Jackson Jambalaya

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?”

 Governor Tate Reeves issued the following statement. 

 Mississippi Department of Transportation Commissioner Bradley White and Fox 13 Memphis are having a little disagreement.  Fox 13 reported: 

 The wokesters are trying to shut down a Dallas coffee shop chain after a manager quit and claimed on social media the company was serving coffee to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. WFAA reported: 

 Our favorite plaintiff is back in federal court with, surprise, yet another grievance.  At least this one doesn't involve the transmigration of souls as earlier complaints did. 

 Ashby Foote's mother passed away recently.  We offer our condolences to the Foote family during this time of grief.  Visitation and funeral service will be held at 1 PM today at Bellwether Church.  Mrs. Foote lived quite the life as described in her obituary posted below. 

It’s us against them. Another pronoun war. At least, that’s the way “us” always describes a conflict. “Them” is always everybody else. And, if you’re never “us” nor “them,” then you have to pick a side because there are only two sides to every coin and almost every pronoun war. 

 Brother Day issued the following statement. 

 Suspect son of Derrick Coleman, brother of Ladarien Jones

The Madison Police Department issued the following statement. 

Dunta and Darrius Palmer

 The campaign reports are filed.  Who has what? Keep reading. 

 It's been five years since we lost Leland Speed, one of Jackson's finest.  Instead of boring you with flowery words and cliche-ish platitudes, JJ will simply present Mr. Speed in his own words.  Enjoy. 

 We have us a horserace for Chancellor in Hinds County.   

 Will the Jackson State University get a new stadium? State Representative Robert Johnson (D- Springridge Road) wants the state to pick up the tab for some new digs.  

Over the past few years, Mississippi lawmakers have passed some critical conservative reforms. Last year, Mississippi became the first state in America to legislate to eliminate the income tax in 40 years.  In 2022, we implemented flat tax reform.  A few years before that, we passed important labor market reforms.  In 2024, we reformed school funding to get more money into the classroom. 

Today is Christmas Day for politicos in Mississippi as annual campaign finance reports are due to be submitted to the Secretary of State.  It gives prognosticators a chance to see who has raised what as the gubernatorial field comes into focus.  First up is State Auditor Shad White.  

 I-55 and I-22 in North Mississippi are now open.  

 Long winters mean long mornings and what could be better for a long morning than a breakfast casserole? The ZeroBear Poly Bear blessed us with his recipe for a bountiful breakfast.  Enjoy the recipe posted below in downloadable format. 

Some people really do F Around and Find Out. .  Exhibit A: A group of little bitches who thought they were tough.  

 First Consul Tate Reeves issued the following statement. 

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.  

U.S. Marshals arrested Jshontiez McClendon for shooting several people at Pop's Saloon early New Year's Day this year.  Unfortunately for Pops patrons, McClendon was free on bond after JPD charged him with shooting to death a mother and her unborn child two years ago.  Catch & Release is indeed alive and well in Jackson.  

 MDOC Commissioner Burl Cain won't have to face the possibility of going to jail after MDOC paid a judgement yesterday.  A Hinds County Court judge had held MDOC in contempt  last week and ordered a show cause hearing on why the Commissioner should not be incarcerated.  

 Assistant JPD Chief Vincent Grizzell is being forced out and is not too happy about it.  WLBT reported:

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety issued the following statement. 

 While North Mississippi suffers through an ice storm from hell, a young woman took it upon herself to help the workers enduring the elements as they work towards recovery.  

 Update (1/29/26, 8:00 AM): Governor Reeves said less than 100,000 lack power. 

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety issue the following statement. 

 The Mississippi Department of Transportation and Department of Public Safety issued the following statements. 

 Check out the latest tax returns for the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation, One Voice, Mississippi Animal Rescue League, JSU Foundation, and Canopy Children's Solutions.  

 When our friendly little FBI agents came to down to do some bidness, they went looking for a lobbyist.  They wanted someone who can hook them up with the "movers and shakers" of Jackson.   Fortunately for them, Elliot Flaggs was more than happy to oblige. 

Drag racers might lose their vehicles if State Representative Shanda Yates (I-Whole Foods) has her way.

Marco had never seen a pine plantation.

 Toby Price got his job back.  The Hinds County School Board fired the Gary Road Intermediate School principal in 2022 after he read a book, I Need a New Butt, to his students.   He sued, lost, and appealed. WAPT reported: 

 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.