Cedric Willis Sues City of Jackson
Cedric Willis, who served 12 years in prison until he was exonerated last year, has announced that he is suing the city of Jackson for $36 million for wrongful arrest. …
Cocktails That Make You Go ‘Boo!'
To scare up a formidable Black Cat, pour 1 ounce vodka and 1 ounce cherry brandy into a highball glass over ice. Fill with equal parts Coke and cranberry juice.
State Investigates ‘Lawn Service' Contracts
Better late than never. It looks like the state and the media are finally playing catch-up on investigating the city's allocation of money to Frank Melton's "lawn service" contracts to …
BREAKING: City Council Has Standing Against Mayor
The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled today that the Hattiesburg City Council has standing to seek a writ of mandamus against Mayor Johnny DuPree.
U.S. House Probing Diaz, Minor Prosecutions
The idea that the prosecutions of Justice Oliver Diaz and attorney Paul Minor may have been politically motivated by a George Bush administration is gathering steam in the nation's capitol, …
Todd's New Book Is Out!
JFP Publisher Todd Stauffer's new book, "How to Do Everything with Your Web 2.0 Blog," is out! You can order the book online at Powell's and other outlets. It should …
Shrinking JPD Springs a Sex-Toy Sting
So, the city can manage to find money to do sting operations in order to seize dildos. What a relief. Clarion-Ledger is reporting:
Ladd Profiles Frank Melton in Reason Magazine
JFP Editor Donna Ladd writes about Mayor Frank Melton's shenanigans for Reason Magazine. The piece starts:
My Story on Melton in Reason Magazine
Read the piece.
The libertarian Reason magazine today published a piece they asked me to write about Frank Melton and his shenanigans to date. Check it out here (note that a couple of …
JFP, Other Alts Stand with Phoenix New Times
The Jackson Free Press is proud to stand up today, alongside our sister papers in the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies against the efforts of elected officials in Phoenix, Ariz., to …
Ledger Publishes Old News on Michael Taylor
Oddly, The Clarion-Ledger today published a news story about Frank Melton's young friend, Michael Taylor, pointing out that new D.A. Robert Smith will have a conflict prosecuting him. This is …
Icky: ‘Heritage' Operative on Barbour's Staff
Just when you thought that the past was another half-mile behind us, something like this comes to light. The Associated Press reported:
With Due Respect, Mr. Agnew ...
It's hilarious that The Clarion-Ledger is trying to position itself in front of the FBI investigation of Frank Melton even though they have followed, if they even bothered to do …
The Melton Tapes: Donna Ladd's Interviews with Frank Melton
In spring 2006, Mayor Frank Melton broke his 14-month silence toward the Jackson Free Press, after refusing to give an interview to the newspaper after critical coverage of his campaign …
Does This Make Sense?
The Clarion-Ledger has a story about D.A.-elect Robert Smith not showing up for a docket call and needing to resolve his pending cases before he takes office in January. The …
Melton: Who, Me?
"I don't know anything about that. I can't imagine what I've done," Melton said.
The Jackson rumor mill is on overdrive today about federal indictments of Mayor Frank Melton coming down in the wake of an FBI investigation that pulled several members of his …
Oxford Cop Killer Pleads Down to Manslaughter
The Clarion-Ledger is reporting:
Libertarian Magazine Probes State Medical Examiner
Over the last week, an investigative story in Reason magazine by Radley Balko probing Mississippi medical examiner Steven Hayne has attracted national attention, even drawing an editorial in the Wall …
Noose Found on Door of Black Columbia Professor
Well, if anything, the Jena 6 situation is going to expose the racism and bigotry in our midst—all of our midst. And that is a damn good thing. We've got …
Barbour Attacks Eaves for Suing the Military; Eaves Responds
In recent TV ads, Gov. Haley Barbour feigns outrage at his opponent for suing the military as a trial attorney. Eaves responds in an e-mail and TV spot that indicates …
He Fired a 9mm and They Didn't Check His Background?!?
What!?! Just because a man is a "homeowner" firing at apparent "thugs" with his semiautomatic, the JPD doesn't check his background? Good Lord. There goes another Clarion-Ledger front-page hero.
Mea Culpa from Ledger's Hampton ... Sort of
But notice that his only solution to the problem of newspapers' decreasing coverage of "complex" political issues is finding more bloggers for the Ledger's site. Sigh; it's sad to watch …
Lobbyist: Barbour Has No Ties to Firm
Bobby Harrison is reporting in the Daily Journal that Lanny Griffith has issued a statement about Haley Barbour's current status with his (former?) lobbying firm.
GAO: FEMA Favored Mississippi Over Louisiana
The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office has confirmed that FEMA favored Mississippi over Louisiana after Katrina, concurring with the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general who criticized FEMA for awarding "the …
Theater of the Beef-Plant Absurd
Can we just call the beef-plant debacle what it is: a foolish bipartisan embrace of a corporate-welfare scheme gone awry? Both Dems and Republicans pushed for it, and Barbour wrote …
Jamie Franks: ‘I'm Being Attacked'
Jamie Franks today sent out an e-mail to supporters, responding to the state (and national?) Republican Party's "liberal"-baiting campaign—"Too Liberal for Mississippi"—against him. Here is Franks' verbatim statement:
Burglary, Shots Fired on Melton's Street
The Clarion-Ledger is reporting that a house was burglarized on Riverwood Drive, Mayor Frank Melton's street in North Jackson. The homeowner fired at them and they ran into the woods. …
AG Warns Citizens About E-mail Threat Scam
The attorney general's cyber-crime unit is investigating the origin of a threatening e-mail that has been circulated around Jackson in the last week. Verbatim statement:
Republican Mayor Lott to Endorse John Eaves Today
Verbatim from the Eaves campaign:
LUMBERTON — Republican Mayor Aaron Lott of Lumberton will endorse Democrat John Eaves for Governor during a news event at 2 p.m. today, Thursday, September 27, 2007. The event will …
Melton Calls Councilman a ‘Goddamn Idiot'
Mayor Frank Melton showed his dark side publicly yesterday while in a meeting to try to figure how to alleviate his $3 million budget deficit from last year. The Clarion-Ledger …
Grant Me Justice: Two Women Killed in Two Weeks
Enjoying the slight drop in temperature on Monday, Sept. 17, Doris Shavers sat laughing with friends and family in her mother Ethel Sanders' front yard where the family liked to …
Chief: No Wrongdoing in Cop Shooting of Unarmed Man
The Clarion-Ledger is reporting that Chief Shirlene Anderson is saying that a police officer who shot an unarmed man three times in the chest during a traffic stop committed no …
Health & Wellness Info Needed on Jackpedia!
To help the JFP prepare for our upcoming fall wellness issue (out Oct. 11), we're asking readers and wellness practitioners to post information on Jackpedia that will help JFP readers …
Is the Melton Administration Breaking the City?
More details when Adam Lynch returns from City Hall.
The Clarion-Ledger is reporting that the Melton administration revealed to City Council today that they still need $3 million in order to balance the city's budgeteven though Council has already …
Miss. Prayer Warriors Protesting Barbour Lobbying Ties
Haley Barbour still getting paid by lobbying firm.
The Mississippi Prayer Warriors sent around this e-mail today questioning Barbour's lobbying ties. Pasted verbatim:
Barbour Plays Hillary Card on Eaves; Eaves Cries Foul
BARBOUR NEEDS A FACT CHECKER
The John Eaves gubernatorial campaign just sent around this statement responding to Barbour's comment during last week's debate that Eaves gave to fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton's campaign—clearing trying to play …
Best of Jackson is Drawing Near: Need Suggestions!
Folks, we will soon begin the competition for Best of Jackson 2008. This year, we are solicting reader suggestions for categories you'd like to see on the Best of Jackson …
Melton is SUCH a Union Man
In The Clarion-Ledger story this morning about the Council's effort to regulate the mayor's ability to hire so many temporary workers for undefined lengths of time, the mayor demonstrates why …
Barbour-Eaves Debate 7 p.m. Thursday on MPB
Tune in to hear a live broadcast of the debate between Gov. Haley Barbour and challenge John Eaves tonight at 7 p.m. on MPB radio. Feel free to comment on …
Gannett Papers Facing Staff, er, ‘Mojo' Loyalty Issues
A journalism professor published interesting column in Seven Days, the alternative paper in Burlington, Vt., about their Gannett daily, ironically (to us) called the Burlington Free Press. The column explores …
BREAKING: Did Mayor Fire Cops for Muddling Domestic Case?
Sources tell the Jackson Free Press that Mayor Frank Melton may have fired police officers who muddled the response to reports on Ludlow Street Monday that Henry Phillips, 50, was …
Hilarious Pic: Me, Joey and Darth
Our good friend Gorjus is using a photo of Joey Adams, Darth Vader and me at Crossroads last year as his main pic right now. You know, I thought Darth …
Haley Barbour v. Oliver Diaz?
Scott Horton has a compelling piece in Harper's magazine right now about the Oliver Diaz case, and whether it was "politically motivated and directed"—and driven by none other than Gov. …
All Eyes on Jena, La., Today
The JFP's Maggie Burks is in Jena, La., today continuing her http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/comments.php?id=14884_0_67_0_C ]coverage of the Jena 6 case that she started in early August when she went to cover Al …
D.A. Smith: ‘New' at Dealing with Melton?
David Hampton said yesterday on this blog that he ran into D.A.-elect Robert Smith, who told him that he no longer has the two JPD bodyguards. Then Hampton explains it …
