Cities Compete in Hipness to Attract Young
The New York Times has a story about cities trying to attract and keep the vital "creative class." Be sure to read Todd's story about Jackson's "Creative Class Rising" back in our very first issue as well. The Times:
Have a Happy, Safe and LOCAL ‘Black Friday'
The Jackson Free Press wishes everyone a safe and loving Thanksgiving. And if you are one of the brave souls who actually shops on "black Friday," please remember that our locally owned businesses will be less crowded and more interesting and unique than chain stores (and they have much more creative gift wrap and much more personal service!). And if you need a mall, please be sure to visit Jackson's own Metrocenter Mall to help re-invest in our city. Meantime, the attorney general's office offers the following tips for safe shopping:
Leland Speed Stepping Down from MDA
[verbatim statement] Governor Haley Barbour announced today that Leland Speed, executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority since the beginning of the Barbour Administration, is returning to the private sector and will be replaced by Gray Swoope, MDA's chief operating officer. The change will become effective at the end of the year.
Tarring and Feathering Faye Peterson
I was sitting in the student center at Belhaven College Friday afternoon, participating in a media-ethics forum with several other media leaders from around town. The conversation was compelling, and there was a great deal of mea culpa (not to mention JFP back-patting, I'm happy to report) over how local media covered, or did not cover, Frank Melton's shenanigans during the campaign and in the early months of his tenure as mayor.
Winners in Run-offs
Dewayne Thomas and Virginia Carlton were victorious in run-off elections held on Tuesday. Carlton, who was running against Ed Patten for a seat on the court of appeals, took 20, 852 votes to Patten's 17,791, according to figures from WLBT. Thomas, who was running against William Bell for chancery court, took 3,525 votes to Bell's 2,478.
Secret Pentagon Study Gives 3 Iraq Options
And none of them are pretty: "injecting more troops into Iraq, shrinking the force but staying longer or pulling out, The Washington Post reported Monday. The newspaper quoted senior defense officials as dubbing the three alternatives 'Go big, go long and go home.' The secret military study was commissioned by Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and comes as political and military leaders struggle with how to conduct a war that is increasingly unpopular, both in the United States and in occupied Iraq."
Stewpot Robbed for Second Time in a Week
According to The Clarion-Ledger. The question is, where the @#$% is the police chief, and why isn't she out in front telling the public what she is doing to deal with the crime crisis? Our last chief held public briefings once a week and special ones when things got really rough; where is this chief hiding? What is her plan?
Melton Hosting Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Party
Got a tip last night at Fondren Unwrapped that Bob Hickingbottom is calling Melton's supporters, and former supporters, asking them to donate money to attend what they are actually calling a "Get out of jail free" party to help with his legal fees. We'll post more details as soon as we get them. Anyone out there heard about this, yet?
See the Casey Parks Lesson Plan
I was just talking to Ayana Taylor, JFP-reporter-turned-teacher, and she told me that she had run into a NYT lesson plan for teachers—using our very own Casey Parks and her trip to Africa with Nick Kristof! This is very cool, and you can link directly to it from the JFP Web site. She said her students loved doing it because Casey was from here. ;-D
Best of Jackson 2007 Ballot Fully Operational
Click here to cast your ballot for the JFP's 5th annual Best of Jackson awards! Just do it.
This Has to Be Satire
There is no way that Wyatt Emmerich wrote the following without his tongue firmly implanted in his right cheek:
Of Red Meat and Breast Cancer
Young women, beware of the emerging evidence that eating red meat can increase your risk of breast cancer. Per a New York Times editorial today:
BREAKING: Is Melton Facing Constitutional Removal?
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
The Jackson Free Press has learned that Mayor Frank Melton could face a new wrinkle since pleading guilty to two misdemeanors and "no contest" to a third for violating the state's gun laws:
Press Association on the JFP ‘Wags" Being ‘Atwitter'
This is fun. The blog of the Mississippi Press Association (I think I'm the only one who ever runs into it) posted something about John Newhouse exiting the Clarion-Ledger, ending with this:
Women Turning U.S. Blue?
Newsweeks' Politics Blog is exploring the pivotal role that women played in this week's election—they wanted change, went to the polls and made it happen. Go, grrls.
It's Official: Allen Concedes, Democrats Control Congress
The fat lady's getting hoarse. AP is reporting:
Frankie's Got A Gun
From the day Frank Melton took office as mayor of Jackson on July 4, 2006, he has exercised his right to bear arms in dramatic and public ways. Almost immediately after proclaiming at his inauguration that he was going to run the "thugs" out of Jackson, Melton donned black SWAT-type clothingblack fatigues and a bulletproof vest, usually over a black WLBT polo shirt and a dark baseball capand strapped on at least one semiautomatic handgun into a front holster on the vest for his nocturnal "crime-fighting" raids that would become the trademark of his mayoral agenda.
A New Contract With America?
An interesting piece in Salon today takes on the idea of what "corruption" really meant to Americans as they went to the polls last night. Exit polls showed that corruption was the top issue—even bigger than the Iraq War. Something about that fact makes me very proud to be an American today. You can only lie to and cheat the American people for so long. Arrogance lost last night. From the Salon piece:
The Day After: Dems Take Washington
OK, here's your chance. Gloat. Whine. Vent. What are your thoughts on the very decisive mandate the country sent last night? Let 'er rip.
Clarion-Ledger Publisher Is History
In case you missed it in the rout of Republicans last night, The Clarion-Ledger announced that publisher John Newhouse is leaving the company (NOT country). That means we're looking at the fourth publisher in about 2.5 years over there. Newhouse led the charge to control the distribution of free publications in the metro, and was at the helm when the state attorney general started investigating the TDN distribution scheme.
Hinds and Mississippi Results
U.S. Senate - Trent Lott
JFP School Bond IssueChancery Court Judge District 5, Subdistrict 5-1 - Dewayne Thomas and William Bell (run-off)Chancery Court Judge District 5, Subdistrict 5-2 - Patricia WiseCircuit Court Judge District 7, Subdistrict 7-1 - Swan YergerCircuit Court Judge District 7, Subdistrict 7-4 - Bobby DeLaughterHinds County Court Judge Subdistrict 3 - Bill SkinnerHinds County School Board District 3 - Linda Killingsworth Laws
Clarion-Ledger No Longer a ‘Newspaper'?
My, my. It seems that Gannett Co. is causing consternation in its news room and talk in the newspaper industry by its decisions to turn its newspapers into "information center" in order to "stay relevant" and seek out the "mojo" of the Internet and "ground-up" news sources. The Washington Post:
Florida GOP Gov Candidate Ducks Bush
My, how things have changed. The political albatross that President Bush has become was yet more apparent today when a Republican candidate for governor ducked an appearance with the president today. This is particularly ironic in the state that put Bush in the White House in the first place.
Young Voters May Sway Election
MSNBC is reporting that more young people may vote Tuesday than they have in many years—primarily because young people their age are dying in Iraq and because they don't approve of how the government responded to 9/11 and Katrina:
Evangelist Prez Steps Down Because ... Gay?
Oh. My. Word. When I was editor of the Colorado Springs Independent, this right-wing preacher was one of the most outspoken in the city's Religious Industrial Complex (with Focus on the Family at the center) against homosexuality—and preached right-wing politics from the pulpit. Now, this gay prostitute says Haggard has been paying himf or sex. What other October surprise is in store for the "family values" posers!?! Associated Press is reporting:
Minor: Haley Should Release Tax Returns
In Bill Minor's syndicated column this week, he argues that Gov. Haley Barbour should be more accountable to the public:
New Poll: Election Referendum on Iraq, Bush
The New York Times is reporting that approval of Bush's handling of the war in Iraq is down to 29 percent—the lowest ever. It also show that next week's election is highly likely to be a referendum on the GOP's handling of the war:
14 Cents To The Promised Land
"We must not let anything interfere with the ability of the youth of this region to secure here in the region as good an education as is available anywhere in the country, and this opportunity must be available to all of the bright young men and women and not just to the chosen few. Only in this way can the South be true to its promise."
Lifting the Hoods in Baltimore
So, do y'all think this frat at the hoity-toity Johns Hopkins University on up in Baltimore is integrated?!? AP is reporting:
But, Ledge, He Was Indicted of Several Crimes
Interesting little screw-up today in The Clarion-Ledger editorial about the "crime summit" no one paid any attention to. The esteemed all-male editorial board wrote:
Hey from Portland!
I'm sitting here in my Portland, Ore., hotel room kinda bummed that I have to leave so soon. I've been here since Friday for AAN's national board meeting. We're having our next national convention here next June, so we met here to try it out. What a great city. I'd been here once before with Todd, but experienced a little more of the city this time with the guidance of the Williamette Week editor (the Pulitzer Prize-winning Williamette Week, I might add). Several things strike you about this city right away: (a) It is brimming with pride and self-confidence. (b) People believe in LOCAL. (c) The city has incorporated respect for the environment into about everything it does—and makes their "green" attitude" a tourist attraction. We all took th the MAX (light rail) to dinner Saturday, and there were lots of teenagers on their in Halloween costume with their bikes, which you can hang on the train. I loved watching a little fairy girl hop on her bike when she got her to speed to her party with her friends. (d) The people are very friendly—almost more friendly than in the South, it seems, if that can be possible.
Feds: Criticism of Airport Security ‘Without Merit'
This is an intriguing story today in The Clarion-Ledger. A federal investigation has found that criticism of the Jackson-Evers airport security, reported in recent months by The Clarion-Ledger, "are without merit," that found no "disciplinary action warranted."
Fire Donald Rumsfeld, for Starters
A New York Times editorial today takes on the sticky issue of what the Bush administration should do to start cleaning up the horrendous mess it's made in Iraq:
Whites Appealed Katrina Insurance More
The Associated Press is reporting:
A Truly Racially Diverse America Ahead
Now that the nation officially numbers more than 300 million, what next?
The Associated Press has an intriguing story about what America will look like when we hit 400 million people, which is projected to happen in fewer than 40 years. White people won't be the majority, and as a result, forecasters say, attitudes about race will be much more evolved than today. And the South will play a major role:
Ole Miss Student Kills Campus Police Officer
The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal is reporting that a second-year Ole Miss student has been arrested for dragging and killing a campus police officer after he was pulled over for speeding:
The GOP Blame Game Begins Early
The New York Times is reporting that, even before the November elections, Republicans are starting to point fingers at other Republicans to explain why they think they are going to lose the House this year, and maybe the Senate, although that is less likely:
DiFatta Donates Evers Painting to Boyd Elementary
See a full gallery of photos of the reception here.
Why So Few Female Bloggers and Opinion Writers?
I'm doing research to use in my first-ever opinion-writing seminar, and I ran across this piece about the dearth of women opinion writers and bloggers—and white maledom that dominates so much of the blogosphere (not here, though. Hah!). It's interesting and provides links to other relevant pieces. Take a gander:
Another Tragic Mississippi Day: Wilcher Executed
Gov. Haley Barbour's statement:
Despite the needless delay caused by the U.S. Supreme Court, justice has finally been rendered for these horrible crimes. The real tragedy in this case is that justice was delayed for more than two decades.
For The Girls
While reading the first draft of Natalie Collier's cover story this issue about domestic abuse, I was overtaken by emotion and memories.
10 U.S. Soldiers Die in Iraq Today; 69 This Month
The New York Times is reporting:
Republicans Hurtin' in ... Texas!?!
The Associated Press is reporting that the GOPmay even be in trouble in Texas in this year's around of elections. Let's just say that Delay country has done an about-face.
To Be Married Means to Be Outnumbered
The New York Times has a feature story about how married couples are now a minority in the U.S.:
A Correction Forthcoming, Mr. Agnew?
In his "we do community journalism, too; really, we do" column today, Clarion-Ledger Executive Editor Ronnie Agnew makes an interesting statement about his paper's Web site that we believe deserves a bit of a factcheck. When discussing his paper's stories about the state's health department, he states: "Some 60,000 of you have have used our online forums, now called StoryChat, to offer comments on that investigative series."
Opposition to Iraq War Grows in South
A new poll of the region hit hardest by the war in Iraq finds that the South is steadily losing patience with the war in Iraq:
The Problem with ‘Straight Talk' ...
... is that sometimes it isn't true. Read what a political science professor has to say about Frank Melton's antics on his blog:
CityBuzz [10.11.06]
Lott Calls for Bruce Stamp
Sen. Trent Lott has asked the U.S. Senate to issue a postage stamp commemorating the life of Sen. Blanche Kelso Bruce, who was the first African American to serve a full term in the Senate. Bruce was elected to the Senate in 1874, where he served from 1875-1881. Bruce was born into slavery in Virginia in 1841. When the Civil War began, he volunteered for the Union Army but was rejected because of his race. In 1869, he moved to Mississippi, where he quickly made a name for himself as a Republican politician. Bruce died in 1898.