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Yarber Responds to Airport Legislation: 'Takeover'

Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber responded today to a bill proposed by Senator Josh Harkins of Rankin County designed to give the Governor control of a regional board that would oversee the Jackson airport; the airport is currently run by a board that is appointed by the mayor of Jackson and confirmed by the Jackson city council.

Jackblog

Hillary Name-Checks Jackson Over Lead Contamination

Out on the campaign trail, former Secretary of State and current presidential candidate Hillary Clinton mentioned Jackson in comments that included a discussion of the lead-contaminated water problems that Flint, Michigan is facing. According to a piece today in Salon.com, Clinton jumped out in front of her rival Bernie Sanders …

Jackblog

Mississippi Nationally Recognized for Not Lying

Mississippi might not top every list in educational achievement, but at least it’s straightforward about it. It pays to be honest. Achieve.org recognized the state for closing the “honesty gap”—the difference between how much students have actually improved on National Assessment of Educational Performance examinations and how much students are …

Politics Blog

Airport Bill Touching Down Next Week

Sen. Josh Harkins, R-Flowood, is touching up a bill that proposes to change the Jackson airport commission structure. Harkins told the Jackson Free Press he will likely file his bill on Monday or Tuesday next week, which will change who appoints and who qualifies to serve on the airport's governing …

Jackblog

Bert Case, Legendary Jackson TV Newsman, Dies

Bert Case has died. He started in TV at WAPT before going to WLBT-TV for 40 years. In 2014, Case rejoined WAPT. Case, who would have been 77 this weekend, had been hospitalized since the fall. Get more details about Case on WAPT.com. http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2016/jan/28/24333/

Music

Fondren's First Thursday Lives

After cryptic statements here and there and word of a return to New York, Fondren's First Thursday founder Ron Chane announced that his monthly event would be back in Fondren once more, though rumors of its demise weren't entirely unfounded. Chane, who also owns local businesses Studio Chane, Swell-O-Phonic and …

Jackblog

Mayor Yarber Proclaims: It's School Choice Week in Jackson

Mayor Tony Yarber, a former principal, issued the following proclamation for School Choice Week in Jackson: RESOLVED, by the Mayor of the City of Jackson, Mississippi that: WHEREAS, all children in Jackson should have access to the highest- quality education possible; and WHEREAS, Jackson recognizes the important role that an …

Jackblog

Renamed Hal's St. Paddy's Parade to Honor Hal White, Benefit Batson Children's Hospital

This year, for its 33rd annual St. Paddy's Day Parade, Mal's St. Paddy's Parade is changing its name to Hal's St. Paddy's Parade in honor of the late Hal White. Proceeds from the event, held March 19, will benefit the Children's Heart Center at Batson Hospital for Children. This is …

Jackblog

Walmart Closes 6 Mississippi Stores; Raises Worker Wages

Walmart is closing six Walmart Express stores in Mississippi, all located in the northern part of the state in small towns. The store closures translate to about 180 lost jobs, but the national corporation said its main focus is to take care of the associates, offering them the option to …

Jackblog

Roy McMillan, Anti-Abortion Gadfly, Dead

Roy McMillan has died after a long illness, the Clarion-Ledger reported. Frequent visitors to Fondren know McMillan as the brash, fedora-wearing, fetus-sign waving anti-abortion protester near the Jackson Women's Health Organization. A bit of history on McMillan: In 1995, a federal court ordered McMillan to stay 50 feet away from …

Jackblog

Secretary of State Proposes Revisions to MS Election Laws

Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann has announced several revisions to Mississippi election laws that will bring our code up to date with current elections procedures and technology. Some of the changes include tightening down campaign finance disclosure laws for political committees and moving Mississippi's presidential primary vote day to the …

Jackblog

Almost 100,000 Mississippians Sign Up for HealthCare.gov

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services made the following announcement: Since Open Enrollment began on November 1, about 8.8 million consumers signed-up for health coverage through the HealthCare.gov platform or had their coverage automatically renewed, including 97,909 Mississippi. Today’s enrollment snapshot includes the number of people who selected …

Jackblog

Senator Will Longwitz Headed to Madison County Court

Sen. Will Longwitz, R-Madison, is leaving the Senate to accept his recent appointment to the Madison County Court. In a press release from the Administrative Office of the Courts, Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. announced the appointments of Longwitz to Madison County Court and Judge Jim Greenlee to the Court …

Music

Indie Music Week: ICON Rundown

From its industry panels to artist showcases, the team behind the first Jackson Indie Music Week, which ran Jan. 11 through Jan. 17, wanted the festival to recognize the talent and achievements already active in the capital city. Of course, nothing things says “recognition” like a shelf full of trophies, …

Jackblog

Woodrow Wilson Construction Moving Forward

On Friday, the City of Jackson updated their status on repairs on Woodrow Wilson Drive between State Street and I-55; crews will dig on Monday to determine the parts needed for repairs that will take place a few weeks from now.

Music

Indie Music Week: Having 'Done the Knowledge'

Despite somewhat of a rough start, the "Do the Knowledge" panel, one of the first major events for the inaugural Jackson Indie Music Week, delivered some useful advice for music-industry hopefuls.

Jackblog

Report: Mississippi Foster Care System 'Well Beyond Crisis'

A report in the Olivia Y case, filed on Jan. 6, found that an infant died within five days after entering the state's foster care system. The report found that the state had not inspected the home where the baby died before the baby was placed there. Judith Meltzer, from …

Politics Blog

Airport Authority Hires Same Lobbyist the City of Jackson is Using

The following is a verbatim press release from the Jackson airport: Jackson, Miss. – At the Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners for the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority held earlier this month, the Board of voted to engage the services of W.T. Consultants. As the official lobbyist for the …

Jackblog

Lane Closure; Construction on Woodrow Wilson Drive

Woodrow Wilson Drive's eastbound lanes will be reduced to one lane in preparation for major repair work on the water lines below the road. Once repair work begins, traffic will be re-routed to State Street, but no contractor has been named so the street will remain open until a contractor …

Jackblog

MSSC Justice Jim Kitchens Files for Re-Election

The following is a statement from Justice Kitchens' campaign: Justice Jim Kitchens of Crystal Springs was the first candidate to file papers at the Secretary of State’s Office for the 2016 election when he qualified to seek election to a second term on the Mississippi Supreme Court this morning. Four …