Bush Facing Dreary Jobs Data in Michigan
AP reports: "Allies of Democrat John Kerry in this down-on-its-luck industrial state are armed with depressing statistics on unemployment and poverty, hoping to persuade voters to blame President Bush for …
‘Black Females Are Valued By No One'
The Village Voice reports on a new study of the attitudes of the "hip-hop generation." Thulani Davis writes: "In reality, the teens interviewed—between 16 and 20 years old—are probably children …
NY Times Examines Barbour Role in Energy Policy
In a long piece Sunday, The New York Times examined Haley Barbour's role in Bush energy/environmental policies: "Just six weeks into the Bush administration, Haley Barbour, a former Republican party …
Executioner's Blues, by Scott Barretta
March 10, 2004—Steve Earle, who performed at an anti-death penalty benefit at Hal and Mal's on Friday, March 12, stirred up controversy in the country-music world in 2002 with his …
50 Cent Slams Gay Men; Says Lesbians ‘Cool'
MTV News reports: "In a wide-ranging interview with Playboy magazine, 50 Cent has let his feelings on homosexuality be known, in language sure to draw the ire of gay-rights supporters. …
Why Young Blacks Should Vote
Black America Web reports: "With the 2004 presidential election just eight months away and important political issues at stake, many are wondering why young blacks between the ages of 18 …
Kerry, Dems to Campaign in Mississippi
I'm happy to see the national Democratic Party taking Mississippi seriously. It's so insulting when national media, politicos or anyone else assume that all of our minds are already made …
CONGRATULATIONS, Ayana!!!
If y'all heard squeals of delight in the distance over the last 24 hours, it's because the JFP's Ayana Taylor learned that she was accepted to the Academy for Alternative …
The best in sports in the next 14 days
College basketball, Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt, 6:30 p.m., Ch. 12 and WFMN (97.3): The Rebels meet the Commodores in the first round of the SEC Tournament at Atlanta. The winner …
E-mail from Howard Dean
This went to his mailing list just now: "John Kerry and I had a very good meeting yesterday. During the campaign we often focused on what divided us, but the …
Jill Conner Browne
Mississippians are so used to being on the bottom that, without provocation, we'll take aim at our own feet and fire at will just to prove we can blow a …
[City Buzz] Rules Are Made to Be Busted
DON'T LIKE THE RULES? CHANGE 'EM: Democrats in the Mississippi House succeeded in passing a rules change on Wednesday, March 3, 2004, that they will likely use to block some …
Rainbow Coalition
The excitement was palpable in the rotunda of the state Capitol on March 2 when a diverse team of city and state leaders showed up at a historic rally to …
Bill Minor: Barbour's Nephew Lobbyist Raising Ire
Mr Minor writes: "Henry Barbour, the nephew who managed Gov. Haley Barbour's recent gubernatorial campaign, and his brother, Austin, have hooked up with Capitol Resources — an influential legislative lobbying …
Conservative LeSueur wins Primary
Clarion-Ledger reports:Clinton LeSueur trounced his opponents Tuesday in the 2nd Congressional District Republican primary, leaving him now to decide what campaign strategy to use against Democratic incumbent Bennie Thompson in …
Praise the Lord, and Pass the Grits, by Lynette Hanson
Feb. 26, 2004—Harmony can mean many things, not just musical ones, either. For instance, the harmony between grits—that wonderful Southern breakfast side dish—and other scrumptious morsels like hot buttered biscuits, …
Will Goldwater Followers Vote Against Bush?
Sidney Blumenthal writes in Salon about the father of modern-day conservative, and why he turned on the right of today: "It was Goldwater, the genuine article, who established the image …
[City Buzz] A Time to Speak
A TIME TO SPEAK: Due to it being the 40th anniversary of Freedom Summer, 2004 seems to be the year of activism in the state of Mississippi. In fact, at …
Vasti, Proud and Strong, by Scott Barretta
Feb. 26, 2004—Guitarist, songwriter and producer Vasti Jackson may well be the busiest musician in Mississippi. In the last several years, the Hattiesburg resident has appeared in several feature films, …
Amen, Smoke , by Charlie Braxton
Feb. 26, 2004—Whoever coined the phrase "where there's smoke, there's fire" must have been a fan of Jackson-based rapper Smoke D. When Smoke hits the microphone, he spits nothing but …
Farish Street Blues: Rebuilding A ‘Music Town," by Scott Barretta
I wouldn't have a gal on Farish Street, I wouldn't speak to one that lived on Mill
— Doodleville Blues, by John Henry "Bubba" Brown & Cary Lee Simmons
Six to Watch, by Palmer Houchins
Want to make it big in the music industry, but discouraged because you're from a small city like Jackson? Don't despair; here are six who are breaking out.
Temple for Talent, by Eric Stracener
Since the heyday of recording on Farish Street passed, the only local label with any real national name recognition has been Malaco Records, which has continued with a steady output …
The Alamo Lives On, by Scott Barretta
The spirit of Farish Street in the '50s and '60s is evoked at the Alamo Theatre on the third Friday of each month when The Musicians take the stage for …
Young and Restless, by David Chilton
Two years ago I went to an all-ages show at Musiquarium. As I entered Banner Hall, I heard this massive buzz from upstairs. My jaw dropped when I entered MQ, …
State of Hip-Hop, by Alphonso Mayfield
Label Musical Chairs
The biggest news involves one of the most storied labels in hip-hop. Island Def Jam head Lyor Cohen recently left his position to head Warner Music Group's U. S. Recorded …
A Sweet Little Scene, by James Hughes
It's September 1983, and I'm hanging around the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, regretting that I've shown up six months too late to get into grad school and waiting …
Wyatt Emmerich: Raise Cigarette Taxes
Emmerich writes: "For Pete's sake, let's raise the taxes on cigarettes. Mississippi currently has one of the lowest cigarette tax rates in the nation. Just a quarter-a-pack increase could raise …
House, McCoy Budget Puts Education First
Clarion-Ledger online today: "Mississippi's Adequate Education Plan that funds K-12 public schools and the state health insurance program would be fully funded under a House budget plan unveiled today at …
Barbour Urges Tort Reform Rally
[Verbatim; from Barbour office) Governor Barbour is asking tort reform supporters to attend a rally at the New Capitol Building this Wednesday (2/25) at 1:30 p.m. on the second floor …
Nader Wants to Be 'POTUS'; Barbour Sez Dems 'Nervous'
AP reports: "Nader's decision was greeted with a chorus of condemnation from Democrats, longtime friends and former supporters who blame him for Al Gore's loss four years ago. They suggested …
Jackson Miss Hospitality Sought
Between ages 18 and 24 by July 25, 2004
The Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau needs qualified applicants for the competition to be held April 10, 2004 at 921 North President St. Winner receives a $1,000 scholarship to a …
Kerry and his ‘Band of Brothers'
Mary Lynn F. Jones writes on Alternet: that Kerry has strong appeal with veterans, who could swing the election. Kerry is finally giving Vietnam veterans a platform. "They're eating it …
The Progressive Populist Moment?
Tom Hayden writes for Alternet: It's been a remarkable shift after the past decade of Democratic catering to corporate interests and conservative voters, Only one year ago, candidates John Kerry, …
The DLC vs. Howard Dean
Naeem Mohaiemen writes for Alternet: "[A] core part of Dean's appeal was his overwhelming support among young people. In 2000, one of the lowest voter turnouts was among young people. …
No Deposit, No Return
If you were the melodramatic type, you might call it a nightmare. Barely a year into the new mandates, and increased (and largely unfunded) costs, of the federal No Child …
[Just In] Barbour Says He Won't ‘Streamline' Education
We just received this from Barbour's office: Contrary to what some have said, the "Operation: Streamline" legislation does not affect funding for education at all. There are no bills dealing …
Mississippi Mulls Marriage Amendment
The Advocate reports: Mississippi gay and lesbian leaders are trying to raise awareness about a bill that would constitutionally ban gay marriages. "We've got the word out through memberships, through …
Barbour Details ‘Streamline' Budget
[verbatim statement] (Jackson, Miss.)-- Governor Haley Barbour was joined today by Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck and scores of legislators as he filed the bill that represents his budget-fixing plan, "Operation: …
Barbour Faces Budget Opposition
... especially on education cuts. The Clarion-Ledger reports today: On Tuesday, dozens of lawmakers — mostly GOP allies — gathered with Barbour to pledge support for the changes. "I'm willing …
[Buzz] Don't Say ‘Tort Reform'; Collective Forms
DON'T SAY 'TORT REFORM': It's kind of fun to watch lawmakers try NOT to talk about a favorite topic: tort reform. Although legislating against "lawsuit abuse," especially with industry-friendly damage …
Bush "Dead Even" with Kerry; on Defensive
AP is reporting: "Republicans have a lot to worry about; hence the reason Bush has been on the defense, says national pollster Mark Schulman."
Dan Joyner
I met with Dan Joyner recently at Cups, in the heart of the Fondren district where, as Joyner puts it, people interested in the arts can hang out together. Joyner, …
Let Us Rise in Love, by Carole Cannon
Sweet Honey in the Rock shows up and shows out. This hurricane of African American women whirling, playing percussive instruments, moaning, humming, laughing, soothing, sassing, singing. In voices as deep …
[Jacktown] Hip-Hop High Society, by Alphonso Mayfield
I should call this the good and the bad issue because there are several Jackson artists who have benefited from good fortune and several that have suffered from some severe …
