Jackson Free Press

Earlier this month, the 42 for Better Schools campaign asked the Mississippi secretary of state's office to review ballots across all 82 counties in Mississippi after finding errors on ballots in Hinds County.

A Mississippi voter in Hinds County found the errors when the voter went to complete an absentee ballot, 42 for Better Schools spokeswoman Patsy Brumfield said at the time.

The same errors on the absentee ballot had been visible on the Hinds County sample ballot. The letter "A" was removed from the Initiative 42-A choice, so voters can vote "FOR Initiative Measure No. 42" or "FOR Alternative Measure No. 42." Without the letter "A" to designate the alternative, voters might vote for the wrong initiative Brumfield said.

Now, Hinds County officials want to reach out to people who voted absentee and ask them to submit a corrected ballot. Pieter Teeuwissen, the attorney for the Hinds County Board of Supervisors, said the county otherwise could be open to litigation.

At today's board meeting, supervisors, attorneys and election commissioners braced for mass confusion over the ballot initiative, which requires the Legislature to adequately fund public schools or be compelled to do so by the courts.

Connie Cochran, the District 4 representative to and chairwoman of the Hinds County Election Commission, called the initiative "confusing."

"I think what we're going to have is a lot of people who just don't vote" on Initiative 42, Cochran told supervisors today.

Board President Tony Greer, the only Republican member of the board, said even though he believes Initiative 42 to be a "perilous slope to changing the constitution," he does believes voters need proper information when going to the polls.

http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2015/oct/19/23307/

Councilman Tyrone Hendrix posted this update to his Facebook page this morning, reposted here verbatim:

UPDATE ON ELEVATED LEAD LEVELS: On January 30th, I made a post concerning water samples that indicated lead levels were found at an "actionable" level within the City of Jackson. Since that time, the City of Jackson has re-tested homes that tested above 15 parts per billiion (ppb), has increased the sample size from 58 homes to 100 homes, is providing citizens with information to request free water testing kits (I will provide more information on this as soon as it is available), and is reviewing it's corrosion control measures. A map and results of sites where lead levels exceed actionable levels is near the bottom of this post

Since then, I have also authored an ordinance that will require the City of Jackson to test for both copper and lead at least once per year (currently, the City is only required to test for lead and copper once every 3 years). I have also requested that the Administration and Department of Public Works expand the scope of water testing to more homes in South Jackson--and particularly in Ward 6 due to:

1. The years homes were build in South Jackson;
2. The types of pipes used to transport water from the water plant to South Jackson homes; and
3. Small sampling sizes.

It is imperative that we expeditiously gather and analyze the data, identify problem areas, and act swiftly based on the data. Lastly, there is no "safe" level of lead in drinking water, and we must identify the source of elevated lead levels.

I will continue to keep you updated on developments, and will provide information for residents to request testing kits in the very near future. As always, if you have questions, concerns, or ideas please contact me via phone at 601-960-1089 or email [email protected]. Thank you! - Tyrone

*Map of Jackson Sites Where Lead Levels Exceeded Action Levels: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/…/map-jackson-sites-where-…/

The City Council's agenda for their regular meeting tonight, Dec. 13, at 6 p.m. in City Hall includes a possible settlement with the former executive assistant to Mayor Tony Yarber, Kimberly Bracey, alleging the mayor of sexual harassment, sexual discrimination and a hostile workplace.

Bracey alleged in a lawsuit filed on Aug. 25 of this year that she began to work with the mayor i 2014, and while she worked for him, the complaint states, he and she began a sexual relationship which she ended when she and her husband reconciled in 2014.

Bracey alleges that Yarber then forced her to continue their sexual relationship "by making it clear that she could be terminated if she did not have sex with him." Yarber, she alleges, also asked her "to encourage another female to give Defendant Yarber oral sex in exchange for guaranteed employment." She also heard him say inappropriate sexual remarks about other women, the complaint states.

The mayor released a statement concerning the lawsuit soon afterward.

"The City of Jackson has been made aware of a vicious and scandalous lawsuit filed by a former disgruntled employee, Kimberly Y. Vaunterice Bracey," the mayor's statement said. "Although the City has not been served with a copy of the complaint and summons, Mayor Tony T. Yarber and the City of Jackson stand ready to vigorously defend against each and every frivolous allegation made by Kimberly Y. Vaunterice Bracey."

The item on the council's agenda seems to indicate that the lawsuit will not go to trial. The details of that settlement would usually be included in the council's agenda packet, but the packet, filled with information that the public is supposed to be able to read before the council meets, has not been uploaded to the city's website yet.