Jackson Jambalaya

 We somehow missed this little musical gem last month.  National songbird Rene Fleming turned in very lovely performance of a classic at Independence Day's Capitol Concert. Enjoy. 

 This post is authored and sponsored by the Tate Reeves for Governor campaign. 

Mississippi Today is preparing to release a false hit piece on Governor Tate Reeves' brother. Their mischaracterization, per outreach from Mississippi Today received by the campaign, is that Todd Reeves' communications are under scrutiny by the state auditor related to the TANF case based on texts that were "gathered" by the state auditor. Apparently, Mississippi Today initially received these texts from an anonymous source, possibly by illegal means, but went to court to have the State Auditor provide them through a public records request. The auditor's office denied that request under their broad exemption for records that are related to investigations as is their standard policy. The texts in question, which are revealed in full here, show Todd Reeves connecting Brett Favre and Auditor Shad White to help coordinate the repayment of funds. There is nothing that implies Todd was involved beyond helping the state to recover misspent dollars. 

Hinds County District 2 Supervisor is holding a press conference right now. He is challenging the results of his election where he lost by a 2:1 margin. Enjoy.

 Bigger Pie Forum authored and sponsored this post. 

As the Mississippi Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) Board contemplates recommendations to bolster the state’s struggling pension system, it is important to recognize that soaring retirement costs have far-reaching impacts.

State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement. 

 One JXN issued the following press release yesterday. 

Danny Blanton is back on the street after the Mississippi Parole Board released him from prison last week.  He served less than year in prison after his conviction for a fourth-offense DUI. 

 Northeast Jackson residents are about to get some relief.  

 I know what you’re thinking. Ol’ St. John is about to ramp up all that recovery talk again. Granted, many of you already know that story— and it’s probably over documented, that— I am a recovering alcoholic and drug addict with 40 years of sobriety and clean time. I have never shied away from that fact, and never will. 

 The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on July 27 declined to consider the appeal by the family of a Mississippi attorney implicated in a 2014 GOP primary Senate race scandal who later took his own life. The ruling was a split decision with one notable dissent from Judge James C. Ho. 

 Justis Gibbs put a good ole-fashioned butt-whupping on Rukia Lumumba in the race for HD #72 tonight.  Read and weep.

Update (11:30 AM): District Attorney Jody Owens said he will pursue another trial as soon as possible.  

William "Napoleon" "Polo" "The Cipher" Edwards may yet get to fight another day.  The jury said it could not reach a verdict in his case. 

 What happened to Hinds County's money? Where is it spent? How much is spent? JJ would love to tell you but there is just one problem. 

 State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement yesterday. 

 Hartfield Academy is back in the playoff game.  WLBT reported: 

Things didn't go so well for some climate change protestors in Nevada.

 The city of Clinton issued the following statement. 

 If you have absolutely nothing else to do and have some rye handy, watch the closing arguments in the trial of William Edwards below, courtesy of WLBT. 

Governor Tate Reeves issued the following statement. 

Update (12:00 PM): The defense rests. 

Update (11:30 AM): Defense calls Polo's wife to stand.  She testified they separated in August 2020. They have three children. 

The trial of William Earvin (No relation to Magic) Edwards resumes today in Hinds County circuit court.  The proceedings are streamed below courtesy of WLBT.  The prosecution rested Friday.  The defendant will tell Judge Faye Peterson today whether he will testify.  

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

 Will Polo testify?  The murder trial of William "Napoleon" "Polo" "The Cipher" Edwards resumes today in Hinds County circuit court. The prosecution rested Friday.  Edwards had not decided on whether to testify.  His attorney, Tom Fortner, is probably screaming at him to stay off the witness stand but this is Polo Edwards.  Part of him is probably screaming equally as loud to take the stand as we all know he can't resist the spotlight, even if it sends him upriver.  Will he or won't he? Stay tuned. 

What do whiskey and Red Ryder BB guns have to do with prayer?  Is prayer about nagging or badgering? What exactly is prayer? The late Dr. Frank Pollard explains it all in the 1995 sermon posted below.  If it's too hot for you to get to church, enjoy.  

A major issue confronting state leaders is Mississippi’s lowest-in-the nation labor force participation rate – 54.5% compared to the national average of 62.6%. A popular political notion is that there are many able-bodied adults drawing SNAP benefits who do not work, but should, and contribute to that low participation rate.

 A TKO may not be a KO but it still counts as a win.  Former Jackson State University President William Bynum won his appeal of a prostitution conviction after the arresting officer failed to appear in court.  However, his victory might be short-lived as the city of Clinton wants a rematch. 

Vivek Ramaswamy is a 38-year old American entrepreneur who is running to be the GOP presidential candidate in 2024. He is a star who is beginning to shine brightly because he’s cutting through all of the politics that have been ruining America for more than a hundred years. 

 Mississippi Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson issued the following statement. 

 Yup.  Not even Queen and Freddie Mercury can escape cancel culture for this song.  The horror. 

 The hits keep coming for the Rankin County Sheriff's Department. Brandon police arrested Rankin County Deputy Joe Quinn for a first-offense DUI last Friday night.  

For whatever reason, black plums are in season for only a couple of months each year and we are now in the later part of this year's season. Being able to find what I need to make a black plum tart at Kroger (or your favorite grocer) is one of the reasons why I am not as happy a guy when they are gone. 

Update (10:20 AM): The state rests.  The defense moved for a directed verdict. 

And we are back.  Welcome to the fifth day of Polo's trial.  The trial is live-streamed below, courtesy of WLBT. 

 Shadow Robinson's daughter cleared the air in a recent social media post.  

 This post is authored and sponsored by the Mississippi Energy Institute. 

There's one issue that may be both the most long-term, economically-impactful issue for Americans and the issue that best contrasts the eventual Republican and Democrat Presidential nominees, whoever they are. It's energy, and among all the topics and issues covered in the 8/23 debate, it was hardly mentioned. 

 The trial of William "Polo" Edwards continues on its fourth day.  This afternoon's session is live-streamed below courtesy of WLBT. 

 Managed to run into Jason Turner Overdrive and his padnah William Russell doodling away at The Bean Parlor Tuesday.  Check out their work.

 The owner of the run-down Hotel 0 on I-55N in Jackson just might catch a break in Hinds County Court after the city of Jackson ordered him to demolish the eyesore last month.

 The cross-examination of Shadow Robinson is underway.  Can Tom Fortner crack the witness?  Watch below to see what happens today. 

You can't make this up.  Check out Jackson's ad for a public works director on LinkedIn.  

 The trial of William "Polo" Edwards broke down yesterday as the prosecution's star witness, Shadow Robinson, had a meltdown on the stand. 

 Shadow Robinson is testifying in Polo's trial.  Watch it all below, courtesy of WLBT. 

Michael Oher filed a motion to compel an accounting against his conservators, Sean and Leigh Ann Tuohy Monday in the Probate Court of Shelby County.  

The hunt is on for a saboteur.  JXN Water Manager Theodore Henifin said someone is intentionally sabotaging Jackson's water system by opening fire hydrants.  

“If these old walls could speak
Of things that they remember well,
Stories and faces dearly held” – Jimmy Webb

As human beings we like to assign humanoid characteristics to inanimate objects. The late great comedian Richard Pryor was a master of it. He often brought various body parts and pieces of furniture alive in his act. This morning I caught myself doing it when the oft used and cliched phrase, “If these walls could speak,” popped into my head.   

 The second day of William "Polo" Edwards' trial is underway.  Watch it below, courtesy of WLBT. 

 The Mississippi Department of Public Safety issued the following statement. 

Mississippi’s TANF spending scandal must continue to be investigated and should go wherever the law and the program rules take the probe. Let the chips fall.

Want to get some culture? Check out Rene Fleming's Cities that Sing: Paris at Malco Grandview Saturday. 

Remove "Interim" from JPD Interim Police Chief Joseph Wade's title.  Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba named the interim chief to be the permanent chief of the Jackson Police Department today.  

 A juror fell asleep for 40 minutes during the "Polo" Edwards trial today.  You can't make this up.  Watch Judge Peterson discusses the episode at 1:12:00.