Barbour Announces Alternative Coast Housing
[verbatim statement] Governor Haley Barbour today announced additional information regarding the state's Alternative Housing Pilot Program that was granted more than $280 million in funding from the Federal Emergency Management …
Why Won't Ledge Identify Press Releases!?!
OK, this practice has long bugged me, but now it's really driving me crazy. Now that The Clarion-Ledger is turning its newspaper into "information centers," they are posting press releases …
Democrats May Deny Funds for Iraq Surge
The Associated Press is reporting: In a blunt warning to the White House, congressional Democrats said Monday they may seek to deny funds for the type of short-term troop buildup …
Juvenile Justice Group Applauds Edmonds Decision
Following is a verbatim release appauding the Mississippi Supreme Court's decision to order a new trial in the murder conviction of then-13-year-old Tyler Edmonds, accused of helping his half-sister pull …
Monticello Mayor: No Payments for Jackson
Mayor Dave Nichols II of Monticello has a letter in The Clarion-Ledger today opposing the move to pass a PILT (payment in lieu of taxes) bill for the capital city. …
Jackson Gets New FBI Head
... and he seems to have a pretty impressive resume. Bets are that he'll stay busy in these parts:
Fred Brink, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and 21-year FBI veteran, today was named the new special agent in charge of the FBI's Jackson Division. Brink is coming …
Rep. Leonard Morris Out of Surgery, Still Critical
The Associated Press is reporting: State Rep. Leonard Morris, D-Batesville, remained in critical condition Friday, a day after having kidney surgery. A spokeswoman for the University of Mississippi Medical Center …
Wired Bloggers Picking Apart Jackson Spycopter
After the JFP's Adam Lynch wrote the only article that actually raised questions about Jackson's new helicopter, apparently purchased by Jim Barksdale and flown by his business partner's son, Coyt …
Barbour Doesn't Support Minimum Wage
No kidding, eh? Check out his reasoning, as reported by The Clarion-Ledger today:
The Ugly Death of Saddam Hussein
The New York Times is editorializing today about the gruesome way that Saddam Hussein was executed—and what that means for both the U.S.' reputation and the Iraqi people:
Bill Minor on the Willie Morris Library
I just ran into Mr. Minor's column about the Willie Morris library dedication. And I'm honored that he repeated what I told him at the dedication in it. The Jackson …
Americans Want Higher Minimum Wage, Stem-Cell Research
The Associated Press is reporting that as Democrats take over Congress this week, a large majority of Americans are supporting the party's primary goals:
AAN Awards Diversity Grant to Melishia Grayson
The Association of Alternative Newsweeklies announced today that JFP intern and columnist Melishia Grayson is the recipient of a 2007 diversity grant. Melishia will report, write and blog 20 hours …
A ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission' for Mississippi?
What do y'all think?
Rev. Ross Olivier of Galloway mentioned an article written recently by my former professor and mentor Howard Ball about the need to establish a "Truth and Reconcolition Commission" here. I …
Legislature to Pass MAEP Today?
More details as they develop ...
The word out of the Capitol is that the Legislature's first order of business today—the first day of the 2007 session—is to pass the Mississippi Adequate Education Program. This would …
Melton's Bahamas Trip Still Haunting Him
How 'bout them apples? (And what a testament to the puzzle a couple of blog entries can unlock!)
Remember way back on March 3 when we first told Jackson on a JFP blog posting that Melton seemed to be bound for the Bahamas right in the midst of …
President Ford: Iraqi War, WMD Story a ‘Mistake"
Bob Woodward did an interview with President Ford in 2004 that was embargoed by the former president until after his death. It is published today in the Washington Post, along …
AG: ‘Sneaky' Insurance Cos. Wrong to Delay Katrina Suits
[Verbatim statement from Jim Hood] "State Farm, Allstate, Nationwide, Farm Bureau, USAA, and Nationwide have caused many people on our Coast to wait a year and three months for a …
Sen. Horhn Announces Historic Pocahontas Rest Stop
[verbatim statement] Dec. 28, 2006—Eight years of effort finally paid off. State Senator John Horhn announced today that the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) has allocated $1.9 Million and begun …
Fraud, Katrina Contracts Could Waste $2 Billion
The Associated Press is reporting on staggering waste and loss of funds due to no-bid and fraudulent contracts, especially to Republican supporters, after Katrina, as well as how few minority-owned …
Nanny Hunt a ‘Slap' for African Americans
The New York Times has an interesting piece about the difficulties well-to-do African Americans can have getting quality child care in the U.S.:
Merry Christmas & Happy Kwanzaa from the JFP Staff
Todd, Donna, Stephen, Renee, Jakob, Darren, Brian, Natalie, Adam, JoAnne, Herman, Ronni, Casey, Pat, Korey and the other JFP contributors wish you all a safe and thoughtful Christmas and Kwanzaa …
Fired Principal Alleges JPS Supe Sexually Harassed Him
WAPT is reporting: Jackson Public Schools has fired the principal of Chastain Middle School on Wednesday morning, citing missing money and poor performance. But Principal Michael Ellis said he was …
Gifts Losers Don't Give
It's only days until Christmas and—this is the point where a lot of people really screw up. If—like me—you haven't quite finished your shopping (or started), you might be tempted …
Jill Conner Browne: Victory on Toys for Katrina Kids!
Our good friend Jill Conner Browne just sent this update out to her list about how efforts of many of you and others are making a big difference in the …
This is a NEWS Headline, Ledger?!?
Look at the kind of crap that is helping beef up the "news headlines" over on Gannett's local "information center," now that the Ledger is, uh, moving beyond the idea …
Loome: Politicians Misrepresenting MAEP Formula
[Verbatim from Nancy Loome] There has been a good deal of political posturing surrounding the Mississippi Department of Education's announcement of the updated MAEP figures. Rest assured that the negative …
Supreme Court: City Can't Call Duplex a ‘Drughouse'
The Clarion-Ledger is reporting that the Mississippi Supreme Court has upheld the order that city officials cannot refer to the Ridgeway Street duplex, allegedly demolished by Mayor Frank Melton and …
Rev. Ross Olivier, Jesse Robinson on Radio JFP Friday
Tune in Friday (Dec. 15) at noon for the second beta version of Radio JFP on WLEZ, 103.7 FM. We have amazing guests this week—Rev. Ross Olivier of Galloway Methodist …
Melton Hires Judge Accused of Sexual Harassment
The Clarion-Ledger is reporting the latest chapter in "As the City Spins":
BREAKING: Another of Melton's ‘Boys' Arrested
WAPT is reporting that Jeremy Bibbs, who lives with Mayor Frank Melton when he is not in college, has been arrested for carrying a gun on the campus of Copiah-Lincoln …
Gannett Plans to Shrink Dailies; Target Older Folks
Interesting poop about the Gannett Co.'s plans for its daily newspapers. (Remember that Gannett owns The Clarion-Ledger.) It seems that they plan to shift their strategy from producing print newspapers …
Dailies Aren't Telling Citizens What They Need to Know
Ain't it the truth? We're surrounded by evidence of this problem, as discussed by Governing magazine. This is a good story, and very thought-provoking. It starts out:
Join the JFP for Southern Fried Karaoke Saturday
Join Donna and Todd for the third annual holiday edition of Southern Fried Karaoke this Saturday, Dec. 9, starting at 9 p.m. in the Hal & Mal's restaurant. Good singers …
Judge Revokes Melton Teen's Bond
The Clarion-Ledger is reporting that Judge Swan Yerger has revoked the bond of Michael Taylor, a mentee and housemate of Mayor Frank Melton, in an armed robbery charge brought in …
Silly Little Editorial About Melton in Ledger Today
It's really amusing to watch The Clarion-Ledger squirm over their annointed choice for mayor. Today, they start their hand-wringing editorial about Frank Melton with this:
Know a Jackson cartoonist who does strip called "Social"?
If so, we're looking for him. We have his portfolio, but no number, and really want to talk to him.
Please Help With Presents for Katrina Kids
Dec. 4, 2006—Sweet Potato Queen Jill Conner Browne just forwarded us this e-mail. Everyone, please do what you can to help these children get presents this year; drop-off info in …
Baker Report: Bush Iraq Policy ‘Not Working'
Now, here's a surprise. Bush and Cheney's Iraqi War has not worked. They have underreported the level of violence in Iraq. They need to try a bit of diplomacy. The …
UPDATED: Ridgeway Minor Arrested for Armed Carjacking
Also see Schwindaman's cartoon story: Adventures of Above-the-Law Man!
What is Hampton TALKING About?!?
OK, The Ledger's David Hampton has really wigged out this time. In his column about crime today, he divides all of us Jacksonians into two offensive categories. Don't get too …
David Banner, Kamikaze on Talk Radio Monday A.M.
[From Kamikaze] Banner and I will be on the morning show at 97.7 WRJH on hot talk at 9 on MONDAY talking about the controversy (both Banner's and the Millsaps …
16-Year-Old Arrested for Cross Burning
Police have arrested a white 16-year-old in Byhalia in North Mississippi for burning a cross in a black family's yard.
AG: State Meth Laws Curbing Problem
[verbatim from AG's office]Since Mississippi's Meth Law went into effect just over a year ago, meth lab seizures have gone down 65%, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today. The new …
Lawyers Debate Why Blacks Lag at Major Firms
All you great legal minds out there might want to chew on this New York Times story a bit. It discusses the debate among lawyers about why law firms are …
Willie Morris Library Opens Today
The brand spanking new Willie Morris branch of the Jackson-Hinds Public Library opens today at 10 a.m. at 4912 Old Canton Road. Willie's wife (and JFP senior editor) JoAnne Prichard …
