that, save for a sombrero and big black moustache and some itty-bitty speedos, he would have been buck naked. What's next year for Josh? We tremble to think.
Monday Alert: Help Save Education Funding
[verbatim from Coalition for Children and Public Education]: Please try one more time to effect some positive outcome for education funding through phone calls. I know you've called already, but please call again today. WE DO NOT WANT TO GO TO SPECIAL SESSION. The outcome of a special session will almost surely be worse than that of a regular session. Please call 5 to 10 people and ask that they each call 4 or 5 people to spread the word that calls need to go out today. Be sure you, all those you call, and all those they call phone your Senator, the LT. Governor and Sen. Little. If your senator is among the 30 who voted against the Bryan Amendment, please make sure to call him or her. Those 30 senators and their phone numbers are listed below.
JPS Superintendent Earl Watkins Resigning
After months of controversy stemming from a sexual harassment charge by a male educator, JPS Superintendent Earl Watkins announced tonight that he is resigning, effective June 2009.
Attacks Rock London
AP is reporting:
Four blasts rocked the London subway and tore open a packed double-decker bus during the morning rush hour Thursday, sending bloodied victims fleeing in the worst attack on London since World War II. At least 40 people were killed, U.S. officials said, and more than 360 wounded in the terror attacks.
David Bowen Admonishes Black Mississippians
In a bizarre column today in The Clarion-Ledger, former Congressman David Bowen, a Democrat, first says that blacks and whites in Mississippi need a "new" dialogue, then proceeds to tell black Mississippians what they should not say in this dialogue. No similar advice for whites was in evidence, however. Here are some excerpts ...
Bishop's Martin Luther King, Jr. Event Features Catholic, Muslim Speakers
[Verbatim] The Catholic Diocese of Jackson will host its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Celebration at 3:00 PM Sunday, January 11, 2009 at St. Peters Cathedral in downtown Jackson. The theme for 2009 is "A Vision Fulfilled: The Changing Face of America." The keynote speaker will be Rev. Manuel Williams, CEO of Resurrection Catholic Missions, Incorporated, and Pastor of Resurrection Catholic Church of Montgomery, Alabama. Resurrection Missions offers a holistic approach to the care of children and adults through its residential care facilities and schools within the Southern Alabama community.
‘Fall from Grace': Joey Langston Sentenced to 36 Months
Folo has good updates, including his statement:
It's P-Day! Debate Party in the Red Room!
Here at the office, I'm referring to today as P-Day. Take that as you will. To celebrate it, we are gathering tonight to watch the vice presidential debate in the Red Room, along with Lawyers for Obama and local Democratic folks. Now, you are welcome as long as you do not mind a room tilted toward Obama. It doesn't matter what party you are (I'm an Independent for Obama, for instance); you are welcome. Word is that the bartenders will look suspiciously like Sarah Palin, and that beehives and glasses will rule the evening. So come on out if you dare. ;-)
Former DA: Harvey Johnson Can ‘Stop Stampede'
Former Hinds County District Attorney Faye Peterson confirmed this morning at a press conference that she will drop out of the mayoral race due to family concerns. She endorsed former Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr., one of the front runners in the race to unseat Mayor Frank Melton. "The city's finances are stampeding out of control, and I believe that other than myself, he's the only other candidate who has the experience to stop the stampede," she told the Jackson Free Press afterward. "I firmly believe he can take office and immediately make decisions based on his experience and judgment. He has the skills, and it needs to happen fast. There are huge problems because of mismanagement and bad fiscal decisions by the current administration. We don't have the time for guessing."
Open Thread: City Elections Today; Polls Open 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Your Voter Questions Answered
Come Fly With Us on Earth Day
Happy Earth Day, Jackson! Last week's print edition of the JFP was devoted to all things green—and positive actions you can take to give back to this great planet we've been loaned—from urban farming to holding clothes swap parties. For great ideas, visit our Culture Blog, and read Brandi Herrera Pfrehm's fun, but serious cover story about Jackson recycling. Meantime, tell us what you're doing to live more green.
Barbour Announces 2009 Spending Cuts; Spares MAEP
[Verbatim statement] (JACKSON, Mississippi) – Governor Haley Barbour today ordered Fiscal Year 2009 spending cuts totaling $41.9 million, or two percent, for most state agencies due to a shortfall in state tax collections. With revenue falling 2.3 percent below estimates, the Governor said the cuts are mandated by Mississippi Code §27-104-13, which requires the State Fiscal Officer to balance the budget when state revenue falls below estimates for the fiscal year. He noted these budget revisions will not affect funding for such priorities as the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP), Medicaid, public health and certain social services.
David Banner, Kamikaze on Talk Radio Monday A.M.
[From Kamikaze] Banner and I will be on the morning show at 97.7 WRJH on hot talk at 9 on MONDAY talking about the controversy (both Banner's and the Millsaps incident). You guys should tune in and call in with your opinions. Spread the word.
DNA Exonerates Sunflower County Man After 16 Years
[Verbatim from Innocence Project] Sixteen years after his arrest, all charges were dropped against Arthur Johnson today when it was revealed that the DNA testing that led to his release in February pointed directly to another man who is in prison for sexual assault. Arthur Johnson is the fourth man to be exonerated in Mississippi since 2006. Kennedy Brewer and Levon Brooks were exonerated in January due to post conviction DNA testing. Cedric Willis was also exonerated in Jackson in 2006, but DNA testing in that case was completed before trial. As in this case, in the Brewer and Brooks cases, the DNA tests that exonerated them led to the identification of the real perpetrator.
Todd Stauffer and Kamikaze on Radio Jan. 11
... And they're talking about ... wait for it ... karaoke. We can only assume this will not fill the entire show. Show is on WLEZ-FM 103.7 until 1 p.m. Streams live at http://www.wlezfm.com every Friday noon until 1 p.m.