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State
Gov. Phil Bryant's Inaugural Speech: Full Text
The following is the text of Gov. Phil Bryant's inaugural speech, as prepared for delivery Tuesday:
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Text of Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant's Inauguration Speech
The following is the text of Gov. Phil Bryant's inaugural speech, as prepared for delivery Tuesday.
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Civil Rights
Aching for Tamir, Fearing for My Life
When the news broke of no indictment against the officer in the Tamir Rice case on Dec. 28, I wasn't shocked or surprised. I was disappointed, I ached for Tamir's …
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Mississippi Supreme Court Lineup Filled
By adreherGov. Phil Bryant has filled both Mississippi Supreme Court vacancies, following the departure of Justices Randy Pierce and David Chandler. Former District 1 Court of Appeals Judge James Maxwell and tenth district chancellor Dawn Beam will join the state's highest court in the new year.
Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. said in statement that Judge Maxwell's "energy and experience will serve the court and the citizens of the state well.” Waller expressed enthusiasm at Beam's arrival to the court. In a statement, he said Judge Beam has continued to go above standards in helping her court's district convert to an all electronic filing system. Beyond clerical duties, Waller said Beam "has tirelessly worked to resolve issues regarding placement and supervision of abused and neglected children.”
Judge Beam has been involved with her district's work to guarantee safe homes for all children and recently spoke at a community meeting in December praising the local Department of Human Services workers in Marion County for the changes they've made in their office--including upping personnel numbers. The increased personnel led to 160 children being removed from their homes due to court orders that cited deplorable living conditions or drug abuse at home.
Judge Maxwell was appointed to the district court by former Gov. Haley Barbour in 2009 and re-elected in 2014. He practiced civil law in Jackson and worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in the northern district of Mississippi.
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City & County
Panel: Remove White Judge Who Assaulted, Used Racial Slur Against Black Man
The Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance wants the state supreme court to remove from office and fine a white judge for physically assaulting and using a racial slur against an …
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Politics
State Eyes Changes to Guardianship Laws
Desiree Henley knew Mississippi's guardianship and conservatorship laws were outdated, ineffective and likely stripping elderly and disabled citizens of their basic human rights.
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City & County
‘What the Religion Teaches’: Feeding the Homeless in Smith Park
Bilal Qizilbash has been bringing dinner to homeless people in Smith Park every Friday for almost nine months, but he and his fellow volunteers never ask anyone about their housing …
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City & County
JPD's Vance OKs Moonlighting, Vehicle Use as Officer Retention Strategy
Lee Vance, the chief of the Jackson Police Department, is getting creative to keep his officers from jumping ship and going to other law-enforcement agencies where they can make more …
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Politics
Gov. Bryant Taps Justice Chandler to Lead Overhaul of Child Welfare System
The State of Mississippi took the first step toward following a set of recommendations for complying with the long-running court case over the state's foster-care system known as Olivia Y.
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Immigration
The Music of Immigrants
We're in the century-old Confiteria Ideal listening to the mother of all tangos, "La Cumparsita," and I'm thinking about the somewhat different world into which the tango was born.
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Crime
Advocates: ‘Safe Campus Act’ Not Safe
Two Mississippi organizations focused on keeping women safe are opposing the Safe Campus Act, a bill currently working its way through the U.S. House of Representatives, because it would make …
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Immigration
WWJD: Many ‘Christian’ Political Leaders Don’t Care
The strategy of exclusivity from political leaders like Gov. Phil Bryant can be described as discriminatory, unrealistic, asinine and very non-Christ-like.
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Crime
JSU Students Stand Up to Sexual Violence
GIRL is a JSU Feminist Majority chapter that is taking to the streets on campus, demanding more safety and awareness about risk female students face.
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Politics
The JFP Quick Take: Election 2015
If you woke up this morning feeling like today was just another day, it's because voters largely voted to preserve the status quo on Election Day.
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Person of the Day
Drew Mellon
For Clinton native Drew Mellon, the U.S. director for international nonprofit The Hard Places Community, his connection to Cambodia isn't a question of geography, but of compassion and calling.
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Speaker Boehner Pushes for Budget Deal Before Leaving House
Speaker John Boehner is pushing to finalize the outlines of a deal to fund the federal government before he leaves Congress this week and hands the top House job over …
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City & County
10 Local Stories of the Week
There's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them.
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Civil Rights
Angela Davis: Racism 'Not Simply a Domestic Problem'
Angela Davis spoke as part of the fall 2015 Presidential Lecture in Tougaloo College's historic Woodworth Chapel, where some would-be attendees who arrived late were turned away at the door …
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Education
Under Pressure: Some Mississippi Educators Silenced on School-Funding Battle
Advocates of Initiative 42 complain that warnings to educators are designed to divide higher education and K-12 education communities, while also silencing them on an issue close to many of …
