Donna Ladd | Stories | Jackson Free Press | Jackson, MS

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Donna Ladd

Stories by Donna

Domestic Violence

Doris Shavers Killed in Domestic Dispute

WAPT is reporting that Doris Shavers, 40, has died after being shot in the head, allegedly by Henry Phillips in a domestic dispute last night on Ludlow Street. While Shavers …

George Bell III in Women's Jail, Not Detention Center

WJTV—which has done stellar reporting in the Heather Spencer rape/murder—is reporting that the accused murderer is being housed in the women's jail downtown, not the Hinds County Detention Center where …

Jackblog

Classic iTodd – Emmy-winning TV Show Now on YouTube

We got word today that a fan of Todd's old TV show—"Disk Doctors" on Knowledge TV, along with co-host Steven Sashen—has posted several of the shows on YouTube. Todd started …

Jackblog

New Republic on the ‘K Street Evil Genius'

I knew New Republic was doing a story on Gov. Haley Barbour, and this one looks like a doozy. There's a lot there, but this part about Capitol Resources, etc., …

BREAKING: RTI to Build Titanium Sponge Plant in Mississippi

RTI International Metals Inc. today announced both plans to supply titanium products "that support the production of the Airbus family of commercial aircraft, including the A380 and the A350 XWB …

Jackblog

Haley Barbour, Environmentalist

This column is running in the Hattiesburg American. It would seem that the Barbours are helping the hunters and fishermen on the Coast, if not poor people who need housing …

Jackblog

‘Corporate Controlled Press' Hiding Barbour's Flaws?

I was just reading the comments under the Think Progress Barbour "corruption" thread and saw this comment that deserves more discussion:

Jackblog

Funny How Things Come in Waves

-----Original Message-----

The juvi-trolls are back at it, folks. Obviously, I did not go to John Eaves' Web site and send these e-mails out to people:

Jackblog

Update: ‘Jena 6' Sentence Overturned

Update: Today a Louisiana appeals court overturned the conviction of Mychal Bell, one of the "Jena 6" who were facing severe charges for their end of a racially tinged feud …

Jackblog

Radio JFP at Noon Thursday; Crisler May Appear

Councilman Marshand Crisler is joining Donna Ladd and Todd Stauffer today at noon for Radio JFP on WLEZ-FM (103.7 or http://www.wlezfm.com for a live stream)—if he can get out of …

Jackblog

Laurel Mayor Is Endorsing Eaves, NOT Barbour

In a turnabout, the Democratic mayor of Laurel is denying reports that he and Barbour were planning to jointly announce his endorsement of the governor. The Associated Press is reporting …

Jackblog

Barbour Used Ledger to Excuse Non-Disclosure

Be sure not to miss the juicy tidbit in Adam's cover story this week about BlindTrust-gate, which I also talk about in my editor's note about Barbour. That is, Barbour's …

Jackblog

Let's Talk Domestic Violence

Let's talk, Mississippi.

In honor of Heather Spencer, who was beaten to death by her boyfriend who almost beat her to death a couple months back with nothing done about it by the …

Jackblog

Barbour Touts Tort Reform; Insurance Reformers Answer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today, Gov. Haley Barbour held a press conference to declare a victory for his controversial tort-reform legislation. Barbour's statement is verbatim below; a PDF of a 10-page response by the …

Jackblog

Discussion About Mississippi, and Stereotypes, on Frommers

Someone just sent me this link to a Frommer's thread about Mississippi. There's some intriguing talk over there, revealing that everyone has their own prejudices. Quite compelling to consider. My …

Jackblog

Clarion-Ledger Gets Homicide Facts Wrong

To boot, this is a dramatically wrong statement. (Thanks to golden eagle for catching it.)

In a front-page story today, The Clarion-Ledger reported on the city's rising homicide rate, warning that the 36 to date this year is approaching the "record of 57 in 2004"—incidentally …

Frank Melton

Crisler: We Want Temp Worker Details Now

The Jackson City Council Budget Committee asked the Melton administration again Monday to cough up more information on its temporary and contract employees for the 2006-2007 fiscal year (PDF, 592 …

Jackblog

Daily Journal to Barbour: Come Clean

The Daily Journal in Tupelo continues to do Mississippians proud by calling on Gov. Haley Barbour to come clean about his financial ties to his (former?) D.C. lobbying firm. In …

Jackblog

Did Thompson Protect Barbour, GOP in 1990s?

The official entry of Fred Thompson into the presidential fray is causing some old GOP problems to be pulled from the memory hole and given a fresh light in a …

Jackblog

Isbister and Ladd to Host Radio JFP Friday Noon

Listen is as Laurel Isbister and Donna Ladd bring you Radio JFP this week on WLEZ-FM, 103.7. Listen to the live stream at here.

Jackblog

Is Barbour Fibbing in his TV Ads?

John Arthur Eaves, and Cotton Mouth, seem to think so. Check out their analysis.

Fondren ARTMix TONIGHT, 5 to 8 p.m.

Come out to Fondren for one of the coolest nights in Jackson. Shops and galleries will be open from 5 to 8 p.m., with lots of fun entertainment indoors and …

Jackblog

Talking About the Dee-Moore Murders

I just got a link to a radio interview I did with Pokey Anderson of "The Monitor," a progressive news analysis show on KPFT out of Houston. I almost missed …

Jackblog

A Giuliani-Barbour Ticket: Just Imagine

I just ran into this post on the Think Progress blog that is basically saying what I was earlier about all the revelations about his "blind trust" and his Katrina …

Jackblog

Harrison Asking the Right Barbour Questions

Up in Tupelo, Daily Journal reporter Bobby Harrison is asking the right questions, as opposed to the ridiculous posturing coming out of The Clarion-Ledger's Sid Salter. He writes today about …

Jackblog

Salter: Get Your ‘Manufactured' Facts Straight

The Cottonmouth Blog is taking Sid Salter to task for his bizarre and rather desperate attempts to defend Haley Barbour and his blind trust, especially about a snipe Salter took …

Jackblog

Worst Newspaper in the U.S. At It Again

OK, so here comes The Clarion-Ledger after the election with a story about Robert Smith and his history, including his getting in trouble in Madison County for calling a law …

Jackblog

Where Did Ledger Edit-Boyz Get THIS Information?

In a January 2004 editorial defending Haley Barbour's "blind trust" in his lobbying firm, The Clarion-Ledger editorial board declared that it was hunky-dory because he no longer owned stock in …

Jackblog

Barbour Redirecting Katrina Funds to the Wealthy?

Salon is reporting that Gov. Haley Barbour has gotten HUD waivers that have redirected 80 percent of federal block grants awarded to help Mississippi's low- and moderate-income residents recover from …

Frank Melton

Melton Asks Warner to Oversee Ex-Con Staff

At District Attorney-elect Robert Smith's victory party, Mayor Frank Melton said that Smith is one of his long-time "kids" who will now help him with the young men of Jackson …

Frank Melton

Audio of Melton and Smith's Remarks

"Robert, you're like a little brother to me. I love you and I'll always love you, and I had to distance myself from your campaign ...."

Jackblog

The Truth About Barbour's ‘Blind Trust'

Bloomberg News is still hot on Barbour's trail. Today, they reveal much more about his so-called "blind trust" in the lobbying firm that lobbied the state for Katrina-related contracts—it pays …

Jackblog

Why today?

Coincidentally, by the way, Mayor Frank Melton was seen leaving Judge Yerger's chambers this week.

This is a serious question. Why did Supreme Court Chief Justice James Smith Jr. today appoint a special judge, directly by Judge Swan Yerger, to help the D.A.'s office prosecute …

Hurricane

Hurricane Katrina: Two Years Later

As our state and our Louisiana neighbors face the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with many thousands of people still living in FEMA trailers, and the possibility of another hurricane …

Frank Melton

Melton Presents New D.A., Kept Distance During Campaign

Citizen bloggers are reporting that a jubilant Mayor Frank Melton introduced Robert Smith, his choice for district attorney, last night at Smith's campaign gathering. In his remarks, made before Smith's, …

D.A. Peterson Concedes, Goes Home

With 98 percent of precincts reporting and Robert Smith leading by 1,183 votes, District Attorney Faye Peterson just conceded defeat in the Red Room at Hal & Mal's, saying that …

Live Blogging from Peterson Party at Hal & Mal's

Donna Ladd and Ronni Mott are blogging live from D.A. Faye Peterson's post-election gathering at Hal & Mal's.

BREAKING: Leslie McLemore Elected Council President

JFP reporter Adam Lynch called in from the City Council meeting tonight to report that new Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill provided the swing vote to elect Leslie McLemore Council …

Jackblog

Smith Supporters Vandalize JFP Racks

OK, Robert Smith told me repeatedly that he is not "Melton's candidate," but some overnight actions are not exactly helping convince me. This morning, we found an "Elect Robert Shuler …

The JFP's Coverage of the Hinds DA Race - VOTE TODAY

Face-Off: Faye Peterson v. Robert Smith

Jackblog

Clarion-Ledger Endorses Faye Peterson

A hat tip to The Clarion-Ledger for endorsing Faye Peterson, and for substantive, real reasons. They were late on the D.A. race—not endorsing and barely covering it before the primaries—but …

Justice

BREAKING: James Ford Seale Receives Life in Prison

A former Klansman, who was thought to be dead until the brother a man he kidnapped and helped kill went to Franklin County with the CBC and the Jackson Free …

Talk

Melton Details Jefferson Davis Youth Camp

Mayor Frank Melton abruptly called the Jackson Free Press last week to correct what he thought was misreporting in the paper, in a July 25 story about a camp for …

Jackblog

Here Comes Rudy!

Gotta love hypocrites.

So, Rudy "Take the Guns!" Giuliani is headed to Mississippi to campaign in a region where very few of his (historic) views actually resonate. We're guessing his kids won't be …

Jackblog

Attention: I'm Tired of Chasing Political Ghosts

Campaign season does not bring out the best in some of you, that's for sure.

This is to all the anonymous people out there working to unseat elected officials, especially the district attorney. Please stop sending me unsubstantited accusations and innuendo, claiming that it is …

JUST IN: Faye Peterson's New TV Ads

NEW: The System Was Broken

Someone just sent us the links to three new Peterson ads that are on youtube. They feature very interesting people in the community. we've also heard that there a number …