Jackson Jambalaya

 The Friends of Children's Hospital issued the following press release.

Public pensions are getting great returns in the markets yet are falling behind in funding future benefits for their retirees.  The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday:

Meet one of our Mississippi Troopers, fresh out of Trooper school.  Be careful when driving.  She's looking to give you a ticket. 

The Court-appointed receiver in the Lamar Adams case asked for permission to sell his St. Andrew's Drive home for $540,000.  Receiver Allyson Mills stated in a motion:

The Madison County School District sent this email to parents of its students today:

Mississippi universities love them some lobbyists.  The Clarion-Ledger put on its good government hat today as it reported Mississippi universities spend nearly $2 million on lobbying public officials:

During a briefing on immigration and border security in Calexico, Calif., last week, President Donald Trump held fast to his steady contention that the U.S. immigration system was overburdened as he continued to push for a Southern border wall and tighter security to combat illegal border crossings.

The last Doolittle Raider died today.  Lieutenant Colonel Dick Cole passed away at the age of 103 today.  The Northwest Florida Daily News reported:

Will UMMC have exclusive use of the word "Telemergency"? UMMC has made some huge bets on telemedicine as it seeks to bring more health care providers and hospitals under its umbrella through this new-fangled way of practicing medicine.  UMMC filed an application to protect "Telemergency" with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The city of Jackson apparently has not records of adoptions and euthanizations at the Animal Control Center.  JJ submitted a public records request on February 11, 2019:

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba issued the following statement.

Once eliminated in the United States, the Measles virus is mounting a comeback.  The Ccnter for Disease Control said there are now 465 cases of Measles in 19 states.   The Wall Street Journal reported today:

Check out the questionnaire posted below that the Mississippi Retired Public Employees' Association sent to legislative candidates.  The fourth question is particularly interesting.

Wow.  Start listening to Mr. Stokes at 38:00.  

JPD issued the following statements.

It appears our Attorney General is having a fund-raiser for the cool kids.  JJ would love to tell you where it is but we don't know where it will take place.  See for yourself.

Good job, Jackson. The Jackson-Hinds library system lost 34,000 books to mold at the Charles Tisdale library after the city dithered for nearly two years. The Northside Sun reported Wednesday:

The late Dr. Frank Pollard (First Baptist Jackson) preached on the "Be-attitudes" in this edition of Sunday Morning Sermons.

First a correction. Last week I wrote there are 13 candidates for governor; instead there are 14. I left out Constitution Party candidate Bob Hickingbottom. My apologies.

The Associated Press labeled most of these as "lesser known candidates." While it is unlikely a lesser known candidate will win a party nomination, this is Mississippi where lesser knowns surprise us.

It appears some JPD cruisers stored behind the old satellite office on Farish Street were mighty tempting targets for some thieves.

TMZ obtained police bodycam video of the seizure of Dak Prescott's pit bulls.  The dogs are very lucky to be alive as a police officer aimed his M-4 semiautomatic rifle at them as they approached.  The video is posted below.

HBO dropped a new Game of Thrones trailer.  Enjoy.

Rumored to be the curse of the Witch, fire and brimstone incinerated Yazoo City a little more than 100 years ago  Today's edition of Flashback Friday takes a look at the "Destruction of Yazoo City." 

Don't really have time to clear the weeds this morning but here is a poll Millsaps College and Chism Strategies released yesterday.  Some highlights are:

Golden crappers make for um, economic development.  A member of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority Board of Commissioners pushed mighty hard to spend $300,000 to renovate the bathrooms at Hawkins Field in order to generate economic activity.  The July 2018 minutes state:

Nothing like flying without some landing gear as a seventeen year old student pilot found out six months ago.  Maggie Taraska attempted to fly solo from Beverly Airport in Massachussetts to Portland Maine.  However, she quickly discovered something was wrong upon takeoff.  The control tower informed her that the right wheel was missing.  What took place next ran the entire gamut of human emotions.  Listen for yourself as the tower talks her down to a safe landing sans landing gear.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba issued the following statement.

The city of Jackson issued the following statement.

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

Kool Smiles? Kool What? The dentistry chain recently changed its name after enduring a spell of bad publicity.  The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reported yesterday:

When the Delta Tau Chis came to the University of Oregon......

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement.

JPD issued the following statement yesterday.

The War of Natchez Trace Village continues with no signs of abatement as the Fishhook Queen, Mary Watkins, was charged with petit larceny after she allegedly and illegally removed several signs announcing a meeting with Madison officials.  She was recently convicted of simple assault by threat after she cast fish hooks at two young boys who were riding their jet skis on Culley Lake. 

I have distinct memories of two memorable, inimitable figures from the civil rights era in Mississippi whose lives and experiences are featured in two books published by the University Press of Mississippi, the state’s academic book publishing press, that are now in bookstores or available at upress.state.ms.us.

Reality Show in Jackson? Uh-oh.  This has to be an April Fool's thing.  Has to be.

This Northeast Jackson mansion can be yours if.........the price is right.

Disgraced municipal financial advisor Porter Bingham pleaded not guilty in federal court today.  A grand jury indicted him recently for bank fraud, money laundering, and wire fraud that were allegedly committed in a $2 million bond sale for Rolling Fork in 2015.

The Madison Police Department issued the following statement.

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey issued the following statement.

Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves issued the following statement.

Spaceman Spiff returns:

A man who wants to build a liquor store in Canton intends to sue the city after it  said it will not approve a permit to build a liquor store even though it issued him a privilege license. 

The Queens has had enough and don't mind saying so to City Hall.  Leaders of the Queens subdivision  paid a visit to Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and the City Council on March 19.  Neighborhood leaders such as Doris Devine made it clear they were fed up with the lack of progress in fixing Jackson's problems.  She even complained about a city worker asleep on the job.