Jackson Jambalaya

The Crescent City didn't always appear as trashy as it does now.  Check out how it looked over 75 years ago.  

Yet another copper thief is going to be staying in jail for a while.  Check out this winner: 

 Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney issued the following statement. 

 Meanwhile at the Walmart a few years ago.....

 On Wednesday, November 6, 2024, like a plurality of other Americans I woke up exceedingly relieved that Donald Trump had demonstrably won a second term in the White House. Frankly, I cannot imagine the state of our nation today if Biden, Harris, or Walz had led us for the past 13 months. And they were the cream of the crop for Democrats, the very best!  

 The University of Mississippi Medical Center issued the following statement. 

 The Madison Police Department issued the following statement. 

ABC customers continue to struggle as the warehouse runs nearly a month behind on filling orders.    ABC warehouse manager Ruan Transport chose to remove the conveyor belt system and replace software system at the same in January.  The result was a meltdown in deliveries to restaurants, bars, casinos, and package stores across Mississippi.  

The owner of Spillway Wine and Spirits vented his spleen last night on social media: 

Too many young people still leave Mississippi to chase opportunities elsewhere.  MCPP is on a mission to help change that - by creating the conditions for real, sustained growth so our children and grandchildren choose to stay, build lives, and thrive right here in our state.

Former prosecutor Dow Yoder might have finally burned himself after he allegedly set fire to the Yana Club of Mississippi and a dumpster at the Pig and Pint in the Fondren last night.  Yoder has been arrested several times since 2020 as he continues his downward spiral to rock bottom. 

Credit: Laurel Leader-Call

You won't have to wait for the Super Bowl to see Jason Aldean.  The country music star is coming to Brandon August 28.  More information is posted below.  

 The Justice Department finally got former Lamar Adams associate William McHenry.  While the feds were not able to convict him for his role in the Madison Timber Ponzi scheme years ago, a jury found him guilty of lying to bankruptcy court this week. 

It's starting to warm up and that means spring is just around the corner.   What better way to welcome spring than to make Chef ZeroBear PolyBear's Tuscany Shrimp?  You can enjoy perusing his recipe that is posted below in downloadable format. 

 Victor Ogiste will enjoy some Mississippi hospitality, courtesy of MDOC after he was convicted of no less than eleven counts of auto burglary and one count of conspiracy yesterday in Madison County Circuit Court. 

 Country continues to come to Brandon.  Appearing in September is Koe Wetzel and some friends. Ticket information is posted below. 

 This post is a guest column submitted by a reader PBK.   

This week, a notice came home in my child’s backpack. You know the kind — a bright flyer, a permission slip at the bottom, and just enough excitement in the wording to make every middle schooler instantly say, “YES.”

The destination?

 Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney issued the following statement. 

Can a lawyer be tricked into borrowing money? Tis a claim made by Ridgeland attorney Allen Smith, Jr. as he sues his lenders used to finance his talcum powder litigation after he defaulted on his loans. 

 The Pearl River Revitalization Coalition issue the following statement. 

 Someone is going to get mad about this but oh well. It's funny.  

 The University of Mississippi Medical Center issued the following statement. 

Harold Stiff got stiffed in Jackson Municipal Court after Jackson Municipal Court Judge denied bond on his second aggravated assault charge.  Stiff has been an up and coming student of the Hinds County Catch & Release Program.  The little hoodlum was passing with honors until he played around in the wrong county last week. 

It appears the ABC warehouse is moving product.  Finally.  Posted below are the latest shipping reports of cases cut. 

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement.

 My ADHD is so bad that I just forgot what I was going to write in this opening sentence.

 Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced in December that the state will invest over $100 million in economic development projects—projects that have created record-breaking numbers of jobs—funded by Mississippi taxpayers.

Will Mississippians be able to buy wine or liquor on Sundays?  The sale of spirits on Sunday has been prohibited since the state legalized the sale of booze in 1966.  The Mississippi House of Representatives passed a bill last week that will indeed allow such sales.  

Click here for more information.

The Justice Department said nice try in response to Jody Owens' ambush in U.S. District Court last month.  

 Family and friends of Carly Gregg have created a website urging "justice" for young Gregg.  Gregg is serving a sentence of life without parole after a jury convicted her of gunning down her mother in cold blood and shooting her stepfather.  Link to website.

State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement. 

 The University of Mississippi Medical Center issued the following statement. 

 Victor Ogiste faces the music tomorrow in Madison County Circuit Court.  

 The Pearl Police Department issued the following statement. 

 Jackson Mayor John Horhn issued the following statement. 

Don't let it be said UMC health care professionals are not trying to make things work as they suffer from a ransomware attack.  Heather Wilson posted on Facebook: 

JXN Water's rates are going up after U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate approved the utility's request for a 12% rate increase this morning.   

 They weren't just shucking and jiving at Shucker's this weekend. 

 Well, well, well, it appears Jackson City Councilman Brian Grizzell, threw a little temper tantrum at the February 10 City Council meeting.  

What truth do you deposit your trust? Peer pressure? Pseudo-intellecutalism? Tradition? The late Dr. Frank Pollard preached many deposit their trust in these "truth banks" even though they seldom provide truth.  What is truth, after all? Preaching from 1 Peter, Dr. Pollard discussed how to find truth in the 1998 sermon posted below.  

 The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal featured Mississippi education recently.

 If you missed it, check out Alysa Liu's gold medal performance in figure skating.  A true case of poetry in motion.  

 The University of Mississippi Medical Center issued the following statement. 

 The construction of the Country Squire's new digs is coming along rather nicely. 

If you are getting emails or texts from UMMC, relax.  UMMC issued the following statement. 

Last week a son died too soon and unexpectedly. Friends and family continue to mourn the loss. The deepest and most sorrowful pain anyone can ever know comes through losing what can never be recovered in this life. Hope is our only salvation from mourning with deep sobbing and writhing from the core of our being. 

 Netflix just dropped a trailer for the new Peaky Blinders movie.  Who is Tommy Shelby, indeed. 

 The University of Mississippi Medical Center issued the following statement. 

It appears Rebecca Ivison's trial for defrauding a USDA program will be delayed until April.  

 Some scholars had a rather lively debate at Smillow Prep recently. 

 The Palace Cafe might be closed but that does not mean you can't enjoy some Bananas Foster.  Chef ZeroBear PolyBear graciously provided us with his recipe for the famous New Orleans dessert.  It is posted below in downloadable format.  The pictures alone make you feel like you are Winnie the Pooh in the honey cave.  Enjoy. 

 The Madison Police Department issued the following statement. 

The meltdown in the ABC warehouse meant restaurants ran dry and liquor store shelves went empty as they waited week after week for shipments that never came.  ABC warehouse manager Ruan Transport chose to remove the conveyor belt system and replace software system at the same in January. However, Ruan was supposed to replace the conveyor belts last year.  The replacement of the two systems at the same time resulted in a perfect definition of "SNAFU"

Enjoy the Empower podcast as host Grant Callen chats with Marine, Purple Heart recipient, and all-around good guy Aaron Rice.  Rice made his bones as a constitutional lawyer fighting for those abused by the government.  Callen and Rice discuss whether school choice is constitutional in Mississippi as well as Rice's personal experiences.   Audio and video versions of the podcast are posted below. 

UMC Vice-Chancellor Dr. Louann Woodward, Vice-Chancellor of Health Affairs Dr. Alan Jones, and Jackson FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Ikon held a press conference to discuss the cyberattack.   The press conference is posted below, courtesy of WLBT. 

 The University of Mississippi Medical Center is suffering a major cyberattack.  The phone lines and website are currently down. One source said all systems are down.The cyberattack began overnight. UMMC staff have been working on it since 2 AM. Another source said "More information will be posted when available.  

Update: UMC issued the following statement. 

 Meet Jackson Ward 7 City Councilman Sheldon Parkinson.  

 Ridgeland said HB #1677 is a good start but there need to be some changes.  

 It's called All You Can Eat, not All We Can Eat.   It's also not a good idea to talk yourself into going to jail.  Exhibit A: 

 The University of Mississippi Medical Center issued the following press release. 

 It is definitely true a good deed never goes unpunished in Jackson.  Exhibit A: Paul Moak Honda.  

 CHICAGO—Most people know they need to try other restaurants when they're in a great food city. So do I. And yet every time the tortilla soup arrives at Frontera Grill, that plan is out the window.

The rapid increase in demand for artificial intelligence as the technology is adopted and implemented by public- and private-sector businesses is driving the surge in data center construction worldwide. Mississippi has been involved in several of those mammoth economic transactions.

 Wear your damn clothes.  This is not hard. 

 Insurance Commish Miguel Chaney issued the following statement. 

 Check out what happened when JXN Water Manager Ted Henifin dared say "people don't want to pay their bills" as the free-loaders and boobirds came out of the woodwork. 

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement.

A meltdown in the ABC's warehouse is crippling restaurants, casinos, and liquor stores throughout Mississippi after the warehouse installed a new software system and removed the conveyor belts.  Siemens, anyone? 

Sam's Club Liquor Store in Madison last week

 What does one say? 

 The Mississippi legislature is taking up the matter of who should run Jackson's water/sewer system yet again.  The House of Representatives passed HB #1677 last week.  The Jackson City Council is holding a public hearing on the bill right now as it seeks public comments.  Watch the live-stream

 The Mississippi Department of Health issued the following press release. 

 JPD issued the following statement. 

 Check out the live stream of Bacchus as the floats roll through right now.  

 Bill Maher had some fun at Taylor Swift's expense and cast a few brickbats at modern men Friday night.  Enjoy. 

Who am I? Why am I here? Why is God mindful of me? Why does God care about me? Simple questions whose answers are simple yet are not simple.  The late Dr. Frank Pollard discussed those questions as he preached from Psalm 8 in the 1998 sermon posted below.   Dr. Pollard kept this one short since it was Super Bowl Sunday.   Enjoy. 

Correction: The original headline stated the crime happened in Northeast Jackson.  Crestview Drive is by Meadowbrook Road.  However, the crime happened on Crestview Street, which is behind MBMC.  The press release states "Crestview Street."  However, there is no Crestview Street in Google Maps and it defaults to "Crestview Avenue", which is behind MBMC.  

The Capitol Police issued the following statement. 

The boom in manufacturing jobs President Donald Trump forecast last April has yet to loom much yet boom. “Manufacturers shed workers in each of the eight months after Trump unveiled ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs,” the Wall Street Journal reported this month.

The House passed HB #1404 yesterday.  The bill allows the prosecution of landlords who embezzle tenant's money meant to pay for utilities.  

 YouTuber Big Cactus decided to do what else but visit "the hood" in "the most dangerous city in the poorest state", otherwise known as Jackson, Mississippi.  Props to the local tour guide, Stunnah. Respect. 

 The law is cracking down on the La Cazuela restaurant on Fortification Street.  

 One can never have too much insurance.  

 The Jackson Police Department issued the following statement and video. 

The plot thickens in the story of the former Jackson Academy student killed during a home invasion at the Park at Inverness apartments early Sunday morning.  Thickens because the apartment was the home of a Jackson Academy student, thus making it less likely the crime was random in nature.  

 This post is a paid advertisement.

Update: Hinds County Circuit Judge Faye Peterson sentenced Johnson to life in prison plus ten years.  

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

There is nothing like comfort food. Some foods are meant to be eaten whether there is bad weather or you are under the weather.  ZeroBear PolyBear was kind enough to provide us with his recipe for Smother Chicken & Taters in a downloadable format.   Fire up the stove and enjoy.  

 JPD issued the following statement. 

 Lafayette County Chancellor Robert Whitwell ruled Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss can play college football for one more year.  The video of Judge Whitwell announcing his ruling is posted below, courtesy of WLBT.  Judge Whitwell's  son played on the Ole Miss tennis team and his grandson is currently on the tennis roster.  

 The Jackson City Council is getting rather worked up about a bill to create a utility authority to manage Jackson's water/sewer system.  

 Yet another brawl broke out at where else but La Cazuela restaurant on Fortification Street last night. 

 The indictments continue to pile up against the Beth Israel arsonist.  

 Will Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss get an extra year of eligibility? Lafayette County Chancellor Robert Whitwell is holding a hearing on his lawsuit right now.  It is live-streamed below, courtesy of WLBT. 

 Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones issued the following statement and pictures. 

Check out the cool video posted below.  

Pearl Police Chief Nicholas McClendon issued the following statement. 

 The Clinton Public School District issued the following statement. 

 Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones posted a special Valentine's Day message. 

Sucker punches, stripping, pouring semen on the face and sharing it all on social media is the hell a 14 year-old Pass Christian High School soccer player suffered from his teammates several years ago.  While the young man tries to recover, his family seeks justice in court. If the complaint is to be believed, it is probably the worst bullying case ever reported on this website. 

 I had breakfast in bed this morning. I'm 64 years old and I'm not sure that's ever happened.

 We have us a new problem in Mississippi: fish stealing.  Seriously.  Agriculture & Commerce Commissioner Andrew Gipson announced on Facebook yesterday: 

In addition to a record, history more often than not provides a road map.

 While the Jackson City Council debated fining people or entities who drop off homeless people in Jackson.......

The Bulldog debate team was in action last week up in Starkville.  

Convicted child molester Lindsey Whiteside will remain on house arrest. Special Circuit Judge Jeff Weill denied the District Attorney's motion for resentencing but threw a curveball into his ruling.  

There is a debate on whether smartphones should be allowed in schools.  Lost in it all is the question of whether smartphones damage children's health.  Dr. Sarah Cremers, a leading ophthalmologist, warned in a letter to the Wall Street Journal children were suffering more eye problems due to too much time on the screens.  She wrote: 

 The Catch & Release Program is alive and well in Hinds County.  Exhibit A: One Harold Stiff. 

 Annie Oeth authored the following press release for UMC. 

 State Bean Counter Shad White issued the following statement. 

Update (4:15 PM): The Justice Department and MDEQ responded they do not take a position on the intervenor's expert report. 

Update (12:10 PM): Judge Wingate issued this order 20 minutes after the post was published.  The order states: 

TEXT ONLY ORDER directing all parties, including the ITPM, to respond to INTERVENOR-PLAINTIFFS SUBMISSION OF ALTERNATIVES TO JXN WATER,INC.S 2025 PROPOSED WATER RATE INCREASE [267], filed on 02/06/2026, at 6:02 PM CST. The parties must respond to : (1) the tardiness of this submission to the court; and (2) the contents of the Intervenor-Plaintiffs' proposal. These written responses must be submitted on the record by 5:00 PM CST this day, 02/09/2026. 

More hoops. Judge Wingate just does not want to make a decision.   

Original Post: Will he or won't he? U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate gave the intervenor Poor People's Campaign a chance to challenge JXN Water's proposed rate increase but the intervenors missed the deadline Friday. 

 The Legislature moved one step closer to banning cellphones in Mississippi schools last week. 

Update (2/9/26): Jackson Municipal Court denied Myles bond on the murder (felony-murder) charge and set bond at $150,000 for the burglary of an occupied dwelling charge.  

JPD issued the following statement. 

The great Lou Gehrig came up to bat.  It was the bottom of the ninth with the winning runs on base.  Yet like Casey, the great one struck out as the final pitch flew by him as his bat rested upon his shoulder.  He told the umpire he would give $10 to have that pitch back.  The late Dr. Frank Pollard used that story to discuss how the message of Christianity is one of second pitches and love.  It is a message that frees us from the strikeouts of our past while giving a future of love.   Enjoy the sermon posted below as Dr. Pollard preaches from 1 Peter in waaaay back in 1998.  

JPD issued the following statement. 

 Poor Speaker White. His omnibus school choice bill got short shrift in the Senate. His resort now appears to be name calling. “Senate leadership has aligned themselves with the ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, the Mississippi Democratic Party, and the status quo,” he whined. 

 The newest thing in smartphones is the foldable phone.  Samsung and Google sell them and Apple is expected to soon jump into the fray with its own foldable phone.  There is just one problem. Foldables cost nearly $2,000, hence preventing their widespread adoption.  However, Amazon has the first Google Pixel Fold (256 gb) on sale for $559.  The 512 gb version is $599.  Google Pixel Fold on Amazon.

Credit: New York Times

 3 Doors Down frontman Brad Arnold passed away.  The band tweeted: 

It appears La Cazuela had a little problem recently.  

 JPD issued the following statement. 

Progressives really are trying to fundamentally transform America from our foundation in the Constitution. They want us to be just like every other socialist nation on earth ruled by a totalitarian government. So far, only totalitarian states have survived socialism.

Some people are screaming what else but racism after a Wisconsin restaurant said it will not seat people drenched in the skunk smell of marijuana.  

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

Update: Mayor John Horhn announced Brackney will be the next police chief. The City Council must approve her nomination. 

JPD will soon get a new Chief.  The Street Committee says the Chief will be......

 Things are thawing out but it's not yet time for spring.  What does it mean?  Fire up the stove and cook some Tex-Mex to warm up the taste buds.  ZeroBear PolyBear was nice enough to share his own Tex-Mex recipe in downloadable format.  Enjoy. 

Carolyn and Jason Voyles might have poked the bear when they sued Jackson Academy but the school woke up Mama Bear after it dragged the Voyleses through the mud as it sought to take the dispute behind closed doors. 

 Grant  Callen sits down with Dr. John Dixon, Executive Director of the Mississippi Charter Schools Association, to break down what charter schools are, how they differ from traditional and magnet schools, and who they are designed to serve. They discuss common misconceptions, charter school performance, what accountability should really mean in education, and why parent demand is one of the strongest measures of success.  The conversation also explores how Mississippi’s charter law could be improved. Posted below are the audio and video versions of the podcast. 

Post includes audio of Pittman's arraignment and detention hearing. 

Spencer Pittman wants to get out of jail.  The FBI arrested Pittman after he torched Beth Israel Congregation in the early morning hours of January 10.

 Nothing like a good customer, including one who pays for his snacks after taking a beatdown in the store. 

 State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement. 

 Governor Tate Reeves issued the following statement. 

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

Currently residing in the Rankin County jail, Jason Hulsman faces a plethora of charges as well as a motion to revoke his probation.  However, he can add one more problem to the ever-growing list as an insurance company accused him of stealing $58,805 of a mistaken overpayment.  

Will Judge Henry Wingate ever make a decision on JXN Water's proposed rate increase?  The U.S. District Court Judge held yet another hearing on the proposal.  The first hearing was held in April 2025.  WLBT reported: 

There are many intelligent ways to sell king cakes. Standing on a frozen sidewalk in Gulfport while the wind removes your will to live is not one of them. And yet. Twenty-eight degrees. Wind like a razor. A line of 125 people who didn't care. 

 Mark Wilson will miss his son's senior year of high school basketball at Hartfield Academy after he fouled out in Rankin County Chancery Court last week.  

Guy Hovis, the “other” Tupelo native whose singing talent captured national attention, passed away on Jan. 22 in Oxford at age 84. He rose to fame on the Lawrence Welk Show, combining humility, talent, enthusiasm, kindness, and generosity into a successful career and life.

Guy Hovis & Lawrence Welk

 Mississippi Speaker of the House Jason White issued the following statement about the Senate Education Committee's rejection of HB #2. 

 The Senate Education Committee killed HB #2 on a unanimous voice vote this afternoon.  The bill would create a school choice program in Mississippi.  

 State Representative Clay Mansell (R-N'awlins Grill) torched Jackson Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth I. Stokes about what else but Jackson's water system.  

January 2026 is the tenth anniversary of the 2016 Mississippi River freak winter flood. It was only the third such flood ever recorded. It flooded habitat inside the levees and along the river and caused the deer season to close early.

One of the accused Pop's Saloon shooters might not see the light of day again if Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens has his way.  

 The bums have set up shop over on Northview Drive.  Check out the images below.  Notice anything? 

20th Century Studios dropped trailer for The Devil Wears Prada 2 yesterday.   

 Be on the lookout for this dude, who tried to break into a house on East Northside Drive Saturday night. 

 PraCon Global Investment Group issued the following press release. 

Poking the bear means sometimes the bear pokes back and poke back the bear did as Jackson Academy struck back at Carolyn and Jason Voyles last week in Hinds County Court.  

 Get ready to have a good time. Country music legend Tracy Lawrence and his friends are coming to the Brandon Amphitheater in May.  More information is posted below.  

 The Forrest Police Department issued the following statement. 

 It is said a picture is worth a thousand words.  Well, here are a few million words about the devastation in Oxford if you want a better idea of how bad it is up there.  

 Derrick Coleman's son found out Madison don't play.  

Dunta and Darrius Palmer

We are made with instincts and desires, wild horses of a sort.  Some allow their wild horses to run wild.  Doing so often ends in a stampeded of personal destruction.  Some, such as the Buddhists, believe in killing the wild horses. The result is a zombie, devoid of all desire, much like a mosaic stripped of all color.  However, there is another way.  The late Dr. Frank Pollard preached about the Christian way, where the wild horses are bridled for good.  Enjoy the 1998 sermon posted below. 

 “Are we really going to be the Gestapo?” podcaster Joe Rogan asked. “‘Where’s your papers?’ Is that what we’ve come to?”