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Pelosi Be Damned: House Votes to Up Minimum Wage
The House passed an ambitious minimum-wage bill before adjourning on Tuesday. HB 237, which passed 68-to-50, calls for every state employer to raise minimum wage to $6.25 by July 1, 2007, and to raise it again to $7.25 beginning Jan. 15, 2008. Before approving the bill, representatives voted 64-to-54 for an amendment exempting part-time high school or college student employees from the bill, arguing that employers hiring part-time students would be likelier to do without the labor than pay higher costs. Amendment opponents argued that businesses like Wal-Mart would likely discriminate against full-time workers in favor of part-time students if the bill became law.
Crisler v. Johnson: Exploring the Myths & Realities
The recent Jackson Democratic mayoral primary eliminated more than a half-dozen candidates, leaving two candidates with seductive messages and strong name recognition.
Red And Ready To Rumble: The JFP Interview With Charlie Ross
Photos by Roy Adkins
Sen. Charlie Ross, R-Brandon, is confident this year. The 50-year-old senator is running for lieutenant governor against State Auditor Phil Bryant in the primaries, and possibly against Democratic Rep. Jamie Franks of Hernando in the November general elections.
Jesus Rode A Donkey: THE JFP Interview With John Arthur Eaves
Photos by Roy Adkins
Attorney John Arthur Eaves, 40, is the polar opposite of his Republican opponent, Gov. Haley Barbour. Barbour is a faithful follower of smaller-government philosophy, isn't afraid to boot Mississippians off state Medicaid and has been willing to short-change the so-called "artificial" Mississippi Adequate Education Program in the name of budget austerity. Eaves, on the other hand, thinks the state is failing to provide for the health of thousands and is shooting itself in the foot by short-funding education. Barbour has lobbied for tobacco companies for years, while Eaves, a Jackson trial lawyer, has vociferously attacked those same companies in the courtroom. Barbour is a happy comrade of President George Bush, who has stumped for Barbour on the campaign and vice versa, while Eaves criticizes the Bush administration for all its malfunctions and corruption.
BREAKING: Mother Confirms Evans Welch Arrest
The U. S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force arrested Jackson resident Evans Welch Tuesday morning on an aggravated assault warrant filed by Jackson Police Department homicide detectives at his parents' home on Derrick St., according to a press release sent out by the city of Jackson.
War On The Poor
Congress Embraces a New Southern Strategy
It was 7:30 in the morning, and the smallest beneficiaries of the Richard Brandon Head Start Center at 5920 N. State St. followed their young parents into the mass of little portable units. One hobbit-sized girl lifted her legs awkwardly up each of the wooden steps to the main building, keeping her eyes focused on her toes.
From Taxes to Integration: Tea Partiers Decry Federal Meddling
The local version of nationally coordinated Republican tea parties Wednesday offered plenty of red meat—from cries against "socialism" to a speech using racial integration as an example of how federal meddling didn't work.
Crossing The Aisles
<b>The JFP Interview with Chuck Espy</b>
State Rep. Chuck Espy comes from a long line of politicos. His father is former Clarksdale Mayor Henry Espy, and the Espy family has had dibs on the Second Congressional seat for many years. In 1987, Espy's uncle, Mike Espy, was the first African American sent to Congress from Mississippi since Reconstruction, before President Clinton later appointed him as the first black Secretary of Agriculture in 1993. Chuck's father, Henry, ran in the 1993 special election to fill Mike's vacated seat, but Thompson beat him.
BREAKING: Invite Suggests Melton Fundraiser for Sheriff Candidate
A document (PDF, 40 KB) received via fax by the Jackson Free Press makes it appear that Jackson Mayor Frank Melton is planning a fundraiser at his home for Hinds County Sheriff candidate and city spokesman Tyrone Lewis.
JPS Board Stalls on ‘Larkin-Gate' Contract
Members of the Jackson Public School board and City Council are delaying crucial votes in connection with a contract dispute over the school board's $150 million bond.
Peterson Demands Equal Justice
This story will appear in the April 4 print edition of the Jackson Free Press.
Batman v. Melton, et al?
Among all the possible violations of the law by Frank Melton that District Attorney Faye Peterson presented to the attorney general recently, the potential charge of filing a false arrest warrant against Albert "Batman" Donelson was the most serious. Why? Because it's a felony—and a felony conviction would get Melton removed from office.
Mayor Walks Out On Citizens
Community policing took a body blow last week when Mayor Frank Melton and Jackson Police Chief Shirlene Anderson—a man and a woman put there to be anti-crime crusaders—suddenly dumped the department's Crime Prevention Unit as of Oct. 1, leaving eight crime prevention specialists out of work with only days' notice, and saving about $275,000 in salaries. The eight employees learned of the job eliminations on Tuesday before their jobs ended on Friday; they are getting paid through Oct. 15. The budget awards $110,000 in raises to legal personnel.
The DA Game: A Trial Of Three
Photos by Adam Lynch & Cheree Franco
While some Hinds County electoral positions can go for years without challenge, the district attorney's office is routinely on the chopping block, and it's no different this year. Incumbent Faye Peterson is facing two Democratic challengers in the primaries, with no Republican wishful-thinker waiting in the wings for the November general election. The primaries, however, are fight enough. Former Special Assistant to the City Attorney Michele Purvis and defense lawyer Robert Shuler Smith are lining up to take a whack at Peterson, and their timing is seemingly perfect.
BREAKING: Green Orders Melton Arrest
See the JFP Melton Blog/Archive Here.
Sheriff Malcolm McMillin has confirmed to the Jackson Free Press that Judge Tomie Green has issued a warrant for the arrest of Mayor Frank Melton. Green issued the arrest warrant March 1 in response to Melton violating the terms of his probation. In November, Melton pled guilty to misdemeanor weapons violations and was sentenced to six months in the Hinds County jail. That jail time was suspended so long as Melton honored the terms of his probation, which included a nighttime curfew.
Council Wants to Subpoena City 1099s
The question of city hireswho they are, especiallyhas come up again, pitting Council against Mayor Frank Melton's administration.
Spies In The Sky
Jackson and the metro area have a new set of eyes in the sky, thanks to local helicopter pilot Coyt Bailey, SafeCity Watch, philanthropist Jim Barksdale and other private donors, who together donated about $700,000 for the purchase of a surveillance helicopter that will cruise the skies over Jackson and Ridgeland.
JFP EXCLUSIVE: Jackson Crime Surges
Read the story that the city is talking about, based on a report the Jackson Free Press unearthed on Monday. You saw it here first.
BREAKING: Mayor Cancels Confirmation, Outrages Council
Several members of City Council were outraged today that Mayor Frank Melton abruptly cancelled the confirmation hearing of Charles Melvin, who is Melton's choice to head up the Parks and Recreation Department. Melvin's confirmation hearing was scheduled weeks in advance, but around 11:30 a.m., Melton announced he was cancelling the hearing because Councilman Frank Bluntson was sick.
A New Sheriff In Town?
Photos by Brian Johnson, Roy Adkins, Nate Glenn, Darren Schwindaman, and Jaro Vacek
Sheriff Malcolm McMillin is familiar with opposition, having faced it and triumphed in repeated elections since he was first elected sheriff of Hinds County 16 years ago.