Jackson Free Press

Seventh Annual Project Homeless Connect Week is happening this week.

Operation Shoestring just announced the panelists for its annual "Conversation About Community" luncheon: Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, former Gov. Haley Barbour and Wells Church pastor Rev. Keith Tonkel.

The event, which highlights and raises funds for Operation Shoestring's work with children and families in central Jackson, is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 14, at the Jackson Convention Complex (105 E. Pascagoula St., 601-969-0114), from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.

The featured panelists "will make public a conversation that’s been happening in living rooms and around kitchen tables across Jackson for a long time now," states a release about the luncheon. "Our capital city faces a declining tax base, a growing urban-suburban divide, struggling schools, crime and poverty. If Jackson, or Mississippi, for that matter, is going to rise, the solution will require our collective buy-in."

This year's "Conversation About Community" will be a frank, open talk about solutions.

“The potential of this event is enormous. Mayor Lumumba and Gov. Barbour bring vastly different perspectives to the task of moving our city and state forward. Providing a safe space for open dialogue between these two, with a faith-based voice of ‘what’s right’ coming from long-time central Jackson pastor Rev. Tonkel, has the potential to impact the trajectory of our city’s future in a profound way,” said Robert Langford, Operation Shoestring's executive director, in the release.

The organization's signature annual fundraiser was created as a way to put into action its mantra that “we all rise together.” The idea is to create a safe space for people and organizations from across the larger Jackson area, from all walks of life, to engage in open discussion about the critical issues that impact the children and families Shoestring serves in central Jackson and, ultimately, the larger Jackson community.

Tickets are $50, and sponsorships start at $125. Call Stacey Jordan for more information at 601-353-6336 ext. 27, or email [email protected]. Find out more at operationshoestring.org.

A couple of musical tidbits...

One day only special, $9.11.

Jackson State University has announced plans for a vigil for a student who died over the weekend.

James Shearer, a senior political science major, died the morning of Sept. 8. He was a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard and was active in the Student Government Association, JSU’s Army Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and Reformed University Fellowship, according to a release from the school.

The vigil is scheduled for 9 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12, on the Gibbs-Green Pedestrian Walkway.

http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2013/sep/10/13668/

If you hold a boycott and no one notices, did it ever happen?

Are you interested in understanding how race and other forms of diversity affect all of us?

Last night was a treat.

The football season officially kicked off with No. 1 Brandon defeating No. 6 Madison Central 21-14 in front of an estimated crowd of 9,000 interested onlookers at Madison's Jaguar Field.

The Bulldogs (1-0) broke a 14-14 tie late in the fourth quarter on a 7-yard Devin Wilson touchdown run. Brandon's highly-touted quarterback Gardner Minshew completed 15 of 28 passes for 216 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and completed a 47-yard pass to Chris Ward to set up the final touchdown.

R&B Recap/Review

Day 2 Update 2

R&B Fest Day 2 Update 1

R&B Fest Day 2!

R&B Fest Day 1 Recap...

Update 4

Update 3

R&B Fest 2...

Update 1

The first Jackson Ryhthm & Blues Festival

A small sampling of new music due out tomorrow, 8/13:

Luke Bryan - Crash My Party (Country)

Washed Out - Paracosm (Pop/Rock)

Glen Campbell - See You There (Country, Pop/Rock)

Béla Fleck - The Imposter (Classical)

Carrie Underwood - The Blown Away Tour: Live (Country)

Richard Pryor - The Warner Bros. Albums (1974-1983) (Comedy)

Coheed & Cambria - The Afterman ((Pop/Rock)

TB

http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2013/aug/12/13106/

Unconfirmed reports indicate that The Clarion-Ledger has laid off 13 employees over the past two days. The report, from The Gannett Blog (which is not an official Gannett source), says that nationwide, the Gannett Company's U.S. Community Publishing newspaper division, the C-L's parent company, has fired an estimated 223 people at 37 sites. A few other subsidiaries are also affected, the blog states.

The Gannett Blog relies on its readers for layoff reports, and the post includes a link to a spreadsheet showing the specific numbers reportedly laid off at Gannett worksites. Hattiesburg, home of the Hattiesburg American, shows two layoffs.

"These figures remain preliminary and are almost certain to rise at least through Monday as more employees are notified," the blog states.

"Most of the job losses were through layoffs over the past 48 hours, with a much smaller number comprising open positions that have been permanently eliminated, according to these readers.

"It's unlikely Corporate will ever confirm these figures, because this round is being done under the radar. Asked for a comment yesterday, Corporate's chief publicist, Jeremy Gaines, told blogger Jim Romenesko only this: 'Some USCP sites are making cuts to align their business plans with local market conditions.'"

The blog entry is calling this round of layoffs "the biggest since about 700 newspaper employees were let go in June 2011."