Jackson Jambalaya

 Jackson Mayor John Horhn issued the following statement. 

Want to know who the landlords of Jackson are? Check out the rental registry posted below.   It is a rather interesting list.  

 Kolb's Cleaners will be closing all stores by the end of the year, one year shy of its 100th anniversary.  

 The city of Jackson took several shots at JXN Water in a report submitted in federal court yesterday.  JXN Water Manager Ted Henifin fired right back at Jackson in the press release posted below. 

 State Treasurer David McRae issued the following statement.

 State Treasurer David McRae today shared that Forbes has listed the Mississippi Affordable College Savings program as the sixth best 529 program in the country.

SEC Shorts took a break this week but Matt Mitchell stepped up to the plate in the latest edition of SEC Roll Call.  Enjoy. 

Mincing no words, the city of Jackson accuses JXN Water of spending its way into a rate increase in a report submitted to U.S. District Henry Wingate Friday.  The city compiled the report after Judge Wingate gave the city permission to dig through JXN Water's books.  The city opposes the rate increase, arguing it will overburden the "60% of customers paying bills." 

Baton Rouge radio talk show host said Ole Miss made a huuuuuuge offer to star running back Ken Lacey.  

 Be careful, Kenneth, someone is always watching you.  

 Check out what Schwarzenegger had to say about Eudora Welty. 

JPD issued the following statement.  

 State Bean Counter Shad White issued the following statement. 

Did AI trip up yet another lawyer?  A former candidate for Attorney General must pay nearly $21,000 after a federal judge busted her for using phony citations and quotes in multiple filings.

Kenneth I. Stokes and Jeremy Harris are going at it again.  Their feud grabbed headlines Tuesday when Harris called the Jackson Ward 3 Councilman an "unethical clown" while Stokes called Harris a dope dealer. The exchange took place during a City Council meeting.  Anxious for a rematch, Harris filed simple assault charges against Stokes.  WLBT reported: 

 What happens when the power goes out in San Francisco? You can't make this up. 

"I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day; I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way. The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear, Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear," recited the late Dr. Frank Pollard as he preached about Joseph in his 1997 Christmas sermon.  Much is said about Christ, Mary, and the Apostles but little about Joseph.  Enjoy Dr. Pollard's sermon honoring Joseph.  

Read George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 to get ready. His “Big Brother” system previews the pervasive government monitoring that’s coming.

 Nice to see Lane Kiffin is still in their heads as Louisiana First Consul Jeff Landry and Mississippi's Lord Protector Tate Reeves trolled each other. 

 The Grinch is on the loose and up to no good in Jackson.

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety issued the following statement yesterday.

 Posted below are the latest 990's for the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Jackson Prep, Jackson Academy, and Madison-Ridgeland Academy. 

Jackson Mayor John Horhn issued the following statement. 

For decades, Mississippi has been the punchline in national discussions about economic performance - often ranked at the bottom in income, education, and opportunity.

 The cops and firefighters are beefing with Lieutenant Governor Hosemann.  

The Ivana Williams scandal claims another scalp.  Former Mississippi Highway Patrol Master Sergeant Julius Hutson lost his appeal after MHP fired him for misconduct last year.  Check out the Employee Appeals Board opinion as it spells out his um, misconduct.  

The big holiday meal is done but now there is another problem: leftovers. Fortunately, ZeroBear PolyBear has a solution for you in the form of his Thanksgiving leftovers recipe posted below in a downloadable format.  

 The Jackson City Council is going to discuss the dearth of grocery stores in Jackson.  The Council announced on social media: 

 Is the President a dope boy? 

President Donald Trump issued the following statement. 

 State Auditor Shadrack White issued the following statement. 

 Broadway shows return to Jackson for a three-show run next year.  

 A Goon Squad victim is in trouble with the law.  

 Legislators slapped themselves on the back earlier this year as they congratulated themselves for fixing PERS.  Once again, rhetoric fails to meet reality as the PERS financial reports released yesterday tell a different story.  Read and weep. 

Hattiesburg attorney Corey Ferraez is back in jail after a judge revoked his bond. 

or when "equity" meets reality

The University of California at San Diego found out the hard way what happens when it lowered standards while high schools inflated grades: Too many kids simply do now know how to do basic math. 

 No, not the Lane Train but the train at the Jackson Zoo.  The Jackson City Council voted unanimously to terminate the contract with Big Mokey Trains of Arkansas yesterday.   

Jackson Ward 3 City Councilman Kenneth I. Stokes went on the warpath yesterday. 

 Even Keith Richards.  Variety Magazine reported: 

Christmas is a season of joy, celebration, and remembrance—the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. But it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle: the sales, the gifts, tian a food/the nonstop loop of Christmas songs playing in every store.

 So said Madison County Supervisor Casey Brannon to fellow Supervisors Gerald Steen, Karl Banks, and Paul Griffin after the Gang of Three snuck through a road plan that kept all the road money for themselves.  Needless to say, Supervisors Brannon and Trey Baxter were not pleased. 

Across the U.S., public pension unfunded liabilities generally decreased, falling about 9 percent from $1.62 trillion in 2024 to $1.48 trillion in 2025. That’s the good news. The unwelcome news is that a recession or other severe economic downturn could raise state and local public pension debt to as much as $2.74 trillion by 2026. Mississippi’s Public Employees Retirement System, or PERS, has an unfunded liability of roughly $26 billion. PERS is the public pension defined-benefit system that provides retirement benefits to some 360,000 current and former public employees in the state, including elementary and secondary school teachers and administrators, university and community college faculty, staff and administrators, and other state employees.

 Jackson Mayor John Horhn issued the following statement. 

 Lane Kiffin is still in their heads up in Oxford.  Exhibit A: 

State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement.  

To say Last Call was incinerated last night is no understatement. The photos posted below say it all. Thankfully, no one was hurt. 

Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens issued the following statement yesterday.

 The infamous Last Call Bar & Grill on Old Square Road caught fire last night.  Pictures and video tell the story. The fire began after midnight.  

 There will be a new route for the St. Paddy's Day parade next year. 

 Attorney John Collette will no longer represent Rudy Warnock.  Collete filed a motion to withdraw from U.S.A. v. Warnock et al today in U.S. District Court Friday: 

 Attorney General Lynn Fitch issued the following statement Thursday. 

 What was expected to be a night of fun turned into an evening of controversy at the Jackson Medical Mall Foundation's Legacy Gala on December 5 when the star performer, rapper David Banner, spoke his mind. 

 Some people apparently enjoy going to jail.  

 It's that time of year and you know what that means: It's time for my award-winning egg nog recipe:

 A nasty family fight has broken out between Jackson Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth I. Stokes and his nephew, Daniel Cooper .  Stokes accuses his nephew of pushing dat dope at his food truck while Cooper says he is just pushing quesadillas.   However, Cooper is fighting back.  Molly Minta and Anna Wolfe reported in Mississippi Today: 

What is there to do in Norman, Oklahoma? 

 Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statements. 

Everyone likes to receive gifts.  However, some gifts are easier to receive than others.  It is hard to receive a gift knowing it came at great cost to the person giving.  Pride can be such a stubborn thing at times. Using parables and a heart-touching story, the late Dr. Frank Pollard discussed how hard it can be to receive salvation for we are a people with much faith in ourselves even though we can't save ourselves.  Enjoy the 1997 Christmas sermon posted below as Dr. Pollard preaches from Romans. 

A pair of Muslim savages massacred 11 Jews at a Hanukkah festival in Bondi Beach, Australia.  While police cowered in fear and did not return fire, check out what one hero did. 

An Advent story entitled “An Unexpected Lesson” led to a captivating lesson from ChatGPT.

 First Consul Tate Reeves issued the following statement Thursday. 

 Move over, Plano, Texas.  We got us a new champ in come from behind victories.  

On December 2, 1823, President James Monroe declared his famous foreign policy during his annual message to Congress. In essence the Monroe Doctrine opposed European colonization and intervention in America and the Western Hemisphere. It warned other nations not to interfere in political affairs of the Americas. The United States of America was born to be strongly independent.

The biggest eyesore in Northeast Jackson may not be an eyesore much longer if Jackson Environmental Court Judge Jeff Reynolds has his way.  

5114 Old Canton Road in 2023

 A minor-attracted person (sarcasm) got into a little bit of trouble at the grocery store.  

Cliff Notes began as short plot summaries of classic novels and stories. Now they are cribs about complex topics and spin. Corps Speak is the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) clever spin that evades responsibility for higher and longer Mississippi River floods (a complex topic). This story began when Congress put the Corps in charge of flood control (1928 Flood Control Act) to prevent another 1927 flood disaster.

 Just when you think Bennie Thompson can't go any lower, he does.  

 Nothing like some good cooking straight from the bayou.   ZeroBear PolyBear left us his Chicken Lafourche recipe in a downloadable format.  It is a nice change of pace for someone who is tired of turkey and ham during the holiday season.  Enjoy. 

 Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement. 

 Convicted and sentenced he may be but Rudy Warnock is not going down without a fight. 

Ag Commish Andy Gipson appears on the Empower podcast with host Grant Callen.  They discuss his life in public service and work on issues such as gun rights and protecting the unborn.  The gubernatorial candidate delves into his time in the legislature, accomplishments at Commissioner,  agenda as Governor, and how to strengthen families.  Andy Gipson is never boring and this podcast is no exception.  Enjoy. 

 No comment is needed for this video of an eating establishment in Ridgeland.  

 A State Representative got slapped down by Ted Henifin after he bowed up to the JXN Water Manager in a legislative hearing this morning. 

 Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens issued the following statement. 

 The city of Jackson issued the following statement. 

"It's hard to be on the field when you are locked up."  

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd laid down the law after some yutes from Philadelphia decided to go on a crime spree at Dicks Sporting Goods while in town to play in a football game.   Check out what Sheriff Grady had to say about the little thieves and their sorry-ass coach.  

Update: Eric Gilkie and Andrew Grant will be sentenced January 15, 2026. 

 Former CMU Commissioner Cleveland Anderson is going up the river after U.S. District Court Judge Kristi Johnson pronounced sentence: 

 Ole Miss legend Archie Manning says what he thinks about a certain former Ole Miss head football coach.  Well, it might be Archie Manning speaking in the video as AI is getting real good nowadays.  So is this AI or not AI? 

Former CMU Engineer Rudy Warnock will be going to prison for public corruption for twelve years.  A jury convicted Warnock of two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery (I&II), one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud (III), and wire fraud (IV).  

Author’s Note:
Robert St. John’s Mississippi Christmas hit the shelves a couple of weeks ago. It’s a collection of recipes and stories from the Christmases, the people, and the neighborhood that shaped me— and the ones still unfolding. The piece below didn’t make the final edit, not because it fell short, but because its heart shows up in several other places throughout the book. Even so, it has become a steady part of my readings on the book-signing tour.

Some families grow up with postcard Christmases—crackling fires, golden retrievers by the hearth, snowflakes on the St. Augustine. Then there was us. Our holidays were about as “Hallmark” as a ham sandwich on white bread.

 Just another night at 4th Avenue downtown.  

 Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith issued the following statement yesterday. 

If you’ve ever watched a road crew resurface a state highway in Mississippi on a scorching summer day, you know there’s a difference between laying a steady bed of asphalt and dumping gravel that rattles the chassis. That’s about where we are with artificial intelligence. States are laying down rules — some smooth, some rough — and the question for 2026 is whether a patchwork will keep traffic moving or throw a wrench into the engine of American innovation.

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement.  

 It's been 24 years since this appeared on our tv screens. No apologies to Marshall Ramsey. 

The mother of an Ole Miss student who was run over by a "womped-out" driver in Oxford Square is speaking out after he got what she considered to be a slap on the wrist in Oxford Municipal Court. 

 A Brandon man is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest of the individuals who threw Molotov cocktails at his home in the dead of the night.  

A security guard earned a busted lip after he tangled with David L. Archie at a St. Andrew's Episcopal High School girls basketball game last week. 

 A rock legend is coming to Jackson next year.  

 JPD issued the following statement. 

 Seeing Lewis Watt in action at the St. Andrew's girls basketball game last week brought this old video of some Mistletoe mayhem to mind. 

Who needs the Molly Ringwalds when you can see the real thing? Check out who is coming to the Brandon Amphitheater in August 2026: 

Former NFL player and Provine High School football star Quinton Culberson is moving along on his path of personal destruction.  JPD arrested Culberson after he allegedly burglarized a church last week. Culbertson has quite a violent history.  Felony dui's, aggravated assaults, breaking his father's jaw, kidnapping,  assaulting cops, and breaking into churches are just some of his crimes since he was in high school.  Unfortunately, Culberson spent no time in prison thanks to a series of judges who sent him to drug treatment programs he did not complete.  

Things are always happening at the train station.

 Pick up your damn signs.  All over Ridgewood, Briarwood, and Old Canton Road. Quit trashing Jackson. 

We remember her as a legend who graced Belhaven for most of her life. Once upon a time, Eudora Welty was once young. Posted below is a Clarion-Ledger article about Ms. Welty and the publication of her first book, Curtain of Green.  Gone are the memories of an elderly woman ravaged by time . This is Eudora Welty in the prime of life as a river of words flowed through the pen of a young woman with so much to say.  Enjoy.  

 Ole Miss will host a college football playoff game on December 20 when it face none other than the Tulane Green Wave.  Ole Miss beat Tulane 45-10 earlier this year. 

Congrats to the Rebels for a job well done.  This is going to be not just the biggest sporting event in Ole Miss history but the biggest sporting event ever held in Mississippi, rivaled only by John L. Sullivan's Heavyweight Champeenship fight.  Check out the CFP bracket posted below. 

Efforts to thwart thieves from ripping copper wiring out of interstate lights in the Jackson area are making progress. Copper thieves have targeted the area for over a decade, joining a list of targeted cities from Portland, Oregon, to Palm Beach, Florida. Notably, the Jackson area has been the only targeted area in Mississippi. Repair costs have risen above $800,000 with millions on line for theft prevention.

In the summer of 1999, I traveled to Russia on a “mission trip” working with American and Russian teens in a camp near Volgograd. Before going I wondered what Russians were like, how Russian teens and American teens might be different, and what American and Russian adults had in common. The two weeks were some of the best in my life. The next summer we returned to Russia for a similar camp in Ivanova. We met more adults and began corresponding with them after returning to America.

 Get into the Christmas spirit as Andre Rieu's Christmas concert 2025 appears in theatres next week. Beautiful music, pageantry, and the charismatic Rieu take over the big screen as only he can.  Showtimes and video are posted below.  Yours truly went to see last years version and can say you are in for a real treat if you go.  

Having just celebrated Thanksgiving across the United States, I’ve been reminded of what makes this holiday truly special.  If you’re an American who’s grown up with the holiday your whole life, it’s easy to take it for granted. Speaking as an immigrant, let me tell you: there’s something genuinely magical about a country setting aside a national day simply to give thanks.

An Ole Miss student only had to pay a small fine after he struck three fellow students with his truck while high on nitrous oxide in Oxford Square, injuries be damned. 

 and all through the house (as narrated by Kelsey Farese).......

The ZeroBear PolyBear brings back memories of mama's meatloaf.  Posted below is his meatloaf recipe in downloadable format.  Enjoy. 

 David L. Archie manages to get himself in trouble almost every where he goes, including - get this - St. Andrew's basketball games.   

It seems a JPD officer had a little problem today. 

 This guest column was submitted by Ag Commish Andy Gipson. 

As we look to the future of Mississippi, there is a huge challenge ahead that must be prioritized and tackled – sooner rather than later. The State of Mississippi’s commitment to our State employees and retirees in the PERS system is unquestionable; it is a covenant the State has made with its employees, and this is an issue that cannot be ignored or kicked down the road any longer. Tens of thousands of State employees ranging from teachers in the classroom to law enforcement patrolling the streets have devoted decades of their lives in public service – for lower wages – and they have rightfully relied and counted on the long-term PERS retirement benefits for their later years in life.

 Golden Corral and Madison Penn's" Nasty!

 Here are the "C" ratings for Jackson metro area restaurants issued since October 4, 2025.  The Mississippi Department of Health inspects and grades each restaurant.  The department inspects the restaurant again within ten days after the "C" is issued.  More information can be obtained at the MSDH restaurant inspection web page.

 Would you like to have a dog to improve your image but don't want to fool with the upkeep?  The folks at SEC Shorts can help you. 

 It wasn't that long ago that Madison was little more than a hamlet.  

 Well, well, well. That little sideline scrum at the Brookhaven Academy - Lamar School game is going to cost.  MAIS issued the following statement. 

 This week, the Mississippi College and Career Savings team will be attending the MHSAA Championship Football Games at Mississippi State's Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville with SEVEN $1,000 game time scholarship opportunities and an additional $3,000 in scholarship opportunities by purchasing tickets early through GoFan!!

The team will be handing out Mississippi Affordable College Savings (MACS) scholarships which can grow over time and be used on school tuition, education-related technologies (like a laptop), school supplies like books, classroom supplies, partial room and board and much more!

To enter, scan the QR code on the screen at halftime or purchase tickets early through GoFan. My team will contact the winners during the 3rd quarter and present the check!

Check out whats offered for sale at Northpark Mall. Most items are displayed right by the children's ride area.  Classy.  

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

 There are moments in life when you don’t realize you’re stepping into something bigger than yourself. Back in 2009, the folks running the Edwards Street Fellowship Center food pantry called to say they were out of food. Not low. Out. Anyone who’s spent time in a kitchen knows the clock starts ticking the second you hear a sentence like that. Their clients were depending on them that week.

Former Ole Miss Head Football Coach Lane Kiffin claimed Ole Miss fans tried to run him off the road as he and his son went to the airport Sunday to depart for his new job at LSU.  However, as Paul Harvey would say, there is a Rest of the story.  

As the U.S. became increasingly mired in the Vietnam War, President Richard Nixon had relied on the solid support of cold warriors in Congress to support his authority to both wage and escalate that war through presidential authority.

 The silly season is over.  Check out the winners and losers.  Next up: 2027. 

 The NCAA posted the brackets for the College Football Playoff.  Read and weep. 

 Jackson Mayor John Horhn issued the following statement. 

 Former Ole Miss Head Football Coach Lane Kiffin said he had to call police as he left Oxford because people were trying to run him off the road. 

Local well systems haven't used fluoride for several years.  

The fluoridation of water may eventually be a thing of the past in Ridgeland. 

 Our favorite buffoon is at it again, demanding what else but reparations for Jackson's water problems. 

There are several elections today in the Jackson Metro area.  If you live in Senate District #26 (John Horhn's old district), get out and vote for either Kameisha Mumford or Letitia Johnson today.  If you live in Hinds County, get out and vote for a new Coroner.  Your choices are Jeremia Howard and Stephanie Meachum. If you live in District 3 in Rankin County, you have an election for Justice Court Judge.  Your choices are Tammara Bowie and Adam Woods. If you live in District 2 in Rankin County, vote for either Derel Palmer or Phil Schoggen for Supervisor.  

 Ole Miss folks could probably use some good therapy right now. 

 Someone got stupid over at Green Ghost Tacos in the Fondren.  WAPT reported: 

 Lane Kiffin is addressing the media right now.  It is his first press conference since the heaux high-tailed it out of Mississippi.  The presser is live-streamed below. 

 Check out what happened to this guy. 

 State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement. 

 The best boots in America are on sale right now.  Yup, White's Boots is holding its annual holiday boot sale.  Need a new pair of work boots or safety boots? Do you fight fires? Are you a lineman? Ditch the Iron Rangers and get a pair of these.  The style is Pacific Northwest. They aren't cheap but you literally get what you pay for with these boots.  

 A candidate for Rankin County Justice Court Judge got herself in a wee bit of trouble with the law in August this year.  

 What else did you think it was going to be?