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Death Row Prisoner Manning Gets a Stay

The Mississippi State Supreme Court has granted a stay of execution for death row inmate Willie Jerome Manning. Manning was scheduled to be put to death this evening at 6 p.m. at Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. Manning, accused of killing two people in Oktibbeha County in 1992, has maintained …

Politics Blog

Who's Giving to Lumumba?

A week after the deadline for submitting campaign-finance reports, and on the morning of Jackson city elections, Councilman and veteran attorney Chokwe Lumumba filed his campaign-finance report. The report, dated May 6, shows that Lumumba raised $68,753 since the beginning of the year and spent $59,292, leaving the campaign fund …

Politics Blog

Where the Election Night Parties At?

Here's the list of election night watch parties we've cobbled together. We'll update it as we get more information: Harvey Johnson Campaign Headquarters, 4436 North State Street Jonathan Lee The Penguin, 1100 J.R. Lynch Street Chokwe Lumumba Clarion Hotel, 5075 Interstate 55 Regina Quinn Regency Hotel, 400 Greymont Ave.

Politics Blog

JFP Calls Mayoral Race for Lee and Lumumba in Runoff

It looks like Jonathan Lee and Chokwe Lumumba are headed into the runoff. Share your predictions for what the next to weeks will be like!

Jackblog

JFP Wins Multiple Journalism Awards

The Jackson Free Press is bringing home some Green Eyeshades again.

Jackblog

Summer Enhancement Program Registration Underway

The deadline for registration is May 24.

Politics Blog

UPDATE: Two Mayoral Debates Set For This Week

Former Jackson Chamber of Commerce President Jonathan Lee and Ward 2 Councilman Chokwe Lumumba will square off in two debates this week, ahead of the May 21 runoff election that will put one of the two men into the Jackson mayors office. The first is set for 6 p.m. to …

Politics Blog

Mayoral Race Finance Reports Due Tuesday, May 14

Under state law, a violation of any candidate's campaign-finance disclosure requirement could result in the state withholding certification of nomination, withholding salary of office, and a misdemeanor conviction that carries up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $3,000. But the city hasn't seemed interested in …

Jackblog

This Ain't Cool, DOJ.

Today, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia released a statement joining other journalism organizations in protesting the U.S. Department of Justice's over-reaching subpoena of The Associated Press' phone records. The JFP joins other media organizations who have signed onto this letter by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. It …

Politics Blog

Chokwe Lumumba: 'I AM A CHRISTIAN MAN, WITH AN AFRICAN NAME'

During the run-up to the Democratic primary, the main whisper campaign, coming from several candidates, seemed to be about who had—gasp!—voted Republican in the past. Now, it's over who is Christian enough to be mayor. Mayoral candidate Chokwe Lumumba is pounding the same drum that President Barack Obama had to …

Politics Blog

Candidates File Runoff Campaign Finance Reports

The budget for Jonathan Lee's campaign to become next mayor of Jackson has officially topped $400,000 since the start of 2013. In a report filed Tuesday, May 14, 2013, with the City Clerk's office, the treasurer for Jonathan Lee's political action committee "Friends of Jonathan Lee" says the Lee campaign …

Politics Blog

WAPT: Regina Quinn Endorses Lumumba (Or Not?); Frank Bluntson Backs Lee

WAPT reported today on what is probably the most coveted mayoral endorsement, saying that Regina Quinn has endorsed Chokwe Lumumba for mayor. In a less significant announcement, Frank Bluntson has endorsed Jonathan Lee. During the campaign, Quinn was angry at Lee for spreading around that she had voted Republican. This …

Politics Blog

Jonathan Lee Announces More Endorsements

At a press conference near City Hall, Democratic mayoral candidate Jonathan Lee and a handful of supporters announced a key endorsement from State Representative Credell Calhoun, who represents Mississippi's 68th district here in Jackson. Lee also received endorsements from his pastor at Anderson United Methodist Church Joe May and New …

Politics Blog

Lessons from Last Night's Mayoral Whatever That Was

Last night's mayoral forum/debate/"job interview" seemed to have been born of a desire to shake things up, to breathe new life into the stodgy, old question-and-answer-from-a-fixed-podium-style debates of yore. For that effort in thinking out of the box, the organizers at Leadership Jackson probably deserve a cookie. A small cookie, …

Politics Blog

More About Lumumba's Top Donors

Here's a list of Chokwe Lumumba's top campaign donors* this year, over the past two reporting cycles: Barry W. Howard ($10,000) - Madison, Miss. Howard has given to at least one Democratic candidate for Mississippi statewide office, Gary Anderson, who ran for insurance commissioner in 2007. Chokwe Lumumba ($6,000) - …

Politics Blog

Lumumba's Close Call with Disbarment

"Look, Judge, if we've got to pay for justice around here, I will pay for justice. I've paid other judges to try to get justice, pay you, too, if that's what is necessary." That statement, made by attorney Chokwe Lumumba to Leake County Circuit Judge Marcus D. Gordon on October …

Jackblog

Gulf Biz Smacked with $1m Fine for Mucking Wetlands

Verbatim statement from the US DOJ: MISSISSIPPI CORPORATION PLEADS GUILTY AND AGREES TO $ 1 MILLION FINE FOR ILLEGALLY FILLING PROTECTED WETLANDS WASHINGTON – Mississippi-based Hancock County Land LLC (HCL) pleaded guilty today to the unpermitted filling of wetlands near Bay St. Louis, Miss., and agreed to pay a $1 …

Politics Blog

Can you vote in the May 21 runoff if you didn't vote in the primary?

A local television report apparently has people confused about whether they can vote in the Democratic runoff for Jackson mayor and city council if they didn't bother to vote in the runoff. The answer is yes. Here is a statement from Jackson City Clerk Brenda Pree: “ All registered voters …

Politics Blog

Lumumba's New Endorsements; Stokes to JFP: "Kiss My Ass"

The campaign to elect City Councilman Chokwe Lumumba as mayor announced several endorsements from key city leaders Friday morning in front of City Hall. Among the endorsements Lumumba received were State Representatives Earl Banks and Jim Evans and District 5 Hinds County Supervisor Kenneth Stokes and his wife, Ward 3 …

Politics Blog

Bennie Thompson Backs Lumumba, Links Lee to GOP

Democratic U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson is wading into the Jackson mayor's race, and endorsing Councilman Chokwe Lumumba over political upstart and businessman Jonathan Lee. In the R-and-B-laced radio ad, Thompson refrains from naming Lee but says: "When I see Republicans from Rankin and Madison counties endorsing the other so-called Democrat, …