Jackson Jambalaya

 Do you believe in miracles of the ice variety? 

The Mississippi Power and Light Company issued the following update on power restoration. 

 Is there a culture of bribery in Jackson? 

 Break out the Strads.  Lindsey Stirling is a'coming to Brandon this summer. 

 A former Canton Detention Officer served several months in jail and paid $30,000 in restitution after he pleaded guilty to 54 counts of animal cruelty in Madison County last year. 

Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, II issued the following statement Friday. 

 The Mississippi Department of Corrections issued the following statement: 

 "This isn't Seattle."  Ric Flair would be proud. 

"You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own and you know what you know and you are the guy who'll decide where to go. You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care. About some you will say, "I don't choose to got there." With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you're too smart to do down any not so good street."  The late Dr. Frank Pollard used this Dr. Seuss story to illustrate how we are what we consume.  In other words, garbage in, garbage out.   Using 1 Peter 1 13-21,  Dr. Pollard  preached how we must guard our minds.  If you can't get to church because of the weather, enjoy the 1998 sermon posted below. 

Can Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann do what so many government leaders have touted but failed to accomplish and actually reorganize state government? He has his Mississippi Senate looking to restructure state government and run it more like a business.

A Hinds County judge ordered MDOC to pay up or else he will consider throwing Commissioner Burl Cain in jail. 

Will ban hunting hogs with night-vision? 

A bill about dog-hunting stirred up quite the ruckus among Mississippi hunters this week. Representative Justin Keen (R-Outlaw Raceway) filed HB #828.  Posted below is the text of the short bill.  Fire away in the comments.   

Nothing like a homemade fire to keep one warm......

 State Bean Counter Shad White issued the following statement Thursday. 

 I only saw my Dad cry once. Seeing tears running down his face bothered and confused me. We were watching television. I was just an elementary school kid and hadn’t understood all that had gone on the week before. 

 Berry's Seafood & Catfish House posted this video on social media.  

 Madison County Court Judge Ed Hannan announced in an email to the Madison County Bar Association: 

 Make no mistake, the Mullahs of Iran are massacring their own people.  The Sunday Times of London reported January 17: 

 JPD arrested one of the two alleged shooters in the Pop's Saloon New Year's Eve shooting.  

The FBI had quite the view into Jackson's drug culture as confidential informants fed it information. Huggie Bear had nothing on these guys.

 Music sensation Luke Bryan returns to Brandon with a few friends.  Tickets go on sale January 30 at 10 AM.  

Credit: Rolling Stone

 Meanwhile at Sam's Club......

It appears we are going to be iced in this weekend. Perfect time for some good ole hamburger steak. Check out ZeroBear PolyBear's recipe below in a downloadable format.  If for some reason you can't download the recipe, send an email.

 The Mermaid Cafe posted the following announcement on social media:  

 Lord Protector Tate Reeves issued the following statement. 

 Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens issued the following statement. 

 What Yogi Berra said. 

 Corey Ferraez is a free man after prosecutors gave him a nice plea bargain deal. 

Credit: Hattiesburg Patriot

It's Mardi Gras season and you know what that means.  Randazzo's King Cakes are back at Nandy's Candy.Want the real thing? Swing by and get one. Available flavors are cream cheese, traditional, and a limited amount of pecan praline, blueberry, and strawberry.  You can call 601-362-9553 to reserve one as well. Enjoy.  

Podcast available in audio and video.  

Grant Callen sits down with Governor Tate Reeves for a wide-ranging conversation about the state’s growing momentum and what comes next. The discussion explores why Mississippi is climbing national rankings for wage growth, household income growth, and overall economic performance. He offers a candid discussion of labor force participation, why that measure matters, and how connecting more Mississippians to work remains critical to sustained prosperity. Don’t miss this episode!

Correction: JJ erroneously reported Judge Hannan is retiring when in fact he qualified to run for re-election. Apologies. 

Here comes the judge but who will it be?  We love having elections in Mississippi and this year is no exceptions as judicial elections are scheduled for November.  Although most incumbent judges in the Jackson metro-area are running unopposed, there are still a few surprises.  

 The trial of Ted Dibiase, Jr. will go on hiatus until February 23.   

 Empire issued the following statement. 

Dude truly you know what and found out. 

 Confidential informants provided the FBI with a window into the drug-dealing culture of Jackson.  

There was a kid from my hometown who had it all figured out at twenty-one. Charm, dreams, a family who loved him. He was also speeding down 4th Street at 90 miles per hour with his headlights off and three police cars in pursuit.

 The accused arsonist in the burning of Beth Israel synagogue will stay put right in the Madison County jail where he belongs.  

It is a strange and sorrowful thing to watch history come full circle like a stubborn ghost. On a cold January morning in Jackson, flames scorched the walls of the Beth Israel Congregation — Mississippi’s largest synagogue and a house of worship with roots dating back to the 19th century — reducing its library and administrative center to charred ruins.

 The Justice Department issued the following statement. 

The fight between State Auditor Shad White and Attorney General Lynn Fitch is on today at the Mississippi Supreme Court.  Watch live at 1:30.

 A confidential informant claimed he paid Jackson City Councilman Kenneth Stokes protection money of sorts, a claim Mr. Stokes called "Bullshit."

Has Jason Hulsman's luck finally run out? 

 It's report card time!!!

Note to readers: Apologies for not updating this story sooner.  JJ was unaware of Mr. Wellborn's death until last week. 

 Death rescued a Jackson attorney from prosecution after he shot two intruders at his rental property in Jackson.  

 The accused Beth Israel arsonist wants to get out of jail.  

Never let it be said former Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba did not like to live life on the wild side, at least according to raw FBI reports.   

 Hope became a reality in Jackson Thursday as developer Gabriel Prado, Mayor John Horhn, and local bigwigs broke ground on the  $50 million Prado Lofts project on Meadowbrook Road. 

 Empire issued the following statement. 

Todd Higgins continues to be a menace to The Fondren.  Torching buildings, smashing windows, vandalizing homes are all part of his game.  JJ reported Friday he is a veteran of the Hinds County Catch & Release Program.  Check out the Fondren Firebug in action last month: 

The Mississippi Public Service Commission put on its Health Department hat and said water systems in Mississippi should stop adding fluoride to drinking water. 

Such is how a manager at the Downtown Cigar Company described Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and the rest of Jackson's municipal government to an undercover FBI agent.  The allegation was made in a sealed motion to dismiss filed by Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens.  Owens owns the cigar bar. 

 Polk County (Fl) Sheriff Grady Polk left no doubts as to what he thinks about all the "scrums" taking place in various states over illegal immigration. 

All was well in Israel.  The milk and honey flowed, a chicken there was in every pot, and the good times  rolled.  However, Amos warned the children of Israel they mistook paradise for a prelude to death.  Amos is not exactly one of the more pleasant books in the Bible as it foretells a judgement of destruction for the Israelites.  The late Dr. Frank Pollard pointed out how the ninth book of Amos spelled out how Israel would be laid waste for its sin.  Yet, Amos leaves us with a glimmer of hope "when the reaper is overtaken by the plowman."  Enjoy Dr. Pollard's 1998 sermon posted below. 

On the first day of the 2026 session, the Mississippi Senate took a strong position against public school vouchers. “Vouchers are not on the table in the Senate,” Mississippi Today reported Education Committee Chairman Sen. Dennis DeBar, Jr., as saying. Later that day the full Senate easily passed two education bills locking in that position.

 The FBI investigated then Jackson-Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba's relationship with lobbyist Quincy Merkuro.  

Posted below are the most recent tax returns for the MSU Foundation, Jackson Chamber of Commerce, Blue Cross Foundation, Hartfield Academy, and Ballet Mississippi.

 Who needs cable when you have the I-55N Kroger? 

 As Americans shift into prolific identity groups, the rest of us find ourselves rolling our eyes and shaking our heads a lot. “Why did he say that? Didn’t he know?” Social constructs excuse reactions that used to be more than inexcusable. Identity groups claim that their own rules exempt them from traditional, i.e. mature reactions. Group violence via demonstrations and riots has become the norm in our cities. The teams are divided into outraged citizens who demand their freedom of speech rights versus law enforcement officers and supportive citizens trying to maintain law and order.  

 Check out this video of a Karenicus Bitchimus in the wild.  Jim and Marlin would have been proud. 

Embattled Hinds County District Attorney accused the FBI of engaging in outrageous conduct to "coerce" him into accepting $125,000 in bribes for a Jackson convention center hotel development in a motion to dismiss filed in U.S. District Court Monday.  The motion alleges the Fibbies isolated Owens and kept him drunk for several days until he agreed to accept a bribe.  The Court sealed the motion after the government objected.  

Note: The House of Representatives passed the bill yesterday by a margin of two votes . 

Last week, House Speaker Jason White unveiled HB2, the Mississippi Education Freedom Act - the most exciting and ambitious advancement for school choice in our state in years, perhaps ever!

 The Fondren is plagued by an affliction.  However, the affliction has a name: Todd Higgins.  Higgins is not happy unless he is setting fires and tearing up houses, which he has been doing for years.   Unfortunately for the victims, he is a star pupil of the Hinds County Catch & Release Program. 

 We got us a cold snap coming this weekend so what else could be better than some of ZeroBear Poly Bear's creamy ground beef, mushroom, and spinach soup? Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, it is posted below in downloadable format.  Enjoy. 

 The Mississippi Department of Education issued the following statement. 

The Drag Racers of Jackson double down and posted more videos of their stupidity. 

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

 Secretary of State Michael Watson issued the following statement. 

Some people just can't take advantage of a good break.  Exhibit A: Jason Hulsman.  Despite getting a suspended sentence for shooting into an occupied dwelling last year, Hulsman might be going to prison anyway after he was arrested for a DUI.  

John Jason Hulsman

 A federal grand jury indicted Stephen Spencer Pittman for arson in the burning of Beth Israel Congregation Saturday.  The indictment states: 

Although the Mullahs killed thousands in Persia this year, such does not slacken their thirst for more blood as they continue to massacre their own people.  If you want to get an idea of the bloodshed, I highly recommend checking out Vlahad Online's Twitter feed.  Posted below are videos of what is taking place.  The videos and Twitter feed are graphic.  You have been warned. 

 This little incident purportedly took place recently on Medgar Evers Boulevard. 

 Brother Day issued the following statement supporting school choice on Facebook yesterday.

 Brother Dawn issued the following statement. 

 Iced tea has been called the house wine of the South. Rick Bragg once wrote that a glass of iced tea can tell you just about everything you need to know about where you are and who you’re with, and he wasn’t wrong. Around here, iced tea is just part of how things are done. It shows up early and sticks around.

 Check out what our little Brownshirt looked like after he burned both himself and Beth Israel Congregation Saturday.

As we’ve discussed in this column before, Congress has not adopted a comprehensive five-year Farm Bill since 2018. In states like Mississippi, there are few pieces of legislation that are more impactful, given this state’s $9.51 billion total agricultural production value and the jobs those activities support.

Who else but Stephen Spencer Pittman. Check out what the little Brown Shirt posted on Instagram the day he (allegedly) torched Beth Israel Congregation.

Mission Mississippi, a nonprofit organization committed to reconciling racial and ethnic differences, along with various denominations and congregations, is sponsoring a prayer gathering to pray specifically for our legislative leaders.

 The wheels of justice are moving swiftly indeed for young Stephen Spencer Pittman.  The Hinds County grand jury indicted Pittman for first degree arson - place of worship yesterday.  The indictment states: 

“Who you gonna’ believe? Me or your lying eyes.” Substitute Entergy’s spokesperson for Chico Marx, and you have the current gaslighting telling you don’t believe what you see happening in other states and what common sense tells you will happen here. Just trust Entergy not to raise electric rates for small customers to benefit Amazon’s data centers.

 Update: Scott adams passed this morning. 

Dilbert creator Scott Adams has been moved into hospice care.  

 Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement. 

 Stephen Spencer Pittman will remain in federal custody after his initial appearance today.  The FBI charged Pittman with arson in the burning of Beth Israel Congregation Saturday morning . 

The Malco theatre in Madison is rolling back the clock as it rolls out a few gems this spring.  Check out the lineup.  

The FBI charged Stephen Spencer Pittman with arson in U. S. District Court today in the Beth Israel Congregation arson attack Saturday morning. The affidavit posted below tells the story, a story of thuggery and just plain stupidity.   Pittman confessed to the crime - after he laughed about it.  

 Beth Israel Congregation released security video of Saturday morning's arson attack . 

 Unfortunately, Saturday's burning of Beth Israel Congregation was not the first attack on Jackson's only synagogue.  The Klan bombed the facility six months after it opened in 1967 and the home of its Rabbi a few months later. Step back in time to see what happened way back when. 

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

"Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, Or what's a heaven for?" Robert Browning. 

 Beth Israel Congregation posted the following message on social media: 

Credit: Todd Starnes

 The Flowood Police Department issued the following statement and mug shot. 

"Let's look at this (grace) like this.  Eudora Welty can write a book in Jackson and it is acclaimed all over the world.  That's called talent.  There are people in our state who can sign their name to some papers and they will acquire businesses worth billions of dollars.  That's called capital.  The Wright brothers could take some bicycle parts, wire, metal, and canvas and build an airplane.  That's called genius. Michelangelo could take some brushes and paints and paint a beautiful thing on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. That's called art.  A mechanic can take a broken-down car and put the motor back together.  That's called skill. 

 Jackson Mayor John Horhn issued the following statement. 

Even amidst a new legislative session and mid-term elections, Republican rumblings about next year’s elections grow as precipitous events loom.

Update: A suspect has been arrested.  Sources told JJ the suspect is a 19 year-old white male.  Security cameras captured him on video.  He allegedly burned himself and had to go to the hospital.  The Jackson Fire Department, ATF, FBI, and Homeland Security are investigating.  

A fire took place at Beth Israel Congregation this morning.   The Southern Jewish Life website reported: 

 Some ne'er do wells hit the ruins of Last Call Sports Bar & Grill yesterday.  The establishment posted on Facebook: 

 What a mess! Now we have to pick sides again. Now we have to blame the other side again for what they started. It is their fault, you know. If they hadn’t done that in the first place, we wouldn’t have had to fix everything that’s happened as a result. We told you so, and now we’re in a mess just like we warned about. And they’re blaming it all on us and not taking any responsibility for what they’ve done. Rinse, wash, and repeat.

 Mississippi's annual PGA tournament is no more.  The PGA issued the 2026 fall schedule today. 

 A Hartsfield Academy parent sued the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools after MAIS banned him from his son's basketball games.  MAIS banned several parents for the remainder of the basketball season after a confrontation between players, fans, and families at the end of the game. 

As we kick off 2026, the Mississippi Center for Public Policy is more energized than ever.  We are excited about the successes our state has seen – and we have a plan to build on that momentum with further free market reform!

 Red Mountain Entertainment announced 90's rock band Bush is coming to Brandon in April.   Bush puts on a pretty good show so get your tickets.  

The official chef of Jackson Jambalaya, ZeroBear PolyBear, asks the eternal questions: Which came first, the chicken or the dumpling? Tis a question that puzzled many a philosopher.  While you ponder the conundrum, check out the Bear's chicken & dumpling recipe posted below.  

 You REALLY can't make some things up. 

 Governor Tate Reeves issued the following statement. 

 That's right, The Labyrinth, starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly returns to the big screen next week. Leland's Muppet Master, Jim Hensen, and George Lucas collaborated on the production.   Showtimes are posted below. 

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

 JJ's breaking the news of a lawsuit filed against Jackson Academy for retaliation against a family for questioning whether the school was recruiting set off a media frenzy yesterday as all three tv stations, Tik-Tokkers, and even ESPN radio's Jake Wimberly covered the story.  

 Update: A Jackson Municipal Court judge denied bond for Jones.  A police officer's affidavit states: 

A video making the round shows the carjacking of a man that took place in Jackson this week. 

Are you ready for a football game? 

 Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann issued the following statement. 

 Leave the gun but take the cannoli.  That's right.  The Godfather will be back at the bijou before you know it.  Get your tickets now.  Showtime is posted below. 

 Jackson Mayor John Horhn issued the following statement. 

 The former Head to Trading for Cargill, Jeff Kazin, tweeted a rather eye-opening tale of his experience in Venezuela: 

 Posted below are the Mississippi Bar's sanctions in 2025. Who got reprimanded, suspended, or disbarred? Check out the list below. 

Most people who aren’t from around here don’t realize how much Mardi Gras matters in my hometown of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

 JXN Water Manager Ted Henifin issued the following response to the resolution passed by the Jackson City Council yesterday. 

As Mississippi approaches its pivotal 2026 mid-term elections, the national spotlight is already trained on our U.S. Senate race and potential kitchen-table issues in the state’s congressional districts.

 The beleaguered Public Employees Retirement System might be getting some help from the Mississippi Legislature.  

 Want a Barbour jacket yet don't want to spend $450 on one? You are in luck as Allen Edmonds placed them on sale for less than $300.  

 UMC issued the following press release. 

The University of Mississippi Medical Center is building a strong foundation for improved maternal and fetal health by investing in foundational care that supports women and families from pregnancy to childbirth.

Did Jackson Academy kick out a student because his father questioned alleged recruiting and poaching of football players from other schools? Such accusations are made in a lawsuit filed yesterday in Hinds County Court.  

 Did you notice that Ole Miss powder blue hoodie Maduro wore after he took up residence in the United States? 

Update: Resolution passed 4-1.  Council members Parkinson, Grizzell, Hartley, and Brown-Thomas voted for the resolution while Foote voted against it.  The entire discussion took place in executive session. 

The Jackson City Council wants to silence JXN Water Manager Ted Henifin and handcuff his operation of Jackson's water/sewer system while focusing on what else but equity and affordability.  Such is the gist of a resolution it will discuss and likely approve today.  

 Jackson Mayor John Horhn issued the following statement. 

 You may not give a damn but Gone With the Wind returns to the big screen for one night in April.  Watch Atlanta burn down, Rhett telling off the bluebloods, and one of Hollywood's greatest romances again.  

 State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement. 

 What is usually a boring subject has turned into a political firefight in Madison County.  Sparks flew again at this morning's meeting of the Madison County Board of Supervisors.  The cause of it all: Supervisors Karl Banks, Gerald Steen, and Paul Griffin approved road-funding plan that completely left out Madison the city over the heated protests of Supervisors Trey Baxter and Casey Brannon. 

The Mississippi Bar suspended controversial attorney Abby Robinson from the practice of law for two years on December 30 after receiving multiple complaints from judges and lawyers alike. 

It's all about the effort, right?

 JJ reported last night on two brawls that took place at Northpark Mall and Skylone in Ridgeland yesterday. The two incidents were related. 

 Check out this little item on the agenda for tomorrow's meeting of the Madison County Board of Supervisors. 

If your life is a sentence, how is it punctuated? Is it a long sentence that says little or a short sentence that says much? Does your life sometimes need a comma, a pause that gives you a chance to reflect and prepare for the future?   The late Dr. Frank Pollard asked these questions and more as he joined the Apostle Paul in looking at how he "finished my race."  Skip the New Year's resolutions as you never keep them anyway. Put The Purpose Driven Life to the side and  enjoy Dr. Pollard's New Year's sermon posted below. It is one of his better sermons and says more, so much more.     

 Chinese leaders at a December meeting led by Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated their consistent focus on “pursuing progress while ensuring stability.”

 A brawl broke out at Northpark Mall in where else but the food court. 

It is 1986 in Jackson.  What is there to do on a Saturday night? 

The plot thickens up in Oxford as 24/7 Sports announced several former Ole Miss assistant football coaches will stay at LSU: 

 A federal grand jury indicted now-former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and others in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York.  

 Pops Saloon will remain closed for the weekend following a New Year's Eve shootout at the Jackson nightspot.  Pops announced on Facebook: 

As I write this “end of the year/beginning of the year” column, please remember President Biden still had one month left in his term at this time last year. Wow! What did he do with that time? Think thousands of auto-pen pardons and commutations.

 The scene speaks for itself. 

 The fractious divorce just might be getting more fractious.  ESPN reported: 

 Watch out.  The Jackson City Council is at it again.  WLBT reported: 

 Ted Dibiase, Jr. is finally going to trial in federal court next week on January 6.  Once the trial concludes, the dominos will fall as Nancy and Zach New will finally be sentenced for their roles in the DHS scandal. 

Still home for the holidays and feel like cooking some vittles? ZeroBear PolyBear left us a delicious Shrimp & Grits recipe, complete in downloadable format.  Enjoy. 

 Measles is making a comeback.  The Center for Disease Control announced: 

 A shootout broke out at Pops Around the Corner lounge last night. 

Jackson's killing fields shrank as it suffered the fewest number of homicides in nearly a decade in 2025 and less than half of what they were in 2021.