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City & County
Attitude in the Moonlight
While you may hear people say, "Do it with attitude" or "Adjust your attitude," did you also know that attitude is a type of ballet move? The Friends of the …
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Economic Growth Slows in Mississippi in 2013
New figures show that Mississippi's economy grew in 2013 but slowed markedly from the year before.
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Politics
Mississippi Governor Sets $1K Bonuses for State Law Officers
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday that he is approving $1,000 in hazard pay bonuses for state law enforcement officers, and they will receive the money by the end of …
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Moak on the Closing of Harrah's Tunica Casino
By R.L. NaveHouse Minority Leader Bobby Moak released the following statement on the announcement that Harrah's will close its Tunica casino:
Jackson, MS- Today Harrah’s announced they are closing their casino in the Tunica market. This is a loss of Thirteen-Hundred (1300) Mississippi jobs, not to mention a tremendous blow to the credibility and future viability of our Mississippi gaming market. Casinos are a legal business in our state. They account for over twenty-five thousand direct jobs and, in particular, are the main reason Tunica was able to remove itself as one of the poorest counties in the nation.
Leadership in our state has refused to afford this vital industry the tax incentives and credits it offers to existing businesses or even those used to lure in new industries. We are now paying the price for this with the loss of jobs and tax revenues to local governments and the state. Contrary to popular belief, casinos are not immune to both economic downturns and the dramatic impact of the growth of out-of-state gaming operations in neighboring states such as Arkansas. We are no longer the only game in town. Regional gaming competition is not a phenomena that ends in Tunica, either. It is one of the most dangerous threats to the Mississippi gaming markets and lurks around the corner in states like Alabama, Florida and beyond.
No taxpayer funds are expended when a new casino enters our Mississippi market and creating, on average, 1,500 good-paying jobs. In return for their investment, Mississippi does not treat this industry as others within our borders. Mississippi offers no credit for hotel renovations or infrastructure, no credit for restaurant construction/improvements and does not even allow front line employee training, as other businesses are allowed to do, at the community college level - even though they pay taxes to support the community college system.
There is lacking a vision by Mississippi leadership to look at other jurisdictions and implement sound business investment incentives to take care of the casino industry that now resides in our state and foster growth and reinvestment by existing operators. With the closure of Harrah’s Tunica, we are seeing what happens when we exclude this industry from our overall state business investment model.
This industry must be allowed the opportunity to develop assets that not only help their bottom line, but state coffers as well. It has been almost 3 years since the federal government opened the door to internet gaming at the state level. Mississippi has refused to even consider allowing this to be developed in our state. While I am not asserting that internet gaming is the silver bullet that will allow gaming in Mississippi to regain its foothold, there is no doubt that it is but one tool of many that could be effectively employed to increase the attractiveness of this market to gaming-centric tourists. Harrah’s is a leader in the internet gaming effort in the halls of Congress and states around the nation. We have continually shut the …
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Barbour Cheers Economy, Chides Obama
In his final State of the State address yesterday, Gov. Haley Barbour offered optimism about Mississippi's economic recovery, as well as criticism of President Barack Obama and the federal government. …
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Committee to Study Car Tag Costs
Mississippi's Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant yesterday announced the creation of a special legislative committee to study the cost of car tags in the state. The proposed committee will contain three …
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DRIVE: Tennis, er ... Golf, Anyone?
"Oh, they have an orange one!" cried Ms. D, the delight in her voice crackling through the early evening air. "I've never seen that color of orange driving around, have …
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Best of Jackson
Best of Jackson 2022: Nightlife
Whether unwinding entails having a stiff drink, dancing to the latest hits, engaging in some friendly competition, or even a combination thereof, the metro has enough locally owned businesses to …
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Development
A Matter of Time
Jackson's efforts to pay for infrastructure improvements may be stalled in the Mississippi House of Representatives.
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Events
Azia's Picks: NYE Edition
Like every year, 2019 has certainly been a ride full of ups and downs. The Capital City has much to offer if you are looking for a place to unwind …
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Health Care
GOP Senator Defends Health Bill Against Kimmel's Attacks
Sen. Bill Cassidy defended his health care bill Wednesday after late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel accused the Louisiana Republican of lying to him about it, heightening the tension around the …
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Animal House Politics
Good Lord: Do we have a bunch of children running these campaigns? The state Republican Party has launched this silly anti-Musgrove Web site, registered to the state College Republicans at …
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Cover
The Lakes Plan That Won't Recede
Although both the U.S. Corps of Engineers and the local Levee Board have rejected the Two Lakes development/flood-control plan, its supporters are vowing not to give up.
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Reeves Lends Weight to Mosque Opposition
A former Jackson attorney says he sees parallels between his representation of Madison citizens against a proposed mosque and the plight of his own former home in south Jackson.
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Council Calls For Independent Attorney
Members of City Council say they are still stinging from being duped by their own attorney into paying her thousands of extra dollars.
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A Week of Layoffs
Dozens of Mississippians lost their jobs this week in layers of irony. Mississippi Department of Employment—the agency that helps people who get fired or laid off—said Wednesday that it will …
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Clutter: Bad for Your Health?
The New York Times has a piece that links health issues, including weight problems, to disorganization and clutter:
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[Greggs] All In The Single Girl's Family
In honor of the holidays I was going to write an endearing column listing all the wonderful things in my life for which I have to be thankful. I scrapped …
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FCC Approves Media Cross-Ownership
Sure, you could try to maintain your CorporateDaily(TM) hegemony in a market like Jackson by locking up free distribution points in exclusive contracts. Or, you could turn to a variety …
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Best of Jackson
Best of Jackson 2016 Nomination Ballet
Best of Jackson voting is divided into two stages—a nominations ballot and a final ballot!
