The Back Story on the Anti-Gay Alliance Attacking Mississippi's "If You're Buying" Campaign
This falls in the can't-make-it-up column. Most of you know that Mitchell Moore of Campbell's Bakery, who is straight, and Eddie Outlaw of William Wallace Salon, who is gay, and others started the amazing "If You're Buying, We're Selling" campaign. They want Mississippi business owners to put stickers in their …
Rep. Thompson: Gov. Phil Bryant Rejected Obamacare "Just Because a Black Man Created It"
Bennie Thompson, the only African American and only Democrat representing Mississippi in Congress, is locking horns with Gov. Phil Bryant over the guv's staunch objection to Medicaid expansion. Buzzfeed reported yesterday that Thompson called into a telecast of the New Nation of Islam to discuss a number of topics, and …
Live Tweeting the #jxnmayor Run-off
Live Tweeting the #jxnmayor Run-off. Who will be mayor in this special election for Jackson's next mayor? [View the story "Live Tweeting #jxnmayor Run-off Results" on Storify]
Everyday People Everyday: Two #JxnMayor Theme Songs
Go to any campaign event for either candidate, and you'll hear it. Both Ward 6 Councilman Tony Yarber and Chokwe A. Lumumba claim to be the everyman who represents "everyday people." In fact, Yarber incorporates the phrase in his campaign literature and stump speeches. Lumumba has also adopted the mantra, …
Post-Runoff Election Parties
Candidates will be hosting post-election parties after the runoff election today.
Will Lumumba Get a Boost from Women?
For the second time in two days, Chokwe A. Lumumba received a show of support for his stated commitment to women's issues. Yesterday, attorney Regina Quinn, who competed in the April 8 special election, endorsed Lumumba's candidacy. She said she met with Lumumba and his rival, Ward 6 Councilman Tony …
You Can't Make It Up: Gov. Phil Bryant to Deliver Ole Miss Commencement
Seriously, Mississippi, you can't quit you. Ole Miss today confirmed rumors we've been hearing—that Gov. Phil Bryant, who is under fire in the state and nationally for signing SB 2681, is going to be the commencement speaker at the University of Mississippi, which is still trying to recover from the …
Live Tweeting the #jxnmayor Returns
We'll use Storify to follow tweets, Facebook, Touts and other updates throughout the night, including time coverage from the return parties.
Lumumba Explains Approach to LGBT Rights, Human Rights Commission
Mayoral candidate Chokwe Antar Lumumba posted this statement on his website about his plans on a City Human Rights Commission, which "review and monitor all city contracts and engagements" for discrimination, including for sexual orientation: Establishing a Human Rights Commission has been part of the People's Platform since 2008, before …
Harvey Johnson Accuses John Horhn of 'False Attack' on Him
Former Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. just responded to a Sen. John Horhn attack ad with this statement posted on his Facebook page. It is repasted here verbatim: STATEMENT OF HARVEY JOHNSON CONCERNING FALSE AND MISLEADING ADVERTISEMENT OF JOHN HORHN Senator John Horhn mailed and passed out to voters a postcard …
Harvey Johnson Responds to JFP HUD Article and Councilman Melvin Priester Jr.
Johnson sent this statement this morning, in response to this recent JFP article. It's pasted here verbatim: STATEMENT OF HARVEY JOHNSON REGARDING JACKSON FREE PRESS ARTICLE Having read the article in the Jackson Free Press, “Repayment of HUD Funds Emerges as Election Issue, ” I was struck by the poor …
Mayoral Money Race Order Unchanged After Priester, Johnson File Updates
Melvin Priester Jr. filed a 48-hour report today showing that he has raised $6,150 more in mayoral contributions. That brings his total to $110,785 by our math to Lumumba's $138,801. Horhn is in third with $104,593 Harvey Johnson Jr. has raised $7,000 more in campaign dollars this week according to …
Chokwe A. Lumumba #JxnMayor Endorsements
The Chokwe Antar Lumumba camp issued a list of endorsements (below). For clarification, Lumumba's press release incorrectly attributed a quotation from the JFP's recent endorsement of Lumumba to photographer Trip Burns. Jackson, MS, April 3, 2014– This afternoon government officials, business leaders, and community supporters will gather at Smith Robertson …
Tony Yarber #JxnMayor Endorsements
We got this list of endorsements the other day from the Tony Yarber camp. It's verbatim, but we think they meant April 1 in the first line: On March 1, 2014 at 10:30 am at the Yarber for Mayor campaign headquarters (932 N. State Street) approximately 10 pastors endorsed Councilman …
MIss. Baptist Convention Lauds Gov. Phil Bryant's Signing of SB2681, 'Religious Freedom' Bill
The following statement just came in, verbatim, from the The Christian Action Commission of the Mississippi Baptist Convention: CAC’s Jimmy Porter Attends Signing of the MS Religious Freedom Restoration Bill Jackson, MS., April 3, 2014–Jimmy Porter, Executive Director of the MS Baptist Christian Action Commission, attended Gov. Phil Bryant’s signing …
Who voted for Mississippi SB2681, the 'Religious Freedom' Bill?
Mississippi State Senate 2014 Regular Session YEAS AND NAYS. The yeas and nays being taken, the Report of Conference Committee on S. B. No. 2681 was adopted: Yeas--Brown, Browning, Burton, Chassaniol, Clarke, Collins, Doty, Fillingane, Gandy, Gollott, Hale, Harkins, Hill, Hopson, Horhn, Hudson, Jackson G. (15th), Jolly, Kirby, Lee, Longwitz, …
Rally Against SB2681 Noon Thursday at Mississippi Capitol; Prayer Vigil at 5:30 p.m.
Opponents of SB2681, the so-called "Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act," which many fear is permission for anti-gay "Jim Crow" laws, will gather at the Mississippi Capitol for a rally on Thursday (April 3). Sen. Derrick Simmons, D-Greenville, will speak on the Capitol steps at 12:30 p.m. Simmons, who is black, …
Did Myrlie Evers endorse Sen. John Horhn for mayor?
The John Horhn for mayor campaign sent footage of civil-rights hero Myrlie Evers last week for a paid ad on the JFP website of Mrs. Evers saying nice things about his "forward" leadership. The quote that has run on the JFP website in the ad for about the last week …
Group Wants Public-Education Funding on 2015 Ballot
More over, Personhood supporters. Public-education backers are working to put funding the Mississippi Adequate Education Program on next year's ballot—being that the Legislature simply refuses to fully fund it. The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal is reporting that Jackson attorney Luther Munford has filed the initiative language on behalf of a …