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Greenwood Councilman Lambasted for Racial Slur
The Associated Press is reporting that Greenwood Councilman John Lee sent an e-mail last week to a group of whites criticizing black Council President David Jordan, and calling him a "n*gger":
Bill Advocates School Bus Ads
In a 94-21 vote last week, Mississippi House members voted to allow advertising on school buses as a measure to offset some of the state's budget belt-tightening, reports The Sun Herald. The bill imposes some restriction on the types of ads that would be allowed. Ads for alcohol, tobacco, junk food, and political and religious causes are banned.
Funk Philosophy
If you didn't know better, you might have thought you'd stepped into evening service at an annual church convention rather than a program to hear an American theorist speak at Jackson State University. The designated seating areas were packed last night, and some people stood in the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center to hear acclaimed professor and author Cornel West speak. Speak he did.
Mississippi Gal, Louisiana Bluesman
The neon signs from the neighboring buildings reflected a soft pink glow on the concrete and illuminated Guitar Lightnin' Lee's face, as he stood in front of the Hi Ho Lounge. With his signature western shirt, black with white ruffles and white hat, he leaned back with one leg propped against the rusty brick wall, cigarette in one hand and lighter in the other.
[Stiggers] Smacked Like Mammy
Boneqweesha Jones: "It's time for Boneqweesha's Entertainment Tonight report! This show is not associated with the B.E.T. network. I have the exclusive audio from a brief phone conversation between Sista Star Jones and Sis Condoleezza Rice.
Genre-Bending Rock
Kid Rock brings his blend of rock, rap, country and blues to the Mississippi Coliseum Friday, March 11, for a tour stop in support of "Born Free," his seventh studio album released in November 2010.
State Diverting Katrina Funds Away from Housing
With 6,000 people still living in FEMA trailers on the Coast, Mississippi officials are diverting Katrina funds away from needed housing, the Associated Press reports:
Legislature Funding a ‘Field of Dreams'
It's amazing the lengths these yucks will go in order to try to make up for the precious manufacturing jobs lost in the state due to NAFTA madness. And, thanks, Haley for your role in that, dude. Ledge:
Treetops and Bluesman
Born and reared in Wisconsin, I grew up believing Chicago was the birthplace of the blues. Since then, I've lived all over--London, Edinburgh, Phoenix, Dallas, Boston, Roanoke and Lynchburg--and no one challenged my false precept. In 2008, I debated: Should I remain a regional health-care system's corporate architect or make a difference designing hospitals elsewhere? I opted for the latter, and in January 2009, my Mississippi adventure began.
A Boom of Our Own
When a tree grows, it marks the passing of each year in distinct rings—thick rings represent the fat years when it grew quickly; thin rings for the leaner years when it barely grew at all. If Jackson were a tree trunk, its ring for 2010 would be one of the thickest, yet.
A Part of the Community
Kismet's (315 Crossgates Blvd., Brandon, 601-825-8380) is more than just a place to eat. At some point the simple gyro shop became a part of the community.
Ledger Off the Hook … Sort Of
U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee, of Jackson, has dismissed The Clarion-Ledger from a defamation lawsuit filed against it by retired Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics pilot Robert Earl Pierce. The federal judge said that the portion of the lawsuit dealing with emotional distress, invasion of privacy and libel should be dismissed because the suit was filed beyond the one-year statute of limitations regarding such suits.
New Chief Shakes Up JPD Staff
New Jackson Police Chief Rebecca Coleman announced several changes to her command staff on Friday. The moves include promotions and some shifting of responsibilities among deputy chiefs.
Dysfunctional Splendor
New Stage Theatre brings theater-goers another southern comedy with "Dividing the Estate" by Horton Foote. Set in Harrison, Texas, the play portrays the Gordon family and its struggle to hold on to privileged lives.
[Lee] Remembering Kelly Pates
Last week, I received a Blackberry message from a good friend informing me of Kelly Pates' death. While I was immediately saddened to learn we had lost him so younghe was only in his mid 50sI also went back to the fall of 1997 when I first heard Kelly and his family perform.
How to Win (or Lose) an Election
Johnny DuPree faced an uphill battle in his race for governor this year. As a Democrat running in a state trending more Republican, an African American where people often vote along racial lines and a mayor without the state-level political experience of his opponent, his chances were slim.
Arena in New Hands
City officials have three proposals from private firms offering to study the feasibility of a sports and entertainment arena in downtown Jackson. That puts the city-led arena effort at nearly the same place as the stalled privately led effort last December.
State Defying Its Own?
The ACLU of Mississippi filed a lawsuit on behalf of Mississippi residents Jerry Young and Christy Colley in U.S. District Court Friday, challenging the state's denial of voting rights to citizens with felony convictions.
Liberal and Patriotic
One recent Sunday morning, while we were spending a wonderful weekend in Memphis, my husband was flopped on the bed of our hotel room watching TV. Being a news junkie, and because the only other things on TV on Sunday mornings are infomercials and televangelists, he was watching C-SPAN. The guest that day was Lee Bandy, a palsied older man who is the chief correspondent for The State newspaper in Columbia, S.C. Mr. Bandy was there to speak about the recent debate among the nine Democratic presidential candidates that had taken place in South Carolina in early May.
Weekend Summer Soirees
After work today, stop by Joyflow Yoga (7048 Old Canton Rd., Ridgeland) for a free Sun Salutation class at 5:45 p.m. to get ready for the Sun Salutations benefit for the Center for Violence Prevention August 7. Once you're rejuvenated, go flex your mental muscles at the "Dinner and a Quiz Show" at Rainbow Whole Foods (2807 Old Canton Rd.) at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $13, $11 for members in advance and $16, $14 for members at the door. If you'd rather shake your booty, go to a folk-dance lesson at 7:30 p.m. at the Contra Dance at The Commons (719 N. Congress St.) and then watch Sound Wagon perform at 8:30 p.m.; $5 donations. Or, head to ArtRemix at the Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St.) from 6-11 p.m. with performances by Sherman Lee Dillon, John Paul, Keith & the One Four Fives and Those Darlins; tickets are $20, $15 for members in advance and $25, $20 for members at the door. In the mood for a weekend getaway? Take a trip to the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale to catch the "The Most Southern Weekend on Earth," a two-day celebration of all things Southern with concerts by Robert Belfour, Jimbo Mathus and Kevin Gordon on Friday; and True Revue and Mose Allison on Saturday. Tickets are $20 tonight, $30 Saturday or $40 for both nights.