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Judge Faces Key Decisions In Melton Trial
A federal judge will hear arguments today on whether to hold separate trials for Mayor Frank Melton and his former police bodyguard Michael Recio. Melton and Recio are under federal indictment for civil-rights violations in conjunction with the 2006 destruction of a Ridgeway Street duplex. They beat different state charges for the incident in 2007, and their first federal trial ended in a hung jury Feb. 24. Their re-trial will begin May 11.
Authorities Bust DeSoto Cockfighting Operation
Humane Society agents and DeSoto County police raided a suspected cockfighting training operation at a Byhalia home on Friday. Agents seized hundreds of fighting roosters and breeding hens. The roosters had to be euthanized on site because of their aggression. Yesterday, the Associated Press reported that police charged Arnulfo Hernandez with cockfighting, a misdemeanor charge in Mississippi, and fined him $100. Cockfighting is considered a felony in 37 states. State Rep. Cecil Brown, D-Jackson, has introduced a bill, currently in the Agriculture Committee, that would raise it to felony status in Mississippi.
WJTV Defends Web Poll Focusing on Obama's Race
Two polls on the Web site of Jackson CBS affiliate WJTV reveal an inordinate focus on Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's race. The first poll deals with Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. It asks respondents to describe themselves as voting for or against "the McCain-Palin ticket" because of one of three issues: "their positions on issues," their Republican affiliation or Palin herself.
Feds Allege Melton Team Up to Ugly Games
PDFs of all U.S. v. Melton documents
Harvey's Running For Mayor, Again
Former Jackson mayor Harvey Johnson announced his candidacy for mayor on Saturday. Speaking in front of the Jackson Convention Complex, Johnson pointed to achievements from his two mayoral terms.
Date Set For Melton's Suit Against Dems
Mayor Frank Melton will argue that he should be allowed to run for reelection as a Democrat before a Jones County judge next week. As required under state law, the Mississippi Supreme Court appointed an out-of-district judge, Billy Joe Landrum, to hear Melton's suit against the Executive Committee of Jackson's Democratic Party. Landrum will hear Melton's petition for judicial review (PDF) on Wednesday, Mar. 25, at 1:30 p.m. in the Hinds County Courthouse.
Jackson Crime Stats for July 13-19
Major crimes in Jackson dropped last week, according to a weekly report (PDF) released by the Jackson Police Department this morning. Precinct commanders reported 22 fewer property crimes than the previous week, for a 10.4 percent decrease, and 9 fewer violent crimes, representing a 20.9 percent decrease.
Lawmakers Approve Compromised PSC Funding
State lawmakers passed appropriations bills for the state Public Service Commission and Public Utilities Staff this morning, completing the Legislature's work for this session. The House and Senate agreed on a compromise bill that would not grant the PSC any additional staff members but would allow it to reallocate three staff positions. The original House version of the bill would have given the PSC three additional staffers, which would improve the PSC's scrutiny of utility rate adjustments, proponents of the bill argued.
Jackson Crime Stats for Aug. 10-16
Jackson police reported 238 major crimes last week, according to statistics (PDF) released this morning at a Jackson Police Department command staff meeting. Last week's total represents a 10 percent increase over the previous week, but a 17 percent decrease from the same period last year.
Rick Klein
An employee of Mississippi Public Broadcasting for 28 years, Rick Klein got his first taste of Los Angeles glitz at last month's Daytime Emmy Awards. "Between the Lions," the educational show that Klein helps produce, won three awards, including Outstanding Pre-School Children's Series. Klein and his co-producer, Scott Colwell, received the Emmy for Outstanding Pre-School Children's Series, while writer Keri Horn won for Outstanding Writing in a Children's Series.
Feds Fire Back at Melton
In a brief filed Monday, Dec. 1, federal prosecutors argued that the purity of Jackson Mayor Frank Melton's motives has no bearing on his trial for civil-rights violations. Their motion(PDF) was a response to a defense brief(PDF) claiming that prosecutors must prove the mayor and his bodyguard Michael Recio acted with a "bad purpose or evil motive" when they allegedly ordered and participated in the 2006 destruction of a Ridgeway Street duplex.
Mayor Melton Back In Town, Back To Work
See full JFP Melton Archive/Blog here.
Jerusha DeGroote Stephens
On July 1, Mississippi became the 44th state in the nation to license non-physician acupuncturists. This week, Jackson resident Jerusha DeGroote Stephens received the state's first acupuncture license. It's a fitting distinction for Stephens, as she helped lead the campaign to gain state approval for her ancient profession.
Attorneys Meet over Melton Trial Rules
JFP Coverage of Defense Witness Christopher Walker
Barbour Will Call for Cuts to MAEP and Medicaid
Gov. Haley Barbour will announce a further round of budget cuts by Monday, he said today to business leaders at the Mississippi Economic Council's "Capitol Day." Barbour said that the state's revenue will fall at least 8.3 percent below estimates. In November, Barbour cut $42 million from state agencies while sparing Medicaid and the Mississippi Adequate Education Program. This time, he said, Medicaid and MAEP will suffer cuts as well.
Could Melton's Health 'Diminish' Case?
Mississippi College law professor Matt Steffey says that Mayor Frank Melton's health problems could diminish the "prosecutorial urgency" of the federal case against him for allegedly ordering the destruction of a Ridgeway Street duplex in August 2006.
Tattoo and Nail Shops ‘Undesirable' in ‘Burbs
In their zeal to protect their growing cities, aldermen in Ridgeland and Flowood have banned "undesirable" businesses, ranging from pawnshops and payday lenders to tattoo parlors and nail salons.
Jackson Crime Stats For June 29 – July 5
Major crimes in Jackson dropped by almost 9 percent last week, according to a weekly report (PDF) released at yesterday's command staff meeting for the Jackson Police Department. The city saw a decrease in property crime from 212 the previous week to 185, while violent crimes increased from 27 to 33.
Burglary Suspect's Death May Have Been Justifiable
Jackson police are investigating a shooting that may fall under the "Castle Doctrine," Mississippi's law governing justifiable homicide in the defense of a home or business. The shooting took place at approximately 5 p.m. Sunday at Gipson's Discount Foods on Highway 80 in West Jackson.
Ole Miss Chancellor Announces Retirement
Robert Khayat, chancellor of the University of the Mississippi, announced yesterday that he plans to retire at the end of this school year. An Ole Miss Alum and a former professional football player, Khayat has overseen and a vast expansion the university's resources and prestige in his 14 years as chancellor.