Jackson Jambalaya

 Let the cowbells ring to the heavens.  Awesome performance that was one for the books.  Welcome to the club.  Great job! Join Dak in celebrating:

 Tired of Jackson's water woes, the Mississippi Fairgrounds will build its own well for water service. 

 The FBI issued the following statement. 

For the second time in two weeks my schedule took me to the Panhandle of Florida to deliver a speech to a trade group. When travelling, I have always kept a food journal. Throughout the year I refer to it and reflect on meals and experiences enjoyed. I also use the journal as reference notes for my year end top 10 best-meals list.

 Somebody isn't  playing around in Jacktown. 

 Mississippi’s agribusiness community and the state’s labor organizations both saw a major Supreme Court decision issued in a California case that centers on the intersection of union access to private property in union organizing activities. The case is styled Cedar Point Nursery and Fowler Packing Company, Inc., versus Victoria Hassid, in her capacity as chair of the California Agricultural Relations Board.

 Check out 2:00 of the video posted below.

 What matters on Twitter ... often just stays on Twitter. 

 Attorney General Lynn Fitch's fight against Facebook went down in flames yesterday. The Wall Street Journal reported: 

 A couple of boyfriends got a surprise over at SEC Shorts....

 JPD tweeted the following statement.

 Posted below are the Mississippi Bar's disciplinary actions in 2021.  They were obtained through a public records request.

The Justice Department issued the following statement.

Imagine working next to this crap at the former Twin Peaks site.

 On the old Jack Benny radio show in the 1940s, a continuing character played by the actor Sheldon Leonard was a racetrack "shill," who always spoke in a hushed tone.

 The staffing - or lack of staffing - at the Jackson water treatment plants is one of the main reasons Jackson is in hot water with the EPA.  Crucial positions go unfilled for years while the plants fall apart due to neglect or poor maintenance.  It is said it's always about the money.  Well, compare two rosters. 

 The Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare will hold a hearing on medical marijuana at 10:30 in room 216.  Watch it here.  JJ would love to stream it but the Senate disabled the video from being streamed on other websites.  Meanwhile, Dave is down in Florence ranting about the Queen again.  Enjoy.

 JPD issued the following statement. 

 All the Governor did was take his family to the Mississippi Aquarium and post about it on Facebook. .  Check out the firestorm such an innocent family venture started. 

 The FBI issued the following statement.

The late Dr. Frank Pollard asked if the church could live again in this 1992 sermon in his style that is always witty yet blunt.  If you can't make to church today, enjoy the remedial preaching.

The price of boneless, skinless chicken breasts has more than doubled since the beginning of the year and wing prices have hit records reported the Wall Street Journal. The average price for a pound of bacon jumped 7% since January reported NBC News. Beef prices have also surged.

 Whoever wins today got screwed by the NCAA.  Vandy gets to play the finals with both pitchers rested while both Texas and Mississippi State will be forced to use up their staffs today.   Vandy gets a huge unfair advantage.  If the NCAA had any sense of justice, it would push back the finals a day or two but then again, this is the NCAA. 

Once upon a time in the waning days of his reign, the Sheriff of Hinds County sought to protect his valiant charges and acquired a collection of 60 bodycameras.  However, the new Sheriff was not as enlightened and instead sought to hide his force in darkness. He cast the bodycameras into the black hole that is Hinds County where they would hopefully would disappear from memory (and the county books) forever.  

Dr. Brett Weinstein appeared on Joe Rogan's podcast this week after Youtube yanked his channel. The scientist's crime? He dared discuss ivermectin as a treatment for the Wuhan virus. One shudders to think how quickly Youtube would have banned Galileo if it were around in 1633. 

 Gold Coast and its friends are not off the hook in Hinds County after all.  The city of Jackson refiled a lawsuit against several companies accused of dumping highly acidic wastewater into its sewer system yesterday in Hinds County Circuit Court.  

 Before Billy Graham there was Billy Sunday, America's first super-evangelist. Gifted as a great orator, his voice could soar to the heavens as he poured the spirit of scripture across the American heartland.  Once upon a time, the legendary preacher visited Jackson. 

 Harbor Walk.  A name that is the very definition of pie in the sky projects that enchant public officials and betray the public trust.

If one doesn’t know what one doesn’t know, but one postulates questions that raise serious charges against federal law enforcement and intelligence agents, is he or she lying? You may have read or heard that FBI undercover agents had infiltrated groups involved in the January 6th riots at the Capitol. You may also have read or heard that this claim is a rightwing conspiracy theory and a proven LIE. 

Update: District Attorney Jody Owens filed a motion today to revoke Elam's bond for house burglary.  His attorney filed a motion on May 24 to lower his bond and remove the ankle bracelet.  Got to love dumb clients.  

The city of Clinton issued the following statement. 

 Governor Tate Reeves issued the following statement.

The Hoover Dam is indeed a modern wonder of the world that could not be duplicated in America today. The 2015 video posted below gives a rather intriguing view of what lies beneath the surface of Lake Mead.  Enjoy.

 The courtroom scrum between Jackson and several companies accused of dumping highly acidic wastewater into its sewer system is postponed.  Jackson withdrew its Hinds County lawsuit against Gold Coast Commodities, Walker Environmental Services, and Partidge-Sibley Trucking on June 16 after filing the lawsuit a week earlier.  

Health Department officials worried a year ago that Jackson's water system would implode - and implode it did seven months later.  An internal email reveals the lies, neglect, and plain ole incompetence that plagued Jackson's water treatment plants continued long after the EPA came calling last year. 

 Dave Chappelle and Joe Rogan are coming to New Orleans on September 4.  Check Ticketmaster.  Presale just started. 

 Check out this week's recipe.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for everything under the heavens.”

– Ecclesiastes 3:1

It’s true, everything has a season. Especially here in the South. Some southerners see the seasons as football season, basketball season, and baseball season. Others live by dove season, deer season, duck season, and turkey season. When one travels into the Deep South the four seasons are more accurately noted as almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas. But for those of us in the food business, we measure seasons by the availability of certain food products or the occasions of certain seasonal holidays, events, and celebrations.

In the pristine sanctuary of the lovely Gaston Baptist Church – a rural church in northwest Prentiss County roughly triangulated between Booneville, Rienzi, Thrasher and Jumpertown – family, friends, and political associates of the late Mississippi House Speaker William J. “Billy” McCoy gathered on June 14 to remember one of the architects of modern highways and modern public schools in this state.

 The city of Jackson issued the following statement. 

 John F. Kerry, the special presidential envoy for climate, said only months ago that those losing fossil fuel jobs in coal and hydraulic fracturing will find they have a better choice of jobs either in the solar industry or as wind turbine technicians.

 DHS ignored fraud tips in New scandal. 

State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement 

 Yet another pillar of Mississippi industry looks to sell.  The Wall Street Journal reported: 

 Red Mountain Entertainment issued the following press release. 

 The city of Jackson issued the following statement. 

Joe Rogan had none other than smart guy Neil Degrasse Tyson on his show recently. They talked about all sorts of groovy things for several hours.  Light up the Fuentes and enjoy.

 Shortly after I began writing a wine column in 1976, a friend teased me about my avocation.

    We were journalists working at the Associated Press, and he probably didn't mean to be disparaging when he said, "All red wines taste the same." Not a very journalistic approach.

Don't feel like paying your water bill in Jackson? Well, fugetaboutit.  The city of Jackson cut off water cutoffs over a year ago even as the water system loses millions of dollars every year.

The family of the late Mark Mayfield want a rematch.  U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves dismissed their lawsuit against Madison, Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler, and several police officers last month. However, the widow and sons of Mark Mayfield filed a notice of appeal in U.S. District Court Thursday.

Mississippi Homeland Security Director Lora Hunter resigned after only two months in the position. 

 Some brave souls stood up to anti-Asian hate in Dallas. 

 The city of Jackson issued the following statement. 

 Unable to go to church? Enjoy this 1997 Father's Day sermon presented by the late Dr. Frank Pollard. 

 Some things catch your eye when they don’t seem to geehaw. For example:

What do you get when you combine Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, and Mississippi?   A slightly different portrayal of To Kill a Mockingbird. Enjoy.

 The Health Department wasn't buying any of the Jackson Mayor's malarkey about the EPA and Jackson's water system.  

 Nothing like a funny from the Flying Circus.  Enjoy.

 This week, the Senate unanimously passed a bill declaring Juneteenth a national holiday, commemorating June 19, 1865, when a Union general informed the last enslaved people in Texas that, thanks to the 13th Amendment, they were free. This was the denouement of a long process, begun more than four score years before and cruelly delayed for many decades.

 Today's edition of Flashback Friday steps back into the past, the dreadful past.  Flashback Friday shows all of the past - the good, the bad, and in this case, the ugly.  However, history is meant to be studied, not ignored and that applies to the the front page of the June 17, 1923 edition of the Daily Clarion-Ledger that is posted below. The newspaper published a great deal of racist content back in the day and this Sunday newspaper was no exception. Consider yourself warned.

A legacy of helping the disabled will soon disappear in Mississippi, doomed by greed and scandal.  The New Learning Resources School District laid off all teachers at the Oxford and Greenwood schools yesterday. The New Learning Resources serves special needs and gifted children. Teachers at the Jackson campus have not been paid since May 15 and there is little hope of receiving their last three paychecks.   

Coming this fall.... finally..... 

 MURRYSVILLE, Pennsylvania -- Elaine Noll is standing in front of the cherry white and blue stand for Billy's Country Smokehouse at the local farmers market. Wrapped around her left arm is a canvas bag filled with local roots and vegetables she purchased. She is now listening as Shirley Stana explains to her the different fresh and smoked meats she has in her cooler from the local farm.

 JPD tweeted the following statements. 

As usual, Americans must look overseas for real news.  Sky News Australia called the purported leak of Covid-19 from the Wuhan virology lab one of the "greatest coverups the world has ever seen" Monday. Sky News obtained video that claims to show bats in the lab in 2017 when it was reported there were no bats. 

 This picture in the October 2015 edition of the Northside Sun magazine  aged well.

 If Jackson is going to beg the state for money, perhaps it should first bill the state for money.  The city of Jackson has not billed the Veterans Home in west Jackson in 2021.  JJ reported on March 17: 

 The Barnett Reservoir Foundation issued the following information about the annual "Independence Day" celebration at the Rez. 

Baltimore businesses have had enough of crime and are threatening to withhold their taxes.  The Baltimore Sun reported: 

Check out this week's recipe. 

Sometimes people get dazzled by the shiny things. Everyone wants to go to the new hot place. More times than not, I like the classics. It's that way with music. It's that way with movies, and it's that way with food.

 The decision of Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves to tap his own chief of staff as the new leader of the Mississippi Department of Transportation bodes well for an organization that has seen more than its share of discord over the last two decades.

 Jon Stewart went yard on Stephen Colbert last night when Colbert challenged his mentor over the lab leak theory.  Stewart showed who the apprentice was in the exchange.  Watch below.  Enjoy.

Suicide by cop?

Updated: JPD issued the following statement: 

 Our friends at SEC Shorts are back with more of the funny.  Enjoy.

Baker Donelson certainly isn't afraid to defend itself.   U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves dismissed Baker's motion to dismiss in the Lamar Adams case in May.  The SEC sued the firm in 2018, alleging it allowed a partner and lobbyist to use firm resources as they allegedly peddled phony timber investments to firm clients. 

Judge Reeves said Jon Seawright, Esq. and Brent Alexander used the firm escrow accounts to swindle their victims.  However, SEC Receiver Alysson Mills admitted recently that she never actually saw the financial statements and thus did not have actual proof the Baker Donelson escrow accounts were used.  Judge Reeve's opinion stated:

Child molester was a volunteer band director at Callaway High School. 

The Justice Department issued the following statement. 

 Sonoma County, often called "the other wine country," is larger and more diverse than its better-known neighbor, Napa. 

Was homicide related to recent sister-in-law's death? 

The North Mississippi Herald reported former State Representative Ashley Henley was murdered:

Third Suspect Sought

 The Ridgeland Police Department issued the following statement.

 State Auditor Shad White and Attorney General Lynn Fitch issued the following press release.

 Just another day in Zombieland ....

 Check out this text exchange that took place right before the Jackson general municipal election.  

 If you can't make it to church today because you were up late watching Ole Miss clobber Arizona, enjoy this 1992 sermon presented by the late Dr. Frank Pollard (First Baptist Church -Jackson).  He preached on a worthy subject: healing broken relationships.  

Real conservatives know who Peggy Noonan is. Read her latest column “What Drives Conspiracism” where she laments that irrational conspiracies “fueled and powered” by the Internet are “helping break up America.”  

 A golden oldie returns to the theatre tomorrow and Wednesday. 

 The city of Jackson issued the following statement. 

 Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, mom, & well not so fast.  Hot dogs cause global warming, baseball means people gather outdoors and that means they might catch covid, mom is now a birthing person, and apple pie? Oh, haven't you heard?

Will last come mean last served?  The city of Jackson accused several local companies of dumping millions of gallons of highly acidic wastewater into the Jackson sewer system that caused millions of dollars in damages in a lawsuit filed in Hinds County Circuit Court Wednesday. 

Will MDOC ask Judge to impose 5-year suspended sentence? 

 Eric Hambrick's killer is back in prison for now.   Hinds County Deputies arrested Arkel Coleman last Saturday for DUI, violating a traffic ordinance, and possessing a concealed weapon as a convicted felon.  However, he is scheduled to be released in October.  

 Apparently renters are more valuable than homeowners to Wall Street.  The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday:

A memorial will be held on Tuesday, June 15 at Natchez Trace Funeral Home in Madison between 10 and 12.  It is open to the public.  

 The Arkansas State Police is in hot water after a video showing a Trooper using a "pit" maneuver to overturn an SUV with a pregnant driver a year ago.  The trooper tried to pull the woman over for speeding.  She slowed down, flashed her right turn signal, then turned on her hazard lights.  The highway had temporary concrete barriers on the shoulder, which would have placed her SUV and the trooper out into the highway.  No matter.  Billy Badass with a badge couldn't help himself. Fox News reported:

In his book, “United States of Socialism,” Dinesh D’Souza clearly lays out what socialism is, the history and failure of socialism, and why socialism can never work in America. Those who don’t know these things might consider reading his book.  

 The Jackson City Council deep-sixed outgoing Councilman De'Keither Stamps' attempt to change Jackson's government. WLBT reported: 

 Attorney General Lynn Fitch assumed her office nearly a year and a half ago yet she has still not sued to recover $101,829 from Canton Municipal Utilities former employees and commissioners.  State Auditor Shad White issued several demands to repay the funds for an improper severance payment and credit card payments. 

 Ag Commish Andrew Gipson issued the following statement. 

 Eastover continues to lose population.

 Former Jackson Mayor Dale Danks passed away today.  He suffered a massive stroke several days ago and had been in critical condition.  Prayers and condolences to his family. 

 I'm all for gallows humor and have practiced a few times myself but damn, Dr. Fauci......

Federal prisoner Chris Epps asked a federal court to grant him compassionate release.  Epps is the former Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.  Epps took kickbacks and bribes while Commissioner. He is serving a 19-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in 2017 to conspiracy to commit money laundering.  Epps cited the risk of contracting the Covid-19 virus even though he has already had the virus as a reason why he should go home. 

In 2020, America was running out of chicken tenders, masks, hamburger meat, hand sanitizer, and plastic gloves. But we were also running low on recreational vehicles. Everyone still wanted to travel, but no one wanted to get on an airplane, if there were even any airplanes still flying.

 Over the last two years, a global pandemic rocked the international economy and the civilized world withdrew and in great measure shut down for a time.

Ryshonda Falls, Phil Wins, the Butch is Back

 It's municipal election night, if anyone cares.  There is a race for Mayor in Clinton.  Will Ryshonda stay in office? Will Antar get more than 90% of the vote? Will more than 15,000 people vote in Jackson? Are there any other races of note? Fire away in the comments.  

 Millsaps College and Chism Strategies released the following statement and poll. 

 The roots of faith, family, patriotism, dialect and work ethic are a prominent feature here. One of the first modern American presidents to recognize those characteristics here and in the swath of Appalachia that extends to the southwest was John F. Kennedy, who when speaking to his Cabinet in April of 1963 said that despite automation passing it by and poverty now defining it, he did not doubt its ability to succeed.

 It is said that if an elephant is chained for a long time, it will no longer try to leave even when it is set free.  The Daily Wire asked some enlightened New Yorkers why they are wearing masks outside if they are fully vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus.  The answers were rather interesting.  Enjoy.

 A good part of Northeast Jackson did not get its garbage picked up yesterday.  Social media is ablaze with people in Leftover, Eastover, and other subdivisions who did not receive garbage services.  Garbage cans lined the streets of my own neighborhood when the sky darkened last night but Waste Management picked up the garbage this morning.  Expect some delays today. 

The city of Jackson issued the following statement. 

 Attorney General Lynn Fitch issued the following statement. 

 Believe it or not, it's been over 20 years since the Worldcom house of cards collapsed.  The folks at Coldfusion took a fresh look at the Worldcom scandal in this video posted two weeks ago. The video will be old news to many but there is now at least one generation that is not familiar with the Worldcom fraud.   Feel free to pick the video apart and fire away in the comments.

 The city of Jackson issued the following statement last evening. 

Decades ago, visiting wine country was limited to the few areas of the country with wineries. Outside California, that meant upstate New York and a tiny handful of hamlets scattered hither and mostly yon.

 Correction: We goofed.  The post originally stated the deceased had a brother who was the boyfriend of the late Kennedy Hobbs.  The information came from a long-time reliable source.  Social media seemed to verify the information but a mistake was made.  JJ offers sincere apologies for the error.  Fire away.  We're big boys. 

Recent MSU grad killed Saturday

Yet another young woman was murdered last weekend in Jackson.  The JPD press release merely says Jertia Evans was gunned down by an AR-15 and a .40 caliber handgun. Just another entry on the murder ledger.  As usual, there is more to the story.  

 Scene from the Ole Miss baseball game yesterday. 

 Greenwood Commonwealth Publisher Tim Kalich lamented a Supreme Court decision that allows juveniles to be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.  Mr. Kalich bewailed in his current syndicated column:

 The city of Jackson issued the following statement. 

 A Tampa sportscaster slammed the Florida Gators: 

 Rainy days are always a good reason to stay in and get your preaching at home.  If such a reason applies to you, enjoy this 1992 sermon presented by the late Dr. Frank Pollard.

The amazing and menacing futuristic era of digital technology has furnished us smartphones, digital TV and radio, wi-fi, virtual assistants, online shopping and such but also blockchain, autonomous weapons, artificial intelligence, ransomware, the dark web, and more.

 JPD warned its officers of retaliation after the arrest of alleged killer Jaden Hill on May 14.  Jaden Hill allegedly rampaged through Jackson that day.  JPD arrested him and charged him with ten felonies, including carjacking, armed robbery, shooting into an occupied vehicle, aggravated assault, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and murder. Hill's hoodlums took none too kindly to his arrest.  JPD issued a memo a few days after Hill's arrest: 

 "A lot of people have egg on their face" for dismissing the COVID-19 lab leak theory, tweeted ABC News  ' Jonathan Karl this week. "Some things may be true even if Donald Trump said them." 

Posted below are nearly 3,000 pages of Fauci emails.  Thank you, I Can Decide.  If you want to sleuth around in the microbial weeds, have at it. 

 Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement. 

 The Justice Department issued the following statement. 

Due to technical difficulties,  here is an open thread. Fire away. 

 Crapcast has been out this morning. Posting will be delayed.  Cspire fiber looking better and better. Yes, that's a hint for a rep to email me. 

 Lieutenant Governor Dilbert Hosemann issued the following statement. 

 The city of Jackson issued the following statement. 

What if scientists decided to create a virus that could kill all humanity? What if the scientific community had become so compromised by the woke cancel culture that no one would risk his/her job by challenging weak theories? What if the media and academia had become so politicized that the vast majority believed a fictional narrative and failed to investigate false claims? We would have a recipe for chaos.

 The Ridgeland Police Department issued the following statement. 

Watch the Senate Committee on Public Health & Welfare's hearing on medical marijuana streamed live below.

 Here we go again.  The city of Jackson is yet again hiding the crime stats.  Jackson has not updated its website in nearly a year despite crime soaring out of control. 

 The Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare will hold a hearing on medical marijuana today.  

 Commissioner of Agriculture Andy Gipson issued the following statement. 

Pumps are on the way to South Jackson.  WAPT's Scott Simmons reported:

 The Mississippi Department of Transportation Commissioners appointed Brad White to the Executive Director position. Mr. White is the current Chief of Staff for Governor Tate Reeves.  Governor Reeves lauded the decision on Facebook: 

 The O.B. Curtis Water Treatment plant still lacks much-needed instrument technicians despite the EPA's requirement that Jackson hire one over a year ago.

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement. 

 This column is being written on Memorial Day. Due to the publishing schedules of the various newspapers in which this column appears, it will be read anywhere from two days to one week after Memorial Day. An editor might say, “It’s not timely.” I would respond, “It’s always ‘timely.’ This subject is something that we should memorialize every day in America.” 

 Leftenent Governor Gibbit Hosemann issued the following statement. 

 Mississippians have been fighting over what would seem the very straightforward power of state voters to bypass the Mississippi Legislature and directly propose state constitutional changes for the better part of a century.

Trooper John Harris was laid to rest today, his watch ended.  Video of the funeral service, including his father giving the eulogy, is posted below for those who were unable to watch. May his family find some comfort in the dark days that lie ahead.

 For Republicans to win back the majority in the House, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said GOP candidates, whether they are incumbents or challengers, must spend time with voters in their communities and come up with solutions about their concerns.

The Biden Administration's plan to favor minorities and women over white males when distributing covid relief funds to restaurants ran into an emergency injunction issued by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals last week.   

 The Mississippi Highway Patrol issued the following statement. 

 A homicide took place at a home on Winchester Street near Highland Terrace in Northeast Jackson.