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Bennie Thompson Backs Lumumba, Links Lee to GOP
By R.L. NaveDemocratic U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson is wading into the Jackson mayor's race, and endorsing Councilman Chokwe Lumumba over political upstart and businessman Jonathan Lee.
In the R-and-B-laced radio ad, Thompson refrains from naming Lee but says: "When I see Republicans from Rankin and Madison counties endorsing the other so-called Democrat, I know something is fishy."
Thompson goes on to say that the Republicans supporting the other candidate are the same people who "opened their checkbooks last fall for Mitt Romney in an effort to kick President Obama out of the White House."
As JFP city reporter Tyler Cleveland has pointed out, six of Lee's 10 biggest contributors have given to the GOP or Republican causes in the past. Thompson hits every buzzword, saying "these Republicans want to pass charter schools, create voter-ID laws, cut Pell Grants, end Medicare and reduce Social Security benefits."
At the end of the ad, Thompson advises voters not to fall for "old Republican tricks" and to "vote for the real Democrat" on May 21.
In other states I've lived, it would have been highly unusual for a Congressman to get involved in a party primary. Perhaps this is normal for Mississippi. Or, maybe it's just normal for Rep. Thompson?
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Health Care
Medicare Drug Program Fails to Monitor Prescribers, Putting Seniors and Disabled at Risk
Ten years ago, a sharply divided Congress decided to pour billions of dollars into subsidizing the purchase of drugs by elderly and disabled Americans.
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Music
Short and Sweet, No Longer Obsolete
Whether it's coercion from record companies or an imperfectionist's stance on music crafting, bands have a tendency to blend the bad in with the good.
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City & County
Profile: Jonathan Lee
Jonathan Lee may not be a business owner, but he rode his business credentials to becoming the top vote-getter in the city's Democratic mayoral primary.
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Business
Outlets, Tourism and the Walthall Hotel
Yates Construction, Spectrum Capital and the state of Mississippi officially broke ground last week on the state's most aggressive commercial outlet to date, The Outlets of Mississippi in Pearl, even …
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City & County
Contract for UMMC and Lee's MPI Comes in Focus
The details of a dispute between Jackson mayoral candidate Jonathan Lee's family company, Mississippi Products Inc., and an MPI customer that Lee has refused to name is becoming more clear.
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ADA Compliance Progress Slow But Steady
The intersection of Meadowbrook Road and State Street is generally buzzing with business and traffic. One of the busiest food stores in Jackson is located there, as is a high-traffic …
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Editor's Note
The Johnson Legacy
Voters have an interesting choice as they head to polls for the second time May 21 to cast ballots for the Democratic Party runoffs.
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Dems Work on Miss. Medicaid Expansion Proposal
Democrats in the Mississippi Legislature say they're working on proposals to keep Medicaid alive and funded in the budget year that starts July 1.
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City & County
Is UMMC Mississippi Products' Unnamed Contractor?
Records indicate that the University of Mississippi Medical Center may be the mystery contractor Jonathan Lee won't name.
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Natchez Trace Parkway Celebrates 75 Years
Saturday marks the paradoxical 75th anniversary of one of Natchez's oldest connections with civilization.
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Economy
The 182 Percent Loan: How Installment Lenders Put Borrowers in a World of Hurt
Installment loans can be deceptively expensive. World Finance and its competitors push customers to renew their loans over and over again, transforming what the industry touts as a safe, responsible …
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Biz Roundup
Jackson is a Playful City; Natron Mill; Small Business Optimism; Disaster Loans
On Monday, May 13, Gov. Phil Bryant visited Natron Wood Products, which announced that it is preparing to build a plywood mill in Louisville that will create more than 200 …
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Huge Drug Cost Disparities Seen in Health Overhaul
Cancer patients could face high costs for medications under President Barack Obama's health care law, industry analysts and advocates warn.
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Monday Last Day for Morning-After Pill Appeal
The government is running out of time to try to halt implementation of a federal judge's ruling that would lift age restrictions for women and girls wanting to buy the …
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Health Care
EHN Special Report: 'Chemicals of High Concern' Found in Thousands of Children's Products
An Environmental Health News analysis of thousands of reports from America's largest companies shows that toys and other children's products contain low levels of dozens of industrial chemicals, including some …
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Person of the Day
Lynn House
This summer, Lynn House, interim state superintendent of education, is challenging students to keep learning and avoid the "summer slide" in reading achievement.
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Events
Community Events and Public Meetings
From May 14 to 17, the remaining candidates in the Jackson Mayoral Debates will face off in a series of debates before the May 21 runoff election.
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The 'Secrecy' of Hinds' Success
Hinds County Board of Supervisors President Robert Graham had good news this morning: the county has sold the Valley Title Building, located at 315 Tombigbee St., in downtown Jackson.

