BREAKING: City Budget $13 Million in the HoleThe city administration updated an earlier estimation of a $3.9 million budget deficit today at the 3 p.m. budget meeting. "The city is currently out of budget about $13.1 million," said city Director of Administration Rick Hill, who then recommended …
Crystal UtleyAdvising 450 out-of-state pro bono lawyers along with 30 Mississippi lawyers and 120 law students on how to help thousands of people recover from "the biggest natural disaster we've ever seen" is overwhelming, Crystal Utley says leaning forward, her pale …
Face-off: Faye Peterson v. Robert SmithThe Aug. 7 primaries produced three run-off races in Hinds County, but the DA's race overshadows the other two races, pitting both old foes and warring factions against one another. Peterson got the most votes with 39 percent, while Smith …
JUST IN: Faye Peterson's New TV AdsSomeone just sent us the links to three new Peterson ads that are on youtube. They feature very interesting people in the community. we've also heard that there a number of hard-hitting radio ads out there by Margaret Barrett-Simon, Bennie …
Cases DA Peterson Has TriedHere is a preview of information we have in the print edition this week. We did some factchecking in response to Robert Smith's comment that Peterson isn't involved in trying cases in her office. Here are some of the cases …
BREAKING: Sheriff McMillin Endorses D.A. Faye PetersonHinds County Sheriff Malcolm McMillin endorsed Hinds County District Attorney Faye Peterson over Democratic challenger Robert Smith this morning. McMillin announced his endorsement to the Jackson Free Press, saying he opposes Smith because of an alignment with Jackson Mayor Frank …
Council Delays Budget Band-AidThe Jackson City Council voted to hold items in the Monday Budget Committee meeting, including a vote to refinance the city's debt. The refinancing would give the city enough to cover its $3.9 million budget deficit, but cost the city …
BREAKING: Michele Purvis Endorses D.A. Faye PetersonFormer Hinds County District Attorney candidate Michele Purvis endorsed incumbent Faye Peterson over the weekend. "When looking at the remaining two candidates, based upon experience I feel she is the best person for the job as far as the community …
Melton to Address ‘State of the City'[Verbatim from Carolyn Redd] Jackson, MS - Mayor Frank E. Melton will address the City of Jackson in his State of the City Address on Friday, Aug. 24, at 10:30 a.m. at the Alamo Theater. The Mayor's address will focus …
JFP Re-launches Truthwatch as Reader ForumAs Mississippi heads into the fall campaign season, the Jackson Free Press has re-launched the Truthwatch blog, in order that readers might question and test statements made by candidates. Truthwatch was active during the last city elections in Jackson. Now …
The Welty LadiesEudora Welty's living female relatives include her nieces Mary Alice Welty White (director of the Eudora Welty House) and Liz Welty Thompson (librarian at the State Law Library) of Jackson; her great-nieces Leslie Thompson Jacobs (a Jackson social worker) and …
Jeff Weill Apparent Winner of Ward 1 SeatThe Clarion-Ledger is reporting that candidate Jeff Weill took just over 50 percent of the vote to replace Ward 1 Councilman Ben Allen Tuesday night. Weill ran on a platform of fighting crime and not raising taxes—two issues that tend …
BREAKING: City Hires Attorneys Due to FBI ProbeAt City Attorney Sarah O'Reilly-Evans' request, the Jackson City Council voted Tuesday to accept outside counsel from Phelps Dunbar regarding potential civil lawsuits pending against the city for actions due to the mayor's actions against a nightclub, a duplex, an …
ANALYSIS: Council Dodges Numerous BulletsThe Melton administration this week proposed to dip into the city's budget reserves in an attempt to cauterize the bleeding city budget—and even pay rent on police precincts that are months behind. The news of the budget crisis came in …
Gannett for Sale?The Wall Street Journal is blogging about the possibility that the Gannett Corp., which owns The Clarion-Ledger, may be girding itself to be sold:
Ward 1 Candidate Forum at Christ UnitedCouncilman Ben Allen just alerted us that WJNT 1180 and the Northside Sun are sponsoring a "Meet the Ward 1 Candidates" forum tonight, Thursday, Aug. 9, at Christ United Methodist Church (6000 Old Canton Road) in the fellowship hall from …
James Bowley"Take your family to a mosque or Hindu temple or synagogue this week. They need it and might learn something," reads the new bumper sticker that 44-year-old Dr. James Bowley recently designed for his green Nissan Sentra. Dr. Bowley, a …
Sharpton Defends the 'Jena 6'In the small, pastoral town of Jena, La., police arrested six black students 15 to 17 years old and charged them with attempted second-degree murder and conspiracy after a string of racially charged events climaxed with a school fight on …
Replacing Ben: Four Men Compete in a Changing WardRetiring Councilman Ben Allen got a super send-off Monday from friends and family at Bravo! Restaurant in Highland Village. A crowd containing personalities such as secretary of state candidate Delbert Hosemann, fellow council members, Ward 1 residents—and even Gov. Haley …
Let the Big State Races BeginAs the dust settles on last night's primaries, one huge issue looms as the big statewide races begin in earnest: the Katrina effect. Get ready for a populist debate on insurance reform—not to mention health care, tobacco taxes and education—like …
Gary Anderson Sends George Dale to the ShowersDemocratic challenger Gary Anderson defeated incumbent Insurance Commissioner George Dale 51-49 percent Tuesday night. Dale had mounted his re-election campaign under intense scrutiny for his support of and by the insurance industry in the wake of Katrina. The tort-reform lobby …
Pro-Choice Candidate Defeats Erik FlemingIt appears that Kimberly Campbell, who was forced out of the Jackson City Attorney's office for questioning city policy, has defeated Rep. Erik Fleming for the District 72 Hinds-Madison seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives.
McMillin Kicks Butt; Peterson Leads into RunoffPredictably, Sheriff Malcolm McMillin won the right to keep his site over challengers tonight, including Mayor Frank Melton's choice, police spokesman Tyrone Lewis. WAPT guest political analyst Matt Friedeman summed it up well: "Mayor Melton is a loser tonight."
Problems at the Polls? Post Here.Be sure to include which precinct you voted in, what time and even descriptions of the poll worker if you had a serious problem. And, remember to call the secretary of state's office at 800-829-6786 to report problems. Call us …
Where the Elections Parties Arewe are just staying at the headquarters at 1755 Leila drive and preparing for a run-off which will be on august 28th and then the general election. we are low key and it will be really a working night for …
Secretary of State: Heavy Turnout Expected Tuesday[Verbatim/Aug. 6, 2007] Secretary of State Eric Clark today predicted that voter turnout in Tuesday's party primaries will be up slightly from the last statewide primary election and anticipates 710,000 ballots will be cast in races from Governor to Coroner. …
Creshawna WilsonAfter being in Jackson for only a year, Creshawna Wilson, 19, of Indianola, Miss., has already made her mark on the city. Her desire to make changes in the media captured the hearts of the folks at Mississippi Public Broadcasting, …