Johnson's Chief Appointees Get Mixed ReviewsOne day after Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. announced his nominees for Jackson Police Chief and Fire Chief, many city officials and employees are waiting to form their opinions. Johnson's appointees require approval from the Jackson City Council before taking office.
Jackson Nightclubs Central in LawsuitsControversies surrounding two Jackson nightclubs have put the clubs in the center of separate lawsuits, one as a defendant, the other as the plaintiff.
Melody GoldingThe 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 the institute's only acquisition documenting the effects of Hurricane Katrina …
Tax Revenues Down Again; More Cuts LikelyWith 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 estimates by $44.9 million, or slightly more than 10 percent. …
Johnson Names New ChiefsJackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. appointed Jackson State University security chief Rebecca Coleman as Jackson's new police chief, and former Jackson Fire Chief Raymond McNulty as head of the Jackson Fire Department at a noon press conference today.
JSU Hazing Victims Facing Fines and ProbationsJackson State University freshmen, including victims of beatings at an alleged Sept 18 off-campus hazing ceremony, are facing judgment at a Student Life Disciplinary Committee hearing today. The committee is continuing a days-long investigation of reports that bandleaders ordered underclassmen …
Governor's Office Announces Employment ProgramsGov. Haley Barbour is attempting to combat dreary economic news with a month-long publicity push called "Let's Get Working Mississippi." The campaign is meant to draw attention to job training opportunities through the state's WIN Job Centers, which connect employers …
Dr. Cora NormanCora Norman took on the role of executive director for the Mississippi Humanities Council at the organization's 1972 inception, staying with the group for 24 years. Her new book, "Mississippi In Transition: The Role of the Humanities Council," documents her …
JSU Hazers Suspended for Two YearsJackson 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 reports that some of the students have already filed appeals.
Barbour Targeting Dem GovernorsIt's political deja vu all over again. In his new role as chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Gov. Haley Barbour is playing a key role nationally againstrategizing about how to beat Democrats in races around the country, as well …
Straitjacket of Straight Thinking?The Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees may be holding back its superintendent, but depending on whom you ask, that may not be a bad thing.
Immigrants, Reform, and YouRepublicans throughout the country, especially in the South, have raked "ObamaCare" over the coals, swearing that the president is paving the way for free health care to illegal immigrants.
McGowan Questions Levee Board's ‘Backbone'Would-be Two Lakes developer John McGowan reacted strongly this week to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers statement that it was not taking seriously his or any other plan to create lakes around the Pearl River, preferring a comprehensive levees …
House Of Lott"I love your wrap," drawls a genteel lady from the veranda of her Victorian on State Street. "It's a Sami Lott," I say with a smile.
Corps Threatens, Predicts Insurance Rate HikesThe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Monday threatened to withhold certification of the incomplete levee system between Hinds and Rankin counties, potentially raising insurance rates for homes along the Pearl River in those counties.
Gina Carter-SimmersAfter 20 years in working for public broadcasting, Gina Carter-Simmers, 41, has found a tune of her own as the general manager at WJSU.
Fisher: $1.5 Million County Loan ‘Irresponsible'District 4 Supervisor Phil Fisher was the lone dissenting vote on the Hinds County Board of Supervisors this morning when the board voted to borrow $1.5 million to cover a budget shortfall for the 2009 fiscal year, which ends today. …
Jackson Crime Stats Continue Downward TrendMajor crimes in Jackson dropped again last week, according to a weekly crime report released this morning at a Jackson Police Department meeting. Violent crime was down 20 percent from the previous week, while property crime droppped 7 percent. For …
Adam Lynch: Letter from the Hinds County JailI got dragged away this morning for an incredible cause. The Muscular Dystrophy Association is linked inextricably to comedian Jerry Lewis and hours-long telethons, but this morning they're known for pulling me into a room and asking me to shakedown …
President to Visit Gulf CoastFulfilling 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 Sun Herald. Details of the October visit have yet to …
Ex-Bodyguards Challenge Ridgeway RestitutionTwo former Jackson police officers are disputing the amount that federal prosecutors say they must pay in restitution for the 2006 demolition of a Ridgeway Street duplex. Marcus Wright and Michael Recio, both former bodyguards to the late Mayor Frank …
Guy Cavett TaffKnown for his gentle nature and unique story-telling skills, Jacksonian Guy Cavett Taff passed away Saturday Sept. 26 at the age of 60.
Hearings Set for Kemper Coal PlantThe 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 by Mississippi Power, seeking a Certificate of Public Convenience and …
Gannett In ‘VIP' Trademark DisputeThe owner of a Jackson-based events promotion company alleges that Gannett River States Publishing Corporation, which publishes The Clarion-Ledger, is trying to muscle him out of a trademark that he rightfully owns. Curtis Lyons, the owner of Jacksons VIP, is …
State Receives $9 Million for ‘Green' InitiativesSeveral Mississippi counties, including Hinds, will receive funding from the U.S. Department of Energy channeled to the state through Energy Efficient Block Grant Programs.
Public & Community Meetings in Jackson4 p.m., Jackson City Council special meeting at Jackson City Hall (200 S. President St.). The council holds a special meeting, open to the public. Call 601-960-1033.
Scott ColomA new attorney with the Mississippi Center for Justice, Scott Colom will spend the next two years working to combat predatory payday lending in the state. Colom is the recipient of a prestigious Skadden Fellowship, which helps new law school …
Legislators Scrambling to Fill Budget HolesMississippi 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 they don't expect a general tax increase, but they are …
Hood Spars with Medicaid Director Over $24 MillionOn Wednesday, Medicaid Director Bob Robinson accused Attorney General Jim Hood of failing to investigate an alleged $24 million case of Medicaid fraud. Today, Hood counter-accused the director of defending Tri-Lakes Medical Center, the same provider that Robinson claims Hood …
"I love your wrap," drawls a genteel lady from the veranda of her Victorian on State Street. "It's a Sami Lott," I say with a smile.
Read the JFP's full Pearl River archive here.