Jackson Jambalaya

 An online news website  reports Oxford House is operating a string of homes for recovering addicts in Mississippi with government funding yet receives little, if any supervision from the Mississippi Department of Mental Health.   Watchdog.org even reports that  Oxford House is attempting to recruit "clients" from jails for their homes that are located in residential neighborhoods.  Steve Wilson writes:

Governor Phil Bryant issued the following press release:

Update: Suspect turned himself in to the police. 

JPD issued the following press release:

The Kingfish discussed Judges, Sparrows, and the Hinds County criminal justice system yesterday on the show.

State Senator Will Longwitz had a fund-raiser Monday night that had a looooong list of supporters:

Note: Pour a drink and light a cigar before watching the video.

Clinton Mayor Phil Fisher held a press conference this afternoon to discuss crimes allegedly committed by "career criminals" and their treatment by the Hinds County criminal justice system.  District Attorney Robert Schuler Smith showed up unannounced and was visibly angry at the press conference.  What started as a press conference turned into a showdown at the Clinton Corral.

The City of Jackson issued the following press release:

The Cory Wilson for Representative campaign wants to invite you to this fundraiser:

Take a ride down a street on a San Francisco trolley in 1906.  It was filmed only a few days before the Great Earthquake.   Producer did a great job on sound design.

Give this lady a great deal of credit.  Jarvis Durr's victim in 2012 spoke to WLBT last night about the inability of the criminal justice system to protect society from thugs like him.  He is accused of armed robbery, forcible rape, and business burglary in that crime.  She didn't hide behind a screen or use any of the identity concealment tricks. She faced the cameras, gave her name, and said what she thought.

A male student at Madison Central today was apparently inspired by 2 Samuel when he took a bad trip on what is thought to be some spice.  He got real emotional while reading some poetry, lost control, took off all of his clothes, and ran out of the school stark naked and all the way to a bathroom at Broadmoor Baptist Church before he was apprehended by Madison PD.  It is not known if he is the Kwizatz Haderach.

This mother showed her son who is boss yesterday during the Baltimore riots when she caught him throwing rocks at the police.  Good job, mom.  Too bad we don't have her address so we can send her a couple of belts.  It would be a shame for her to wear out her good ones. 

Mr. Elow Williams had a few things to say about the state of black-white relations on Facebook recently.  He kept trying to post this in Roadblocks Jackson but it kept getting deleted.  Methinks he deserves a proper audience.

Second update: The trial was continued no less than eight times in three years. The post has been updated to show that information.  

Update: WHAT THE HELL??? THIS is the video from June 2012.




This is a link to a longer WAPT video and story about the standoff. 

Original post:

It appears Neil and Anna Stephens were running an egg-selling operation that was complete with chickens and chicken coops in their back yard at their home on Newland Street in Jackson.  They are currently at the center of a controversy as they leased several Northeast Jackson homes to the Oxford House. The Stephenses kept chickens in their back yard and sold eggs under the label "Urban Eggs". They even advertised the eggs for sale online.   Social South published a story positively gushing about Urban Eggs in February:

Tired of the presidential silly season that seems to last forever?  A Millsaps professor defended the current system in a letter to the Wall Street Journal that was published last week. Dr. Nathan Shrader wrote:

Video of base camp on Mount Everest hit by avalanche. Pretty intense.  Warning: Lanugage.

Here are the February crime stats for the Rez.

The Common Core debate grew in intensity last week as Governor Bryant vetoed SB #2161.  Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves criticized the veto.  Senator Chris McDaniel then jumped into the fray with a press release issued by his United Conservatives Fund PAC.

Since the war has escalated into a battle of the talking points and press releases, the Kingfish decided to break down the bill for the readers as he suspects that few people have actually read the bill. Copy of bill. The purpose of this post is to stimulate a discussion on the actual bill itself.  Leave the talking points, name-calling, and bashing the politicians at home.  Discussion about the actual language in the bill would be welcome. 

Hinds County Court Judge Melvin Priester, Sr. ordered JPD to provide all evidence in criminal cases to the office if the Hinds County Public Defender prior to preliminary hearings for suspects.  Judge Priester issued this order:

Todd Starnes, a Fox News commentator, reported on a dispute between a local church and UMMC.  The church apparently made a contract to hold an Easter Sunday service at a conference center.  UMMC the cancelled the contract nine days before the service.  Mr.  Starnes wrote: 

Update: Mr. Davis currently faces not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven, not eight but NINE counts of auto burglary from Raymond PD.  His bond is $10,000 each for eight charges but no bond for one charge.    Will Robert Schuler Smith, Tomie Green, and Michelle Purvis finally agree that this guy is actually a habitual criminal?
 
Original post on April 24: When does habitual mean habitual in the Hinds County criminal justice  system?  Meet Woodrez T. Davis.  9-time felon. His first felony conviction took place in 1999.  He was granted parole and released from the custody of MDOC on January 2015.  Despite a record of eight felony convictions, Hinds County prosecutors agreed to drop the "habitual offender" designation in a plea bargain with Davis in March 2014.    He is currently a suspect in several burglaries in the Clinton area.  He is currently in jail for four charges of auto burglary in Hinds County. 

The United Conservatives Fund PAC issued the following press release:

Federal law enforcement agents arrested Fred Pagan today on one charge of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.  The following statement of facts was submitted to the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia.

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following press release:

Dorsey Carson, attorney for Rudy Warnock, and Mr. Warnock both issued the following statements. Mr. Warnock is the engineer for Madison County.

The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District issued this brochure concerning the lake user fee.

 The Mayor of Madison was on fire last night as she gave her annual state of the city address. She announced the plans for a town square, blasted the Madison County Board of Supervisors, and charged the State Auditor with recommending engineer Rudy Warnock to another county.  Oh, and she announced the creation of a website, cleansweepmadisoncounty.org, to "clean up the county". 
  The video of the entire speech is posted below. Some highlights of the speech are:

Governor Phil Bryant issued the following press release:

Brief of the year. Hands down.

Madison-Rankin Counties' District Attorney Michael Guest issued the following press release:

Kenneth Stokes went on a little rant about police chases at Tuesday's meeting of the Jackson City Council. Mr. Stokes would like to create a safe haven for criminals in Jackson.  Think of it as Stokes goes Viet Cong.  He wants to give criminals the right to commit crimes  outside of Jackson and then rush back to Jackson and use JPD to protect said criminals.  Kind of like how Charlie would hit our troops and then rush back into North Vietnam where we couldn't touch them.  Watch the video for yourself. 

The Journal of the American Medical Association published a new study based on over 95,000 subjects that concluded there was no link between vaccines and autism.  The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday:

Here is the list of unclaimed property held by the state of Mississipp.  If you find your name on the list, go to the Treasurer's website.  This post is a public service provided by JJ. 

The Sound of Music returns to the big screen for its 50th anniversary today.  It will play at Tinseltown at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

Enoch Sanders address the peoples at the Jackson City Council meeting yesterday. It was one for the books as he slammed policemans and police chases into Jackson. Enjoy the video.

Gilbert Sturgis appeared on the show.

Did the spirit of Bernie Ebbers guide the Singing River Health System?   The 2014 audit charges that accounts receivable were overstated by $88 million while the pension plan fell into worse shape.  The audit was presented to the Jackson County Board of Supervisors.   The hospital system lost $34.7 million in 2014 and $32.3 million in 2013.  The audit reviewed both years and was conducted by Horne CPA group.  Previous audits were conducted by KPMG.  KPMG was selected by then CEO Chris Anderson.  Mr. Anderson is currently the CEO OF MBMC but served as Singing River's CEO until the spring of 2014.  The audit also includes a restatement of the 2013 audit. 

Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann issued the following press release:

The City of Jackson issued the following press release:

Buzzfeed published an in-depth article about allegedly heavy-handed tactics Lafayette County law enforcement uses at Ole Miss.  The feds provide drug war money, the Metro Narc Unit decides it needs a piece of that action, and voila, Ole Miss suddenly has a huge drug problem.  Next comes the targeting of college freshman as they are first busted and then flipped into confidential informants.  Buzzfeed reports:

The Murrah Drum Corps practices the "Risen" cadence in this video.

The United Conservatives Fund issued the following press release:

Here are the latest crime stats and maps for the city of Jackson for the week ending April 5, 2015.

Former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and George Schultz stated their misgivings about the pending nuclear agreement with Iran in a Wall Street Journal column published two weeks ago.  Unlike the talking heads on tv, these two know a thing or two about this subject. The column posted below is worthy of your attention and addresses one of the most important issues of our era. 

JPD issued the following press release:

The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District issued the following statement:

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality approved an application to build a wastewater treatment facility submitted by the West Rankin Utility Authority.  The Clarion-Ledger reported:

The Mississippi Department of Education issued the following press release:

Karla Watkins Bailey filed a defamation lawsuit against Hinds County Circuit Judge Jeff Weill in Hinds County Court yesterday.   Ms. Bailey was once the court administrator for Judge Weill and also Judge Swan Yerger.  She is represented by Ashley Ogden. 

Hinds County Sheriff Tyrone Lewis issued the following press release:

Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves and Speaker of the House Philip Gunn issued the following press release:

The second Star Wars trailer was released today.  No appearances by the Ewoks so far. Enjoy.

Rankin-Madison District Attorney Michael Guest issued the following press release:

Reverend Jeffrey Stallworth won his fight to be removed from the Mississippi sex offender registry.  The Mississippi Supreme Court reversed a lower court decision denying him the relief.  Reverend Stallworth pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of sexual offense in the fourth degree in Maryland in 2002.  He had to register as a sex offender.  A Prince George County Court (Maryland) expunged his conviction in 2010.  However, a Hinds County court refused to remove him from the registry.

The Arkansas Times shined some light on Oxford House after it came to Little Rock.  Is Oxford House a money-making scam that exploits recovering addicts (a la Dr. Drew) or an innovative way to improve one's chances of success when battling addiction?  That question and others will arise one reads the story that is very thorough and informative.  The Times reported in 2013:

SNL meets GOT:

Governor Phil Bryant issued the following statement:

Governor Phil Bryant issued the following press release:

There is nothing quite like Clinton virtue.  Rueters reported that Hillary Clinton attacked CEO pay last weekend:

the Beer Girl.  If she really wants to raise some money, she should also have a beer pong tourney. Might as well go all the way.

No more lottery. Get the kegs and tents ready as permits will be awarded on a first come-first served basis.  See for yourself:

The Mississippi Democratic Trust issued this press release written by Representative Bobbie Moak (D-Two Sisters):

No special guests or topics. 

JPD issued the following press release. Scroll down for pictures.

The pu**ification of America continues.

Governor Phil Bryant issued the following press release:

This video urging Governor Phil Bryant to sign SB #2161 has been having problems staying up on Facebook. It seems whenever it is posted, Facebook quickly removes the video. Apparently some people who don't like the bill quickly report the video to Facebook as a copyright violation and then it is soon deleted. There is no copyright but that doesn't seem to mean a thing to a certain group in Mississippi who brooks no debate or opposition. Here it is and if anyone wants to submit something from the opposing view that he or she actually authored, it will be posted in the interest of equal time.

It looks like another local eating tradition has gone by the way side:

Now-deceased Rankin County Chancellor Dan Fairly sealed the estate of Thomas Bradshaw, Jr.  Mississippi State University disputed the actions of conservator Murphy Adkins in the estate opened in 2013.  The will was changed to award $1.6 million to Mr. Adkins.  JJ would like to tell you when the estate was sealed.  JJ would like to tell you the reasons cited by Judge Fairly for the sealing of the case.  Hell, JJ would love to show you a copy of the protective order.  However, there is literally no information available at the clerk's office other than the fact the file is sealed.  JJ reported the details of the case on October 1, 2013:

The Madison Police Department issued the following press release:

Body cameras are the new law enforcement tool that is on everyone's lips after South Carolina and Ferguson.  The politicians are naturally rushing forward to give grants and get grants while the media asks how come all police don't already have this 21st century tool.  However, the Wall Street Journal explored one often-ignored feature of body cameras- storage costs. The media rarely, if ever, mentions the storage costs as it usually just focuses on the sticker price.  A police department that has several hundred body cameras is also going to have a great deal of data to store - and that costs money.  The Journal reported:

To say Oxford House has generated a huge ruckus in Jackson with its plans to open numerous unsupervised "sober living" homes is a small understatement.  New Jersey was the birthplace of the Oxford House experiment and has had its own share of problems with these unlicensed and unregulated homes for recovering addicts.  Northjersey.com published a rather thorough and eye-opening article about the world of Oxford House "homes":

This short epistle about free speech by a Mr. Joseph Dizoglio apparently passes for critical thinking at Brown University. It appeared as a letter to the editor in the Brown newspaper.

John Pittman Hey sent this little message and video about some cops in Greenwood that are in apparent conflict with statements made by the Greenwood police chief.

The city of Jackson issued this statement:

The city of Jackson issued the following press release:

Governor Phil Bryant issued the following press release:

The race for the Congressional election in the first district is well underway.  The race is not in the JJ neck of the woods but I found this one commercial to be pretty funny as far as such things go.

The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi issued the following press release:

Does the new math mean no math?  A professor of psychiatry opined on Bloomberg that boys and girls should not learn math past the basic levels of addition and subtraction.  Wisdom is ignorance. Foolishness is brilliance.  Dr. Susan Engel wrote:

Our favorite psycho is back in jail but this time he is enjoying the hospitality of Madison County Sheriff Randy Tucker.  Raymond Ethan Thomas was charged with witness intimidation and trespassing on private property to steal two dogs from Lindsay Thomas.  He was denied bond for the witness intimidation charge.  Witnesses told JJ that Ms. Thomas was visibly terrified when she appeared in court earlier this week.  A restraining order was imposed on Mr. Thomas as well.

Some people don't know when to be quiet. You may remember this guy screaming police harassment of his Jubilee convenience store on Northside Drive:

One Northeast Jackson resident posted this bad experience she had with a halfway house several years ago on a social media website.  JJ confirmed the incident took place with JPD and the victim. This message is re-posted with her permission although her name has been removed.

JPD issued the following press release:

Here is the show from last week. Pete Perry appeared for the first half hour to discuss the report on the Siemen's contract.

Rand Paul announced today that he is running for President.  Mississippi Democrats responded with the following press release.

JPD issued the following press release:

The city of Jackson stated the following streets are no longer under a boil water notice:

Senator Will Longwitz (R-Xanadu) posted the following  statement on Facebook yesterday:

Another member of Doolittle's Raiders left us for the great big hanger up in the sky last week.  Only two Raiders are left.  The 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs unit issued the following statement:

JPD issued the following press release:

Clarion-Ledger Executive Editor Sam Hall revealed a few more details about the firing of the Iron Chancellor in a column published in yesterday's edition.  Words such as micromanagement and yelled were used.  Interesting stuff.  Mr. Hall wrote:

The city of Jackson removed boil water notices for the following areas:

JJ confirmed Rankin County Chancellor Dan Fairly committed suicide this afternoon on the Natchez Trace near Highway 43.  He had been off the bench for several months this year due to a medical leave. More details will be posted when available.

Joseph Neal and Anna Fiser Stephens issued this statement today on the Oxford House controversy in Jackson:

The IHL Board of Trustees released this letter regarding the non-renewal of the contract of Ole Miss Chancellor Dr. Dan Jones.

Two escapees from the downtown jail are back in custody this morning.  Cornelius Carter and Arick Toins were captured at 287 Tara Road.  Police are still looking for the other two escapees. 

The city of Jackson issued the following boil water notice for part of Belhaven:

The Mississippi Supreme Court issued this short ruling in the dispute between Hinds County Circuit Judge Jeff Weill and Hinds County Public Defender's Office:

A controversy has erupted in Northeast Jackson as a couple has purchased several homes and then allowed the Oxford House to use them as halfway houses for recovering drug and alcohol addicts.  However, none of these "Oxford homes" went through the zoning process in Jackson nor did they receive approval from the city to operate these "homes" in areas zoned for single-family residence.  Each "home" apparently contains seven recovering addicts. 

Beeeeeeeeeeeert Case asked if there was a reason for an increase in missing dogs in Rankin County.

Update: Boil water notice lifted for Duling and Lake Dockery Drive. 

The city of Jackson issued the following press release:

Governor Phil Bryant issued the following press release:

U.S. Attorney Greg Davis issued the following press release:

This little pic was taken yesterday at the corner of Farish and Amite Streets.

What is it they say about victory having a thousand fathers? Our little friend Noel Fritsch apparently thinks Representative Andy Gipson is "anti-gun". He even said so in this email that was sent out to his supporters yesterday. Andy Gipson. Anti-gun. Think about that one for a second.