EDITORIAL: McMillin Needs a Chief, Not a Badge
This editorial appears in the print edition this week. The mayor has requested that Council schedule a time at a special meeting today at 4 p.m. to confirm Sheriff McMillin as police chief.
Prayer Vigil of Hope and Relief Funds for Latasha Norman
[Press release] Attend a Prayer Vigil of Hope, the second vigil for the missing Jackson State University student Latasha Norman, at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28 on the Gibbs-Green Plaza on the JSU campus. Norman, 20, a junior accounting major, has been missing since Tuesday, Nov. 13. The vigil is open to the public.
Bloomberg: Lott Considering Lobbyist Offers
Bloomberg is reporting that Trent Lott's son has confirmed that he is considering lobbyist offers. Read more here.
Bloggers Want Mike Moore to Run for Lott's Seat
More on this story and other Lott-isms over at State Desk.
Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric Leading to Violence Against Latinos
The Southern Poverty Law Center is warning that the vitrolic anti-immigrant debate is, predictably, starting to spill over into violence against Latinos. And as we've seen right here on the JFP site, and in local Democratic campaigns, the ugliness is not just limited to white supremacists and other extremists like the John Birch Society, or even the right wing of the Republican Party. The rhetoric by many so-called "progressives" is mirroring the claims of the extremists:
AP: Search Warrant Served on Dickie Scruggs
The Associated Press is reporting:
Gannett Corp. Revenue ‘Grim'
Despite the big effort to transform itself into an "information center" rather than a newspaper, the Gannett Corp.'s revenue is still dropping, according to information the corporation has reported about its fourth-quarter earnings. Guess that's why The Clarion-Ledger stopped giving employees free coffee.
FDA Protecting Industry Before Consumers?
The New York Times is editorializing about serious problems in food-safety regulation reported by USA Today:
Just Gotta Brag on the iTodd a Little
AAN has posted a link to the survey responses from last year's Web conference in San Francisco. Yes, the Mississippi dude represented well. ;-)
The Game That Cost a Coach His Job
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WJTV is providing video of the post-game press conferences plus the firing announcement of the Ole Miss coach:
What to Do for the Holidays, and Movie Listings
Be sure to check out JFP listings editor Roy Adkins' new searchable events calendar, complete with movie listings (!), gallery listings, photo galleries and other goodies. (And, yes, JFP publisher Todd Stauffer had something to do with it.)
Jackson Soldier Melvin Henley Jr. Killed in Iraq
He was killed in a "non-combat incident." Prayers to his loved ones.
State Wins Egg Bowl; Ole Miss 0-8 in SEC
Story at the Amazing SportsBlog.
Fashion Gallery, Movie Listings Now Online
JFP Events Calendar
As part of the gradual redesign of the JFP site, we now have a new interactive events calendar, current movie listings and a new photo gallery online, which includes photos that aren't in this week's issue. Head over and check out the following:
Want to Change The State Democratic Party?
Then, go get involved. This e-mail came around today, explaining how. Verbatim from the Mississippi Democratic Party:
Walker on the Run
Christopher Walker told the Jackson Free Press three weeks ago that either someone from his old Wood Street neighborhood would shoot him, or he would shoot one of them. And he blamed that inevitability, as he characterized it, on his former mentor, Mayor Frank Melton.
BREAKING: McMillin Says That Lee Vance Is JPD No. 2
More details to come.
Sheriff Malcolm McMillin, now doubling as chief of the Jackson Police Department, has just confirmed to Adam Lynch of the Jackson Free Press that he has named Lee Vance as his assistant chief and second in line to the chief.
Christopher Walker Accused of Shooting?
Update: Christopher Walker called the Jackson Free Press today to say that he has not been arrested and did not shoot Craig Spiva. More details soon.
‘Public Relations Coup' for Melton!?!
"The mayor's selection also is a public relations coup for him..."
Clarion-Ledger reporters Arnold Lindsay, Heather Civil and Kathleen Baydala today characterized the appointment yesterday of Sheriff McMillin as police chief this way:
Watch Mayor-Sheriff Press Conference
WJTV has posted the video of the press conference this morning announcing Sheriff McMillin's new job. Check it out below.
Update: Sheriff McMillin is New Chief
Update: Just came in on text message...Mac is the new chief. Donna and Adam are covering and will be in with the scoop. (Listen to the radio show at noon for more: WLEZ-FM, 103.7FM.)
Jackson to The Clarion-Ledger: GO HOME
Well, the Clarion-Ledger edit-boyz have finally come so full circle on their ridiculous support of Melton and their horrendous reporting on him during the campaign and over the years. Today they published a dramatic editorial starting out:
Clarion-Ledger Looking for Techy Tots
Yes, folks, this seems to be a *real* request floating on Facebook for an upcoming, ahem, feature of babies who love their 'puters. Wait for it now:
Talking Back in Flyover Country
Not too long before the election, I found an e-mail I'd missed from a young Mississippi artist: "Donna, I think this article deserves a talented rebuttal. See what you can do." I clicked his link to a Slate article, and I braced myself for a pseudo-intellectual snippet of snobbishness.
Chief Anderson Out; Gerald Jones Interim Chief
[Verbatim from the city] DIFFICULT DECISION LEADS TO CHANGE IN JPD LEADERSHIP
Mayor Frank E. Melton announced Wednesday that he is implementing a change in leadership at the Jackson Police Department. Police Chief Shirlene Anderson has been offered a new position as a special assistant to the Mayor. In this new capacity, Anderson would coordinate all emergency services, including police, fire and disaster response. She would also oversee interagency communications between local, county, state and federal law enforcement.
‘Hey, That's Not An Alt-Weekly'
Richard Karpel, our friend and the director of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies, has written an amusing but pointed piece about what an "alternative weekly" is, and is not. He ends:
Welcome New Members, and a Rules Reminder
We're getting a flood of new members. I've activated a new batch just now, so hop on and post if you've been waiting for activation. Remember, all, that we have tightened up our entry policies a bit and are shying away from unknown Yahoo and Hotmail accounts due to past abuse. If you want to sign up under one of those accounts, you will need to get in touch with us directlly and verify your identity first. Also, I remind all new members to read through the blog rules before you post and interact with others. It is important to remember that we are a privately owned Web site, and you must abide by the rules, or your account will be suspended. And if you are suspended and then come back under a different e-mail address, we will suspend that account and delete all posts under it, regardless of what they are, per our rules.
Best of Jackson 2008 Ballot Is Here
Yes, Best of Jackson season is upon us again. In the current print edition, you will find the ballot for this year's reader's choice awards. And the online version is now up. So have at it.
NOW Salter Tells His Readers ...
In Sid Salter's column today, he makes the point that Phil Bryant pulled more votes than Barbour in the election last week (not mentioning that Jim Hood apparently pulled the most in the state). But then he made the following statement rather off the cuff:
Ronnie Agnew: Anderson Lost Because He's Black
Clarion-Ledger Executive Editor Ronnie Agnew blames Gary Anderson's race in large part for his loss to Mike Chaney. Thoughts?
AG Jim Hood to Testify in State Farm Lawsuit
Forbes is reporting:
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood is scheduled to testify Wednesday - a day after his re-election bid - at a hearing for a lawsuit that accuses him of violating an agreement to end a criminal investigation of State Farm Insurance Cos. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Parker refused Tuesday to postpone Hood's scheduled appearance at a federal courthouse in Jackson, or to limit the scope of his testimony in the case. [...]
John Reeves Plans to Contest Loss
The Clarion-Ledger is reporting that Rep. John Reeves is alleging voter irregularities and plans to contest his loss to attorney Adrienne Wooten. (Also note that next to that story, the Ledger has declared Reeves the winner.)
LAST CALL: VOTE Today Until 7 p.m.
Attorney General: Jim Hood - won
The Jackson Free Press urges everyone to go to the polls today and vote in state and county elections. Polls are open until 7 p.m. Following are the JFP's endorsements in races where we prefer one candidate to the other (which is slightly different from the print version. We dropped our endorsement of David Blount, and added one of Dick Hall due to the tone of campaign ads.)
Barbour Last-Minute Robocall for Votes
Regardless of the outcome today, it looks like Haley Barbour is worried. Just got this e-mail from a source:
Campaign Parties Around Town
If you want to go out and watch the campaign staffs get drunk, the winners gloat, the losers try to take the high road (or not), or to congratulate or yell at one of the candidates for ugly campaigning, here's where they'll be:
Clarion-Ledger Endorses Front-Page Advertiser
On Sunday, The Clarion-Ledger endorsed Gov. Haley Barbour for governor (and his sure-to-be lapdog Phil Bryant, thus ensuring Barbour control of the Senate)—in the same issue that had one of those sticky ad stuck on top of the newspaper's flag on page 1. This violates years of accepted journalistic ethics that you don't put advertising on page 1 of a newspaper (sliding profits have a way of affecting ethical standards, however)—and especially not of a candidate that you then endorse inside! Then, inside, Perspective Editor Sid Salter tells us who's going to win Tuesday—Barbour and Bryant, of course—in an odd column that doesn't frame his column as guesses; nor does he say who he wants to win and why. Is he privy to polls he's not telling us about? Does he know something we don't? Why is he so confident? Salter:
BREAKING: Lee Vance New Police Chief; Anderson Out?
More details as they emerge.
WAPT is about to report that Mayor Frank Melton today promoted Commander Lee Vance to the position of police chief, meaning that current Chief Shirlene Anderson is out.
Melton Unlists Phone Number
Mayor Frank Melton has changed his old phone number, 601.206.3116, "to an unlisted number," according to a recording on the old number. Assistant Editor Maggie Burks learned about the number change when she tried to call for a response to the change in police chief guard.
Radio JFP to Discuss Immigration Campaign Rhetoric
Tune in today at noon on WLEZ-FM, 103.7 (streaming live at http://www.wlezfm.com) to hear Todd Stauffer and Donna Ladd talk about the use of anti-immigration rhetoric by both Republicans and Democrats in their campaigns. We will start a discussion about the myths and realities of illegal immigration. Also joining us to talk about the rights of the disabled in at election polls will be Andi Agnew, who is also the JFP music editor.
GOP Rhetoric About Hood ‘Corruption' Reprehensible
Todd and I made the mistake of watching the evening news last night. The attack ads were just plain horrifying. The one that disgusted me the most was Al and Haley's ad about Hood being "corrupt." This is such a twisting of the truth, as we've reported repeatedly, that those two men ought to be run out of this state for telling such vicious lies and slandering another human being. Haley and the GOP machine will. stop. at. nothing. The Clarion-Ledger, amazingly, is seeing through the ruse (although they did everything they could to help this machine get its power in the past). In their endorsement of Hood today, they write:
How ‘Bout This Bizarro Framing by Sid Salter?
In an extremely odd column this week, Sid Salter sets up a false strawman (broom?) and then knocks it down himself, kind of. He starts by asking: "The broom: Can state GOP sweep election?" He then tells us that the GOP isn't saying they are going to, but they must be hoping to. Then he tells us why/how it's not going to happen. Then he ends with:
‘A Way Out' Talks on Domestic Violence
Nov. 1 - Ridgeland Library on Hwy. 51, 6:30-7:30 p.m., free
The JFP is a proud sponsor of two upcoming panel discussions on domestic abuse and violence, both called "A Way Out: A Community Discussion on Domestic Abuse and Violence." Desare Frazier of WAPT will moderate both panels:
State Probes Melton's Lawn Crew ... Finally
Seven months after the Jackson Free Press revealed details about Mayor Frank Melton's young lawn crew, WLBT broke the news last week that the state auditor's office has requested materials on the enterprise.
Endorsements, of a Fashion
The Jackson Free Press has a tradition of endorsing candidates in our election issues. And considering that we never, ever endorse based on who we think is going to win, our success rate is pretty good—well over 50 percent. Not bad for a progressive newspaper in the heart of Mississippi.
BREAKING: Tyrone Lewis Promoted to Deputy Chief
[Verbatim from the mayor's office] Mayor Frank E. Melton announced today that Commander Tyrone Lewis has been promoted to the position of Deputy Chief of Training and Standards for the Jackson Police Department. The promotion will be effective immediately. According to Mayor Melton, "Chief Lewis will have ninety days to make a difference in the recruitment, training and retention of officers for the police department."
BREAKING: Mother of George Bell Indicted
More details as they emerge.
The Jackson Free Press has confirmed that Robbie Bell, the mother of a young man accused of bludgeoning his girlfriend, Heather Spencer, to death, has been indicted in the case as an accessory to the crime, which occurred in her home in North Jackson. It was reported that Robbie Bell was in the house when Spencer was killed the night before her body was found.
Melton to Fire Officer for Rolling Eyes at Him?
In an interview with Howard Ballou of WLBT, Mayor Frank Melton said he plans to fire Jackson police officer Mike Braxton, who made public a police report (PDF, 1013 KB) he filed after Melton allegedly verbally abused him with profanity last summer.
Police: Melton Contaminates Crime Scenes
WAPT is reporting that the Jackson Police Officer Association is complaining to the City Council about the mayor's disruptions in the department, and blaming his interference for low morale among the police force, which is contributing to a severe police shortage:
Eaves Launches Anti-Barbour Web site
The John Arthur Eaves campaign just e-mailed a link to a new Web site devoted to giving what they call the real story on Haley Barbour's record. The site opens with the following:
Meet ‘Culture,' Clarion-Ledger Style
Just clicked into The Clarion-Ledger's new "culture" blog. This is what I found as the top post, I sh!t you not: