Jackson Jambalaya

The Jackson crime stats for the week ending October 16 are posted below.  The number of crimes has fallen since a year ago.  Property crimes fell 18% while violent crimes dropped 14%.  The overall number of crimes decreased 18%.  The number of crimes went down in every category but one - and that happens to be the most visible category- homicide.  Read the numbers for each category and weep:

Northeast Jackson hoodlum Frank Williams won't be breaking into any more houses for awhile. A  Hinds County  jury convicted him of four counts of house burglary.  However, Circuit Judge Jeff Weill sentenced him to 17 years and 6 months in prison and decreed that half of the sentences were consecutive to the other half.  Thus Frankie received a prison sentence of 35 years. 

The late, immeasurably great Boo Ferriss could have become a Major League manager had he chosen that path. With his people skills and his baseball acumen, he surely would have been a splendid one.

 Update: Incumbent Court of Appeals Judge Jack Wilson is beating Judge Ed Hannan 60% - 40% with 90% of the precincts counted.

Here are the results for the Hinds County Election Commissioner races.  There are two boxes that are still out in two of the races.

It appears the students at Ole Miss are attempting to make the university a "sanctuary city" for illegal aliens.  Read the proposed resolution for yourself.

The Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure want to make it a criminal offense for a doctor to have sex with a patient.  The Atlanta Constitution-Journal recently ranked Mississippi dead last in protecting patients from sexual abuse by doctors.  However, the new executive director of the Board apparently is taking the bull by the horns and working to get off of the bottom and better protect patients as well.  The Mississippi Business Journal reported:

Keith Olbermann shows once again why he gets kicked out of every network as he encourages Republicans to engage in a bit of anarchy and take the country to the edge of civil war.

JPD issued the following press release:

Sometimes we forget how blessed we are to live in a world filled with medical wonders.  The video posted below aims to remind you of that little fact.  Watch people who are able to see colors for the first time when they wear the enchroma glasses.  The video shows how much we take for granted. 

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement and mug shot:

SLRP.  The retirement fund that is appropriately named by its acronym.  Supplemental Legislative Retirement Fund.  It's a declaration by the legislature that states our elected solons are indeed better than the rest of us.  The legislature created SLRP to give themselves extra retirement pay not available to other state employees.  Call it time and a half pay for doing half of the work- if that much. The program currently holds $16.4 million in assets.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol issued the following report on the Thanksgiving holiday enforcement period:

JPD issued the following statement:

The embarrassment that is the tenure of Marilyn Mosby, the State Attorney in Baltimore.  The grandstanding attorney who appeared onstage at a Prince concert shortly after she railroaded six cops in the Freddie Gray case apparently has  a much lower conviction rate than her predecessor- and brags about it.   However, what she lacks in competence she makes up for in making excuses.  The Wall Street Journal reported last week:

JJ presents this sermon by the late Dr. Frank Pollard for those of you who can't make it to church this morning. 

Yup. The bastard is finally dead.  May he rot in hell for a very long time .

Speaker of the House Philip Gunn and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves have decided to shift Mississippi’s tax burden – less on income and businesses, more on users.

It is now the start of the Christmas season.  What better way to kick it off then watching this venerated Christmas TV classic.

Certified NRA instructor Jamie Patrick will teach a concealed weapon's permit class this weekend.  The cost is only $50.  Completion of the class will allow you to apply for the enhanced carry permit.  This information for the class is posted below.

Can you stand some good news? The dog that was stolen in the parking lot of Maywood Mart has been found and returned to its owner.  The owner posted this message on Facebook:

Someone apparently got a case of the stupid.  The Madison Police Department issued the following statement:

JJ posts this classic movie in honor of Dak Prescott:

Sigh.  What is it going to take to wake up this generation? Another World War or Depression?  One group of bed-wetters got upset over the actual flying of the American flag at their university.  The Daily Caller reports:

If you don't succeed, try, try again.  It appears some local thugs took to heart this old proverb as they robbed a Raymond Road location of Metro PCS after a gun-firing manager ran them out of the McDowell Metro PCS store earlier this week.  However, JPD nabbed the two bandits yesterday.  JPD issued the following bulletins and video on Twitter last night.  Classify this post under "Dumb Crook Stories".

Black Friday is upon us.  There is actually a useful website for that annual day of horrors.  This web page actually collected and posted all of the TV sales found in Black Friday ads.  

The little-noticed 2016 actuarial report for Medicare states that the Hospital Insurance Fund (Part A) will go broke in only twelve years.  The other Medicare programs are solvent and face no similar doomsday scenarios on the horizon.  However, The HI Fund has seen its funding level drop more than half since 2007 as its reserves are used to pay more and more health care costs. 

You can make a strong case that the two hottest teams in the National Football League are the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants. Both keep winning. Both boast excellent play at the all-important quarterback position.

And, for our purposes today, both are quarterbacked by the only two-time winners of the C Spire Conerly Trophy which goes annually to the most outstanding college football player in Mississippi.

JPD issued the following press release and pictures:

Here is another look at those would-be robbers at the Metro PCS on McDowell Road yesterday. Enjoy.

The Mississippi Legislature appropriated $388,906 for the settlement of Mississippi Highway Patrol lawsuits earlier this year.  The bill included $235,000 paid to victims of former trooper Christopher Hughes and $118,906 to Training Director Gayle McMullin for racial discrimination.  DPS settled two more lawsuits since the bill became law.  SB #2924 states:

Here is the Edbuild contract.  It finally appeared on DFA's website.  Read it to your heart's content.

File this post under the Lead Laxative Report.  JPD issued the following statement on Twitter:

Things aren't going too well for prosecutors who are determined to have the Great White White that is former AIG CEO Hank Greenberg.  They are pretty desperate as they recently tried to use his World War II service against him.  The Wall Street Journal reported in an October 13 editorial:

Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves and Speaker of the House Phillip Gunn issued the following joint statement about the Edbuild contract:

Mississippi Secretary of State Dilbert Hosemann issued the following statement: 

Attorney General Jim Hood took advantage of the beating the legislature is taking in the media over its recent decision to seal all contracts.  The Attorney General issued this statement:

Vice-President-Elect Mike Pence will be coming to Mississippi for Thanksgiving.  Governor Pence's son is a Marine pilot training at one of our bases.  Let us hope he can survive the Navy mess.

The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District said all lanes on Harbor Drive are reopened after the repair of a 30" water line. 

Here are the video and documents provided at the November 2 meeting of the 1% Sales Tax Commission. The fun starts at 9:00 in the first video when Commissioner Pete Perry questions the accuracy of some of the information provided.  Overall, the meeting ran much better than the October meeting when IMS engineers failed to provide any documents or copies of their presentation to the Commissioners.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol issued the following press release:

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood issued the following press release: 

Hinds County District 4 Election Commissioner Connie Cochran posted this message on Facebook this morning:

If you can't make it to church this morning, enjoy this sermon given by the late Dr. Frank Pollard.  He asks the questions "What's a father for?"

Haley Barbour was right. “People wanted to shoot Washington the bird,” he said recently at the MEC Hobnob. “They thought Donald Trump was the biggest, most magnificent middle finger they could find.”

For many, that’s all that mattered. If Trump delivers on any campaign promises, well, that will just be icing on the cake.

Others are expecting lots of icing. And that’s where the President-elect will be challenged. Talking and proposing are one thing. Getting results is quite another.

JPD issued the following press release: 

Former MDOC Commissioner Chris Epps asked a court to place him under house arrest. His bond was revoked on November 4 after he was arrested on November 2 for breaking into his former Flowood home and removing some lighting and fixtures.  He is currently in custody. 

Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber told the EPA that Jackson may not be able to meet deadlines that are part of the $400 million consent decree with the EPA because the City Council refused to approve a contract for the program manager. 

Mayor Yarber sent a letter on October 6 to EPA Region 4 Administrator Heather McTeer Toney that stated Jackson might not meet the Clean Water Act consent decree deadlines.  Mayor Yarber stated:

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

This British reporter had a complete meltdown over the Democratic implosion last week.  The British leftist had some not so nice things to say about American leftists.  This is pretty good stuff.  Enjoy.

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following press release:

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

One of the most monumental cinematic events occurred twenty years ago:

Update: Repairs still continue.

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

A controversial 2014 police chase reached speeds of 130 mph as Madison police chased three suspects from the Target on County Line Road to Gallatin Street.  JJ obtained a copy of the dashcam videos of the chase.  An innocent bystander was injured when the suspects struck his vehicle.  He sued the city of Madison.  The videos are posted below. 

JPD issued these photos that were taken during  a robbery of Whitley's Florist in Fondren last weekend.  JPD seeks the public's help in identifying and apprehending the suspect.

You start a true freshman quarterback in college football, you can only guess what you will get.

Ole Miss and Southern Miss both did it last Saturday with decidedly mixed results:

The Madison Police Department and Crimestoppers issued the following press release and photos:

Look at the rule the House just adopted:

Governor Phil Bryant issued the following press release:

It appears Chris Epps' recent behavior inspired someone to imitate him over at the Black Diamonds "gentlemen's club" a few days ago.  The club was seized and shut down with the dreaded red sign and yellow tape in October after the owners failed to pay a judgement.  The plaintiff's attorney, Ben Wilson, told the court that the defendants had gone gangsta as he and his family were harassed, threatened, and followed since the club was closed. 

Senator Roger Wicker issued the following press release: 

Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves issued the following statement: 

Here are the public records requests submitted to the City of Jackson since July 1, 2016. Enjoy

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

The Clinton Police Department issued the following press release and photos:

A Madison County judge called Linda Brune's bluff and issued a bench warrant for her arrest last Wednesday after she failed to appear in court at an October hearing. Ms. Brune is the former secretary for Downtown Jackson Partners. DJP sued Ms. Brune for embezzlement and seeks her deposition. DJP fired MS. Brune for providing records to the Clarion-Ledger after Jerry Mitchell published a story on DJP spending.

What would be the end of election week be without a clip from Saturday Night Live?

Leon Russell passed away at the age of 74 today.  Here are some clips of his 2013 performance in Jackson.

Several readers sent this petition to JJ that is on the Change.org website.  Oxford's Joshua Horton posted a petition to reform how we treat substance abusers.   Mr. Horton urged Mississippians to sign the petition in this message:

JJ presents this sermon of the late Dr. Frank Pollard for readers who can't make it to church today.  Dr. Pollard preaches on "the Christian Art of Dodging Spears".

This mother didn't take it too well when she found out her kid voted for Trump at school:

“State economists lower forecast for remainder of year,” read the Mississippi Business Journal headline on October 27th. “Mississippi’s state economists have pulled back on an already-weak economic forecast for the rest of 2016, projecting that the state’s economy will grow only 1.5 percent instead of the 1.6 percent previously predicted,” said the story.

“U.S. economy roars back, grew at 2.9% in third quarter,” read the Wall Street Journal headline on October 30th. “It was the strongest quarterly reading in two years after three straight quarters of sub-2% growth,” said the story.

Mississippi legislative leaders have announced they have hired EdBuild, a New Jersey based education consulting firm, to review the state’s public education funding formula, the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP). A review of the formula is appropriate and timely. In fact, every public program should be reviewed periodically for efficiency, effectiveness and need.

It appears many of us wrote the 2016 New Orleans Saints obituary a tad too soon.

Losers of four of their first five games, the Saints have won four of their last five and stand at at an even 4-4 headed into the second half of the NFL season.

A Madison County grand jury indicted former Innovate Mississippi CFO Tonya Klauser for three counts of embezzlement and false pretenses in September. The indictment states alleges Klauser used her American Express card from 2011 to 2013 to defraud Innovate Mississippi and also submitted 141 fraudulent expense reports for reimbursement.  The indictment is posted below.

Disney released an international trailer for Rogue One that has some new scenes.

The Mississippi Supreme Court reversed the conviction of Louis Kuebler and remanded his case back to Hinds County Circuit Judge Winston Kidd for a new trial.  A Hinds County jury convicted Kuebler in 2011 of first degree murder in the death of Tamra Stuckey.

JPD issued the following press release and photo:

Elections and divorces tend to bring out the worst in people and the 2016 Presidential Election was no exception.  People are going to get into verbal fisticuffs over candidates.  Always have and always will. However, social media has empowered the baser impulses of quite a few people.  One particular woman got mad as hell that Mama Hamil dared to put a campaign sign on the property of her business.  The horror.  A Geilia Taylor was soooo outraged by this display of the First Amendment that she posted this message on Facebook:

It's time to get back to a normal routine since the election is now over.  Our fearless D.A. seeks a rematch in the Hinds County courthouse tomorrow.  Robert Shuler Smith wants another shot at the Attorney General after Special Circuit Judge Larry Roberts denied Mr. Smith's motion to quash his indictment. Judge Robert will hold a hearing on the motion that is posted below.

Perhaps President Obama should have kept his mouth shut.  The President humiliated Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents Dinner back in 2011.  But don't let me tell you about it, watch the video for yourself....

Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves issued the following press release:

This Twitter meltdown is probably one for the books.

Wow.  CNN and NBC are reporting that Hillary conceded the election to Donald Trump. 

We are going to live-blog the election results tonight.  Make all election night comments on this post.  The long nightmare that has been the 2016 Presidential campaign will be over one way or another.  Who will win?

The Mississippi Secretary of State issued the following press release: 

Post your comments here.  JJ will live-blog the election results tonight. 

The Jackson Zoo issued the following press release yesterday:

Secretary of State Dibbit Hosemann issued the following press release: 

The city of Jackson issued the following press release:

Attorney General Jim Hood issued the following press release: 

The Madison Police Department issued the following statement:

Update: The docket states that DJP subpoenaed records from a bank and two casinos.  DJP also filed a notice of serving interrogatories on Ms. Brune and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith.  

Downtown Jackson Partners asked a Madison County Court Judge to hold former employee Linda Brune in contempt of court for refusing to participate in a deposition.  DJP accused her of embezzling over $40,000 in a lawsuit filed nearly two years ago.  Judge Will Longwitz held a hearing to determine whether he should compel her deposition on October 25 but Ms. Brune did not appear at the hearing.  She instead attended the motion hearings that were held in State v. Robert Shuler Smith even though she was not subpoenaed to be there.   DJP Executive Director Ben Allen is under indictment for allegedly embezzling and misusing DJP funds. DJP asked Judge Longwitz to issue a bench warrant and detain Ms. Brune until she was deposed. 

Check out this Lakeland Drive billboard.

Boring but important are the judicial elections that will take place tomorrow.  There are three races in this area.

JPD issued the following press release:

Are you sick of elections and need a GOT fix? Look no further. 

The late Dr. Frank Pollard preaches from the third chapter of James on leadership and how the power of the tongue can destroy. 

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following press release:

The Flowood Police Department issued the following press release about the chase that ended in Eastover:

Jackson State University President Carolyn Meyers becomes the latest university president to leave prematurely. She announced her resignation following disclosure of financial problems at the university.

Penny Corn is no longer the Grants Director at the Office of Homeland Security at the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.    DPS settled a sex discrimination with Ms. Corn in April.  Payroll records obtained through a public records request state that Ms. Corn's last date of employment was October 17.  Multiple sources have told JJ that Ms. Corn was fired from her position.  A DPS representative declined to comment and said he would not discuss personnel matters. 

JPD issued the following press release:

Dr. Smith is moving from one funny farm to another.  The Taxpayers Channel reported:

The Bunniran family posted this message on Facebook:

The Mississippi Highway Patrol issued the following statement:

It's the computers' fault.  So said JPS School Board President Beneta Burt Friday evening at an impromptu press conference when she attempted to explain why JPS had an F rating.  You simply can't make this up.  Ms. Burt (9:48 in the video) said:

The Madison Police Department issued the following statement: