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. An unnamed white male shot and killed Charles McDonald, a 17-year-old black male, in the course of an alleged attempted auto theft Thursday as the youth was running away from his mother.
2. The Jackson Free Press has confirmed that the Alliance Defending Freedom, a controversial national legal group, will serve as co-counsel for Gov. Phil Bryant's appeal of House Bill 1523 to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. The organization also helped influence the writing of the "Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act," emails between the governor and the organization show.
3. On July 19, Dr. Carl Reddix of Jackson pleaded not guilty in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Ball to seven counts, all revolving around bribing former Mississippi Department of Corrections head Christopher Epps.
4. The Mississippi Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on a petition Rep. Jay Hughes, D-Oxford, filed during the 2016 legislative session, alleging that speed-reading bills in the House of Representatives violates the state's constitutional provision that allows bills to be read.
5. The Jackson City Council deliberated handing the mayor the authority to terminate the contract with the company that maintains the JATRAN fleet during its last regular meeting on July 12, while moving toward leasing more buses in August.
6. Ward 2 Councilman Melvin Priester Jr. wrote a resolution that passed unanimously, urging more cooperation with the State of Mississippi to add additional blighted properties to the Neighbor’s First program.
7. On July 14, House Speaker Philip Gunn, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and Gov. Phil Bryant, all Republicans, announced plans at the state capitol to reform government spending and tax structure.
8. Synarus Green, who works as a legislative liaison for the City of Jackson, is running to take former Rep. Kimberly Campbell’s seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives.
9. Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith asked the Mississippi Supreme Court to overturn an order which bars him from performing his duties. He has been charged by the Attorney General Jim Hood's office with six counts of allegedly assisting defendants.
10. Last Friday, Donald Trump chose Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his vice-presidential running mate. Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker issued statements of support for Trump's VP choice.

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