DOSSIER: Hinds Doc Destruction Still Threat; Disrespect in Green's Court; N-JAM Club
If you've been reading Seyma Bayram's coverage of the Hinds County Board of Supervisors and my previous Friday columns, you know that she was shocked to discover that the county voted one month ago to destroy a long list of documents spanning 23 years.
UM Faculty Senate Votes 'No Confidence' In IHL; Media Leak 'Suspicious'
The Faculty Senate of the University of Mississippi passed a resolution late last night declaring "no confidence" in the Institutions of Higher Learning board's search process to find a replacement chancellor for the university, and no confidence in IHL itself "by reason of its conduct in connection with that search process."
DOSSIER: Two Faces of Mississippi Powerhouses; Meek Strikes Back
Power brokers like former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott can always find a sympathetic, or least non-questioning, ear back in the Magnolia State.
DOSSIER: County Documents At Risk, Public Meeting Confusion, No to WJTV
The Jackson Free Press scored a transparency victory this week, at least for now, when the Hinds County Board of Supervisors provided us a list of the documents it plans to destroy, which I addressed in last week's Dossier after reporter Seyma Bayram learned about the impending destruction.
DOSSIER: Hitting Transparency Brick Walls, Scolded for Immigration Coverage
"I'm officially launching my new weekly Dossier, which will spotlight our accountability journalism, whether about how ICE raids are conducted or when public officials aren't being transparent or not following proper protocols for informing the public about how they reach their decisions and the motivations behind policy."
OPINION: I Bleed Maroon, and I Call Foul on Ole Miss Chancellor Boondoggle
Public institutions like Ole Miss, and the bodies that oversee them, are by the very nature of their existence obligated to the people of the state to be as transparent as possible in their actions—including the reasons for their decisions and why, in such cases, they can easily disregarded input from the people.
City to Bail Out Convention Center This Month, But Rejects Request for $790,000
The fledgling Jackson Convention Center asked the Jackson City Council for bailout money this week and got it, but not without pushback from two members, Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes and Ward 1 Councilman Ashby Foote.
JFP Questions Destruction of Public Records by Hinds County Board of Supervisors
The Jackson Free Press is asking the Hinds County Board of Supervisors to delay its unanimous vote yesterday to dispose of documents relating to its former administrations as well as former County Administrator's files from 1984 to 2007.
Court: No Voters' Right to Govern Airport, OK to Hide Communications
Capital-city residents do not have the right to govern the Jackson Medgar-Evers Wiley Airport or subpoena records from Mississippi legislators who voted to take over control of the facility, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled late last month.
Mayor Lumumba Pledges Transparency on Public Tour of City Hall
In efforts to make operations at City Hall more transparent, Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba hosted an open house and tour of his office and the top floors of City Hall on Friday.
EDITORIAL: 120 Days In, Let’s Focus on Good Communications
While the new administration's leadership on JPS has been noteworthy, communication on other changes in the city has been slow to take root.
The People of Jackson Deserve Strong Transparency
We understand the need to increase revenue, but everyone must have a chance to be heard in the process.
Defying City Attorney, Council Passes New Subcontractor Disclosure Rules
The City now has more “teeth” for requiring disclosure of subcontractors, as well as oversight for switching subcontractors, for all contracts above $50,000, thanks to an ordinance passed at the April 20 Jackson City Council Meeting.
Transparency in the City
Several new technology additions to the City of Jackson will hopefully open up the records of a municipality that has of late been plagued by what some city leaders called "hiccups."
1 Percent Tax: A Test for Contractor Reform
Almost two years after voters in Jackson decided to tax themselves an extra 1-percent worth of sales tax on certain goods, heavy machinery will soon be turning dirt and the City will start spending from the tax fund.
So Much For State Transparency
Last year's corruption scandal involving longtime state Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps might have resulted in improvements to the state contracting process, but thanks to the Mississippi Senate, holes remain.
Mayor Yarber, Please Lead on Transparency
We are pleased to report that we are seeing some, at least marginal, improvements in the way the City of Jackson is handling access to information.
Election-Law Reform May Actually Happen in Mississippi
Election-law reform has been a slow process in Mississippi, but with the help of a bi-partisan committee's report, that could change soon.
SUNSHINE WEEK: Top Mississippi Lawmakers: Email, Schedule Not for Public
Republican leaders in the Mississippi House and Senate have denied a request for email correspondence and information about their schedules, saying the state Public Records Act does not apply to legislators.
Politicians for Sale? The Funders of the House Leadership’s 2015 Campaigns
The Republican supermajority in the House has changed its dynamics this term, and the Democrats chose Rep. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, to be their minority whip leader.
SUNSHINE WEEK: Public Needs Year-Round Access to Documents, Meetings, Donation Information
The JFP has long focused on the serious problem of campaign donation transparency in the state</a>, especially that shielded by political action committees, and more recently the problem with city contractor transparency
‘Empower’ PAC Helps Oust Anti-Charter Republicans
Empower Mississippi, a nonprofit dedicated to school choice, used its political arm, the Empower PAC, to unseat four incumbent Republican candidates for the Mississippi House of Representatives in the DeSoto County primary elections on Aug. 4.
City of Jackson Unveils New Data Portal, Part of Transparency Initiative
Mayor Tony Yarber's favorite part of the new data portal opened to the public this morning is the live tracking of infrastructure construction projects, including pothole repair.
City Must Increase Subcontracting Transparency
Under the City of Jackson's $91-million contract with Siemens for a water-system overhaul and sewer repairs, at least six firms hold subcontracts with Siemens.
City: Make Smart Decisions on Contracts, Department Heads
From where we sit, mayors put too many people into key city roles, such as Planning and Public Works, for political or personal reasons.
Mississippi Consumer Finance Association Lobbyist’s Client Reports
In 2015, the association spent more than $13,000 to send nine lawmakers and the state's banking commissioner to the convention.
‘Great State’ Campaign Finance
Rep. Karl Oliver, R-Winona, made waves last week when he told a Mississippi resident that he "could care less" about her concerns about budget cuts, suggesting she leave Mississippi, in a response to an email she sent to all representatives in the House.
Politicians for Sale? State’s Consumer Finance Association PAC Spends Big on State Officials
Payday and small business lenders are not always welcome business development on the municipal level, in no small part because of the cycles of poverty easy-to-obtain, high-interest loans can feed.
Transparency in the City
Several new technology additions to the City of Jackson will hopefully open up the records of a municipality that has of late been plagued by what some city leaders called "hiccups."
Council President: City 'Hiccups' With Public-Records Response Need to End
Council President Melvin Priester Jr. wants the whole of city government, including Mayor Tony Yarber's administration, to make public records a high priority.
Politicians for Sale? Egg Bowl Rivals Take Care of Lawmakers, No Report from JSU
If the Ole Miss-Mississippi State rivalry extends to Capitol expenses, the University of Mississippi is winning in the department of free tickets for state lawmakers.
SUNSHINE WEEK: Amid Push for Transparency, Few Colleges Reveal Investments
Colleges and universities are under growing pressure from Congress and campus activists to reveal financial investments made through their endowments, but most institutions are standing firm against the idea.
Politicians for Sale? Manufacturers Association Wines, Dines and Takes Lawmakers on Quail Hunts
As pure as the election process might be, democracy has the potential to break down with the influence of money.
Sun Columnist, Better Jackson PAC Member Goes After JFP, ‘Takes Back' N-JAM Label
OK, this is funny. In his rush to defend the controversial and secretive Better Jackson PAC, which he apparently helped organize, Northside Sun columnist David Sanders is attacking the 'flatulence' of the Jackson Free Press. This column is simply delightfully defensive, and evasive, in that it does not address why Sanders' and Wilson Carroll's PAC did not file donor reports until three hours before the polls closed under pressure from the JFP and many Jacksonians, even though Two Lakes supporters John McGowan put $6,000 into the PAC back in April, which meant they should have filed a report before the primary.
Side-by-Side Donations: Key Players in Jackson Airport ‘Takeover’ Debate
Sen. Josh Harkins, R-Flowood, and Sen. John Horhn, D-Jackson—airport "takeover" adversaries—both received campaign donations from several of the same PACs and businesses.
Politicians for Sale? Manufacturers Association Wines, Dines and Takes Lawmakers on Quail Hunts
As pure as the election process might be, democracy has the potential to break down with the influence of money.
UPDATED: Two Lakes Supporters Helped Finance Defeat of Pearl Mayor
Fans of a controversial plan to develop the Pearl River had better luck installing a pro-"Two Lakes" mayor in the little town of Pearl than in the state's capital city this month.
Politicians for Sale? Egg Bowl Rivals Take Care of Lawmakers, No Report from JSU
If the Ole Miss-Mississippi State rivalry extends to Capitol expenses, the University of Mississippi is winning in the department of free tickets for state lawmakers.
Conservative PAC Wants Term Limits
The United Conservatives Fund today said the group has filed documents with the secretary of state's office to start the process to limit how long some Mississippi officials can serve in office.
Council President: City 'Hiccups' With Public-Records Response Need to End
Council President Melvin Priester Jr. wants the whole of city government, including Mayor Tony Yarber's administration, to make public records a high priority.
BREAKING: 'Two Lakes' Developer McGowan Gave $6,000 to Secretive PAC
Two Lakes impresario John McGowan was the largest contributor to the controversial Better Jackson PAC that tried to defeat Harvey Johnson by using what the FBI calls "baseless" crime rankings in mailers.
McDaniel's New PAC: The Next Generation
With hopes of bringing together multiple factions throughout the state in the wake of a divisive Senate race, state Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville, recently announced his new political action committee, the United Conservatives Fund.
SUNSHINE WEEK: Obtaining Police Emails Can Take Months, Cost Thousands
As law enforcement agencies have come under increased scrutiny in recent years, media organizations, watchdog groups and others have become more vigilant about filing public-records requests for emails and documents, particularly after police shootings.
Mysterious ‘Better Jackson PAC' Revealed ... Sort Of
See: the JFP Election Blog for full election coverage + candidate interviews
MDOC Transparency and Execution Secrecy Don’t Mix
Mississippi can't have it both ways. We cannot stamp out corruption at the state and local levels and, at the same time, hide behind a veil of secrecy when it comes to carrying out executions.
In Search of New Horizon, and a PAC Office
In Search of New Horizon, and a PAC Office
Hickingbottom Behind Anti-Lumumba PAC
In the final hours of the Jackson mayoral election, a group called Citizens for a Better Jackson is making a push to beat back gains made by Ward 7 Councilman Chokwe Lumumba.
City Council Seeks Input on Subcontractor Transparency Ordinance
The Jackson City Council wants to ensure that minority subcontractors have the ability to take part in major construction projects in the city, get paid on time and be held accountable for their work.
Web of National, State PACs and PICs Fight Initiative 42
As the November election draws near, large political advocacy groups and Republican donor’s dollars are pouring into anti-Initiative 42 Political Initiative Committees (PICs), mainly the KidsFirst and Improve Mississippi committees. These two groups alone have raised more than $300,000 in the past few months to try to defeat the citizens' initiative to force state lawmakers to follow the law and fully fund the Mississippi Adequate Education Program.
Mayoral Campaigns, PACs Spending Big on Ads, Some Secretly
With two young candidates who are relatively unknown to big parts of Jackson, the airwaves were expected to be a major battleground in the capital city's mayor's race.
SUNSHINE WEEK: Even as Political Spending Explodes, Disclosure Remains Hazy
Politicians in Mississippi have used campaign money to pay for such things as a BMW, an RV and $800 cowboy boots.
Real Transparency, Please, Not Smoke and Mirrors
One online dictionary defines transparency as "free from pretense or deceit," "easily detected or seen through" and "readily understood." However, too many government agencies at the local and state levels are only ostensibly transparent.
1 Percent Tax: A Test for Contractor Reform
Almost two years after voters in Jackson decided to tax themselves an extra 1-percent worth of sales tax on certain goods, heavy machinery will soon be turning dirt and the City will start spending from the tax fund.
D.C.-based PAC, Outside Money Funded Initiative 42’s Demise
Post-election campaign filings are revealing that opponents of Initiative 42, mostly from outside the state, spent much more money to defeat it than they were required to report before the polls closed.
UPDATED: Mayoral Campaign Reports Raise Questions
Mississippi's Sunshine Law is designed to shed light on campaign finance, but Jacksonians have found themselves in the dark when it comes to the majority of candidates seeking to become Jackson's next mayor.
