Hinds County Names Parent of the YearClevenger, a Hinds Community College Chemistry and Physics Instructor and Raymond Elementary School parent, is a former high school science teacher who has taught at Hinds Community College for thirteen years, according to a release.
DeLaughter Requests New Trial DatesSuspended Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Bobby DeLaughter, arraigned in federal court last month on a five-count indictment, has asked the court to reschedule some upcoming court dates so that his attorney will have adequate time to prepare, according to …
Mark Your Calendar for Jackson Mayoral Candidate EventsIf you're concerned about the issues facing Jackson, your best defense is an informed vote, so don't miss these upcoming mayoral events. The links below will connect you with JFP Events Calendar entries for additional information.
Lawmakers Vow to Block Stem Cell ResearchMississippi Rep. Tommy Reynolds, D-Charleston, spoke for the University of Mississippi Medical Center yesterday, saying the teaching hospital has never and never plans to do stem cell research, according to WAPT.
Jackson Crime Increases Slightly in Early MarchMajor crimes in Jackson increased slightly in the first week of March, according to a Jackson Police Department report released Wednesday. Major crimes increased 12.4 percent from the last week of February, with property crimes increasing 6.5 percent and violent …
Senate Removes Pre-K Funding from MAEP BillNancy Loomis from the Parents' Campaign in Jackson reports that the Senate Appropriations Committee passed HB 1677 yesterday, funding Mississippi Adequate Education Program for the coming school year.
Jackson Crime Down In Late FebruaryJackson enjoyed a slight decrease in major crimes at the end of February, according to Jackson Police Department data released last week. The JPD report (PDF) on major crimes for the week of Feb. 23 through Mar. 1 shows a …
Bill Restricts State's Use of Eminent DomainMississippi Gov. Haley Barbour could face his first veto override if he refuses to sign a House bill limiting the state's right to take property. House Bill 803 restricts any governmental usage of eminent domain "for the purpose of converting …
Old Capitol Green Bill on Barbour's DeskThe Mississippi Senate has sent a bill authorizing the Mississippi Development Authority to make a $20 million loan to Hinds County to Gov. Haley Barbour for his signature.
Sex Offender Bill is One of Three Recommended by Hood[verbatim] Three bills proposed to the legislature this season by the Mississippi Attorney General's Office are now on their way to the Governor, announced Attorney General Jim Hood.
Governor Signs Jackson Sales Tax BillWednesday evening, Gov. Haley Barbour signed SB 3268 into law. The bill authorizes the City of Jackson to impose a special 1 percent sales tax to raise much-needed revenue for police and fire protection, and road and sewer repairs.
Barbour Signs $25 Million Incentive BillGov. Haley Barbour signed HB 1628 yesterday, which provides Alliant Techsystems Inc. with a $25 million incentive to expand its aerospace manufacturing plant in Iuka, Miss., according to the KTTC Web site.
New "Dirty Dozen" Foods List PublishedThe Environmental Working Group, a non-profit organization that specializes in providing useful information and resources to consumers, has published their fifth edition of the now-classic "Shopper's Guide to Pesticides."
Melton Objects To Gulf Coast JuryFollowing a federal judge's decision yesterday to hold Mayor Frank Melton's retrial in Jackson, with a jury from the Gulf Coast, Melton has filed a motion to reconsider the ruling. The Gulf Coast is disproportionately white, the mayor argued in …
Emmerich's Clarksdale Paper Now Twice a WeekClarksdate Press-Register publisher Ed Nichols announced this week that the newspaper, owned by Wyatt Emmerich of Jackson, will only publish two days a week going forward. Subscribers will get a mailed newspaper on Wednesday and Friday, and a shopper on …
Eclecius FranklinAs I descended into the lower level of Fondren Corner last week, I could hear massage therapist/trainer Eclecius Franklin shout out to his wife: "Time, baby!"
Cellular South Expands Mississippi ServicesRidgeland, Miss.-based Cellular South, the largest privately-held wireless carrier in the U.S., has announced expanded third-generation coverage in 78 cities across 26 Mississippi counties this year. The ambitious plan allows the company to "maintain its leadership position as the provider …
COPS Money Available to CityThe American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is funneling money to the ailing federal Community Oriented Policing Services program and the Hiring Recovery Program, and will soon be available to the city of Jackson.
Suburbs Reaping More Stimulus Road FundsTwo aspects of the federal economic stimulus will not be making much of a touchdown in Jackson. The Mississippi Department of Transportation revealed a nearly $200 million list of 44 projects around the state that will benefit from President Barack …
MDOC Refusal to Provide Info under FirePrison Legal News filed suit in Hinds County Chancery Court yesterday to force the Mississippi Department of Corrections to release a copy of the state's prison telephone contracts, according to a release.
Legislators Pass Bills Aimed at TeensThe first, SB 2280, is about driving for 15 and 16-year-old teens. The bill proposes prohibiting texting and driving by kids with learner's permits or intermediate driver's licenses, and adds six months to their learning curve. The Mississippi House passed …
Jury in Melton Retrial to Come From CoastThe second federal civil rights trial of Mayor Frank Melton and bodyguard Michael Recio will take place in Jackson, with a jury called from the Gulf Coast, a federal judge ruled yesterday. Melton and Recio's first trial for the 2006 …
Mississippi Employment Expo on March 17If you're looking for a job, save the date: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 is the Mississippi Employment Expo at the Trademart in Jackson, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. WAPT reports that 96 employers are signed up so far, with …
Doris Shavers Killer Pleads GuiltyHenry Lee Phillips pleaded guilty today to murdering his former girlfriend, Doris Shavers, 40, on Sept. 17, 2007, as Shavers combed her 12-year-old daughter's hair before leaving for work. The day of the murder was Jessica's birthday.
Feds Want Melton Retrial Moved To GulfportFederal prosecutors want to move the retrial of Mayor Frank Melton and his bodyguard Michael Recio to the Gulf Coast to avoid intense media scrutiny. In a motion (PDF) filed yesterday, the government argued that moving the trial to Gulfport …
Legislators Consider Fire-Safe CigarettesA bill requiring that cigarettes extinguish themselves when unattended has the support of Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney and the Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes, a group working to prevent cigarette-ignited fires, according to WLOX.com.
SkyTel Back in the NewsThe former mayor of Detroit, Kwame Kilpatrick, is demanding $100 million from SkyTel, a company formerly headquartered in Jackson.
As I descended into the lower level of Fondren Corner last week, I could hear massage therapist/trainer Eclecius Franklin shout out to his wife: "Time, baby!"