NPR Interviews Ladd About Melton Indictment | Jackson Free Press | Jackson, MS

NPR Interviews Ladd About Melton Indictment

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National Public Radio's "Bryant Park Project" interviewed JFP editor Donna Ladd this morning about the federal indictments of Frank Melton and his bodyguards and her past ride-alongs with him. Listen to the segment here.

Previous Comments

ID
132013
Comment

Good interview, Donna. Wish you had more time to talk.

Author
LatashaWillis
Date
2008-07-11T10:17:57-06:00
ID
132014
Comment

Thanks, L.W. It's definitely hard to explain the Melton story in eight minutes. ;-) I did it at 7 a.m., live. I was half asleep, but it went OK all things considered. Pardon the pun.

Author
DonnaLadd
Date
2008-07-11T10:19:24-06:00
ID
132018
Comment

I wish I had know. I usually don't wake up until 7am and even then, I'm listening to sports talk. I'll listen when I get home tonight since I can't listen to streaming audio at work.

Author
golden eagle
Date
2008-07-11T10:42:00-06:00
ID
132021
Comment

Melton said today that he did not go into the house, that he only watched the events through the window. He also implied that the damage was done by people in the neighborhood looking for their drug stashes. Could this possibly be true?

Author
renaehutch2008
Date
2008-07-11T12:13:37-06:00
ID
132023
Comment

Uhhh... no. I think there were way too many eye witnesses to the contrary of that, renae.

Author
andi
Date
2008-07-11T12:17:51-06:00
ID
132025
Comment

I just read that in the CL, as well, Renae - where is this information coming from? Was there a press release? Just curious. Interesting, though, it wouldn't be the first time he changed his toon on illegal activities that he's been a part of. Also, very good interview Donna.

Author
Puck
Date
2008-07-11T12:22:42-06:00
ID
132026
Comment

great, informative interview, on target with the truth!

Author
lanier77
Date
2008-07-11T12:54:57-06:00
ID
132027
Comment

I love Bryant Park Project. Does Jackson's NPR station carry it? The other NPR program I love is This American Life, but I don't think Jackson has that either (does it? I live elsewhere).

Author
emsy
Date
2008-07-11T13:37:23-06:00
ID
132029
Comment

This American Life comes on 3pm on Saturdays... Sometimes during the week.

Author
Puck
Date
2008-07-11T13:49:37-06:00
ID
132031
Comment

I don't know if Melton did go in the house. Witnesses said he broke out windows with the big stick first. I believe the boys with sledgehammers did the number on the house after they left and came back. But I don't have the files in front of me. Don't worry, though: we are going to revisit every detail, and probably some new ones, before it's over. I don't recall the defense making the argument during the first trial that other people in the n'hood broke up the house looking for their drugs. Seems like that would have come up then, huh? As for Bryant Park Project, Emsy, MPB doesn't carry it. We should lobby them to—especially considering that most people I know under 30 here seem to listen to the podcast. If you want younger listeners on public radio, it's the way to go. And they have a great blog/Web site. This American Life is on here on either Saturday or Sunday afternoon and maybe sometime during the week. Look it up for sure, but it is on here. Love it.

Author
DonnaLadd
Date
2008-07-11T13:51:22-06:00
ID
132034
Comment

Puck - oh good. I love that show and listen to it on my local NPR station (Fridays nights and Saturday mornings here). I just wasn't sure if they had it on Jackson's NPR station.

Author
emsy
Date
2008-07-11T20:07:33-06:00
ID
132036
Comment

Great interview, Donna. Like L.W., I wish there had been more time. But hey, an 8-minute interview ain't all bad, bejeezus!

Author
Kacy
Date
2008-07-11T21:37:38-06:00
ID
132037
Comment

I'm not much of a radio listener, but I think I could be persuaded by programs such as Bryant Park Project. Actually, I am not averse to radio, per se, it's just that, for me and my schedule/routine, the most opportune time to listen is when I'm in the car, except that I'd much rather spend that time thinking and mulling things over in my mind.

Author
Kacy
Date
2008-07-11T21:49:38-06:00
ID
132039
Comment

Good interview, Donna. I am so glad that the stuff about the mayor is getting national attention. I am proud of the JFP for staying on the case. I don't live in Jackson any more, but I love my hometown and don't think Melton is good for the city (much less his entourage of kids) at all.

Author
MissSue
Date
2008-07-12T11:54:18-06:00
ID
132043
Comment

I'm proud of the JFP, too. The ACLU gave the JFP its annual media award last night, and it would have been richly deserved based on the Melton coverage alone; the other investigative coverage the paper has done over the past few years, especially on the civil rights trials, immigration, and broader criminal justice issues, are icing on the cake. Donna also gave one hell of an acceptance speech. It would have been enough if the JFP had just been an entertainment weekly; God knows we needed a good one. But the investigative coverage is really defining its legacy. And it's nothing short of horrifying that so many people seem to be comfortable with giving the mayor the power to demolish any house he deems a "crack house," or giving the president the power to indefinitely detain any person he deems a "suspected terrorist," or giving the Department of Justice the power to selectively prosecute anybody they want. Maybe it's an echo of what we all feel as young children--total faith in omnipotent parents, parents we can always trust to do the right thing. But sooner or later it's time to grow up.

Author
Tom Head
Date
2008-07-12T17:24:15-06:00
ID
132444
Comment

DonnaLadd, Excellent job on the NPR interview - you were able to convey the insanity of Meltonian Jackson to faraway folks who only read spun headlines and think he's a misunderstood crusader and that anyone who disparages his methods are pro-crack house...

Author
Real Maxwell
Date
2008-07-25T22:02:18-06:00
ID
132482
Comment

Thanks, Maxwell. I'm just seeing this. I'm behind! Remember Geraldo coming down and presenting him as a hero. Or Brokaw, even? The national media want simplistic narratives about Mississippi, and will create them for us if we're not diligent.

Author
DonnaLadd
Date
2008-07-27T17:40:01-06:00
ID
132484
Comment

That Geraldo interview was so softball, it was more like a tee-ball interview. If Geraldo only really knew what was really going on.

Author
golden eagle
Date
2008-07-27T17:47:53-06:00

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