Jackson Jambalaya

Some people quit. Some people complain.  Some people are just plain lazy and don't give a damn about themselves or anyone else.  Some people, however, are special and want to better themselves and the people around them.  Such a person was William Holtzclaw, the founder of the Utica Institute that is now the Utica campus of Hinds Community College.  Mississippi was not friendly to someone who was broke and black back in 1902 but William Holtzclaw wanted to educate black Mississippians.  The Vicksburg Sunday Post told his story in a 1973 article that is posted below. It is a positive story that is not told enough and easy to forget. 

JPD issued the following press release, citing several recent robberies in the area:

The Hinds County District Attorney attempted to drop charges against an accused drug dealer.  Christopher Butler was twice indicted by a Hinds County grand jury in 2012 for  possessing more than one kilo of marijuana.  Butler was twice previously convicted of felonies and will be classified as a habitual offender if convicted. Butler is 38 years old.

A taxicab driver attempted to provide a lesson in economics and history during the Uber public hearing Monday night to the Jackson city council.  It is rather um, interesting.  Watch the video for yourself.

It has been nearly a year since Carolyn Temple was murdered at night in Belhaven.  JPD arrested three suspects in the case.  They have all been indicted for capital murder.

Triumph skewers a few college students.  One student in particular doesn't take to kindly to his act.  You get to figure out which one as you enjoy the show. You just can't make some of this up. 

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals removed an injunction prohibiting Mississippi from using the drug compounded  pentobarbital  to execute prisoners. The opinion is posted below.  Death penalty opponents can read it and weep.

Brett Lorenzo Favre brings to nine the number of native Mississippians inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That the Magnolia State ranks No. 1 per capita in producing Hall of Famers will not surprise anyone who regularly reads this column.

We may rank low in per capita income, lean body mass, and education, but we can play ball. Boy, can we play football.

The Jackson City Council voted to allow Uber to operate in Jackson under light regulation.  The motion passed on a 3-1 vote.  Councilmen Ashby Foote, Melvin Priester, Jr., and Tyrone Hendrix voted for the measure while DeKeither Stamps voted against it.  The cabbies showed up to protest against Uber while WLBT gave them a full hearing and completely slanted its coverage against Uber.  Watch the video below:

It appears a news online website is getting cranked up in the Jackson area.  Mississippi News & Information Corporation stole R.L. Knave away from the Jackson Free Press.  Its mission statement says:

The silly season in politics is gets underway tonight.  Comment on the New Hampshire results here. 

Hopefully the scriptwriting is much better than it was last season. 

Double-charge, triple charge, whats $40 per mile? Service to your door? You can't be serious.  A disabled lady told the Jackson City Council last night she was repeatedly victimized by taxi cab drivers.  Watch Lisa McGraw tell the city council what she is forced to endure from taxicab drivers in the video posted below.  

The Jackson City Council held a public hearing on Uber last night.  Taxicab driver Gene Sandifer issued some not so thinly-veiled threats to the city council as he was clearly upset over the possibility of the city council allowing Uber to operate in Jackson.  Watch for yourself in this video.

JPD issued the following press release and pictures:

JPD issued two press releases this morning:

In 87 years of operations, Jackson’s airports have never suffered a hijacking, but that streak may be about to end. The state legislature is considering a bill that would create a new airport board appointed by the governor. If passed it would effectively take control of the Jackson International Airport (JAN) away from the current Airport Commission which is appointed by the mayor of Jackson and confirmed by the Jackson City Council.

Former Rankin County Supervisor Wood Brown passed away a few days ago.  His family was kind enough to provide a copy of his obituary that is posted below.

This incident took place at a Mardi Gras parade in Alexandria, La this weekend.  As they say, Alex is gonna Alex.  It's not called the armpit of Louisiana for nothing (or is that Leesville?).  Enjoy.

Looking for a movie to watch online today?   Don't feel like watching football but don't can't bear to click the remote until the Lifetime channel pops up on the screen? Check out Narco Cultura, a movie about the Narco culture in America and south of the border in Juarez.  Corridos praise the drug lords in ways that remind one of Mafia worship while the police in Juarez are forced to wear masks and go into hiding.  The movie is on Netflix but a Youtube version is embedded below.  Filmmaker Shaul Schwarz produced the movie.  Several law enforcement officials recommended the movie to JJ and said Narco Cultura and Cartel Land were the two most realistic films in documenting the drug culture.

It is time to take one more step into the Jackson municipal airport past.  Newspaper articles from the late 1950's show the efforts made by the city of Jackson to build a new airport.  The articles show how city fathers strove mightily to bring a "jet-age" airport to Jackson and find a way to pay for it without breaking the bank.  It was a time of excitement and anticipation for Jackson as the project to build the reservoir was underway as well.  There were heroes and villains but in the end, progress was made.  Some highlights of the articles are:

Florida law enforcement officials produced this video that teaches police how to deal with sovereign citizens. 

Does Lawyer Success bring success to Mississippi lawyers? Attorney Matthew Poole doesn't think so.  The Jackson attorney sued James Greenier and his company, Lawyer Success, LLC in Hinds County Circuit Court last Monday.  The complaint makes a few um, interesting allegations.

JPD issued the following warning:

The Mississippi Department of Corrections issued the following press release:

The Madison Police Department and Rankin County Sheriff both issued the following press releases and mug shots concerning the theft of delivery packages in the Jackson metro area. The police welcome any tips the public can provide on these thieves.

Rankin-Madison County District Attorney Michael Guest issued the following press release:

Caught hiding inside of, yes.... drum roll..... a TV set.  Seriously.  JPD issued the following press release:

Ah, the post everyone has been waiting to see this week.  The Madison County Board of Supervisors voted to raise the salary of County Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Hancock this week.  The Clarion-Ledger reported Tuesday:

Mayor Tony Yarber issued this statement:

It appears Mississippi is getting a billion dollar tire plant that will employ over 2,500 people.  Governor Phil Bryant issued the following statement:

Rudy Warnock & Associates sued Madison County in U.S. District Court yesterday.  The case was assigned to Judge Carlton Reeves.  The plaintiff claims Madison County owes the firm $625,714.  Warnock also asked for interest and attorney's fees.  Dorsey Carson and Julie Skipper represent Warnock.  The complaint is posted below.

Sorry, Kamikaze. ;-)  The Madison Police Department issued the following press release.

The Obamacare losses start to pile up for health insurance companies.  United Health Care expects to lose more than half a billion dollars on Affordable Care Act plans in 2016.  The Wall Street Journal reported last month:

So now we've got an Ole Miss alum coaching football at Southern Miss. And we've got a Southern Miss alum coaching football at Ole Miss. This, I think, begs the question: Can't we all get along?

If you live in Northeast Jackson, keep an eye out for a tan or light-gold four door Grand-am. Early 2000's model.  It has a specialty Lanier High School tag on it.  If you see it, make a note of where it is and what it is doing and forward to this website at kingfish1935@gmail.com.  It will be driven by a  thin black male around 17 years old. Information will be forwarded to JPD.

Let's get ready to ruuuuummmble over the Jackson airport.  State Senator Josh Harkins (R-Gold Coast) submitted his bill to create a new governing board for the Jackson municipal airport.  This is one fight that will get nasty and vicious as Jackson fights any attempts to change how the airport operates. There will be casualties.  Medics will be in short supply.  Most bourbon will be consumed. Kenneth Stokes may die of dehydration.

The bill replaces the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority with a Metropolitan Airport Authority to manage the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport and Hawkins Field on July 1, 2016.  A nine-member board of commissioners will oversee the operation of the two airports.  The new board of commissioners will be comprised of the following members::

It appears the Hattiesburg School District is going broke or more likely, is already broke.  Mississippi Superintendent of Education Carey Wright asked State Auditor Stacey Pickering to immediately investigate the district's finances.  The general fund balance plummeted from $6.5 million in 2012 to $768,796 in 2015.  The district also obtained a $7 million tax anticipation note in August 2015.  The district has already spent $6 million.  The HSD Superintendent and business manager resigned in December.   Dr. Wright sent this letter to Mr. Pickering:

Photographer Rick Guy took the JJ Yuneec Typhoon q500 down to Morgantown and shot some really incredible video of Red Bluff.  The bluff was created by the erosion of the west bank of the Pearl River.  Nature created a smorgasbord of colors that awaits your eyes.  Mr. Guy used a 4k camera to shoot the video.  Enjoy.

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood issued the following statement:

The owner of a trailer stolen last weekend is offering $2,500 for information leading to its recovery.  A reward for the actual return of the trailer is offered as well and is negotiable.  Contact number is 601-672-7481.  The video, pictures, and information about the trailer are posted below. 

Check out part of SB #2074 filed by State Senators Lydia Chassaniol and Joey Fillingane:

Diamond Harris pleaded guilty to four charges in Flowood Municipal Court in December. The 21 year-old black female was arrested by Flowood police in August after she refused to provide her license during a traffic stop, attempted to drive away from police, and then struggled when police tried to remove her from the car. Harris recorded part of the incident and gave the video to WAPT. JJ obtained the police reports and convictions through a public records request. Readers may remember this video broadcast on WAPT:

Jackson made a major step for transparency in government.  The city website now has a portal for submitting public records requests.  Simply go to the portal, fill out the information in the online form, and submit your request.  JJ submitted one last week.  The clerk's office received the request and obtained the records.  Hopefully more local governments will follow Jackson's lead.  Then there is MDA but that is a story for another day.  Go to City Clerk's web page.

Jackson Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes protested again yesterday.  The chase of a stolen car by Richland police into Jackson fueled his ire.  Richland police pursued a stolen car into Jackson.  The chase ended at Mcluer Road but a vehicle carrying a grandmother, mother, and two children was struck.  A Hinds County deputy wrecked his patrol car as well.  Watch Kenneth for yourself.

Last weekend's surprising news — Todd Monken leaving Southern Miss to become offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bucs — immediately was followed by some harsh, bordering on nasty, criticism via social media.