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Jackblog

Jackson City Council Joins Gov. Phil Bryant, AG Jim Hood in Condemning Stokes' Comments About Throwing Objects at Police Cars from Suburbs

The following is a verbatim statement from the Jackson City Council: STATEMENT FROM THE JACKSON CITY COUNCIL REGARDING INDIVIDUAL COMMENTS MADE BY COUNCILMAN KENNETH I. STOKES Jackson City Council members reject Councilman Kenneth I. Stokes’ statements regarding violent acts against Law Enforcement (Jackson, Miss.) –The following recent comments made by …

Jackblog

Dec. 30 Airport Delays and Cancellations Due to Weather

The Jackson Municipal Airport released updated flight delays and cancellations due to inclement weather in several destinations. Travelers are encouraged to check their airline for up-to-date flight information. Arrivals: American Airlines Flight #4986 from Charlotte, NC CANCELED Delta Airlines Flight #5055 from Atlanta, GA DELAYED ETA: 4:50 p.m. Delta Airlines …

Jackblog

Mississippi Supreme Court Lineup Filled

Gov. Phil Bryant has filled both Mississippi Supreme Court vacancies, following the departure of Justices Randy Pierce and David Chandler. Former District 1 Court of Appeals Judge James Maxwell and tenth district chancellor Dawn Beam will join the state's highest court in the new year. Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. …

Jackblog

Wild Dogs Kill 6 Zoo Animals, Injure 2 Geese

Jackson Zoo officials have announced that a pack of feral dogs killed a gazelle and five springbok. Two geese were also hurt. The following is a verbatim description of the incident from the zoo: Zoo staff discovered the animals had been attacked early Friday morning, and began to take measures …

Jackblog

City OKs IMS Engineers to Oversee 1 Percent Tax Projects

The city has hired a manager to oversee projects paid for with a 1-percent tax approved almost two years ago. The Jackson City Council approved a contract with Jackson-based IMS Engineers for projects in the first year of the infrastructure master plan. IMS will help develop a comprehensive infrastructure plan, …

Jackblog

Megyn Kelly, Ashley Madison, 'Compton' and Booty Lead Mississippi Google Traffic

A real-estate website called Estately figured out the most Googled words for each state. Apparently, the No. 1 search term for Mississippi was Ashley Madison, the online secret smash site for married folks that got hacked this year. I won't link to it here because I don't believe in pouring …

Jackblog

New National Education Law Shifts Power Back to States

The "No Child Left Behind" Act was overruled and replaced with the "Every Student Succeeds" Act this week. The new law signed will shift a lot of decision-making power for education policy back to the states. President Barack Obama called the law "a big step in the right direction," and …

Politics Blog

Presley: Net-Metering Rules Pass Public Service Commission

The Mississippi Public Service Commission's Northern District Commissioner Brandon Presley issued the following statement about the approval of the state's first net-metering rule: JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI - (December 3, 2015) – Today, the Public Service Commission unanimously passed a groundbreaking rule allowing net metering in the state. Net metering is the …

Jackblog

Mississippi Infant Mortality Rate at All-Time Low; Still Ranked 50th

Infant mortality rates have decreased by 15 percent in the past five years according to the latest report from the Mississippi Department of Health. The infant mortality rate in 2014 was 8.2 percent compared to 9.7 percent in 2013. Mississippi still has the highest rate in the country, however, and …

Politics Blog

City: Avoid Woodrow Wilson if Possible Due to Water Main Break

From the office of the Mayor Tony Yarber: Motorists are advised of road conditions on the east bound lane of Woodrow Wilson Drive, heading toward Interstate 55. There was a break on a 36-inch water line in the area. The City's team is assessing the condition of the site continuously …

Jackblog

Blue Bell Ice Cream Coming Back to Mississippi Dec. 21

The following delicious news release is printed here verbatim: Brenham, Texas, November 24, 2015 – Blue Bell Ice Cream will be available in Louisiana and Jackson, Miss., and its surrounding areas beginning Dec. 21. This is the second-to-last phase in the company’s five phase market re-entry plan. “We are excited …

Jackblog

Terry Mayor Nicholson Pleads Guilty, Resigns

From the Mississippi state Auditor Stacey Pickering: JACKSON, Miss. –Roderick Nicholson, Mayor of Terry, pled guilty to five counts of embezzlement, and advised the court he would resign from his position as Mayor of Terry effective immediately. From January 2011 through December 2012, the Mayor made personal credit card payments …

Politics Blog

District 79 House Race Will Be Decided by Drawing Straws

Run-offs are old-school anyway, right? The fate of District 79's representation in the House of Representatives will be decided on Friday by drawing straws, according to Mississippi election law. Rep. Bo Eaton, D-Taylorsville, has represented the district since 1996, but in this election he pulled in the exact same number …

SportsBlog

Saints Fire Rob Ryan After Dismal Defeat

The Times-Picayune in New Orleans is reporting that Rob Ryan, defense coordinator for the New Orleans Saints, has been fired after a particularly embarrassing 47-14 loss to Washington on Sunday.

Jackblog

Bryant: Allowing Syrian Refugees in U.S. is 'Extremely Dangerous'

Gov. Phil Bryant joined 15 other governors in pledging to refuse Syrian refugees should they be sent to Mississippi, following the terrorist attacks in Paris over the weekend that left 129 people dead and hundreds wounded in France. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama has pledged to accept about 10,000 Syrian refugees …

Jackblog

Study: Mississippi Has Highest Percentage of "At-Risk" Hospitals in U.S.

A new study found that Mississippi has the highest percentage of at-risk hospitals, mainly rural facilities that are caught in the crunch of rising healthcare costs and less reimbursements while serving at-risk populations that need the care. Researchers from the Center for Mississippi Health Policy, Mississippi State and the University …

Jackblog

Will Farish Street Have a New Developer Soon?

The Mississippi Business Journal is reporting that Farish Street in downtown Jackson may soon have a new developer with plans to move forward with an entertainment district.

Jackblog

Mississippi Earns D- on State Integrity Investigation

Mississippi has earned a D- grade on the Center for Public Integrity's 2015 investigation of state government transparency and accountability issues. The state's overall rank nationally is 33rd out of 50 states. After this year's election, it should come as no surprise that Mississippi was ranked last in the campaign-finance …

Jackblog

Mayor Yarber, Public Works to Hold Public Meeting to Address Water Bill Concerns

This is a full, verbatim statement from the City of Jackson: Mayor Tony T. Yarber, Director of Public Works Kishia Powell and other representatives will hold a public meeting to address water billing concerns on Monday, Nov. 16, at Smith Robertson Museum at 6:30 p.m. The City of Jackson recently …