Jackson Jambalaya

Update: SB #2441 just passed the House and Senate. 

*MHA bills are SB #2441 and SB# 2588*
* MississippiCan to uses managed-care companies control Medicaid costs
*MississippiCan expands in 2017 to include hospital in-patient services. MHA wants a piece of that action. Guess when its plan proposes to begin coverage?
*SB #2441 allows MHA to operate under a different set of rules than its competitors. 
*Bills passed conference and are awaiting approval by legislature.

The Mississippi Hospital Association suffered some losses in its fight to get some special treatment from the legislature but make no mistake, Frankenstein is alive and well as it fights to create its Medicaid monster during this last week of the 2015 session.  Copy of SB #2441.  Copy of SB #2588.

Here are the latest "C's" given to Jackson metro area restaurants by the Mississippi Health Department since December 9, 2014. The department will reinspect the restaurant within a few days after it receives the failing grade.  The restaurants posted below passed their follow-up inspections unless otherwise noted.  Review individual restaurants on this page.

Note: Want to act a fool in the comments? If so, don't be surprised if you don't see your comment approved. 

Attorney General Jim Hood issued the following press release:

It looks like Civil War nuts will get some War Between the States porn.  The Library of Congress released 77 photos. Link to photos.  Enjoy.

Local attorney Dorsey Carson stood up to abortion protestors who were yelling at people attending Fondren Presbyterian Church in this video.  They were apparently holding up very graphic posters depicting abortion.  The video is posted with his permission.

Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves issued the following press release:

Found the  movie on Daily Motion. Buckle your seat belts. It's all true.

The Kingfish appeared on the Kim Wade radio show last week to discuss the Mississippi Hospital Association's major push for two bills that will allow it to create a health insurance plan for Medicaid patients under a special set of rules, and with $30 million in help from the taxpayers. An update on the bills is posted below:



There is an 18 second lag before the show begins.

This little column by former Governor Ronnie Musgrove and the esteemed Mr. Ryan Brown appeared in the Huffington Post earlier this week.

There was once a little court fight between the Delta Health Alliance and an employee.   A Chip Morgan of the Delta Council and UMMC were dragged into the scrum at some point.  Mr. Morgan has been nominated by Governor Bryant to the college board but has not been confirmed and thus  does not yet sit on the board.   Robert Khayat and Dan Jones were employed at Ole Miss and UMMC during this controversy.  It probably has nothing to do with the current war between IHL and Dan Jones.  However, the court file is rather interesting reading on its own and is posted below.  Cigar, drink, read. Enjoy

JJ got its hands on this little report on some polling data for House District #1.

On the Gallo Radio Show this week, State Representative Gary Chism said  the legislature is considering giving $30 million in tax breaks to a proposed managed care plan that would be operated by the Mississippi Hospital Association.  Representative Chism is Chairman of the Insurance Committee.  JJ reported last week:

State Representative (D-Country Club of Jackson) Jim Evans withdrew from the race for House District #70.  Challenger Sam Begley lost a qualification challenge at the Mississippi Democratic Party after he argued Mr. Evans did not live in the district. However, Mr. Begley filed a lawsuit last week against Mr. Evans in Hinds County Circuit Court. Copy of lawsuit. 

Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber issued the following press release:

Our favorite numbskull, Noel Fritsch, spreading around his stupidity in the name of Mississippi gun rights yet again. How many times can he get caught lying before he finally goes away? This has to be an act. Has to be.

Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves issued the following statement:

Here is the first audio clip of the showdown that took place last week in the Hinds County courtroom between Circuit Judge Jeff Weill and the public defender's office. The complete audio recording is posting in several clips and also one complete recording.   The Judge and Public Defender waste no time in starting their fight in this clip.

The Kingfish discussed the firing of Ole Miss Chancellor Dan Jones and SB #2441.

A February 11, 2015 letter from IHL Commissioner Hank Bounds sent to Stacey Pickering contained an interesting little paragraph in closing:

The Zoning Commission for the city of Jackson will meet today at 1:30.  Yes, the Colonial Country Club site will be on the agenda.

The Jackson Free Press tried to tie controversy in the courtroom of Hinds County Circuit Judge Jeff Weill to, drum roll......, Ferguson.  Yup.  Read for yourself.

Here are the latest crime stats for Jackson for the week ending March 15, 2015.

Mississippi First's Rachel Canter discussed charter schools and their opening in Mississippi on the Ben Allen show last week.

Hinds County Circuit Judge Jeff Weill issued the following order regarding the findings of contempt he issued against Public Defenders Michelle Purvis and Greg Spore. Judge Weill also ordered the sound recording made by the court reporter (for making transcripts) be made a part of the official record.

Stephanie Parker-Weaver passed away.  She suffered greatly over the last few years from cancer and other illnesses.  Combative at times, while always standing for what she thought was right, is the best way to describe her. May she finally get peace from the pain. 

Attorney Mitch Tyner issued the following press release:

Posted below is an audit of UMMC completed in September 2014.  Sources told JJ the audit found major problems in contracts and procurement.  IHL conducted another audit recently and supposedly discovered Mr. Jones allegedly ignored most of the recommendations from the audit and blew off guidance (my word) from IHL.  Sources say that was the main reason for the termination.  Some observations I made about the audit are posted below.   

Welcome to the state of crime victim notification in Hinds County that ignores the law. The victim of a savage beating and armed robbery by Keifer's three years ago drove down here (she lives three hours away) last week to attend the sentencing of the thug who pleaded guilty to the crime.  Just one problem.  Her email says it all:

Just an old story from the Mississippi Business Journal back in 2011. I just felt like posting a blast from the past for the pure heck of it.

Uncle Bennie weighed in on the public fight between Hinds County Circuit Judge Jeff Weill and the Hinds County Public Defender's Office.  Judge Weill held Hinds County Public Defenders Michelle Purvis and Greg Spore in contempt of court last week.  Purvis and her employees packed the courtroom and then held a rally outside the courthouse in front of the media.  Uncle Bennie asked the Justice Department to investigate.  This drama will probably continue for quite some time.  However, there is a case that provides a good look at both sides of the dispute.

This is a recording of Mississippi Hospital Association CEO Tim Moore's interview with Paul Gallo last week.  Some highlights of the interview are:

The FBI issued the following statement yesterday:

A friend made this comment on his Facebook page about the Islander Oyster House:

The Board of the Institutions of Higher Learning issued the following statement:

Double-Crossed.  A movie about Barry Seal, Medellin Cartel, CIA,  Baton Rouge, drug and gun running, and a slimy Italian federal judge named Frank Palozola.  Now available on Youtube and posted below for your Saturday night viewing pleasure.

Couldn't see this one coming.   Ole Miss Chancellor Dan Jones sent this letter to Ole Miss supporters yesterday.

Bruce Bartley issued this press release announcing his candidacy for House District #58:

The Hinds County Sheriff's Office issued the following press release:

Longtime Democrat party junkyard dog Sam Begley took his fight to remove Representative Jim Evans from the ballot to Hinds County Circuit Court today.  The Mississippi Democratic Party rejected his challenge to Evans' residency and candidacy earlier this week.  They are candidates in the House District #70 election.  The petition is posted below.

The city of Jackson issued the following press release:

Senator Chris McDaniel issued the following column on Iran.

The Mississippi Department of Education issued the following press release:

Hinds County District Attorney candidate Stanley Alexander appeared on the show.

Senate Bill #2441. One of the biggest stories taking place in the current session of the Mississippi Legislature. A true case of insider baseball.  It's discussed by the legislators, lobbyists, consultants, and even the bureaucrats, but completely unnoticed by the media. The older reporters probably think it's a song by Chicago.  The story of SB #2441 is The Mississippi Hospital Association and other groups are making a determined push to get this bill passed, as they seek to enter the HMO business and grab more Medicaid business, as well with some friendly re-writing of Mississippi health insurance laws.   The bill passed both the House and Senate but with some differences. 

The Mississippi Democratic Party rejected Sam Begleys' challenge to the residency of Representative Jim Evans. Both are candidates in House District #70.  Mr. Begley claimed the incumbent lived in Northeast Jackson, outside of his district, and had for quite some time.  The two candidates submitted statements to the party and to be honest, they are quite entertaining to read.  Evans accuses Begley of being in bed with the Republicans (How they wish that was true.) while Begley apparently hired a P.I. to collect evidence for the case.  Will Samuel Begley go to court?

One would think that the Singing River Board of Trustees might be a little bit more forthcoming after all of the problems and controversy that has plagued the health system over the last six month.  Such is not the case as the board said the public has no right to look at their financial records.  That's right.  The public has no right to look at the public records of a public hospital.  The Sun-Herald reported yesterday:

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported last August that Arkansas's little experiment in paying for private insurance with Medicaid dollars cost $778 million more than if it had just stuck to using a "traditional Medicaid program".  The introduction to the GAO report states:

The trial for Dr. Michael Dulske and his wife is set for August 6.  The couple is charged with 20 counts of violating the social host law after police discovered they allegedly served alcohol to a party of teenagers at their home.  Their trial, set for earlier this month, was postponed due to inclement weather.

The Sun-Herald questioned the Mississippi Hospital's spending and distribution of grant money in a Sunday article:

Pete Perry, yes that Pete Perry dissected and analyzed the review of the Siemens' contract and the Jackson water/sewer system that was recently provided to the Jackson city council. He is a civil engineer by training and sits on the Sales Tax Commission as Governor Bryant's appointee. The review was one of the  main factors in the city council's decision to investigate the contract. Mr. Perry reviewed the report and attempted to make it easier to understand in his column posted below for JJ.  The actual report is posted at the end of the column. 

Here is yet another trailer for Game of Thrones.

The Jackson City Council's Zoning Committee postponed a decision on whether to redefine the Special Use classification to include mixed use.  The room was packed with Colonial Country Club neighbors who feared the owners of the site could effectively develop the property as commercial or mixed use without approval from the city under the new definitions.  They heartily applauded the council's decision as several members complained they were unaware that the proposed definitions would impact many properties through out the city.  The definitions were approved at a March 4 meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission that was held without notice to the public.

It looks like the Mississippi High School Athletic Association is bringing Mississippi's segregationist history (when it comes to basketball) to the 21st century.  Mississippi State had to sneak out of state to compete in the NCAA tourney.  Lanier's great 1964 team got screwed. Now it's the Callaway Chargers who are getting the shaft.  The Clarion-Ledger reported:

The founder and part-owner of a company recently hired to provide ambulance service to Brandon was arrested last week. Hempstead County deputies charged James Pafford of Pafford Amublance Service last week on child sex abuse.   The Hope Star reported:

A dispute broke out between Hinds County Circuit Judge Jeff Weill and the public defender's office.  Heck, its gone past the level of dispute and turned into outright war.  The Clarion-Ledger reported:

It looks like Putin is making more changes- for the worse.  The Independent (UK) reported:

Latest fund-raising invite from THE Quintin Whitwell for Congress campaign:

It looks like our esteemed District Attorney is changing his story again.  You may remember that he told the Hinds County Board of Supervisors two weeks ago that he needed more money because the Sheriff was not giving him his forfeiture money.  Well, that story changed as the Clarion-Ledger reported:

Miss Addie Mae Green of Bolton had a few things to say about the Sam Begley-Jim Evans scrum and her candidacy for Agricultural Commissioner. 

Gene Gene the Dancing Machine has lift this world for the Great Gong Show up in the sky. Bye-bye Gene Gene.

This beatdown took place in Indianapolis.  Savages.  Beating up a woman and a little kid. 

The Weidie Report blasts the Mississippi Hospital Association for a "cancer of disgrace" that "spreads from Jackson County to the Capital City."  TWR is operated by Wayne Weidie.  Mr. Weidie was once a journalist and served as a chief of staff for then-Congressman Gene Taylor.  Mr. Weidie starts out by teeing off on the Singing River Fiasco:

First time I've heard a robocall that advertised for challengers. 



Empower Executive Director Grant Callen sent this statement to JJ:

A shooting in New Orleans brings to mind the old "Less Filling! Tastes Great!" arguments of beer commercials past.  The New Orleans Times-Picayune, yes- it is still around, reported:

Here is the complete video of today's little scrum between  Sam Begley and Jim Evans over the big question: Is Representative Jim Evans a resident of the district he represents?

Here are the February 2015 crime stats for Rankin County.

Here are the new FCC rules concerning the regulation of the internet. Pour a drink first as its a looooong read.

Attorney Blayne Ingram issued the following press release:

This AP story almost got away from me.  State Auditor Stacey Pickering told the Associated Press on February 27 that Harrison County Supervisor Lawrence Martin (deceased) was a target in the MDOC investigation:

Walton County (Fl.) Sheriff Michael Adkinson, Jr.  issued the following press release about some Madison moms who tried to be cool with their kids:

Here are some one-page snapshots on local school districts provided by the Mississippi Department of Education. They provide some interesting information.

The Mississippi Department of Education issued the following press release:

I covered this subject with Senator Angela Hill on the radio show last week but the Clarion-Ledger published a nice front-page story on a gun rights battle that is currently taking place in the legislature.*  JJ has much more information to add to this story but will let the newspaper have its day in the sun today.  Stay tuned for tomorrow.  What is interesting about this story is that this out-of-state group is not attacking moderates or fence-sitters but instead legislators who are strong supporters of gun rights.  Geoff Pender wrote:

Former Representative H. Bennett Malone submitted rather sparse statements of economic interest to the Ethics Commission while he served in the legislature.  He suddenly resigned from the legislature several weeks ago.  He served as Chairman of the Committee on Corrections for eight years from 2003 to 2011. 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms issued this statement on its website today:

The House voted today to restore language removing the exemptions from open meetings and public records laws that public hospitals currently enjoy.  SB #2407 passed the Senate on a unanimous vote but was severely watered down in the House Public Health and Human Services Committee last week under heavy pressure from the Mississippi Hospital Association.  The committee inserted language that would limit the bill's application to only Jackson County.  The bill now returns to the Senate. 

Watchdog.org reports that Southern Company is working hard to keep a former project manager silent on all things Kemper.  Reporter Johnny Kampis writes:

Since the Mississippi Hospital Association threw itself into a public records fight that is taking place in the legislature, here is its most recent tax return. Enjoy.

JPD issued this press release concerning a shooting that took place at that local hotbed of rap culture, the Laxmi on Terry Road.  The Laxmi was prominently featured in several Battlefield Gucci and Battlefield Pierre videos.  

Warning: Videos of a violent and graphic nature.

Mississippi State star quarterback Dak Prescott was beaten by a gang of thugs while on Spring Break in Florida.  The videos are posted below and are pretty violent in nature.  Unfortunately, some scumbags are bragging about the beating on social media.  Dak is in the multi-colored shorts. 

It appears our MDOC Commish is listed on  a fund-raising invitation. People can be sooooo..... careless.

Brent Bailey issued the following press release:

The city of Jackson issued the following press release and the proposed master plan for infrastructure.

WLBT reported this weekend that an owner of the Jubilee Convenience Store on Northside Drive is complaining of police harassment of his business.  WLBT reported in this video:

IS brags about destroying Assyrian artifacts in this video it posted online:

The real wonder of  SB #2407's (removes exemptions for Open Meetings Act for public hospitals)  saga is not that it was castrated in the House Public Health Committee last week but that the bill even passed the Senate in the first place.  The Sun-Herald turned its bulldogs loose on the Mississippi Hospital Association and reported MHA dropped over a quarter of a million dollars on legislators:

This screenshot of a message posted by Senator Michael Watson's wife was posted on Y'all Politics last week.  Snip. Snip. Snip.

after all of these years.

Attorney Sam Begley threw down the gauntlet to Representative Jim Evans and the Mississippi Democratic Party as he filed a complaint with the party's executive committee yesterday.  The complaint is posted below.  Mr. Begley is an attorney in Jackson and qualified to run for Mr. Evans' House seat.  Both candidates are Democrats.  Mr. Begley charged in his complaint that Mr. Evans does not live in the district he represents and has not done so for quite some time. 

Gannett's The Town Talk (Alexandria) published a story on a poor woman's ordeal with a speed trap that doubles as a municipality in Louisiana.  Cop admitted to having no probable cause but wound up throwing her in jail for 25 days even though there were no violations.  The newspaper reported:

Update: City council voted to retain the necessary staff to investigate the findings presented by the report posted below. The resolution is also posted below. 


Here is the initial report on the Siemen's contract.  I haven't read through it so I can't tell you what it says but here it is.

JJ asked yesterday if the D.A.'s office is bankrupt.   Here is the video of Hinds County District Attorney Robert Schuler Smith asking for more money from the Board of Supervisors.  The performance reminded one of Santa Cruz's performance two years ago at the legislative budget hearings. 

The Executive Director of the Mississippi Press Association blasted the Mississippi Hospital Association for its stance on a bill that would make public hospitals subject to public records laws and the Open Meetings Act.  Layne Bruce wrote:

No voice box, voice compression, or other tricks.  What kind of singing is this?

State Senator Angela Hill appeared on the show.

Its looks like our little District Attorney went whining to the media- again.  Can't manage a budget so he asks the Supervisors to bail his office out of financial trouble. The Clarion-Ledger reported yesterday:

Hinds County Court Judge Melvin Priester, Sr. ordered the Sheriff in January to provide him with another bailiff. However, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that the Sheriff has authority over the bailiffs. Judge Priester has yet to receive his extra bailiff.

Yup. The Wall Street Journal reported our own Bennie Thompson boycotted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech today. Here is the speech in case you did not get a chance to see it. 

We got us a lawyer going at it with the Clarion-Ledger on the pages of Facebook.  The Clarion-Ledger published this story by reporter Kate Royals last week: 

This message was sent to every member of the legislature:

Update at 1:30 PM: Bill just passed with some changes.  The bill will only apply to Jackson County. Changes will be on House website soon. 

Will the Mississippi Hospital Association protect Singing River?  SB #2407 will end the exemptions that public hospitals currently enjoy from the Open Meetings Act and other public records laws.  It passed the Senate on a unanimous vote.  However, the bill may die in committee in the House as it has yet to be brought up for a vote.  The Sun-Herald reported today:

Fleetwood Mac performed this version of Black Magic Woman in 1970. Give it a listen as it sounds more like something you would have heard at the old Subway around three in the morning in the second half of the song.

A review of bills proposed by Former Representative Bennett Malone reveals a rather interesting pattern: A consistent effort to increase the number of beds and maximum ages allowed at the Walnut Grove facility.  His attempts to help the private prison on this score occurred from 1998 to 2007. Walnut Grove was the subject of many illegal dealings between Chris Epps and Cecil McCrory. 

JPD issued the following press release:

Representative Tom Miles (D-Boondocks) issued this statement on behalf of Representative J. Bennett Malone (D-MDOC) two weeks ago:

Some sucker will fall for this ad.

Here are the latest lists from the parties. Some observations.

Two eleven year-old Mississippi kids loved Raiders of the Lost Ark so much that they made their own fan film version of the movie in 1982.  Fast forward over thirty years and its shown at the SXSW Film Festival for the first time.  Spielberg even sent them a letter praising the effort.  Here is the trailer.