Since the late night shows suck, check out some Taylor Tomlinson.  

 Former Chief Justice and failed gubernatorial candidate Bill Waller, Jr. will not run for Governor.   Speculation ran rampant Mr. Waller would run against Governor Tate Reeves as an independent.  However, Mr. Waller met with his family and chose to stay on the sidelines.   It appears there will be a Mano a Mano matchup between Governor Reeves and Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley. 

Republican Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann kicks off his reelection campaign with a formidable $3,517,092 in his coffer, according to a report released today.

The Hinds County District Attorney and Judiciary oppose HB #1020.  The bill creates a special prosecutor and judicial district for the Capitol Complex Improvement District, thus removing all CCID cases from the Hinds County judicial system.  

 Sista Rukia and her crowd are going to fight the Capitol Complex bills. 

Aplos is opening a location in Ridgeland.  Renaissance announced on Facebook: 

 Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba is holding a press conference right now.  The presser is streamed below. 

 Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann's Senior Advisor Casey Phillips issued the following statement.

 State Senator Chris McDaniel just announced he will challenge incumbent Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann.  Watch the announcment here.

 Water bills are going to be based upon property values and oh, they are also going to go up.  So said Jackson Water Manager Ted Henifin at a press conference Friday.

 Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann issued the following statement. 

Six Senate bills making their way through the legislative process seek to set minimum sentences for some pervasive crimes and reduce theft of public tax dollars.

 Hinds County Tyree Jones issued the following statement. 

 When does a good neighbor become a bad neighbor?

The late Dr. Frank Pollard pondered the question of why is there suffering in this world.  Preaching to his clock, the late great pastor tied free will, suffering, and even Stradivarius violins into one of his better sermons that was not even fifteen minutes long.  Some preachers could take a hint.  Enjoy the 1995 sermon posted below.

Among the flawed arguments made by opponents of Medicaid expansion in Mississippi is this one: Because Medicaid generally does not compensate hospitals enough for what it takes to provide the care, they could actually end up doing worse financially if the state expands the program to cover the working poor.”

The latest list of Hinds County candidates is posted below.  

 Long ago there may have been a time when presidents, congresses, and courts governed according to the Constitution. There’s no need to fantasize about returning to those days. 

Here we go again.  The federal government caught the city of Jackson running something that was severely understaffed.  In this case, it is the Jackson Zoo.   

The Jackson State University Faculty Senate issued the following statement. 

 Former Pine Lake Youth Minister Tyler Swaggard will spend the next seven years behind bars after he pleaded guilty exploitation of a child in Rankin County Circuit Court on January 17.  

 The race to replace former State Representative Deborah Gibbs will be um, rather interesting.  Mrs. Gibbs was unkind enough to become a Hinds County Circuit Judge, thus creating the vacancy.  The candidates for HD# 72 are: 

 Secretary of State Michael Watson issued the following statement. 

 Millsaps College issued the following statement. 

 Rankin-Madison District Attorney Bubba Bramlett issued the following statement. 

 And..... they are lining up at the gate in Hinds County.  Check out District 1. 

“A party without cake is just a meeting” –Julia Child

It started as a whim. It ended as a quest. A quest that probably added five percent to my total body mass index, an inch to my waistline, and almost put me in a diabetic coma. But it’s what I do. I eat for a living. When it comes to king cake, I took one for the home team.

Will Jackson permanently lose control of its water and sewer systems? The State Senate Economic and Workforce Development committee passed a bill yesterday that will create a utility authority to operate Jackson's water and sewer services when the water manager finally leaves town.  

Even before global headlines seized on the fact that for the first time in a half-century, China’s mammoth population was in decline, Fiscal Year 2023 U.S. agricultural trade projections were down overall and specifically down with China.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

‘He’s too good at lying not to do it’: Alleged conman claims former NFL defensive lineman and ‘gentle giant’ used ‘brute strength’ in kidnapping

by Anna Wolfe, Mississippi Today
January 24, 2023

A group of ill-advised businessmen and investors, including one of  Mississippi’s own star athletes and former NFL player Jerrell Powe, were done being jerked around.

 Are Dak's days numbered in Dallas? Check out this tweet.  

Update: Boil Water Notice issued.  

Lakeland Nursing and Rehab went without water today after a water main broke this morning.  

 Was Jackson's Public Works Director sleeping on the job while the water system fell apart? Former Jackson Deputy Public Works Director Mary Carter made the accusation in a wrongful termination lawsuit she filed against the city in U.S. District Court on December 3, 2022.  She claims the city fired her after she criticized her boss in an August 2022 WLBT interview. 

 Rankin-Madison District Attorney Bubba Bramlett issued the following statement. 

 Congressman Michael Guest issued the following statement. 

 The Mississippi Department of Public Safety issued the following statement. 

 JPD issued the following statement. 

A bill will make it legal to record police officers while creating a 15-foot camera-free zone for the police.  State Representative Jill Ford authored HB #448.  The highlights of the bill are: 

 Hehehe, you knew it was coming and it did indeed come. SAS just can't help himself.  Enjoy. 

 The Mississippi Department of Public Safety issued the following statement. 

The receiver's clawback lawsuit continues to wind (or is it wither) away in U.S. District Court.  

 Welcome mats, the London Blitz, and ice-skating in church were all tied in together by the late Dr. Frank Pollard in the 1995 sermon posted below.  He said something about jumping high on Sunday and walking straight the rest of the week as well.  Enjoy. 

A constant theme for governor candidates in Mississippi is job creation. Gov. Tate Reeves is no exception. When he announced for re-election he touted, among other things, his success in growing jobs.

The Madison Police Department issued the following statement. 

 Two weeks ago corporate media portrayed the fight over Speaker of the House the mother of all stories in 2023 Washington. The Speaker story would replace the January 6 story that has anchored corporate media news the past two years. Then discovery of classified documents leapt into the lead again, and again, and finally a third time last week and counting, but these documents were all classified during the Obama-Biden administration.

Tonight's Friday Night Flick is Poolhall Junkies. It is usually hard to find a dvd or stream of the movie but fortunately, Youtube posted it for free.  It has its cheesy moments as well as a few great one-liners but the movie does have one saving grace: Christopher Walken. That little feature alone is worth the price of viewing.  Enjoy. 

 The Jerrel Powe kidnapping story got more weird.  WLBT reported: 

 The Mississippi Department of Public Safety issued the following statement. 

Dr. Reginald D. Rigsby managed to get his medical license suspended again.  The Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure suspended the medical license of the Gluckstadt physician on December 8, 2022 for inappropriate conduct with a patient.   Dr. Rigsby practiced family medicine.

 The University of Mississippi Medical Center issued the following statement. 

 The Justice Department issued the following statement. 

 Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement. 

 Lieutenant Governor Gilbert Hosemann issued the following statement. 

Four bills pending in Senate committees are aimed at helping stabilize hospitals and growing the healthcare workforce in Mississippi. Chief among them is Senate Bill 2372, authored by Senator Kevin Blackwell, which creates a program to provide $80 million in grants to hospitals based on number of licensed beds and care.

Coach Prime's house is finally up for sale.  It can be yours for $1.5 million but don't worry, MDA, MCDEA and Canton are standing by with bonds, TIF's, and all sorts of goodies if you want to purchase this prime tourist attraction.   Marcus Dupree and Nancy New are standing by to offer their free consulting services on how to get the luxury you deserve with alternate means of financing.  Remember, you deserve this home.   The realtor's listing states: 

 Ruth Cummins authored the following post for UMMC. 

The Mississippi Poison Control Center is experiencing a concerning increase in calls regarding children who have found and eaten marijuana-laced candies and chocolates at home, making them sick enough for a trip to the emergency room.

 WJTV finally reported a Hinds County grand jury indicted Beth Ann White: 

The EPA brushed off the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality's response to the NAACP's complaint of environmental racism.  The NAACP accused MDEQ and other state agencies of intentionally depriving Jackson of much-needed funds for its water system in a complaint filed with the EPA's new Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights.  

Many of the business books I am familiar with go into great detail about how successful people commit to a rigid routine in their workday. A specific time is set aside for checking emails, another period is devoted to text responses. Some of these experts allot time— down to the minute— for phone calls, meetings, lunch and even the small tasks associated with a day’s work. I am not one of those devotees. Good or bad, I am not one that adheres to a tight schedule. I am always on-time and fairly organized but have no desire to lead such a structured existence, whether in my business, or personal, life. 

 In a Jan. 12 email announcing that he is challenging incumbent Republican Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves for the state’s top job, Democratic Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley said in the final paragraph: “If you make me your Governor, I promise you this: I’ll never forget who I am, where I came from, or who sent me.”

Jerrel Powe is free after he posted a $100,000 bond in Ridgeland yesterday.  Ridgeland police arrested the former Ole Miss and NFL football player for kidnapping Monday.  

 Why we can't have nice things reason #__.  

 Water Manager Ted Henifin's plans to base water bills on property values might be coming to a screeching halt if the Legislature has its way.   State Senator Joel Carter (R-Mardi Gras) authored SB #2338.  The bill states: 

 The final grades are out.  How did your team fare on its report card? 

Need to get away from it all but don't want to leave town for some reason? Want to rev up the romance?  Check out Jackson's newest adults-only attraction on the I-55 N frontage road.  

Will we finally get to see Jews in Space? A Viking Funeral? You know who on Ice?  What else does Mel Brooks have planned for us?  In case you are wondering, Mel Brooks is about to spring History of the World, Part II upon us.  Check out the trailer.

 Ridgeland police arrested former Ole Miss football star Jerrel Powe and charged him with kidnapping today. 

The People's Advocacy Institute issued the following statement. 

 The Mississippi State Department of Health issued the following statement. 

 Crime fell in Clinton over the last decade and by no small amount. The Clinton police department released the crime stats for the last decade.  Every category of crime dropped more than 60%.  The report is posted below.  Read and weep. 

 So where did Trevor Lawrence celebrate after leading his team from 27-0 down to beat the Los Angeles Chokers?

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office issued the following statement and pictures. 

"Most of us are not wonderful, especially those of us who think we are wonderful."  Thus spaketh the late Dr. Frank Pollard as he preached on faith in the 1994 sermon posted below.  Enjoy today's sermon if you didn't make it to church.  

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety issued the following statement. 

 PERS is in trouble again. The PERS board jacked up the employer contribution rate again. And everybody lived happily ever after.

Not.

 Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement. 

 Last week Victor Davis Hanson wrote, “A Country We No Longer Recognize, a Coup We Never Knew,” carried by The Daily Signal, a publication of The Heritage Foundation. Hanson, a classicist and historian in the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, asked no fewer than 52 questions beginning with “Did someone or something seize control of the United States?” and ending with “We are beginning to wake up from a nightmare to a country we no longer recognize, and from a coup we never knew.”

 An idiot decided he would start doing donuts as he came out of the Popeyes on Robinson Road.  In an effort to pay tribute to Robbie Knievel,  he took his Mustang airborne but unfortunately landed on top of an employee's car in the parking lot of Furniture City.  Check out the pictures posted below. 

 Posted below are the statistics for the medical marijuana program as of January 6.  JJ obtained the statistics through a public records request.

 Meanwhile over on Douglas Drive....

MDEQ Director Chris Wells accused the EPA trying to use an environmental civil rights complaint to "divert attention from the city of Jackson's own failures."  The EPA's new Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights is investigating the state of Mississippi after the NAACP filed a Title VI complaint on behalf of several Jackson residents.  The plaintiffs charged the state intentionally deprived Jackson of money it needed to ensure it could provide safe drinking water.

 Partridge-Sibley Industrial Services issued the following statement. 

Partridge-Sibley Industrial Services, Inc. ("PSI") has resolved the investigation of its involvement in the illegal discharges by Rebel High Velocity Sewer Services of Jackson ("Rebel") of industrial wastewater during the period from January 2017 to October 2017.

 Congressman Michael Guest issued the following statement. 

 Water Manager Ted Henefin tried to say the new water meters are improperly installed but the contractor was having none of it as he fired right back at Jackson's water savior.   WLBT reported: 

Update (1/13/23): Death claimed the second victim. 

Update (8:10 PM): One victim died. 

Several shooters ambushed two individuals at the Exxon gas station on Northside Drive by I-55 yesterday afternoon.  

Sometimes things are not as bad as they seem.  Sometimes they are actually worse....

 Governor Tate Reeves issued the following statement. 

The Justice Department issued the following statement. 

The Briarwood 1 Building may soon be no more after Jackson Municipal Court Judge Jeff Reynolds ordered its New York owners to demolish the dangerous eyesore. 

State Representative Shanda Yates (I- No Man's Land) filed a bill that will allow voters to recall Mayors.   The power to recall elected officials does not currently exist in Mississippi. The bill states: 

It is my belief that some people are born with their life’s mission already implanted deep in their DNA. Just as we are wired at birth to like certain foods, musical styles, and activities, I am of the school that believes that careers and interests are hardwired from the start. It’s better that way. We’d all be boring clones and mindless robots if we all liked the same exact things to the same exact degree. The 18^th century poet, William Cowper, said, “Variety is the spice of life,” and that’s back when there weren’t many spices that were even available to the general populace. 

 American citizens last week learned a new phrase in the nation’s political lexicon, one not heard 14 consecutive times on Capitol Hill since before the Civil War: “No person having received a majority of the whole number of votes cast by surname, a speaker has not been elected.”

From the largest tax cut in Mississippi history to major investments in infrastructure and teacher compensation, Delbert Hosemann has tackled a lot in his first three years as Lieutenant Governor.  

 Insurance Commish Mike Chaney issued the following statement. 

Maybe Lenin was right about capitalists and ropes. Jackson Water Manager Ted Henefin hasn't backed off his idea to base water bills on property assessments.  Mr. Henefin promoted the idea again at a private forum Sunday organized by Jeff Good.  Some of the businessmen present (not all) supported Mr. Henefin's suggestion.  WLBT reported: 

 Warning: Language not safe for work, school, or Kiffinites. 

To say Georgia came out ready to seek and destroy last night was an understatement. The only thing missing was a crybaby insult before the game.   Speaking of pre-game, check out Coach Kirby Smart's locker room speech to his footballers before they took the field. 

 Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens issued the following statement. 

PERS went mud-riding yet again in 2022 as its financial picture continued to worsen thanks to seesaw between retirees and active employees that becomes more unbalanced every year.  Although the markets killed in 2022, investment gains in 2021 kept the bad news from being worse.  

Posted below are the Senate maps for the Jackson metro area after redistricting.  It appears David Blount picked up some more Northeast Jackson at Walter Michel's expense.  There are some other changes but if you want to find out if you got switched around, check out the maps.  JJ will post the maps of the House of Representatives later this week. .

 A Jackson Municipal Court judge shut down the Extended Stay Studio 7 Hotel on I-55 Frontage Road in North Jackson after finding the hotel was unfit for human habitation.  Hotel owner Anilkumar Patel pleaded guilty to code violations but managed to avoid going to jail.  

 A building is on fire near the corner of Amite and Farish Streets.  Pictures and video are posted below.  The building once home to Star Steam Laundry.  The address is 212 North Farish Street.

Jackson's new water management team now has a website. 

 Jackson Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes returned to the radio this morning on WOAD.  The legendary Councilman began the show in prayer as he thanked God for his blessings.  Mr. Stokes discussed his recent bout with Covid and then of course, moved on to discussing Jackson's water. Money quote: "They about to get $600 to $800 million dollars. You know they about to steal it" as he pushed for a new water plant.  He closed by talking about the upcoming Martin Luther King parade.

Mincing no words, the late Dr. Frank Pollard preached some unvarnished word straight from Romans  3:23-26 while working together blood transfusions, Amazing Grace, and  the late Coach Johnny Vaught in is own special way.  It's a rainy day so many of you probably played hooky from church.  Enjoy the 1994 sermon. 

 Right out of the gate in 2023 the juxtaposition of images was stark.  

There were Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic President Joe Biden standing next to each other in Kentucky praising the bipartisan infrastructure bill. There were Republican and after Republican in the House disparaging the bill and condemning McConnell and 18 other Republican senators who voted for it. (Sen. Roger Wicker was one of them.)

Jackson successfully defended its title as America's Murder Capital in 2022 even after homicides declined 13%.  WLBT reported yesterday: 

What will we see in 2023? “Past performance is not indicative of future results,” is a caveat for buying and selling stocks, but not for predicting what President Biden and his administration will do this year. In fact, President Biden and his bureaucratic entourage will likely stay the course he laid during his first two years in office. 

I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, so sorry.  Trust me, I'm sorry.

Senator Roger Wicker issued the following statement. 

 Mississippi Public Safety Commish Sean Tindall issued the following statement. 

Will rule free Mike Land's barbers? 

The Federal Trade Commission is interested in banning non-compete clauses - all of them.  The FTC posted on its website yesterday: 

 Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba announced the federal fairy godmothers bestowed $800 million upon Jackson at a press conference yesterday . 

 Flowood's only movie theatre closed tonight. The parking lot was completely empty just before 10 PM and there was a note on the box office thanking everyone for their support.  It was probably only a matter of time before it closed thanks to Covid and five other movie theaters in the metro area.  Saw many a movie there over the years. Thanks for the good times.  

 The Pearl Police Department issued the following statement. 

 The candidates are a'qualifying to run for something.  Posted below is the current list of Republican candidates who have qualified to run for state office in the August GOP primary. 

 Where there is Hope, there can only be..........

 This post was almost called "Miracle of the Day."  A shootout took place at the gas station in front of Forest Hill High School recently.  Apparently some yewts never heard of proper gun safety.  Watch and you will see why. 

Hunting, wildlife conservation, and gun ownership in the United States are special. Unlike in Europe, where wealthy landowners and royalty held certain rights to hunting, wildlife, and guns, Americans are the beneficiaries of robust public trust ownership principles. Because of lessons learned hundreds of years ago, every whitetail deer, turkey, quail, alligator, fish, and other wildlife species that is in this great state belong to ALL of us. Unfortunately, some folks, including those charged with representing the public and safeguarding our wildlife for hunting and their associated economic benefits, would like to change that.

 Governor Tate Reeves qualified to run for re-election yesterday at Mississippi Republican Party headquarters in Jackson.  

 Ag Commish Andrew Gipson issued the following statement. 

 Did Mississippi State commit plagiarism? The Bulldogs took advantage of some Illini desperation in the final moments of the Reliaquest Bowl. 

 NEW ORLEANS— The practice of making New Year’s resolutions is something that has never interested me. I guess I have just always assumed that I could make a vow to myself on any day, and if it’s something that I really need to do, or a practice that I need to start implementing, then I shouldn’t wait until January 1^st to get to it.

 State Representative De'Keither Stamps' 17 year-old daughter has gone missing in Alabama.  

 Just three months back, Mississippians celebrated Gov. Tate Reeves’ announcement of a $2.5 billion aluminum mill project in the Golden Triangle that promised 1,000 jobs at an average salary of $93,000. 

 Barrelhouse will soon be locked up and out of stock. The restaurant posted on Facebook: 

The Capitol Police caught a trio of carjackers last week on Fortification Street near the interstate.  Sadly, one of the suspects was only 16 years old.  Sadder still is he has been under indictment since 2020.  

Secretary of State Miguel Watson issued the following statement on qualifying for office in Mississippi.

The city of Jackson issued the following statement. 

 Mission Mississippi issued the following statement. 

 The Capitol Police caught a trio of carjackers in Belhaven Wednesday.  One of them was arrested and charged with murder as well.

 Chuck Stinson passed away.  He was 60 years old.  Yours truly used to enjoy listening to Chuck and Doug on The Score every morning (even if Doug occasionally stranded his wife at the airport.).  Condolences to his family and friends.

The city of Jackson issued the following statement. 

 Water problems continue in Jackson.  WAPT reported: 

What do the three R's - rag dolls, righteousness, and Romans - have to do with each other? Watch the late Dr. Frank Pollard's 1994 sermon to find out as he preaches from Romans 3:21-24.  Quite a few readers are probably recovering from um, celebrating New Year's Eve so enjoy the make-up sermon. 

 Check out this picture of the collapsed Jackson Pointe Bridge in Woodville. 

 The turning of the year is traditionally a time to look ahead. For state government that “look ahead” horizon tends to be pitifully short. Especially when it comes to finances.