Jackson Jambalaya

The Flag Chapel Fight took place Sunday afternoon.  The fight almost looked like a real boxing match.  There were boxing gloves, a referee, and even rounds.  Blows were traded but unfortunately no one yelled "stick and move."  However, the fight ended when someone pulled a gun and start shooting.  The video is posted below.  The gun is fired around 15:00.

A group of parents of children enrolled in Jackson Public Schools sued the Mississippi Department of Education today in federal court in an attempt to block an MDE takeover of JPS.  The lawsuit is posted below.

Kiiiiiiiim Wade went totally off the chain Friday in his opening monologue.  The thought of a JPS takeover was just too much for him to handle.  Listen for yourself.

There is talk in some Jackson circles that this website is working with the Republicans to take over Jackson Public Schools. JJ doesn’t normally respond to chatter, because someone is always throwing stones at this website. However, the Mississippi Department of Education’s decision to take over Jackson Public Schools is a story that is very emotionally-charged and upset quite a few people. Some see it as another example of the state yet again trying to take something from Jackson. Others see it as Mississippi once again showing its own brand of racism, although some are inclined to see racism in anything. Others are just plain confused and genuinely scared because their children’s education is at stake. JJ will attempt to explain why it has an interest in JPS. 

You can't make this up.  Attorney Generalissimo James Tiberius Hood issued the following statement.

Airbnb issued the following notice last weekend:

Today at Flag Chapel Park:

If you can't make it to church this morning, enjoy this 1987 sermon from the late Dr. Frank Pollard. 

Does modern music suck or are such complaints merely what one hears every generation? Watch Thoughty2's analysis on Youtube below and decide for yourself. 

Former state GOP executive director, elected Republican official, and chief of staff to Kirk Fordice, Mississippi's first Republican Governor since Reconstruction, Andy Taggart has publicly challenged his party to step up and "lead the charge in finally removing from our state flag the representation of the Confederate battle flag."

Stingray made an appearance on Youtube a few days ago:

The Mississippi Hospital Association failed in its attempt last month to get a court to stop Medicaid from awarding a lucrative managed care contract to three competitors.  MHA's proposal scored sixth out of seven bids.   Hinds County Chancellor rejected the petition for a temporary restraining order and said MHA had not exhausted its administrative remedies.

The Mississippi Department of Education will appoint Dr.  Margie Pulley as the interim Superintendent of the Jackson Public Schools District if Govenor Phil Bryant approves the takeover by MDE.  She was the Superintendent of the Greenwood Public Schools District from 2008-2012. 

The Mississippi Department of Education issued the following press release. 

The Jackson Public School District sued the Mississippi Department of Education in Hinds County Chancery Court today.  The District asked the court to stop MDE from taking over the operations of the school district. The case is assigned to Chancellor Dewayne Thomas. The lawsuit is posted below. 

This post may trigger some readers.

The Mississippi Department of Education issued the following statement: 

State Auditor Stacey Pickering issued the following statement.

The Mississippi Department of Education issued the following press release. 

The Kingfish had to say farewell to Sophie today.  Our tri-color King Charles Spaniel was ten years old when she left this world.  She will be missed.

This flyer is making the rounds in Jackson.

If I can write a post I will do so today but here are the videos of the Clark sentencing hearing that took place Friday.  Lowndes County Circuit Judge Jim Kitchens sentenced Brian Clark to serve 16 years in prison for the beating of his wife, Dr. Hope Clark.  Clark pleaded guilty to Aggravated Assault-Domestic Violence in May.  Judge Kitchens suspended six years of the sentence and also required him to serve five years of post-release supervision.  Clark will be eligible for release for prison upon serving five years of his sentenced under HB #585. 

Still under the weather but a couple of posts will go up.  The City of Jackson issued the following statement on a possible takeover of JPS:

Attorney General Jim Hood issued the following press release: 

Is it time for Mississippi to abolish the Certificate of Need? The House Public Health and Human Services Committee will ask that question today.  Anna Wolfe reported in the Clarion-Ledger yesterday:

Once again, New Orleans provides a lesson in what not to do.   The actual work of paving a road should be a simple process - unless the city or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is involved.  The Times-Picayune reported last week:

If you can't make it to church today, enjoy this 1987 sermon given by the late Dr. Frank Pollard.  He preached from the Book of Joel, yes Joel. 

Here are some Hurricane Irma webcams. Feel free to add more in the comments.

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement and pictures. 

Some robbers attempted to hit a Cleveland Taco Bell but were outgunned:

Jackson Ward 2 City Councilman Melvin Priester, Jr. took to the pages of Facebook to comment on the possibility of a state takeover of JPS:

Some Mayors will attempt to get around the Open Meetings Act by meeting with one or two aldermen at a time.  The public never knows about it and the skullduggery takes place behind closed doors.  The board meeting comes, there is little discussion, and presto- the subject action passes.  Well, the Mississippi Supreme Court said no more.  The Mississippi Justice Institute issued this statement:

The Feathered Cow is closing its I-55N location but will remain open in the Reservoir area.  Owner Nathan Glenn stated on its Facebook page:

The Mississippi Department of Education issued the following statement. 

Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba appointed Lt. Col. (Ret.) Lucius Wright to the Board of Commissioners for the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority.  The City Council approved the nomination on August 31.  The former artillery officer was awarded the Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars.  He also earned Master Aviator status.  His resume and a video of the confirmation hearing are posted below.

It is no secret money woes plague UMMC.  The teaching hospital was forced to cut $24 million earlier this year and more cuts are probably on the way if the state's finances don't substantially improve.  JJ has a suggestion for UMMC: Quit paying dues to the Mississippi State Medical Association.

Little hurricane coming your way? No problem.  Visit Ridgeland offered a solution on Twitter last night:

A protestor goon took his _____ the police act a little bit too far back in April:

 Update:  MDE issued this statement this afternoon:

The preliminary estimate for school funding provided to the Mississippi State Board of Education in July, as required by state law, was based on data from the 2016 fiscal year. As stated at the Board meeting, the numbers are expected to change. The actual data needed to produce the final funding recommendation is required to come from the 2017 fiscal year, which will be available in October. The final recommendation will come to the State Board in December. When the final MAEP calculations are done, an independent audit firm verifies the accuracy of the calculations.

Ridgeland Hospitality is trying to build a Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, and Tru by Hilton in Ridgeland but has been stopped from doing so by the Ridgeland Board of Aldermen even though the Zoning Board and Mayor Gene McGee have supported its efforts.  Meanwhile, the Board greenlights everything requested by a competing developer, Kerioth Corporation.

Proposed hotels

Hurricane Irma is now bigger than the state of Ohio.  A Cleveland weatherman created this graphic:

The Mississippi Highway Patrol issued the following statement.

Mississippi Treasurer Lynn Fitch announced 529 Day for kids will be held at the Children's Museum on September 9: