JFP: Noise

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 to be seen. Head over to State Desk for Adam Lynch's latest legislative update.

Just in: City Attorney Charges 'Threats'

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: City Attorney and Staff Exited Executive Session at Mayor�s Request Yesterday (Tuesday, February 6, 2007), Mayor Frank Melton instructed the City Attorney and other staff attorneys, by telephone, to...

BREAKING: Council Mulls Mothballing Legal Dept.
by Adam Lynch Feb. 6, 2007 Updated and longer story posted. 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. �I think we ought to call for the abolition of the legal department and farm the department out to outside lawyers until the time that we can do a much better job. For the record, I would like to see us abolish...

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 at least one minor to help with the crime. For background, see Adam Lynch's breaking Sept. 1 story...

Under Scrutiny, Supervisors 'Roadblock' Title Building
by Matt Salda�a Feb. 6, 2007 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 the controversial purchase of a parking garage next door. �We just put up a big road block to the Mississippi Title Building,� Supervisor Charles Barbour said.

Ramie Ford to Head New Department
by Adam Lynch Feb. 6, 2007 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 at a press conference Tuesday that he is creating a new city department that Ford will lead.

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.

BREAKING: Shake-up in City Administration
by Adam Lynch Feb. 1, 2007 Jackson Planning and Development Director Carl Allen and Parks and Recreation Director Ramie Ford are leaving city government, the Jackson Free Press learned Thursday.

DISH with Ben Allen
by Adam Lynch Jan. 31, 2006 Web Exclusive Before the holidays, Council President Ben Allen set out a number of goals he said City Council would pursue in January, with the hope of making substantial progress by February. Where do things stand now?

Council Protests Melton Picks
by Adam Lynch Jan. 30, 2006 Council members bickered Monday afternoon over Mayor Frank Melton�s decision to appoint Chief Administrative Officer Robert Walker and City Attorney Sarah O�Reilly-Evans to run the city while he recovers from surgery in Texas.