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Democratic Runoffs Likely in Supervisor Races
By RonniMottThe official results aren't available, yet, but it looks like its runoffs for the Democrats.
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After Haggling, City Council Sets Mayoral Special Election for April 8, 2014
By Donna LaddJFP News Editor R.L. Nave is at City Hall for the special council meeting to set the date of the special election for the late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba's seat (made interesting because several members may run for the seat.)
Nave tweeted that Councilman De'Keither Stamps and Quentin Whitwell wanted the election April 15, but Tony Yarber and Margaret Barrett-Simon wanted April 8, so it didn't conflict with tax day. Melvin Priester Jr. served as the tie-breaker.
Council also set a special election runoff for two weeks after the special election.
The qualifying deadline for mayoral prospects will be March 19.
Earlier today, Nave broke the news that a campaign is coming together to draft Lumumba's son, Chokwe Antar, to run for mayor.
The Council also announced that Lumumba's body will lie in state in City Hall Friday, March 7, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for the public; and 7 to 9 p.m. for family only.
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Josh Robinson Confirms He'll Enter NFL Draft
By Todd StaufferMississippi State's Josh Robinson told ESPN he's entering the 2015 NFL draft.
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District 79 House Race Will Be Decided by Drawing Straws
By adreherRun-offs are old-school anyway, right?
The fate of District 79's representation in the House of Representatives will be decided on Friday by drawing straws, according to Mississippi election law. Rep. Bo Eaton, D-Taylorsville, has represented the district since 1996, but in this election he pulled in the exact same number of votes as his Republican challenger, Mark Tullos.
The two candidates tied with 4,589 votes each.
In a press release, Rep. Eaton said he will not challenge the result of Friday's straws. Technically, the loser on Friday has the right to challenge the vote and appeal to the House of Representatives, which would then decide who gets to take District 79's seat when they reconvene.
Eaton's press release said: "Whatever the outcome of the procedure, I will abide by the result and not challenge the election. I hope my opponent will agree to do the same thing."
The District 79 race straws will be drawn on Friday at 1:30 p.m. in the governor's office conference room in the Sillers Building when the governor and the secretary of state return from Israel.
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Budget Crisis Deepens
The Jackson City Council voted this week in a special meeting to reduce the pay of two rejected department heads to their salaries before they were promoted to interim heads. …
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College Football Previews
Mississippi College and Millsaps College have met on the gridiron 48 times. The first meeting was in 1920, when Millsaps fielded its first football team.
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Cover
Robert St. John: The Unlikely Chef
To say Robert St. John is modest about what led to his success is to put it lightly. The Hattiesburg, Miss., native insists he "sort of fell backward" into the …
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Violent Crime Continues 30-Year Low
This story didn't get much attention when it broke a couple of weeks ago, so it's worth revisiting.
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City Issues Boil Water Notice for Some Areas
The City of Jackson issued a precautionary boil-water advisory yesterday after a loss in water pressure for the following areas:
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U.S. Jobless Claims Drop Again
Claims for U.S. unemployment benefits dropped to its lowest level since 2008 last week, the U.S. Labor Department reported yesterday.
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Just In: Rep. Leonard Morris of Batesville Dies
The Clarion-Ledger is reporting that Rep. Leonard Morris has died:
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Macon, Miss., Contractor Escapes; 11 More Troops Killed
AP is reporting: "In a daring escape, American hostage Thomas Hamill pried open the doors of the house where he was being held late Sunday morning and ran a half-mile …
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Burns Asks Barbour to Delay Execution
Attorneys representing death-row inmate Joseph Daniel Burn are asking Gov. Haley Barbour to delay Burn's July 21 execution date, The Associated Press reported today.
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US Stocks Waver after Positive Housing News
U.S. stocks are wavering between small gains and losses in early trading after an encouraging report about the state of the housing market.
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Ala. Tar Balls from 2010 BP Disaster
The material is from the BP well and certain chemicals in the tar have barely broken down,
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City & County
Stokes Appealing to Supremes
LaRita Stokes won a Jackson City Council seat, only to have the election overturned. Now, she's appealing.
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Missouri Bishop Convicted for Failing to Report Priest Abuse
A judge has found a Missouri bishop guilty of one misdemeanor count for failing to report suspected child abuse by a priest, and acquitted him on a second count.
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Miss. Bluesman Getting Long Overdue Grave Marker
Mississippi blues artist Tommy Johnson is finally getting a headstone on his grave Friday, more than a half century after his death.
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Confederate Past: Uproar Over Changing Park Names
The legacy of onetime Confederate fighter and slave trader Nathan Bedford Forrest has sparked new discord.
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Oil Spill Cleanup on Mississippi River Complete
The Coast Guard has completed cleanup of the oil spill near Vicksburg, Miss., that closed the major shipping channel for days in both directions.
