Stories for February 2007 | Jackson Free Press | Jackson, MS

Stories for February 2007

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Wednesday, February 28

Cover

Fifty Years Of Unrest: The JFP Interview With Leslie McLemore

Photos by Roy Adkins & Brian Johnson

Ward 2 Councilman Leslie McLemore is rarely afraid to speak his mind. He started young when it comes to being vociferous. He began his career as a social activist fresh ...

Cover

Will More Cops Help?

Leslie McLemore is anxious to see the police chief's plan for fighting crime. This isn't the first time the council has been impatient. The same council—or at least four of ...

Sports

The Teams of Dreams

A few weeks ago, I referred in this space to college football recruiting as "the 'Dungeons & Dragons' of sports" or something in that vein, but the truth is the ...

Sports

The Best In Sports In 7 Days

Boys high school basketball, MHSAA State Tournament, Provine vs. Brandon (8 p.m.): It's city vs. the suburbs at the Mississippi Coliseum in the first round of the Class 5A play.

Wellness

Beating Those Winter Blues

March is a stressful month. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and Valentine's Day are all long gone, the days are often gray and cold, and we can't count on another holiday ...

Bodysoul

Don't Catch It!

No doubt, stress lowers your resistance. But there are things you can do to stay healthy while everyone around you is bleary-eyed and runny-nosed. Here are some basics, old and ...

Food

A Fling Rekindled

My favorite beers are all strongly attached to memories of the places where I discovered them. Abita Amber, from my four years living in New Orleans, will always hold a ...

Food

A Lent Lament

With three feet of snow and ice piled up in a gruesome combination of fresh snow and filthy sludge left over from the last blizzard, Lent in New England is ...

Jackblog

Legal Bullies?

February 28, 2007 On Feb. 15, Mayor Frank Melton told WJTV that he was going to sue WAPT because they reported that he had violated his probation by conducting a ...

Talk

It Takes All Kinds

Photos by Jakob Clark, and Natalie A. Collier

Saturday evening, March 3, folks from all over the city will gather at Hal & Mal's for Jackson 2000's Friendship Ball 2007 to celebrate camaraderie between the races. This year, ...

Talk

Week 8: Abortion, Tobacco, Katrina

After declaring that he had no intention of considering abortion bills this year, House Health Committee Chairman Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, caved under the pressure from House Speaker Billy McCoy and ...

Talk

Mobilize for the Monkey

A small group of protesters stood at the entrance to the University Medical Center Monday afternoon, holding signs and passing out information to passersby. They were there to protest vivisection, ...

Talk

Friendly Fire from the Forest

Speaking to the Jackson Free Press by cell phone from an undisclosed location in a Mississippi national forest, Hinds County supervisor and Mississippi National Guard veteran Charles Barbour took a ...

Justice

Judge Keeps Seale in Jail

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate denied several motions from lawyers representing James Seale, the 71-year-old former Klansman held in federal custody for his alleged role in the abduction ...

Publisher's Note

LeFleur Lakes Barreling Toward the Falls

The results are in from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study of the LeFleur Lakes project, and, according to a report in The Clarion-Ledger, the Corps says it isn't ...

[Collier] There's More to the Story

It's done now. Elementary school teachers, if they haven't already, are taking down the laminated posters of Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr. and Thurgood Marshall. Black History ...

[Stiggers] Everything Must Go

Big Head Fred: "During Black History Month, the corporate world has thrived on your impulsive buying habits. In spite of your overworked and underpaid status, they depend on you to ...

Letters

No. 23, February 21 - 28

<b><em>The Phantom Flip-Flopper</b></em>

On the episode following Mr. Tim Russert's testimony in the Libby trial, where Cathy Martin revealed the Bush administration's tactics to manipulate the media, Mr. David Broder of The Washington ...

Jacksonian

Tekla Sanders

Tekla Sanders fairly shone on the sunny day when we met for lunch, her glossy curls framing her expressive eyes and wide smile. At 27, she still considers herself a ...

Frank Melton

BREAKING: Council Cocks the Trigger

The Tuesday night City Council meeting devolved into chaos when council members attempted to read aloud a list of very pointed questions to City Attorney Sarah O'Reilly-Evans.

Tuesday, February 27

Frank Melton

‘No Damn Trust' Between Council and Mayor

The story will appear in the print edition on Wednesday. Watch for updates after the Tuesday evening Council meeting.

Jackblog

Growing the Arts in the New Jackson - Feb. 27

On the cusp of a new era for the arts in Jackson, the Greater Jackson Arts Council, with support from the Jackson Free Press, is hosting a free community forum ...

Justice

AG Gonzales to Old Klansmen: ‘We Are Still on Your Trail'

The U.S. Department of Justice held a press conference this morning in Washington to announce the formation of a cold-cases division to pursue old civil-rights murders, such as the case ...

Monday, February 26

Jackblog

ARTICLE: Young Marine Dies Of PTSD - And Neglect

Jonathan Schulze was a United States Marine.

A soldier survives active duty in Iraq only to discover that when he becomes suicidal, he can't get treatment at the VA Center because he's number 26 on the waiting ...

Capitol

Summary from the week ending 2/23

Sports

Basketball Marches In

Mississippi's greatest sporting event, the MHSAA State Basketball Tournament, starts on Monday at the Mississippi Coliseum. Boys and girls champions in five classes will be crowned at the end of ...

Saturday, February 24

Pearl River

Corps: Twin Lakes Plan ‘Economically Infeasible'

The Clarion-Ledger is reporting:

Friday, February 23

Jackblog

You're From the South?

A few nights ago, at a reading for the book "Other People's Property" (supposedly a book about being white and loving hip-hop), a guy said, "Violent rap doesn't exist anymore. ...

Jackblog

Neither Do I Condemn You

Some people give things up for Lent, then resume whatever they gave up on Easter. I can appreciate the self-discipline aspect of this, but this year I think what I ...

Jackblog

Teen Hosts Free Expression Expo Saturday in Florence

On Feb. 24, Florence High School senior Jason Wilson, 18, will host the Free Expression Exposition at Hemphill Park in Florence. The music and arts festival, which features eight bands ...

Thursday, February 22

Jackblog

Is Danks Unaware or Indifferent to the 1st Amendment?

In Dale Danks' letter telling Kim Wade to retract his petition for removal, Danks calls Wade's petition "Frivolous," harassing" and "vexatious". Danks' letter (PDF, 300KB) further (mis)characterizes Wade's petition as ...

Jackblog

PLEASE WATCH THIS CNN SPECIAL *TONIGHT* AT 8pm: HIP HOP: Art or Poison

CNN will examine the cultural value of Hip-Hop in an hour long special dubbed "Hip-Hop: Art or Poison?" tonight (Feb 21.)

Wednesday, February 21

Jacksonian

Crafton Beck

In seventh grade, Crafton Beck agreed to play an instrument he had never heard of before. Beck had wanted to play the trumpet, but the band director at his middle ...

Cover

Hungry Kids: Jackson Music 2007

Life without music wouldn't really be life; it'd be a lot like life, an imitation of it, but it wouldn't be life. It's even more difficult to imagine a life ...

Cover

Artists To Watch In 2007

—Casey Parks

Yeah, you've been playing that same Living Better Electrically EP for years now. Your Colour Revolt EP got worn out months ago. Don't worry, though, J-town has plenty of other ...

Sports

The Best In Sports In 7 Days

Women's college basketball, Mississippi State at Alabama (6 p.m., Tuscaloosa, Ala., FSN South): The Lady Bulldogs continue battling for an NCAA berth.

Sports

Cleaning House

Over two years on, Larry Eustachy claims not to remember much about his early practices at USM. Trying to recall that sad-sack squad after the biggest single win of his ...

Film

The Sum Of Its Parts

The art in the 2007 Mississippi Invitational falls on both sides of the modernist/postmodernist ideological divide. Some artists relate to a modernist conception of art, which counsels that art is ...

Food

Wine Made In The Mountains

We have all heard plenty about Napa and Sonoma, but many of the other American Viticultural Areas in California want attention. The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA is one such region. ...

Food

Stuff Yourself

I grew up in a survival-of-the-fittest (or survival of who-knew-how-to-cook) atmosphere. Even though my mom was a stay-at-home type, she wasn't the have-dinner-on-the-table-by-5:30 type. My siblings and I soon learned ...

Jackblog

ARTICLE: The Mental Health Parity Bill Finally Passes the First Hurdle

(verbatim from e-mail from the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance)

Guys, please do me a favor and click on the link in this article. Let our senators know that supporting this legislation is critical. The lives of many who suffer ...

Cover

And It Don't Stop

Lyrics tell a story, teach a lesson, influence your life for three minutes. Hip-hop comes down to just that, at the bare bones, some solid beats and words, lyrics.

Cover

Where I Want To Be

There wasn't much run-around, as there can be with some celebrity personalities. Setting up the time to interview Mississippi's son David Banner was a fairly easy process. Truthfully, it wasn't ...

BREAKING: $100 Million Sewer Crisis Ahead?

The city will be left holding what could be a $100 million bill if it does not move to regionalize its sewer treatment facility in the next few months, according ...

Talk

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.

Talk

Hood Threatens Insurance Industry

Attorney General Jim Hood attacked State Farm Fire and Casualty Co.'s decision last week to suspend new home-owners and commercial insurance policies in Mississippi. Hood said the national insurance company ...

Talk

Politics of Tobacco

The House sent a veto-proof cigarette tax bill to the Senate Thursday, along with the message that one side of the Mississippi Legislature is standing behind the tax, even if ...

Talk

Oh Yeah, The Plan

The Jackson City Council cut off Police Chief Shirlene Anderson before she could go into the details of her proposed modular misdemeanor jail on Monday, saying they were looking for ...

Talk

Not Your Typical Two-car Garage

Hinds County Supervisors voted 3-2 to hire Integrated Management Services, Neel-Schaffer and McElroy 3 and Associates Architects to design a proposed $14 million parking garage. Supervisors Charles Barbour and Peggy ...

Justice

Take It to the Feds

Download the motion (PDF 1.44MB)

Talk

The Lawyers and the Statistician

Day three of the Michael Ellis termination hearing resumed on Wednesday, Feb. 14, with Ellis' attorney Lisa Ross concluding her cross-examination of Charlie Bonds, Jackson Public Schools executive director of ...

Editor's Note

In a Sentimental Mood

It's Tuesday, and I'm sitting cross-legged on the floor in Baltimore's Southwest terminal after spending several days in Washington at an alternative-newspaper training conference. I love these gatherings: I teach, ...

[Gregory] You Call That Music?

My friends often make smart-ass comments about my taste in music. I write this sentence as Babs wails "Moon River" in the background, and my cats look at me distastefully ...

[Stiggers] Watching You Watch Us

Kunta "Rahsheed X" Toby: "Welcome to 'Why Aggravate a Brother?' It's Ghetto Science Television's new reality series about racial profiling. This episode is sponsored by the law offices of Cootie ...

[Kamikaze] The New Independents

We've come to yet another music issue, and that means as in years past, it's time for my annual state of the music address. It seems I've become the "mad ...

Tonight, Feb 21 "The War Tapes" Screening at Rainbow, Free

Straight from the front lines in Iraq, "The War Tapes" is the first war movie filmed by soldiers themselves. This movie is the complete story of three very different soldiers. ...

Justice

James Ford Seale Wants Charges Thrown Out

Read the JFP's full Dee-Moore-Seale package.

Tuesday, February 20

Jackblog

A Special Reunion Weekend

This past summer, I met my older brother for the first time. He was the product of a previous relationship my dad had, and although I knew he existed, I ...

Jackblog

Weight and Insurance

Almost every single Tuesday morning since July of last year, I've sat with a group of equally weight-challenged individuals at the Baptist Nutrition Center, talking mostly about how to make ...

Music

Kill Rock Stars To Release Double Album From Elliott Smith

On May 8, 2007, Kill Rock Stars will release a double CD of music by Elliott Smith entitled New Moon. The album contains 24 songs recorded 1994-1997, a prolific time ...

Monday, February 19

Jackblog

Confusion at Walter Reed

The Washington Post ran an amazing two-part series about the lack of follow-up care for soldiers returning from war to Walter Reed Hospital over the weekend. It's written by really ...

Saturday, February 17

Jackblog

Subjective Truths

French author André Gide wrote: "Trust those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it." I wrote the quote on a white sticky in magenta ink yesterday and ...

Hood and Barbour Disagree Over State Farm

Today, Jim Hood sent out a statement asking the governor and insurance commissioner to follow Florida's lead and require State Farm and other insurance companies to continue writing policies in ...

Friday, February 16

Frank Melton

BREAKING: Wade Files for Melton Removal

WJNT radio host Kim Wade has filed a petition for removal (PDF, 270 KB) against Mayor Frank Melton with the circuit clerk's office, Wade confirmed to the Jackson Free Press ...

The Lawyers and the Statistician

By day three of the Michael Ellis termination hearing, the Ellis women had moved up to the first row of the hearing room. They wore apparel appropriate for Valentine's Day—a ...

Jackblog

Is Bill O'Reilly In "Man-Love" With Ludacris…AGAIN!?

from sohh.com..Bill O'Reilly obsesses over Ludacris after Luda pokes fun at him at the Grammys

Bill O'Reilly stabs at Luda, claims "rap destroyed music." In case some of you missed it, Ludacris shouted out Bill O'Reilly and Oprah Winfrey when picking up two of his ...

Capitol

Last two summaries

Auditors: Billions Squandered in Iraq

AP is reporting:

About $10 billion has been squandered by the U.S. government on Iraq reconstruction aid because of contractor overcharges and unsupported expenses, and federal investigators warned Thursday that significantly more taxpayer ...

Thursday, February 15

Capitol

It is campaign time again!

Wednesday, February 14

Frank Melton

BREAKING: Video of Melton at Upper Level

Last Sunday, the Jackson Free Press broke news that Mayor Frank Melton was out long after bed-time, leading a platoon of about 20 police officers on a raid on the ...

Sports

The Best In Sports In 7 Days

Women's college basketball, Ole Miss at Tennessee (6 p.m., Knoxville, Tenn., CSS): Can the Lady Rebels pull an upset against the SEC's best?

Sports

The Ping Means Spring

In some parts of America, people are doing weird things, off-the-wall seasonal stick-based rituals, like "lacrosse" and, stranger, "hockey." This is a sport whose proper performance requires ice and, ipso ...

Games

The Wait is Over

GC | WII

Art

Oh, Freedom

Canton is known for its impact on the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi. Lives were changed there. Lives were lost there. It was in Canton that Stokley Carmichael first shouted ...

Technology

Vista Arrives, Apple Connives?

The reviews and press coverage of Microsoft's long-awaited release of Microsoft Vista have been interesting for this particular Mac-centric writer to watch. Many reviewers laud the new features and eye ...

Food

What I Learned in College

My niece Jessie, who is a freshman in college, recently called home pitifully exclaiming how tired she was of eating ramen noodles. I firmly believe, however, learning to survive off ...

Cover

Unholstered: A Greenwood Family Fights For Its Rights

The bell rang for fifth period at Greenwood High School, and James Marshall walked to class. The 17-year-old wore his throwback Dave Wilcox jersey that his mom had bought him, ...

Talk

The Mayor 'Runs Amok'

Mayor Frank Melton and 20 members of the Jackson Police Department stormed the Upper Level club early Sunday morning and closed it as a potential fire hazard, as first reported ...

Talk

Ellis Termination Justified?

This is an expanded web edition of an article that appeared in the Feb. 14 print edition.

Talk

Legislative Round-up—Week 6: Wasting Away

The Senate had another busy week, passing full funding of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program Tuesday. With Gov. Haley Barbour finally onboard with fully funding MAEP—in an election year—the Senate ...

Talk

[City Buzz] No. 22 February 14 - 21

Dennis Grant, Probation Services Company Offender Services Coordinator said in a letter to Mayor Melton that he has not received proof of Melton's recent surgery in Texas. Melton's bond for ...

Editor's Note

All for One

There were some quiet days in Jackson while Mayor Frank Melton was recovering from surgery in Texas. I was in City Council covering the debate on digital billboards two weeks ...

[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 ...

[Stiggers] Butt Whippings for This?

Mr. Announcement: "On this Black History episode of All God's Churn Got Shoes, Mr. Teacher makes his History and Ghetto Science class think."

Letters

No. 22, February 14 - 21

<b><em>Thanks Where Thanks Is Due</b></em>

Following, Rep. Billy Broomfield, D-Moss Point, said that he was "grateful for the federal funds that Gov. Barbour's contacts in Washington" brought to South Mississippi in the wake of Katrina. ...

Jacksonian

Althea Stewart

"I wear a lot of hats," Althea Stewart says. When Jim Hill students want to get something going at their school, they usually call on 39-year-old Stewart, who already sits ...

Jackblog

JFP Writer in New "Chicken Soup" Book

... and it's breaking news over at The Clarion-Ledger. OK, maybe not the JFP part. ;-) Congrats, Tiffany! We're proud of you, girlfriend.

Justice

Archive of the JFP's Coverage of the Dee-Moore Case

Following are links to the Jackson Free Press' full, and ongoing, package of stories about 1960s Klan activity in the Natchez-Meadville-Roxie, Miss., area, starting with the award-winning investigative story by ...

Frank Melton

Green Demands Melton Documentation

Dennis Grant, Probation Services Company Offender Services Coordinator said in a Jan. 29 letter (PDF, 100KB) to Judge Tomie Green that he has not received proof of Melton's recent surgery ...

Talk

Police Officers Flood City Hall

More than 100 police officers crowded into City Hall to demand higher pay from City Council's Quality of Life Committee Monday, but council members say they haven't received any proposals ...

Tuesday, February 13

2007 Friendship Ball Honorees Announced

Jackson 2000, a racial reconcilation organization, has announced that the 2007 Friendship Ball honors are Harvey Johnson Jr. and Cora Norman. The Friendship Ball will be March 3 at Hal ...

Senate Votes to Fully Fund Adequate Education

Verbatim from Nancy Loome of The Parents Campaign:

It is a great day for Mississippi children! This morning the full Senate passed, on a unanimous voice vote, a version of HB 238 that fully funds the MAEP! This ...

Jackblog

Hiding Love in Iraq

This story ran two years ago, but on Valentine's Day, with the war in Iraq and war over sexuality still both in heavy effect, I think it's relevant.

Jackblog

Does this Ledger Headline Fit the Story?

A reader just sent me this Clarion-Ledger link and headline. Consider whether y'all think the headline portrays what's in the story: "Man charged in slaying may be released if DA ...

Monday, February 12

Frank Melton

JUST IN: Lumumba: Stop Melton's ‘Jackson Gestapo'

Audio of press conference: Lumumba_21207.mp3 (8.3MB)

Jackblog

WLBT Gives Close-ups of Melton's Scars

In a TV segment that is drawing its 15 minutes of fame, Frank Melton invited WLBT cameras into his home to show his scars up close and personal to dispel ...

Sunday, February 11

Frank Melton

BREAKING: Melton, Bodyguards Back in Upper Level

Club-goers are reporting that Mayor Frank Melton, and an entourage including bodyguards, Dets. Michael Recio and Marcus Wright, arrived at the Upper Level nightclub in Jackson close to 2 a.m. ...

Saturday, February 10

Jackblog

Some Thoughts on the 2007 Elections

With the March 1st filing deadline fast approaching, I don't see any evidence that any well-known Democrat has emerged to make a viable challenge to Haley Barbour. A channel surf ...

Thursday, February 8

Frank Melton

Supreme Court Overturns ‘Crack House' Gag

In a decision today, the Mississippi Supreme Court overturned an injunction issued by Circuit Judge Tomie Green last fall that forbid city officials from referring to the duplex in the ...

Jackblog

Now, not yesterday or tomorrow

My lover-boy kitty, The Amazing Valentino (brother to Tallulah the Wonder Cat), waddles his furry little butt into my bathroom every morning to the sound of the water running in ...

The Senate Unloads

The Mississippi Senate went hog wild passing bills Wednesday, passing a voter ID bill and three bills that restrict abortion. Whether these bills stand a chance in the House remains ...

Wednesday, February 7

Crime

Crime Plan Short on Specifics

Police Chief Shirlene Anderson gave the first few hints of a crime plan to the public this Monday following a City Council budget meeting. Anderson had stalled for months in ...

Sports

The Best In Sports In 7 Days

Rodeo, Dixie National Rodeo (7 p.m.): Grab your hats and boots, pardners, the Dixie National is beginning its seven-day run at the Mississippi Coliseum.

Sports

Finishing First, At Last

One of the rules of modern sports, according to the oft-cited Seinfeldism, is that fans "root for laundry" rather than the ever-changing identities that occupy their team at any given ...

Body+Soul

Your Brain on Love

The state of being "in love," my therapist told me, is pretty close to insanity. A Jungian, she said that she would not take new patients who were in love; ...

Culture

XX vs. XY

During a brainstorm session, a thought popped into my mind: I wonder what kind of questions the folks on our blog would ask about love and sex and whatever else ...

Frank Melton

Just in: City Attorney Charges ‘Threats'

<i>City Attorney and Staff Exited Executive Session at Mayor's Request

A statement just came from City Attorney Sarah O-Reilly Evans about the City Council meeting she and others walked out of yesterday, as reported by Adam Lynch yesterday. Verbatim:

Culture

Sexy Side Effects of Seahorse

The world has forever been on the lookout for a good aphrodisiac. Henry Kissinger said it was power and money, which might be your only hope if you look like ...

Food

Magic Times Three

Because Feb. 14 is rapidly approaching, I was told that in writing this food piece I could "garnish with edible underwear or something," which I confess wasn't even the slightest ...

[Chick] Hands Off My ‘You Know'

As Eve Ensler, author of "The Vagina Monologues," would say, I come from "down there" people. Actually, I come from "you know" people. That was our whispered code for vagina, ...

Cover

Loving Jackson

Photos by Charles A. Smith

When Camp Best arrived at Aladdin's on Lakeland this morning, he was clutching an overstuffed portfolio under one arm and brushing off cat hair with his free hand (courtesy of ...

Talk

Supervisors 'Roadblock' Title Building

The Hinds County Board of Supervisors killed a motion to hire an appraiser for the Mississippi Valley Title Insurance Building in a board meeting Monday, effectively halting its purchase—and endangering ...

Talk

Legislative Round-up–Week 5: Getting Busy

With the Jan. 30 bill submission deadline gone, the House and Senate buckled down to serious floor action this week.

Talk

[City Buzz] no. 14 February 7 - 14

Photos by Brian Johnson and Jaro Vacek

The Jackson City Council is considering putting a moratorium on digital signs throughout the city, with the council set to debate the issue more thoroughly at its Feb. 13 meeting.

Editor's Note

Real Love Can Be Tough

Love is a funny thing. It too often earns its status as a four-letter word. It bites us in the ass. It keeps us awake and alive. It motivates us.

[Collier] When the Clock Ticks

The incessant tick-tock of the biological clock has been the cause of anxiety for women who haven't yet had children but want them, and those who are still waiting for ...

[Stiggers] You Are Making Us So Hot

Mr. Announcement: "Kunta 'Rahsheed X' Toby and the George Washington Carver Holistic Health Commission of Tuskeegee, Alabama, present 'Global Warming in the Ghetto,' a documentary film about climate changes in ...

[Kamikaze] Punked ... Again

Politics sucks! More so, politicians suck! Around these parts, the whole damn lot of you should be ashamed. This is a wake-up call to everyone serving in public office in ...

Jacksonian

Nancy King

Nandy's Candy Store looks exactly how an old-fashioned candy store should. The floors are old hardwood, and the only thing that keeps customers from reaching their hands right in and ...

Tuesday, February 6

Frank Melton

BREAKING: Council Mulls Mothballing Legal Dept.

Four members of City Council said they are considering withholding funding to the city's legal department after what they described as that department's clear bias toward the mayor's office.

Frank Melton

Trial Date Set for Melton, Bodyguards

The Associated Press is reporting that Frank Melton, Michael Recio and Marcus Wright are headed to trial on April 23 for the demolition of the Ridgeway Street duplex and instructing ...

Frank Melton

Ramie Ford to Head New Department

After a firestorm ripped through Jackson last week after the Jackson Free Press reported that Parks and Recreation Director Ramie Ford might be leaving city government, Mayor Frank Melton said ...

Monday, February 5

Jackblog

Who Else Here Has Packrat-itis?

Previously published here.

Jackblog

Activism Really Satisfies

Did you catch the Super Bowl Snickers commercial? I didn't see it, but all day I've been following the anger it's generating among gays and lesbians around the country. Frankly, ...

Jackblog

What The Hell Do You Mean I'm "Articulate"?

Another white politician gets foot-in-mouth disease again as Sen Joe Biden called Presidential hopeful Barak Obama "clean" and "articulate" In fact, he said Obama was the first African American candidate ...

Justice

More Prosecutions Possible in Neshoba Slayings?

We are transferring a posting from BenG (from the Hungry Blues blog) here in order to have a more substantive conversation about it and not take away from the Dee-Moore ...

Frank Melton

Melton: Back on the Job?

Mayor Frank Melton held a press conference as his 2 Carter's Grove residence today to announce his return from heart surgery in Texas.

Friday, February 2

Emmett Till Town Hall Meeting

Mississippians for Reparations (MFR) sponsors a town hall meeting tonight, Feb. 2, from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Fresh Start Christian church (5426 Manhattan Rd., Jackson). There, the praised documentary "The ...

Jackblog

New Survey Reveals Concerns Over Rap Music Among Youth

From Allhiphop.com. Tell me what you guys think...

The current image of rap music and rap music videos is cause for concern among Black youth, according to the Black Youth Project, a survey spearheaded under the direction of ...

Jackblog

Grandma's Got Rhythm

I admit it. I was a dancin' fool at the JFP 2007 Best of Jackson party. I've lost 50 pounds since last July, and I think I look better than ...

Jackblog

Leonard Pitts: Obama is Black

Leonard Pitts' column today is both smart and hilarious.

Capitol

My Birthday House Summary

Jackblog

Kaze's co-hosting the Kim Wade show TODAY 5PM

Make sure you guys tune again to yet another action packed edition of the Kim Wade Show..I want to hear from more JFP bloggers(if you're able). Tune in 1180am and ...

Thursday, February 1

Frank Melton

BREAKING: Shake-up in City Administration

Jackson Planning and Development Director Carl Allen and Parks and Recreation Director Ramie Ford are leaving city government, the Jackson Free Press learned Thursday.

Culture

Princess for President

Last week I spoke to fifth-grade girls about my career as a writer. Seems like just another day at the elementary school, except I'm a woman speaking to a gender-separated ...

Jackblog

Democratic Congress Earns Its Keep!

I've just received word that Congress has not only funded the $1 billion in Millennium Development Grants that it had promised, but added $450 million to the total. Link The ...

Jackblog

Molly Ivins

"So keep fightin' for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don't you forget to have fun doin' it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth. Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in ...