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A Sordid History: Manhunt Leader Has History of Violence
The man who allegedly led a group of armed white citizens assisting in a search for a black burglary suspect in Sumner had a history of taking the law into his own hands.
A Second Chance
When Hinds County animal-control officers pick up a dog, they take it to a temporary shelter at the county Penal Farm in Raymond. The county shelter houses between 700 and 1,000 dogs a year. After a week, most make their way to the Mississippi Animal Rescue League where, more often than not, they are euthanized. A lucky few earn a spot in the county's special program.
Homeless Shelter Closes Due to Lack of Funding
Opportunity Center, the only daytime homeless shelter in Jackson, closed Friday. The shelter, which was operated by Stewpot Community Services, offered a variety of social services. On daily basis about 175 homeless men and women could use laundry and shower facilities, receive mail and phone calls, and seek day-labor work.
Byram Town Center Gets $5.5M TIF Boost
Construction workers have begun a commercial development that will bring new restaurants, shops and offices to the young city of Byram. The Hinds County Board of Supervisors voted today to approve a $5.5 million tax-increment financing, or TIF, plan for the Byram Town Center development.
Alliances of the Little Guys
Jeff Milchen doesn't like big boxes. In 1997, Milchen noticed with alarm that large chain stores were rapidly displacing the locally owned, independent stores that gave Boulder, Colo., its character.
Oxford Puts On Its Party Pants
OXFORD—For all the debate fever of the past week, Oxford's real transformation has taken place in the last 24 hours. The town felt fairly quiet yesterday morning, but by the afternoon, several impromptu Obama campaign apparel businesses had set up around the square, working out of air conditioning vans or on folding tables. Today, the square has reached another level. Even more patriotic bunting hangs outside the centrally-located shops. Lily's Gifts on the square has a sign asking if you're "Election Ready." Apparently we'll need drinking cups for the election. The mannequins in Kaleidoscope are sporting stars-and-stripes top hats along with their dresses. The Darfur protester carrying a Mississippi state flag--who's been sitting in front of the courthouse since I got here--has all the media attention he could want. There's a steady stream of foot and car traffic, including lots of children. Oxford schools aren't closed today, but it looks like some parents deem the debate a suitable educational alternative.
GO Zone Deadlines Coming and Going
Local governments in southern and central Mississippi must begin using federal funds for disaster recovery by the end of the year, according to Gov. Haley Barbour. Barbour recently sent a letter to the 39 cities and counties that received a combined $41 million in GO Zone Community Revitalization grants, setting a Jan. 1 deadline for projects to start.
Advocates Urge Proactive Approach to Homeless
Addressing homelessness in Jackson will require the active participation of communities, especially in the areas near downtown, the city's Homeless Program Coordinator Heather Ivery said today.
South Jackson Mall Seeks Community Input
The Jackson Square shopping center that has struggled with crime and vacancy for years is showing signs of life. The South Jackson retail mall at Terry Road and Interstate 55, renamed the Jackson Square Outlet Mall, is getting a facelift and actively pursuing new tenants, but the property's new owner believes community support is essential to the project's success.
Burnin' Down the House: DIY Concerts
It's not just for sweaty, basement punks anymore. Do-it-yourself house concerts are cropping up all over Jackson, the perfect expression of the city's collaborative, welcoming music scene.
Open Ward 2 Race Brings Competing Solutions
In the wake of Ward 2 Councilman Leslie McLemore's decision not to seek re-election, eight candidates are vying to replace him. They offer similar views of the ward's needs but disparate visions of how to address them.
Blues Marathon Growing Boon for City
When 2,000 people swarm Jackson streets tomorrow morning, they'll be bringing dollars and a growing sense of prestige to the city. Saturday's Mississippi Blues Marathon is only the fourth year for this event, but it represents a long evolution.
Former Inmate: Youth Prison Was Hell
The Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility is failing to rehabilitate and is actually endangering the lives of its juvenile inmates, advocates and former inmates told state lawmakers today. Members of the House Juvenile Justice Committee heard a litany of complaints against the state-funded, privately operated prison, ranging from inadequate educational services to misconduct and physical abuse by prison staff.
Mayor Melton Back In Town, Back To Work
See full JFP Melton Archive/Blog here.
Developers Push a Lake for Downtown
UPDATED: December 15, 2009
Jackson developer David Watkins, whose ventures include the King Edward Hotel and the Farish Street entertainment district, unveiled plans for a downtown lake and riverwalk at a media event yesterday. The project, which is still in the early stages of planning, would complement the problematic Two Lakes project for the Pearl River, but its completion would not depend on that development, according to Ben Allen, president of Downtown Jackson Partners, which sponsored the event.
Rains Hurt State Fair, Helped Local Restaurants
The weather was unkind to the Mississippi State Fair last week, but the near-constant rain was a boon for one segment of Jackson: downtown restaurant owners. Fair director Billy Orr estimates that roughly 500,000 people attended this year, down from nearly 610,000 last year—even after the addition of an extra day Monday.
A Delta Manhunt, With Booze and Guns
Federal authorities are investigating an Aug. 20 incident in which armed white citizens, using a military vehicle, helped search for an unarmed black burglary suspect in the Delta.
Justin Schultz
Justin Schultz believes that Jackson's arts scene is exceptionally supportive.
Minister Blasts Mississippi Senator's Connections
Also see JFP cover story: Guess Who's Coming to Jackson, June 24, 2009
Hinds Supes Appoint New County Attorney
At a board meeting this morning, Hinds County Supervisors appointed Sherri Flowers to replace Malcolm Harrison as county attorney. Harrison became Gov. Haley Barbour's first African American judicial appointment in October, when the governor picked him for the Hinds County Circuit Court seat formerly held by Bobby DeLaughter.
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