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Council Confirms Three Melton Appointments

Jackson City Council voted to confirm three mayoral picks for top city positions this morning. Council members Frank Bluntson, Charles Tillman, Kennneth Stokes, Margaret Barrett-Simon and Marshand Crisler voted to confirm Assistant Chief Vernon Hughes as fire chief with a 4-to-0 vote with Crisler abstaining.

Council Rejects Melvin, Mayor Lashes Out

This story will appear in this week's print edition of the Jackson Free Press.

Melton to Undergo Bypass Heart Surgery

Photo caption: Mayor Frank Melton and Dr. Robert Smith announcing that Melton will undergo heart surgery.

BREAKING: Melton Appoints Bluntson as Mayor

<i>Photo caption: Acting Mayor Frank Bluntson announces his assumption of duties.

Mayor Frank Melton has appointed Councilman Frank Bluntson as acting mayor by executive order (PDF, 56 KB).

Melton to Devise New Budget

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton told City Council members this morning to toss out the current city budget after some members criticized the discord between the mayor and his own budget. He vowed to produce a new budget by tomorrow morning.

BREAKING: Mayor Wants Larkin Withdrawn

Mayor Frank Melton submitted a memorandum to council members (PDF, 118 KB) requesting that they withdraw Jackson Public School Board Vice President Jonathan Larkin's name for re-appointment to the board. The memorandum, signed yesterday by Melton, comes two weeks after council members claimed Chief of Staff Marcus Ward told Larkin that the mayor would not re-submit his name for a seat on the board if Larkin did not vote in favor of a certain contractor for management of the recently passed $150 million JPS bond.

Melton Plan: Cameras and Night Court

Mayor Frank Melton addressed the city's remarkable increase in violent crime with a tour of dazzling technology at the new Technical Operations Center.

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Community Events and Public Meetings

The Eighth Annual JFP Chick Ball is July 28, 6 p.m., at Hal & Mal's.

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Dr. Thais Tonore

Ever since she was a young girl, Thais Tonore wanted to be a doctor.

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Hinds EDA Says No to Garage

Hinds County Economic Development Authority Executive Director Blake Wallace recommended that the Board of Supervisors not go forward with funding a parking garage that is part of the Old Capitol Green project.

City Residents: Sign Up for CodeRED Weather Warnings

Jacksonians can get free op-in weather warnings from the National Weather Service.

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PSC Could Delay Kemper

Friday's decision from the Mississippi Public Service Commission on Mississippi Power's request to raise electric rates could severely hamper the project.

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Life Without Parole for Kids Ruled Cruel and Unusual

Before a person under 18 can be given a life sentence with no hope of parole, judges must take the defendant's age and the nature of their crime into consideration.

JPD Arrests 10 in Prostitution Sting

JPD arrests 10 in "Vegas Night in Jackson"; declares "strong impact."

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Best Health-Care Reporting

As you wait for the Supreme Court's health-care decision, here's our roundup of standout reporting on health care in the U.S. and the struggle to fix it.

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JPS Meeting Tuesday to Adopt Budget

JPS will adopt its budget today amid financial woes.

State of the City: ‘Mistakes of the Heart'

Lots of determination, but no details formed the substance of Mayor Frank Melton's State of the City Address at the Alamo Theatre this morning. An emotional Melton, who is under investigation by the FBI, took the stage after an introduction from his 82-year-old Cuban aunt, apologizing for a myriad of snafus during his two-year term as mayor. "I've made some mistakes, but they've been mistakes of the heart," Melton told the audience. Ӆ I cannot and will not do anything that's designed to hurt another human being. That's not my nature.

Day 3: Police Officers Testify

Two police officers testified for the defense this morning. First was Sharon Gray, a 27 year veteran of the force who has spent the last five years as a records custodian. Second was Brendan Bell, a narcotics detective. At around 12: 30 p.m., the judge recessed the trial, which is set to resume at 2 p.m.

BREAKING: Mayor Agrees to Confirmation Hearings

After many months of stalling, Mayor Frank Melton has finally agreed to put department heads and other appointments in front of the City Council for confirmation. Councilman Ben Allen told the Jackson Free Press today that Melton sent him an e-mail requesting that Allen move ahead with setting up confirmation hearings for the following positions: Rick Hill of the Department of Finance; Fire Chief Todd Chandler; Charles Melvin of Parks and Recreation; Jackson Redevelopment Authority board member Ted Duckworth; Jackson Public Schools Board member Ivory Phillips; Municipal Court Judge Ali ShamsidDeen, and Planning and Development consultant Leland Speed.

JUST IN: Lumumba: Stop Melton's ‘Jackson Gestapo'

Audio of press conference: Lumumba_21207.mp3 (8.3MB)