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Budget Deadlock Continues
State lawmakers remain deadlocked on a budget for the 2010 fiscal year beginning July 1, raising the possibility of a special session to settle the matter.
Grading Government
Released at the same time as Gov. Haley Barbour's budget recommendation for the upcoming 2012 fiscal year was a report card for state government. Since 1997, state agencies submit performance reports along with their annual budget requests, as required by the Mississippi Performance and Strategic Planning Act.
County Audit Reveals Swap Risk
Hinds County may have earned almost $4.5 million from a complex financial deal, but few in the county appear able to explain where the money went.
Week 5: ID, Justice, Budgets
Republican Win On Voter ID Senate Republicans succeeded in extending and tightening voter ID requirements for all Mississippians in a bill passed Feb. 4. Senate Bill 2548 originally passed Jan. 15 with an amendment from David Blount, D-Jackson, that would have exempted those born before 1946 from presenting some form of voter identification. In that amended form, the bill allowed photo identification, government documents bearing a name and address and social security cards as acceptable forms of ID.
Mississippi House Passes $1 Cigarette Tax
Following nearly two hours of debate, the House of Representatives passed a bill this afternoon that would raise Mississippi's cigarette tax from 18 cents to $1 per pack. House Bill 364, passed by a 81-39 vote, now moves to the Senate for consideration. The bill would bring the state an additional $68 million to $78 million this fiscal year and $200 million in the 2010 fiscal year, according to Rep. Percy Watson, D-Hattiesburg, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Crisler Announces Mayoral Run
Standing in front of a throng of supporters and family at the Alamo Theatre, City Councilman Marshand Crisler formally announced his candidacy for mayor Thursday afternoon. Crisler, who first won the Ward 6 Council seat in 2001, said he would work to improve Jackson's school system, upgrade its city services, reduce crime and impose fiscal discipline on city government. He pledged to work with city, county and state officials in addressing the many issues facing Jackson.
Lawmakers Closer to Balanced Budget
State legislators have reached a budget compromise, ending a months-long impasse days before the end of the fiscal year. House and Senate negotiators reached an agreement late Sunday on a roughly $5 billion budget for the 2010 fiscal year, which begins July 1. The agreement includes a $60 million assessment on Mississippi hospitals, which will help fund a Medicaid shortfall.
Heping Liu
Jackson State University associate professor Heping Liu won a nearly $500,000 award from the National Science Foundation to fund his research over the next five years.
Report: Mississippi's ‘Worst Firsts' in Public Health
Mississippi has the most unhealthy citizens in the country, a new report says. The state's first Public Health Report Card, a joint effort of the Mississippi State Medical Association and the State Department of Health released Wednesday, aims to raise awareness of Mississippi's health woes.
UPDATED: Ridgeway Tenant Denies Melton's Claim
Evans Welch disputes Mayor Frank Melton's claims that he asked the mayor for help before the 2006 demolition of the duplex he rented. Melton, who faces three felony charges for his role in the incident, has argued in court hearings and filings that Welch, a diagnosed schizophrenic, contacted him multiple times, requesting help with the drug activity at his home.
House Approves MAEP Funds for Ailing Schools
Responding quickly to dire news about Mississippi's school districts, House lawmakers approved a bill today that would appropriate $68 million for the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, the state's primary funding mechanism for low-revenue districts.
Melton's ‘State': ‘A Bit Of Hyperbole'?
Mayor Frank Melton praised Jackson's economic progress and outlined some of the city's persistent problems in his State of the City address this morning at the TelCom Center.
Witness Bought Crack at Duplex; Told Melton; Wasn't Arrested
JFP Coverage of Defense Witness Christopher Walker
City Council To Discuss Suing Melton
Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill plans to raise the possibility of suing Mayor Frank Melton to release tax forms at the Council's work session this afternoon. The Council asked Melton on Jan. 5 to provide 1099 tax forms that would reveal how much the city pays contractors and other non-employees.
JPD Teaming Up On Home Invasions
Jackson police are reaching out to postal carriers, among others, in response to a spate of home invasions in Northeast Jackson. Precinct 4 reported two home invasions last week on Meadowbrook Road and Poplar Boulevard. Police believe the two incidents are connected to two earlier robberies in April and May, on Meadowbrook and Roberts Drive, also in Precinct 4.
Melton: ‘We Tore That Shit Up'; Prosecution Rests
FEDERAL COURTHOUSEThe prosecution in U.S. v. Melton started Day 4 of testimony in downtown Jackson today by calling Joe Lewis, who is with the city's Community Improvement Division and is over code enforcement for the city of Jackson. Lewis testified that the city had 69 homes demolished in Jackson in 2006, the year that Mayor Frank Melton and his bodyguards allegedly destroyed a duplex at 1305 Ridgeway St. without a warrant. Lewis said that he has no files or case number for the duplex.
Jackson Crime Stats for Aug. 17-23
Major crimes in Jackson decreased again last week, according to a weekly report (PDF) released at a meeting today by the Jackson Police Department. Police reported 230 total crimes, down 7.6 percent from the previous week. Last week's total was almost 20 percent below the same period last year. The city has seen 1.6 percent fewer crimes this year than last year.
Hinds County Sheriff Launches Teen Driving Program
The Hinds County Sheriff's Department announced today the start of a teen safe-driving program aimed at reducing the number of teen deaths due to car accidents.
Hosemann Distributes Disputed Sample Ballot, Hood Advises Against Its Use
The Associated Press is reporting that Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann distributed controversial sample ballots for November's general election to county election commissioners late Wednesday night. Three Mississippi Supreme Court Justices overruled a temporary restraining order on the ballots issued by Hinds County Circuit Judge Tomie Green, allowing Hosemann to proceed.
Justice Dept. Narrows Focus Of Melton Trial
Prosecutors filed three motions yesterday aimed at preventing irrelevant defense arguments in the upcoming federal trial of Jackson mayor Frank Melton. Melton and two bodyguards, Michael Recio and Marcus Wright, were indicted in July on civil rights charges stemming from their involvement in the Aug. 2006 partial demolition of a duplex on Ridgeway Street. Melton, Recio and Wright were acquitted on state charges related to the incident in April 2007.