Jackson Jambalaya

 The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation issued the following statement. 

It's Easter Sunday, the holiest day in Christianity.  It's a day of happiness, dressing up - sometimes once a year - for church,  and enjoying family dinners.  Good times.   Often forgotten is Crucifixion Friday or rather, the pain of Crucifixion Friday.  Standing at the pulpit in 1987, the late Dr. Frank Pollard preached they are two sides of the same coin, one side can't exist without the other although many want to skip over the pain to get to the pleasure.  Enjoy your Easter Sunday and the sermon posted below.  

The Legislature was going to make a serious effort to fix PERS this year. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann called it “the major issue” for this session. House Speaker Jason White said, “we want to fix this long term.”

 It appears some form of Medicaid expansion will pass the legislature only to meet the Governor's veto pen.  Just one question.  During all of the horse-trading, how come no abolishment of the certificate of need was placed on the table?  Are the so-called conservatives in the legislature in that much of a hurry to expand Medicaid?  Just curious.  

 Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens issued the following statement. 

 Well that was interesting.  A bill that would help place a casino in Jackson died just as suddenly as it appeared in the Mississippi House of Representatives last week.  Text & history of bill.

In his gospel account, Luke records Jesus riding on a donkey into Jerusalem on Sunday of Passion Week.

 Looking for a new Mafia movie?  Check out Hoodlum.  This little gem popped up for free recently on Youtube.  It's not The Godfather but it rates a solid "B" as it tells the story of the war between Dutch Schultz and Bumpy Johnson in 1930's Harlem.  

 Lost in the discussion at the Capitol about PERS is this little nugget in the 2023 actuarial report: 

 Sometimes a gangster really is a gangster.  Exhibit A in the Daily Mail (UK): 

What would you most like to see Mississippi’s elected lawmakers do during the current legislative session?

Credit: Charlotte Gazette

 Actor Lou Gossett, Jr. passed away today.  Rest in peace, Sergeant Foley. 

I apologize to Marie for stealing the words she may or may not have uttered, but sometimes you simply must have a piece of cake. I guess must have pound cake would be more accurate.

 The Order of the Sisters of Rukia is at it again......

Update: JPD arrested and charged Siyaski Crawford with murder as well.  Crawford is 15 years-old. 

The accused killer of a 14 year-old Northwest Rankin Middle School student was denied bond yesterday in Jackson Municipal Court.  However, his alleged accomplice received bond although it was set at a mere $1.5 million.

 Rankin-Madison District Attorney Bubba Bramlett issued the following statement and mug shot.

Can you spot today's error in the Clarion-Ledger? 

The Jackson Police Department issued the following press release and mug shots. 

 PERS just can't seem to catch a break.  The PERS team scored several touchdowns in 2023 but fell behind on the scoreboard yet again as its funding level fell to a new low even though it enjoyed decent returns in the markets.  

 Birmingham-Southern College will close when the current semester ends in May.  Reverend Keith Thompson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the college, announced yesterday: 

PETROGNANO, ITALY— It’s true that there’s no place like home, and I deeply and dearly love my hometown of Hattiesburg and my home state of Mississippi. I could live other places, but I never will. My roots are in South Mississippi. I am a seventh generation citizen of the Pine Belt and I am Mississippi to the core. Texans are known for being proud of their home state. For me, I have Texas pride— times ten— for Mississippi.

Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson issued the following statement. 

Mississippians watched along with the rest of the nation to see whether justice would prevail in the so-called “Goon Squad” cases in which six white former Rankin County law enforcement officers pleaded guilty to torturing and terrorizing two Black men for hours after breaking into a home without a warrant.

 The Justice Department issued the following statement. 

 The Mississippi Energy Institute sponsored and authored this post. 

Have you considered an electric vehicle for your next car, or maybe in the future? Maybe you own one of the 1.2 million EVs that was purchased in 2023, or about 7.6% of new car sales nationally, but chances are, you're among the vast majority of people who continue to prefer a gasoline-powered car or truck.

 The city of Jackson will soon have no engineers in its employ.  City Engineer Robert Lee (no relation) is moving on to bigger and better things as he tendered his resignation.  

 Ivana Williams is becoming quite familiar with the various court systems in Mississippi.  A Jane Doe sued former MHP troopers Williams and Brad McClendon in U.S. District Court yesterday.  

Madison-Rankin District Attorney Bubba Bramlett issued the following statement. 

 The container ship, Dali,  destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore last night. 

Madison County was scammed out of $2.7 million recently.  Madison County Board of Supervisors President Gerald Steen announced the fraud after an emergency meeting of the Board was held in executive session this morning.  

 Gabriel Prado took that eyesore of a gas station on Briarwood Drive by the frontage road and is turning it into something a little bit more nice.   Don Gabriel will open in the next few weeks.  

 MDOC finally picked up its boy out of the Rankin County jail.  

"Life is won or lost at a walk," said the late Dr. Frank Pollard.  However, walking is boring. Walking takes time.  However, walking builds foundations.  Walking is what makes the heavenly moments possible.  Dr. Pollard said this and more as he preached from Isaiah 40:28-31 (posted below) in the 1996 sermon posted below.  

During the season of Easter, Christians celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. What better time to reflect upon His key teachings – love God and love each other. Jesus told us that includes enemies, strangers, children, the sick, the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.

 Many readers are keeping up with JJ's Goon Squad coverage.  Posted below is the Justice Department's sentencing memorandum for Christian Dedmon.  It was not yet public when he was sentenced Wednesday.  

 The Ballad of Rudy Warnock continues in federal court.   Former Canton Municipal Utilities engineer Rudy Warnock asked U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate to postpone his April 1 bribery trial.  

Americans have almost always defied definitions. From the beginning, others have struggled to separate patriots from loyalists. Today even MAGA means something sinister to those who used to wear “Make America Great Again” campaign buttons for Bill Clinton for president.

Yesterday was a day for justice as U.S. District Judge Tom Lee sentenced Brett McAlpin to serve 327 months in prison for his role in the torture and framing of two black men in Braxton last year.  McAlpin is the former Chief of Investigations for the Rankin County Sheriff's Office.

The only chance to survive is to choose a side.  Remaining neutral means death.  Are you Green or Black? 

 Many organizations these days say they want to promote diversity, equity and inclusion – often abbreviated to DEI.  What this means is instead of judging each of us as being an individual, we get categorized by our race, national origin or gender.  

 We try to go to the beach several times a year. We're not always successful making it down there but we consider it a noble cause worthy of daydreams. One of the reasons we want to be there because a condo on the beach is a wonderful place to enjoy a plate of Shrimp Freddy.

 The Justice Department issued the following statement. 

 Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement. 

 U.S. District Judge Tom Lee just sentenced Brett McAlpin to serve 327 months in prison for his role in the torturing of Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker on January 24, 2023 in Braxton.   McAlpin was Chief of Investigations at the Rankin County Sheriff's Office.  More information to follow.  327 months translates to 27 years and 3 months.  

 Anthony Fox is going from defense to offense after getting out of prison.  The Clinton police officer sued the State of Missisisppi in Hinds County Circuit Court Tuesday.  

 Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following information on murder suspect 

 Dedmon.  It is a name that will forever symbolize the terror of modern-day racism in Mississippi.  Murder for fun, torture, sadism, and sexual abuse, all acts committed by Deryl Dedmon or his cousin, former Goon Squad member Christian Lee Dedmon.  

Chalk, Dedmon, Cory, Parker Artist: Bill Wilson for JJ & WLBT

 How prophetic this old Ted DiBiase turned out to be.

 State Representative Henry Zuber (R-Margaritaville) issued the following statement. 

VALENCIA, SPAIN— It was a tight spot. Not in the figurative sense in which one is faced with a challenging situation that needs immediate attention. Though this was a very challenging situation that needed immediate action, but it was also a literal tight spot.

 The Jackson City Council approved a six-year garbage contract with Richard's Disposal.  However, the contract does not include the mandatory use of his precious 96-gallon garbage carts.  WLBT reported: 

The Mississippi Legislature is purposefully and earnestly moving legislation through the Capitol that would make it easier to prosecute law enforcement officer misconduct. This effort is long overdue and represents unfinished business in our state.

 U.S. District Judge Thomas Lee sentenced Jeffrey Middleton to serve 210 months in federal prison in the Goon Squad case today.  

 Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement. 

Dedmon sexually assaults suspect 

The first Goon is sentenced and packed off to prison.  U.S. District Judge Tom Lee sentenced former Rankin County deputy Hunter Elward to serve 241 months in prison today in a packed courtroom as Rankin took its place next to Neshoba in Mississippi's sordid civil rights history.  

Elward, Holliman, Shabazz, Mrs. Jenkins

 It's a pitiful state of affairs when cops are locked up and killers are set free but such has been taking place in the courtroom of Hinds County Circuit Judge Adrienne Wooten.  A jury convicted T'Quaris Jones of murder recently but remains free after Judge Wooten threw out the verdict.  

 The Goon Squad sentencing starts today in U.S. District Court before U.S. District Judge Tom Lee. 

The old adage about auditors bayoneting the wounding remains true at JXN Water.  WLBT reported: 

Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones issued the following statement. 

 The Board of Trustees for the Mississippi Public Employees Retirement System issued the following statement. 

 Our Yankee blogger, Peter Santenello, wrapped up his fact-finding tour of the Mississippi Delta and moved on to where else but...... Jackson.  Thankfully, he didn't try to do a shock video but engaged a Jacksonian, Dr. Tommie Mabry, who provided some thoughtful commentary as they toured the Bold New City.  Check it out.  

No surprises in the March 12^th congressional and presidential primaries. Well, maybe a small one.

 Star Wars generated a herd of copycats such as Moonraker, Spaceballs, and..... Starcrash.  How bad was Starcrash?  It was too bad for even Joe Bob Briggs.  How bad is it? Let's just say Christopher Plummer should have never complained about being in The Sound of Music after taking part in this movie.   Fellow headliners David Hasselhoff and Caroline Munro headline the all-whatever cast.  Enjoy.

 JXN Water Manager Theodore Henifin issued the following statement. 

 Video of traffic stop and arrest posted below.

A Mississippi Highway Patrol Trooper got his job back after he was fired for cursing and tasing a motorist who refused to comply during a traffic stop. 

 Wonderful.  Just wonderful.  This little bit of urban street language is hanging by the side of Jacksonian Plaza.  

Text & history of SB #2628.  

The Mississippi State Senate passed SB #2628 Tuesday. The bill creates a new public utility district that will in turn purchase Jackson's water/sewer system from the city.   Although detractors claim otherwise, the bill is not a takeover but a buyout.  Jackson's water/sewer receiver, Ted Henifin, supports the bill.

Back in the 1970s, we lived in Cleveland, MS, where I worked for Baxter Healthcare. During our time in Cleveland, we became friends with a "good old Cleveland boy" and his family. He was a faithful husband, father, welder, frog grabber, fisherman, feral pig and deer hunter, and stew maker, although maybe not in that exact order.

 The Savannah Bananas are taking on the Party Animals down in Baton Rouge.  If you've never seen them before, check out the live-stream below. Jake, get them to Pearl next year. 

Sometimes looks are inversely proportional to intelligence.  Exhibit A. 

 Ridgeland Police charged Mark Wayne Williams with exploitation of children on March 9.  

 State Auditor Shadrack White issued the following statement. 

Do you want to keep your shoes in great shape? Get some cedar shoe trees if you have not done so already. They help the shoe or boot keep its shape but also absorb the moisture left by your nasty feet.  However, shoe trees run around $30 a pop so the cost can add up pretty quickly if you're trying to keep your investment from turning into an expense.  Fortunately, Woodlore has a nice 2 for 1 sale going for a few days right now.  Check it out..  The sale ends Monday.  You're welcome.  

Green pleads guilty to civil rights violation.  

The Pearl Police Department issued the following statement. 

You WILL  get a 96-gallon garbage cart!!! 

The city of Jackson issued the following statement. 

Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture & Commerce Andrew Gipson issued the following statement. 

MADRID— The motto of the Boy Scouts of America is to be prepared. That’s all well and good, except I got kicked out of scouting as a Webelo (the stage between Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts). I was never awarded a preparedness merit badge, and don’t even know if there is such a thing. Though I feel as if I have armored up for all potential setbacks while hosting over 40 groups of more than 1,200 people, through lots of European countries over a six-year period. In all those travels, I have never had a transportation problem.

 It appears our favorite drug dealer, John Dowdy, III, is getting some special treatment at MDOC.  While other drug dealers get to enjoy the luxuries of prison life at MDOC, Third gets to hang out at a local county jail.  

The current effort to make a partial expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act in Mississippi appears to have hit a legislative logjam in the State Senate over the issue of work requirements.

The Madison Police Department issued the following statement and mug shots. 

 Rankin-Madison District Attorney Bubba Bramlett issued the following statement and mug shots. 

Copy of lawsuit posted below.  Only available online at JJ. 

Former Mississippi State star quarterback Dak Prescott accused a woman of trying to extort him for $100 million in a lawsuit filed in Collin County, Texas yesterday.  NBCDFW reported: 

 A Mendenhall resident managed to videotape the SpaceX flight as it flew over Mississippi.  A sonic boom followed.  

 Did you know that Mississippi spends a higher share of our overall wealth on healthcare than almost any other state in America?  Yet despite this, we still have some of the worst health outcomes in the country.

 The Justice Department issued the following statement. 

 A Madison County grand jury indicted Charlie Bennett for arson and insurance fraud in December.  A video allegedly shows a man wearing a Bennett Landscaping" shirt pouring what appears to be fuel all over the interior of an excavator before he allegedly set it on fire.  The video is posted below.

 State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement. 

 Well, well, well, check out what our favorite ex-trooper posted on social media. Obviously it's a joke.  Right?

Black were the skies, black were the seas, and black was their fate as their ship was battered and broken.   There was no GPS.  Quadrants and sextants were centuries away.   All was lost or so it seemed when one lowly man, driven by faith, stepped forward.  The late Dr. Frank Pollard tells the rest of the story in the 1996 sermon posted below.  

The memoir of hall of fame entrepreneur J.L. Holloway illustrates the important role local entrepreneurs have played in job creation across Mississippi.

 Let's play spot the error in today's Wall Street Journal.  Answers will be withheld for awhile. 

From his creation, Satan’s reason for being has been to deceive and to divide. We don’t know much about Satan or angels who follow him. For that matter we know so very little about God our Creator, Lord of all and God of all. Nevertheless, God Himself has revealed everything we need to know about Him. In a nutshell, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.” Romans 1:18-19.

After getting her nose bloodied a little in court, Ivana Williams broke out the brass knuckles and started swinging last week.  A former female friend accused Williams of sexually assaulting her at her Brandon home last year in a lawsuit.  However, Williams charged in her response that the alleged victim was the aggressor and if anything, Williams is the victim. 

 A Taste of Mississippi is just around the corner.  

Rankin-Madison District Attorney Bubba Bramlett issued the following statement.

I have no idea who taught John how to hop. I'm not even sure who John Is, but I love the recipe named after the Hopping Dude named John that makes a tasty black eye pea and rice dish. If you ever had a bowl of Hopping John and liked it, you would likely love this hearty soup. 

 Sardines were stolen from a Jackson grocery but the police got their man, er, make that men.  Apologies for any improper language. Yes, there was a sardine-stealing ring waaaaaay back in 1954 Jackson but don't worry, the cops were on top of things back then. 

 Pearl Police arrested Christopher Dedmon and charged him with motor vehicle theft. 

Aaron Banks' reckoning with justice for his DUI arrest last month is postponed for another day.  WLBT reported: 

The Hinds County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to appoint Hinds County Public Information Officer Othor Cain to the Board of Trustees for the Jackson/Hinds Library System. 

 The Mississippi State Department of Health fined cannabis testing company Rapid Analytics, LLC $1 million for 200 violations of various cannabis regulations. 

Hinds County Circuit Judge Debra Gibbs finally set a trial date for Monte Reeves on his aggravated assault indictment.  Reeves is the husband of perennial Jackson Mayoral candidate Charlotte Reeves.  

Surge v. dynamic.  Which is it? We report, you decide.

 Just another day at the Canton Mart Road overpass.  

There are long stretches in my life when I dedicated all my culinary focus, research, development, and meals to fine dining restaurants and fine dining principles. The first restaurant I opened in 1987 was a white-tablecloth concept, The Purple Parrot Café. 

 The Byram Police Department issued the following statement. 

 In recent decades, Mississippi has defied the odds in economic development. Landing first Nissan and then Toyota automobile manufacturing plants, Steel Dynamics and Aluminum Dynamics flat-roll operations, and recently Amazon Web Services in Madison County and EVE Energy battery plant in Marshall County, Mississippi is, as Gov. Tate Reeves often repeats, is “open for business.”

Appeal: Booze & Broads at the Mississippi Highway Patrol

Ivana Williams is not going to leave the Mississippi Highway Patrol without a fight. Although the Mississippi Highway Patrol terminated the wayward trooper a few weeks ago, she fired right back with an appeal that dished the dirt as she claimed she is the victim of MHPS's good ole boy sexist culture. 

 Ag Commish Andrew Gipson issued the following statement. 

 Once upon a time, Lucedale actually hit the big time.....

Oh boy, yet another YouTuber decides to pick on Jackson.  You know the drill.  They come into town, pick on a few people, then express shock, shock mind you, at what they see.   Feel free to pick this one apart.  There are some rather obvious mistakes.  

 Gary Pettus authored the following press release for UMC. 

 The Pearl Police Department issued the following statement. 

Mississippi has its fair share of detractors and at times it seems the media is always looking for a new negative story about Mississippi.  Thus, it was rather refreshing last week to hear developer Gabriel Prado praise the Magnolia State at the ground-breaking ceremony for his Topgolf project.  JJ could give you the cliffnotes but then that would spoil the fun of watching the short video posted below.  Enjoy.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba announced his recommendation that the City Council award the new garbage contract to Richard's Disposal at a press conference today.

 The University of Mississippi Medical Center issued the following statement. 

 Christian music star Lauren Daigle is coming to Brandon this summer.  

"Goons & coons!" Such was repeatedly said by Hinds County Public Information Officer Othor Cain as he attacked critics of Hinds County government during a Facebook live session last week. 

 If you want to see the Goblin King or return to the Eternal Bog of Stench, you are in luck.  Check out what returns to the big screen this week. 

 Well, if you are flying out today, take your own water bottle if you want to drink something at the airport.  The water fountains are turned off, the filtered water is turned off, and the vendors are sold out of bottled water.  Don't worry, the water is working in the bathrooms.  Got the tip from a good friend who is waiting for her flight right now.  Nice.  

Is your life moving towards the joy of a beginning or the tragedy of an ending?  What does it mean to search for heaven under a fig tree?  Were there really Nazereth jokes? The late Dr. Frank Pollard answered these questions and more as he preached from John 1:42-51 in the 1996 sermon posted below.  The scripture is posted below as well.  Enjoy. 

All eyes turn now to the Mississippi Senate to see if senators will approve Medicaid expansion. Rep. Missy McGee of Hattiesburg guided the House version to approval by an overwhelming, veto-proof, 98 to 20 vote last week. What a remarkable turnaround from House actions in previous years!

China won a round against Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch.  General Fitch sued the People's Republic of China in May 2021 for damages related to the Covid-19 pandemic in U.S. District Court. 

 The Mississippi Department of Public Safety issued the following statement. 

 “That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So, there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9

 "He was ready, he was tired, but I wasn't," said Jon Stewart as he memorialized the passing of his dog a few nights ago on The Daily Show.  

 The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi issued the following statement.

This post is sponsored by the Mississippi Center for Public Policy.  MCPP President Douglas Carswell authored the post. 

Conservatives have a massive majority in the Mississippi state legislature.  Are they about to deliver real conservative policy?  Or will we see the implementation of a soft-left, progressive-but-slower agenda to expand government?

 The Justice Department issued the following statement. 

Tradition from "way back when" said Sunday was the Lord's Day and Monday, for many families, was Wash Day. In those days, washing the family's clothes was a hard work chore that took most of a full day. At many houses, wash day was scheduled for Monday, since Sunday-Go-To-Meeting clothes needed to be clean, sometimes mended, and ready for the next Sunday. To accomplish this meant there was little time on wash day for cooking, so dried beans and pork, simmering all day for wash day dinner became a tradition for many families.