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

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Donna Ladd

Stories by Donna

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Out of the Shadows: Ronnie Crudup Jr. Brings Youth, Business to Forefront

Many Jacksonians did not know Ronnie Crudup Jr. before he announced as a candidate for mayor.

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UPDATED: Lumumba Files Campaign Report, Third Behind Horhn, Graham in Donations

On a major campaign filing date, Mississippi Sen. John Horhn leads, so far, in donations with upwards of $200,000 in donations to date, although he has spent much of it.

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A Mayor's Story: Tony Yarber on His Past Mistakes and Evolving Vision

Mayor Tony Yarber is different this time around. During his first run for the job vacated when Mayor Chokwe Lumumba died in 2014, a bunch of urgent business suits surrounded …

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Rains Bring Flood Control Front of Mind; 'One Lake' Promised as Solution

The reality and unpredictability of the mighty Pearl waters bring the issue of long-delayed and debated flood control back front of mind in the metro, as the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River …

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Ahem, City Candidates

Sixteen people may be running for mayor, but as of press time, only two of them had met the Jan. 31, 2017, annual reporting deadline—nearly two months later.

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UPDATED: Capitol Complex Bill with Funds for Jackson Passes, Heads to Governor

The year 2017 may be the charm for Jackson, at least when it comes to getting upward of $20 million a year from the State of Mississippi to help repair …

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A ‘Gang,’ By Any Other Name

The word "gang" means different things to different people—and the realities of organized gangs in U.S. cities have shifted over the years. One result is that many of them are …

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‘One Lake’ Tax Sails Forward

Previous plans to dramatically remake the portion of the Pearl River that flows through the Jackson metropolitan area ran aground, but legislation is sailing toward the governor's desk that would …

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A Sense of Urgency: Sen. John Horhn Pledges to Cure What Ails City Hall

Sen. John Horhn may have been in the Mississippi Legislature for 24 years, but the Jackson man doesn't always get what he wants.

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As Deadline Passes, 16 Candidates Running for Jackson Mayor

As the deadline passes to qualify for the Jackson city elections, 16 candidates are running for mayor of the capital city.

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A Violence Talk That Might Have Been

It felt more like a bait-and-switch. But maybe the City Hall gathering was a start of a new way of thinking about crime prevention in the capital city.

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City Gives More Details on South Jackson Water Outage, 'Code Red' Plan

After the Hinds County Board of Supervisors voted yesterday to declare a state of emergency in south Jackson to support work on a 48-inch water main, the City of Jackson …

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Solutions: How to Prevent Gun Violence

Here is a sampling of evidence-based solutions for preventing and interrupting gun violence. See jfp.ms/stopviolence for links to learn more.

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Murder in the City: Deep Causes, Harmful Biases, Unexpected Solutions to Gun Violence

On the night of Thursday, Feb. 9, a group of twenty-something Jacksonians were hanging out in Westwood Apartments at 3150 Robinson Road playing dominoes. Suddenly, several men walked in pointing …

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DA Smith Wins on One Count, But Passes on 'Whistleblower' Bad Check Claims

The trial against Downtown Jackson Partners President Ben Allen wound up on Feb. 7, even as the woman who landed him there remained conspicuously absent from the courtroom.

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Mayor Yarber, Socrates Garrett Address Contracting Dispute, 'Steering'

Mayor Tony Yarber and his administration recently became defendants in another sexual-harassment lawsuit, this time saddled with charges of steering city contracts to campaign supporters.

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UPDATED: Jury Finds Allen Guilty for Cell-phone Payment, Not Guilty on Nine Counts

The jury in the trial of Downtown Jackson Partners President Ben Allen found him guilty on one count, not guilty on nine others after six hours of deliberation.

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Nicholas Lemann

Journalist and author Nicholas Lemann may have a lot of New York cred, but he's a southerner at heart, born, raised and educated in New Orleans.

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UPDATED: City Selects Blogger 'Kingfish' Hendrix, 'Snakeman' Percy King for Jackson Zoo Board

James Hendrix, a local blogger and controversial personality known for his Jackson Jambalaya website, is one of two candidates up today for two spots on the Jackson Zoo's board of …

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Mississippi Celebrates 'National Day of Racial Healing' on Tuesday, Jan. 17

Participate in Mississippi events and activities related to Dr. King's birthday, the National Day of Healing and responses to the inauguration of Donald Trump.

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Carlos Moore to Sue on Behalf of Teen Killed Outside Performance Oil

Carlos Moore, a Grenada, Miss., attorney known for trying to sue the State of Mississippi over the Confederate canton in the state flag, said on Facebook today that he will …

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UPDATED 1/10/16: Gov. William Winter Still Fair, Moved to Regular Room at UMMC

The Jackson Free Press has just learned that a hero of Mississippi, former Gov. William William, is in emergency are after falling on the ice his morning in his driveway …

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From Man Caves to the 'Great Wall,' Bryant and Farage Head to Trump's Inauguration

Gov. Phil Bryant has invited Nigel Farage of British Brexit fame to attend Donald Trump's inauguration with him.

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Haley Barbour Back in the Money, Will Lobby the U.S. on Behalf of Ukraine

Haley Barbour, the former governor of Mississippi, head of the Republican National Committee and one of the world's most powerful lobbyists, is going to work for the Ukrainian government to …

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Man Charged with Murdering Teen Granted $50K Bond, Gag Order Possible

The man charged with killing 17-year-old Charles McDonald outside his business, Performance Oil, ini south Jackson is requesting bail after his Dec. 29 arrest for first-degree murder. A judge granted …

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UPDATED: Judge Sets DA's New Trial for June 12 after Mistrial, Hood Slams Dishonesty of Juror

The jury in the State of Mississippi case against Hinds District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith only deliberated about three hours before the judge declared a mistrial at about 4 p.m. …

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UPDATED: Gregarious Former Sheriff, Police Chief Malcolm McMillin Dies

The only person to serve as both Hinds County sheriff and Jackson police chief, Malcolm McMillin, died today after a long illness.

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Love Thy Neighbor: How to Connect in Divided Times

You can't sugarcoat it. In the wake of the 2016 presidential campaign, these are tough, divisive times. We're all hearing a lot about how Americans don't talk to people who …

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Caller to Black JFP Writer: 'I want to offer her a plane ticket back to Africa' (LISTEN)

"I want to offer her a plane ticket back to Africa if she thinks America is so bad. Um, I would love to pay for her ticket. Also tell her …

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Vote Synarus Green For District 72 Tuesday, Sept. 13, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

We encourage registered votes in Mississippi House District 72 to vote for Synarus Green in Tuesday's run-off special election.

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UPDATED: Indictment Snares Attorney Previously Used to Defend DA Smith

Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith was the high-profile name listed in a three-count felony indictment today. But the other is an assistant district attorney who Smith’s attorney claims …

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DA Files: The Curious Case of Mr. Smith, Mr. Butler and Mr. Hood

Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith walked into the courtroom on March 3, 2016, with a clear goal—to help get Christopher Butler, then 38, out of the Raymond jail.

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DA Smith Says MBN Framed Jackson Man; Agency Says Evidence Not 'Credible'

Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith is hanging his defense to state charges and a bar complaint around what he alleges is a set-up of Christopher Butler, the man …

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UPDATED: Attorney Sues City of Jackson for Race Discrimination, 'Malicious' Termination

A former deputy city attorney is suing the City of Jackson for race discrimination, racial harassment, retaliation and violation of her First Amendment and due-process rights in federal court.

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UPDATED: Woman Sues Mayor Yarber for Sex Discrimination, Mayor Calls Her 'Disgruntled'

Mayor Tony Yarber's former executive assistant today filed a complaint in federal court accusing him of sex discrimination, sexual harassment and a hostile workplace within City Hall, and of having …