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Pro-Choice Candidate Defeats Erik Fleming

It 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.

The Art Of Being The Best

Just mention "the state's inferiority complex" to a Mississippi native, and he or she will likely respond: "God, isn't that the truth?" Let's just say that residents of our dear state haven't been schooled in the fine art of being the "best." Or, to be more precise, no matter how talented we are personally, collectively, we don't believe we're the best.

Jackson's Comeback

You can feel it in the air. Jacksonians are starting to believe in the power of Mississippi's capital city to be great, to rise from the ashes that fiery politics and racism of old turned us into.

Mississippians Be Damned

For more on Haley Barbour, see Donna Ladd's blog and Jackpedia: Haley Barbour

Happy Mother's Day

Arise, then, women of this day!

Here is the original, pre-Hallmark, Mother's Day Proclamation, penned in Boston by Julia Ward Howe in 1870:

Ledger Outsources Customer Service to South Carolina

Clarion-Ledger Publisher Larry Whitaker sent the following letter to employees this week, talking about the challenges and changes the paper faced in 2007:

Back To Basics with Kwanzaa, Regardless Of Race

The holiday season can be chaotic. In some cases, it turns into a popularity contest: Who gets the most thoughtful gift? Who gets the stock gifts? Who only gets well wishes? Whose party do you attend, and how long do you stay at this one before you head to the one you've been anticipating since this time last year?

Jackson Businessman and Wife Hospitalized, Doctors Killed In Head-On Collision

Stuart Irby was in critical condition this morning; Karen Irby was in serious condition.

University Medical Center officials confirmed today that they admitted Jackson business man Stuart Irby and his wife Karen after a head-on collision on Old Canton road around 10:30 p.m. last night.

[Head] Legislation Promotes Dangerous Abortions

Last Wednesday, the Mississippi State Senate passed SB 2795. Promoted as a simple ban on abortion, the legislation actually takes a far more novel and dangerous approach. The right of a woman to terminate her own pregnancy is protected under section 2(3) of the legislation—establishing a right to abortion for the first time in Mississippi legislative history. The right of a woman to obtain drugs that will help her terminate her pregnancy is also protected under subsection 1(3)(d). There's one catch: Any doctor who oversees the procedure faces up to ten years in prison. Under SB 2795, abortion wouldn't always be illegal—just incredibly dangerous.

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The Art of Body

If each person had a home-appliance persona, Erin Hayne and Nuno Gonçalves Ferreira would both be space heaters. They radiate warmth.

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Donate Yourself

Although the idea of donating your body tends to have an edgy ring to it, it's easy to change your mind once you think of the good it can bring into the lives of others.

Taking Religion Back

Politics and religion: two subjects that should never be introduced in polite conversation. When I moved to Mississippi, the admonition became a hard and fast rule for me. Mississippi politics contains a lot of bizarrely coded language that, as an outsider, I can't penetrate. And religion? Well, let's just say that I got invitations to about a half-dozen Baptist and Methodist churches within a couple of weeks, none of which I accepted. There are some who will likely never forgive me for that Yankee faux pas. Being in the buckle of the Bible belt came to mean only one thing to me—evangelical, fundamentalist Christianity.

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‘I Dream In Color'

On a recent spring afternoon in Jackson, graphic-design artist George Miles walks through Fondren, taking in the scenery and people. Miles makes a daily habit of walking from his apartment on Lorenz Boulevard through the artistic and funky neighborhood where he finds inspiration.

Did MSNBC Ad "Hoochify" Michelle Obama?

Yes, I made that word up. Anyway, according to the Huffington Post, a "Hardball with Chris Matthews" ad about an upcoming segment on Michelle Obama's political image makeover was pulled because of the background artwork. In the background, you can see "female silhouetted dancers", three silhouettes of women in different poses. The first two silhouettes were sexy poses of women wearing miniskirts, and the third looked like a woman wearing a long gown that was form-fitting at the hips and flared out at the bottom. MSNBC pulled the ad and redid it without the silhouettes.

Community Events and Public Meetings

Monday, Feb. 8 6 p.m.

"The Vagina Monologues" Auditions, at The Cedars Historic Home (4145 Old Canton Rd.). Open auditions will be held for a reading of Eve Ensler's book. E-mail [e-mail missing] to reserve a time slot.

Cochran and Lott: Sign On Now

In the wake of the Edgar Ray Killen trial and the media spotlight on Mississippi, another tumult over race and politics boiled to the surface last week when the U.S. Senate passed a non-binding resolution apologizing for years of the Senate's failure to pass Federal anti-lynching legislation.

Ballad of Charlie Moore and Henry Dee

We found Marla Moore's freshly penned lyrics in honor of Charles Moore and Henry Dee on her "Punk Rasta" myspace page this week and asked to publish them. The JFP spoke with Moore Tuesday about the song she had just written for two fallen Mississippians.

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A Woman of Paranormal Worth

The first time I ever see Paula Hayes Westbrook, she is smoking a cigarette with one hand while holding Tia, her little Chihuahua, with the other.

Hmmmm…‘Frank Was Right'?

The Jackson Free Press received an anonymous letter (PDF) apparently sent to a variety of media and local churches this week. The letter called on churches, in particular, to do more to help fight crime in Jackson. Over all, the letter makes a lot of sense. It starts:

A-1 Pallets Silent Protest Friday, July 27, from 10 AM to 12 PM

PROTEST THEME: "Leave A-1 Pallets Alone"

We will be on Mill St near A-1 Pallets. We will remain on the sidewalk and not stand on private property. If you wish to participate, please feel free to join in and bring a picket sign. Signs should says things that are related to the cause. No name calling, profanity or other personal attacks. I will have a few signs already made if you need one. I suggest coming 30 minutes early so we can all start together and on time.