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Sunday, Feb. 16 Two men deface a statue of James Meredith on the University of Mississippi campus by draping a noose and an old Georgia state flag on it. The university offers a $25,000 reward for information leading to the culprits’ arrest.
February 19 - 25, 2014
Monday, Feb. 17 An Oklahoma pharmacy agrees not to provide a drug for a scheduled execution next week in Missouri as part of a settlement with the death row inmate’s attorneys. ‌ Jimmy Fallon makes his debut as host of NBC’s “Tonight Show,â€? as the TV institution returns to New York after four decades based on the West Coast.
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Tuesday, Feb. 18 India’s Supreme Court commutes the death sentences to life in prison for three men convicted of playing minor roles in the 1991 assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, which also caused the deaths of 17 other people.
A LEGEND’S WORDS
by Trip Burns
Philip Seymour Hoffman left us many memorable performances with his unique delivery of lines and presence of character. Here are a few of his most memorable lines: Twister (1996, dir. Jan De Bont): “Jo, Bill, it’s coming! It’s headed right for us!� Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007, dir. Sidney Lumet): “I’ve seen heaven, Gina. It’s a nice place to stay.� Magnolia (1999, dir. Paul Thomas Anderson): “I know this sounds silly and I know that I might sound ridiculous. Like this is the scene in the movie where the guy’s trying to get ahold of the long lost son, you know, but this is that scene. This is that scene. And I think that they have those scenes in movies because they’re true, you know, because they really happen.�
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999, dir. Anthony Mingella): “‘Is it on delle Croce, just off the Corso?’ You’re a quick study, aren’t you? Last time you didn’t know your ass from your elbow, now you’re giving me directions. That’s not fair, you probably do know your ass from your elbow. I’ll see you.� H
Saturday, Feb. 15 President Barack Obama signs separate measures into law to lift the federal debt limit and restore benefits that had been cut for younger military retirees.
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usinesses across the state have emails made sales in Jackson. to handle its own business. Adding to the in their inboxes from the MississipThe collection piece, while major, isn’t insult, the law says that the chamber’s four pi Department of Revenue about the only part of the tax puzzle to resolve. An members must own businesses in Jackson, accounting for the capital city’s 1- independent oversight commission must be but do not have to live in the city, and that percent sales tax beginning March 1. in place, as well as a plan for spending the the commission will be responsible for the “We have a much wider audience than estimated $15 million the tax will produce. spending plan. Johnson believed those decijust Jackson,� MDOR spokessions belonged to the city. The woman Kathy Waterbury said. tax required approval from 60 The tax, which Jackson percent of the city’s voters, and voters approved by a 90 percent he refused to put it to a vote landslide in January, is unusual. during his tenure. Waterbury explained that it’s a Mayor Chokwe Lu“source� tax. If a business sells mumba shares Johnson’s point or ships goods or delivers serof view, and has made his disvices in Jackson, regardless of taste for the commission well where that business is located, known. But the city’s crumit will need to add the tax and bling infrastructure takes prepay it to the MDOR. In concedence, as do the wishes of trast, the department levies the city’s voters. most sales taxes without regard “I still adhere to the to the source of revenue. concept that the commission Duane O’Neill and the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership have Examples of businesses shouldn’t be there,� Lumumba developed a list of potential appointees to Jackson’s one-cent sales affected could be a furniture retold the Jackson Free Press durtax commission. Those appointees could be announced any day now. tailer in Flowood that delivers a ing a Feb. 5 interview, but he’s sofa to a Jackson homeowner, working with what he has, sugor a Bolton electrician working at a business The commission has been a thorn in gesting appointees to all parties and asking in the city. Both of those businesses will be Jackson’s side since a narrow, one-vote majority them to respect his submissions. Lumumba responsible for collecting the additional 1- in the state Legislature passed the law in 2011 said that the appointees will demonstrate percent tax. Grocery and restaurant food after rejecting it for several years. The city gets whether the state and chamber believe the sales, cable TV and Internet providers, and to name only three people to the commission’s city administration is capable—or not. hotels and motels are exempt, although utili- 10 seats. The Greater Jackson Chamber Part“This is their opportunity to disregard ties are not. nership will have four members, and the gov- Jackson’s right to self-determination, Jack“Sourcing is going to be an issue,� Wa- ernor, lieutenant governor and the speaker of son’s right to self-definition,� he said, charterbury said, which is why MDOR is reach- the Mississippi House of Representatives each acterizing himself as a “hardliner� on those ing out now to inform business owners. The will appoint one member. issues. “If they’re not, there’s no reason to apdepartment will also send hard-copy letters Former Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. con- point who Jackson is asking them to appoint. to businesses in the counties surrounding sidered the commission a slap in Jackson’s If they have some kind of other motive, they Jackson. When businesses file their returns face, demonstrating the Legislature’s funda- might do some other kind of thing.� online, the website will ask if the business mental mistrust of the city’s administration The mayor announced in Sep-
TIN HO C
Friday, Feb. 14 U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry wins a commitment from China to help bring a belligerent North Korea back to nuclear disarmament talks. ‌ The Obama administration gives banks a road map for doing business with legal marijuana sellers without getting into trouble.
by Ronni Mott
TRIP BURNS
Thursday, Feb. 13 Four gay married couples file a federal lawsuit challenging the Louisiana Constitution’s prohibition against recognizing same-sex marriages performed legally in other states. ‌ Afghanistan releases 65 accused militants from a former U.S. prison, despite warnings that the men are dangerous Taliban fighters and bomb-makers likely to return to killing foreign forces and Afghans.
Getting Ready for the 1-Percent Sales Tax
FLICK R/JU S
Wednesday, Feb. 12 Congress votes to restore full costof-living pension increases for younger military retirees. ‌ Comcast Corp. announces that it will buy Time Warner Cable Inc. for about $45.2 billion.
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Along Came Polly (2004, dir. John Hamburg): “I tried to fart and a little sh*t came out. I just sharted. Now let’s go.�