Jackson Jambalaya

More courtroom porn for the lawyers.  Mike Brown trial.  Here is Chancellor (Ret.) Stuart Robinson's testimony.  He gets real tough on Mr. Brown several times.  Mr. Brown's cross-examination begins at 5:00.  Mr. Brown tries to fabricate a conversation in his office but the judge has none of it (6:00).  Judge Robinson's disgust is evident throughout this portion of the testimony.  Mr. Brown then moves to dismiss the case at 22:40.  If you want to see the mind of a nut on display, here it is.  Changes his story throughout his argument for dismissal (23:00).

The Lieutenant Governor issued the following press release on his charter school appointments:

The Secretary of State cracked down on a Derrick Johnson charity.  It seems our head of the Mississippi NAACP is paid $120,000 a year to operate One Voice, a non-profit with the same address as the state NAACP.   Although One Voice is considered to be a charity or non-profit, in reality it is a slush fund as most of the money is spent on consultants, travel, and salaries.  Employees could sign checks made payable to themselves.  Debit cards were issued to officers.  $1.78 million a year makes for a nice little slush fund.

This is a post for the lawyers.  Another video from the Mike Brown trial this week.  Mike Brown first tries to stop the proceedings. He claims there is a bank statement from one month that is missing that is of coursethe foundation for his defense. A familiar stories. Conversations no one remembers. Documents that disappeared. Blah blah blah.  Judge was having none of it.  Then he attacks Paul Rogers on the stand in ways the court does not like.  Mr. Rogers was the forensic accountant assigned to audit the McClinton guardianship. Its funny for the first ten minutes or so. 

A Rankin County jury convicted former attorney Mike Brown of two counts of embezzlement. Each charge carried a maximum sentence of twenty years. Circuit Judge John Emfinger sentenced Mr. Brown to twenty years on the first count and twenty years on the second county but suspended ten years. The sentences are to run consecutively. Mr. Brown was accused of embezzling $1.2 million from the guardianship of D'Mon McClinton. Mr. Brown faces more indictments in Hinds and Rankin Counties for other alleged crimes related to the embezzlement. The court also ordered full restitution of the $1.2 million although it is considered to be a formality. Mr. Brown has been in jail for over a year after Chancellor Dan Fairly found him in contempt of court after $37,000 under Mr. Brown's care disappeared from the Ray estate.

A Rankin County jury indicted suspended attorney Mike Brown on August 12 on four counts of embezzlement in the guardianship of D'Mond McClinton. D'Mond McClinton is the grandson of Mississippi civil rights hero Aaron Henry and inherited $3.5 million when his mother died in 2000. Mr. Brown and Thomas McClinton, the father of D'Mon, established a guardianship, as young McClinton was only sixteen years old when his mother passed away.

Here is some courtroom porn for the lawyers. Disbarred attorney Mike Brown is defending himself, yes defending himself, against embezzlement charges in Rankin County this week. A grand jury indicted him for embezzling from the guardianship of DeMon McClinton. Mr. McClinton is the grandson of Aaron Henry and inherited over $3.5 million when his mother died. I am working on the post right now but thought you deserved an entertaining preview of what is to come.

The Mississippi Democrat Party just issued the following press release:

The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District issued the following press release:

Nothing special today. Just open lines.

A suspect in the CCJ home invasion last week turned himself in yesterday. WLBT reported:

One little item that was discussed last week at the regular meeting of the Hinds County Board of Supervisors was the fate of the agricultural high school.  Doesn't hold much interest for this site but since it was discussed,  I thought some readers might want to watch the video.  Dr. Clyde Muse addressed the board.  The problem for the school is the attendance is only 200 students and the test scores aren't exactly great.  Dr. Muse said the biggest challenge is attracting more students. Here is the video.

Larita spoke to WAPT about the zoo this morning. She said the zoo is "in a wonderful location".  Read for yourself.  Just think, if we had taken that $25 million dumped on Farish Street and spent it instead on the zoo and the surrounding area, how much better off it would be.  Oh well, we got some nice bricks and lights for it.

Almost forgot to post this little article from the Wall Street Journal. Bill Mojay had a "front row seat" to Detroit dysfunction described his experience over a month ago. This is the point where you put your coffee cup down or swallow what you are drinking. Enjoy.

Pearl Police arrested the court reporters of Hinds County Circuit Judges Tomie Green and Winston Kidd on June 23 for various charges. PPD charged Danette Horne, age 45 years old, with Disobeying a Police Officer and Resisting arrest. She is the court reporter for Judge Kidd. Kimberly Smith, age 43 years old, works for Judge Green and was charged with a first offense DUI and traveling more than twenty miles over the speed limit. See roster for 7th Circuit.

Good news for Jacksonians today. JPD arrested several individuals suspected of participating numerous burglaries and home invasions recently. WLBT reported on the arrest of several suspects who robbed a home on St. Andrews last week and shot several times at the homeowners:

Read this little letter written by an official at Delta Airlines about the impact Obamacare will have on the company. Oh, I forgot, only the rich travel. Who cares. Credit to Redstate for this find.

Here are the latest crime reports for Jackson.  City has not posted them on its website since May 19 sooooo...... JJ had to file a public records request to obtain them. Voila.

The Sun Herald took DMR to task in a recent editorial after the agency asked for more money from the legislature:

Most of you have heard of the Australian baseball player who was killed by three thugs in Oklahoma "for the fun of it".  The father of a kid in that neighborhood provides some rather disturbing but predictable observations about the suspects and their world in this video:

Our legislative and congressional scrums can't touch these brawls across the pond. June 12 edition.

One suspect was arrested yesterday in the robbery that took place Wednesday morning on St. Andrew's in the Country Club of Jackson. The suspect confessed to the crime.  He went before judge this morning but unfortunately for him, no bond was granted. Some items were recovered and the Infinity SUV was found at a chop shop.  One suspect is at large. Trying to confirm more information. 

Here is the agenda for Monday's meeting of the Jackson City Council:

The  Hinds County District Attorney issued the following press release:

The Bigger Pie Forum responded to recent attacks by organized labor in this press release:

Here is an interesting map of the 2010 census.  Reader sent in this link to a website that allows one to examine the racial characteristics of individual neighborhoods.  Link.  Select "add map labels labels" and zoom in all the way to get to actual streets.  Jackson area might surprise you. Especially Ridgeland. 

The latest Obamacare scare is home visits. Stories made the rounds over the gummint sending employees to your homes for home visits. JJ found the proposed rule and posted it below. The government created the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Competitive Grant program and provided it with $1 billion grant for five years. The federal government awards the grants to the states. The government gave $1,769,606 to the Mississippi Department of Health and Human Services in 2012 (List of awards) The states obtain the funding and then administer the home visits.

WAPT reported on a home invasion in NE Jackson:

Check out what is going on in the Jackson Advocate's favorite country. Zero Hedge reports:

We had Renee Shakespeare on the worst radio show in town yesterday to discuss the Jackson Zoo.  Also gave a Stokes update in the last segment.  

Apparently a member of Tigerdroppings got a DUI over the weekend in Hinds County. Posted about it and is now bragging he can probably get it dropped cuz his family knows the district attorney:

Westin Hotel project. TIF bonds. Hinds County Board of Supervisors. What could possibly go wrong?

Senator Ted Cruz spoke at the Redstate gathering in New Orleans earlier this month.  As you will see, he had a few things to say.

No, I'm not writing about the Mississippi Bar.  The Snake Nation issued a Fatwah against DMR cronies this morning:

Kenneth Stokes was at it again yesterday at the regular meeting of the Hinds County Board of Supervisors.  Republicans, Democrats, Valley State fans, it doesn't matter. they are all crooks, all on the take, and everyone but him is a liar.  This time he accused Election Commissioner Connie Cochran and the two parties of trying to stuff ballot boxes.  Funny stuff considering his wife benefited from election day tricks but this is Stokes we are discussing. The good stuff appears in the first five minutes.

JJ scooped the story last week but the Hattiesburg American followed up with a killer story today on the city government running criminal background checks on witnesses in the recent election trial. The newspaper reported:

WLBT reported last night someone posted a video of possible domestic violence in Jackson recently.  The video is posted below.  The male in the video now says it was a joke. Was it? We report, you decide.  WLBT story

The Sun-Herald sharply criticized State Auditor Stacey Pickering over the DMR fiasco yesterday in an editorial:

Forgot to post the complete video of the Hinds County Board of Supervisors' meeting held two weeks ago.  Part 2 includes Malachi's audit of county finances and its recommendations. Here it is.

June 19 edition. Enjoy.

Ray Mosby penned an editorial in the Mississippi Business Journal about the Governor. Blues Brothers, Governor Bryant, bent sticks, and mission from God. Not to be confused with talent on loan from God. Rather interesting missive and worth reading. A few paragraphs are posted below but it is highly recommended you click on the link and read the rest of it.

Stephen Moore writes in the Wall Street Journal the sequester actually worked. Good piece.  Libs and cons will both find it interesting.  Mr. Moore crunches some numbers and reports:

Here are the latest crime reports for Jackson, Rankin County, Madison,  Byram, and the Rez.  No, Jackson is not updating crime reports on the website. Jackson has not posted crime reports since the week of May 19.  JJ filed a public records request for the report and is going to keep doing so every week until Jackson starts updating them on its website. If the Rankin and Jackson reports do not appear, it is probably because they are in flash.  Enjoy.

Hinds County District Attorney Robert Schuler Smith issued the following press release:

Update from Hattiesburg:

Here is the agenda for next week's meeting of the Hinds County Board of Supervisors:

Check out the Upper Lake of the Rez last night:

Here is an interesting quote about the Governor's travel expenses that appeared in Sunday's Clarion-Ledger:

Madison PD issues the following statement:

Check out this story by WTVA on the Conservative Coalition:

Its Stokes. Need I say more?

Body found at corner of Rice and Madison Ave. Clarion-Ledger reports its Abigail Bonner. Found a mile away from the home. Here is an overhead shot of the woods.

A group of West Jackson residents and community leaders met last night to fight to keep the Jackson Zoo at its current site in on Capital Street. The Zoo has been plagued by declining attendance and financial problems over the last few years. The zoo also faces a loss of accreditation in September. The board of directors for the non-profit company operating the zoo created a special committee to examine various proposals for zoo's future.

Check out the first minute of this video of Sollie Norwood last night:

Big debate in the Republican Party over whether to use a budget showdown to defund Obamacare.  Heritage, Mike Lee, Ted Cruz, Mark Rubio and others demand the Republicans use this tactic.  Karl Rove, Senator Coburn, and the rest of their side call this one of the "dumbest ideas" they've ever heard. What does our Mississippi delegation think about this idea?  MPB reported:

Ricky Flynt from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will be on the show tomorrow to discuss our favorite topic: Gator huntin'.  Email your questions to kingfish1935@gmail.com. 

Community meeting tonight about the Zoo posted on Facebook:

That didn't take long. Welcome to the age of the internet.  Central District Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall and other discuss raising gas taxes to pay for roads and some Republican Senators immediately take to the Facebook pages.

The Tony Greer for Supervisor campaign will hold a fund-raiser tomorrow night in Clinton. Invite is below:

Stanford University's Center for Research on Education Outcomes praised New Orleans charter schools in a study release last week. CREDO said in a press release it:

Hinds County District Attorney Robert Schuler Smith issued the following press release:

Dan Modisett has a little fun with the Hinds County Board of Supervisors on WLBT last week:

These people will vote one day. The information on Youtube says the video was shot recently here in Jackson. However, JJ has not been able to verify the location of the incident. Pretty funny regardless of where it took place.

The president of Blue Cross/Blue Shield Louisiana told the Monroe News-Star (Gannett) last week insurance rates will sharply increase next year:

Why can't we have liberals who look like the one posing the first question for the PM? June 5, 2013 edition.

This post from the archives now looks rather prescient as The Kingfish warned Southern Miss fans about the perils of hiring Giannini for athletic director. Turned out to be right, unfortunately. That's ok, I like Monken. Wanted to bring him back to LSU.

Here is the agenda for next week's meeting of the Jackson City Council. Some items of interest:

Made this announcement on Facebook:

Hinds County Election Commissioner Connie Cochran told JJ Supervisor Robert Graham spoke to her and agreed to use Election Commission funds to pay for the cost of holding primaries for supervisor elections in Districts 2 and 4. She said the Board would vote on the matter at the next meeting on August 19.

Just think, you are supporting these people. Warning: language, violence.  This Youtube clip said it took place in Jackson, MS but the original clip says Minnesota. Its still entertaining.

While the Clarion-Ledger, Marshall Fisher, and Governor Phil Bryant hyperventilate over prescription drug abuse, the Wall Street Journal reports heroin is making a comeback:

Remember the Coates family? Daughter is already out on house arrest.

Here is the show from yesterday.

The Slabbed nation issued an informal press release concerning a recent fund-raiser:

Attorney General issues opinion to Hinds County Board of Supervisors stating the county has to pay for primary elections.  Board President Robert Graham said he was "taking the opinion under advisement" and adjourned the meeting.  No vote to fund the primaries was taken. So much for an AG opinion.  Walker and Hobson-Calhoun were visibly stunned.  Board Attorney Tony Gaylor did not provide the opinion until the end of the meeting. I wonder if Charles Graham will complain about this in the Clarion-Ledger.  Here is the AG opinion.  The video will follow later.

The Hinds County Board of Supervisors refused to pay for primaries for the elections of supervisors for Districts 2 and 4 in September. The board instead voted 3-2 Monday to ask the Attorney General to issue a written opinion on whether the county had to pay for the elections despite the fact absentee ballots have to be mailed this Friday. A motion by Supervisor Peggy Hobson-Calhoun to authorize the county to pay for the primaries failed at a budget meeting yesterday. However, the Monday discussion was not without its fireworks as Supervisor Kenneth Stokes and Hinds County Republican Party Chairman Pete Perry had a few words to say to each other.

Update on the Abigail Bonner case.  Tracy Armbruster interviewed the parents on WJTV:

Watch how Kenneth Stokes treats Blake Wallace, the Executive Director of the Hinds County Economic Development Authority, yesterday:

Chokwe for Quinn:

Shame on the Mississippi Supreme Court and the Clarion-Ledger as they teamed up to protect the identity of a child molester. The Mississippi Supreme Court issued a reprimand, $1,000 fine, and thirty day suspension to Hinds County Youth Court Judge William Skinner last week. Judge Skinner recused himself on a case involving a local attorney convicted of gratification of lust, yet signed an arrest warrant several months later. The Supreme Court disbarred Wendell Shan Thompson in 2012 for his conviction, and stated Mr. Thompson's name throughout the order. However, the Supreme Court and newspaper saw fit to change his identity in all matters dealing with Judge Skinner. Order of suspension

Kenneth Stokes and Pete Perry went at it today at the regular meeting of the Hinds County Board of Supervisors.  I'll write up the story in the morning but if you are bored, here is the video.  The exchange occurs in the second clip during the first ten minutes.  Mr. Stokes told the Election Commission to take the county to court if it wanted the county to pay for the primaries for the supervisor special elections in Districts 2 and 4 in September.  The board voted 3-2 to defer action until it received a written opinion from the attorney general.

Hinds County Board of Supervisors vote 3-1 to fire EOC Director Mark Young. The move was unexpected as the board only hired Mr. Young in October (Video)

Karl Denninger makes a great point on The Market Ticker about the new Google/Motorola phone:

Hinds County supervisors Kenneth Stokes and Al Hunter want to remove several million dollars from the Byram-Clinton-Bolton corridor fund and distribute the money to each supervisor to use for roads and recreation in their districts.  The Clarion-Ledger reported Saturday:

Here is a 2007 post about a New Orleans woman who liked to live well at our expense. Follow the links as the entire story is rather sad yet entertaining in a cynical way. Meet our favorite mooch

Past summers are cherished in this recent Dave Shiflett essay in the  Wall Street Journal :

The Sun-Herald raised a little bit of cane over the state auditor's upcoming fund-raiser.  It seems it will be held at the home of a sub-contractor for DMR:

A July installment of the questions for the Prime Minister on July 10. Enjoy.

The Guardian (UK) reported more details on the NSA's ability to snoop online:

"A top secret National Security Agency program allows analysts to search with no prior authorization through vast databases containing emails, online chats and the browsing histories of millions of individuals, according to documents provided by whistleblower Edward Snowden.

David Breland reports in the Hattiesburg Americanthere was possible intimidation of the jury in Ware v. Dupree:

Note: "Mr. Cooper" is disbarred attorney Wendell Shan Thompson.  He was convicted of gratification of lust in Hinds County.  Here is his disbarment. 

The Mississippi Supreme Court suspended Hinds County Court Judge William Skinner for thirty days and fined him $1,000.  Here is the opinion.

This is an actual display in Jackson.

Check out the notice for the Jackson City Council Planning Committee posted below.

Jackson and Natchez ranked in the top ten of Conde Nast Traveler's most friendly cities in America. The annual survey surveys readers for the friendliest and unfriendliest cities. The two cities tied for seventh place. The survey said Charleston, South Carolina was the friendliest city in the United States.  Link to story

This is a subject I hate broaching, but it is true, all good things must come to an end. Fred Smith announced he is closing Choctaw Books in September.  Many Jacksonians have called the antique bookstore our literary home, but the internet and suburban flight hammered Choctaw one too many times for it to survive. I'm writing my own post about this misfortune, but Jesse Yancy penned this article about Fred and his labor of love.  Fred reduced all prices 30%. Please like the "Choctaw Books is closing" Facebook page.  It also wouldn't hurt to make a trip to Choctaw and buy some books while it is still open.  Mr. Yancy wrote: