Jackson Jambalaya

 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.