Jury Back 12:30 Friday in Melton-Recio Trial; Verdict Today?
Read the JFP original breaking story on Ridgeway destruction here
Melton-Recio Jury to Reconvene 9 a.m. on Thursday
U.S. Marshals escorted defense witness Christoper Walker, Frank Melton's former mentee, into the courtroom this morning before jurors arrived.
Melton Defense Continues; Chris Walker Today?
JFP Coverage of Defense Witness Christopher Walker
BREAKING: Judge DeLaughter Arraigned in Bribery Scandal
JFP coverage of DeLaughter and Peters
Tearing Down the Wrong Walls
Out of all the disturbing things emerging in Mayor Frank Melton's trial this week, the worst to me has been Michael Taylor's testimony that he lived with the mayor for a year and a half or so when he was a minor and never attended high school.
Entergy Claims Good Practices in State; Hood Begs to Differ
Entergy:
Entergy and Attorney General Jim Hood put out dueling press releases today about the company's claim that an audit has found that Entergy's practices are in the state's "best interests." The Entergy release is below verbatim, followed by Hood's response.
Barbour Not Pleased with Senate Over Eminent Domain Limits
After the Mississippi Senate passed Senate Bill 2230 today to restrict the use of eminent domain to direct public use, Gov. Haley Barbour released this statement tonight: "If the bill that passed the Senate today were to become law, it would be a major impediment to Mississippi's job creation efforts. Toyota would not be coming to Mississippi if this had been the law in 2007, and the Senators recognized that fact by an amendment they included in the bill."
Wright: Recio Falsified Documents, Melton ‘Clearly Under the Influence'
'On the Road Again' with Melton and his Bodyguards
Taylor Testimony Creates Firestorm, Brings In Melton Drunkenness
Previous JFP coverage of Michael Taylor
Crematorium Owner Arrested Following Indictment
[Verbatim statement] Jackson, MS-A Jackson crematorium owner has been arrested following a five count indictment by a Hinds County Grand Jury, announced Attorney General Jim Hood. Mark Seepe, owner of Mark Seepe Funeral Directors & Crematorium in Jackson, was taken into custody this evening by investigators with the Public Integrity Division of the Attorney General's Office following an investigation by the Attorney General's Office, Public Integrity Division and indictment by a Grand Jury on charges that he either converted or embezzled funds that by law were to be placed in trust for benefit of customers who pre-paid for services (§75-63-59 and 75-63-69).
When the Going Gets Tough
No doubt about it, these are scary economic times. Many people are losing jobs, some businesses are closing, consumers are holding tight to their dollars.
Charles Evers to Interview Mayoral Hopeful Robert Johnson
See and update: Robert Johnson on Jackpedia
City Candidate Pages on Jackpedia - Help Us Beef Them Up!
I've posted links to city candidate pages for this year's election on Jackpedia. All of you, whether you work with candidates or not, are welcome to register for Jackpedia and help load up those pages, including a photo, bio info, and links to their Web site and other legitimate sources of articles and information about them.
Defense Cannot Use Prostitute Allegation Against Bodyguard
See JFP Melton Blog/Archive here.
Federal District Judge Dan Jordan ruled this morning that defense attorneys for Mayor Frank Melton and former bodyguard Michael Recio cannot use allegations of sexual misconduct by former bodyguard Marcus Wright to impugn his testimony or character during the civil rights trial in downtown Jackson. The judge ruled that defense attorneys could only ask "generic" questions about whether prosecutors convinced Wright to testify by threatening to make public the 2005 allegations that he had sex with two transsexual prostitutes.
Jury Selection Begins in Melton-Recio Trial
Melton archive/blog.
The thrice-delayed federal civil rights trial of Mayor Frank Melton and bodyguard Michael Recio kicked off Monday in the federal courthouse in downtown Jackson for the destruction of a private home in August 2006, a story first reported by the Jackson Free Press. The court summoned 100 potential jurors from the southern district in Mississippi. Questioning of the jurors started today and will continue for about three days. Opening statements are expected to happen late this week with the trial taking up to three weeks.
Did Mayor Use Teen Funeral Remarks to Taint Jury Pool?
Watch WAPT report here/.
WAPT is reporting that Mayor Frank Melton ditched the proclamation he was supposed to read in deceased teen Chris Ulmer's honor; instead, he defended himself against the federal civil rights charges he faces in court next week. Melton skipped an evidentiary hearing yesterday to attend the funeral. He says in the remarks that he will present the proclamation to the family so that they can read it.
Mississippi Truth Project to Probe State's Race History
I am thrilled to share the news that a Mississippi Truth Project is officially kicking off this Saturday in Jackson. A major goal of the project is to create a Mississippi Truth Commission similar to those in Greensboro, N.C., and South Africa. Along with a diverse group of people from around Mississippi and beyond, I have attended meetings about forming the truth project in recent months, as well as served on the committee that drafted the declaration of intent (reprinted in full below). This is a very exciting effort and, I believe, one that can make Mississippi a better place for all of its residents.
Republicans Choose Black Chairman
The New York Times is reporting:
5th Circuit to Hear Paul Minor's Appeal March 30
Associated Press and Forbes are reporting:
Gannett Earnings Drop 16% in 2008, 22% Quarter
News is grim today at the Gannett Corp., which owns The Clarion-Ledger. A company press release (PDF) reveals the news that earnings overall dropped 16 percent in 2008 and 22 percent in the last quarter alone. It is rumored that more job cuts are on their way to the Ledger, which has cut 25 percent of its positions in the last year. The paper recently dropped or combined some sections of the paper, further reducing its space for news coverage, and is banking on Metromix, an outlet of a national entertainment Web-site chain, to help make up for other losses. As the paper announced job cuts last year, it offered overtime pay to editorial staffers to go to local bars to take party pictures for the site. The publisher blames the local economy, and staffers say, is urging employees to shop more in local businesses. In recent years, The Clarion-Ledger has pushed a national ShopLocal service, which ironically heavily marketed big-box and chain retailers to local consumers. The current crisis is hitting big-box retailers hard, however, with many experts saying that local businesses, and media, are in a better position to weather the storm.
JFP ‘Best of Jackson' Challenge: Give Back, and Shop Local!
Now that the 7th annual (really!) Best of Jackson season has ended, and the party a sweet memory, here's what all of us can do next. We need to vow to honor "the best" in our communitythe best local businesses, the best community figures, the best non-profits and charitable activities, and efforts toward progressevery single day. Hundreds of you (we're guessing around 800) turned out Sunday night to celebrate the best at The Auditorium without needing to spend a dime (except on tips), so here's the JFP's challenge of how you can pay us back, so to speak: Take, say, $20 you might have spent on a cover charge and a drink and put it toward something that matters this week. Donate to one of our local non-profits, or go buy some school supplies and drop them off here at the JFP office for high-school journalism teachers (they really need white paper and dry-erase markers and jump-drives, for instance). Or, volunteer your time. Or, go to Jackpedia and post about how other people can get involved in your efforts. And, vitally, vow to shop local first and more often in locally owned businesses. For instance, go to Rainbow and McDade's for groceries and first and fill in items you can't get elsewhere. Go to locally owned restaurants. Shop local boutiques, consignment stores, and thrift shops first. Honor your hard-working local entrepreneurs and unsung heroes. It all matters, and you can make a difference every single day in easy ways.
Teen Summit Tuesday Deals with Teen Pregnancy
[Verbatim statement] Jackson, MS- Centers for Disease Control recently released a report that puts Mississippi as the nation's leader in teen births. Many parents are intimidated to talk with their child about sex and other social issues that most students face everyday. The Jackson Medical Mall Foundation (JMMF) is taking the anxiety out of that discussion. The Mississippi State Health Department and others will join the Jackson Medical Mall Foundation for a news conference on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at Center Stage of the Jackson Medical Mall Thad Cochran Center to announce plans and activities for "Empowering Minds, Saving Lives" Teen Summit 2009. Partners will unveil the agenda that helps high school students develop prevention and intervention skills to deal with issues they face on a daily basis
Rove and Melton Facing Music the Same Day?
In a world where we all have spent a lot of time in recent years waiting for a reckoning for injustice, it is quite possible that the Jackson mayor and former President Bush's hatchet man will appear before a judge the same dayFeb. 2. The Associated Press is reporting about Karl Rove:
How to Dress for the Best of Jackson Party: Tycoon, Bailout Chic
There you have it; go crazy. Or not. Just be there, JFP Nation!
We're getting an amusingly large number of questions about the "theme" for this year's Best of Jackson party, and how to dress for it; "monopoly" is confusing folks. So here it is: As always, you can dress however you want. Truly. (Ask Josh Hailey, and the people who gawk at him ever year.) But to be in the spirit, think "tycoon chic" or better yet, "bailout chic." Ask yourself: If I were a CEO who just asked for bajillions of dollars (or his spouse) to bail out my sorry ass, how would I do it up at our last big shindig? Would I be classy? Nouveau riche? Truly tacky? Dressed in thrift-store clothes? A fur you have to pawn the next day? Or, just dress like a cop or jailbird. Or a shoe. Or a race car.
Obama Signs Order to Close Gitmo; End Torture
The New York Times is reporting:
Best of Jackson Winners Announced; Party Sunday at The Auditorium!
Click here to see the 2009 Best of Jackson Winners
A Special Thanks to the JFP Staff and Freelancers
Did I leave anyone out! Thank you all so, so, so much. You are the BEST.
Before the frenzy of Best of Jackson winner and party madness kicks in, I want to give props to the best staff a company can have. The JFP staff members have worked tirelessly to produce the biggest (page count and advertising) issue we have ever produced. Managing editor Maggie Neff, editor's assistant Sage Carter-Hooey, operations manager/Boom editor Ronni Mott and I counted the ballots, assigned and trafficked the four sections. Web designer Vince Falconi designed the best online voting interface we've had yet. The sales staffpublisher Todd Stauffer and sales execs Kimberly Griffin, Ashley Jackson and Sumter Scheppeworked with local businesses to both sell and conceptualize wonderful ads, and to give us enough pages to put out a really impressive salute to Jackson. Accountant Montroe Head has to keep track of all the business madness. And, oh, the designerswhom we're now calling the "angels"editorial designer Melissa Webster, (new) advertising designer Casy Leatherman and ad production czar Christi Vivar simply kicked butt. Special thanks to freelancer designers Darren Schwindaman and Ben Deneka; Darren came in and helped with the ad crunch and Ben did the Monopoly-inspired cover. And, of course, reporters Adam Lynch and Ward Schaefer pitched in where needed and kept the news machine going while we obsessed with millions of little big blurbs. Of course, all of our freelance writers deserve huge praise for turning around the blurbs so quickly (we promise more time next year, guys!) and interns Rosie Nolan and Jackson Breland factchecked their faces off, as well as all sorts of other help we couldn't do without. Photographers Kip Caven, Roy Adkins, Lizzie Wright and Pat Butler helped gather the images quickly. Now, Sage and Kimberly are spearheading the big party effort Sunday.
Happy Inauguration Day! Share Your Thoughts.
Jan. 20, 2009, is here, and Barack Obama will make history as the next president of the United States. What are your thoughts on this historic occasion? What message do you want to send to Obama? To fellow Americans? Please share your feelings with the JFP nation below.
What to Do in Jackson on Inauguration Day
There are several gathering around Jackson, day and night. Click here for a list on the JFP events calendar (and you can add your own!). Feel free to post about events below as well.
Tougaloo Students Blogging from Inauguration
A group of students from Tougaloo College are blogging inaugural events on Black College Wire. The group of mass communications students are led by professor Eric Stringfellow and plan to produce a special issue about the trip:
U.S. Attorney to Reveal Sealed Criminal Complaint at 4 p.m.
Something big is going down today; the U.S. attorney's office just sent out this e-mail to media:
There will be a hearing at 4:00 p.m. today before US Magistrate Judge Sumner on the fifth floor of the federal courthouse. I am not able to tell you what it's about because the criminal complaint is sealed. But I can tell you that it is something you will want to attend. We will issue a press release after the hearing.
Medical Mall Teen Summit to Deal with Pregnancy
[Verbatim] Jackson, MS- he Mississippi State Health Department and others will join the Jackson Medical Mall Foundation for a news conference on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at Center Stage of the Jackson Medical Mall Thad Cochran Center to announce plans and activities for "Empowering Minds, Saving Lives" Teen Summit 2009. Partners will unveil the agenda that helps high school students develop prevention and intervention skills to deal with issues they face on a daily basis. A display of competing projects from high school students about their experience with the issues will also be revealed.
Kids Kollege Inauguration Ball at Jackson State
[Verbatim] On January 20, Kids Kollege & the Jackson State University Senior Class of 2009 will host the Kids Kollege 2009 Inauguration Ball in the Jacob L. Reddix Campus Union: General Purpose Room of JSU at 7pm. This event is free and open to the public. Donations to the Kids Kollege Scholarship Fund will be accepted. All are invited to celebrate as Kids Kollege honors a night of hope and a season of change. For more information call (601) 979-1142.
Holder, Obama Support Journalist Shield Law
The San Francisco Chronicle reports good news for journalists and the public's right to know:
Barbour Orders More Cuts, Including to MAEP
January 14, 2009 - Gov. Haley Barbour today ordered more state budget cuts, including $76.6 million from the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, a 3.49% cut to that program. Barbour released the following statement about his cuts, verbatim"
Naked Party Animals Be Damned
"We all evolve." That's what Marcy Nessel told Maggie Neff about the Jewish Film Festival in this issue.
Friendship Over Religion
It is easy to be on the outside of a religion looking in and only see the negatives. That's especially true when you're peering into a fundamentalist, or "orthodox," faith where traditions, such as arranged marriages and head covers, can seem backward. We tend to see stereotypes, which reinforce our belief that "we" are better than "them."
Gannett Corp. in Crisis; Clarion-Ledger Staffers Must Take Week Off
Clarion-Ledger staffers are part of an immediate corporate-wide "furlough" program ordered by the home office in order to "preserve operations," reports the Gannett Blog. A memo from Gannett CEO Craig Dubow went out today, announcing that the week off must be taken this quarter:
Domino Mag Breaks White House Decorator News
It makes me happy in a way I can't explain that we have a family going into the White House that appreciates the kind of home decor featured by Domino Mag. And allowed the über-hip decor mag to break the news.
Barbour's ‘2009 State of the State' Address
Governor Bryant; Speaker McCoy; ladies and gentlemen of the Legislature; and fellow Mississippians: Tonight marks the sixth time you have allowed Marsha and me to join you here to report on the State of our State. I am greatly and eternally honored the people of Mississippi have granted me the privilege to serve as their Governor, and I am grateful to be blessed with the very best partner in this that a man could ask for, my bride of thirty-seven years, Marsha.
CNN Money Wants to Hear from Jacksonians on Inauguration
All, CNN Money editor Amy Haimerl -- a very good friend of mine and the JFP -- is working on CNN Money's "real people" galleries. In advance of the inauguration, she is looking for people with good ideas about how Obama can help common Americans in these trying economic times. What should he do to fix the economy? What should he leave alone?
Hood: Entergy Twists Numbers to Hide Damage to Mississippi Ratepayers
Read Adam Lynch's earlier story about Entergy's rate controversy here.
Entergy Temporarily Suspends Reactor License Applications
[Verbatim statement from Entergy] Jackson, Miss. – Entergy New Nuclear Utility Development, commonly referred to as Entergy Nuclear, is temporarily suspending reviews of two new nuclear license applications and will explore alternative nuclear technologies that better serve its customers, company officials announced today. The company asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Friday to suspend reviews specific to GE Hitachi's Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor after unsuccessful attempts to come to mutually acceptable business terms with GEH. Entergy Nuclear also will temporarily defer environmental reviews related to the construction and operating license applications for potential projects at its nuclear sites at Grand Gulf, near Port Gibson, Miss., and River Bend, near St. Francisville, La.
MEMA Urges Preparation for Freezing Forecast
Also see: Emergency Weather Tips on Jackpedia
Fondren Beverage, ARTichoke Closing
Sadly, we have to report that two of Jackson's most interesting locally owned businesses are closing: Fondren Beverage Emporium and ARTichoke on Fortification Street are closing. In Fondren, the Beverage Emporium joins shops Fondren Traders and New Vibrations, which closed in recent months. On the positive side, shops in The Duling School have opened their doors, as well as Sneaky Beans, a new popular coffeehouse in the old site of New Vibrations. The Auditorium, a new restaurant/music venue in The Duling School, will open soon.
Lawsuit Alleges Racketeering by ‘Former United State Senator'
Folo's got the poop on a new Wilson v. Scruggs lawsuitwhich alleges a conspiracy between Dickie and Zach Scruggs, Ed Peters, Bobby DeLaughter and a "former United States Senator":
Melton's Attorney: ‘He Is In Charge'
Mayor Frank Melton's attorney John Reeves said today that the mayor has no need to appoint an interim mayor after confirming that Melton traveled home to Texas after leaving the hospital Friday. "He is in charge," Reeves said. He said the city is sending Melton essential papers to be signed. "He has a wonderful staffsome of the best I've seen, and I've been in public service for 25 years."
Barbour to Deliver ‘State of the State' Tuesday
[Verbatim] Jackson, Mississippi - Governor Haley Barbour will deliver his sixth State of the State address at 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 13, in the House Chambers at the State Capitol. Governor Barbour will report on the state's austere budget for Fiscal Year 2010, his assessment of current issues and the continuing rebuilding efforts from Hurricane Katrina.
Oral arguments in City of Jackson v. Byram Incorporators Today
[Verbatim announcement] At 10 a.m. on Monday, January 12, 2009, the Mississippi Supreme Court will sit en banc to hear oral arguments in the case of the City of Jackson v. Byram Incorporators. The City of Jackson has appealed the chancellor's ruling in favor of Byram's incorporation, arguing that the Byram incorporators did not obtain the signatures of two thirds of the qualified electors, which is necessary for an incorporation petition to be filed. The City also appealed the denial of its petition to annex the Byram territory, arguing that the area is within its path of growth. This case is widely thought to be the one of the most significant case before the new Supreme Court (now led by Chief Justice Waller and presiding Justice Graves) and the outcome may have a profound impact on the future growth of the City of Jackson.
Hood Announces $3.35 Million Settlement with Dell
[Verbatim release] Jackson, MS--Attorney General Jim Hood announced today an agreement between the Attorneys General of 34 states and Dell under which Dell will provide $1.5 million restitution to Dell customers who experienced problems with the company's financing promotions, rebate offers, technical support and repair policies. Under the agreement, Texas-based Dell, Inc., and its subsidiary, Dell Financial Services, LLC, admit no wrongdoing ,but agree to pay restitution to eligible consumers who file claims postmarked by April 13, 2009. Dell will pay an additional $1.85 million to the states for reimbursement of legal costs and other expenses. Mississippi will receive $46,666.67 of that amount.