JackBlog

JPS Sends Students Home Early; Governor Declares Weather Emergency for Schools

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Jackson Public Schools had to send students home early from school today, after the city of Jackson experienced even more water main breaks due to the icy cold weather. JPS students have missed seven days of school so far in the new year, and students had just returned to classes on Thursday, Jan. 18. Gov. Phil Bryant declared a state of emergency for schools, due to the inclement weather starting on Monday Jan. 15, this week. Continue Reading

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Water Main - artwork

City of Jackson Update on Water

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Since Jan. 1, Jackson has experienced water-main breaks due to below-freezing temperatures. Here is a press release from the City of Jackson about ongoing repairs to the breaks:

Jackson, MS—Water pressures and flows are beginning to return to normal in many areas within the City of Jackson water-distribution network of pipelines. The number of new main breaks has subsided while repairs continue. However, other areas continue to experience low pressure in areas immediately near main break sites, which will have little or no pressure or flow available until those breaks are repaired. Continue Reading

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City of Jackson Declares Water Emergency, Brings in Contractors

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The following is a verbatim press release from the City of Jackson, regarding the low temperatures and challenges with water. The City of Jackson began experiencing near-record low temperatures on Sunday evening following the arrival of an Arctic cold front. As a result, the water treatment system, the water elevated storage tanks, and the water distribution system are experiencing challenges in meeting customer demand. Some areas are also experiencing low water pressure due to several water main breaks throughout the city. The Director of Public Works has declared an emergency in order to bring in contractor crews to supplement the City workforce. Continue Reading

Art Blog

New Podcast Creates Dialogue Around State Flag

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On Friday, Dec. 8, Podastery co-owner and host of podcasts such as “Let’s Talk Jackson” Beau York announced a new podcast that would explore the meaning of the Mississippi state flag and its impact on the state’s citizens. Here is a press release, verbatim:

“Red Flag,” a new podcast about the historical impact and fallout from the state flag of Mississippi, was announced on Dec. 8. The podcast, hosted and produced by citizens of the state, aims to show how Mississippi is changing from within, specifically highlighting how the Confederate emblem was obtained, those who wish to see it removed and why, through the narration of hosts Beau York and Chellese Hall. Continue Reading

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Innovate Mississippi Receives Grant for Coding

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On Tuesday, Dec. 12, Innovate Mississippi announced that the W.K. Kellogg Foundation awarded the organization with a three-year, $1-million grant to help Innovate grow its Mississippi Coding Academies in Jackson. Here is a press release verbatim from Innovate Mississippi:

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has awarded Innovate Mississippi a three-year, $1-million grant to help the newly formed Mississippi Coding Academies grow their current program in the city of Jackson from one academy to four academies over the next three years. The goal is to dramatically increase the number of Jackson-based computer coders trained by the innovative, high-tech workforce-development program. The Mississippi Coding Academies is a private/public initiative that launched as a joint effort between Innovate Mississippi and the Mississippi Development Authority, with support from the Mississippi Community College Board, Hinds Community College, East Mississippi Community College and the Mississippi Works initiative. Continue Reading

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Sarah Sanders Addresses Planned Protests of Trump Attending Civil Rights Museum Opening

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On Tuesday, Dec. 5, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed that President Donald Trump “will participate” in the grand openings of the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum on Saturday, Dec. 9. White House correspondent April Ryan asked Sanders for a response to the boycotts and likely protests planned for Saturday in response to the news of Trump’s possible attendance. The transcript of their exchange (via C-SPAN) is below:

April Ryan: There are comments from the NAACP, (and) from black ministers that are planning on protesting and boycotting the President’s visit to the (Mississippi) Civil Rights Museum. Continue Reading

Art Blog

CAPE Opening, ‘Picturing Mississippi’

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On Thursday, Nov. 30, the Mississippi Museum of Art announced the opening of its community-centered initiative, the Center for Art and Public Exchange. The initiative will use art, exhibitions, programs and artist engagements to “increase understanding and inspire new narratives in contemporary Mississippi,” a press release says. “We at the Mississippi Museum of Art believe that when great, profound art and human beings come together, when they intersect, there’s something magical about that place,” MMA Director Betsy Bradley said in the release. “We think that personal transformation can happen in that circumstance. Continue Reading

Art Blog

Jesmyn Ward Wins National Book Award

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On Wednesday, Nov. 15, Jesmyn Ward received a National Book Award for “Sing, Unburied, Sing.” The book centers around 13-year-old Jojo, whose mother, Leonie, takes he and his toddler sister Kayla on a trip to Parchman to pick up their white father. Ward is now a two-time winner of the National Book Award, as she won one in 2011 for her novel, “Salvage the Bones.” Click here to read a New York Times story about her award. Continue Reading

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Jackson Schools ‘Better Together’ Commission Meets This Afternoon

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The “Better Together” Commission, a coalition of school, city, nonprofit and business leaders, will meet tonight at 4:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Gardens Community Center located at 4125 Sunset Drive, Jackson, MS.

The Commission is tasked with two roles in helping the Jackson Public School District. First, the group must issue a request-for-proposal soon to hire a company to conduct a gap analysis of the district. Secondly, the commission must collect a large amount of community input through listening sessions, surveys and other engagement strategies. Gov. Phil Bryant opted to form the commission instead of allowing the Mississippi Department of Education to take over the district this fall. Continue Reading