Story
City & County
CITY: Zoo Demolitions Underway, New Virden Addition Community Center, Trail Moves Ahead
The Jackson City Council voted last week to approve demolition of outdated zoo buildings that city officials say they hope to transform into a contact area for animals.
Story
City & County
UM Confederate Statue Stays Put for Now as IHL Punts
The Confederate statue on the University of Mississippi's Oxford campus will stay put for now after the Institutions of Higher Learning Board tabled a motion to relocate it yesterday.
Story
Politics
House Again Tries to Curb Dem Attorney General's Powers
The Mississippi attorney general, who is elected, could be subject to oversight from the governor, lieutenant governor and the secretary of state if Rep. Mark Baker, R-Brandon, gets his way.
Story
Politics
Signs of Danger for GOP in Polls of Mississippi's U.S. Senate Race
The race in Mississippi for the seat that U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran vacated in April is functionally tied between Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Mike Espy, a leaked …
Story
Biz Roundup
Mississippi Food and Wine Festival Preview Events, The Storehouse at Repeat Street and Local Bunny Market
Sue Hernandez, owner of Gluckstadt Garten in Madison, opened Local Bunny Market on Aug. 24 during the Red Brick Roads Music & Arts Festival.
Story
Education
Trans Children in the Balance in Mississippi
On Tuesday, May 24, the nine-member Mississippi Board of Education decided unanimously to disregard the federal government's Title IX guidelines to protect transgender students from discrimination just days after the …
Story
Crime
A Sterling Closer, Failed Maury Povich Quip Closed Out Hinds DA Smith's Second Trial
The mostly female and predominately black jury raised their hands Tuesday evening to confirm that they unanimously had decided that Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith was not guilty …
Story
Education
Rep. Moore: 42 Campaign Used Teachers like 'Cheap Rug,' Authors Bill to Limit Politicizing
School-district personnel need to politicize on their own time, rather than during the performance of their official school-related duties, Rep. John Moore, R-Brandon, told the Jackson Free Press today, adding …
Story
Abortion
'Unborn Child Protection' Bill Passes Mississippi House, 'Dangerous Precedent'?
The "Mississippi Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act" passed the Mississippi House of Representatives last week, meaning that legislators are back in the business of pushing anti-abortion legislation.
Story
Civil Rights
Evers-Williams Endorses Espy: Don't Let 'Our Souls Be Dragged Back'
Civil rights leader Myrlie Evers-Williams endorsed Democrat Mike Espy's bid for U.S. Senate in a radio ad his campaign released Monday, calling on Mississippians to help stave off a return …
Story
Business
Amid Water Shutoffs, Jackson Assists Siemens Customers With Bills
The City of Jackson's customer-focused process of offering payment plans to beleaguered Siemens Inc. customers since April has not yielded revenue at a quick enough rate to fill the massive …
Story
National
Gov. Reeves Vows to Stop Biden’s New Federal Vaccine Requirements
As part of a new federal COVID-19 action plan, President Joe Biden introduced broad new vaccine requirements for both public and private-sector workers, potentially affecting as many as 100 million …
Story
Politics
Analysis: Judges Can't Order Attorney General to Take Cases
In a unanimous ruling Tuesday, Mississippi Supreme Court justices said a circuit court “acted outside its authority” this year when it ordered Attorney General Lynn Fitch's office to investigate a …
Entry
You Can't Make It Up: Gov. Phil Bryant to Deliver Ole Miss Commencement
By Donna LaddSeriously, Mississippi, you can't quit you.
Ole Miss today confirmed rumors we've been hearing—that Gov. Phil Bryant, who is under fire in the state and nationally for signing SB 2681, is going to be the commencement speaker at the University of Mississippi, which is still trying to recover from the latest bigoted incident on campus.
I'm, frankly, astounded at the timing. I know many people at Ole Miss are working to move the university past its past, but how in the world does this choice help? Who makes these decisions?
Here's the verbatim release:
OXFORD, Miss. – Gov. Phil Bryant is set to visit the University of Mississippi on May 10 to deliver the main address at the university's 161st Commencement.
Mississippi's 64th governor, Bryant was sworn in on Jan. 10, 2012. Before becoming the state's chief executive, he was lieutenant governor from 2008 to 2011. He also served as state auditor and represented his legislative district in the Mississippi House of Representatives for five years.
The Moorhead native speaks to graduating students, their families and other guests at 9 a.m. in the Grove. This year's graduating class includes about 2,650 spring candidates for undergraduate and graduate degrees, plus some 1,000 August 2013 graduates.
"Over the years, we have had leaders from many fields come to campus for our commencement addresses, and Gov. Bryant has provided valuable leadership to our state in both the legislative and executive branches for nearly 25 years," Chancellor Dan Jones said. "By championing education and business reforms, he has helped drive economic development and provide a brighter future for all Mississippians. We look forward to the insights and challenges he will offer our graduates."
Recipients of doctor of philosophy degrees are to be hooded by their major professors in a 7:30 p.m. ceremony May 9 in the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. The Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College ceremony begins at 4 p.m. at the same location.
A shuttle service for handicapped and elderly visitors is available Saturday before the main ceremony. Shuttles will pick up people needing assistance from various locations and take them to the seating area. (Wheelchairs, if needed, must be provided by families.) The headquarters for the shuttle service will be at the Department of Parking and Transportation tent, at the intersection of University Avenue and All American Drive. To request assistance, call 662-915-7235.
In case of rain, the ceremony will be moved to Tad Smith Coliseum. If the weather is threatening, a decision on moving the ceremony indoors will be made by 8 a.m. and announced through media outlets, text messaging and the Ole Miss website.
Following the main ceremony, individual schools and the College of Liberal Arts hold ceremonies at various times and locations to present baccalaureate, master's, doctor of pharmacy and juris doctor degrees and awards. The schedule is as follows:
College of Liberal Arts master's degrees – 11 a.m., Fulton Chapel
Patterson School of Accountancy – 11 a.m., …
Story
Discussion About Mississippi, and Stereotypes, on Frommers
Someone just sent me this link to a Frommer's thread about Mississippi. There's some intriguing talk over there, revealing that everyone has their own prejudices. Quite compelling to consider. My …
Story
[Just In] Barbour Starts ‘Rapid Response' Web Campaign
Today, Gov. Haley Barbour launched a Web site to get supporters to help him get what he wants out of the special session. The site lists e-mail addresses for letters …
Story
The Art of Engagement
After a day at the pool, Brad Alexander told his girlfriend Ashley Pittman that they had to go pick up a frame from One Blu Wall gallery for his mother. …
Story
Melton Joins Other Mayors in Effort to Curb Guns
The New York Times is reporting on the meeting of 15 mayors, including Jackson Mayor Frank Melton, in New York to figure out how to curb the flow of guns …
Story
City & County
Mississippi Event Cancellations Due to COVID-19 (Regularly Updated)
Officials in Jackson and across Mississippi are canceling major events and gatherings in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The following is a list of canceled events as …
