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Nader Slams ‘Paymasters'

Green Party presidential hopeful Ralph Nader came to town June 16, sounding more like his old ball-busting, consumer-advocate self than a man trying to upset the presidential apple cart.

On Monday, March 7, Gov. Haley Barbour delivered a hardcore ultimatum at the Capitol. "We cannot tax or cut enough in three and a half months to cover a $268 million deficit—that is not a political statement, it is a mathematical fact," he told the media. "The longer the Legislature waits, the more dire the circumstances become for Mississippi's Medicaid recipients." He added: "The decision is not 'tax hike' versus 'trust fund.' The decision is 'trust fund' versus 'no more Medicaid'—and that shouldn't be a tough decision."

Not In My Backyard

Some residents of the Fondren community are steadfastly protesting the building of a 40-bed crisis intervention center for the mentally ill in what they consider their backyard.

CityBuzz [08.23.06]

In a national survey of American cities with more than 100,000 people, Jackson ranked the 42nd most liberal out of 236. The survey, conducted by the Bay Area Center for Voting Research (votingresearch.org) showed Jackson edging out liberal icons like Austin, Texas (92) and Athens, Ga. (97). Sadly, Jackson did not score higher than Memphis, Tenn. (38) or Seattle, Wash. (16), to say nothing of Berkeley, Calif. (3). The most liberal city was Detroit, Mich.

Rebirth of a King

What a long, strange, trip it's been. The co-developers of the King Edward Hotel are holding a groundbreaking on March 27, at 11 a.m., after years of the project languishing in the planning stages. Developers, including Jackson attorney David Watkins, HRI Properties co-founder Pres Kabacoff and New Orleans Saints star Deuce McAllister will be on hand with Gov. Haley Barbour to celebrate the "Rebirth of Jackson's downtown and the commencement of renovation" of the King Edward.

City Not Giving Financial Details

Details on financing for the proposed convention center hotel are still under wraps, as the city puts together an official proposal for the Jackson City Council that may include using funds designated for redevelopment of areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Making Elbow Room

Police Chief Shirlene Anderson has been pushing the idea of a misdemeanor jail as part of her plan to battle repeat offenders in the city.

State Wasting Money on Well?

Mississippi Department of Transportation's decision to drill a $390,000 well in downtown Jackson to supply water for government buildings is a "duplication of services," city of Jackson spokesman Chris Mims said today.

Bills That Ain't About Money

All eyes at the state Legislature are on how politicians will handle the state's nearly $400 million revenue deficit, but other bills outside of money issues are creeping their way into committees.

Insurance-Reform Bills Big on Change

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had a lot to be proud of at the end of October when the House released a new and improved bill to reform health care and health-care coverage. The 10-year $894 billion package, she said, would expand coverage to more than 36 million Americans.

Sweet, Sweet Beer

“I’d kill everyone in this room for one drop of sweet, sweet beer.” —Homer Simpson

Scruggs' Indictment Shaking State

Attorney Paul Minor is serving 11 years in federal prison for paying off campaign loans for a Democratic Mississippi Supreme Court judge. Guaranteeing loans to the campaigns of supreme court justices was once common practice, and Minor accused the FBI of not prosecuting fellow Gulf Coast attorney Richard "Dickie" Scruggs for "doing the same thing." Unlike Minor, Scruggs gave campaign money to Republicans like his brother-in-law Sen. Trent Lott.

Melton Budget 'Smoke and Mirrors'

The City Council cut short a budget session last week after the Melton administration failed to present detailed budget revisions.

Got Rights? The ACLU's Freedom Party – June 30

http://www.msaclu.org

Join the ACLU and the Jackson Free Press for a Freedom Party outside at 930 Blues Cafe on Friday, June 30, featuring performances by Willie King and other local artists. Admission: $5 for ACLU members and board members: $10 for non-members; $15 for couples; students and volunteers get in free! Call 601.355.6464 for details. Starts at 5:30 p.m. Come visit the JFP table! Win "I Get It Once a Week" T-shirts! Register to vote! Come on out, y'all.

Marchers Protest 'War on Women'

About 50 people gathered this morning to march around the Capitol and oppose state legislators' attempts to pass anti-abortion bills and personhood legislation during the current session.

[Balko] A Case Study in Local News Futility

The Norman Lear Center at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism recently surveyed 490 hours of local news reports in the Los Angeles area and found what most people who watch local news probably already knew: It's dreadful.

Boys & Girls Club to Close?

More than 1,000 Jackson schoolchildren could be left unsupervised after school if a local community organization does not receive donations soon. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi plans to close three of its six Jackson-area facilities at the end of the school year if it does not raise $500,000 by April 1.

Are The Baptists To Blame?

Mississippi is for lovers, but even the greatest love stories sometimes hit a snag. As of 2001, Mississippi had an annual divorce rate of 5.4 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That rate was surpassed by only six other states. Despite the fact that we're the buckle on the Bible belt, we get divorced and in engage in infidelity at a higher rate than California or New York. In fact, a survey conducted by the Barna Group in 2001 found that 29 percent of Baptists are divorced, a percentage that is higher than for any other denomination. Even atheists and agnostics have lower divorce rates. This raises a beguiling question. Are the 58 percent of our population who are Baptists to blame for our high divorce rate?

Melton: Taxpayers Should Pay My Fine

Photo Graphic by Darren Schwindaman

Attorneys for Jackson Mayor Frank Melton argued in a Meridian court on Oct. 20, over whether Melton can be sued as a private individual or if the state has to shoulder the financial burden of a civil suit against him brought by former Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics employees who say Melton defamed them by leaking a false memo to The Clarion-Ledger in April 2003.

Strong and Natural

In April 2010, I had my last chemical hair relaxer. "I have had it," I thought as I decided to go natural once and for all, and I made the firm decision that I would never use a relaxer again in my life.

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