JackBlog
Dr. Jerryl Briggs

IHL Board Appoints an Acting President for Mississippi Valley State

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The State IHL Board named Dr. Jerryl Briggs as acting president of Mississippi Valley State University at their meeting today. Dr. Briggs currently serves as executive vice president and chief operating officer at the university. The board named Delta State University president William Bynum as the new president of Jackson State University on May 31, throwing the university reeling after a tumultuous search process and budget cuts that led to interim president Rod Paige ordering consolidation of departments and cutting 42 staff members (not faculty though). While at Mississippi Valley, Dr. Briggs has helped to improve the University’s retention rate by 10 percent for fall 2014 and 12 percent for fall 2015 and help work to increase overall university enrollment that resulted in more than a 200 percent increase in dual enrollment students for fall 2016, a press release from IHL says. He also managed a $17 million capital improvement project for the university’s athletic complex, with additional planning underway for renovations to residence halls and other campus buildings. Continue Reading

JackBlog

New Restaurant in District @ Eastover: ‘Fine and Dandy’

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Verbatim release:

NEW JACKSON RESTAURANT ANNOUNCES NAME AND LOCATION IN THE DISTRICT AT EASTOVER

JACKSON, Miss. (June 15, 2017)— Jackson native Ray-Scott Miller today announced he will open a new restaurant in The District at Eastover called Fine & Dandy. Scheduled to open this fall, Fine & Dandy introduces a fresh approach to Southern hospitality that will be evident in the restaurant’s food and service, but also in its modern yet comfortable dining space, thoughtfully designed to deliver an experience perfect for sharing time with family or drinks with friends. “The best times in life are made around a table and the Fine & Dandy team is excited to continue the tradition of setting those tables for our guests,” said Miller. “To do this, we want to create a cool, comfortable place in which you want to hang out. Continue Reading

JackBlog

Updated: Three teens now identified with abduction of Kingston Frazier

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There are now three teenagers said to be involved with 6-year-old Kingston Frazier’s abduction and death. The teens are at risk of being charged with capitol murder. WAPT reported that Byron McBride, 19, was identified as the killer of Frazier, who is said to have several wounds from bullets. McBride was taken into custody U.S. Marshall’s in Ridgeland, WLBT reported. The other suspects, Dwan Wakefield, 17, and D’Allen Washington, 17, were taken into custody on Thursday according to authorities. Continue Reading

JackBlog

Insurance Commissioner Anticipates ‘Significant Changes’ after House Repeals Obamacare

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In case you missed it, the House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act, jokingly referred to as “Trumpcare” by some, this afternoon. The bill repeals several parts of the Affordable Care Act, more often called “Obamacare,” replacing it with legislation that will cut Medicaid funding, allow seniors to be charged more for healthcare as well as allow states to determine what pre-existing conditions insurance companies must cover for their residents. (The ACA required insurers to cover preexisting conditions.)

The bill also repeals several taxes implemented by the ACA, which were used to make insurance plans available to more Americans, while requiring all Americans to have insurance or be fined. The AHCA repeals that penalty and mandate to have health insurance, too; however, as BBC reports, Americans who forgo health insurance for more than 63 days after the bill passes would have to pay a 30 percent surcharge on their insurance payments for a year. The Senate still has to pass the bill before President Donald Trump could sign it into law, but the bill’s passage signals the coming change to healthcare in the nation–and the state with Republicans in charge of the White House and Congress. Continue Reading

JackBlog
King Edward Hotel Lobby

Primary Election Day: Mayoral Viewing Parties

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Today is Election Day in Jackson until the polls close at 7 p.m. Leading mayoral candidates are then hosting watch parties across the capital city tonight as they await the announcement of the primary election results. Attorney Chokwe Antar Lumumba will be at the King Edward Hotel at 8 p.m. at 235 W Capitol St. Hinds County Supervisor Robert Graham will be at Eddie’s Soul Food at 7 p.m. at 5823 Bailey Ave. Sen. John Horhn will be at Fondren Hall at 7 p.m. at 4330 N. State St. Ronnie Crudup Jr. will be located at New Horizon Center at 6:30 p.m. at 3565 Wheatley St. Continue Reading

Immigration

Congressman Thompson Files Bill to Prevent Mississippi DACA Recipient’s Deportation

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Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), who represents part of the city of Jackson in Washington D.C., introduced a private bill to prevent the deportation of Daniela Vargas, a DACA recipient living in his district before she was detained in March. Vargas’ brother and father were detained early in March during a raid on their home, then Vargas herself was picked up by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers after speaking out at a press conference. She was released over a week later after her story caught national media attention and sparked local outcry and vigils. “Enforcement of our country’s immigration laws must hold steadfast to our cherished American values. Daniela Vargas is a member of our community who respects our laws, pays taxes, and has no criminal record,” Thompson said in a press release. Continue Reading

JackBlog

UMMC To Close Two Jackson Wellness Centers

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The University of Mississippi Medical Center will close the University Wellness Center Downtown and University Wellness Center Northeast, both in Jackson, by April 1. The press release from UMMC says the closures are due to “unanticipated cuts in patient care reimbursement and other budget reductions.” “We regret having to close these locations but our need to improve our finances leaves us little choice,” said Kevin Cook, chief executive officer of UMMC’s health system said in a press release. “We are attempting to minimize impacts on employees and members through this transition.”

On Feb. 22, UMMC administrators announced that departments and units across campus must identify ways to reduce expenses and/or increase revenue by a net $24 million by June 30. Continue Reading