LadiesFirst, perhaps you can provide some actual facts. When you say, for example, that "Other cities with problems with violent crimes such as ours have done more," I know many of us would like to know where that is and what they've done.

Also, when you make accusations such as "a mayor that is appreciated for being a 'reactionary,'" what exactly do you mean?

Regina Quinn did a pretty good job of laying out what she believes are the basic problems causing crime in her [interview with the JFP][1]: poor education, lack of opportunity and drugs. All of those problems are incredibly complex and none can be solved through local leadership alone. And, seriously, anyone who believes that generational ignorance and poverty coupled with systemic bias isn't a part of the problem doesn't have a good grasp of the issue.

No one is against moving forward, but Instead of platitudes, I, for one, would be interested in someone plotting a clear path out of the mess. Moving without direction isn't the answer.

[1]: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/20…

Terri Herring sent the following release to the conservative Mississippi PEP blog today:

Terri Herring thanked Governor Phil Bryant today for his trust in nominating her to the Mississippi State Board of Health.

“I am honored by the confidence Governor Bryant has placed in me to serve in this very important post,” said Herring. “The past twenty six years of my life have been dedicated to health issues and health care, and I am pleased to have an opportunity to continue that as a member of the State Board of Health.”

Herring and husband Clint own TrustCare in Ridgeland, Mississippi. TrustCare is a medical provider, specializing in walk-in urgent care, and occupational medicine. The Herrings have run the Kerioth Corporation, a family-owned real estate and development company since 1984. They are also partnered with St. Dominic Hospital to promote fitness through “The Club”, with locations across metro Jackson and one in Hernando, MS.

Sister Dorothea Sondgeroth, Associate Executive Director of St. Dominic Health Services, recommended Herring and called her an “outstanding nominee”. Sondgeroth said Herring has been a key asset in promoting women’s health issues and healthy living in Mississippi.

“Terri is a devoted mother and knows the importance of women’s health and has been heavily involved in community efforts that enhance family life and women’s health,” said Sondgeroth. “I have known Terri for sixteen years and have worked with her as she championed the cause of protecting women’s and infants health and well-being.”

Herring has assisted young pregnant women across Mississippi through pregnancy resource centers to receive prenatal education, medical care, and financial assistance. She distributes $200,000 annually to resource centers across the state as founder and President of the Choose Life Advisory Committee.

Herring has been a featured speaker on women’s health issue in articles and on television across the globe. She is sought after as an advocate for women’s health, and on the subjects of fetal mortality, abstinence and reproductive education.

Robbier, no has to "assume" Herring lobbies. She calls herself a lobbyist on her Twitter feed, on her blog, in interviews--kind of everywhere. It really isn't difficult to figure out. She's all up in the Legislature's business regarding pro-life bills.

Folks are tweeting that this story uses gender identifications counter to the Associated Press Style Guide. This is a wire story taken verbatim from the AP. We would hope that the organization would not make stories available that don't comply with its own guide (which the Jackson Free Press follows), but we can't speak for the AP.

Here is what the AP guidelines say:

**transgender** Use the pronoun preferred by the individuals who have acquired the physical characteristics of the opposite sex or present themselves in a way that does not correspond with their sex at birth.

If that preference is not expressed, use the pronoun consistent with the way the individuals live publicly. See transsexual.

**transsexual** A person who changes gender by undergoing surgical procedures. See trans­gender.

Here is a link to the [GLAAD media guide][1].

[1]: http://www.glaad.org/reference

It gets better. Gipson has also reintroduced personhood. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/docume…

Buffet's comments make a great exclamation point, Brian. Thanks.

*"The lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice provides a glimpse of light at the end of a very dark tunnel for many youth and families across Mississippi. For far too long, young people across the state have been pushed out of school and into the criminal justice system where they have languished – often suffering horrific abuses. This cycle has cut short the futures and lives of many of the state's young people already. We hope that this lawsuit will serve as a wake-up call for leaders and lawmakers across the state to end this vicious school-to-prison pipeline and instead pursue policies and practices that better serve our children."*

--Statement from the Southern Poverty Law Center regarding the DOJ's suit.

From Bailey Gilchrist, manager, external Relations of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce:

**U.S. Chamber of Commerce Offers Tool to Help Businesses In Advance of Tropical Storm Isaac**

Chamber’s Business Civic Leadership Center Activates Network and Tools to Help Businesses Prepare

washington, d.c.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) today announced that its National Disaster Help Desk for Business is activated in advance of Tropical Storm Isaac’s potential landfall this week in the southeastern United States. The Help Desk, made possible by the Office Depot Foundation, is a tool for fast and reliable information that will help small business and local chambers of commerce access the suite of relief and recovery resources available to them as they prepare for and cope with damage from the storm.

“Small businesses are particularly vulnerable in times of natural disasters,” says U.S. Chamber BCLC senior disaster manager Gerald McSwiggan. “Every business owner can take very simple steps to help avoid loss, damage, or disruption caused by the storm, and the Help Desk can help you prepare and recover.”

The U.S. Chamber BCLC encourages every company and chamber of commerce that is located in the Southeast United States to consider Tropical Storm Isaac a potentially serious threat, and to prepare accordingly.

Statistics show that one in four small businesses will experience a disruptive natural disaster and, of those, 43% won’t recover. The U.S. Chamber BCLC wants to ensure that every business and chamber of commerce is adequately prepared before, during and after disasters. Business owners, chamber leaders and individuals are encouraged to contact the Help Desk if:

- You are in the impact area and want
help navigating assistance programs
from FEMA, the Small Business
Administration and others. You want
information about business resilience
and recovery best practices. You want
to provide support to businesses
coping with this disaster.

“Managing through a disaster is about creating networks,” continued McSwiggan. “The U.S. Chamber BCLC and our Help Desk are here to assist in all phases of preparing for and recovering from the hurricane.”

To learn more about the preparedness and recovery resources available and to reach a disaster expert, contact the Help Desk online, by email or phone (888-my-biz help or 888- 692-4943), or on Facebook and Twitter.

Slick, calm down. No one's talking about $5 million being missing or misused, as far as the JFP has been able to ascertain, so please provide your source for this information before you start slinging accusations of criminal activity.

Retro Metro raised $5 million from a private bond issue (not taxpayer funds) to finance the project.

WJTV raised questions about $50,000 the city provided for the project and has said repeatedly that one of the Retro Metro contractors has stated he can account for the funds. The Mississippi Development Authority has told WJTV that no tax dollars are involved.

Reeves statement is just full of hyperbolic nonsense in its two short sentences. First, as Donna pointed out, no one is talking about "marriage," which would provide some actual civil rights (it is, after all, a civil contract if you can see past religious connotations).

Then there's this: "Attorney General Hood’s legal advice goes against the wishes of an overwhelming majority of Mississippians." The implication, of course, is that Hood wrote his decision purposely to spite the wishes of the majority of Mississippians. Following that logic, it is, therefore, Hood's fault that people can have a commitment ceremony at the Ag Museum.

Um, no. Hood's decision was based on law, not popular opinion. That's his job--to uphold the law as it's written. As much as I disagree with Hyde-Smith, as a citizen, she has the right to work for changing the law. What she does not have, and she recognizes this, is the right to follow and enforce her personal beliefs instead of the law.