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Johnson Sends ‘First 48' Packing
"First 48," an A&E network program that follows police for the first 48 hours of a murder investigation, won't be shooting in Jackson if Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. has anything to say about it. At a press conference this afternoon, Johnson announced he was vetoing the Jackson City Council's early June decision to allow the program to be filmed, saying he wants Jackson to be seen as a "destination city" and the show wouldn't advance that objective, reports WAPT.
BREAKING: JPS Settles Ellis Case
Jackson Public Schools has reached a settlement with Michael and Rachel Ellis in the Ellis' Title VII lawsuit filed in January against JPS Superintendent Dr. Earl Watkins.
Now, not yesterday or tomorrow
My lover-boy kitty, The Amazing Valentino (brother to Tallulah the Wonder Cat), waddles his furry little butt into my bathroom every morning to the sound of the water running in the tub. Every morning, he jumps up on the edge, and after receiving a perfunctory pat on the head and kiss on the nose, he trots to the other end of the tub, jumps in and watches the rush of water in complete fascination. To his daily and utter amazement, the flow from the tap suddenly turns into a torrent from the sky when I turn on the shower, and he runs through the water to get to drier ground. He's gone through the exact same routine almost every morning for five years. Val generally doesn't like water, but something, the attention from me, the sound or look of the water, something surely makes it all worthwhile.
The Sister Study
Here's a way you can make a difference if you are the sister of a woman who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The National Institutes of Environmental Health Services, part of NIH, is looking for 50,000 women to participate in The Sister Study in 2007. The study focuses on the environmental and genetic risks for breast cancer.
Let's Do The Time Warp…Again!
You remember 1973, don't you? Elvis was in concert in Hawaii, Nixon began his second term, the Watergate hearings were in full swing, the Vietnam War ended, the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade, Secretariat won the Triple Crown, and Pink Floyd released "The Dark Side of the Moon." OK — maybe not.
Subjective Truths
French author André Gide wrote: "Trust those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it." I wrote the quote on a white sticky in magenta ink yesterday and attached it to my laptop… "doubt those who find it." After sitting in a hearing room for three days this past week listening to hours of testimony, it's apt. The law, I think, is all about finding the "truth," subjective as it usually is.
Weight and Insurance
Almost every single Tuesday morning since July of last year, I've sat with a group of equally weight-challenged individuals at the Baptist Nutrition Center, talking mostly about how to make the food we're supposed to eat taste better. We also talk about our small triumphs—even one pound lost is cause for celebration—and our backsliding—the holidays were tough for many. We are each other's accountability in the program, even more so than the scales, and our personal cheerleading squad.
Argue for Your Limitations
A few weeks ago, I told a friend of mine that I spend about an hour every morning writing in my journal. I began this practice last year when reading "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. My friend was impressed, she told me, because she couldn't see herself having that kind of discipline.
No Love for Twinkies
I remember a running conversation a few years back about the half-life of Twinkies and Snow Balls—those gooey, sticky-sweet confections that make your back teeth hurt. Some folks felt that any food product designed to outlast cockroaches and nuclear bombs was a damn good thing. I never quite understood that viewpoint.
Worth Watching
Nik Askew is a British filmmaker with a marvelous talent for speaking with people about their innermost motivations and feelings. His short films are small gems of joy, peace or inspiration—and sometimes all three—a quiet, thoughtful pause in a world gone a little mad. Each one features just one or two ordinary, yet completely extraordinary people and they run about 5 or 6 minutes, max. There's a new film most Monday mornings (natch!). If you're searching for a bit of sanity, check out his Monday 9 am TV website.
Welcome to Wellness
Greetings gentlefolk, and welcome to my Wellness blog.
As my good friend Terry said to me over the holidays, "You can't make a difference when everyone agrees with you." Amen to that, sister. And what better place to make a difference than in the health and well-being of the people of Mississippi. As corny as that may sound, I may have found my purpose for being here. Let's ignore the fact that it only took 10 years (I'm a late bloomer, OK?) and a mid-life crisis that Jung would be proud of the get me to this place.
Evers, Winter: Mississippi Moving Forward, But ...
Few eyes were dry when Myrlie Evers-Williams, the widow of Jackson civil-rights hero Medgar Evers, stood in front of 600 people in downtown Jackson Thursday night and declared her love for Mississippi and for her first husband, gunned down nearly 50 years ago.
‘It’s Not About Me’: The JFP Interview with Mayoral Hopeful Frank Bluntson
Jackson City Councilman Frank Bluntson, 77, is not exactly a newcomer to local politics: He has served almost eight years on the Jackson City Council, and several as council president.
UPDATED: Barbour Helps Domestic Killers
At least three of six criminals getting relief from Gov. Haley Barbour killed their former or current wife or girlfriend.
Coalition Pushes for Smoke-Free Venues
Smoke-free Jackson, an anti-smoking coalition, is on a mission to have smoking banned from all Jackson businesses, including restaurants and bars, to protect Jackson's workers. Jackson City Council President Leslie McLemore announced on Oct. 15 that he will be introducing a city ordinance banning smoking in all public places, similar to bans in neighboring Ridgeland.
How Mississippi Voted
Pollsters predicated all along that Mississippi would not break its 32-year Republican voting streak on Election Day, but hours after the polls closed, pundits would not (or could not) accurately predict whether the Magnolia State would provide its six electoral votes to Republican John McCain or Democrat Barack Obama.
Workers Rally Against Human Trafficking
A group of about 70 Indian workers marched onto the Mississippi State Capitol Thursday, March 20, protesting treatment by Pascagoula construction company Signal International, LLC.
Walker, Belafonte Appearing at JSU Civil Rights Conference
Actor Harry Belafonte Jr., writer Alice Walker and filmmaker Keith Beauchamp are headlining the third annual Conference of the Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement at Jackson State University starting this Thursday.
Good News for Victims
Announcing some good news on the domestic violence front, Attorney General Jim Hood says that the Domestic Violence Division has made significant progress in educating the state's law enforcement, judges and attorneys. In the past year, the division has sponsored or participated in 31 trainings, providing information and instruction to more than 2,000 individuals.
Lies, Damn Lies and ‘Dangerous' Rankings
Heard that Jackson is one of the "most dangerous" cities? Read the fine print.