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Ronni Mott

Stories by Ronni

Flu Vaccine Available Today

Officials with the Mississippi Department of Health have announced that the H1N1 swine flu vaccine is available in the state as of today in county health clinics and some schools …

What's Happening this Weekend

If you're stumped for a family-friendly Halloween event, check out Halloween Happenings, which lists no less than nine area events for family fun. Sweet and Safe provides guidelines for keeping …

Domestic Violence

Jones Drafts Legislation to Protect Abuse Victims

A Mississippi Gulf Coast lawmaker is drafting a bill that will protect domestic-violence victims from being victimized again. Rep. Brandon Jones, D-Pascagoula, vice-chairman of the House Insurance Committee, says his …

Flu Vaccine Info ‘Nearly Pure Bunk'

People have been receiving all kinds of bad information about the new vaccinations for swine flu via e-mail and flyers. "We've seen e-mails stating that the vaccine is tainted with …

Crime

Obama to Sign Hate Crime Legislation

In a ceremony today at the White House, President Barack Obama will sign a bill into law that has been in the works for more than a decade. The bill …

Barbour Joins Aerospace Alliance

Yesterday, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour joined fellow Republicans Gov. Bob Riley from Alabama and Gov. Bobby Jindal from Louisiana, in forming the Aerospace Alliance. Executives from two defense contractors, Northrop …

Education

Lukisha Cork

Lukisha Cork, 35, knows an opportunity worth grabbing when she sees it. The Greenville mother of four boys, aged 12 to 17, will be receiving her certified nursing assistant certificate …

Barbour to Speak at Health Care Symposium

Tuesday, Oct. 27, Mississippi College will host "The Business of Healthcare" symposium at the Jackson Convention Complex. Gov. Haley Barbour will present the keynote address, and other speakers include political …

Education

Update: School Board Meeting Cancelled

UPDATED October 23, 2009

The Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees has canceled a special meeting today, because "additional information is needed for a recommendation to approve Qualified School Construction Bond Projects," according to …

Development

Jackson Home Prices Bucking National Trend

While most of the country continues to see a drop in home prices in the wake of the housing and foreclosure crises, Jackson home prices will be going in the …

State Unemployment Rate Drops Again

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Mississippi dropped to 9.2 percent in September, representing 112,500 people collecting unemployment benefits, down from 9.7 percent in August, which represented a 1 percent …

Education

Parents Should Make Plans for Getting Kids to School

With school bus drivers employed by First Student threatening a strike beginning Thursday morning, the Hinds County School District is urging parents to make alternate plans for getting their kids …

Council Confirms Coleman as New Police Chief

In a 5-to-1 vote today, the Jackson City Council confirmed Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr.'s candidate for Jackson police chief, Rebecca Coleman. Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill was the lone dissenting …

Person of the Day

Karen Parker

Before Byron Knight opened Sneaky Beans coffee shop on North State Street in Fondren, just about a year ago, the little house was home to Karen Parker's store, New Vibrations, …

Swine Flu Vaccine Injections Available

The Mississippi Department of Health has received an injectable version of the Swine Flu vaccine, reports WXVT. Spokeswoman Liz Sharlot said the state took delivery of 60,000 doses of the …

Education

Dr. James Bowley

"I love my job!" proclaims Dr. James E. Bowley on his Web site. Bowley, an associate professor in the Millsaps College department of religious studies, teaches courses on the Bible …

Community Events and Public Meetings This Week

Raise the Roof, Oct. 19-23, at Jackson Medical Mall (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.). The Jackson Medical Mall Foundation prepares the homes of four senior citizens in the community for …

Fair Extended Through Today

With attendance nearly rained out during the regular run of the Mississippi State Fair, organizers extended the run on Friday, hoping to make up some of their expected revenue. Attendance …

Person of the Day

Linda Francomb

When Linda Francomb's daughter, Heather Spencer, was brutally murdered by her boyfriend Sept. 11, 2007, Francomb could have chosen to spend her days wallowing in grief; no one could have …

What To Do This Weekend

Looks like we may have seen the last of the summer heat, and the rain may finally be clearing out. Saturday will be a great day to grab a sweater …

Funds Available for Home Heating

For Mississippians who need assistance heating their homes this winter, federal funds are available to help those eligible pay their gas and electric bills through the Low Income Home Energy …

Bus Drivers Fighting for Contract Improvements

School bus drivers in Hinds, Madison, Clay and Yazoo counties are negotiating for better wages to bring them up from the lowest levels in the area. The drivers, employees of …

Baptist Hospital Gets Top National Ratings

HealthGrades, a leading independent health care rating organization, has awarded Jackson's Baptist Medical Center more five-star ratings than any hospital in Mississippi, and ranks the center among the top 10 …

Business

BREAKING: Jackson 11th Best City For Small Business

The Jackson Free Press has just learned that Fortune Small Business has named Jackson a "best place to launch" a small business. Jackson ranks 11th on the magazine's list of …

Good

Medical Mall Aids Seniors With ‘Raise the Roof'

The Jackson Medical Mall will provide new roofs and other much-needed home repairs to four Jackson senior citizens through its fall "Raise the Roof" campaign. With seniors making up 65 …

State Tops in Providing Healthy Foods

The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta have named Mississippi one of the top states in the country for providing healthy, nutritious foods in secondary schools. The CDC report, "Profiles …

Domestic Violence

Kristen Thigpen

Before accepting her new job with the Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Kristen Thigpen didn't personally know anyone who had been a victim of intimate partner abuse. Since she took …

Public Meetings and Community Events

Monday, Oct. 12

69th Annual Beauty Professional Association Meeting Oct 10-13, at the Clarion Hotel (5075 Interstate 55 S.). Manufacturers and vendors will be on hand in the Exhibitor Hall. The President of …

Unclaimed Property Booth Set Up at Fair

One of the more unusual booths at this year's Mississippi State Fair is the one manned by the state treasurer's office. Staffers at the Unclaimed Property Booth, located inside the …

Thank God It's Friday

'Nuff said about that, right? Kick off the weekend right by joining the JFP gang at Hal & Mal's tonight for another (in)famous version of Southern Fried Karaoke. It's a …

Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to President Barack Obama "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has …

Dress for Success Honors Women of Strength

First impressions may never be more important than when a job applicant walks into an interview. For many women, learning how to make a good first impression and then maintaining …

Commission Seeks Comments on Proposed Plant

The Mississippi Public Service Commission has announced its intention to take public comments tomorrow on the proposed $2.4 billion Mississippi Power generating plant in Kemper County. The PSC is in …

Crime

Lessons of Spencer's Death

Awareness has a huge role in making Mississippi—and the U.S.—a safer place for women. Created in 2006, the Attorney General's Office Domestic Violence Division, works with the entire judicial system …

Tease photo Cover

Did She Have To Die?

By 10 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2007, the temperatures were well on their way to 93 degrees when JPD Sgt. Eric Wall pulled his cruiser into the turn lane on …

State Fair Kicks Off Tonight

The 150th annual Mississippi State Fair opens its gates tonight at 5 p.m. and runs for 12 consecutive days, through Sunday, Oct. 18. Organizers hope to attract approximately 600,000 attendees …

Doctors' Families File $60 Million Lawsuit

The families of two young doctors killed in a head-on collision on Old Canton Road in February are suing Karen and Stuart Irby for $60 million in damages. Police charged …

Princeton Review Puts Millsaps on Top Business Schools List

The Princeton Review's 2010 edition of "The Best 301 Business Schools" has named Millsaps College Else School of Management as one of the nation's top schools. The book compiles surveys …

Swine Flu Vaccine Arrives This Week

Mississippi is scheduled to receive swine flu vaccine beginning tomorrow in the form of a nasal spray, reports WXVT. About 500 distribution points for the spray include hospitals, clinics and …

Business

Jackson Nightclubs Central in Lawsuits

Controversies surrounding two Jackson nightclubs have put the clubs in the center of separate lawsuits, one as a defendant, the other as the plaintiff.

Art

Melody Golding

The Smithsonian Institute in Washingon, D.C., has selected Vicksburg photographer Melody Golding's photo collection "Katrina: Mississippi Women Remember," to add to the Smithsonian Archives Center this month. Golding's work is …

Tax Revenues Down Again; More Cuts Likely

With the release of Mississippi's September tax collection information, Gov. Haley Barbour is once again looking to slash the state's budget. Actual collections last month fell short of the state's …

JSU Hazers Suspended for Two Years

Jackson State University suspended 27 students for two years yesterday as a result of an alleged Sept. 18 hazing incident that resulted in one student with a broken collarbone. WAPT …

President to Visit Gulf Coast

Fulfilling one of his campaign promises, the White House announced yesterday that President Barack Obama will be visiting the Gulf Coast areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, reports the …

Hearings Set for Kemper Coal Plant

The Mississippi Public Service Commission has announced phase one hearings for a proposed new "clean" coal power plant in Kemper County. The hearings are in reponse to a petition filed …

Legislators Scrambling to Fill Budget Holes

Mississippi Legislators are searching for new sources of revenue to ensure services are not cut to the state's citizens; they want to maintain government operations without raising taxes. Lawmakers say …

Theater

Are You Ready for the Weekend, Jackson?

Kick off the first weekend in autumn tonight with a couple of movies for only $5. At 6:30 p.m., Crossroads Film Society presents "My Time Will Come," from Ecuador, and …

Mississippi Unemployment Rate Dips in August

August unemployment numbers in the Magnolia State dropped below 10 percent, with a seasonally unadjusted rate of 9.5 percent, representing 121,300 people, which is 1 percentage point lower than the …