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National
Trent Harmon
The first "American Idol" finale in 2002 was a battle of the sexes, with Kelly Clarkson the victor over Justin Guarini. The last contest settled the score as Trent Harmon …
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Key Paris Attacks Suspect Seized in Belgium, Officials Say
A fugitive suspect in the Nov. 13 Paris attacks was arrested in Belgium on Friday, French police officials said, after a raid Belgian authorities said was linked to the deadly …
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Food
Camaraderie and Tradition
My oldest daughter spent her last year of high school living with a family in a rural town in Ecuador, and it became a family joke to serve her dinner …
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Music
The ‘Sunny’ Side of Widespread
It's clear that Widespread Panic has changed quite a bit since vocalist John Bell and late guitarist Michael Houser first began writing songs in their dorm at the University of …
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Cover
Jumping the Line: Caught in the Crossfire of Ridgeland's Demographic Struggles
Many parents in urban areas, met with the spatial and academic barrier of their zip codes, have no choice but to send their children to the public school available to …
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Business
BREAKING: City of Jackson Shocked by Low Water-Sewer Revenue, Litigation Ahead?
The City of Jackson is almost 12 percent behind projected revenue for water and sewer for this fiscal year, and the administration is considering potential litigation involving one of the …
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Trump Says Abortion Ban Should Yield 'Punishment' for Woman
Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump said Wednesday that women who get abortions should receive "some form of punishment" if abortion is banned, once again sparking controversy with days to go …
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Cover
2016 Crossroads Film Festival
Crossroads Film Festival celebrates 17 years this year. The 2016 festival features films from filmmakers right here at home and all the way to Japan and beyond.
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Business
Jackson Airport CEO Newman Outlines Plans for Hotel, Low-Cost Carrier
The airport's chief executive officer, during an interview at the airport on March 24 just as the Mississippi House was passing its controversial "takeover" bill of the facility, outlined a …
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Business
Mississippi: Amazing for Film
Mississippi and its local communities benefit when the cameras roll here, whether they're big studio Hollywood cameras or those of independent filmmakers.
Story
Anti-Discrimination Law Elicits Rebukes from Businesses
Corporations expressed disappointment and the NCAA vowed to monitor what North Carolina does next now that the state has banned any local government measures protecting people from discrimination on the …
Entry
Saints and Payton Agree to 5-Year Extension
By bryanflynnEvery NFL team wants to have stability at a few important spots in the franchise, from ownership to general manager to head coach to quarterback.
This morning, the New Orleans Saints made sure one of the major pieces of their stability was staying in town a little longer. Head coach Sean Payton announced during the NFC’s coaching breakfast that he and the Saints had reached a deal for a five-year extension.
ESPN’s Ed Werder said in a news article that the new deal will keep Payton in New Orleans until 2020 and pay him more than $45 million over the length of the deal. Payton was already one of the highest-paid coaches in the NFL and made $8.5 million a year on his last contract with the club.
In the 10 years he has been with the Saints, he has put together an 87-57 record and led the franchise to its only Super Bowl title. Payton has been with the Saints since 2006, which ties him with Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers for third-longest tenured head coach in the NFL.
Payton slides to fourth place if you discount the 2012 season in which he was suspended for the whole year as part of the Bountygate. New England’s Bill Belichick has been with the Patriots since 2000, and Cincinnati’s Marvin Lewis has been with the Bengals since 2003.
While in New Orleans, Payton has guided the Saints to the playoffs five times, and he had a 6-4 playoff record. He will forever be linked with the Saints' quick turnaround after Hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf coast.
After last season, in which the Saints finished 7-9, people speculated that New Orleans might try to trade Payton. That notion was quickly dispelled when Payton himself said he wanted to finish his career as New Orleans head coach.
New Orleans has missed the playoffs for the last two years, but with this contract, Payton can keep working on his vision to keep the Saints' championship window open. Part of that vision is sure to include quarterback Drew Brees.
Reports are that the Saints and Brees are working on a four-year extension to keep him in New Orleans until 2020 as well. A new extension for Brees also might help ease some of his cap burden for the next season, which is currently $30 million.
Payton’s extension also helps the club entering the NFL Draft next month. New Orleans can focus on both short and long-term plays knowing that their head coach will be in-house for the next five years.
The New Orleans Saints have the 12th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Overall, the Saints have seven draft picks to use in this year’s draft.
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Garland Meets Democrats, Senate Recesses, Groups Up Pressure
Merrick Garland has met with two supportive Senate Democratic leaders and spoken by phone to more of his Republican opponents. But he's moved no closer to weakening the GOP barricade …
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Syria's Kurds Declare De-Facto Federal Region in North
Syria's Kurds on Thursday declared a de-facto federal region in Kurdish-controlled areas of northern Syria, drawing sharp condemnation from both the Damascus government and its opponents who decried the unilateral …
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Editor's Note
Trump’s Politically Correct Call for Bigotry, Hate
It's really hard to find a stronger sign that Donald Trump hopes to become a fascist dictator of people and thought in America, and he's playing to very ugly instincts …
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Girl About Town
A Tiki-tastic Good Time
Not too long ago, a friend shared an article with me that longed for the resurgence of the in-house cocktail party. Why, it asked, do we always seem to suggest …
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Art
Working on a Different Canvas
While not altogether unfamiliar, Chuck Taylors are a unique medium to work with for many artists, despite being made from canvas. For Martha Ferris, the sneakers' material actually presented an …
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Mississippi House Votes for Small Town Revitalization Fund
Small towns could borrow money from the state to revitalize historic downtown areas under a bill passed Tuesday by the House.
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Trump, Clinton win Florida; Rubio Says He's Done
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the 2016 presidential campaign, with primaries in five states Tuesday and Republican front-runner Donald Trump trying to move closer to nailing down his party's …
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City & County
City Lifts Boil Notice, Some Streets Still Under Watch
The City of Jackson has lifted the boil notice for most of the city as they receive results from water tests, while one area still remains under watch.
