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Politics Blog

Francis P. Smith Qualifies for Jackson Mayor's Race

Francis P. Smith Jr., pastor of Total Praise and Worship on Cedar Lane in south Jackson, has qualified for the race to be the next mayor of Jackson, information from the city clerk's office shows. Smith competed as an Independent in the June 2013 general election for mayor, which late …

Politics Blog

Margaret Barrett-Simon: 'petty politics and turf battles are over'

A source close to Margaret Barrett-Simon's family confirmed to the Jackson Free Press tonight that she is entering the mayor's race. She will officially announce Monday. Stay tuned for time and location. We reported Monday that Barrett-Simon was considering a run and would decide by today.

All Politics is Local

The Paranoid Style in Jackson Politics, or Why Are White People Afraid of Chokwe Lumumba?

Since the somewhat surprising victory of Councilman Chokwe Lumumba in the Jackson mayoral runoff, and his subsequent victory in the general election, I’ve been thinking about what his ascension to the mayor’s office will mean for Jackson and eventually, for the state itself. As the new mayor’s inaugural events begin to take place in the next week, perhaps it is time, as we approach the 50-year anniversary of so many of the momentous events of the civil rights era, to both contemplate and attempt to calibrate just how far we’ve come.

Politics Blog

Barrett-Simon Announces Mayoral Run

Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon officially announced her candidacy for mayor March 17.

Politics Blog

Bennie Thompson is Backing Priester for Mayor, but Why?

Melvin Priester Jr. is getting support from the U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson—their campaign radio ads are even similar—who represents most of Jackson on the U.S. House of Representatives and is the only Democrat in the state's congressional delegation. It's an interesting turn of events, considering the following: Thompson was fairly …

Politics Blog

West Jackson Hosts Mayoral Forum Thursday

From a Facebook post: The West Central Jackson Improvement Association (WCJIA) invites the public to attend the upcoming Mayoral Forum to hear candidates for Mayor discuss their vision for the City of Jackson. All candidates for Mayor of the City of Jackson are invited. The Forum will be held Thursday, …

Politics Blog

Robocall Discourages Margaret Barrett-Simon From Running

A resident in Fondren sent us this voicemail message, which is an apparent robocall trying to suggest that Margaret Barrett-Simon's campaign is designed to help Tony Yarber. Link: Robocall Audio Barrett-Simon responded to the call on her Facebook page last week: "I want to be clear that, should I decide …

Politics Blog

Lumumbas Welcome Baby Girl

Verbatim, from the Chokwe Antar Lumumba campaign: The Lumumba family would like to announce the birth of their baby girl Alakè Maryama Lumumba! She was born today March 18th at 11:01 a.m. Weighing approximately 6 lbs 4 ounces. Both Ebony and baby Alakè are doing well. Alakè (means: one to …

Politics Blog

Chapman, Priester, Yarber File Paperwork

Three more candidates have submitted paperwork to run in the April 8 special election for mayor of Jackson. Last week, the first to file their documents were Albert Wilson and Francis P. Smith — both of whom sought offices last year — and Kenneth Swarts. The latest information from municipal …

Jackblog

Jim Hood Orders 2 Executions then Defends U.S. Human Rights in Geneva

Last week, Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood was in Geneva, Switzerland representing the U.S. before the United Nations Human Rights Committee. Hood, the only Democrat holding statewide office in Mississippi, serves as president-elect of the National Association of Attorneys General, and "responded to the committee’s questions concerning the death penalty, …

Politics Blog

#JxnMayor Candidates at #StPaddysJXN

We took a spin around social media to see what the candidates did for St. Paddy's Day. Here's what we've found so far. (Candidates -- if we missed anything give us a shout @jxnfreepress on Twitter.) [View the story "#JxnMayor Candidates at #StPaddysJXN" on Storify]

Politics Blog

15 Candidates Filed to Run for Mayor; Qualification Still Under Way

The Jackson city clerk's office provided 15 names of potential mayoral candidates who have filed paperwork to run in the special election. The deadline was today at 5 p.m. The election commissioners are still qualifying the list, however, so it could shrink. They are: Kenneth A. Swarts, Sedgwick Drive Albert …

Music

Football Season?

A special Record Store Day release, regional picks and new releases...

Jackblog

Harassment Suit Against JSU's Vivian Fuller Dismissed

Jackson State University released the following statement regarding the dismissal of a sexual harassment lawsuit against Athletic Director Vivian Fuller: U.S. District Judge William H. Barbour, Jr., on March 13 dismissed the sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Jackson State University, JSU Director of Athletics Dr. Vivian L. Fuller and JSU …

Politics Blog

Money Talks/Where are Yarber and Barrett-Simon's Economic Impact Statements?

In an election this short, money can make all the difference. Unfortunately, we won't know who the big money players in the Jackson mayor's race are for at least another week, however. Information from the Jackson city clerk's office shows that pre-election reports are due April 1, 2014 — one …

Politics Blog

Two Booted Off Mayor's Ballot

Despite submitting paperwork to run in the city of Jackson's special election for mayor, two individuals have been removed for not meeting requirements to seek the office. They are: Tonya Brooks of Valley North Boulevard Tammie Patterson of Carleton Street. That shaves the number of people seeking the office down …

Jackblog

Couple Records Same-Sex Marriage in Rankin County; First Known in State

The Campaign for Southern Equality just sent this verbatim press statement: Gay Couple Records Legal Marriage License in Mississippi Creating First Known Public Record of Same-Sex Marriage in State (March 24, 2014) - On March 24, Anna Guillot and Chrissy Kelly, a same-sex couple, paid $12 to record their legal …

Politics Blog

In the Fight for Jackson's Future, Who Can Immigrant Communities Trust?

The late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba didn't just inspire his voters, he also took risks for others without expecting to be repaid in return. As others remembered him, the immigrant community never got to say goodbye to the late Lumumba, who won a Freedom from Fear award in 2011 for an …

Politics Blog

Mississippi AG Jim Hood declines interview, sends statement on Michelle Byrom execution

The Jackson Free Press last week requested an interview with Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood about the pending Michelle Byrom execution. He so far has declined an interview issued this statement instead. Needless to say, we still have questions. Reprinted verbatim: Basis for Requesting an Execution Date When Certiorari has …

Politics Blog

ACLU Responds to Drug-Testing-the-Poor Bill Signing

Jennifer Riley-Collins, executive director of the ACLU of Mississippi, made the following statement about Gov. Phil Bryant's signature of HB 49, which would require drug testing for some people receiving federal-state assistance: Today is a sad day as Governor Bryant signed into law HB 49, thereby subjecting Mississippi's most vulnerable …