Clarion-Ledger Backtracking from ‘Tort Reform' Hysteria
It's intriguing to note that The Clarion-Ledger, after years of gullibility on the U.S. Chamber's stance on "tort reform," is now starting to question what they have not dared to …
Barbour Adds Farish to Special Session Call
[verbatim statement] Governor Haley Barbour today amended the current Special Session call to include an initiative allowing the sale of alcohol in Jackson's Farish Street historic district. "At the request …
Frank Melton
Moore Alleges DA ‘Misconduct'
The attorney for Sharrod Moore, who is awaiting his Sept. 15 trial for the Nov. 14, 1995, murder of Jackson police officer Robert J. Washington, is accusing Hinds County District …
Chip Pickering Files for Divorce
WAPT is reporting that the Republican U.S. congressman stepping down to spend more time with his family has filed for divorce from his wife, Leisha.
Paul Minor Appeals Bribery Conviction
The Sun Herald is reporting that attorney Paul Minor, who is serving a 12-year prison term on bribery charges Congress is investigating as a possible political persecution by Republicans, has …
Lawyers File New Appeal for Condemned Man, Citing ‘Sham'
Phelps Dunbar attorney James Craig released the following statement about the appeal of death-row inmate Dale Bishop:
FOX News is the Media Scum of the Earth
Check this out. While conservative blog-queen Michele Malkin was talking about how it's fine to criticize Michelle Obama as long as people don't take "cheap shots," FOX News was flashing …
Clothing Needed for Laid-Off Workers
The Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance is asking for donations of clothing for immigrant workers recently laid off in Scott County, possibly as a result of a new anti-immigrant law passed …
Hood Wants Execution Date for Dale Leo Bishop
[Verbatim from Attorney General Jim Hood] Jackson, MS- Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood filed a motion with the Mississippi Supreme Court today requesting an execution date for Dale Leo Bishop …
State Diverting Katrina Funds Away from Housing
With 6,000 people still living in FEMA trailers on the Coast, Mississippi officials are diverting Katrina funds away from needed housing, the Associated Press reports:
Hmmmm…‘Frank Was Right'?
The Jackson Free Press received an anonymous letter (PDF) apparently sent to a variety of media and local churches this week. The letter called on churches, in particular, to do …
So, Does This Mean Bennett Will Walk?
So, it is possible that Mayor Frank Melton has fibbed againthis time about the suspect in the Memorial Day shooting confessing to him on tape. The D.A. doesn't have the …
Melton Protégé History Complicated
Mayor Frank Melton says he will be waiting for Michael Taylor to get out of prison, probably before he is 21. "He is too good of a kid to give …
Barbour: No! Don't Mingle Tobacco Taxes and Medicaid!
[Verbatim from Gov. Haley Barbour] While an increase in tobacco taxes to fund Medicaid is being talked about, no such proposal has passed either house of the Legislature during the …
Ledger Staffer Swipes at Obama's Daughter
... and for what? Because she was reading during one of her father's speeches. Marcela writes:
Melton Recruiting Young People; Wants $1 Million
WAPT reported yesterday that Mayor Frank Melton wants a last-minute approval from City Council for $1 million for summer youth jobs. WAPT:
NPR Listeners Dissect, Unload on Mississippi
NPR's Bryant Park Project did a piece yesterday about segregated school proms in Charleston, Miss. (a piece that was inspired by Kamikaze's column in the Jackson Free Press on the …
Back from Philly, Whew
Todd and I got back yesterday from the AAN national convention in Philly (Pa., not my Mississippi hometown). It's good to be homewhere it's actually cooler than it was in …
The Perils of Hillary as Veep Choice
It comes as no surprise to me that polls are showing a mixed blessing were Barack Obama to choose Hillary Clinton as his running mate, as her supporters are pressuring …
Out With the Old: Obama Clinches
Finally, we can get that Clinton baggage off our backs and move on. The Associated Press says Obama has "effectively" clinched the nomination. Big sigh of relief. Out with the …
AG Web site Tracks Fraudulent Contractors
[verbatim statement] Jackson, MS-Mississippi consumers can now track fraudulent contractors through a new website of the Office of the Attorney General. Mississippians can now go to http://www.agjimhood.com and find a …
McCain's Controversial Supporter to Speak in Jackson
The Associated Press is reporting that an extremist Texas televangelist who has embraced presidential candidate John McCain is coming to Jackson to speak. Rev. John Hagee, who said on NPR …
Koinonia Coffee House To Hold Grand Opening on June 6
As the Jackson Free Press alerted you in our Young Influentials issue several weeks ago, Koinonia Coffee House is about to open in West Jacksonthis Friday. We urge everyone to …
When Not to Trust Your ‘Gut'
Maureen Dowd's column today talks the uninformed George Bush revealed in his former press secretary's new bookand the problem with "trusting your gut" when it is filled with ignorance:
FEMA Clears Disaster Relief for Hinds County
[verbatim from Gov. Barbour's office] Governor Haley Barbour has been notified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency that Hinds County will receive a major disaster declaration from the President due …
Calling B.S. on Voter ID Plan
Today, the 5th Circuit called bullsh!t on a lower court's plan to force Mississippi voters to register by political party and show photo ID at the polls in order to …
Former Bush Flack: Iraq War ‘Not Necessary'
The bombshell of the day is former Bush press secretary Scott McClelland's new book, which is very frank about Bush selling the war in Iraq with "lies." AP reports:
Frank Melton
DA Alleges Cop Murder 'Cover-Up'
The capital murder trial of Sharrod Moore, indicted in January for the 12-year-old murder of Jackson police officer Robert J. Washington, was supposed to happen this week. But Judge Swan …
House Subpoenas Rove in Justice Political Scandal
As expected, the House Judiciary Committee has subpoenaed former presidential adviser Karl Rove to testify about his role in the alleged political investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice into …
Wyatt Explains Wealth, Equality and Liberalism to Us
Wyatt Emmerich crawled out from under his Northside rock long enough this week to pen this priceless column, which appears in one of his Delta newspaeprs:
Alamo, Dorothy Moore Honored with Blues Marker Today
Jackson's own Dorothy Moore, Jobi Martin and Wanda Collier Wilson will speak today at 3 p.m. at a celebration to dedicate a new Blues Trail marker today on Farish Street. …
Cover
A Tangled Web: The Mysteries of Frank Melton
After Frank Melton urged Donna Ladd in March 2005 to look into "rumors? about his past, the JFP conducted a three-year investigation into the specifics of those allegations.
Frank Melton
Dairy Bar of Confusion
More than three years after Frank Melton challenged the JFP outside Bravo! restaurant to look into the rumors about him, it is clear that his Jackson web of young friends, …
What, Hampton? Crime ‘Better' Than When?
As part of The Clarion-Ledger's odd collection of articles today, seemingly designed to kiss and make up with the city it has scorned and bashed for so long, David Hampton …
Barbour Calls May 21 Special Session for Medicaid and MDES
Read background on ad oversight controversy here.
Droppin' Hard
In his March 27, 2008, deposition, Stephen Hickman said that drugs were long flown into Jackson's Hawkins Field and then distributed among various drug heads.
Melton Drug-Dealing Rumors Back
A recent deposition raises years-old questions about Frank Melton and past investigations.
Childers Victory Sends ‘Shock Waves' Through GOP
The Washington Post is reacting to Travis Childers' victory tonight in Mississippi 1st Congressional Districthistorically a conservative Republican stronghold:
New Film Incentives for Mississippi
[verbatim] Jackson, Miss. (May 13, 2008) – Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has signed HB 1351, creating new incentives for the motion picture and television industry. The rebate program applies to …
Former Madison Central QB Indicted for Selling Drugs
WAPT is reporting that Jared Foster has been indicted in Madison County Circuit Court for selling steroids and released on a $5,000 bond. He pled not guilty and waived arraignment.
Greenwood Councilman Lambasted for Racial Slur
The Associated Press is reporting that Greenwood Councilman John Lee sent an e-mail last week to a group of whites criticizing black Council President David Jordan, and calling him a …
Obama Takes Lead in Superdelegates
The Associated Press is reporting that Sen. Barack Obama has officially gone ahead of Sen. Hillary Clinton in the race for Democratic superdelegates:
William Winter to Receive JFK ‘Profile in Courage Award'
Former Gov. William Winter is one of three people receiving the coveted John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award Monday in Boston for his "courageous decisions of conscience" during his …
Attorney General Holding Domestic Violence Conference May 13-14
[verbatim statement] The Domestic Violence Division of the Mississippi Attorney General's Office, in cooperation with the Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence, will hold its second annual Domestic Violence Conference on …
Imagine Bush or McCain Playing Taboo!?!
The Associated Press has a fun story about Barack Obama playing Taboo on his campaign plane with young journalists. From the story:
Ledger Does Melton-Denying-Allegations Story
Read the JFP Melton blog/archive here.
It seems The Clarion-Ledger is suddenly going somewhere it hasn't dared to go in over 20 years in its story today about the R.J. Washington case. The bizarre thing is …
BREAKING: Supreme Court Rules Against Berry
Update: Today, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the appeal of doomed prisoner Earl Berry. His attorney, Jim Craig, released the following statement:
Big Fix Rig Needs Cats to Spay This Week
If you have a cat that needs to be fixed—you know who you are—the Big Rig Fix is doing low-cost spays and neuters in Jackson five days a month, and …
snark >:-(
Sometimes life has a way of spiraling in on itself. Last week, I was asked to speak about advanced reporting and media ethics during Journalism Week at Ole Miss. Apropos …
