Jackson Jambalaya

The Jackson Zoo issued the following statement.

Former Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber caught a punk trying to break into his car.  Mr. Yarber introduced our little hoodlum to some child-rearin' on the rear:

Purchases at jewelry stores, trips to swanky beach resorts, $1,000 bbq meals, clothes, and steak dinners populate the credit card bills of Canton Municipal Utilities employees.  Cleaning bills, coffee, quick trips to fast food joints - no purchase was too small or too trivial for the favored few to pay with a CMU credit card. 

JPD issued the following statement. 

This article is reprinted with permission of the Laurel Leader Call.

Greg Burroughs will have to answer in a criminal court for the death of 23-year-old Katherine Sinclair, who died from a gunshot to the head in the garage of his half-million-dollar home on the night of June 1.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center will no longer allow law enforcement officers to enter areas past the emergency room office unless permitted by UMMC police.  UMMC police officers must accompany the law enforcement officer to all areas of the hospital he visits.  All UMMC police officers were required to sign the order that defined the new policy. 

Check out the employee roster for Jackson Public Schools.  JJ obtained them through a public records request and is analyzing them for a post that will be published later this week.  However, JJ thought the readers might want to have a sneak peek at the raw data.

The city of Jackson issued the following boil water notice for the area by Ridgewood Road and East County Line Road.

Broadmoor Baptist Church is not the only church in the Jackson area to suffer from an embarrassing embezzlement of hundreds of thousands of dollars.  A Hinds County grand jury indicted a former employee in February for allegedly embezzling slightly more than $250,000 over a period of five years.  The indictment states:

Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith wants to ban all cameras from his upcoming trial in Rankin County.   The Attorney General is prosecuting the District Attorney on two separate indictments for simple domestic violence, aggravated stalking, and robbery.  The two sides are also warring over whether testimony about alleged repeated incidents of domestic violence and drug use can be admitted as well. 

It's time for the Sunday morning sermon.  Enjoy the late Dr. Frank Pollard's preaching in this 1987 sermon, Going to hell by default.  This is one of his better sermons.

JPD issued several statements this afternoon.

This video gives a new meaning to the phrase "One hit wonder." 

 The city of Jackson has not provided a copy of roof inspection reports for the Eudora Welty Library to JJ. 
 JJ submitted a public records request to the city of Jackson on October 8.  The request asked

The MacArthur Justice Center in Oxford issued the following statement.

 Update: Suspect is Nicholas Thames. 20 years-old.


JPD issued the following press release. 

The Mississippi Republican Party issued the following statement. 

*All JPS School Board members resigned. Dr. Fredderick Murray remains as Interim Superintendent. 

Governor Phil Bryant and Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba issued the following statement.

Update: Johnson is being held without bond and will have an initial appearance this morning in Ridgeland Municipal Court. 

The Ridgeland Police Department issued the following statement and picture.

Governor Phil Bryant ordered the Division of Medicaid last June to cancel a $23  million health care information technology contract no-bid contract that it was going to award to Cerner Corporation. 

The Jackson Municipal Airport Authority issued the following Requests for Proposals.

The Governor is thinking.  WLBT reported that Governor is still looking for a "third way" instead of just approving a MDE takeover of Jackson Public Schools:

The old adage that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it may hold true yet again in Mississippi politics.  Speculation ran rampant in Mississippi over who might replace Senator Thad Cochran if his health forced him to resign.  Supporters of a certain state senator from Ellisville loudly proclaimed to all that Governor Bryant should appoint him if the Senator indeed resigned. However, they might want to heed what took place in Mississippi politics thirty years ago.

A Justice Department report states that Hinds County Sheriff Victor Mason is spending money budgeted for the Hinds County detention centers on other departments even though the Raymond detention center is severely short-staffed.  The report was submitted to U.S. District Court Judge John Gargiulo in August as part of a consent decree over the operation of the three Hinds County detention centers between the Justice Department and Hinds County.

An employee of Broadmoor Baptist Church embezzled from the church.

The perfumed princes of Hinds County, oops, I meant the Hinds County Democratic Delegation of the Mississippi Legislature wailed to the heavens while gnashing their teeth in a letter that protested any state takeover of Jackson Public Schools . It is not known if they rent their garments although it is almost a certainty they were covered in ash. 

The Eudora Welty Library flunked seven of twelve areas of a field test for water leakage in 2015. The Jackson-Hinds Library System hired a Florida company in to determine why the structure was plagued by water leaks. Building Leakage Investigation & Testing (BLIT) reported that the roof membrane did not cover the entire structure, sealant was improperly applied all too often, water damage was causing the mortar to disintegrate, and a host of other problems. The report is posted below.

The Mississippi Department of Education has caught no small amount of grief from this website, the PEER Committee, and the State Auditor over how contracts are passed out to the favored few.  Chief Operations Officer Dr. Felicia Gavin announced changes to how MDE does business in the following statement: 

This is one of the more um, interesting burglaries that has taken place in Jackson in a while.  JPD issued the following statement and video:

Apparently you clowns want to have a discussion on last week's blow-up between White House Chief of Staff and former Marine Corps General John Kelly and Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) over a phone call to a Gold Star family.  The video of General Kelly's comments are posted below. There were multiple attempts to hijack threads over the weekend so this post is just for you.  Have at it in the comments.

Attorney General Jim Hood issued the following statement.

If you can't make it to church this morning, enjoy this sermon presented by the late Dr. Frank Pollard. 

This banner is literally flying around Tuscaloosa today:

Ridgeland attorney Allen Smith, Jr. is suffering worse luck than a Mississippi State kicker in an Egg Bowl.  A Los Angeles judge reversed yet another huge talcom powder jury award for Mr. Smith and his clients.  Bloomberg reported today:

Lots of political yammer about who’s a real conservative and who’s not.

So, how do you tell?

Enjoy this 1970 clip of the LSU-Ole Miss game. It's pretty interesting to watch.

Check out the latest rumor about Senator Thad Cochran.  Erick Erickson posted this on his website:

"Remember George, this is no time to go wobbly"  
What Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said to President George Bush

Governor Phil Bryant is channeling his inner Tito and trying to find a "third way" in handling the takeover of Jackson Public Schools. The AP reported yesterday:

A Missouri appeals court showed Ridgeland attorney Allen Smith, Jr. another reversal of a huge jury award in his talc powder jihad. Mr. Smith racked up an impressive series of wins in lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson in St. Louis over products liability claims involving talc powder. However, the U.S. Supreme Court threw a huge freeze over his success in one day. Reuters reported in June:

Yet another one of Haley Barbour's green energy projects failed.  Stion announced it will close its Hattiesburg plant.  Greentech Media reported:

Read 'em and weep. Today is the day for tears of joy and gnashing of teeth in Mississippi public schools.  The Mississippi Department of Education released its school ratings for the 2016-2017 school year.  Pearl and Canton rose, Rankin County slipped, and the rest of the Jackson metro area schools stayed the same as last year.

The Mississippi Department of Education issued the following press release.

The Cool Kids are back this week.  Y'all Politics published its list of the "Top 50 Influential People in Mississippi" and even had a fancy shindig for the winners earlier this week.  See the list. Not to be outdone, the Clarion-Ledger, actually Jimmie Gates published his list of the top politicos under the age of 35.  Since it is hidden behind a paywall, here is the list.

Mississippi Republican Party Chairman Joe Nosef resigned his position today. He submitted the following letter to Governor Phil Bryant.

The FBI issued the following statement.

Alleged Belhaven Heights drug dealer Jennifer Leigh Williams is back in the slammer.

On October 5, 2017, the Public Service Commission approved the following language by a vote of 3-0 in Docket No. 2017-AD-112:

A study of the Ridgeland lodging market said that northern Ridgeland hotels enjoy a high occupancy rate.  The Ridgeland Tourism Commission commissioned Young Strategies of North Carolina to review the market.  Berkeley Young presented the study to the Ridgeland Board of Aldermen at a work session Monday night. He said the study showed the market was "a tale of two Ridgelands."

Biloxi made it too easy for Marshall Ramsey:

Senator Thad Cochran issued the following statement.

Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney issued the following statement.

The Ridgeland Hotel Wars continue.  The Madison County Journal reported last week:

And there arose to the north of Eden a tribe called the Hotty-Toddys, who were also called metros. And the Hotty-Toddys were very displeasing; they didst place centerpieces on their banquet tables, and didst exalt themselves much. And they didst glorify the southern kingdom of the past.

JPD issued the following statement. 

Ole Miss and former Head Football Coach Houston Nutt issued the following statement today:

The Rankin County trial for Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith has been moved to...... Halloween.  You really can't make this up. 

An Auburn fan didn't have a fun trip to Baton Rouge last weekend:

JPD issued the following statement and photo.

The Hinds County Board of Supervisors appointed Connie Cochran to the Board of Trustees for the Jackson-Hinds Library System.  She will represent District 4.  She was approved on a unanimous vote.  She is the former Election Commissioner for District 4.  District 4 Supervisor Mike Morgan moved to appoint her.  District 1 Supervisor Robert Graham seconded the motion. 

Senator Thad Cochran issued the following statement. 

Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith asked the Mississippi Supreme Court to stop his criminal while the Court considers his appeal of a motion to dismiss that was denied by Rankin County Circuit Judge John Emfinger.  The trial is scheduled to begin on October 23.  The Attorney General is prosecuting the District Attorney on two separate indictments for simple domestic violence, aggravated stalking, and robbery.  The two sides are also warring over whether testimony about alleged repeated incidents of domestic violence and drug use can be admitted as well.   Attorney John Reeves represents Smith. 

This is what happens when you become one with your Iphone.

Where can a good ole boy make an easy $20,000 without anyone knowing about it in Mississippi? Bond sales.  Eyes glaze over when bonds are mentioned.  Reporters who can barely add ignore the topic.  Politicians who can not add just trust their good ole boy friends to do right by them.  Adams County is a prime example of such a conundrum.  The  Mississippi Business Journal reported last week:

If you can't make it to church this morning, enjoy this sermon given by the late Dr. Frank Pollard. He preached from 1 Samuel 9:1-13. 

Rural communities just thought Wal-Mart was the great job killer. Now comes Amazon.

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement.

The Gerald Mumford campaign issued the following statement: 

Some Friday afternoon humor.

Parents of a Northwest Rankin High School student sued the Rankin County School District and a substitute teacher in U.S. District Court for alleged racial comments made in a classroom.  They are represented by none other than attorney Carlos Moore. The Lindseys alleged:

Congressman Bennie Thompson's Chief of Staff can't seem to stay out of trouble.  Roll Call reported yesterday:

JPD issued the following press release.

Well, make that a hoped-for sponsor.  This post may not be safe for work, kids or Land Shark fans.

Former Ole Miss Head Football Coach Houston Nutt, Jr. sued Ole Miss, IHL, and the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation in Lafayette County Circuit Court yesterday for breach of contract.  He filed a similar lawsuit in federal court but it was dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction. The lawsuit accuses Athletic Director Ross Bjork and Coach Hugh Freeze of defaming Nutt to the media.  This court fight has claimed its share of casualties, including the job of one Hugh Freeze.

A blast from the past has returned to Jackson.  Kwame Kenyatta is the Deputy Director in Public Works. 

Attorney Generalissimo Jim Hood issued the following statement yesterday. 

The Justice Department issued the following press release.

JJ reported yesterday that Jackson attorney Ramel Cotton was disbarred after a Mississippi Supreme Court tribunal determined that he stole money from his clients, lied to the tribunal, refused to provide his trust account records when ordered to do so, and approved the forging of signatures.  The discovery of Cotton's misdeeds may not be over as another former client sued Cotton in Hinds County Chancery Court in July for embezzling his settlement proceeds.

It seems some Grinches are trying to stop a popular Christmas light display.  WLBT reported Monday:

The Richard Schwartz & Brent Hazzard radio show has been spicing up the airwaves every Wednesday morning on WMPR.  Listen to the hottest talk radio show in Jackson posted below.

The Ridgeland Police Department issued the following press release and asked for assistance from the public.

There has been a great deal of chatter online about a robbery that took place on Northpointe Estates recently. JJ did some digging and can give an account of what took place.

The Mississippi Supreme Court disbarred Jackson attorney Ramel Cotton a week ago after a tribunal convened on September 8.   The tribunal disbarred the shyster after it ruled that he stole from clients, approved the forging of signatures, refused to provide his trust account records when ordered to do so, and lied to the tribunal. 

Posted on the Ole Miss website today. 

The Pearl Police Department issued the following statement and picture.

Former LSU and NFL legend Y.A. Tittle died today.  He could play a little bit of football.  He was a seven-time Pro Bowler in the NFL and was LSU's first former player to be named MVP in the NFL.  He won that award three more times after he was thirty-five years old.

The Clinton Police Department issued the following statement and pictures.

Jackson Public Schools are short-changed because more affluent communities can pour more money into their public schools while Jackson struggles to keep its tax base.  Such is the mantra that is repeated over and over in the media and among community leaders.  However, the real truth is that JPS collects more money in property taxes than does any other school district in Mississippi.  What is really intriguing is that property tax revenue has been going up while the student population has been going down.  If anything, the working people of Jackson who pay taxes for their children to be educated are indeed short-changed but not by "disinvestment."  It is said a picture is worth a thousand words.  The pictures below illustrate the true state of affairs at JPS better than any long-winded column ever could.

There was great wailing among the House of Toddy yesterday as the Rebels were smitten on the Plains yesterday and the trumpets of Auburn sounded great insult over the dead of the Rebels:

If you can't make it to church this morning, enjoy the words of the late Dr. Frank Pollard.  He preached from Matthew 12:33-37 in this 1987 sermon. 

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement.

Just when you thought it might finally be safe to swim in Mississippi's contractual storm waters, the MDE and Mississippi True contracts erupted.

A Madison County contractor was convicted of bank fraud in 2006.  The Justice Department charged Chris Creely with one count of bank fraud and alleged that he arranged for fraudulent mortgages of over $300,000.  The defendant pleaded guilty in 2007.

Yes, some people still use Instant Messenger but that will change by the end of this year. AOL announced today:

Yesterday was a sad day for a Jackson landmark, the Eudora Welty Library.  Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney minced no words and said the building should be condemned. The bricks are falling off of the walls, mortar is crumbling, the second floor is nearly ruined by a leaking roof, and there is raw sewage in the basement.  A far cry from when Sears opened the building  to much applause on March 21, 1947.  However, JJ aims not to mourn the building but memorialize it as it once was. JJ reached back into the archives of the newspaper and posted some of the building's past glory below. Enjoy.

Credit: CNN

Check out WAPT's headline from yesterday:

State Auditor Stacey Pickering issued the following press release.

The Mississippi Hospital Association created Mississippi True to get Medicaid managed care contracts.  Such contracts are big business as three such contracts worth $2 billion were up for grabs this year . Mississippi True loves to play the homeboy card as it beats its chest and loudly proclaims that the Medicaid money should go to a Mississippi company.  There is just one problem: Mississippi True's flag actually belongs on foreign soil.

Commissioner of Insurance Mike Chaney issued the following statement.

Teresa Malone pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to one count of attempt & conspiracy and one count of bribery of a public official.  The court filing states:

Hinds County Sheriff Victor Mason made a rare public appearance and spoke to reporters yesterday about security measures for the Mississippi State Fair:

The 172 Security Forces Squadron at Thompson Field needs your help.   See below for details.

 JJ's comparison of the Jackson and Desoto County school districts has received no small amount of attention over the last two weeks.  The numbers don't lie as JPS was repeatedly found wanting when compared to Desoto County public schools.  The Mississippi Department of Education drilled deep and made the same findings back in 2011 yet the study fell into a black hole.  Keep reading, this is good information that needs to be a part of the public debate. 

The Senate confirmed Mike Hurst as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi by voice vote last night.   Mr. Hurst will become U.S. Attorney when the President signs the order.  Senate report. Senate sources say the order should be signed within seven to ten days. Mr. Hurst was the Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi until he resigned in 2015 to run against Jim Hood for Attorney General. Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker issued the following statement:

JPD issued the following statement, picture, and video.

Look who the ACLU honored for "Criminal Justice Reform":

JPS failed in its attempt to stop the MDE takeover court yesterday.  Hinds County Circuit Judge Bill Gowan ruled against JPS's petition for an injunction yesterday. JPS filed the petition for a temporary restraining order on September 23.  The case was assigned to Judge Bill Gowan. JPS argued that it should have been given thirty days to respond to a 700 page audit of the district but was given only eight days to respond by MDE. The petition claims that MDE denied the district's right to due process.

JPD issued the following statement. 

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement.

Chism Strategies released this memo and poll about The Flag. 

'Nuff said.  Enjoy the video.

The Richard Schwartz & Brent Hazzard radio show has been spicing up the airwaves every Wednesday morning on WMPR.  Listen to the hottest talk radio show in Jackson posted below.  The two questioned the value of getting a college degree on the show.  Guest was Gilbert Sturgis.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.  Such is the motto of the Mississippi Hospital Association as it tries to get a managed care contract from the Division of Medicaid.  MHA lost when the Division awarded $2 billion in contracts for the MississippiCan program earlier this year.  It lost again when it asked a Chancellor to block the contracts.  It suffered another setback when the Contract Review Board didn't reject the contracts.  However, MHA's managed care company, Mississippi True, sued the Division of Medicaid in Hinds County Circuit Court last Thursday in an attempt to force the Division to award it the coveted Medicaid managed care contract.

Nothing to see here, move along.  Such is the response of our legislative Solons to questions about Dr. Wright and the Board of Education passing out sweetheart deals to friends of Dr. Wright. 

The late Dr. Frank Pollard preached from Exodus 20:8-11 in this 1986 sermon.  Enjoy Dr. Pollard if you can't make it to church this morning.