News

Chokwe Lumumba, ex-black nationalist, wins Jackson mayor’s race

A Mississippi attorney and one-time civil rights activist who was involved in a black nationalist group decades ago has been elected mayor of Jackson, the state capital.

The Clarion-Ledger reported late Tuesday that Jackson City Councilman Chokwe Lumumba was elected mayor, receiving about 85 percent of the vote against three independent candidates.

He will succeed Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr., who finished third in this year’s Democratic primary. […]

National Sports

JSU stadium could derail downtown arena plans

Jackson State University’s recently announced plans to build a domed stadium could effectively kill an effort to build a downtown arena.

The city and other arena backers have spent or pledged $180,000 in recent years to study building an arena to host concerts, sporting events and other entertainment, The Clarion-Ledger reported.

The key factor in the city of Jackson supporting the university’s plans is that it would only have to pay $10 million toward the university stadium, Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. said. A feasibility study in January estimated that a 9,000-seat arena would cost the city $115 million. […]

News

Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership annual luncheon features “Vision 2022 – One Voice

By Ayesha K. Mustafaa

Editor

The Jackson Convention Center banquet hall was filled Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, as the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership luncheon and annual meeting brought together many of its 2,600 plus members along with many public officials.

The Partnership has a 10-year plan termed “Vision 2022 – One Voice” where it has launched a multi-year plan to “transform the Greater Jackson Region into a destination community attracting businesses, families and tourists for its quality of place and economic opportunity.”…. […]

Education

Jackson City Council raises property taxes for JPS

District needs tax hike for debt services

By Othor Cain
Managing Editor

If you live anywhere in the Southeastern portion of the United States, then you should be familiar with yearly events held in this part of the country titled “Battle of the Bands.”
The Jackson City Council recently took to the chambers and staged its own version of the popular competition appropriately titled “Battle of the Budgets.”
In a two-day council meeting, that included the blame game, members of the Jackson city council approved the city’s budget and approved a 2.5 mills (tax) increase to meet the school district’s $86 million budget request…. […]