Jackson Free Press

There's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them:

1. The down times at Thalia Mara Hall have included a nearly yearlong construction period as Jackson's opera house underwent a $5 million makeover, as well as, local promoters say, difficulty booking the hall because of a $5 surcharge the city imposed to help offset the cost of those renovations.
2. Travis Childers, a former congressman from Booneville, hopes traditional Democratic voters and tea-party members can help him upset Republican U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran in November.
3. The city and C Spire have teamed up to provide 1 gigabit per second fiber—100 times faster Internet access—to the homes of Jackson residents, but the advancements don't stop there. They're in schools.
4. More than $2 million in water fees have gone uncollected as city ratepayers dispute their water bills. The city is undergoing an audit that city officials hope will streamline this and other problems related to collecting water revenue.
5. Amile Wilson, the owner of a creative-services firm, believes teaming up with private businesses could go a long way to solve Jackson’s challenges.
6. Speaking in Jackson recently, Pastor James Manning of Harlem said black abortion would be the end of Beyoncé, Jay Z, McDonald’s, Nike and Essence Magazine. Figuratively speaking, of course.
7. Conkrete Sneaker Boutique, which opened Oct. 24, offers exclusive sneakers unavailable anywhere else, in addition to socks, T-shirts, hats, watches and other fashion items.
8. With minimal discussion at this morning's meeting of the Hinds County Board of Supervisors, members voted 4-1 to raise the minimum wage to $9.45 per hour for employees who have worked for the county for less than one year.
9. Jocelyn Pritchett and Carla Webb of Jackson are plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit challenging Mississippi's state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
10. Super PAC All Citizens for Mississippi's federal-campaign finance report came on the heels of an announcement from the organization's founder, Bishop Ronnie Crudup of New Horizon Church International, would visit Africa the same week.

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