News

MUW rape suspect arrested

Columbus police have arrested a man in the alleged rape of a woman on the Mississippi University for Women campus in August.

The Commercial Dispatch reports 26-year-old Jamarrell Brandon was arrested on Monday and charged with one count sexual battery. […]

News

Woman’s body found; suspect arrested

The body of a 59-year-old Brandon woman feared kidnapped has been found near Tougaloo College in Madison County, and police say her alleged assailant is jailed on murder charges.

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey tells The Clarion-Ledger Lenora Patsy Edhegard was found dead Tuesday night. He didn’t give details on her cause of death. […]

News

Jackson State disappoints fans in home opener

By Tim Ward

Sports Writer

After being on the road to open the season for three consecutive weeks, JSU played their first home game in front of an announced crowd of over 20,000. Low numbers since the last time Southern came to Jackson. Saturday’s (Sept. 22) game against Southern was a great example of how Tiger fans are feeling. Let me explain. At this point in the season, die hard fans expected to be at least 2 & 2 after Saturday, not 1 & 3.

Let’s break it down. First game, Mississippi State, yeah right…. […]

Education

In a cash strapped district JPS continues to spend

Board of Trustees approves big-spending measures

By Othor Cain

Managing Editor

Faced with questions about big spending in his former school district, Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Cedrick Gray vows to remain focused on JPS and moving this district forward. “I cannot afford to lose sight of what is before us, even with lingering questions,” Gray said. “Everything we did in Fayette County, Tenn., was above board and done with board approval.”

Last week Gray asked JPS board of trustees to approve hiring a financial team that would help with restructuring its debt and save the district money. Gray submitted to the board some background on the team and the reason he wanted to bring them on board. What he did not give them were hard cold numbers on cost or projected savings…. […]

Business

Busting the Romney myth: ‘47 Percenters’ pour out seeking jobs, not handouts

By Ayesha K. Mustafaa

Staff Writer

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said, “There are 47 percent of the American people who will vote for the president no matter what…, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it.”

Perhaps Romney should have attended the Sept. 26 (and last year’s) 2nd Annual Jobs for Jacksonians Job Fair and Business Engagement Summit held at the Jackson Medical Mall on Woodrow Wilson Blvd. In this city of over 75 percent African Americans, there were job seekers who filled the Mall’s hallways stretching over a block long and standing or passing nearly elbow to elbow…. […]

Education

JPS takes next step to ensure its budget is met

District files an appeal against city

By Othor Cain

Managing Editor

The Jackson Public School District lived up to its assertion that it would take legal action against the city of Jackson in an effort to ensure its budget is properly met.

The district had 10 days after the city council voted and passed a measure that would give a tax increase of 2.5 mills, which essentially gave the school district $86 million. The district submitted a budget of $88 million that would have required a 5 mills assessment to tax payers. That measure was voted down by the majority of the city council.

The lone standing council member that supported assessing the taxpayers of Jackson the required millage that would have given the school district its recommended budget was Ward 3 councilwoman Larita Cooper-Stokes. […]

News

Reed: “I’m ready to serve”

Former ‘railroad’ man steps into political fray

By Othor Cain

Managing Editor

After attending a local Democratic caucus meeting earlier this year at Provine High School in Jackson and at the urging of some in attendance. There James Reed left with the understanding that it was his time to offer himself as a public servant. “I really didn’t have this on my radar,” Reed said. “But after being asked to run, praying about it and discussing it with my wife, I decided to do it.”

Reed is seeking the office of Election Commissioner for District 1 in Hinds County. […]