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3 More Rankin Countians Sentenced for Hate Crime Against Black Jackson Man

The following is a verbatim press release from the Office of the U.S. Attorney: WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today that William Kirk Montgomery, 25, of Puckett, Mississippi, Jonathan Kyle Gaskamp, 22, and Joseph Paul Dominick, 23, both of Brandon, Mississippi, were sentenced today in U.S. District Court in …

Politics Blog

Joce Pritchett, Cristen Hemmins to Take Aim at GOP Incumbents

Well-known in progressive political circles, Cristen Hemmins and Joce Prtichett today announced that they would run for elected office. In 2012, Jackson Free Press readers opined that Hemmins should seek public office. Hemmins, chairwoman of the Lafayette County Democratic Party, will challenge state Sen. Gray Tollison, R-Oxford, for the Senate …

Politics Blog

Whitwell is In for MS01 Congress Race

Former Jackson Ward 1 City Councilman Quentin Whitwell will run for the seat left vacant by the recent death of U.S. Rep. Alan Nunnelee. He wrote on Facebook: "With the outpouring of support and the blessing from my family, I am pleased to announce that I am running for US …

Politics Blog

Lt. Gov. Reeves Blasts Dems for Blocking GOP Tax Breaks

The following is a press release from the office of Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves: JACKSON – One day after nearly half of Senate Democrats joined all Senate Republicans in passing the largest tax cut in state history, House Democrats voted almost unanimously to kill the same bill. “Fifty-two House Democrats …

Politics Blog

Yarber Pulls A HOC-Style Trick From His Sleeve, Declares State of Emergency

In Season 3 of House of Cards, the Netflix dark political drama, President Frank Underwood devises a plan to circumvent Congress and fund his sweeping jobs plan dubbed America Works. The plan involved Underwood's declaring that soaring unemployment created a state of emergency, which let him tap into the coffers …

Jackblog

Pothole Report for 4/13/2015: What's the City Fixing Today?

According to information from City Hall, Jackson public-works crews are working on the following projects today, April 13: Patching potholes on areas of Highland Drive, N. Cliff Drive, Colebrook Avenue, Barrett Street, Poindexter Street, Valley Street, Eastover Subdivision. Repairing curb and gutter on St. Mary Street. On Friday, April 10, …

Jackblog

Pothole Report for 4/14/2015: What's the City Fixing Today?

According to information from City Hall, Jackson public-works crews are working on the following projects today, April 14: • Patching potholes on areas of Lynch Street at Highland Drive, Highland Drive, North Cliff Street, Ellis Avenue, Poole Street, Grand Avenue, Claiborne Avenue, Claiborne Avenue and First Avenue, Barrett Street from …

Jackblog

Pothole Report for 4/16/2015: What's the City Fixing Today?

According to City Hall, Jackson public-works crews will be doing the following today: Patching potholes on areas of S. Charleston Place, Jefferson Street, Dewey Street, Ellis Avenue, Castle Hill Drive, Monterey Street, Claiborne Avenue and First Avenue, River Park Dr., Springridge Drive, Lake Trace Drive, Kristen Drive and Lynn Lane, …

Jackblog

How Did Stephen Gene Davenport Die?

It’s unclear exactly how Stephen Gene Davenport died, but what is clear is that more happened than authorities have publicly disclosed. Davenport died on April 21 after an apparent scuffle with deputies from the Lauderdale County sheriff's department. Sheriff Billy Sollie told media outlets two of his deputies were also …

Jackblog

Tonight: Nikki Giovanni Speaks at Jackson State

Here's the release from JSU: The Margaret Walker Center at Jackson State University is pleased to announce that renowned poet and scholar, Nikki Giovanni, will deliver a keynote address at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, in the JSU Student Center Theater. Her talk will open Dr. Doris A. Derby’s …

Jackblog

Yarber Still Beating Emergency Declaration Horse, PR Campaign

Mayor Tony Yarber may have lost the battle with the Jackson City Council over his desire to issue a infrastructure emergency proclamation, but he's not giving up the public-relations fight. This morning, the mayor's communications office sent out a press release touting a mention of the of the strategy on …

Politics Blog

Kenny Stokes Wants a Bridge Named for Frank Melton

Buried deep within the city council's 78-item agenda for Tuesday, is a proposed resolution from Jackson Councilman Kenneth Stokes to name the Pearl Street Bridge for the controversial late Mayor Frank Melton. It's unclear what Stokes's motives are beyond the fact that he was an ally of Melton, who died …

Jackblog

Clarion-Ledger Publisher, 3 Employees Depart

The Clarion-Ledger is reporting that president and publisher Jason P. Taylor is leaving the company. On Wednesday, three employees--two sales people and one circulation staffer--also departed in the latest round of cuts at the C-L. Taylor's announcement came less than one year after the announcement that he would take over …

Jackblog

#RachelDolezal's Jackson Ties

Rachel Dolezal, the white woman who Keyser Söze'd the hell out of all of eastern Washington State and parts of Idaho by passing herself off as a black woman, apparently went to undergrad in Jackson. According to her LinkedIn, Dolezal, whom the homie Be Mock aptly noted "out Teena Marie'd …

Jackblog

City Council Recap: Uber, Bongs and Food Trucks

The absence of three council members and Mayor Tony Yarber made last night's meeting of the Jackson City Council, unnervingly efficient. Before going into executive session to discuss personnel issues and litigation around 8 p.m. -- a recent best for the ordinarily long-winded body -- the council adopted a new …

Jackblog

2 Yazoo County Judges Quit Doing Marriages All Together

Marriage—it's what brings us together. That is, unless you live in Yazoo County and were planning on having a justice court judge officiate your ceremony. Earlier this week, Judges Pam May and Bennie Warrington sent a letter to the board of supervisors saying they wanted to opt out of having …

Jackblog

Jonathan Sanders Story: Clarion-Ledger He-Was-No-Angeled the Black Horse-and-Buggy Driver Killed by White Cop

Sadly, it was only a matter of time before it happened here in Mississippi--a black man was killed by a white cop amid mysterious circumstances and officials are trying to keep tensions from simmering. It happened on late Wednesday night in tiny Stonewall when, according to various media outlets, a …

Jackblog

City: New Water Billing System to Come Online

The city's new water billing system, part of the controversial $91 million Siemens contract, is scheduled to go live at the end of August. According to a city press release: "Residents will soon experience updates to their water billing as part of comprehensive upgrades the City of Jackson has initiated …

Jackblog

City Going on Well Water After South Jackson Water Line Break

The mayor's office just sent out the following the release about the situation in south Jackson: The City of Jackson will temporarily switch to the well water system in south Jackson as crews work to locate a 42-inch water line break. The transition to the well system begins immediately to …

Politics Blog

Election Night Parties

Here are the election-night parties we know are happening. If you hear about of any others, please let us know. Polls close at 7 p.m. Gov. Phil Bryant Tonight at 7:30 PM at the Mississippi Republican Party Headquarters (415 Yazoo St, Jackson) Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves will speak to supporters …