Year: 2012

Education

JPS takes next step to ensure its budget is met

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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”

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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. […]

Education

Holder to give civil rights speech at Ole Miss

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U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will speak about civil rights today at the University of Mississippi.

The Justice Department said Holder’s speech is titled “50 Years of Integration -1962-2012: A Reflection on Civil Rights in America.” […]

News

Trial set for woman accused of sexual battery of a minor

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A Jackson woman accused of the sexual battery of a minor – along with her husband – will stand trial next month, the attorney general’s office has confirmed.

Jan Webb, 42, and her husband, William J. Webb, 59, were arrested on Jan. 8 for the sexual battery of a person under the age of 18. While the attorney general did not release specific details about the case, he did say the alleged incident took place in October 2010 at the couple’s residence in the 3500 block of Shady Oaks Street. […]

News

Casino wants $75M lawsuit dismissed

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A gambling company has asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit that claims a Mississippi casino served a heavily medicated man so many free drinks that he collapsed in the bathroom of his hotel room and died.

The lawsuit against IP Casino Resort and Spa in Biloxi was filed in U.S. District Court in Gulfport in July and seeks damages of $75 million. […]

Entertainment

Beyonce, Carole King added to Keys’ Black Ball

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Call it ladies night: Beyonce and Carole King are joining Oprah Winfrey and Alicia Keys at Keys’ annual Black Ball event.

Beyonce and King will perform at the fundraising gala for Keys’ charity Keep a Child Alive on Nov. 1 at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom. The night will honor Winfrey and Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo for their philanthropic efforts. Keys, Kidjo and rock group Alabama Shakes will also perform. […]

Entertainment

Houston Stackhouse to get blues trail marker today

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While Houston Stackhouse never became a major name in the blues, he still played an influential role in the history of the Delta blues as a sideman and mentor.

A Wesson, Miss. native, Stackhouse will be honored today with a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail at 2 p.m. in his hometown. The unveiling will take place at 1047 8th Street. This is the 162nd marker on the blues trail. […]

Entertainment

ABC’s Roberts doing well after bone marrow transplant

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ABC’s “Good Morning America” co-host Robin Roberts is already wishing to leave the hospital following her bone marrow transplant.

Her oncologist, Dr. Gail Ropoz, said Roberts had emailed that note a day after the procedure. ABC showed a brief video clip of Roberts in her hospital bed receiving bone marrow from her donor sister to treat MDS, a blood and bone marrow disease.
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