Jackson Jambalaya

 U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate blocked the implementation of HB #1677.  His order states: 

 Ticketmaster is almost a curse word to concert goers everywhere as it gouges consumers with "service" fees and raises ticket prices in a seemingly never-ending upward spiral.  However, there might be light at the end of this tunnel after Ticketmaster/Live Nation suffered a big loss in an antitrust lawsuit last week in New York.  Posted below is the New York Times podcast about the case that was published Friday.  Ben Sisario, the reporter who covered the six-week trial, breaks it all down in a rather interesting podcast (if you are into that sort of thing).   

 The ABC warehouse made progress again last week in reducing its backlog of orders.  

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

Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson is back on the Empower Podcast—and this time, he’s not just talking policy, he’s running for Lt. Governor… seemingly unopposed (at least for now).

 Will the Jackson Zoo and Livingston Park experience a rebirth? Such might happen if city officials have their way.  

Convicted killer Polo Edwards sits behind bars yet he is still up to his old tricks.  

 Here is some Madison Timber porn. If you have been keeping up with the Madison Timber Receiver's lawsuit against Baker Donelson, perhaps you can read this response and shed some light on it.  

 Country music legend David Allen Coe passed on the great honky tonk up in the sky.  He was 86 years old.  To say he was controversial is an understatement as David Allen Coe defined controversy with his rather, um, colorful songwriting.  He was truly someone who DGAF.  

 Jackson Ward 5 Councilman Vernon Hartley issued the following statement. 

 Ridgeland Police officer Ryan Stacy continues to recover from an automobile accident Sunday.  

 State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement. 

 Latrice Rogers will not have to pay $150,000 to a model she used to promote her business after the Mississippi Court of Appeals reversed a lower court verdict.  

 Former State Representative Nick Bain announced he is running for State Auditor earlier this week.  

(Read in a shrill, twangy female voice) Update!  Update!  UPDAAAAAATE!!!

Lindsey Whiteside's trial  in federal court has been postponed until August 3 due to a reported heart condition.A federal grand jury indicted Whiteside for transporting a minor across state lines for sexual purposes in October. 

 Bacon is one of the few things on earth that a man can use to measure whether he's home or not. After eight weeks of European breakfasts, I needed three mornings in a row at table 19 in the Midtowner before the question got settled. The bacon here is cooked the way bacon was meant to be cooked — crisp at the edges, no microwave shortcuts, not the almost-raw European ham-like floppy pork I ate for the better part of two months. Bacon, done right.

Never let it be said Hardees (remember them?) doesn't take care of its customers.  Just last week, it provided free entertainment to customers at the Love's Travel Stop in Indianola.  See for yourself.  

 Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann issued the following statement. 

 Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement. 

 Prado AI submitted this response to yesterday's column by Bigger Pie Forum Chairman Kelly Williams. 

Can Chokwe do this? 

The guns were a'blazing in Yazoo City last night and the Sheriff was not too happy about it.  

 The Jackson City Council is at it again. The subject:  HB #1677. 

 Please pray for Ridgeland Police officer Ryan Stacy.  He was critically injured Sunday during the severe weather.  More information if posted below. 

 Jackson Mayor John Horhn issued the following statement. 

 Some people just can't save their twerking for the club.  

 A package store withdrew its lawsuit against ABC warehouse manager Ruan Transport. 

Mississippi has now seen the data center problem from three vantage points. From one end, Amazon cut a sweetheart deal — SB 2001 — that handed it access to Entergy’s grid while keeping the contracts secret from the ratepayers who will subsidize it.

 Check out the stupidity spread on WMPR.  

 State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement. 

 The funeral arrangements for Anthony Simon are posted below. 

 The Brandon Police department issued the following statement. 

He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Nietzsche (Beyond Good and Evil)

 The Southern Poverty Law Center might have some splainin' to do after the Justice Department accused the civil rights organization of paying off the leadership of the KKK, Nazi Party, and Aryan Nations while telling donors it was fighting hate.  

Thou shalt not take the name of thy Lord in vain.  Tis one of the more memorable commandments as the Lord's name is deemed to be holy.  Christ repeats it again when he teaches us how to pray: Hallowed be they name. As the culture coarsens and becomes more crude with each passing generation, the misuse of his name is heard more and more.  The late Dr. Frank Pollard reminded us of the holiness of his name in the 1998 sermon posted below.  What's in a name is an age-old quip.  Dr. Pollard explains what exactly is in the Lord's name.   

JPD issued the following statement.

 The Mississippi Press Association, celebrating its 160^th anniversary, held a forum highlighting local journalism last week at History Is Lunch in the Two Museums. MPA vice president Peter Imes, publisher of the Commercial Dispatch in Columbus, spoke of the vital role local journalism “plays at the grassroots level in our democracy” as he welcomed the panel.

 Jackson Urban Praetor John Horhn issued the following statement. 

 Well, that didn't last long.  Check out this message from the Capitol Grill's Facebook page: 

Sara Afshari, a Research Tutor at Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, describes herself as, “I am Iranian. I am Christian. I carry scars.”

 First Consul Tate Reeves issued the following statement. 

 Kenneth I. Stokes.  Batman.  Sounds like a damn monster movie.  Um, make that a disaster movie.  The scene: A public hearing for the renaming of Wood Street.  Just watch.  

 A Texas woman placed razor blades into bread for sale at a Biloxi Walmart last year because she was "mad at Mississippi."   

Something remarkable has happened here in Mississippi. The state that for most of the last century sat at the bottom of nearly every American economic table has, quietly, pulled ahead of the United Kingdom in GDP per capita. Last week, Governor Tate Reeves highlighted the fact on X/Twitter in his characteristically Southern style - and the tweet went viral.

 A certain Hinds County supervisor appears to be getting down on the dance floor.  

Summer is around the corner which means it will be the perfect time to barbecue and heaven knows in Mississippi, we love our barbecue.   The ZeroBear PolyBear presents his bbq pork recipe in a downloadable format.  Get the charcoal, fire up the grill, and get to work.   

 Jackson attorney Anthony Simon passed away yesterday due to a heart attack. He was a great guy and good friend. Rest in peace, Anthony. You're already missed. 

 Rudy Warnock is finally serving time in federal prison.  

 Former Governor Phil Bryant's defamation lawsuit against Mississippi Today is alive again after the Mississippi Supreme Court resurrected it from the boneyard. 

Martin's Appliances & Furniture on Medgar Evers Boulevard is closed.  Owner Patrick Martin apparently shut down the store after he suffered 15 burglaries in the last six months.  He complained to the City Council JPD was of no help to him.   

The ABC's made a little bit of progress in reducing the backlog at its warehouse last week. 

 The Justice Department issued the following statement yesterday. 

It is truly a clash of corporate titans in Mississippi as Gabriel Prado squares off with Mississippi's power companies at the Public Service Commission.  At stake is  Mr. Prado's plan to build a gas-fired power plant to provide electricity to his proposed AI data center and its tenants.  JJ broke the news yesterday and covered the story rather thoroughly. Earlier post.  However, some people don't like reading long stories so JJ did something to help out such folk.  

 Check out JPD Chief Rashal Brackney last weekend at the South Jackson parade. 

 The Capitol Police issued the following statement.

 “Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.”

— Dalai Lama

LISBON—Seven weeks ago, I stood in snow 200 miles above the Arctic Circle in Tromso, Norway watching the sky turn green. Tomorrow I will stand on a cliff in the Algarve 200 miles above Africa, looking at the last stretch of the Atlantic before it runs east to Gibraltar.

 Live from the Yazoo County Sheriff's Office: 

The rise of county-level sports halls of fame around Mississippi has provided an opportunity for communities to honor excellence. Lowndes County and Scott County are two venues where the programs are thriving, and overdue recognition is being celebrated.

Progress versus the past.   It is an age-old conflict that will always be with us.  In this case, it describes the war that has broken out between Gabriel Prado and the power companies of Mississippi as they brawl at the Mississippi Public Service Commission.  At stake is the future of data centers in Mississippi and who gets to provide power to them.  

Two men enter, only one man leaves. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome

The showdown between Madison Timber Receiver Alysson Mills and Baker Donelson is finally underway in U.S. District Court eight years after she sued the prestigious law firm to recover profits allegedly made in the Lamar Adams Ponzi scheme.   

 Governor Tate Reeves made no bones about what he thinks about the city of Jackson running its water system. 

A federal judge moved to seize Nancy New's Sheffield Drive house.   U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves issued the following order yesterday: 

 State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement. 

 If Jackson City Council President Bryan Grizzell has his way, it will be a loooong time before any data centers are built in Jackson - if they ever are.  

 The wine might run dry at restaurants, the shelves might go empty at liquor stores, and the casinos might struggle to serve their customers but don't worry, the ABC Warehouse manager took the time to pat itself on the back for what it thinks is a job well done.  Don't believe it? Check out this letter Ruan Transport sent to ABC customers last week. 

 Things might be getting out of control at O'Bannon High School. 

 Jackson City Council "President" Bryan Grizzell took a break from hanging out at the Beasley Road Totesum so he could protect Jackson from - gasp - data centers.  Check out this item on the agenda: 

 The Kingfish subbed for KIM Waaaaaade last Wednesday.  The first hour was posted here last week.  The second hour is posted below.  Yours truly dished the dirt on Iran before moving on to the local Jackson idiots.   Enjoy. 

Correction: DHS issued a correction.  The convict received a probation term of five years.  

The Mississippi Department of Human Services issued the following statement. 

 A project that began with promises and fancy drawings ended in a court fight between Jackson socialite and perennial mayoral candidate Charlotte Reeves and a filmmaker.  

Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Bigger Pie Forum says, “Billions of prevention is worth trillions of cure.”

 The ABC warehouse disaster continues to claim victims among restaurants, bars, casinos, and package stores throughout Mississippi. Big or small, they are all suffering.   Several have closed shop.  Meet one casualty of the mess.  

 JPD issued the following statement. 

It's the new religion, the new faith.  Of course, we are talking about AI.  However, is AI something to fear? Bill Maher gave us a few things to chew on about AI Friday night.

For creatures so docile, sheep can be so much trouble.  If a sheep lies down and his wool his too heavy, he can't get up if his legs are off the ground.  He will die of starvation or hot weather.  Sheep will remain in an area after eating all the grass, thus starving to death unless moved to another area.  They are prone to wander, hence the shepherd must be vigilant, nudging them back to the herd for their own safety.  Such as sheep so are we, preached the late Dr. Frank Pollard.   Enjoy his 1998 sermon posted below as he discusses one of the best known works in the Bible, Psalm 23.  

The national debt is nearing $40 trillion, passing $39.5 trillion this month. The projected budget deficit this year, before the Iran not-war happened, was $1.9 trillion. Proposed extraordinary spending now pending in Congress could push this year’s deficit beyond $2 trillion.

The Supremes hammered Hinds County Chancellor Tametrice Hodges-Linzey after she forced attorney Matthew Thompson to pay $1,500 for contempt of court.    

 Some heroes do indeed wear capes. 

 Last week I wrote about warnings Xi Van Fleet raised in her first book, “Mao’s America: A Survivor’s Warning.” Xi describes herself as “Chinese by birth; American by choice, survivor of Mao’s Cultural Revolution, defender of liberty.” She was born in China, lived through the Cultural Revolution, and was sent to work in the countryside at the age of 16. After Mao’s death, she was able to study English in America and has lived in the United States since 1986.

 The Ratchet Crowd is going to have to find somewhere else to have fun.  The Capitol Grill announced some new rules after a shooting took place last weekend. 

 "The 1961 Ferrari 250GT California. less than a hundred were made." That quote can only mean one thing: Ferris Bueller's Day Off returns to the big screen next week. So are you ready to ditch? Showtimes posted below  

 U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan, III scheduled a hearing in U.S.A. v. Jody Owens, II, et al in U.S. District Court: 

Amazon has just announced another multi-billion-dollar data center project in Mississippi — the latest in a flood of inward investment now pouring into our state. But here’s the thing worth reflecting on: even AI-related investments on this scale are only a fraction of what is flowing into data centers and AI infrastructure across the country. What is happening in AI is not just another tech cycle. It is going to be absolutely massive — and genuinely transformative in ways that will touch every kind of institution.

Banks hit  Greenbrook Flowers, Pig & Pint, Downtown Snack Shop, Steve's Deli, Downtown Drug Store, Iron Horse Grill, Shiro's, Keifers, La Cazuela, Jaco's Taco's, Stanley Wine & Liquor, Fenians, Downtown Pizza & Daiquiri, Native Coffee, Hood Building, a law firm, and Snack Shack.

Downtown businesses can breathe a sigh of relief after John Arthur Banks pleaded guilty to multiple counts of business burglary yesterday in Hinds County Circuit Court.  Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, II issued the following statement. 

 It is such a sad world it is a pleasure to see someone truly enjoying life. 

Nothing says southern comfort food as much as the dish chicken and dumplings.   ZeroBear PolyBear provided his own colorful recipe for the Southern staple in a downloadable format.  Enjoy. 

Do you have the need for some speed? 

 If there is one thing unreconstructed Southerners love to do it is to refight the Civil War (War of Northern Aggression for them).   Defending the Lost Cause myth, they often sound as Germans claiming they were backstabbed at home in World War I.  Dr. David Williams, an award-winning historian at Valdosta State University, takes square aim at the myth.  He discusses in a 2013 paper how many Southerners rebelled against the Confederacy, often calling it a "rich man's war, a poor man's fight."  Dr. Williams asserts:  

 Attorney General Lynn Fitch issued the following statement.  

 The role of American strength is back at the center of the conversation. In this episode, Grant Callen sits down with Roger Wicker, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Mississippi’s senior senator. From rebuilding America’s military strength to confronting the “axis of aggression,” Senator Wicker offers a behind-the-scenes look at the decisions shaping global security. They discuss modernizing the military, why deterrence still matters, and how the U.S. should respond to threats from China, Russia, and Iran. Wicker also makes the case for standing firmly with Ukraine in its fight against Vladimir Putin. The conversation also turns to Mississippi’s recent momentum, from the decision to change the state flag to the growing push for school choice and broader efforts to create opportunity across the state.

 Jackson Ward 1 City Councilman Ashby Foote thinks the city should throw its parking meter contract with SP Plus in the trash can after he learned the city has not received a dime for parking meter revenue six months into the current fiscal year.  

 Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens issued the following statement. 

 There is good news and bad news at the Alcohol Beverage Control Division.  The good news is ABC tax collections greatly improved in March. The bad news is the backlog of cases remains over 170,000 cases.  

 More buffoonery from Marcus Wallace.  You can't make this up.  

Update: It was just announced Dr. Muse passed away.  

Time grows short for retired Hinds Junior College President Dr. Clyde Muse.  

 Jackson Mayor John Horhn issued the following statement. 

The Kingfish subbed for KIM Waaaaaade yesterday on WYAB and hosted The American Spectator's Senior Editor, Scott McKay.   Check out the show below.  

 The whole thing started with restaurants.

 Another year passes yet the song remains the same as the Jackson Zoo continues to shrink.   Inventory reports show the Jackson Zoo only has 114 animals, a third of what it was eight years ago. 

 Talking about taxes, Nobel Prize-winning Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw wryly observed: “A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.” Herman Wouk, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “The Caine Mutiny,” was more pointed when he said: “Income taxes are the most imaginative fiction written today.”

 Former Mississippi Speaker of the House of Representatives Phillip Gunn is all in on running for Governor in 2027.  He announced on Facebook: 

 It is no secret the Royal Navy is in trouble as it struggles to put even one warship out to sea.  If you want to see an idiot in action, check out Britain's Secretary of State for Defense as he floundered in a recent interview.  You can't make this up. 

 The city of Jackson won bigly are Governor Tate Reeves approved most of the projects the Legislature funded for the capitol city in SB #2189.  The Christmas Tree bill provided $400 million for projects across the state.  

Package stores are starting to close because they can't get enough product to sell from the ABC warehouse.    The Washington _____ reported: 

The new Country Squire is now open.   Owner Jon David Cole took advantage of Bonsai closing on Lakeland Drive last year and converted it into a luxurious cigar bar sporting the largest humidor in Mississippi. 

Owner Jon David Cole sits at the new bar

 There are some people who have such voices you would listen to them read through the phone book.  

 Governor Tate Reeves signed HB #1677 today.  The bill will create the Jackson Metro Water Authority.   

The Pearl Police Department issued the following statement. 

 State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement. 

 Well, the bad news is another video popped up of LSU fan Alton Bloodworth choking students at the LSU-Ole Miss baseball game this weekend.  

Come to the Trade Mart tonight for the 2026 edition of Taste of Mississippi.  Sample the culinary offerings of the Jackson area's best restaurants while helping a good cause.  

 An LSU fan managed to get himself arrested at Swazye Field after he decked someone who threw a beer on him.   

 The countdown for Charles Evans' release from prison begins.  

 You might soon be able to make your own bourbon at home thanks to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.  The Court struck down a federal law barring home distilleries used for alcohol consumption Friday as it held the government could not ban an activity under its power to tax.  

Update: JPD issued the following statement. 

 True faith, staying faith, saving faith, and Loyal faiths.  Such are the ways people qualify faith.  However, all that matters is faith, no matter how big or how small.  The late Dr. Frank Pollard reminded us in the 1998 sermon posted below there was a reason the Good Book said all that is needed for salvation is the faith of a mustard seed.  Using the Parable of the Art Collector, Dr. Pollard preached on how a small faith can yield the greatest of rewards.   The parable is posted below as well.  Enjoy. 

 JPD issued the following statement. 

 Inflation, inflation everywhere, but no relief in sight. At least it seems that way.

More Cooper Road Killing  

JPD issued the following statements. 

 A reader asked JJ to post a reward for the indentification of someone who tried to break into his mother's home.   

 The fight between ABC warehouse manager Ruan Transport and several liquor stores is moving to federal court.  

 Xi Van Fleet described America as a “political caste system,” based on intersectionality. Having survived Mao’s cultural revolution, and given an opportunity to study in America, Xi wrote “Mao’s America: A Survivor’s warning.” The book was published in October 2024.

 For years, the blue collars have been told to learn to code because that is where the future is.  Well, something might have interfered with that future.  

Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens issued the following statement.  

 It's nice to hear a dose of sanity in college football when it is so rarely spoken today.  LSU Coach Lane Kiffin said what he thought about the SEC adding a ninth conference game to the college football schedule.  Hint: He didn't praise the decision. 

 The Deputy State Fire Marshal's report said the cause of the Mississippi Trade Mart fire that took place March 21 was accidental.  The report states the investigation was unable to conclude whether an overloaded extension cord or a candle left burning by a fabric curtain when the facility closed caused the fire. 

 The Jackson City Council was supposed to vote on JPD Chief Rashall Brackney's contract Tuesday but the Horhn administration pulled the item from the agenda.  The contract curiously included a severance package.  

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt" - ancient Chiss proverb.  

Truck stop food.  It's frowned upon, looked down upon, but always there when you need it.   ZeroBear PolyBear blessed us with his own recipe of truck stop food in a downloadable format.  Enjoy.  

 Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth I. Stokes is not too happy with Jackson Mayor John Horhn. 

 The implosion of the ABC warehouse is still not resolved as it still has a backlog of over 170,000 cases.

 You can hate Trump and still love this development. 

Space is so cool.  Check out these shots of the  dark side of the moon released by NASA.  

 Governor Tate Reeves issued the following statement. 

 The Fondren Firebug is behind bars and will remain behind bars for five months after the CCID Court got through with him yesterday.  

 Brett Favre has Shad White in his sights as he purses a defamation lawsuit against the State Auditor.  Check out the latest filing in their court fight. 

Update: Judge Bramlette dismissed the indictment against Ivision without prejudice. 

Before the restaurants, before the trips, before any of it — there was my grandmother's table.

 Jackson Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth I. Stokes was not too happy when he found out the city of Jackson can not appeal JXN Water's 12% rate increase to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday.  Using common vernacular, he said something about "talking about some bullshit."  

Mississippi has wrestled with challenging questions before about who we trust to make life‑and‑death decisions. In the death‑penalty era of the late 20th century, the U.S. Supreme Court interrupted executions in Mississippi and across the South, troubled by jury instructions allowing executions if a crime was deemed “especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel.”

This is not The Onion although it's about onions.  

Or How to Lose Businesses 101

The owner of an appliance and furniture store begged for help at the Jackson City Council this morning after thieves broke into his business 15 times in the last six months.  He told the City Council he always calls JPD but "nothing ever gets done."  

 Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement. 

 Annie Oeth authored the following press release for UMC. 

Dr. Carter Milner and Diann Jackson

Todd Mardis will have to serve his the sentence for his domestic violence conviction after Rankin County Circuit Judge Stephen Ratcliff denied his request for a reduced sentence.   

 Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens issued the following statement. 

 The bums continue to set up camp at an abandoned house on Northview Drive.  

 Jackson Mayor John Horhn issued the following statement. 

 State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement. 

“Imagine if you will…” is how Rod Serling introduced each surreal episode of the popular Twilight Zone TV series years ago. It seems a good way to frame the recent data dump on the Jackson City Council by JXN Water’s “CEO” Judge.

Madison Timber Receiver Alysson Mills submitted her required 90 day status report to U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves on March 31. The report documents her slog to recover funds for the victims of Lamar Adams.

TV reality star and Los Angeles Mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt pulled no punches in this hilarious ad. 

 Canton Academy issued the following press release. 

 A Rankin County couple asked a Chancellor to shut down a church's ringing of its bells after declaring it a nuisance. 

 Happy Easter!  JJ is going to take a break from posting the late Dr. Frank Pollard's sermon today and instead post Erick Erickson's ode to Easter, The Greatest Event in History, he published in his newsletter Friday.   Enjoy. 

 How “artificial intelligence” (AI) will impact our future is the raging question. You have to wonder why. Federal and state governments have used AI for years and we know how well that works.

The Lotus Eaters

Need something good to watch this weekend while it rains? Check out these movies streamed on Youtube for, dare we say it?, Free! There are some really good ones posted below. 

The lawsuits are starting to pile up against ABC warehouse manager Ruan Transport after the company blew up the distribution of wines and spirits in Mississippi earlier this year.   

Sam's Club in February

 Thanks to the Mississippi legislature, it is Christmas in April for cities, counties, schools, and state agencies across Mississippi after it passed SB# 2189 this week.  

 The Pearl Police Department issued the following statement. 

 I’m not surprised. I am frustrated. Most Americans regardless of which “side” they’re on evidently feel the same way. The war has neither proved nor solved anything. Based on the last 6,000 years of history, the Left and the Right will continue waging political rhetoric in efforts to rule the world. 

 WYAB talk show host and resident bomb-thrower Clay Edwards relates on Facebook how David Allen Coe kept Billy Idol from appearing at the Coliseum in the 1980's.  Enjoy the storytelling.  KF. 

The scrum between Jackson Academy and Jason and Carolyn Voyles continues as they argue over whether their dispute should be heard in court or arbitration.  

Schools finally figuring out their students are marks for Google and Apple as the companies push for laptops in every classroom.  The New York Times reported last week: 

MRA Football Coach Herbert Davis had his players engage in a little exercise so they could better appreciate Christ's suffering before he was crucified.

It's picnic season and what could be a better dessert for a picnic than some tasty brownies? ZeroBear PolyBear was kind enough to grace us with his recipe for Bonnie's Brownies in a downloadable format. Enjoy. 

 Social media is blowing up with the video of an Ole Miss student yapping about how much she hates going to school in Oxford.  Apparently moving to from Arizona to a small town in Mississippi did not agree with her too well. She even gets "triggered" talking about Ole Miss.  Perhaps this post should have been called "The Triggering."  

 Public safety matters, but too often our crime policies are built on gut instinct, not evidence. So what actually works? 

In this episode of The Empower Podcast, Grant Callen sits down with Jennifer Doleac of Arnold Ventures and author of The Science of Second Chances. She breaks down what the data really says about deterrence, recidivism, and smarter policy, including why certainty beats severity, how simple nudges can reduce crime, and why second chances often pay off.

This is a practical conversation about what delivers results and what only sounds good in a press release.

 The Mississippi Supreme Court ordered oral arguments be held on May 27 in the Carly Gregg case. 

 The Mississippi Department of Education issued the following statement. 

 Call the Waaaaahmbulance.  Tariq "Skyhook"  Abdul-Tawwab  is seeing conspiracies everywhere on Socrates Garrett's TikTok channel. 

Update (4:30 PM): The Court granted the continuance and scheduled Pittman's trial for June 1.   

Accused synagogue burner Stephen Pittman seeks a continuance in his federal trial scheduled for April 6.  

 Check out the latest tax returns for Reformed Theological Seminary, The Parent's Campaign, Mississippi Today, Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi, and the Mississippi Center for Justice.

 Update (4/2/26): Cancelled.

The Jackson City Council announced it will hold a meeting of the Legislative Committee tomorrow to discuss the recently passed HB# 1677, otherwise known as the Jackson Metro Water authority bill. 

 Secretary of State Michael Watson issued the following statement. 

 An effort to provide relief to ABC customers suffering from the warehouse meltdown died yesterday in the legislature.  

 The trials of Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, former Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, and former Jackson Councilman Aaron Banks will be held in Jackson.   WLBT reported: 

 Some people can't handle anything and freak out when things don't go their way.  Such is true even among Houston judges.  

 A twelve-year-old with a push mower and six neighbors who needed their yards cut — that's as close to a business plan as I've ever had.

 Jackson Ward 5 Councilman Vernon Hartley issued the following statement on the passage of the Jackson Metro Water Authority bill.  

The cost of the first gallon of gas I bought as a kid in 1973? It was 28 cents a gallon. In Flowood last week I filled up for $3.60 a gallon.