Jackson Free Press

Photo by Brett Potter

A TAX TO LOVE: Financial disaster is looming for the state, and the new Coalition for a Clean Bill of Health wants to raise Mississippi's cigarette tax by $1 per pack, to help both the state's fiscal and physical health. Supporters include the American Cancer Society, AARP, the Children's Defense Fund, MS Alliance for School Health and many others—including a majority of Mississippians. A Stennis Institute of Government survey found in 2003 that 70 percent of Mississippians, Republicans and Democrats, would support raising taxes to pay for health-care needs. Nearly 72 percent said they would either strongly support or support a 50-cent-a-pack tobacco tax. Former Big Tobacco lobbyist Barbour, however, says no way—even to keep from cutting education and Medicaid. Boo, hiss.

CECIL VS. THE MEDIA: As Gov. Barbour's latest special session dragged on, the Capitol Press Corps received a rare dressing-down Monday from Rep. Cecil Brown, D-Hinds, who excoriated them for simplistic media coverage of important legislative issues. "I want to chastise the press just a little bit," he said at the Stennis Institute luncheon for reporters at Hal & Mal's on Monday. He added: "I know this stuff is complicated, but you should not underestimate your audience." Brown said the media are often not "picking up the nuance" in their reportage. As an example, he pointed to the obsessive editorials in Mississippi newspapers about this special session that focus almost exclusively on the cost of the sessions, rather than the complexity of the issues at stake. As with the damage-caps special session last summer, editorials have called for the House not to hold out and negotiate —but to "just do its business and go home," Brown said. He asked the media: "What is our business? … We represent 26,000 taxpayers. We are obligated not to just kneejerk and do what the Senate did." He also challenged the journalists to report "in context." He said: "Y'all are so busy writing and doing whatever you're doing that you're not listening." He finished the lecture with: "Finally, it's better to be right than to be early. … It's kind of like saying there are WMD in Iraq. That's just wrong; they're not there. … Aren't you interested in the truth?"

PLEASE DON'T GO: Our favorite local department store—McRae's Meadowbrook—is closing, announced owner Saks this week. This is a blow to North Fondren, but within hours residents of the immediate area started talking about what to do to counter the loss, to increase safety in the area and to encourage economic development. For now, though, it's back to the Metrocenter McRae's, our second favorite.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: Spy reports are coming in about those darned political yard signs that candidates' staff have such energy to put up and then forget to take down later, thus littering our streets with data propaganda. For instance, along West Street between Fortification and High streets, it is just shameful how many signs were still up last week belonging to both Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson and his challenger, Republican Clinton B. LeSueur. Gentlemen: It's not like we don't know who's doing this.

WHO NEEDS A 527?: At various intersections around town are hand-lettered posters that say "Elect Jesus As Your Savior." The anti-Bush crowd also had its say: defacing some Stop signs around town, including in Belhaven, with a stenciled and pained "BUSH" under the word "STOP." Oh, well.

UNWRAPPED AND UNVEILED: Campbell's bakery at 3013 N. State St. will be unveiling a new counter designed by local artist Andy Hilton. (He is also the master behind the Mancala bench in front of the Fondren Corner building). The new counter should be ready in time for the upcoming Fondren Unwrapped event on Thurs., Nov. 18. A source at the bakery says that they are already getting holiday requests for their caramel cakes, and they have been stamping out their turkey-shaped ice tea cookies by the dozen. And they have serve good ol' Community coffee.

ALL THAT JAZZ: Michael Burton is taking time off from his tour with the Univer-soul Circus to help out some aspiring young musicians better hone their skills. Burton is a native Mississippian and an alum of the Murrah/Power Academic Performing Arts Center. He and four other musicians will offer a two-day educational music clinic that will begin Dec. 9 at 9 a.m. at the Belhaven College of Performing Arts Complex. This is an interactive workshop where all are encouraged to bring their own instruments. The following evening Burton and his band will perform jazz at the Belhaven Complex and set to begin at 7 p.m.

KICKIN' BRASS: Though they were told they probably had no chance of even winning the state championship, the Jackson Academy band recently won its second Class A National Championship under Director Bruce Carter. The band beat more than 90 other bands in Indiana in order to secure the top spot. The JA band is much smaller and more diverse than most bands—its 26 members range from age 12 to 18.

A FULL DECK: Vicksburg artists and gallery owners believe their city and county to be full house, so to speak, for the visual arts, and they want others to see what's in their hand. As a result, 11 local artists and craftspeople have come up with Vicksburg's 3 of Arts: A 3 Day Weekend of Gallery Openings, Studio Tours and more, Nov. 19-21. Organizers decided to offer an incentive to attend each and every one—3 of Arts cards will be handed out at each site and those with a full deck will be eligible for a $100 gift certificate. The group decided to do this because, as Daniel Boone of The Attic Gallery said in a recent e-mail, "We tend to talk about what is not here, but we have such a range and breadth of artists and craftspeople, it's time we all stood up at once." For more info and a full schedule, call (601)638-8426 or (601)638-5022