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Mississippi's Same-Sex Couple Adoption Ban Challenged in Federal Court
By adreherA lawsuit to challenge Mississippi's same-sex couple adoption ban was filed in federal court by the Campaign for Southern Equality today. Mississippi is the only state in the nation that still bans gay couples from adopting children. The case, Campaign for Southern Equality v. Mississippi Department of Human Services, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi on behalf of four same-sex couples. Mississippi has the highest proportion of same-sex couples raising biological, adopted or step children according to a Williams Institute study from 2013.
Roberta Kaplan is the lead counsel in the case. Kaplan also represented the plaintiffs in the Campaign for Southern Equality v. Bryant case that began the push to legalize same-sex marriage in Mississippi. The Campaign for Southern Equality and Family Equality Council are representing the plaintiffs. According to a New York Times article, the offices of the attorney general and the governor did not return calls for comment by Tuesday afternoon.
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‘Empower’ PAC Helps Oust Anti-Charter Republicans
Empower Mississippi, a nonprofit dedicated to school choice, used its political arm, the Empower PAC, to unseat four incumbent Republican candidates for the Mississippi House of Representatives in the DeSoto …
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South Korean Man, 80, Sets Self on Fire at Anti-Japan Rally
An 80-year-old South Korean man was unconscious and experiencing breathing difficulties after setting himself on fire during an anti-Japan protest in Seoul on Wednesday, hospital officials said.
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Jacksonian
Dr. Taunjah Bell Neasman
For psychology majors at Jackson State University, not many other professors have made a bigger impact than Dr. Taunjah Bell Neasman.
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The Pre-Fest Playlist
For many people, the preparation for a major music event is almost as important a part of the festival-going experience as attending.
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Music
Eden Brent: Born into Blues
Greenville native singer and pianist Eden Brent says she owes her love of the blues to the Mississippi Delta.
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Editor's Note
My Advice for Mississippi Politicians
Being inspired is pretty much the same whether you're trying to decide who to elect or to stay excited about your career.
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Education
Pre-K Collaboratives Helping 4-Year-Olds
Most 4-year-olds are learning more basic skills before entering kindergarten due to Early Learning Collaboratives, the Mississippi Department of Education is reporting.
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Food
Where the Professionals Eat
On a typical night at ISH Grill & Bar, you may see local doctors and professionals sitting at the dark wooden bar near the back, mingling and unhinging from their …
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Music
Dexter Allen’s Banner Years
While Jackson-based blues artist Dexter Allen describes himself as "a little country boy with a little talent," the last two years of his career have earned him enough attention to …
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City & County
Public Works Takes Center Stage at Jackson Budget Talks
Public Works is responsible for maintaining the city's aging and deteriorating roads, bridges, water and sewer systems, and even for building maintenance and collecting money from parking meters. It also …
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West Point Historian Answers the Question: Was the Civil War About Slavery?
By Donna LaddOf course it was. Watch:
Was the Civil War About Slavery?New Video! "Was the Civil War About Slavery?"What caused the Civil War? Did the North care about abolishing slavery? Did the South secede because of slavery? Or was it about something else entirely...perhaps states' rights? Colonel Ty Seidule, Professor of History at the United States Military Academy at West Point, settles the debate once and for all.
Posted by Prager University on Monday, August 10, 2015
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St. Louis County Releases Video of Tyrone Harris, Pulls Gun 'In Response to Shots Being Fired'
St. Louis County police have released surveillance video footage they say shows Tyrone Harris Jr., the 18-year-old black suspect who was critically wounded after being shot by police Sunday night …
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Madison Not for Rent: Only “High Quality” People Need Apply
By ZOSHysteria grows in the land of brick and honey as the City of Madison do what they can to keep renters out.
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City & County
City OKs JATRAN Operations Contract
The City of Jackson has approved an operations contract for JATRAN, the city's transit authority.
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Biz Roundup
Mixed-Use at Medical Mall, Fleet Feet 'Pep Rally,' 'What Works Cities'
The Jackson Medical Mall is hosting a groundbreaking ceremony for a new mixed-use retail site called Woodrow Wilson Place Thursday, Aug. 13, at 10 a.m.
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Republican Pickering's Robo-Calls Target Pritchett for being 'LGBT'
By adreherStacey Pickering, the incumbent Republican candidate for auditor, is targeting his opponent, Joce Pritchett, for being an "LGBT Candidate" in his campaign's automated calls.
One robocall that ran before the primary states:
"The liberal left-wing media has their own agenda in the state auditor's race...They want to see their LGBT candidate for auditor, Jocelyn Pepper Pritchett, have a chance in the general election. They know they can't defeat Pickering, but they know they can defeat Mary Hawkins-Butler...Let's stand up for Mississippi values; let's stand up for Mississippi's Conservative leadership. Let's stand up for the traditional Mississippi family."
Pritchett's campaign has responded to the call on their website saying, "This type of message is unacceptable in the 21st century. The Republicans know they can't attack Joce's qualifications, so they have to attack her orientation and her family. We can't let this happen."
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Feds: Group Made $30M with Hacked Press Release Information
A group of Ukrainian hackers worked with securities traders in the U.S. to make $30 million by breaking into the computer systems of companies that publish news releases about publicly …
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Charge: 2 Mississippi Residents Aimed to Join Islamic State
Two Mississippi residents were arrested over the weekend on charges that they were trying to travel abroad to join the Islamic State militant group.
