Jury Back 12:30 Friday in Melton-Recio Trial; Verdict Today?
Read the JFP original breaking story on Ridgeway destruction here
Melton-Recio Jury to Reconvene 9 a.m. on Thursday
U.S. Marshals escorted defense witness Christoper Walker, Frank Melton's former mentee, into the courtroom this morning before jurors arrived.
Melton Defense Continues; Chris Walker Today?
JFP Coverage of Defense Witness Christopher Walker
BREAKING: Judge DeLaughter Arraigned in Bribery Scandal
JFP coverage of DeLaughter and Peters
Entergy Claims Good Practices in State; Hood Begs to Differ
Entergy:
Entergy and Attorney General Jim Hood put out dueling press releases today about the company's claim that an audit has found that Entergy's practices are in the state's "best interests." …
Barbour Not Pleased with Senate Over Eminent Domain Limits
After the Mississippi Senate passed Senate Bill 2230 today to restrict the use of eminent domain to direct public use, Gov. Haley Barbour released this statement tonight: "If the bill …
Wright: Recio Falsified Documents, Melton ‘Clearly Under the Influence'
'On the Road Again' with Melton and his Bodyguards
Frank Melton
Taylor Testimony Creates Firestorm, Brings In Melton Drunkenness
Previous JFP coverage of Michael Taylor
Crematorium Owner Arrested Following Indictment
[Verbatim statement] Jackson, MS-A Jackson crematorium owner has been arrested following a five count indictment by a Hinds County Grand Jury, announced Attorney General Jim Hood. Mark Seepe, owner of …
Charles Evers to Interview Mayoral Hopeful Robert Johnson
See and update: Robert Johnson on Jackpedia
City Candidate Pages on Jackpedia - Help Us Beef Them Up!
I've posted links to city candidate pages for this year's election on Jackpedia. All of you, whether you work with candidates or not, are welcome to register for Jackpedia and …
Defense Cannot Use Prostitute Allegation Against Bodyguard
See JFP Melton Blog/Archive here.
Federal District Judge Dan Jordan ruled this morning that defense attorneys for Mayor Frank Melton and former bodyguard Michael Recio cannot use allegations of sexual misconduct by former bodyguard Marcus …
Jury Selection Begins in Melton-Recio Trial
Melton archive/blog.
The thrice-delayed federal civil rights trial of Mayor Frank Melton and bodyguard Michael Recio kicked off Monday in the federal courthouse in downtown Jackson for the destruction of a private …
Did Mayor Use Teen Funeral Remarks to Taint Jury Pool?
Watch WAPT report here/.
WAPT is reporting that Mayor Frank Melton ditched the proclamation he was supposed to read in deceased teen Chris Ulmer's honor; instead, he defended himself against the federal civil rights …
Mississippi Truth Project to Probe State's Race History
I am thrilled to share the news that a Mississippi Truth Project is officially kicking off this Saturday in Jackson. A major goal of the project is to create a …
5th Circuit to Hear Paul Minor's Appeal March 30
Associated Press and Forbes are reporting:
Gannett Earnings Drop 16% in 2008, 22% Quarter
News is grim today at the Gannett Corp., which owns The Clarion-Ledger. A company press release (PDF) reveals the news that earnings overall dropped 16 percent in 2008 and 22 …
JFP ‘Best of Jackson' Challenge: Give Back, and Shop Local!
Now that the 7th annual (really!) Best of Jackson season has ended, and the party a sweet memory, here's what all of us can do next. We need to vow …
Teen Summit Tuesday Deals with Teen Pregnancy
[Verbatim statement] Jackson, MS- Centers for Disease Control recently released a report that puts Mississippi as the nation's leader in teen births. Many parents are intimidated to talk with their …
Rove and Melton Facing Music the Same Day?
In a world where we all have spent a lot of time in recent years waiting for a reckoning for injustice, it is quite possible that the Jackson mayor and …
How to Dress for the Best of Jackson Party: Tycoon, Bailout Chic
There you have it; go crazy. Or not. Just be there, JFP Nation!
We're getting an amusingly large number of questions about the "theme" for this year's Best of Jackson party, and how to dress for it; "monopoly" is confusing folks. So here …
Best of Jackson Winners Announced; Party Sunday at The Auditorium!
Click here to see the 2009 Best of Jackson Winners
A Special Thanks to the JFP Staff and Freelancers
Did I leave anyone out! Thank you all so, so, so much. You are the BEST.
Before the frenzy of Best of Jackson winner and party madness kicks in, I want to give props to the best staff a company can have. The JFP staff members …
Happy Inauguration Day! Share Your Thoughts.
Jan. 20, 2009, is here, and Barack Obama will make history as the next president of the United States. What are your thoughts on this historic occasion? What message do …
What to Do in Jackson on Inauguration Day
There are several gathering around Jackson, day and night. Click here for a list on the JFP events calendar (and you can add your own!). Feel free to post about …
Tougaloo Students Blogging from Inauguration
A group of students from Tougaloo College are blogging inaugural events on Black College Wire. The group of mass communications students are led by professor Eric Stringfellow and plan to …
U.S. Attorney to Reveal Sealed Criminal Complaint at 4 p.m.
Something big is going down today; the U.S. attorney's office just sent out this e-mail to media:
There will be a hearing at 4:00 p.m. today before US Magistrate Judge Sumner on the fifth floor of the federal courthouse. I am not able to tell you what …
Medical Mall Teen Summit to Deal with Pregnancy
[Verbatim] Jackson, MS- he Mississippi State Health Department and others will join the Jackson Medical Mall Foundation for a news conference on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at …
Kids Kollege Inauguration Ball at Jackson State
[Verbatim] On January 20, Kids Kollege & the Jackson State University Senior Class of 2009 will host the Kids Kollege 2009 Inauguration Ball in the Jacob L. Reddix Campus Union: …
Holder, Obama Support Journalist Shield Law
The San Francisco Chronicle reports good news for journalists and the public's right to know:
Barbour Orders More Cuts, Including to MAEP
January 14, 2009 - Gov. Haley Barbour today ordered more state budget cuts, including $76.6 million from the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, a 3.49% cut to that program. Barbour released …
Friendship Over Religion
It is easy to be on the outside of a religion looking in and only see the negatives. That's especially true when you're peering into a fundamentalist, or "orthodox," faith …
Gannett Corp. in Crisis; Clarion-Ledger Staffers Must Take Week Off
Clarion-Ledger staffers are part of an immediate corporate-wide "furlough" program ordered by the home office in order to "preserve operations," reports the Gannett Blog. A memo from Gannett CEO Craig …
Domino Mag Breaks White House Decorator News
It makes me happy in a way I can't explain that we have a family going into the White House that appreciates the kind of home decor featured by Domino …
Barbour's ‘2009 State of the State' Address
Governor Bryant; Speaker McCoy; ladies and gentlemen of the Legislature; and fellow Mississippians: Tonight marks the sixth time you have allowed Marsha and me to join you here to report …
CNN Money Wants to Hear from Jacksonians on Inauguration
All, CNN Money editor Amy Haimerl -- a very good friend of mine and the JFP -- is working on CNN Money's "real people" galleries. In advance of the inauguration, …
Hood: Entergy Twists Numbers to Hide Damage to Mississippi Ratepayers
Read Adam Lynch's earlier story about Entergy's rate controversy here.
Entergy Temporarily Suspends Reactor License Applications
[Verbatim statement from Entergy] Jackson, Miss. – Entergy New Nuclear Utility Development, commonly referred to as Entergy Nuclear, is temporarily suspending reviews of two new nuclear license applications and will …
MEMA Urges Preparation for Freezing Forecast
Also see: Emergency Weather Tips on Jackpedia
Fondren Beverage, ARTichoke Closing
Sadly, we have to report that two of Jackson's most interesting locally owned businesses are closing: Fondren Beverage Emporium and ARTichoke on Fortification Street are closing. In Fondren, the Beverage …
Lawsuit Alleges Racketeering by ‘Former United State Senator'
Folo's got the poop on a new Wilson v. Scruggs lawsuitwhich alleges a conspiracy between Dickie and Zach Scruggs, Ed Peters, Bobby DeLaughter and a "former United States Senator":
Melton's Attorney: ‘He Is In Charge'
Mayor Frank Melton's attorney John Reeves said today that the mayor has no need to appoint an interim mayor after confirming that Melton traveled home to Texas after leaving the …
Barbour to Deliver ‘State of the State' Tuesday
[Verbatim] Jackson, Mississippi - Governor Haley Barbour will deliver his sixth State of the State address at 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 13, in the House Chambers at the State Capitol. …
Oral arguments in City of Jackson v. Byram Incorporators Today
[Verbatim announcement] At 10 a.m. on Monday, January 12, 2009, the Mississippi Supreme Court will sit en banc to hear oral arguments in the case of the City of Jackson …
Hood Announces $3.35 Million Settlement with Dell
[Verbatim release] Jackson, MS--Attorney General Jim Hood announced today an agreement between the Attorneys General of 34 states and Dell under which Dell will provide $1.5 million restitution to Dell …
