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Bodyguard Gives Damaging Evidence Against Melton, Recio
On Feb. 10, jurors in the federal civil rights trial of Mayor Frank Melton heard from the government's star witness, former mayoral bodyguard Marcus Wright. Wright, who pled guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for testifying against the mayor and his other bodyguard, Michael Recio, offered damaging evidence of the mayor's past disregard for the law. Asked by prosecutor Mark Blumberg if he was nervous, Wright admitted that he was, but he betrayed little of that nervousness as he offered the trial's clearest account thus far of the Aug. 26, 2006, destruction of a Ridgeway Street duplex.
Tiff Over Hinds TIF
The developer of a south Jackson housing development is asking Hinds County to support infrastructure developments, but at least one supervisor remains skeptical of the request.
A ‘Brazen' Ballot Battle
Gov. Haley Barbour took the fight over a sample election ballot to the Mississippi Supreme Court on Friday.
Overturned Sentence Spotlights Judge, DA
The case of Quintez Hodges is a rare one. Efforts by the Innocence Project and others have vacated death sentences and exonerated an increasing number of wrongfully convicted men, but Hodges was not wrongfully convicted, at least according to the federal judge who overturned his death sentence Sept. 13.
Barbour Rejects Medicaid Deal
Gov. Haley Barbour took advantage of his more powerful position in state budget negotiations on Monday by rejecting a tentative budget agreement forged less than 24 hours earlier.
Former Pathologist Sues Innocence Project
Former Mississippi medical examiner Steven Hayne is suing the Innocence Project for defamation. In a suit filed Oct. 28 with the Rankin County Circuit Court, Hayne claimed that the New York-based non-profit organization damaged his reputation and cost him income with press releases and letters calling for the revocation of his medical license.
Bills Target Jackson Development, Infrastructure
In the sixth week of its session, the Mississippi Legislature passed a number of bills relevant to the city of Jackson.
Melton to Trial This Time?
Barring any last-minute complications, Mayor Frank Melton's much-delayed federal civil-rights trial will begin with jury selection on Feb. 2.
Schools Short on Pay Roll?
The latest round of state budget cuts has many Mississippi school districts facing difficult budgetary decisions. Gov. Haley Barbour announced $85 million in cuts to K-12 education last Wednesday, $76 million of which will come out of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, the state's supplementary funding mechanism for low-revenue school districts.
Keeping The Gloves Off
In their first and only debate, Senate candidates Roger Wicker and Ronnie Musgrove maintained in person the negative tone that has characterized much of the advertising for both of their campaigns.
Schools Lagging on IDEA Stimulus Spending
Mississippi school districts have one year left to spend the $72 million remaining in a $116 million chunk of federal stimulus money for special education. Schools received the funds in 2009, and while a few districts have already spent the majority of their portion, most districts, including Jackson Public Schools, have spent little of their share.
Delaying Treatment
Cornelius Harvey was a 27-year-old barber when, in fall 2005, his stomach started hurting. Harvey could not afford health insurance, though, so he waited. Ignored his stomach pains for several days, thinking that he had a virus.
Saving the Best for Last?
When Mississippians vote this November, they may find the hotly contested U.S. Senate race between Roger Wicker and Ronnie Musgrove buried near the end of the ballot.
Senate Candidates on Education
With concerns on the issue with education, Ronnie Musgrove, Roger Wicker, Thad Cochran, and Erik Fleming offer their views.
Don't Drink the Water
A month ago, Martin and a handful of neighbors in rural Sunflower County made national news, when ABC Nightly News devoted two minutes to their six-year fight for what many would consider a basic resource and right.
Henry Clay
Henry C. Clay III has been a part-time judge for a long time. Clay, 52, has served as a Jackson municipal court judge for the past 16 years, while simultaneously running a solo general litigation practice in Ridgeland. Clay is one of two challengers for the Hinds County Court seat currently occupied by Judge Houston Patton.
A-1 Pallet Files Suit
A little more than a year after Jackson Mayor Frank Melton began publicly calling for the demolition of the A-1 Pallet recycling plant on Mill Street, the company's owners are suing the mayor and the city for $100 million in damages.
JSU Presidential Pick Named
The board of trustees for Mississippi's universities announced Nov. 22 that it had selected Carolyn W. Meyers to serves as the next president of Jackson State University. Meyers is the former president of another historically black institution, Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Va., and would the first female JSU president.
Election Overview: Wards 1 and 5
Ward 5 Ward 5, which covers sections of West and South Jackson, has a single-term incumbent and a history of frequent turnover in its City Council representation. At a March 23 forum sponsored by the United Communities for Jackson, four candidates for the seat argued their case.
Virginia Sen. Webb Stumps For Musgrove
An indication of the national attention on Mississippi's Senate race, Virginia Sen. Jim Webb appeared with former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove on Monday to speak in support of Musgrove on veterans' issues.