All results / Entries

Politics Blog

Melvin Priester Jr. Announces Bid for Mayor's Seat

As if presenting to a jury, Melvin Priester Jr. paced in front of a bank of TV cameras as he made his opening argument — for his candidacy for mayor of Jackson. Priester broke with several other candidates whose announcements came at Jackson City Hall and held his first official …

Politics Blog

Regina Quinn on Jackson Mayor's Race: "I'm in."

Attorney Regina Quinn, former general counsel for Jackson State University, confirms she's throwing her name in the growing hat of Jackson mayoral candidates. Quinn finished in fourth place in last year's Democratic mayoral primary. When the race came down to a runoff between then-Ward 2 Councilman Chokwe Lumumba and businessman …

Politics Blog

Jonathan Lee: 'I will not seek the office at this time'; Horhn in race

In a move that contradicts the plethora of hats flying into the mayoral ring this week, Jonathan Lee posted on his Facebook page last night that he is not running in the mayoral special election (news broken on Twitter by Ross Adams of WJTV). It was rumored that Lee, a …

Politics Blog

UPDATE: Antar Lumumba announces mayoral bid at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall

As the JFP reported last week, Chokwe Antar Lumumba, 30, is running for mayor. He will announce today (Tuesday) at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall that he is running for his father's seat. Note that this is a new time.

Politics Blog

Will Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon run for mayor?

We just saw Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon's Facebook posting indicating that she might announce for mayor by the end of the week. Here is a screenshot. We'll keep you posted. http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2014/mar/10/16336/

Politics Blog

Looks Like Melvin Priester Jr.'s in the Jackson Mayor's Race

We just received the following press release announcing a news conference for Ward 2 Councilman and City County President Melvin Priester Jr.: Jackson City Council President Melvin V. Priester, Jr., is scheduled to hold a press conference, Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at 2:00 p.m., at Priester Law Firm, PLLC, 5375 …

Politics Blog

Harvey Johnson Jr. running for mayor? This letter suggests he is.

Someone just forwarded me a letter they say was distributed today at Cade Chapel M.B. Church that appears to be from former Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. asking for support in his run in the special mayor election. We have been hearing that he is running again, and are trying to …

Politics Blog

Tony Yarber to JFP: 'I'm heavily considering a run' for mayor

UPDATED I just ran into a Facebook post that hints that (a) Councilman Tony Yarber might be running for mayor and (b) that the hashtag #runtonyrun is trending. After posting about it earlier, Yarber got back in touch with me via Facebook message, saying: "I'm heavily considering a run. I'm …

Jackblog

Oxford, Miss., Passes Pro-LGBT Resolution, 3rd Mississippi College Town to Do So

Just in, verbatim: Oxford, MS Unanimously Passes Pro-LGBT Resolution Third Mississippi city to pass resolution recognizing the role LGBT people play in thriving communities WASHINGTON - Tonight Oxford, Mississippi unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the dignity and worth of all city residents - including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual …

Politics Blog

After Haggling, City Council Sets Mayoral Special Election for April 8, 2014

JFP News Editor R.L. Nave is at City Hall for the special council meeting to set the date of the special election for the late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba's seat (made interesting because several members may run for the seat.) Nave tweeted that Councilman De'Keither Stamps and Quentin Whitwell wanted the …

Jackblog

Mayor Lumumba's Son Responds to Accusations that He Was Murdered

Over the weekend, various media outlets—irresponsibly in our opinion—published unsubstantiated rumors that Mayor Chokwe Lumumba was murdered, but with no evidence attached. Mayor Chokwe Lumumba's son, Chokwe Antar Lumumba, gave the following statement to R.L. Nave of the Jackson Free Press this morning responding to comments of Hinds County Supervisor …

Politics Blog

AP: Democrat Travis Childers is entering race for Sen. Thad Cochran's seat

Travis Childers is officially entering an already-heated Senate race for Thad Cochran's seat. Tea Party-backed state Sen. Chris McDaniel is in an ugly battle with Cochran for the Republican primary seat. Here is Childers' statement, just released, reprinted verbatim: “Today I am filing to run for the U.S. Senate to …

Jackblog

What is up with Madison County (and Starkville) police chases?!

Last weekend, I happened by local television news and saw a report about Madison police officers going on a high-speed chase through the streets of Jackson—because of a problem that happened in the Target in Jackson, ending in a crash that seriously injured a bystander. Huh? Also, looking at the …

Politics Blog

Former Rep. Gene Taylor will run against Palazzo—as a Republican this time

The Sun-Herald just broke the news that Rep. Gene Taylor will run as a Republican to try to reclaim a seat in the U.S. Congress: Taylor said he was on his way to Jackson to file to run as a Republican. The primary is June 3. Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2014/02/28/5377861/moore-will-run-again-for-congress.html#emlnl=Breaking_News#storylink=cpy

Jackblog

Coroner: No Lumumba Autopsy Planned

Sharon Grisham-Stewart, the Hinds County coroner, told the Jackson Free Press this afternoon that she is not planning an autopsy for the late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba. Lumumba died Tuesday, Feb. 25, of what Grisham-Stewart has said were "natural causes," seven months into his first term as mayor of Jackson. Lumumba, …

Jackblog

Lumumba Services to Take Place Next Week

Services for late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba are scheduled for Saturday, March 8 at 11 a.m. at the Jackson Convention Center. There will be a wake on Friday, March 7 at City Hall, according to administration officials. Lumumba died Tuesday at St. Dominic's Hospital at the age of 66 with his …

The Arts Blog

Mississippi Arts Commission Gears up for Poetry Out Loud

The Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) recently released the names of the semi-finalists for its 2014 Poetry Out Loud competition. The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation created the Poetry Out Loud competition to encourage students in grades 9-12 to learn about poetry through memorizing and performing poems. …

Music

Records! Records! And New Releases...

Where to get some vinyl records this weekend and new releases...

Jackblog

Add your message to next week's special Lumumba tribute issue

All, we are putting together a special tribute issue to Chokwe Lumumba for next week. Please add your messages below, and we will include what we can and link back to the rest. I'll start with a letter the Greater Jackson Chamber leadership sent to members today: February 26, 2014 …

Jackblog

Remarkably, Mayor Lumumba Brought Us Together

I felt like I was kicked in the stomach when Todd stuck his head in my office after the paper went to the printer today to tell me we were hearing reports that Mayor Chokwe Lumumba had died. Our photographer and news editor ran off to City Hall, which I …