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Legislative Update: Medicaid and Marriage

This week marked either the victory cheer or the death knell for a round of money bills seeking approval. Tuesday, specifically, marked the deadline for the House or Senate to consider bills coming in from the opposite chamber. Among those bills are the House's ensuing attempt to balance the state's ailing Medicaid budget by raising the cigarette tax to $1.18.

Flaggs Backs Down on Mergers

Rep. George Flaggs, D-Vicksburg, has changed his tune somewhat regarding Gov. Haley Barbour's budget recommendation for merging Mississippi's historically black colleges and universities.

J.J. Salem

Jackson author J.J. Salem's latest steamy beach read, "Tan Lines," has received praise from publications as varied as Publisher's Weekly and The New York Post, and was named a "Summer Reading Pick" by "Good Morning America."

Finding the Facts

Researchers attempt to trace historical effects of oil industry in neighboring communities

Since the mid-1990s, the U.S. Department of Interior's much-maligned Mineral Management Service (MMS) has sponsored projects to examine the history of the Gulf. Research teams from the University of Houston with the assistance of researchers from the University of Arizona have been working on developments in Gulf Coastal communities.

A House Divided

Photo Brian Johnson

Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes called for the election of a new council president last week and thus the ousting of Ward 6 Councilman Marshand Crisler, who has occupied the post as council president for ten months, following his return from Iraq. But Stokes said Crisler is fomenting discord in the council chambers against Jackson Mayor Frank Melton. He also heavily criticized the council president for calling off last week's meeting when it became clear that the mayor had denied access to the council chambers by city TV cameras. The council later reconvened just long enough to vote on some budget matters before dispersing—putting some budget items at risk.

JPD's High Gas and Low Morale

The Jackson Police Department's 330 patrol vehicles are constantly on the move, requiring engines and components designed for longer idle periods and higher speeds than standard car models.

Fewer Profs, High Tuition

If current state budget cuts stand, Mississippi's eight public universities will have to shed 1,000 jobs and raise tuition over the next two years.

Kim Wade: Turn the Mayor Out

WJNT radio host Kim Wade filed a petition for removal against Mayor Frank Melton with the circuit clerk's office Friday afternoon, as reported first at jacksonfreepress.com.

Corps Rejects Lake 255

Read Billy Orr's letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (PDF, 256 KB)

EPA Alleges Treatment Plant Violations

City Attorney Pieter Teeuwissen confirmed at a public forum this morning that the Environmental Protection Agency has informed the city of possible water-quality violations at the city's wastewater treatment plant. "We have a sewage treatment plant in south Jackson that was designed to treat 50 million gallons (of wastewater) a day. It went online in 1989, under (Mayor Dale) Danks' administration. That plant started exceeding its capacity within a year. Now we're 20 years down, and we're still exceeding capacity," Teeuwissen told a crowd of about 70 at Koinonia Coffeehouse's Friday Forum. "The EPA has brought to the city's attention various alleged violations including the amount of sludge in the south Jackson sewage lagoons."

Update: School Board Meeting Cancelled

UPDATED October 23, 2009

The Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees has canceled a special meeting today, because "additional information is needed for a recommendation to approve Qualified School Construction Bond Projects," according to a release. The agenda was to include time for public participation "for general comments and/or proposed policy issues."

Stokes Addresses Alleged Personal-Care Home Abuse

On Tuesday, Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes proposed a new ordinance imposing fines and jail time for people found guilty of neglect or mistreatment of residents of small nursing homes, often referred to as "personal-care homes."

Council Approves Judge, Tables Store Ban

This morning, the Jackson City Council confirmed the appointment of former Municipal Judge Gail Wright Lowery as municipal judge pro tempore to preside over the city's new code enforcement.

City Banking on Future Revenue

Read an excerpt from the report (PDF)

Fisher: Hinds Supes ‘Hiding' In Executive Session

Hinds County Supervisor Phil Fisher accused his fellow supervisors today of evading public scrutiny by relegating two potentially inflammatory decisions to executive session. In a closed session during its meeting this morning, the Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to fire County Administrator Vern Gavin. Supervisors also rejected a proposal from Fisher to dissolve the county's agreement with the Mississippi Youth Justice Project, a juvenile-justice watchdog group.

House Panel Questions Dispersant Toxicity

Some House members left this morning's inaugural meeting of the House Select Committee on the Gulf Coast Disaster without knowing the potential risk of dispersants that British Petroleum is using to break up and sink millions of gallons of oil bursting from a destroyed deepwater oil well off the coast of Louisiana.

Can Cannon Nissan Revive I-20 Corridor?

Michael Joe Cannon sees opportunity to revive business in the Interstate 20 corridor that parallels Raymond Road in Jackson, recently backing up his beliefs by opening a new Nissan dealership near the former Deuce McAlister Nissan, which closed last year.

New Mississippi Laws in Effect

A host of new laws, and modifications to existing laws signed by Gov. Haley Barbour in the 2010 Legislative session go into effect today.

Medical Mall Pitches Projects

The Jackson Medical Mall Foundation has several large economic-development projects pending, but Hinds County appears unable to support them, for the moment. Primus Wheeler, executive director for the foundation, asked the county Board of Supervisors at a work session this morning for $1.8 million to support an expansion on the Medical Mall's northern end. The Board has already allocated $2 million in bonds that would be its most likely source of funding, to another project.

Businesses, Hospitals, Schools Feel Pinch in Water Crisis

Due to more than 100 water-main breaks, parts of Jackson continued to suffer from low or nonexistent water pressure today, forcing area businesses to close or otherwise adapt.

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