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Health Exchanges Could Help Small Businesses
The state will have to make several key decision regarding health-insurance exchanges in the next few years, Joy Johnson Wilson, health policy coordinator for the National Conference of State Legislatures, told a joint meeting of Senate and House committee members this morning.
Hinds Supes Approve Eco-Devo Authority
In a move aimed at increasing the county's economic competitiveness, the Hinds County Board of Supervisors voted today to convert the county's economic development district into an economic development authority. The name change signifies an expanded function: The rechristened "Hinds County Economic Development Authority" can issue up to $50 million of its own bonds, backed by the county's tax collections.
Oil Leak Stopped, Coast Elated but Cautious
With the leak from the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig temporarily stopped, Gulf Coast residents are breathing a sigh of relief. BP officials announced yesterday that the company had managed to cap the leaking well for the first time since April 20.
West Jackson Development Looks Ahead
With construction on a mixed-use development scheduled for completion in July, Jackson State University's Center for University-Based Development is looking ahead to several projects in west Jackson. The next phase of the center's work is a mixed-income residential development that could break ground in the fall, Kimberly Hilliard, CUBD Director of Community Development and Planning, said today.
Scalia Defends Gay, Abortion, Gun Rulings at First Baptist
The United States should not look to other countries when interpreting its own Constitution, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said yesterday in a speech at First Baptist Church of Jackson sponsored by Mississippi College School of Law.
Hosemann, Hood Push Pre-K Education
Early childhood education is central to safeguarding Mississippi's economic future agreed Republican Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann and Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood in separate speeches today. The two officials' comments, coming during the Mississippi Economic Council's annual Hob Nob event, are indicative of growing, bipartisan support for pre-kindergarten.
Homeless Shelter Closes Due to Lack of Funding
Opportunity Center, the only daytime homeless shelter in Jackson, closed Friday. The shelter, which was operated by Stewpot Community Services, offered a variety of social services. On daily basis about 175 homeless men and women could use laundry and shower facilities, receive mail and phone calls, and seek day-labor work.
Meet the Judicial Candidates
Here are the judicial candidates in the running for Hinds County.
Openings, Closings and Layoffs
As part of a strategic-planning process, Baptist Medical Center has slashed its expenses by nearly $18 million, including a net reduction of roughly 200 jobs. Over the past four months, the hospital system has saved $13 million by renegotiating contracts with suppliers and cutting or outsourcing certain services, but it had to cut salary costs to reach its $18 million goal, spokesman Robby Channell said today.
Jackson Crime Sees Slight Decrease
Major crimes in Jackson decreased slightly last week, with a 22.9 percent drop in violent crime and a 1.3 percent increase in property crimes over the previous week, according to statistics released at a Jackson Police Department command staff meeting this morning. The weekly trend mirrors yearly statistics: For the year to date, violent crime has decreased 9.2 percent from 2008 numbers, while property crime is up 1.7 percent.
A Federal Grant to Save Education?
In a year when Mississippi's K-12 educational system faces potentially crippling budget cuts, a federal grant program promising up to $175 million has offered a bit of hope to state education advocates. But the Mississippi Department of Education has frustrated some of those advocates by forgoing an early application deadline that many believe would have improved the state's chances.
Keith Plunkett
For the next year, Keith Plunkett will spend his weekends in a boat. On Saturday, Plunkett launches "Lucy's Revenge," a yearlong project that will send him paddling more than 600 miles on Mississippi's rivers.
West Jackson Program Pushes for Residents
An underused federal lending program could bring new life to west Jackson. Jackson State University's Center for University-Based Development is throwing its support behind a push by Jackson-based mortgage lender Cornerstone Home Lending called the "WESToration Initiative."
Hinds Election Feud Heats Up
A spat between Hinds County Election Commissioners spilled over into a county Board of Supervisors meeting today, with suggestions of voting machine tampering and possibly compromised elections. With elections scheduled for tomorrow, District 2 Election Commissioner Bobbie Graves told the board that a conflict between her and the commission's chief machine technician made it impossible for her to be certain that the elections would proceed fairly.
Farm Bureau Submits Eminent Domain Signatures
Mississippians will likely vote on restricting the use of eminent domain to procure private land only for public economic development projects next November. Supporters of a ballot initiative limiting eminent domain submitted more than 119,000 signatures in support of the measure to Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann this morning.
State Arts School in Jeopardy?
With proposals for the merger of universities and public-school districts attracting substantial public outcry and debate, Gov. Haley Barbour's call for merging two statewide magnet high schools has drawn less vocal opposition at the state capitol. Educators, city leaders and legislators from Brookhaven, where the Mississippi School of the Arts is located, worry that higher-profile battles and a drastically smaller state budget may thwart their defense of the fledgling arts magnet school.
No Quorum At JPS Board Meeting
Only two board members appeared at this evening's meeting of the Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees, not enough for a three-member quorum. Board members H. Ann Jones and Jonathan Larkin were present and listened to public comments, many of them from parents protesting the board's Oct. 20 decision to discontinue a music education program. Both Jones and Larkin favored renewing the Strings in the Schools program, which brings Mississippi Symphony Orchestra musicians into schools to perform and teach.
Crime Stats Show Education's Power, JPD Chiefs Say
Read this week's COMSTAT report
Due Diligence on Biofuels
Despite a strong show of support from state lawmakers last month, Houston-based startup KiOR is still a long way from breaking ground on the three biofuel facilities it has pledged to build in Mississippi. KiOR must secure a purchase agreement with an oil refinery before it can receive the $75 million loan the Mississippi Legislature authorized Aug. 27, and state and company officials say an agreement is still to come.
Hinds Hires New Administrator; Debates Voting Machines
The Hinds County Board of Supervisors voted today to hire Carmen Davis as its new county administrator. Davis replaces interim Administrator Ray Bryant, who had held the position since March.