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Jackblog

Mike Chaney: BCBS, HMA Reach Deal

Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney announced a deal in an ongoing dispute between Hospital Management Associates and BlueCross & BlueShield of Mississippi. Here's Chaney's statement: "I am very pleased that Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi moved forward today October 21, 2013 to recognize four HMA hospitals for network …

Politics Blog

The Deweycare Government Health-Care Takeover in Full Swing

When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. — Thomas Jefferson This afternoon, Gov. Phil Bryant followed through on his promise to issue an executive order for BlueCross & BlueShield of Mississippi to accept 10 Hospital Management Associates facilities into …

Politics Blog

MoJo: Chris McDaniel Spoke at Confederate Ball; McDaniel Denies: I Was at an ALEC Event

Mother Jones, the liberal investigative-news magazine that broke the story of Mitt Romney's 47 percent remark during the presidential campaign, is now taking aim at Mississippi politics. MoJo reports that in August, state Sen. Chris McDaniel, who last week announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, addressed a "a neo-Confederate …

Jackblog

Federal, State Indictments Rain Down in DMR Probe

Bill Walker, the former executive director of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, and nine other people have been indicted on state and federal charges related to an ongoing investigation into the state agency's spending. State Auditor Stacey Pickering issued the following statement: GULFPORT, Miss.- Federal and state grand juries …

Politics Blog

Will New Hinds Supes Depose Graham, Stokes?

Just as Sam Cooke predicted, a change is gonna come—to the Hinds County Board of Supervisors. Last week, the board's two newest members—Darrel McQuirter of District 2 and Tony Greer of District 4—were officially sworn in and will sit for their first meeting on Monday, Nov. 18. The additions represent …

Jackblog

iOlé, Miss.!

A different kind of BS is coming to the capital city. In December, what organizers say is Mississippi's first ever bullfight charges into the Kirk Fordice Equine Center, next to the Jackson Coliseum, at the state fairgrounds. I know, you're saying to yourself that bullfighting is cruel and barbaric. To …

Jackblog

Stokes a No-Show as Board Moves to Fix Jail

Following through on earlier promises, the newly configured Hinds County Board of Supervisors gave $2.1 million back to the Byram-Clinton Corridor project and earmarked another $1 million to make repairs at the Raymond Detention Center. Over the past few months, some supervisors had made a habit of taking money out …

Jackblog

Ross Barnett Rez Name-Change Effort Certain to Draw Racist Vitriol

WJTV-TV reports that a Jackson woman is circulating a petition to rename the Ross Barnett Reservoir. "The past of Mississippi is riddled with hate and racism. And, I’m trying to show everyone else that Mississippi isn't like that anymore," the woman told JTV. For anyone needing a refresher, Barnett was …

Jackblog

City Lifts Boil Water Notice

From the office of Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba: "After two (2) consecutive days of clear water sampling, the citywide precautionary boil water notice has been lifted. The precautionary advisory only affected customers on the City of Jackson Surface Water System."

Jackblog

AG JIm Hood Clarifies Open Carry Law

Verbatim press release: Attorney General Issues Opinion to Clarify Gun Carry December 5, 2013 Contact: Jan Schaefer Public Information Officer 601-359-2002 [email protected] Jackson, MS- An opinion released by Attorney General Jim Hood outlines where concealed stun guns, revolvers and pistols can be carried by enhanced permit holders on public property …

Jackblog

ACLU: Couple Researching Mississippi Stereotypes Are Racially Profiled in Mississippi

From the you can't make this ish up file, the Mississippi American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint this afternoon alleging the Mississippi Highway Patrol engaged in racial profiling and violated the First, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights of Raymond Montgomery and Cathryn Stout, who are African American. The stop …

Politics Blog

For Some Reason, Phil Bryant Thinks Feds Want to Educate Mississippi's Kids

Mississippi routinely lags the rest of the nation when it comes to educating or kids. Apparently, Gov. Phil Bryant is under the impression that the federal government -- with everything it's dealing with related to the rollout of the health law -- now wants to try to fix Mississippi's public-education …

Jackblog

Forbes Features HOPE's Bill Bynum

Last week, Forbes Magazine ran an interesting Q&A with HOPE Enterprise Corp.'s chief-executive officer Bill Bynum. Bynum told interviewer Willy Foote that the population HOPE serves through its credit union is similar to a developing nation and talked about why HOPE is successful, saying: "It’s certainly not easy but it …

Politics Blog

A New Wonk Blog for Mississippi

There's a new place for state government news, commentary and analysis. It's called Rethink Mississippi, and it's a project of the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation at Ole Miss. According to the site's "about us" page, Rethink Mississippi "is a forum for insight, analysis, and debate about Mississippi’s critical …

Politics Blog

Lumumba to Legislators: "Feel good, be at home"

After his election as mayor, one of the biggest questions hanging over Chokwe Lumumba's new administration was what kind of relationship he would have with the state Legislature. Historically, that relationship has been icier than our weather the past few days. Lumumba's predecessor, Harvey Johnson Jr., wasn't known as someone …

Jackblog

Fire Blazes in Downtown Jackson

What fire officials are calling a "major" industrial fire is burning in downtown Jackson. Few details are available but the fire is located in a building on South Jefferson street, near the offices of WLBT-TV. No cause has been made available. http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2014/jan/09/15297/

Jackblog

Whole Foods Announces Jackson Grand Opening

After years of planning, Whole Foods Market in Jackson is opening in less than one month. Here's the full, verbatim release from the company: JACKSON, MS (January 10, 2014) Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFM) announces it will open its doorsTuesday, February 4, at 9 a.m. at Highland Village, 4500 I-55 …

Jackblog

SCOTUS Sides with Mississippi AG Hood

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood is touting a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court that he says affirms the rights of state attorneys general to file lawsuits in state court. Here's the full release from Hood's office: Jackson, MS – In a case brought by Attorney General Jim Hood, the …

Politics Blog

Rep. Dixon Proposes Castle Doctrine Changes

State Rep. Deborah Dixon, D-Bolton, has introduced a bill that modifies the state's so-called Castle Doctrine, which establishes parameters for when homicide is justified (e.g. self-defense). Under Dixon's legislation, HB 179, the Castle Doctrine would only apply within 30 feet of the exterior of a dwelling. Outside of that 30-foot …

SportsBlog

Mumme's the Word on New Belhaven Football Coach

See the following press release from Belhaven University: Belhaven University and the Department of Athletics is pleased to announce that Hal Mumme will be the next Head Football Coach. Mumme comes to Belhaven from Southern Methodist University, where he served as an Assistant Coach and Passing Game Coordinator under Head …