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Melton Bodyguard Recio Gets House Arrest, Probation
Michael Recio, who served as a Jackson police officer and bodyguard to the late Mayor Frank Melton, will serve one year of probation for his role in the 2006 warrantless destruction of a Ridgeway Street duplex. Recio's sentence, which includes three months under house arrest, is lighter than the one year's incarceration he faced after pleading guilty in May to a misdemeanor charge of deprivation of rights. On Wednesday, his former colleague, Marcus Wright, who cooperated with federal prosecutors, received a sentence of one year's probation with no house arrest.
Fed Funds For Job Training
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded Mississippi a $577,000 grant to develop job training programs for low-income people. The AP reports that the HUD grant will go to ten public housing agencies, which will partner with local schools, businesses and welfare agencies.
Jackson Crime Stats for Mar. 9-15
Data for this week will be available Wednesday, Mar. 25.
Major crimes in Jackson increased slightly for the second week in a row from Mar. 9 through Mar. 15, although the city saw a decrease in violent crime from the previous week. According to the Jackson Police Department's weekly crime statistics report (PDF), property crimes increased 27 percent, largely on the strength of an increase in auto burglaries, especially in Precinct 4, which covers Northeast Jackson. Violent crime decreased in every precinct except Precinct 1, which serves South Jackson.
Mississippi Test Scores Show Mixed Results
The Mississippi Department of Education released 2009 state school test results today showing slight gains in some areas and decreases in others. The 2008-2009 school year was the second year during which students took a more rigorous series of exams, the Mississippi Curriculum Test 2 in middle school and a revised Subject Area Testing Program in high school. Interim State Superintendent of Education John Jordan said in a statement that the results indicated that there was "still much work to be done."
Scurlock's Donuts To Open Downtown
Local breakfast hero Mark Scurlock is opening a second location for his donut shop, Scurlock's Donuts, in the heart of downtown Jackson. Beginning the last week of August, the un-sugared masses downtown will be able to get their fix on the ground floor of the Capitol Towers, at the corner of Congress and Pearl Streets.
Ward 6: How to Win Votes And Influence People
In a pair of forums last week, contenders for the Ward 6 City Council seat struggled to distinguish themselves from the pack with 1-minute answers. Ward 6 has a whopping 12 Democratic candidates competing to replace Marshand Crisler, who is running for mayor. Most strived to be memorable, with varying degrees of success.
BREAKING: Second Bodyguard Pleads Guilty
Also see: Full JFP Melton Blog/Archive/Trial
Former mayoral bodyguard Michael Recio has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for his role in the 2006 demolition of a Ridgeway Street duplex, according to WAPT and a federal attorney with knowledge of the case. Recio was the last remaining defendant in a case that originally included another former bodyguard, Marcus Wright, and former Mayor Frank Melton. Wright pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in October, and prosecutors dropped their charges against Melton after his death last week.
State Budget in Limbo
Mississippi lawmakers are still deadlocked on a budget agreement for the upcoming fiscal year after spending last week in fruitless negotiations. With state revenues down $350 million to $400 million for the year, House and Senate negotiators remain about $37 million apart in their proposals for the roughly $5 billion 2010 budget.
Barbour Calls for Prudence Amid Lagging Revenue
State tax collections fell below already lowered expectations in July, Gov. Haley Barbour announced yesterday in a statement urging state agencies to be cautious with their budgets.
Jackson Crime Stats for March 30 - April 5
Major crimes in Jackson decreased for the third week in a row at the beginning of April, according to figures released by the Jackson Police Department yesterday. The ComStat report (PDF) for March 30 through April 5 shows a nearly 20 percent decrease in property crimes and a 14 percent increase in violent crime from the previous week. The spike in violent crime was largely the result of an increase in armed robberies and South Jackson's Precinct 1.
Melton Police Witnesses To Appear In Court
Jackson police officers are among those scheduled to appear in court this morning at an evidentiary hearing for the federal trial of Mayor Frank Melton and his former bodyguard Michael Recio.
Voter ID Bill Clears Senate Panel
The Senate Elections Committee passed a bill today that would require all Mississippi voters to present a form of identification at the polling place. The bill, SB 2548, is sponsored by Sen. Terry Burton, R-Newton, and supported by many Republicans, who consider it a defense against voter fraud. Democrats have warned that voter ID requirements could intimidate or effectively disenfranchise elderly black voters who remember poll taxes and other segregation-era restrictions on voting.
Melton and Recio to be Tried Together
A federal judge has denied the latest attempt to separate the civil rights trial of Mayor Frank Melton and his former bodyguard Michael Recio. In an order (PDF) filed today, Judge Dan Jordan ruled that Recio's attorney Cynthia Stewart has not presented a compelling case for severance.
Court Casting Wide Net for Jurors In Melton Trial
Citing exhaustive coverage of Frank Melton in local media, U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Jordan said at a hearing today that juror selection for the Jackson mayor's federal trial will pull from as far away as Pascagoula. Jordan said that it will be difficult to find jurors in the Jackson metropolitan area not "potentially tainted by the exposure of this case."
Fed Dollars for New Sirens?
Hinds County supervisors are applying for up to $1.6 million in federal grant money to replace the county's 67 emergency sirens. Supervisors Robert Graham, Peggy Calhoun, and George Smith visited U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson last week to discuss funding new sirens with a grant from the Department of Homeland Security. Graham is optimistic about their chances.
Ban the Paddle?
Minority and special education students are more likely than their peers to receive a paddling, according to a recent report by the Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union. Nationally, African Americans made up 35.6 percent of students paddled in the 2006-2007 school year, but only 17.1 percent of the student population.
Crisler Ahead In Funds As Election Nears
A review of campaign finance reports for Jackson mayoral candidates shows Councilman Marshand Crisler leading the pack, with state Sen. John Horhn close behind, followed by former Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr.
JPS Drops AP Test Aid
A budget shortfall is forcing Jackson Public Schools to scale back its assistance to students taking Advanced Placement tests in May. While the district has previously covered AP exam fees for all students regardless of financial need, this year it will only provide aid to those who meet federal requirements for free or reduced-price lunch.
Jackson Crime Stats for April 6-12
Data for next week will be available Wednesday, April 22.
Major crimes in Jackson decreased again last week, according to Jackson Police Department data released Wednesday. The ComStat report (PDF) for April 6-12 shows a 7.7 percent decrease in major crimes from the previous week, with 13 fewer violent crimes and 3 fewer property crimes. Precincts 1 and 3, in South and Northwest Jackson, respectively, reported decreases in property and violent crime. Precinct 4, in Northeast Jackson, reported a decreased in auto burglaries, especially along the I-55 corridor, where 10 occurred the previous week and only 2 took place last week. the precinct experienced an increase in auto thefts and armed robberies, however. Precinct 2, in West Jackson, reported 13 more property crimes than the previous week and 6 violent crimes, down from 7 in the first week of April.
UPDATED: Feds Want Melton Gun Charge Dropped
Federal prosecutors plan to drop one of the three charges against Mayor Frank Melton and his former bodyguard Michael Recio, according to reports by WAPT and WLBT. Prosecutor Mark Blumberg reportedly told Jordan at a teleconference yesterday that the government intends to request the dismissal of a gun charge against Melton and Recio. Prosecutors must file a motion to dismiss the charge to make its removal official.