Jackson Jambalaya

Former JPD officer Anthony Fox is on trial this week in Hinds County for the alleged beating death of George Robinson. Circuit Judge Adrienne Wooten presides over Fox's trial.  Therese Apel has been covering the case every day from the courtroom on her website. 

 Jackson Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth I. Stokes said today's radio show will probably be his last one.  The show was vintage Stokes as he said the Mayor is "dumb as a rock", griped about police chases, and raised hell about what else about water.  Oh, and he shucked the corn on who might run for Mayor.  Enjoy.

The late Dr. Frank Pollard had no qualms about preaching about a word often avoided, "judgment", in the 1994 sermon posted below.  Enjoy the remedial sermon. 

Hospitals in Mississippi face unprecedented financial pressures. Now two more have been forced to seek out new owners. The City of Greenwood and Leflore County have put jointly owned Greenwood Leflore Hospital up for bid. Jackson County supervisors will hold a public hearing on August 17 after voting to consider putting county owned Singing River Health Systems (SRSH) up for bid.

 JJ came across a real classic on Youtube starring a young Paul Newman that you might enjoy watching if you have nothing else to do on a Saturday night.  

or Briarwood Bum makes good.

 The city of Jackson issued the following statement this afternoon. 

 Flowood Mayor Gary Rhoads suspended Police Chief Ricky McMillian for a week.  WAPT reported:

 Several Jackson residents complained on social media that JPD's 911 service refused to take their calls.

 The Mississippi State Department of Health issued the following statement. 

U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves denied a motion for reconsideration as he announced he is taking over the Raymond Detention Center.  Judge Reeves said Hinds County is simply not capable of managing its jail: 

 The Jackson Municipal Airport Authority Board of Commissioners attempted to hold a meeting yesterday but were unable to do so due to the lack of a quorum. 

JPD arrested Monte Reeves for aggravated assault and shooting into a vehicle two days ago.  Reeves is the husband of perennial Jackson Mayoral candidate Charlotte Reeves. 

 A new front opened in the war between Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Mississippi and UMC yesterday.  After suffering several months of UMC attack ads, Blue Cross sued UMC Vice-Chancellor Dr. Louann Woodward, Associate Vice-Chancellor Dr. Alan Jones, and Communications Director Marc Rolph for defamation in Rankin County Circuit Court.  

 Good news for Hubig's affianados.  The legendary New Orleans treat will rise from the ashes after its factory burned down ten years ago.  The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate reported last week: 

 The Capitol Police issued the following statement. 

A memorial was created for Brad Pennington where he walked his last route.  Break out some tissues. 

A sinkhole developed on Old Canton Road by Parkway. The sinkhole appears to be two to three feet deep but also takes up almost the entire lane on Old Canton Road.  As the pictures below show, traffic passes only a yard or so away from the sinkhole.  Atmos installed a second plate and is supposed to repair the hole tomorrow. 

 Nancy New picked up where Brad Pigott left off Monday as she subpoenaed a plethora of documents from former Governor Phil Bryant, Attorney General Lynn Fitch, IHL,  and the USM Athletic Foundation.  She is a defendant in a clawback lawsuit pursued by DHS and the Mississippi Attorney General in the DHS scandal.  

 Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement. 

 Attorney General Lynn Fitch issued the following statement yesterday. 

Last week I spent seven days in the Florida Panhandle on “vacation.” I used the word “vacation” because that is the easy, go-to, and common nomenclature one uses when describing time off from work. The problem with using that term is that I never really take time off from work. I'm not complaining, I like it that way. I love what I do. I don't fish, hunt, play golf, or gamble. I love restaurants, food, and the restaurant business. If I have any hobbies I would have to state— other than the restaurant business, which is also my hobby— that movies, music, and football are what I enjoy in my pastime. But I am a spectator in all those activities. I am an active player in the restaurant business.

The ATF arrested Kent Newhouse on July 21 for manufacturing machine pistols at his home just a few feet away from where children play golf at the Country Club of Jackson.* Newhouse is the son of former Clarion-Ledger publisher John Newhouse.  

 Jackson Chief of Staff Dr. Safiya Omari stood in for Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba today at his weekly press conference.  The presser is streamed below.

Do you need a local guest speaker but don't know where to look?  Fortunately there is a website just such things.  Check out the list of Mississippi keynote speakers and their going rates.

That little ammonia leak wasn't quite so little as it managed to crash the entire Jackson water treatment system for several weeks.  The EPA wants answers and gave Jackson a deadline but the only part Jackson heard was dead as in drop dead.  

 The Jackson State University issued the following statement. 

Suppose it is the middle of a city election and a voter wants to see who gave what to whom.  He goes down to City Hall and asks to see the campaign finance reports.  Unfortunately for him, he meets a clerk who tells him in typical bureaucratic fashion to file a public records request, wait a week, and pay a fee as well as a player to be named later.   Frustrated, he says fuggedaboutit and goes home.  However, the Ethics Commission ruled in March he has a right to see those reports right there on the spot - for free.

 The Mississippi State Department of Health issued the following statement. 

How did Mississippi lawmakers spend BP money? 

This story was originally published by Propublica.  ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive their biggest stories as soon as they’re published. The Sun-Herald's Anita Lee, yes, THE Anita Lee, authored this story. This story is loooong but well worth reading.  Get a Fuentes Maduro.     

Business leaders hoped the state would use money from the 2010 oil spill to transform Mississippi’s coastal economy. Instead, lawmakers are using much of it to fill gaps in local government budgets and fund projects with few metrics for success.

 Posted below is the contract between Bradley Pigott, Esq. and the Mississippi Department of Human Services.  For some strange reason, there is a great deal of interest in the contract so JJ obtained a copy of it.  

UMC is sparing no expense as it wages war against Blue Cross.  The hospital spent $278,796 on ads attacking the insurer in commercials, digital media, and on billboards after they divorced in April. 

 Mississippi Board of Dental Examiners Executive Director Chris Hutchison is now former Mississippi Board of Dental Examiners Executive Director after Friday's Board meeting.  

 This post is a reprint of Anna Wolfe's story in Mississippi Today. 

Mississippi Department of Human Services Director Bob Anderson said he took attorney Brad Pigott off the state’s ongoing civil lawsuit in the welfare scandal because Pigott didn’t consult with the agency before filing a recent subpoena that named the former governor.

 When does is freedom slavery and slavery freedom? The question is not a review of 1984 but a question the late Dr. Frank Pollard asked in his sermon posted below.  Mixing Seneca, yes, the Stoic philosopher, with the Gospels, he preached how the freedom to indulge turns into chains of bondage.  Enjoy. 

 The upcoming November 8^th general election features contested elections in all four congressional districts.

 Want to guess that movie will be at the theatre next week? 

 Why are we incapable of understanding each other? Why can’t we agree on reasonable expectations and goals of governing for the good of the American people? We have become divided by a common language. We cannot even agree on what things are good and what things are bad, much less compromise to get a little of each so we can achieve some good. 

Agency says it did not fire Piggot 

 The Mississippi Department of Human Services issued the following statement. 

Update (9:30 AM): Attorney Carlos Moore tweeted he will represent his former nephew by marriage: 

I have been retained to represent Tim Herrington along with Kevin Horan. Although he has been charged with a serious crime he is presumed innocent. We will vigorously defend him and look forward to clearing his good name.

 The Oxford Police Department issued the following statement. 

 This post is a reprint of Anna Wolfe's story that appeared in Mississippi Today. 

The state welfare department has fired Brad Pigott, the former U.S. attorney it contracted to claw back millions in misspent federal funds from dozens of people in Mississippi’s sprawling welfare scandal.

 The Mississippi State Department of Health issued the following statement. 

 Pearl Mayor Jake Windham will hold a press conference at 1 on the police chase that took place yesterday.  The city issued a statement that is posted below. The video is posted below.

 Lynn Fitch's attorneys apparently need to take some classes in Mississippi Government 101 after the Mississippi Supreme Court embarrassed her office Wednesday.  

Bobby Cleveland's legacy will continue at the Rez after the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District voted yesterday to change the name of Lakeshore Park to Bobby Cleveland Park at Lakeshore. 

Updated with Jackson Mayor's statement.  

The Pearl Police Department issued the following statement. 

 State Beancounter Shadrack White issued the following statement. 

 Well, the nutjobs finally managed to get Dave Chappelle cancelled.  The comedian was scheduled to perform in at the First Avenue in Minneapolis last night but the outrage mob managed to get his show cancelled just a few hours before it opened.  The theatre tweeted this statement: