Wednesday, May 31
Fighting For The American Dream
May 31, 2006 Editor's Note: The following column about Gannett's effort control independent media is also running in the June issue of Metro Christian Living (formerly Jackson Christian Family). My …
One Man, Many Sparks
"Each one, teach one," says Helena Brown, director of the Young People's Project in Jackson.
Murrah Makes Newsweek
For years, Jackson Public Schools have played the role of punching bag in public opinion, with tales of falling test scores, poor attendance and hallway violence playing a factor in …
Hooray For King Ed
Jackson Developer David Watkins and the King Edward Hotel received some good news from the May 30 City Council meeting. The council voted 6-1 in favor of a resolution ratifying …
‘Get Out Of The Way'
"If we don't take care of this soon, the situation will just linger and draw attention," said Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon. "We need to take care of this quickly. …
Espy and Thompson Lock Antlers
The Mississippi Democratic Club hosted a debate between second congressional district contenders Bennie Thompson and Chuck Espy on May 28. Candidate Dorothy Benford did not attend the debate.
Frank Melton Is Not A Child
"I didn't shred the documents. I tore them up with my hands." Well, then. I guess we now know what the meaning of the word "shred" is.
Renee Shakespeare
"Everything I learn, I'll share it with you," Renee Shakespeare says, and that is how her radio show, "The Drinking Gourd," began.
[Lott] Click It
<b>*Web exclusive*</b>
As the chairman of the Senate's Surface Transportation Subcommittee, I've been proud to fundamentally change the way Congress approaches highway safety. As a result, Mississippi is receiving $9 million to …
[Stiggers] High Livin' In The Ghetto
Brutha Hustle's Mobile Bill Payment Center presents Open-Air Kultural Theater—a very pleasant way to pay your bills while becoming more enlightened, informed and entertained. And he has plenty of Juicy-Juice …
NEW Online Petition: Support Local Media Now!
We have just posted an online petition where you can sign on—and choose to have an e-mail sent directly to the management of the Clarion-Ledger, telling them that you value …
The Closed City
In November of last year, Jackson Free Press reporter Adam Lynch arrived at City Hall to cover a public meeting. Representatives of the sheriff's department and two county supervisors were …
A Walk In The Sunshine
In Mississippi, two laws govern public records and meetings—the Public Records Act and the Public Meetings Act. These acts make clear the obligation of all levels of government, whether state, …
Sunshine FAQ
1. Some Melton supporters say that he should investigate who "leaked" a recent ComStat report to the JFP. Can you "leak" public information?
Good Ol' Days?
Under the Johnson administration, public records were usually available to the public. The Johnson administration was far from perfect in this regard, but there was a general commitment to providing …
Buy Fresh, Buy Local
Photos by Lynette Hanson
Mississippians take pride in their fruits and vegetables. The soil, the climate and hard-working farmers produce a bountiful mix of favorites that pack roadside stands and markets across the state.
The Best In Sports
Pro baseball, Mississippi at Chattanooga (7 p.m. Chattanooga, Tenn., 930 AM): The M-Braves conclude their series with the Lookouts.
[Music] Po' Folks
Sometimes you need to get back to basics. That's what took former Squirrel Nut Zippers frontman Jimbo Mathus back to his Mississippi home.
No Payne, No Gain
Playwright and sometime-actor Topher Payne returns to Mississippi from Atlanta next weekend to see the Clinton Brick Street Players perform his play "Beached Wails" at Clinton's Old Junior High School …
Blaque Butterfly presents… "Enter the Realm of the Butterfly"
Here first art show/reception will be Saturday, July 29, 2006.
You've seen her featured in the Jackson Free Press and at events around town. Now prepare to enter the world of the woman known to us as Blaque Butterfly.
Tuesday, May 30
M-Braves Win For A Change
The last-place Mississippi Braves rallied to defeat the host Chattanooga Lookouts 4-3. It was a milestone win of sorts for the Braves who improved to 20-31.
Out-Of-Town Papers: College Baseball
Mississippi State finished ninth in the SEC and missed the conference tournament. LSU finished eighth and made it. When the NCAA bracket was announced, State made it and LSU didn't. …
False Accusations Against JFP on SuperTalk
Todd Stauffer was on SuperTalk Mississippi (we're ashamed to say we don't know the frequency -- 97.3 FM, maybe?) at 8:05am on Tuesday to talk to Paul Gallo about the …
Monday, May 29
NCAA-Bound
The Big Three all made the NCAA Regionals. Ole Miss knew it was going to host a regional before it won the SEC Tournament on Sunday. Mississippi State, which finished …
The Soul of War
NPR's "Speaking of Faith" program this week features Iraq veteran and chaplain Major John Morris, "to explore how war challenges the human spirit and the core tenets of a life …
Sunday, May 28
Saturday, May 27
A Rebel Rerun
Ole Miss has reached the SEC Tournament championshp game for the second straight year. The Rebels earned a spot in Sunday's final against either Georgia or Vanderbilt (3 p.m., Hoover, …
Friday, May 26
Party for Casey Parks TONIGHT
You've probably all heard by now about the amazing honor that The New York
(if not, click here)
Thursday, May 25
"Teen Time" digs deep in the soul of Jackson's Teens
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
These and more will be discussed every Friday during the month of June at South Hills Library as part of a summer project they call "Teen Time." Facilitated by artist/author …
Wednesday, May 24
Filmmaker William Waheed Featured in MS Link
It was nice to see William Waheed featured in the new issue of the Mississippi Link. I met Waheed a few years ago, and he hs such a passion for …
[New Releases] MVD Music Video "Under Review"
— Herman Snell and Alex Slawson
MVD Music Video—"Under Review" Music-video distributors MVD and Sexy Intellectual have collected the quintessential must-have archives from the key founders of modern music. Each 90-minute, independent, critical analysis of The …
[New Releases] I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness "Fear Is On Our Side"
— Herman Snell and Alex Slawson
I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness—"Fear Is On Our Side" (Secretly Canadian 2006) Growing up on the cerebral goth-psych-shoegaze side of 4AD, "Pornography"-era Cure, "Hey Day"-era Church, and Echo …
[New Releases] Mint "Magnetism"
— Herman Snell and Alex Slawson
Mint—"Magnetism" (Funzalo 2006) Belgian indie-pop rockers Mint recorded their second album in Richmond, Va., with John Morand (Sparklehorse, Cracker). Their first U.S. release, "Magnetism," has fresh, emotional pop that can …
[New Releases] Arctic Monkeys "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not"
— Herman Snell and Alex Slawson
Arctic Monkeys—"Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" (Domino 2006) England's Arctic Monkeys set the UK record for the fastest-selling debut album of all time. It's high-energy, hard-drinking, …
[New Releases] The Concretes "In Colour"
— Herman Snell and Alex Slawson
The Concretes—"In Colour" (Astralwerks 2006) The melodic Swedish indie-pop octet is that '60s Ronettes style, candy-coated Phil Spector Motown to watch clouds and shimmy to—great if you dig early Belle …
[New Releases] Placebo "Meds"
— Herman Snell and Alex Slawson
Placebo—"Meds" (Astralwerks 2006) Over the past 10 years, Placebo has become one of the top-selling British arena rockers for the UK's Marilyn Manson/Pumpkins set. Their powerful electro-alt-rock, genre-defying sounds have …
[Wine] Winely Wanderings
You know, sometimes subjects for this wine article don't come easily. I mean, after a while, what's left to write about? But when it comes down to it, does there …
Passing The Bar
There's a day in your life when staring at a rope swing hanging from a tree limb, you are content just to watch others fling themselves with glee off the …
Marshmallow Mayhem
I grew up cooking, and I am happy to say that over the course of my 30 some odd years of life, I have had few food-related injuries. I have …
Lobbying Plan A Joke?
For more than two weeks, city lobbyist Marcus Ward effectively ducked council members seeking to question him on his plan to attain $29 million from Washington.
New Sports Arena on the Way
Mississippi Headhunters team owner Greg Disotell got the go-ahead from the Jackson City Council Tuesday to begin pooling $40 million for the construction of an enclosed sports arena to host …
New York Times Honors JFP Editor
Jackson Free Press contributing editor Casey Parks got a delightful shock last week when New York Times columnist Nick Kristof called to offer her a coveted slot as his "traveling …
Melton to Clarion-Ledger: ‘Go to Hell'
We see that Mr. Melton is back in town with a flourish. The Clarion-Ledger is reporting today:
Fantasy Island
Developers are cheering and environmentalists are jeering as the Lefleur Lakes ("Two Lakes") project gains momentum, helped along by political support from men like Mayor Frank Melton and Gov. Haley …
Hands Off My Kodachrome
Photos by Daphne Nabors
I took Daphne Nabors on a field trip to the Fondren Beverage Emporium to see what kind of soda this local photographer would pick out and how that would that …
Decrypting Da Vinci
When New England novelist Dan Brown sat down in 2003 to write "The Da Vinci Code," he probably never guessed that in less than three years his controversial thriller would …
The Best In Sports Over 7 Days
College baseball, SEC Tournament, Ole Miss vs. TBD (1 p.m. or 8 p.m., Hoover, Ala., 97.3 FM): The Rebels play somebody in the second round.
[Music] The Upcoming Weeks
"Cups in Fondren … 3:30 … look for the long-haired twins." These were my instructions from Chaz Lindsay, guitarist and singer for The Weeks. Formed on March 3, The Weeks …
Out-Of-Town Papers: College Baseball
Southern Miss and Ole Miss begin play in their conference tournaments on Wednesday night.
(Biloxi) Sun Herald: First things first for USM
[Biztalk] Fragging Your Friends
The first time I went into Game Theory, it was surprisingly quiet. One person sat in the back, playing something I couldn't see. All around me were widescreen TVs and …
Damn It, Mamet
Photos by Ricky Wright
David Mamet's "American Buffalo" is a story of miscommunication, betrayal and alliances. The play takes place at a junk shop in Chicago, where Donnie (Patterson) sells a nickel for a …
Hands Off Our Printing Presses
May 24, 2006 How to Help Save Local Media I met Marilyn, perfectly dressed and wearing her lipstick, on a late Friday afternoon. And Mike, who ponders with his head …
[Greggs] Here's to You, Ali Robinson
This past weekend I went on a date with a man eight years my junior. (I'll pause so that all the older women may give me mental high-fives and formulate …
[Stiggers] Partly Cloudy, Definitely Funky
Grandma Pookie: "Welcome to the George Washington Carver Holistic Health Commission of Tuskegee, Ala., national report–brought to you by the Ghetto Science Team's Church Fan Energy Initiative.
No. 36, May 24-31
<b><em>A Bunch of Punks?</b></em>
As a young Jackson voter, I am mad at the black leadership that lets Frank Melton walk all over the city. Our leaders act like a bunch of scared punks, …
Draining The Reserves
Photos by Darren Schwindaman
The Jackson City Council has opted to dip into the city's reserve fund rather than collect additional revenue with a fee increase. The council voted 6-0 on the revised city …
Margaret Cupples
When Natchez native Margaret Cupples graduated from law school at Washington and Lee in 1993, she was offered a year-long position in Jackson with Judge Rhesa Barksdale. After that, she …
NFL Not Bush League
The NFL (No Fun League) has rejected Saints' first-round pick Reggie Bush's request to wear No. 5. Under NFL rules, running backs are required to wear numbers between 20 and …
Tuesday, May 23
THE WALKMEN's new album Drops
Today Record Collection proudly releases THE WALKMEN's new album A Hundred Miles Off
with a full national US tour kicking off. "A Hundred Miles Off...is the Walkmen's best yet"
Out-Of-Town Papers: C-USA Tournament Preview
Southern Miss, led by Jackson's own Toddric Johnson, faces Memphis in the first round of the C-USA Tournament on Wednesday:
SEC Honors
One Ole Miss player and two from Mississippi State were named to the All-SEC Baseball Team. Rebel SS Zack Cozart and Bulldog 2B Jeffrey Rea and SS Thomas Berkery were …
Large Breasted Chickens
Okay, here's another article in a series to be named "Another Thing Wrong With This Country"
Monday, May 22
Ferriss Follies (By Doctor S)
Folks, Doctor S can't read a calendar. The Ferriss Trophy Ceremony was on Monday night, not Tuesday. Doctor S was right about one thing: Mississippi State's Thomas Berkery won the …
New York Times Honors Casey Parks
The Jackson Free Press is proud to announce that our very dear assistant editor emeritus Casey Parks—who departed in December for graduate school at the University of Missouri—is the one …
Out-of-Town Papers: SWAC Tournament Final
Prairie View edged Alcorn State 3-2 Sunday in the championship game of the SWAC Tournament at Pearl. Nobody around here cared much since JSU got thrown out for cheating. But …
What's With The Barbaro Signs?
Doctor S is an animal lover. He really loves chickens and cows, when prepared properly. Therefore he's glad he missed the Preakness on Saturday. Watching the lowlights of Kentucky Derby …
Clarion-Ledger Publisher Responds to Controversy
Clarion-Ledger Publisher John Newhouse has released the following statement to the media about their controversial plan to control free distribution outlets in and around Jackson: The Distribution Network of Central …
Darker My Love Debut
Darker My Love is:
Once upon a time, there lived a group of revelers who made their homes along the sparkling landscape of the California coast. Amidst the glitter of the ocean and the …
No Capri Sun For You, Coach
Badjocks.com offers another example of how adults are ruining kids' sports: A girls softball coach in New York was arrested after slapping an 11-year-old player from another team on the …
Sunday, May 21
The Sultan Of Syringe
Barry Bonds hit his 714th home run on Saturday, tying Babe Ruth for second place on MLB's career homer list. Bonds' steroid-fueled feat was mostly greeted with indifference or hostility. …
Out-Of-Town Papers: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State
If you don't want to be Ledge-centric, here's how other newspapers in the state covered the final game of the Ole Miss-Mississippi State baseball series:
The Week Ahead
Here's a list of upcoming events that didn't make it into the Slate.
Pro basketball, NBA playoffs: Who's going to the Western Conference finals? Seventh games with Dallas at San Antonio (7 p.m., TNT) and L.A. Clippers at Phoenix (9:30 p.m., TNT) will …
Pizza Delivery Man Bursts Into Flames
Don't you know this guy is sitting in the hospital room reading the news and thinking, "I've finally made it."
The Muffin Man
But mostly, I hate the fact the poor kid is going to be charged with...
I sure hate this happened. No, seriously.
Saturday, May 20
Another Horn-Tooter
My interview with C.A. Webb for CONVERSATIONS magazine! Makes you feel kinda special, doesn't it, Ali? :-)
Silencing the Media, Hiding Crimes & Misdemeanors
A good story in USA Today about the "scorched-earth" assault on the media's ability to hold elected officials accountable:
Friday, May 19
Head For The Mountains (Of Empties)
Last year, 70,000 beer cans were found inside of a townhouse in Ogden, Utah. They were all Coors Light empties. The tenant had lived there for eight years, so that …
Smoot To Go On Trial
Minnesota Vikings DB Fred Smoot is scheduled to go on trial on May 30 for his role in the Vikings' 2005 sex boat cruise. The former MSU/Hinds CC/Provine star definitely …
Thursday, May 18
Wii Are Not Amused
E3 has come and gone, and in the end, the main factor was, of course, the next-gen.
Well, technically next-next-gen, but I digress. The three consoles that made the show were the Nintendo Wii, the Playsation 3 and the tubby bucket of hardware known as the XBOX360. …
Saints In Fondren?
The New Orleans Saints are in negotiations with Millsaps College to bring the team's preseason camp to the college this summer. Camp starts in late July and the Saints would …
Wednesday, May 17
Chief Alleges, Then Backpedals
After the Jackson Free Press broke news about an April 17 ComStat report last Tuesday, May 9, Police Chief Shirlene Anderson and Mayor Frank Melton went into damage-control mode.
[Band In A Box] Buie, Hamman, & Porter
Date Formed:
Debbie Buie (Pisces), vocals; John Hamman (Gemini), guitar, bass, whatever & vocals; Rick Porter (Scorpio), guitar & vocals.
[New Releases] The Flaming Lips "At War With The Mystics"
The Flaming Lips — "At War with the Mystics" (Warner Bros., 2006) It has been four years since "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" made the Flaming Lips famous, but "Mystics" …
A Gentleman, And A Partisan
<b>The JFP Interview with Rep. Bennie Thompson</b>
Rep. Bennie Thompson is nothing if not partisan. He enters most political debates with pre-conceived notions on conservatism and liberalism. He also holds strong views on Democrats and Republicans and …
Crossing The Aisles
<b>The JFP Interview with Chuck Espy</b>
State Rep. Chuck Espy comes from a long line of politicos. His father is former Clarksdale Mayor Henry Espy, and the Espy family has had dibs on the Second Congressional …
Tale of Two Dems: Bennie vs. Chuck
On June 6, the Democratic primaries in the 2nd Congressional District will be up for grabs. Three candidates are facing off in the race, including political whack-a-mole Dorothy "Dot" Benford, …
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
College baseball, Alcorn State vs. Southern (10 a.m., Pearl) and Miss. Valley State vs. Texas Southern (6 p.m., Pearl): Good luck to JSU in the SWAC Tournament at Trustmark Park. …
Sexy Mother Funker
D'Mar is like a nervous prom date. Sitting underneath the AmSouth escalator as refuge from the busier-than-usual Cups downtown on this early afternoon, I get comfortable in my chair and …
A Ride Through Town
Being a bicyclist in Jackson is not always easy. Rude cars tailgate bicyclists; they honk, they weave and sometimes insult or threaten even the most kindly of two-wheelers. While Ridgeland …
A Working Artist
First glances into Harold W. Miller's living room suggests that the man is a great collector. The walls and fixtures feature paintings in various styles, reliefs, intricately designed urns, figurines …
Their Finest Hour
There is a trend in game series: One successful game is released, and that prompts a sequel. Whether or not the sequel is any good isn't important. What is important …
Sour Cream Dream
When I was in high school, I was always desperate for various foods I thought I could only get from my friends and/or their mothers. Stephanie Sheffer made the best …
The Bottom Line
Frank Melton cannot solve Jackson's crime. That is simply a statement of fact, not a criticism or a denouncement or even a denouement. It is also true that former Mayor …
[Johnson] When Jackson Burned
On May 14, 1863, the Army of Tennessee, under Generals Grant and Sherman, seized Jackson as the Confederate army retreated in disarray. Grant ordered the city's "strategic assets" burned, and …
[Stiggers] That's the Truth, Ruth
Still Bill the Funk Doctor: "Eee-Diddy-Eye! Oooh, I'm joggin', and back on the scene with the record machine. This is D.J. Ol' Skool Pete's mentor, the king of throw-back, ain't …
No. 35, May 18 - 24
<b><em>Perception Is Reality:</b></em>
I have been following the news coverage (specifically in the Jackson Free Press and The Clarion-Ledger) about Frank Melton. Though I have seen some honest, in-depth reporting in the Free …
Children of the Storm
Last Monday, the Children's Defense Fund dedicated the first of 14 Freedom Schools in New Orleans—taking the name from schools set up to help educate African Americans during Freedom Summer …
The Men to Beat Lott?
In a sparsely attended debate in the old Supreme Court chamber of the Capitol, with a statue of militant white supremacist Theodore Bilbo looking on, candidates in the Democratic primary …
Hit the Bricks
Painting courtesy of Ellen Langford
All the beauty provided by the stylish brickwork and elegant street lighting of downtown's Congress Street goes mostly unappreciated, laments Downtown Jackson Partners Executive Director John Lawrence.
Tonyatta Hairston
"The great thing is that I get to help people medically, but then I take them out of that examination room and have the opportunity to glamorize them, to help …
No News is Gannett News
If you missed last week's Publisher's Note, The Clarion-Ledger has tried to trick local distributors into signing on to a scheme called "TDN." Under TDN, distribution boxes around town would …
Dogs On Short Leash
Time is running out for the Mississippi State baseball team and Ron Polk, the Biloxi Sun Herald's Jim Mashek writes. MSU hosts Ole Miss in a three-game SEC series, starting …
A Bad Bet
Tim Bennett tells The Ledge he spent $50,000 to bring the SWAC baseball tournament to Pearl's Trustmark Park. For that money, Bennett says he needs to sell 1,000 tickets per …
Major Tournament
The Millsaps baseball team begins play in NCAA Central Regional in St. Louis on Wednesday. The Majors play Webster at 1 p.m. You can follow the Majors through a live …
Tuesday, May 16
C. A. Webb Named President of Rankin County Arts Alliance, Featured in Rankin Ledger Today
Jamie Kemp (of the Rankin Ledger) writes:
Cyrus A. Webb is determined to use his new position as president of the Rankin County Arts Alliance to spread an appreciation for the arts in his native Rankin County. …
Gannett v. Local Media; What You Can Do
Extra, extra! The JFP's Goliath Blog launches, as the independent media's battle against the Gannett Corp. is heating up. Jackson media are reporting and analyzing the scheme, and media consumers …
Saturday, May 13
Bush Defends Vast Domestic Spying
George Bush is trying defend the vast spying on Americans that was revealed this year.
Friday, May 12
POV: YO MOMMA!
Yo Momma! Mtv Tarzan Takes The Ghetto By Storm
(Reprinted here in its entirety with permission: http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur26236.cfm )
Thursday, May 11
Roy Adkins, Darren Schwindaman, Latasha Willis and Jerrie Glasper all featured in June 2006 Conversa
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?AuthorID=21877&id=21947
Howard Dean Sells Out
On last night's episode of The 700 Club, the bold and courageous leader of America's progressive movement sat down with Pat Robertson to assure him that the Democratic Party opposes …
2006 JFP Interview: Peterson Makes Her Case
<b>The JFP Interview with Faye Peterson</b>
Hinds County District Attorney Faye Peterson is nothing if not confident. It's a stalwart, rocky kind of demeanor that probably helps get her through her day in her office on …
Tigers' Season Over
Something is rotten in Jackson State baseball. First the Tigers forfeited four victories and their SWAC East championship. Now the Tigers have been forced to wipe out the rest of …
***Line-up for the JFP Chick Ball - TONIGHT, Red Room
The JFP announces our second annual Chick Ball, to take place at the Red Room in Hal & Mal's on Thursday, May 11, 2006, 6 p.m. To 1 a.m. The …
[MomDom] Belle of The ER Ball
"Tiffany, are you sitting down?" the mom of my daughter's best friend asked me the moment I answered the phone. Then she gave me the news.
Wednesday, May 10
Memphis, TN's SOULFLO Prepares to Gather at Tougaloo College
EXPERIENCE THE SOULFLO EXPERIENCE!
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?id=22171
[MomDom] Strangers In Love
What is having a baby supposed to be like? I don't really know. I thought I did. Serene motherhood. The Madonna. Look at that beautiful sleeping baby. I dreamed of …
[MomDom] Aching For A Child
My husband and I meet weekly with six other couples. At one point four of them were pregnant. For a few weeks it seemed that each Monday night another couple …
[MomDom] Of A Lovely Lady
Here's a story. Of a chick named Emily. Who got proposed to not too very long ago! And the best part is, I'm not pregnant!
The Best In Sports In The Next 7 Days
Pro baseball: West Tenn at Mississippi (7 p.m., Pearl, 930 AM): The M-Braves wrap up their home stand at the T-P.
Bringin' It Home
All you've got to do to get the blues is show up at Hal & Mal's on May 13. Zac Harmon's coming home to Jackson to perform the music he …
[Collier] My Mother's Daughter
My senior year in college was the first time I knew my mother loved me. Of course I knew she loved me. But it wasn't until my senior year that …
[Stiggers] The Drive on Washington
"It's Boneqweesha, live from the Million Motorist March and Car Pool on Washington, D.C. Millions of financially challenged motorists are scheduled to arrive at the nation's capital to protest rising …
[Kamikaze] Heaven's Bus
Sometimes the hypocrisy in modern society troubles me. I've known for years that the playing field for African Americans has never been level. I've always known that those who disagree …
The Hidden Monopoly
The city of Jackson rakes in more than $1.5 million every year renting city-owned towers to cellular providers, and EZ 103.7 FM President Edward Saint Pé wants a piece of …
What's in a Rose?
Photo courtsey of Georgia O'Keeffe Exhibit
If you are at all familiar with Georgia O'Keeffe's work, you've seen at least one meticulously painted flower, cow skull or landscape. A close look at O'Keeffe's paintings, however, causes …
Ruth Davis
Sitting on a park bench among automobiles, passersby and wasps buzzing about spring in full force, Ruth Davis fearlessly and passionately pours out her thoughts on life, past, present and …
Herman's Picks
With the school year finishing up you may be beginning to look at the calendar for summer events to plan for. If you're looking for something different make sure to …
Tuesday, May 9
JFP EXCLUSIVE: Jackson Crime Surges
Read the story that the city is talking about, based on a report the Jackson Free Press unearthed on Monday. You saw it here first.
The Mayor and His Star Witness
Video still courtesy of WAPT
Christopher "Smiley" Walker was re-arrested Monday by U.S. Marshals for failing a routine urinalysis drug test required by his probation officer. Six days earlier, he had sat beside Mayor Frank …
Monday, May 8
Going without Internet Service - I CAN'T STAND IT!
I am temporarily without an Internet connection at home, so I have been doing everything from going to a neighbor's house or the library to using my cell phone to …
"Tobacco-Free Evening in the Park"—- Sunday, May 21, 2006
Partnership for a Healthy Rankin/Simpson/Scott County welcomes you to "Tobacco-Free Evening in the Park " It will be held at the Pelahatchie Muscadine Park located downtown Pelahatchie on Sunday, May …
Perfect Casting
This country has completely gone down the toilet
And not just any nun, Hilton is being considered to play Mother Teresa, according to People magazine.
Sunday, May 7
What's in a Cajun?
Having spent a large portion of my life in South Louisiana, I have eaten some of the best food on Earth, particularly red beans and rice. I have already had …
Saturday, May 6
Restaurants and Relaxation
She's taken care of you all your life, made sure you were clean, fed, clothed and loved. She's your mother. Even if you frequently tell her thanks, that you love …
Haley Barbour Refuses to Pardon Black Man
Clyde Kennard was convicted of purchasing $25 worth of chicken feed he knew to be stolen. He died in 1963 after being released early due to intestinal cancer. The only …
Friday, May 5
Polls: Republicans Turning on Republicans
AP is reporting that 31 percent of conservatives want Republicans out of power:
Thursday, May 4
Shameless Self-Promotion
Here is an interview C.A. Webb did with me for his Coversations zine. (I have no idea if he's provided this link. If he has, there's two of them...so sue …
D.A. to Mayor: ‘Bring It On'
Click here for a podcast of Attorney General Jim Hood's press conference about the D.A.-Mayor conflict.
Tragedy at Jackson State—May 4, 1970
It's never too late to remember.
Today is the 36th anniversary of the tragic shootings at Jackson State University, as well as Kent State University, where police killed students protesting. Take a few moments to read …
Police Officers Strike Again ... and Again
On April 27, several officers from the Jackson Police Department participated in an online "terrorism course." Presumably, the course taught officers how to prevent terrorism, but these days it's hard …
All Time Favorite Melton Moment
Its the one where Melton pulls over four school buses so he can touch the children.
Okay, this piece in the Clarion Ledger is now officially my "all time favorite Melton moment".
Wednesday, May 3
The Best In Sports Over The Next 7 Days
College baseball, Belhaven in GCAC Tournament (time TBA, Shreveport, La.): The Blazers will play a second-round game.
Got The Blues?
The blues are ubiquitous. You may never have sat down to listen to all of B.B. King and Lucille's "Indianola Mississippi Seeds," and you may never have attempted to sell …
Public Eye Opens
April 26, 2006 We are the watchers, our eyes fixed on the halls of power. Democracy means majority rule, but we live in a republic of laws. Whether I vote …
Terror in the Air
Universal Pictures' "United 93" plays for nearly two hours: the exact amount of time that elapsed during the flight whose story it tells. The film is a reenactment of the …
Renaissance on the Avenue
On May 6, the public is invited to view some working studios and exhibitions of local artists at the Millsaps Avenue Arts District Exhibition. This event will serve as Pearl …
[New Releases] Calla "Collisions"
— Alex Slawson and Herman Snell
Calla — "Collisions" (Beggars US, 2005) Darkly cinematic and rain swept, New York-based Calla is a 3-piece band who are a paradox unto themselves. While their music is executed in …
Frank Melton to Appear on Evers Show TONIGHT
Mayor Frank Melton is set to appear on the Charles Evers' radio show, "Let's Talk," on WMPR 90.1 FM, tonight (Wednesday, May 3) at 8 p.m.
Letter To A Young Mayor
First, allow me to thank you for giving me so much of your time over the last six weeks. Your frankness in our series of interviews seems to have captivated …
[Kamikaze] Don't Be Cool
Parents. Stop. Put down whatever you're doing and ask yourself: Do I know where my kids are? Better yet, do I know what they're thinking?
[Stiggers] That Safe-Crackin' Crack-Head
"Welcome to the Brotha Hustle Bill Payment Extension Phone Service. All you need is a pre-paid cell phone, and you can take advantage of this convenient way to ask for …
Executives Run Amok
The similarities between Mayor Melton's current woes and President Bush's are striking. George Bush can't boast the kind of mandate Frank Melton had when he was elected. But both men …
The Littlest Litigators
May 3, 2006 Eleven states are now considering bills that severely restrict abortion. Six of the 11 only allow abortion when the mother's life is at stake. Another four declare …
Barbour Tied to Dirty Politics
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has ties to a GOP telemarketing firm that jammed New Hampshire phone lines used by disabled or dependent voters trying to get to polling stations in …
[In Memory] Florence Mars, 1923-2006
I didn't know Florence Mars growing up in Neshoba County. She was from a different part of town—the side that had old money. I don't have memories of her walking …
State Forces Farish Apartments
Performa Entertainment Real Estate Inc., the developer that turned the Beale Street District of Memphis into a jazzy powerhouse of capitalism, is likely to buy property along Farish Street with …
Pat Chambliss
Pat Chambliss is the perfect spokeswoman for Dress for Success, the international nonprofit organization whose Jackson chapter she helped to found.
We Love The Leather
Last month, Deadspin.com unleashed a story on the alleged off-screen antics of ESPN blowhard Chris Berman. We quote:
Tuesday, May 2
Mississippi is….WHERE?
The Associated Press is reporting the following:
Despite the wall-to-wall coverage of the damage from Hurricane Katrina, nearly one-third of young Americans recently polled couldn't locate Louisiana on a map and nearly half were unable to identify …
Rock This Town: 20,000+ Expected at Crawfish Boil
Three things are guaranteed to make a spring weekend even better: beer, crawfish and rock 'n' roll, all of which you can find at this weekend's Miller Lite Crawfish Boil …
Monday, May 1
Metal Gear?!!
Word on the streets is, Kojima's confirmed a film adaptation of the legendary MGS series, accompanied by bells tolling and cheering masses. I'm not quite sure about this one yet, …
Don't Forget About ...
The Ledge overlooked at least two Mississippians who were selected in the NFL Draft on Sunday. Ironically, they both played in high school at Madison Central. They were: Stephen Gostkowsi, …
