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Neo-Confederates Introduce Heritage Initiative
By AnnaWolfeThe Secretary of State posted a new initiative to its website that reads:
Initiative #46 would amend the Constitution to restrict or define Mississippi’s heritage in the following areas: religion, official language, state flag, nickname, song, motto and state university mascots. Further, the initiative would prevent the consolidation of Alcorn State University, Delta State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi University for Women, and Mississippi Valley State University, designate the month of April “Confederate Heritage Month,” and reinstate Mississippi’s Constitutional boundaries.
The initiative was filed by Arthur Randallson, Magnolia State Heritage Campaign Director and former Tea Party of Mississippi Chairman. Randallson also previously proposed an initiative to amend the constitution to designate Colonel Reb the official mascot of the University of Mississippi.
Some say his current initiative is a way to declare Christianity the official religion of Mississippi. This pretty clearly violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, so it doesn't seem that the initiative would pass tests of constitutionality. Either way, the amendment proposal won't appear on the ballot in 2015 unless the group gets 107,216 certified signatures.
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JFP College Football Top 25 Poll: Week 10
There was some more shake-up in the poll this week after University of Mississippi, University of Georgia, University of Arizona, University of Utah, University of West Virginia and University of …
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Bryan's Rant
Elimination Saturday
College football is going to give us a full slate of meaningful games this Saturday. As many as six of them could affect the playoff picture and the national-championship race. …
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The Slate
There have been fewer heartbreaking losses than what happened to Ole Miss on Saturday. It is tough to have the game-winning touchdown and star wide receiver taken away in one …
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Theater
‘Tartuffe’: Wit’s Timeless Sting
Moliere, the stage name of Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, made a career out of writing plays that poked fun at the ills of the French high bourgeoisie—greed, hypochondria, philandering, pretension. "Tartuffe" takes …
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Film
Big Change on the Big Screen
While some focus only on the opportunities ahead, Edward Saint Pe', founder and director of the Mississippi International Film Festival, is paving the way for emerging moviemakers right now.
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Music
Cory Branan: The Hitless Hero
Southaven native Cory Branan is coming close to home on Nov. 9 with a stop at Duling Hall in support of his newest album, "The No-Hit Wonder," his second release …
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Food
Revolutionizing Seafood
Though the word "revolution" ordinarily indicates an intention to dramatically change things, Seafood R'evolution actually seeks to preserve and honor Mississippi's seafood culture and heritage.
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Hitched
Brush Strokes of a Southern Love Story
The love story of Nell Knox and William Goodman began in June 2011 at a mutual friend's house.
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Vaccine Truthiness
It was October 2009, and political and cultural critic Bill Maher, who is known for his progressive views on most everything, locked horns on his HBO show with Bill Frist, …
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Maher: In His Own Words
"To me, a real patriot is like a real friend. Who's your real friend? It's the person who tells you the truth. That's who my real friends are. So, you …
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MDOC's Chris Epps Resigns; Agency Looks for Temp Commish
By R.L. NaveChristopher Epps, the long-tenured commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Corrections has resigned effective today.
The letter of resignation he submitted to Gov. Phil Bryant did not state a reason for the unexpected departure nor has MDOC made one public.
The Clarion-Ledger cites "multiple sources" who confirm the existence of a federal probe, but the newspaper does not specify whether Epps is the subject of the investigation.
Epps had been the longest serving prison chief in state history.
Democratic Gov. Ronnie Musgrove first appointed Epps to lead the agency in 2002; two subsequent Republican governors, Haley Barbour and Phil Bryant, kept Epps in place.
MDOC is searching for an interim commissioner.
