Jackson Jambalaya

 Governor Tate Reeves issued the following statement. 

 A Jackson landmark is moving to Ridgeland.  

A wee bit of justice was served on Daveon Lindsey in Madison County Circuit Court yesterday.  

When I was a kid, there always seemed to be chaos surrounding the scramble to get ready for Sunday School. It’s hard to recall exactly what created the disorder, but I remember always having a hard time finding my “Sunday shoes.” One would think that an item of clothing worn once a week would have a permanent storage spot, but that was never the case. While the shoe scramble was underway, the television in the den— still left on from earlier episodes of “The Three Stooges” or “My Favorite Martian”— was blaring in the background. The theme song to “The Gospel Jubilee” rang throughout the house, and is still on a loop in some type of Happy Goodman time warp in the back of my brain all these years later.

Check out what Hizzoner had to say at his press conference Monday.   

NESHOBA COUNTY FAIR ­– The tin roof of the Founder’s Square reverberated with a lot of political rhetoric this week – some of it serious and relevant and some of it, well, not so much.

 The Israelis did us a favor in Beirut today.  Marines everywhere can rejoice.  Fox News reported: 

 The Justice Department issued the following statement. 

 Todd Mardis might be in prison but he is not forgotten, at least by the IRS as the agency tries to put his company out of business for selling bogus tax plans to wealthy clients. 

Diagram Mardis used to sell phony tax-savings scheme

 Governor Tate Reeves issued the following statement. 

 Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba is holding his weekly press conference right now.  It is live-streamed below. 

WLBT's Anthony Warren and C.J. Remasters took on the subject of the Smith-Wills stadium lease last week.  They delved into the nuts and bolts of the lease while interviewing Kusche Sports Group owner Tim Bennett as well. Watch video here. The dynamic duo reported: 

 He was a great man, a great theologian, one who led by example.  As Germans fled Germany to escape the Nazi regime, Dietrich Bonhoffer remained so he could be a light in a sea of darkness.  Filled with faith, he preached the Gospel, knowing how it would probably end.  He wound up in a concentration camp  for his faith.  The Nazis hanged him in April 1945 out of spite yet his spirt lived as the late Dr. Frank Pollard preached in the 1996 sermon posted below.  

The great untold story from the legislative redistricting lawsuit in federal court is how positive the outcome was for the State of Mississippi.

 Today is the anniversary of one of the worst days that ever occurred in Jackson in recent memory.  

 French values are apparently not Mississippi values. Cspire announced on Facebook: 

 The Justice Department issued the following statement. 

 The Mississippi Center for Public Policy issued the following press release. 

It appears someone got some shuteye at the Gluckstadt Sonic before taking out Gluckstadt's railroad crossing Wednesday night.  

 The Police Activity Youtube channel just dropped nearly 30 minutes of police body cam footage shot immediately after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.  The video can be watched at Youtube.  

 One of the all-time great movies is coming to Jackson for not one but TWO days in August.  Yes, Lawrence of Arabia, the same movie spoofed in Full Metal Jacket, is showing August 11 and 12.  Peter O'Toole, Anthony Quinn, Claude Rains, Omar Sharif, and Obi Wan Kenobi make up what is truly an Allstar cast.  Throw in a killer soundtrack and what you have is a cinematic masterpiece.  

 Just when you think the news from Butler can not get any worse, a new tidbit of information comes out that casts the Not-So-Secret Service in a light that is none too flattering. Whistleblowers claim that  not only did the Secret Service not deploy a drone at former President Trump's rally, the Secret Service rejected offers of drone assistance from local law enforcement agencies.  

It'a all a conspiracy.  Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba blamed this website's coverage of the Smith-Wills Stadium lease on - wait for it - a grand conspiracy.  Yup.  Move over birtherism and trutherism, we now have us a new one.  Watch the video.  

The Mississippi Supreme Court hearing for Carlos the Clown has been rescheduled for August.  Presiding Judge Leslie King decreed yesterday: 

 The Mississippi State Department of Health issued the following statement. 

Another domino fell in the DHS scandal today when Brett Favre's business partner, Jacob Vanlandingham, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in U.S. District Court today.   

 An account of a pit bull attack in Ridgewood Park appeared on social media this week.  Actually calling it a "pit bull attack" is somewhat misleading as the attack involved not one, not two, not three, but four pit bulls.  Of course, the victim got no help from JPD.  She posted: 

The easy political comparison to President Joe Biden’s decision to with withdraw from the 2024 U.S. presidential race is to point to incumbent Democratic President Lyndon Baines Johnson’s decision not to seek the presidential nomination of his party in the 1968 campaign.

 Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement. 

 Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle resigned her position.  The Wall Street Journal reported:

Although it's small consolation, the state of Mississippi will pay Anthony Fox $75,617 for his wrongful incarceration.   

Drugs and mental health cases continue to plague the streets of Jackson as exhibited in the video posted below.   This episode took place on Woodrow Wilson. Warning: Psychological & physical nudity present in video.

Just watch this clip from the Secret Service hearing this morning.

 Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba is holding his regular press briefing right now.  The presser is streamed below. 

 The husband of the missing Latasha Coleman was killed in a shootout yesterday at the McDowell Road Shell Station in Jackson.  However, Mrs. Coleman probably would. not have been missing and presumably killed if not for Hinds County Court Judge Johnny McDaniels.  

 It looks like we got ourselves a porch pirate in Belhaven. 

 The Jackson Police Department issued the following statement. 

 President Joe Biden announced he is withdrawing from the 2024 Presidential election.   

"I think in our seecular society we've so secularized our approach to God and everything else that gradually what used to be the Lord's Day become part of a weekend. What used to be something we said, "Lord, I love you", now we're literally saying "Lord, I love you less. I love me more. My pleasure is more important than your worship.... Maybe we need a new hymn book for modern Christians. Instead of singing "I surrender all", we sing "I surrender some." Instead of singing "There shall be showers of blessings, it shall be "sprinkles of blessings". "Fill my cup, Lord" should be changed to "fill my spoon, Lord. "Have thine own way" might be changed to "Maybe some of the time," preached the late Dr. Frank Pollard as he discussed the holiness of the Sabbath.    The 1996 sermon is posted below. 

“Three months before the end of his presidency, Donald Trump quietly issued Executive Order 13957, allowing the conversion of some federal civil service jobs to excepted service under a new classification, Schedule F,” reported a Spring 2024 Cato Institute publication. “If a position was reclassified, the president could fire its occupant at will and install a successor without going through the civil service hiring and placement process.

It's been thirty years since Scamba, I meant Simba, graced the cinema. Yup, the Lion King will be playing at local theatres next week. Nature, diversity, ghosts, and Darth Vader. What else do you need for the perfect movie? The showtimes are posted below. Be sure and check the AM's and PM's as they are kid-friendly.

 Falkor escaped The Nothing and returns to the big screen next week. If you want to watch this blast from the past, check out the showtimes posted below.

 The oral arguments in Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance v. Carlos Moore, Municipal Court Judge are postponed.  The proceeding was scheduled for Tuesday but Mr. Moore asked for a continuance due to a death in the family of his attorney, Terris Harris.  

 The Madison Police Department issued the following statement.

 United States Senator Roger Wicker issued the following statement. 

Rest in peace, hero, rest in peace.  You were what we should all aspire to be.   

Last Call is apparently not just for alcohol.   

Had Donald Trump tilted his head the other way, the bullet that clipped his ear would have killed him. America was half an inch away from a major civil crisis.

 The Hinds County Economic Development Authority issued the following statement. 

For no good reason that I can remember, I recently decided to give my good friend ZeroBear PolyBear a shot at authoring one of my weekly posts. Here it comes:

 Maggie, Bert, Walt, Woody, Rube, and the rest of the gang are back in this edition of Throwback Thursday.  Enjoy. 

 The city of Jackson issued the following statement. 

 State Treasurer David McRae today announced Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition (MPACT) investments earned 9.5 percent in FY2024, far exceeding the 5.75 percent targets.

 Rudy Warnock filed an unopposed motion to continue his trial scheduled for August 5.  U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate has not ruled on the motion. 

The City of Jackson issued the following statement. 

 Think comparing Butler to Uvalde is a wee bit extreme? Guess again.  The Daily Muck reported some rather chilling information about Secret Service negligence and incompetence that took place Saturday: 

 Insurance Commish Mike Chaney issued the following statement. 

The late Dau Mabil's widow won another round in the fight over an independent autopsy  of his remains.

One of the more unique and unusual pleasures of my life is sitting in the stillness of one of our restaurant dining rooms at dawn before anyone arrives. I like to go in early, before anyone is there, and just “be” in the space. There is something about the solitude of that act in those rooms that inspires me.

The Mayor often makes up facts as he goes along (state doesn't pay its water bills, anyone?) and Monday's press conference was no exception. 

If we are the American people we are supposed to be we are this week pausing from the caustic political exchanges on social media and thanking God for the fact that the assassination attempt at the campaign rally for former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania did not end in a state funeral.

Check out what Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle told ABC News.

 We finally got some merch here at Jackson Jambalaya.  Check out JJ's state of the art new fangled quality prime 30 oz tumblers, complete with the JJ logo.  

 The Woodlands office plaza on East County Line Road apparently has a new tenant.  

 It appears the Mayor is trying to throw a nice little contract for grass-cutting for his pal, Richard Bradley.  Check out Item #14 on the agenda for today's meeting of the Jackson City Council. 

Dau Mabil may be gone but he is not forgotten as his widow and brother square off in court yet again.  Bul Mabil, Dau's brother, wants to commission forensic pathologist Dr. Matthias Okoye to perform an independent autopsy of Dau's remains.  Karissa Bowley, Dau's wife, contested the selection, stating Dr. Okoye has a "clear history of incompetence."

The story of Secret Service and law enforcement incompetence gets even worse.  The Beaver Countian reported: 

 OK, you are a new hot-shot developer.  You're going to meet some out of town investors and want to dress to impress.  Indeed, one investor mentioned something about going to a high-class gentleman's club loaded with um, high-priced talent. For that excursion,  you definitely want to do some stylin' and profilin'.  Fortunately, Allen Edmonds has you covered.  

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

The University of Mississippi Medical Center issued the following statement. 

 This little tidbit about the Jackson garbage crisis popped up on social media recently.  Take it for what it is worth.  

 Bill Maher had a few things to say about yesterday's events in Butler, Pennsylvania during his comedy show last night.  

He and his son's name have been turned from words to be gloried into curse words or words of anger.  Such curses flow from too many lips as water, easily said, easily forgotten.   Citing Exodus 20:7, the late Dr. Frank Pollard preached the Lord's  name is to be respected instead of thrown into the gutter.  Enjoy the 1996 sermon posted below. 

 The man who fell yesterday at the Trump rally died a hero's death protecting his family.  His daughter posted this message on Facebook. 

Want to look at comparative data on state tax revenues and not just listen to what politicians say? How about the state’s financial health? Or Medicaid spending? Or population growth?

Update (7/14): The Daily Muck reports Marsaw is fired.  

The screenshots posted below say it all.

 Former President Donald Trump and the Secret Service issued the following statements. 

Update: Shooter dead, attendee killed.  District Attorney said another bystander is in critical condition. 

Someone took a shot at former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally a short while ago.  The Secret Service stopped the assassination attempt.  Mr. Trump was only grazed in the ear and pumped his fist to the audience as the Secret Service took him away.  No arrests have been announced.

Need something good to watch this weekend? Check out these movies streamed on Youtube for, dare we say it?, Free! There are some real gems below.  

 State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement. 

The 2024 race for the presidency was shaping up to be a replay of the 2020 campaign. Then, Biden changed everything. Or, maybe not. Maybe everyone finally saw through the lies that had hidden the truth for years.

Glow in the dark condoms, hallucinogenic toads, the homeless, and an Amazon battalion.  What do they all have in common? Let's go back to 1990 and find out. 

The Veterans Affairs executed a lease with Tim Bennett's Kusche Sports Group, LLC for the lease of 234 parking spaces in July 2021. The contract is scheduled to pay Kusche $5.5 million over 15 years although the company must provide shuttle service and maintain the parking lot. 

America faces an axis of aggression. China, Russia, Iran and North Korea are not only actively undermining US interests. They increasingly seem to be working together.

Until the fourth of July comes again, well maybe it's only 51 weeks now but there is no real reason to panic over what we will eat for the next Independence Day celebration meal. As for me, here is the one I fixed for 7/4/2024. Worked pretty well so I might just do a redo for 7/4/2025.

 The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation issued the following statement and pictures. 

Students will have to lock up their cellphones when they return to school in Marshall County in a few weeks.  WREG reported: 

 The Madison Police Department issued the following statement. 

Hopefully Daniel Wayne Callihan is moving one step closer to his execution.   The Hinds County grand jury indicted Callihan for capital murder, kidnapping, three counts of sexual battery, and possession of a stolen vehicle.  

Credit: KPAL

 JXN Water issued the following statement. 

 Annie Oeth authored the following press release for the University of Mississippi Medical Center. 

 Sometimes breaking up is hard to do......

Slick sketches and resumes were submitted to the city of Jackson by Facilities Solution Team in response to Jackson's request for a statement of qualifications for a Convention Center hotel.  Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and Sherik Smith are partners in the company.  Two other companies submitted SOQ's as well.    

Facilities Solution Team's Convention Center Hotel Rendering

The older I become the more I appreciate crossroads in life. All of us reach different crossroads at various times during our lives. I can look back over the course of my 62 years and clearly see where I made wise and healthy decisions that impacted my future, and other times when I made the wrong choice and headed down an unwise and unhealthy path. It’s life. We make mistakes. I don’t beat myself up about them. I learn and move on. The best we can hope for is that— as we grow older and reach life’s challenging crossroads— we make wiser decisions more often than we make stupid ones.

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

The most recent federal court ruling ordering Mississippi to make changes in state legislative districts based on federal Voting Rights Act violations isn’t your grandfather’s federal court order on legislative redistricting or even your father’s. The new voting rights ruling in the case Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP, et al, v. State Board of Election Commissioners, et al, differs.

 It is a sad day up in Greenwood.  The Crystal Grill posted the following message on Facebook: 

The bridges might be falling apart but such means little to those who run Hinds County.  The Office of State Aid Road Construction informed Hinds County it will revoke $1.4 million in state aid for bridge repair after the county failed to spend the money.   

JJ discovered more weaseling concerning the lease of Smith-Wills Stadium.   Although the 2019 lease required Kusche Sports Group to obtain a $5 million performance bond and submit a copy with the city of Jackson, the city has no such copy.   

Waffle House made some drastic changes in Vicksburg: 

 The Mississippi Highway Patrol issued the following press release. 

 Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba is holding his weekly briefing.  The presser is live-streamed below. 

 The Goon Squad may be gone but 135 Conerly Road in Braxton is not forgotten nor has it been quiet amid allegations of domestic violence and crack use.   

State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement. 

 It's been 28 years....

"The most popular religion in the world is the worship of success, the worship of lust, the worship of power, the worship of the world instead of loving the Lord God with all heart and soul and mind and strength and it's showdown time, I think," preached the late Dr. Frank Pollard in the 1996 sermon posted below.  

The late Democratic Cong. G. V. “Sonny” Montgomery was a mainstay of the Congressional Prayer Breakfast. At Sonny’s memorial service in 2006, former Republican Congressman and Secretary of the Army Pete Geren called the breakfast “an island of fellowship.” Another former Republican congressman, Ed Pease, called it “an oasis for the spirit.”

Nine women bond through the ups and downs of life as they train to become Women's Airforce Service Pilots during World War 2. 

This past Sunday our church sang “America the Beautiful.” I love to sing the old patriotic hymns around July 4th. We sang several together and most in our congregation could sing the old hymns by heart.

 Meanwhile over by St. Dominic Hospital.....

 It's not quite time for college football season but it's always time for a good college football game.  Posted below is a little gem that recently popped up on Youtube: Archie Manning's last game against LSU.  The Fightin' Tigers had Bert Jones and some other all-time greats on their side, including a mouthy wimp named Art Cantrell while the Rebels had Archie.  Manning hadn't played in a month due to a broken arm but he suited up and gave it all that he had.  Enjoy the game. 

 You can tell a lot about someone’s politics given what they might have to say about the conviction of Donald Trump.

 Rest of City Council remains silent.

 As Timothy Bennett weasels out of his Smith-Wills rent, Ward 1 Councilman Ashby Foote charged up the hill in an attempt to hold the Lumumba Administration and Bennett accountable at Tuesday's meeting of the Jackson City Council. 

Huh? No catchy title? What's got into you Mr. PolyBear?  

 Correction: We screwed up. JJ initially reported Simpson County in the first sentence. 

The Smith County Sheriff's Office issued the following statement. 

Looking for a good deal on an iPad Pro? 

 The wheels of justice are moving swiftly indeed for Wayne Callihan and his girlfriend, Victoria Cox.  Callihan stands accused of murdering a mother in Louisiana, kidnapping her two young daughters, and killing one of them in Jackson.   

Credit: KPAL

Leftenent Governor Dilbert Hosemann issued the following statement. 

In a poll of national food critics I believe New Orleans would be listed among the top three food cities in America. To my taste— and I’ve eaten extensively in most of America’s top restaurant cities— New Orleans is number one. Period. No question. End of discussion.

Last year and likely next year as well, the Mississippi Legislature was focused on the question of Medicaid expansion. The tenor of that debate focused on the perceived impact on the bottom line of beleaguered Mississippi hospitals under an expanded Medicaid program, particularly those in rural areas of Mississippi.

 The Byram Police Department issued the following statements. 

 The Jackson City Council elected Ward 7 Councilwoman Virgi Lindsey to President of the City Council and Ward 4 Councilman Bryan Grizzell to the Vice-President position.  

Madison-Rankin District Attorney issued the following statement. 

 A high-school junior will be going to the Olympics.  USA Today reported: 

What could possibly go wrong with this kid? 

 El Presidente loves him some watermelon, especially if it's from Smith County.  

 Mississippi Speaker of the House of Representatives Jason White issued the following statement. 

 Debt? What debt? The Jackson City Council approved a measure earlier this year that granted relief to Kusche Sports Sports Group lease of Smith-Wills Stadium.

What happens when some new kids show up at school?