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Jeremiah Wright: Prejudice Evident In Health Care Debate
Protesters shouting racial epithets at black lawmakers illustrates that prejudice against African Americans and the poor persist in the United States, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, President Barack Obama's former pastor, said in an appearance at Jackson State University yesterday.
Board Approves University Tuition Hikes
The state College Board approved tuition increases for Mississippi's eight public universities at a meeting this morning. The increases, which will take place over two years, are necessary to offset current and anticipated budget cuts, state Higher Education Commissioner Hank Bounds said.
Hunting, Salutations and an EP Release Party
This afternoon, sporting types--and those hoping to discover the hunter within--should head to the Mississippi Wildlife Extravaganza at the Mississippi Trademart (1200 Mississippi St.). The three-day fundraiser for the Mississippi Wildlife Federation kicks off today, showcasing hunting and fishing products from 3-9 pm. Adult admission is $7; children under 12 get in free on Friday. If you're feeling aesthetically lacking, take in some photography at Light and Glass Studio (523 S. Commerce St.) and check out the Gallery Listings for more art. This evening grab a bite at a local restaurant like BRAVO! or Julep. Find your flavor with the JFP Restaurant Listings and the Menu Guide.
Sweet Potato Queens Move Parade to Fondren
The annual Sweet Potato Queens Homecoming will take place in the Fondren neighborhood of Jackson, not Ridgeland, author and founder Jill Conner Browne told the Jackson Free Press today. Following Mal's St. Paddy's Parade this March, Browne announced that the Queens would end their affiliation with the parade and hold their own parade and fundraising events in the Renaissance at Colony Park shopping center in Ridgeland.
Major Crimes Down; Up in Some Precincts
Major crimes in Jackson dropped 13.6 percent last week, according to statistics released today at a Jackson Police Department command staff meeting. Officers reported 142 total property crimes, down from 168 the week before, and 29 violent crimes, down from 30 the previous week.
Scott Sisters Rally Draws Hundreds to Capitol
Hundreds gathered on the south steps of the state Capitol today to rally in support of Jamie and Gladys Scott, two Scott County women serving life sentences for a 1993 armed robbery that allegedly netted them $11 each.
Bounds: Universities Will Have To Cut Programs
State Higher Education Commissioner Hank Bounds told legislators Tuesday that funding cuts will force Mississippi's eight public universities to eliminate programs and consider raising tuition. Speaking to the House Universities and Colleges Committee, Bounds warned that the state's universities would not be able to recoup lost state funding solely by increasing efficiency in areas like administration, purchasing and energy usage.
Undisclosed Funders Pay for Consolidation Study
Gov. Haley Barbour's Commission on Education Structure will use funds from an undisclosed private source to pay for a study of school consolidation. At its first meeting yesterday, the Commission agreed to pay a Denver-based consulting firm $72,000 to deliver a report on the potential cost-savings and improvements to educational quality offered by merging some of the state's 152 school districts.
JPD Focuses on Convenience Store Crime
Read this week's crime report (PDF, 480 KB)
Justice Groups Join Appeal in Death Penalty Lawsuit
A challenge to Mississippi's system for representing those convicted of capital crimes has picked up some high-profile supporters. The Magnolia Bar Association and Mississippi Center for Justice filed a friend-of-the-court brief today supporting a suit filed on behalf of 15 death-row prisoners, earlier this year.
Sheriffs Ask Barbour to Spare Crisis Centers
County sheriffs from across Mississippi yesterday urged Gov. Haley Barbour to spare the state's mental-health crisis centers, which Barbour targeted for closure in his 2011 budget proposal. Speaking at the state capitol, Mississippi Sheriffs Association President Willie March warned that closing the state Department of Mental Health's seven crisis-intervention centers would force counties to house mentally ill citizens in county jails.
Guilty Verdict in JSU Murder Trial
A Hinds County jury found Stanley Cole guilty of the murder of Latasha Norman this afternoon. Cole, 26, faces life in prison for killing Norman, his ex-girlfriend.
Ex-Animal Control Officer Pleads Guilty
Former Canton animal control officer Alonzo Esco pleaded guilty today to one count of animal cruelty and one count of illegal dumping in connection with an animal-cruelty case that drew strong condemnation from animal-welfare groups.
JPD Adding Officers By End of Year
Read this week's crime report
Barbour Announces $21 Million More in Budget Cuts
Gov. Haley Barbour announced another round of state budget cuts totalling $21 million today. Today's cuts, which represent roughly 0.5 percent of the state budget, bring total cuts for the 2010 fiscal year to $458.5 million. The governor warned that this round of reductions was based on the highest of three different estimates of future tax revenues.
Bluntson Questions DA Over Bail Bonds
City Council President Frank Bluntson was certainly not alone in his frustration at last week's council meeting. Venting about the Dec. 11 arrest of a 16-year-old suspect in connection with an early-morning burglary and armed robbery in south Jackson, Bluntson demanded to know why the suspect was out on bond the day of the crime, having been charged in other robberies this summer.
Is Mississippi Rushing Executions?
The state of Mississippi is set to execute Joseph Daniel Burns on July 21, making Burns the third inmate executed this year. Attorney General Jim Hood asked the Mississippi Supreme Court June 21 to set an execution date for Burns, the same day that the U.S. Supreme Court turned down Burns' request for a hearing. Burns follows Gerald James Holland and Paul Woodward, whom the state executed May 19 and 20, respectively. Holland and Woodward were the first two executions in the state since 2008, and Burns' execution will make 2010 the busiest year for Mississippi's death chamber since 1961.
Jackson Ad Firm Featured in Book
The Ramey Agency has plenty to brag about. The Jackson-based branding and marketing firm boasts an impressive roster of clients, from Viking Range, to Millsaps College, to the Mississippi Museum of Art. Now, Ramey has one more accolade to add to its already full trophy shelf--a spot in "Where We Work," a book published by Harper Collins that showcases inspiring interior designs from workplaces around the world.
Jackson Violent Crimes Drop Again; Property Crimes Increase
Major crimes rose slightly last week in Jackson, with a drop in violent crime offset by a rise in property crimes, especially house burglaries. According to statistics released at a Jackson Police Department command staff meeting this morning, patrol officers reported 21 violent crimes last week, down from 36 the previous week, and 186 property crimes, up from 158 the week before. Those figures are consistent with recent trends: For the year to date, violent crime is down 10.8 percent over 2008, while property crime is up 0.9 percent.
Minor Seeks U.S. Supreme Court Hearing
Copy of Minor's Petition (PDF)