All, we are putting together a special tribute issue to Chokwe Lumumba for next week. Please add your messages below, and we will include what we can and link back to the rest. I'll start with a letter the Greater Jackson Chamber leadership sent to members today:

February 26, 2014

Dear GJCP Members:

The Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership is deeply saddened by Mayor Chokwe Lumumba’s departure from this earthly life. He was a great leader, with unique personality and talent. His keen intellectual grasp of the tough issues facing the City of Jackson was important, but it was his ability to rally everyone to action on those issues that truly made him special. His time in office may have been cut short, but his impact on moving this city forward will have long standing implications.

Today we grieve with the rest of the community, but we also cerebrate the achievements of Chokwe Lumumba. We had a strong and productive working relationship with the Mayor. Furthermore, in an unexpected twist, we developed a sincere personal relationship. So today we grieve the loss of this dear friend, and realize how blessed we are to have had him as a leader and public servant. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mayor Lumumba’s family, his friends and this community.

Sincerely,

Andy Taggart Chairman of the Board Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership

Duane O'Neill President Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership

I felt like I was kicked in the stomach when Todd stuck his head in my office after the paper went to the printer today to tell me we were hearing reports that Mayor Chokwe Lumumba had died. Our photographer and news editor ran off to City Hall, which I can see from my office, and I took over mission control to try to confirm and get the news out.

But my hands were shaking. What happens to the city now?

What's remarkable is how much such a divisive figure was bringing our city together. Even though his ideas were rather, let's admit it, socialist, I've been hearing from conservatives every day about how much they like him. And over and over again, people would talk about how he was a "good" person and how he got along with so many different people.

We already knew that about him, even though our jury was out on whether his vision for Jackson was possible or workable. I've long liked him—ever since his attorney kicked me out of a rally for him in 2002 because I was white, and then Lumumba invited me back after I wrote a fair story about the attempt to disbar him. He was always respectful to me after that.

There is much to be said in the days ahead, but my overwhelming thought right now is whether we can maintain the detente that Lumumba—the tall brother with the little hat, you might call him—managed to bring to a city that was so terribly divided during his campaign, when it was believed by many that Jackson's future relied on making sure he didn't get elected.

The truth is, Jackson's future relies on all of us working together despite differences—something our city and state haven't been good at. I pray that we don't return to our old ways after his death. We need to learn lessons that he taught us.

Time will tell. For now, the Jackson Free Press sends prayers out to his family at this very difficult time. May peace be with them.

People in Jackson and around the world are responding to the news that first-term mayor Chokwe Lumumba died this afternoon.

Bonnaroo announces its 2014 line-up...

Here's the full release from the Chamber:

Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership Announces Commission Appointments

With the recent passage of the Jackson Local Option Sales Tax Referendum, much needed work on Jackson’s infrastructure will be addressed. The next step to address the infrastructure issues is the creation of an Oversight Commission.

With input from the City of Jackson and other professional advisors, the Commission will establish a master plan for infrastructure projects to be accomplished, as well as ensuring all expenditures of the money collected comply with the master plan.

The Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership Board of Directors has confirmed its four appointees to the Commission. These four individuals will be joined by six additional members selected by City of Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, Governor Phil Bryant, Lt. Governor Tate Reeves and Speaker Phillip Gunn.

The Partnership’s representatives are:

• Dr. Beverly Hogan, President of Tougaloo College and former Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership Board Member • Duane A. O’Neill, President/CEO of the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership • Dr. Carolyn Meyers, President of Jackson State University and current Greater Jackson Partnership Board Member • Mr. Godwin Dafe, Small Business Owner in Jackson

“We take the responsibility of these appointments very seriously” stated GJCP Chairman Andy Taggart. “After a thorough vetting process, we feel these Jackson residents will serve the community well on this important endeavor," Taggart added.

A few updates from the music world...

Swamp Babies, Twin Peaks, new releases and more...

Here's a small look back of the highlights of The Beatles' first visit to the United States...

Snoop, Swamp Babies, and new stuff...

Gov. Phil Bryant has proclaimed February as Voter Registration Month. He and fellow Republican Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann are urging Mississippi citizens to register to vote for upcoming party primaries--and not to forget their voter IDs.

Mississippi's voter-ID law is scheduled to be in place for the June 3 statewide primary. This comes after years of legal wrangling and claims from civil-liberties groups who say the law might deter African Americans and other minorities from bothering to try to vote.

But The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for voter ID last summer when the court's majority ruled unconstitutional parts of the Voting Rights Act that required some states to obtain federal approval for voting changes. The ruling basically said that in the past 40+ years states like Mississippi had suffered enough punishment for rigging its electoral system to keep blacks away from the polls for the past 100+ years.

The fact that the Voter Registration proclamation-cum-voter-ID reminder is taking place at the start of Black History Month is probably 100 percent, purely coincidental.

Or it's 100 percent, purely intentional.

Here's the release from Bryant's office, though:

Jackson, Miss.— With the new photo identification requirement beginning June 3rd, Governor Phil Bryant and Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann want Mississippians to remember the key to our democracy lies with voting. Therefore, the Governor has proclaimed February Voter Registration Month in Mississippi.

“The right to vote is the cornerstone of our nation, and countless service men and women have given their lives in defense of this freedom,” Gov. Phil Bryant said. “I encourage Mississippians to register to vote and participate in the electoral process at the local, state and federal levels.”

“We believe there are approximately 360,000 Mississippians over the age of 18 who are not registered to vote,” says Secretary Hosemann. “Voting is our most important right. We thank Governor Bryant for his commitment to the electoral process and hope this designation will encourage Mississippians to register to vote.”

To register to vote in Mississippi, you must be:

• A resident of the State and the county/city for thirty (30) days prior to the election; • At least 18-years-old by the date of the general election; • Not convicted of a disenfranchising crime; and, • Not adjudicated mentally incompetent. • A statewide primary election will be held in Mississippi on Tuesday, June 3, 2014. The voter registration deadline for that election is Saturday, May 3, 2014, at 12 p.m. A statewide general election will be held in Mississippi on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. The voter registration deadline for that election is Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014, at 12 p.m. To register to vote, please visit your local circuit clerk’s office or, you may download a voter registration form on the Secretary of State’s website at http://sos.ms.gov/links/elections/voter_information_center/tab1/Voter_Registration.pdf.

For information regarding the voter identification requirement, please contact 1-844-MSVoter or visit www.MSVoterID.com.

http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2014/feb/05/15816/

It hardly seems like yesterday that LaRita Cooper-Stokes was running for Ward 3 councilwoman and then running again when a judge ordered a new election, which she also won. But it wasn't yesterday. It was spring 2012, after Cooper-Stokes' husband, Kenneth, won a seat on the Hinds County Board of Supervisors.

Now, the Jackson Advocate is reporting that Cooper-Stokes will run for Hind County Circuit Court judge long before serving out her entire first term. Both Stokeses went to law school and both have a penchant for missing important meetings, so it'll be interesting to see how she conducts business on the bench. It could also mean a whole lot of recusals for Mr. Stokes, who, as a supervisor, approves all the county's bills including those for the courts.

Sorry I don't have more information, but I didn't have $.50 on me to buy a copy of the Advocate and the story is not yet posted on its website.

When working on this week's Super Bowl preview and prediction, I came across more information than I could fit in a single article for the paper. So, I figured with the big game just a couple of days away, why not share some of the rest of the information I found that I couldn't use in print.

Between the print article and the paper, you should be able to have plenty of stats and information to spread around at any Super Bowl Party you are attending. If you missed the print article here is the link.

Also, if you missed my rant this week, here is a link to it as well.

If anyone is hoping for the weather to warm up on Super Bowl Sunday, it is Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. In the playoffs when the temperature is under 40 degrees, Manning is 0-3 (to be fair as well all three of those games were on the road).

The coldest non-domed Super Bowl was at Super Bowl VI when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins 24-3. The game was played in New Orleans at Tulane Stadium and the high was 43 and the low was 24.

Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks quarterback, has only played in one game under 40 degrees. That was week 15 of this season against the New York Giants, in what will be stadium the game will be played in this Sunday. The Seahawks won that game 23-0.

Manning and Wilson will set a Super Bowl record when the game kicks off. The two quarterbacks will set the record for biggest age difference between two quarterbacks. There is a 12 year and 250 days difference in age between the two starting single callers.

At 25, Wilson would join both Joe Montana and Joe Namath also won the big game at the age of 25. The Seahawks quarterback also has the most wins at 27 (including playoffs) for a second year quarterback starting the Super Bowl.

Manning has the Super Bowl experience, which is good but Wilson has some recent Super Bowl numbers on his side. Quarterbacks with previous Super Bowl experience have been in 19 Super Bowls and those quarterbacks have a 10-9 record.

Wilson has the recent history on his side. The quarterbacks with experience haven't fared so well as the quarterbacks without experience have won the last three straight (Eli Manning over Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers over Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees over Manning).

Both these teams meet in the preseason this year. That is important if anyone tells you the preseason meeting doesn't matter.

This will be the seventh time, since 1994, teams who faced off in the preseason play in the Super Bowl. The team that won the meaningless game went on to win five of the six previous Super Bowls.

In the preseason Seattle beat Denver 40-10.

These two teams have meet 52 times in regular …

Soon, Mississippi's worst-in-the-nation status for everything from obesity to gun deaths to 4th graders being able to spell their own names will be wiped away thanks to an effort now underway in the Legislature.

This morning, the state Senate passed a bill to add the words "In God We Trust" to the state seal, which now just says some junk in Latin or Greek or whatever language it is Ivy League eggheads talk.

The proposal, Senate Bill 2681, which is almost sure to turn around the state's mind-boggling child poverty rate by as early as next Monday morning, also ensures that that the government cannot interfere with Mississippians' right to exercise their religion. The U.S. Constitution has protected that right for almost 240 years, but everybody knows it doesn't really count until the Mississippi state Legislature says so.

SB 2681 now heads over to the House for consideration.

For the longest time, even though the alcohol content of New Belgium Brewing Co.'s flagship beer, Fat Tire Amber Ale, was low enough to be sold under Mississippi's draconian limits for beer, the company chose not to offer Fat Tire in the Magnolia State.

If they couldn't sell all their beers, they wouldn't sell any of them, the thinking went.

Two years ago, though, the Mississippi Legislature raised the limit on beer, resulting in a flood of flavorful new varieties to taps and supermarket aisles. Now, Fort Collins, Colo.-based New Belgium is expanding into central Mississippi, Capital City Beverages Inc. recently announced.

True to the brewers' wish, Cap City posted on Facebook, that they are bringing New Belgium's entire portfolio of beers, which includes Fat Tire, Ranger IPA, Abbey and Trippel, starting in early March.

New releases and Pat Metheny...

Here's the statement from the office of Congressman Bennie Thompson, a Democrat who represents the Mississippi Delta in the the U.S. House of Representatives, on today's vote in the House to pass a Farm Bill.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02) released the following statement regarding his vote in support of H.R. 2642 (Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management FARRM Act), also known as the Farm Bill:

“I am pleased with today’s bi-partisan efforts to pass the Farm Bill of 2013. Today’s bill provides a safety net for farmers, while ensuring that no Mississippian participating in SNAP will see a decrease in their benefits. This legislation ensures that foreign grown fish will be subject to the same rigorous inspection as Mississippi Farm Raised Catfish. And this bill will provide funding for agriculture research at Alcorn State University, and for wildlife conservation programs in Mississippi.”

“Agriculture is Mississippi’s number one industry, employing over 29% of our state’s workforce. I am pleased that Mississippi’s over 42,000 farmers will now benefit from a robust federally backed crop insurance program. Today’s Farm Bill will also fund infrastructure projects, community facilities, small business grants and loans in rural areas through the USDA’s Rural Development programs, helping to boost Mississippi’s economy and increase job growth. I support today’s Farm Bill and urge my colleagues in the Senate to move quickly on this legislation,” said Congressman Thompson.

Richard Sherman surprised some NFL fans in his post-game interview with Erin Andrews after batting down a last-minute pass in the end zone to deny the San Francisco 49ners a game-winner and sending his team, the Seattle Seahawks, to the Super Bowl. (I thought it was basically funny, and chalked it up to him being in trash-talk war with his opponent and helping deliver his team to the Super Bowl.

Today he gave a press conference to tell his side of the controversy that's gone viral, making a good point about the [use of the word "thug" in modern parlance][1]. As quoted in Business Insider:

"The only reason it bothers me is that it seems like it’s the accepted way of calling people the n-word nowadays. … What’s the definition of a thug, really? Can a guy on the football field, just talking to people — maybe I’m talking loudly, or doing something I’m not supposed to be. But there was a hockey game where they didn’t even play hockey, they just threw the puck aside and started fighting. I saw that and I thought, 'Oh man, I’m a thug?' So I’m really disappointed in being called a thug."

Sherman's personal story has been in the news this week -- he was a good student as a youngster who overcame his Compton background to play football and get a degree form Stanford -- and he makes a point that folks who slide a little too easily into calling him a "thug" may be doing it out of a habit that they need to break. Food for thought.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-sherman-thug-2014-1#ixzz2rGQ4a1EX

So the old-school Republican strategist Haley Barbour has stuck his foot in his mouth again, perhaps purposefully. He went on CNN to defend New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's administration, which is under fire for various corruption allegations, including a serious accusation by Hoboken, N.J., Mayor Dawn Zimmer. When Barbour appeared on camera to downplay the allegations, he just looked and sounded like a garden-variety sexist grandpa when he called Zimmer a "lady mayor." As in, what the hell does her gender have to do with anything?!? And why would a man supposedly as smart as Barbour make such an error?

It could have been purposeful, of course, considering that the base of Barbour's party hasn't realized that we have moved into the 21st century and that blatant sexism ain't cool or attractive, and it sure won't attract the kinds of younger voters the GOP will desperately need to survive.

So how exactly does this help Christie get into the White House? The national GOP might think seriously before letting such an old-school political strategist speak for their candidates. Don't forget, after all, that he was the one who tried to pretend that the Citizens Council had good intentions in his hometown.

Most frustrating, this ignorance on a national stage once again makes Mississippi look bad.

Blech.

Tons of new releases and Best of Jackson...

Rep. John Moore, R-Brandon, has a bill that would require the death penalty in statutory rape cases where the victim is 13 years old or younger and when the defendant is 18 or older.

Read the full text of Moore's House Bill 92 here.