Jackson Advocate: LaRita Cooper-Stokes Running for Hinds Judge
It hardly seems like yesterday that LaRita Cooper-Stokes was running for Ward 3 councilwoman and then running again when a judge ordered a new election, which she also won. But it wasn't yesterday. It was spring 2012, after Cooper-Stokes' husband, Kenneth, won a seat on the Hinds County Board of …
Lawmakers Solve Huge Problems Facing the State by Adding 'In God We Trust' to Seal
Soon, Mississippi's worst-in-the-nation status for everything from obesity to gun deaths to 4th graders being able to spell their own names will be wiped away thanks to an effort now underway in the Legislature. This morning, the state Senate passed a bill to add the words "In God We Trust" …
Thompson Applauds House Farm Bill Vote
Here's the statement from the office of Congressman Bennie Thompson, a Democrat who represents the Mississippi Delta in the the U.S. House of Representatives, on today's vote in the House to pass a Farm Bill. WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02) released the following statement regarding his …
Barbour Does His Caveman Impression, Disses 'Lady Mayor'
So the old-school Republican strategist Haley Barbour has stuck his foot in his mouth again, perhaps purposefully. He went on CNN to defend New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's administration, which is under fire for various corruption allegations, including a serious accusation by Hoboken, N.J., Mayor Dawn Zimmer. When Barbour appeared …
Legislature Quiet on Immigration, Abortion
The legislative session has not been without drama. But with the deadline to introduce general bills passing earlier this week, it seems like there have been relatively few bills related to traditional red-meat issues. Only one bill title mentions abortion and it was put forth by Rep. Nick Bain, D-Corinth. …
Breaking Down the Referendum Vote
The numbers are in, and it looks like the soon-to-be-law, one-percent local option sales tax won in every precinct last Tuesday. The results, which you can view here, show that the vote received the highest support in north Jackson, but enjoyed widespread support throughout the city's seven wards. The four …
Rep. Dixon Proposes Castle Doctrine Changes
State Rep. Deborah Dixon, D-Bolton, has introduced a bill that modifies the state's so-called Castle Doctrine, which establishes parameters for when homicide is justified (e.g. self-defense). Under Dixon's legislation, HB 179, the Castle Doctrine would only apply within 30 feet of the exterior of a dwelling. Outside of that 30-foot …
Town Hall In Ward 1 Set For Tonight
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba and the City of Jackson is hosting another Town Hall meeting tonight to discuss the 1-percent local sales tax option. The meeting is set for 6 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church at 6000 Old Canton Road in Ward 1. City leaders are putting the option …
Lumumba to Legislators: "Feel good, be at home"
After his election as mayor, one of the biggest questions hanging over Chokwe Lumumba's new administration was what kind of relationship he would have with the state Legislature. Historically, that relationship has been icier than our weather the past few days. Lumumba's predecessor, Harvey Johnson Jr., wasn't known as someone …
A New Wonk Blog for Mississippi
There's a new place for state government news, commentary and analysis. It's called Rethink Mississippi, and it's a project of the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation at Ole Miss. According to the site's "about us" page, Rethink Mississippi "is a forum for insight, analysis, and debate about Mississippi’s critical …