V15n32 - JFP Interview with Mayor Tony Yarber

vol. 15 no. 32

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About That Third Grade Gate Chiles, pp 8 - 10

Easter Goodies Cardon, Helsel, p 22

A Tribute to A Tribe Called Quest Smith, p 30

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Mayor’s Story The JFP Interview

Tony Yarber on His Past Mistakes and Evolving Vision Ladd, pp 16-20 more interviews: jfp.ms/election2017

April 12 - 18 , 2017

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JACKSONIAN Vernon Hartley Sr. courtesy Vernon Hartley

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ernon Hartley Sr., an environmentalist and community activist who has served as a Jackson Municipal Airport Authority commissioner since 2014, traveled to Hong Kong on March 8 to serve as a liaison on behalf of the Airports Council International of North America’s 35th annual World Environment Standing Committee.

Each year, representatives for airport authorities around the world gather as part of the committee in order to discuss aviation-related environmental issues. This year, ACINA and 17 other international organizations met and focused on topics such as air emissions, noise pollution, storm-water runoff, international wildlife trafficking and cleaner-emitting biofuels.

“There are lots of challenges with these meetings because air traffic isn’t as separated by boundaries as some other forms of travel, and yet, these issues still affect us all,” he says.

Hartley, a 57-year-old west Jackson resident, grew up in South Carolina and joined the United States Air Force in 1977.

The Air Force initially assigned him to Biloxi and then to Wiesbaden, Germany, to serve as an environmental lab technician in 1983. Hartley left active duty in 1987 and later enrolled at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he received

contents

a bachelor’s degree in community health with a minor in environmental science in 1994. After graduating, he got a job as an environmental administrator with the state Department of Environmental Quality.

“I joined the Air Force because I wanted to get out of my hometown and see the world after reading about all sorts of different places as a kid,” Hartley says. “At the same time, though, I grew up on my grandfather’s farm, where the environment was always right outside the front door, and the outdoors was my world. I wanted to do environmental work in the Air Force and beyond because I wanted to be able to protect both the Earth and the people in it.”

Hartley also worked on environmental programs for the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation from 2005 to 2007 and as manager of the City of Jackson’s solid waste division from 2007 to 2012. He also serves on the board of directors for the Jackson Association of Neighborhoods, the Mississippi Recycling Coalition and Keep Jackson Beautiful.

“I’m proud to have been part of so many environmental organizations in Jackson because I look to make the community better by cleaning it up,” Hartley says.

“Doing that helps give us all more pride in our heritage and in our city.”

—Dustin Cardon

cover photo of Mayor Tony Yarber

by Imani Khayyam

6 ........................... Talks 12 ................... editorial 13 ...................... opinion 16 ............ Cover Story 22 ........... food & Drink 24 ......................... 8 Days 26 ........................ Events 26 ....................... sports

6 Cutting Financial Aid

College students who receive multiple state grants will no longer be able to get more than one come July.

28 Family Ties

Sherry Lucas previews New Stage Theatre’s production of “Vania and Sonia and Masha and Spike” ahead of performances on April 18-30.

30 ............................ Arts 31 .......................... music 32 ...................... Puzzles 33 ......................... astro 33 ............... Classifieds

30 Highs and Low Ends

“The musicality of (A Tribe Called Quest’s) hiphop, the jazzy elements of their music, always intrigued me and (many) musicians.”

—Derrick Freeman, “The Highs and Low Ends”

April 12 - 18 , 2017 • jfp.ms

4 .... publisher’s Note

courtesy Low End Theory Players; courtesy New Stage Theatre; Ken Lund

April 12 - 18 , 2017 | Vol. 15 No. 32

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PUBLISHER’s note

by Todd Stauffer, Publisher

What We’re Looking for in a Mayor

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ith the mayoral primary just a few weeks away, we’ve been discussing our JFP endorsement possibilities; we haven’t yet chosen a candidate, but we’ve been talking about the criteria. I thought I’d air some of that publicly now and encourage feedback online or in social media if you have suggestions as we go into the home stretch.

The challenge I see for the mayor of Jackson is a formidable one. I may be too invested in this idea, but the $90 million blown on the Siemens contract seems like one of our last big hopes for “playing offense” on some of our infrastructure issues.

Now, the City is caught playing defense on issues such as the consent decree, roads, water lines and the still-screwed-up water billing system. (I got a bill for about $300 two months ago and another for less than $20. Our bill should be around $80 to $100, and there’s no reason for it to fluctuate that dramatically, barring a leak.)

We’ve heard competing theories for where we could go from here.

One is the hope that we can somehow work closely with the State of Mississippi to help with some of our gravest concerns by offsetting the costs and working with us. There’s been a little action in that direction—it’s the sort of thing that the Capital Complex Improvement District, theoretically, will help with when it comes online in 2018. But the truth appears to be that the GOP-led Legislature is like a cat stuck in a clothes basket called “cut-taxes-and-spend” that is leading us once again to the bottom, with little room for the hundreds of millions of dollars needed to bail Jackson out.

Which suggests we’re going to have to get more creative. To me, that means the most important thing our next mayor needs

is positive vision. The capital city could use both leadership and inspiration—a vision that brings people together, attracts people to the city and presents an optimistic view that can get a lot of us working together.

Too often, it seems that we all worry about electing the guy (it’s mostly guys, sadly) who we think can “take things over” and “get things done” on his own. But what we need to look for is leadership that includes the governed in the solution—that gives

We seek a visionary leader and quality manager. us a place, some direction and lots of encouragement. That includes our youth and people on all rungs of the economic ladder, as well as our creative professionals and anyone with the will to get engaged.

That positive vision needs to quickly move from finding things wrong with the city or previous administrations (we know that’s part of an election) to inspiring Jacksonians to get to work and tackle our challenges. We’re looking for the candidate who can keep that vision in the eyes and hearts of his constituents.

The second important factor to us— and darned close to equaling the first—is execution of that vision. We’re looking for the candidate who demonstrates to us that, despite the fact that this is a political office,

more than politics is happening in City Hall and across the street at the Hood building.

Leadership means finding good people; giving them goals, structure and systems; and then letting them do their thing well.

We’d love to see a mayor who encourages quality work with a customer-service attitude as opposed to one who lords over a contract-granting machine.

So we’re watching for that. Usually, the only thing we can really see at this stage is whom the candidates are hiring for their campaigns and how efficiently those campaigns seem to be managed (unless you’re talking about an incumbent). So that’s part of how we decide our endorsement—the rest is up to the candidate, in terms of showing administrative/executive experience and imparting an encouraging management philosophy when quizzed.

Another factor in our consideration of a mayoral or council candidate is how aware he or she seems to be of the organizations that stand ready to help—if given some common direction and purpose. A mayor can become so much better by marshalling the good will of the citizenry; this town is filled with nonprofits, church groups and other organizations that are ready and willing to help bring about its renaissance.

But if those groups are shut out, or shut down, or if the City doesn’t know how to effectively support efforts from the grassroots and collaborate, it makes staying organized and on target that much more difficult. That’s something else we keep an eye on as we endorse. Is the candidate involved in citizen or nonprofit groups? Plugged in and ready to take advantage of existing organizations to make a difference quickly?

Finally, it wouldn’t be Donna Ladd’s newspaper if we weren’t focused on whether

or not the mayoral candidate has solutions and tools for tackling crime that don’t simply involve locks, keys amd police cars. The candidate that catches our eye is one who stands ready to invest in after-school and intervention programs, and one who recognizes that management of the police force is going to require restraint and determination locally—especially given the attitudes toward young people and people of color we see at the state and national levels.

Research proves that arrests and massive police presence do not prevent violence, and are often just public-relations tactics, especially around elections. We urge voters to demand more from our city administration and police—including restraint of tactics that can worsen crime. Better yet, the next mayor should lead on not only talking about proactive crime prevention but ensuring that residents, nonprofits and business leaders come together for a long-term collaborative effort to provide kids with alternatives to interrupt the cycle.

Fiscally responsible? Yes. Politically accountable? Definitely. Personally incorruptible? That’d be nice. And most of all, we seek a visionary leader and quality manager who can herd the well-meaning cats who make up Jackson to build infrastructure, increase capacity, create an environment for job creation and help build a path of success for the city’s young people so they have real access to a bright future. We’ll keep our eyes peeled, and we welcome your suggestions as well. Comment at jfp.ms.

The JFP is a sponsor of the Youth Mayoral Forum on April 14 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Provine High School. JPS teenagers of the Youth Media Project will question 10 candidates, including the five frontrunners. It will stream live at jxnpulse.com.

April 12 - 18 , 2017 • jfp.ms

contributors

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Donna Ladd

Imani Khayyam

Arielle Dreher

Dustin Cardon

Mary Osborne

Sherry Lucas

Myron Cathey

Micah Smith

JFP Editor, CEO and co-founder Donna Ladd is a graduate of Mississippi State and Columbia j-school. She has interviewed and angered many mayoral candidates over the years. She interviewed Mayor Tony Yarber for this issue.

Staff Photographer Imani Khayyam is an art lover and a native of Jackson. He loves to be behind the camera and capture the true essence of his subjects. He took the cover photo of Mayor Tony Yarber and many inside pictures.

News Reporter Arielle Dreher is working on finding some new hobbies and adopting an otter from the Jackson Zoo. Email her story ideas at arielle@jacksonfreepress.com.

She wrote about financial aid for college students.

Web Editor Dustin Cardon is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi. He enjoys reading fantasy novels and wants to write them himself one day. He wrote the Easter food round-up.

Sales and Marketing Assistant Mary Osborne is seeking out new ways to share all things good, all the time, because what the world needs now is love. Send your thoughts to mary@jacksonfreepress.com.

Freelance writer Sherry Lucas is an arts junkie, wordsmith and incurable home cook who likes playing with fire as long as it’s contained and regulated by her Bosch stove. She wrote about “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.”

Sales and Marketing Consultant Myron Cathey is from Senatobia. He is a graduate of Jackson State University and enjoys traveling, music and spending time with family and friends.

Music Editor Micah Smith is married to a great lady, has two dog-children named Kirby and Zelda, and plays in the band Empty Atlas. Send gig info to music@jacksonfreepress.com. He wrote about The Low End Theory Players.

422 Mitchell Ave., Jackson, MS 39216 orangepeelfondren.com

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spicy cinnamon orange black tea steeped in milk and sweetened with rich brown sugar

April 12 - 18, 2017 • jfp.ms

Yum C U P S E S P R E S S O C A F E.C O M

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“This is what they’re forgetting. Since Frank Melton, I’m their only win.”

— Mayor Tony Yarber on Jackson’s white voters during his mayoral candidate JFP interview (starts page 17)

Wednesday, April 5

Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann and advocates from around the state gather at the Capitol for Autism Awareness Month, calling for more resources and support in the state.

State’s College Students Face Financial Aid Crunch

Thursday, April 6

Democratic U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson introduces a bill that would prevent Daniela Vargas, an immigrant who grew up in Mississippi and was detained by immigration officials after she spoke out against Donald Trump’s policies, from being deported because she was brought to the U.S. at the age of 7 by her parents, not of her own “will.”

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Saturday, April 8

The Alabama Supreme Court rules that the state House Judiciary Committee can proceed with impeachment hearings against Gov. Robert Bentley for having an affair with a top aide.

April 12 - 18 , 2017 • jfp.ms

Sunday, April 9

Thousands of people march and rally in downtown Dallas to call for an overhaul of the nation’s immigration system and an end to aggressive deportation policy in what organizers call the “Dallas Mega March.”… Several Mississippi filmmakers win awards at the 2017 Crossroads Film Festival.

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Monday, April 10

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos rules for a second time that Texas’ strict voter ID law was intentionally crafted to discriminate against minorities.… Justice Neil Gorsuch is sworn in as the newest addition on the bench of the Supreme Court.

Tuesday, April 11

The Eudora Welty Library in downtown Jackson hosts a ribbon-cutting for its new Technology Learning Lab, 44-computer commons space and renovated Autism Resource Center.

Get breaking news at jfpdaily.com.

by Arielle Dreher

llen Coon will lose one of his state scholarships, thanks to the Mississippi Legislature cutting over $1 million from state financial aid during the session that ended last month.

Now a junior public policy leadership and African American studies double-major at the University of Mississippi, Coon grew up in Petal, Miss., and is the oldest of two.

He did well enough in high school to qualify for the Mississippi Scholars grant (which requires a 3.5 minimum grade point average), as well as the Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant. Together, they provided up to $3,500 of tuition help in his junior year.

Next year, Coon will lose $1,000.

Starting this fall, students will not be able to “stack” state aid grants and will only receive the grant worth the most money.

The change affects approximately 3,400 students, Mississippi’s financial aid office estimates, and Coon will lose his tuition assistance grant.

Coon says both his state grants have paid for about half of tuition at UM so far, and he has managed to avoid taking out student loans. He is quick to acknowledge how fortunate he is because his father helps cover the rest of his tuition. He is not sure what comes next; he hasn’t had that conversation with his dad, yet. Coon recently added a sociology minor and will

Parks and Wrecked

by Micah Smith

flickr/Ken Lund

Friday, April 7

The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning board narrows its pool of candidates for the future president of Jackson State University and announces interviews will begin in about a week.

Revisiting the Third-Grade Reading Gate’s successes and challenges p8

Students used over $8.9 million in state financial aid at the University of Mississippi last year. The Legislature changed financial-aid law this year, however, and now students can no longer receive more than one grant.

S

ure, President Donald Trump’s budget proposal would cut $1.5 billion from the Department of Interior, but he did donate his salary of $78,333 to the National Park Service. So, we’re good, right? While the federal-budget bonanza continues, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks budget bill (sitting on the governor’s desk) contains a clause that would allow private entities to manage public parks. Here’s our guesses of what that might look like.

• The Grand Canyon, brought to you by Denny’s Grand Slam Breakfast • Hershey’s presents Mount Rush-S’mores • Red “Pop Rocks” Canyon National Conservation Area • Yellow-Stone Cold Steve Austin National Park

• The Pocky Mountains • The Hoover Cordless Vacuum Dam • Jimmy Buffet’s Super Margaritaville, former site of Florida • The Donald J. Trump (Formerly Washington) Monument

“At the time (they were diagnosed with autism), like so many of you, the first thing I did was jump into, ‘What do I do?’

‘How can I help?’ and I came up kind of short, to be honest.”

“I look to make the community better by cleaning it up.”

—Vernon Hartley Sr. on why he is proud to have been a part of several environmental organizations in Jackson.

—Chelsea McKinley said of the lack of resources in the state for those with autism at the Capitol last week.

Welty Library Opens New Tech Lab, Offering Free Classes to Help Unemployed

by Arielle Dreher

Insult to Injury?

The Legislature altered a critical part of Mississippi’s financial aid office procedures that could affect all students who receive grants based on grade point averages.

Patty Furr, the library director at the Eudora Welty Library, said the new technology learning lab will enable patrons to learn how to use a computer, in turn helping them get jobs.

compared to previously slow computers.

The Welty Library’s Autism Resource Center, which is free and serves around 135 families, got a fresh coat of paint and is now enclosed in its own room.

Previously, the resource center was in the middle of the children’s library, but now families, children and adults with autism will be able to enjoy an enclosed space for lessons from interactive storytelling to life skills courses.

Free technology courses on everything from Mi-

Previously, officials checked students’ grades at the end of each school year to confirm eligibility for each grant. Starting this fall, the financial-aid office must confirm at the end of each semester or term that students’ grades have not slipped below the 2.5 or 3.5 GPA requirements of state aid grants.

Coon, now only set to receive his Scholars Grant, must maintain a 3.5 GPA each semester—versus having a year to even out a potentially weak point. Coon said he has actually been kicked off his Scholars grant before for his grade average, but for right now, he has above a 3.5.

“My grades are OK right now, but it’s just an extra headache that I didn’t think I’d have to worry about,” he said.

For new college students, particularly freshmen, this rule change means adjusting

crosoft Excel to social media will rotate, and the schedule is posted in the library as well as online.

Mayor Tony Yarber, Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon and a representative from Hinds County Supervisor Bob McGowan’s office were scheduled to attend a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the new renovations Tuesday afternoon from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For information about technology courses, call 601540-1999 or look online at www.jhlibrary.org.

to the rigor of college courses quickly, Mississippi Director of Student Financial Aid Jennifer Rogers said.

“We have historically given students the benefit of the first semester to get their act together, and we don’t check until the end of the year,” Rogers said.

“Instead of waiting until the end of the year, we will now be checking at the end of each semester,” she added.

A ‘Bad Situation’

Taxpayers fund three primary grant programs for students in Mississippi to attend a university or community college in the state. They range from $250 per semester to four-year, full-tuition awards, depending on a student’s grades, academic achievements and at times, their house-

hold’s income level.

The Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant pays college freshmen and sophomores $500 per academic year and juniors and seniors $1,000 per year as long as they maintain a 2.5 grade point average, scored a 15 or higher on the ACT and are not eligible for federal Pell grants.

The State Financial Aid Office issued $14.58 million in MTAG grants last year to 24,321 Mississippi college students.

Over $6 million of those grants were used at the state’s two largest institutions, Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi, data from IHL show.

The Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant is for students who have a 3.5 grade more CRUNCH see page 8

April 12 - 18 , 2017 • jfp.ms

likely stay an extra semester in order to get the credits he needs for it; next he plans to go to law or graduate school. He says it does not seem like financial aid is going to get better, however.

“It’s just disheartening because it’s not an issue that looks as though it will be improving any time soon,” Coons told the Jackson Free Press.

Fortunately, the “no stack” change will not affect most students who benefit from financial aid, but the Legislature tweaked other parts of financial aid rules, too.

Imani Khayyam

L

ocal job seekers may benefit from several upgrades to the Eudora Welty Library in downtown Jackson, including a new technology learning lab, 44 new computers and a freshly painted autism resource center.

Library Director Patty Furr said Tuesday that the improvements came partially from more than $500,000 in federal E-rate funds for cable equipment, which sped up Internet connectivity throughout the entire JacksonHinds library system. The E-rate program, also called the Schools and Libraries Program, provides discounted Internet access and connections to eligible schools and libraries around the country, implemented through the Federal Communications Commission.

The library also received a generous donation from the Capital Area Bar Association’s Law Library Fund to fund computers. The new lab will offer free computer usage, as well as technology and social-media courses.

Furr said the new lab should help library patrons get jobs. “It’s very apparent every day that they’re desperate for computer training. You really can’t get a job today ... if you don’t know how to manipulate a computer,” Furr told the Jackson Free Press.

“So we set up this lab because we believed that there was an immense need for training in computer skills and for people to be able to get jobs,” she added.

The new computers are now out on the first floor in a common area.

Furr said she is not worried about noise in the new area because the fast-running computers have few issues

7

TALK | education

The Revolving Third-grade Gate

by Nick Chiles, The Hechinger Report

T

Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report

housands of Mississippi’s third graders will sit in youngsters who were retained last year can be held back a front of computers later this month to take the second time if they do not pass the test this go-round. statewide reading test, but the eyes of teachers and That should not happen if there is any value to Bryadministrators at Finch Elementary School will be ant’s idea that holding students back for a year and giving intensely focused on a dozen students at this Wilkinson them extra help will improve their literacy—the governor County school. has said he benefitted greatly when he had to repeat third

These 12 students are among about 2,300 across the state who were held back in third grade this school year—out of 39,000 third graders who took the test—because they were unable to pass the statewide standardized reading test last year. Efforts to push students like these 2,300 into literacy represent the central thrust of Mississippi’s controversial Literacy-Based Promotion Act, the Third Grade Gate.

Gov. Phil Bryant signed legislation four years ago mandating both that schools hold back students who cannot pass the reading proficiency test and that schools take measures to make sure students get additional In this 2014 photo, literacy coach Kristen Wells works with students at services when they are held back. At Emmalee Isable Elementary in west Jackson. Literacy coaches are used Finch, those measures took the form statewide to help teachers teach literacy and boost reading scores. of one-on-one instruction, tutoring, daily monitoring, a new third-grade teacher and smaller grade. If many of those students fail a second time, however, third-grade classes. the state’s new initiative could be a huge waste of money.

But kids who repeated third grade still have a hurdle to overcome before they move on to fourth grade. The law More Data Needed says that when third graders sit to take the test again— Last year was the first year that retained students were scheduled throughout the state April 17 to 25—those forced to take the third-grade test again. But state officials

April 12 - 18 , 2017 • jfp.ms

CRUNCH from page 7

8

point average in high school and score 29 or higher on the ACT (the highest possible score is a 36). The state funded 2,510 college students with these $2,500-per-year grants.

The state’s biggest investment of all its grant programs is the Higher Education Legislative Plan for Needy Students, known as HELP grants. HELP pays fulltuition costs for more than 2,600 students who have a 2.5 grade point average and score at least a 20 on the ACT test. Additionally, these students must come from a low-income household and complete a specific curriculum in high school to qualify.

Over 98 percent of the students who receive HELP grants come from homes with incomes of $48,000 or below.

Students affected by the change to fi-

nancial aid rules are the ones who “stack” two of these three grants together.

Rogers said most students could lose $500 to $1,000 at most with the new “nostack” grant rule. She hopes that the change will not affect most students’ educational experience because the tuition assistance grants pay so little (compared to HELP or Scholars grants).

Students with HELP grants who had an additional state grant will have to come up with $500 to $1,000 they were previously receiving, likely money that went to pay for housing, books or other costs.

“Especially for the HELP students, who are more economically vulnerable students, every dollar counts, so certainly it is disappointing to not make that full award,” Rogers said.

Rogers said that implementing the one-grant-per-student rule, while not ideal, was the way to continue handing out

did not track how many of those students passed the test or how many were forced to go through third grade a third time, Kymyona Burk, literacy director for the Mississippi Department of Education, said.

Overall, the number of students held back in third grade dropped from 3,064 at the end of the 2014-15 school year to 2,307 at the end of 2015-16.

“We’re happy fewer kids are being held back, but they should track that data to see how well kids are doing (after they are held back),” said Monty Neill, executive director of the National Center for Fair & Open Testing (also known as FairTest), the advocacy group that has long fought against the widespread use of standardized tests.

“In Florida, they found higher test scores in the beginning for the kids who were held back, but the gains dissipated over a few years.”

Neill says the fact that fewer kids were retained last year may be a result of improved reading skills, but could also be “because teachers are prepping them better for the test.” Mississippi is one of only five states that allow students to be held back a second time when they are unable to pass the test, the Education Commission for the States reported in 2014. The others are Florida, North Carolina, Indiana and Oklahoma.

The third-grade promotion plan has placed immense pressure on everyone in the system, but it is the strain on the little ones that caused many parents and educators across Mississippi to oppose the third-grade gate test in the first place. Sharon Robinson, principal of Finch Elementary, said the high stakes can bring a great deal of stress to students, teachers, administrators and parents, but said they

awards to the most students possible.

“This decision, based on the numbers we looked at and all the options we considered, had the least impact on the least vulnerable students,” Rogers said of a goal she feels strongly about. “I do believe that the best decision was made in a bad situation.”

The Student Financial Aid office has prioritized and grown the full-tuition grant program for low-income students significantly in recent years.

In 2012, only 652 students received HELP grants; now, upwards of 2,600 students received those awards. Rogers said working with high school counselors directly has helped grow the program by reaching out to students who might not have known they were eligible for the award.

The governor exempted the state financial aid office from most of his budget cuts during the current fiscal year, but legislators had to slash the majority of agency

more GATE, see page 10

budgets for the next fiscal year beginning July 1. Lawmakers voted to approve the Student Financial Aid budget bill, which explains how future cuts will work, if needed.

“In the event that funds are insufficient to fully fund all undergraduate grants according to expressed legislative intent, the undergraduate grants of students attending private universities only shall be prorated,” the financial aid budget bill says.

In other words, students attending private universities could potentially have their grants allocated at different time intervals instead of all at once if funding gets scarce.

Students can use state aid at private institutions in Mississippi under current law. Gov. Bryant must sign the bill into law April 20.

Email state reporter Arielle Dreher at arielle@jackson freepress.com and follow her on Twitter at @arielle_amara.

W O R S H I P

W I T H

U S

S U N D AY, A P R I L 1 6 DAYBREAK Sanctuary | 8:30AM

“When you consider your choice for mayor, consider how serious this race is, and what it means to our kids’ futures and the future of Jackson.”

TRADITIONS Sanctuary | 10:45AM THE BRIDGE Fellowship Hall

8:30AM & 10:45AM SUNDAY SCHOOL | 9:30 - 10:30AM and EVENING WORSHIP SERVICE

Youth Mayoral Forum

THE BRIDGE Fellowship Hall | 6:00PM

MONDAY, APRIL 17 4:30

The Jackson Council PTA presents a Jackson Mayoral Forum addressing the needs of JPS students. A Youth Media Project student panel will question 10 candidates.

Watch live at jxnpulse.com For info, email JacksonCouncilPTSA@gmail.com

CHRIST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 6000 OLD CANTON ROAD | JACKSON, MS 39211 | 601-956-6974

WWW.CHRISTUNITEDJXN.ORG

April 12 - 18, 2017 • jfp.ms

PM - 6:30 PM PROVINE HIGH SCHOOL: 2400 ROBINSON RD JACKSON, MS

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TALK | education

GATE from page 8

has been paying particular attention to the third graders at William Dean Jr. Elementary, the largest of the county’s four elementary schools and the school with the poorest performance on last year’s third-grade test. Of the 128 students who took the third-grade test at Dean last year, 42 percent (54 students) failed the initial test and 24 students eventually were held back.

Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report

pling with reading disabilities, must take the statewide reading test and are included in the pass/fail statistics for each school—although they are exempt from being forced to have no choice but to deal with it. repeat third grade.

“That’s what the state has put in place,” Robinson

For a school like Warren Central Intermediate, said. “We all just have to rise to the occasion to meet the which sits just a few miles from the Mississippi River needs of the children.” in the Vicksburg-Warren school district, an unusually large special-education population can ‘Good Faith Exemption’ skew the results.

When the results of the third-grade

Out of the 480 students at Warren test were released last May, Finch had Central in grades 3 through 6, about 20 one of the highest failure rates in the state percent are classified as special education— with 44.4 percent of the school’s 54 thirdcompared to about 12 percent of the stugraders failing the test the first time they dents in the state. Of the 130 third graders took it. Of the 54 who failed, 42 students at Warren Central Intermediate who took avoided repeating third grade by passing the state test last year, 30.8 percent failed. the test upon taking it a second or third

But Principal Tonya Magee said only time over the summer or by receiving a five students wound up being held back, “good faith exemption” because they were primarily because so many of the students in special education. who failed qualified for the special educa Robinson said too many of her young tion exemption. students are missing valuable phonemic

This school year, the students repeatskills—being able to identify the sound ing third grade are pulled out of class for each letter makes—when they first come 45 minutes every day to work with a readIn schools across Mississippi, teachers are focusing more on teaching basic to Finch in kindergarten. She said the ing tutor. Magee said four of the five have reading skills in early grades to make sure students are ready to pass the school staff is now concentrating on buildbeen progressing well enough to likely pass third-grade exam. Many children struggle due to computer unfamiliarity. ing a stronger reading foundation before the April test—but one student has been students reach third grade. struggling. She added that student may be

Poverty poses a challenge at Finch, where 100 percent ‘Tremendous Progress’ showing signs of a reading disability. of the students qualify for free lunch, Robinson said. In Angel Meeks, superintendent of Holmes County “We’re going to refer that student to the district evalu2015, 52.4 percent of the children under 18 in the county schools, said one of her primary goals this school year is to ation team to see what’s going on,” Magee said. were below the federal poverty level, a rate far higher than make sure students repeating third grade are placed in the “But I feel good about the other ones.” the statewide average of 31.8 percent. classrooms of the best third-grade teachers in the district.

What worries Magee is the difficulty too many of her

This year, the state increased the support it offered to “We revamped the schedules to put the best teachers current third graders have taking a test on the computer. districts like Wilkinson, according to Burk, the state literacy in front of those students,” Meeks said.

Few students have computers at home, so they aren’t used director. The number of on-site literacy coaches rose to 171 In addition, the district pulled students out of class to manipulating the mouse. coaches in 78 school districts (one coach per school), from for tutorials from certified reading teachers, provided “When we give them paper and pencil tests, they do 127 coaches in 67 school districts. Coaches model lessons after-school tutorials and offered a Saturday academy for better. When we give them computerized tests, they seem for teachers, co-teach with them and provide teachers feed- students in grades 3 through 8. These additional services to not do so well,” Magee said. “What we’re seeing is they’ll back on their literacy instruction. not only help the students repeating third read the passage one time and read the question and then

Teachers can also attend professional grade but also help the struggling readers choose an answer instead of going back and rereading, development seminars, provided by the among the new third graders. Meeks said which requires scrolling up and down. The kids are not state, to improve their literacy instructional the district, which is in the poorest county taking out time to do that.” strategies. The free sessions consist of two in Mississippi, a USA Today study found, Magee said she now has enough laptops to allow every third-graders in days of training in both the fall and spring. was able to pay for the additional services child in the school to be able to practice on one. Eventually, Burk said approximately 1,400 teachers atout of its federal Title 1 dollars. she expects that to result in improved test scores.

Mississippi were tended the fall 2016 session—and 12,000

Meeks said some of the 24 Dean The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news orheld back this school teachers have received the training since students who were held back have made ganization focused on inequality and innovation in education, year after failing a Gov. Bryant enacted the Third Grade Gate “tremendous progress” during the course produced this story. Comment at jfp.ms. legislation. This year, for the first time, reading-proficiency of this school year, but she said others are teachers have access to videos that model still struggling. The superintendent said test administered effective literacy instruction strategies. she had clear evidence last year of the difMost viral stories at jfp.ms: to 39,000 thirdThey can also sign up for training sessions ference a skilled professional can make.

1. “State Budget Cuts Mean Dramatic Job Loss” by JFP editorial board to help them develop classroom-manage In 2015-16, the principal at Wilgraders statewide.

2. “Wade Acuff” by Alexis Ware 3. “Latrice Rogers” by Dustin Cardon ment strategies to deal with students’ beliams-Sullivan Elementary School, a na4. “The Poverty-Crime Connection” by Lacey McLaughlin havioral challenges. tional board-certified reading specialist, 5. “Rain Brings Flood Control to Front of Mind; ‘One Lake’

Although funding for the Literacyworked with the school’s only third-grade Promised as Solution” by Donna Ladd Based Promotion Act remained static at $15 million, the class on a regular basis and tutored the students who needed Most viral events at jfpevents.com: same amount it received in 2015-16, the state benefitted extra help. This intervention showed up in the test results, 1. Creative Arts Festival, April 12 and 13 2. Food Truck Friday – Celebrate First Responders, April 14 from a half-million-dollar grant from the W.K. Kellogg Meeks said: Only 13 percent of the third graders failed last 3. CU at the Zoo, April 15 Foundation, Jean Cook, spokeswoman for the Mississippi year’s reading test, compared to a combined failure average 4. Youth Mayoral Forum, April 17 Department of Education, said. (Kellogg is among the of 34 percent at the three other elementary schools in the 5. Hamer Humanitarian Awards Luncheon, April 20 many funders of The Hechinger Report.) district.

10 In Holmes County in central Mississippi, the district Special-education students, many of whom are grap- Find more events at jfpevents.com.

April 12 - 18 , 2017 • jfp.ms

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11

The Myth of the Welfare Queen

I

am old enough to remember the promise of welfare reform in the ’90s.

I recall quite well the nasty rhetoric used to shred our social safety net.

Here we are again, and right-wingers are on TV salivating like wolves before the kill at cutting programs such as WIC, Meals on Wheels, and most of all, Medicaid. Thankfully, Trump/Ryan health-care reform failed.

The budget proposal is still out there, though, and so is all the horrible classist rhetoric that people are using to push it.

Lyndon Johnson went to Appalachia when he launched his War on Poverty, knowing that if the face of poverty was black and brown, he wouldn’t get public support for programs like Medicaid and Head Start.

It worked, too. People got behind protecting the welfare of some of our nation’s poor. Then, when Republicans started to dismantle the social safety net they had long opposed, they came up with the perfect media tool to counter Johnson’s once successful strategy: the welfare queen. She was black, lazy, overly sexual and, of course, a fraud. Now they had someone to hold up to white voters and say, “See, this is where your hard-earned tax dollars are going—to people like her.” Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

The mythical “her”—we all know her. She’s the woman with several kids by more than one father who has been on assistance for years. She is supposed to represent the majority of people on assistance. We are told she never works. All she does is have babies and add to the blight in America. It is the distilling of poor, black motherhood into a criminal stereotype. The welfare queen has endured as a stereotype not only of black urban life but of so-called poverty culture. She is not a real American; she’s an animal, really.

We don’t need to fund her and her criminal spawn.

It’s hard to believe, but this campaign of demonizing and dehumanizing a whole segment of people has worked exceptionally well for both parties. Bill Clinton stood on her back as he sailed right into office promising to “end welfare as we know it.” And he did it, too. He threw poor folks, especially black women who voted for him, under the bus because it was good for him. Nothing saves a waffling president like big reform.

Pay close attention to what you’re hearing and reading from lawmakers and pundits who are pushing to throw the poor out to market forces or to “find dignity through government-sponsored work.” All of this is a familiar dangerous road that is easy to abuse when those in power truly believe that some of us deserve human rights and others don’t.

“Three generations of imbeciles is enough.” If I told you this quote was from a current right-wing lawmaker in regard to entitlement programs, I’m sure many would find it believable. It’s not, though. It’s from Oliver Wendell Holmes in support of eugenics. Eugenics was a movement so popular at one time in the U.S. that it led to the forced sterilization of those deemed undesirable known as the “Mississippi appendectomy.” Families were ripped apart. Men, women and children sterilized. All because some people had been deemed as “other” and were seen as the cause of social ills.

Life and humanity isn’t that simple. Human rights are simple, though.

Either human rights are real, or they aren’t. Either people have rights to health care, safe housing and food, or we don’t. Frankly, I’m not sure I want to know us if we’re the so-called Christian nation that when asked, “What would Jesus do?” believes that the answer is, “Check to see if the poor are deserving and valuable enough to get my help.”

Laurie Bertram Roberts is a grassroots reproductive-justice activist, full spectrum doula and writer based in Jackson. She is the co-founder and executive 12 director of the Mississippi Reproductive Freedom Fund.

April 12 - 18 , 2017 • jfp.ms

She is not a real American, they say.

State Testing Presents Bigger Equity Question

T

he Third Grade Reading Gate certainly serves a statewide purpose: to weed out and ideally save those kids who never learn how to read. But what if catching them isn’t enough? This week, Nick Chiles’ story (see page 8) reveals two glaring issues with the Reading Gate program. First, if the Mississippi Department of Education is not going to track the students whom the gate consistently stops, how are educators going to get those children through it at all?

When used properly, data bring about positive change, and if Mississippi wants the program to work, the only way to prove it does is to track numbers and follow up with those children who require the most attention. Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves talked up the state’s investment in reading coaches back in 2015 during his re-election. Are those reading coaches in the districts where children have failed the Third Grade Gate test three times? We won’t know unless we track that data.

Computerized testing as a method to administer the Third Grade Gate presents a bigger question of the state’s education system: Do we care about actual equity and equality across all schools?

In rural and poor parts of the state, where several “failing” districts are located, computer access is a challenge. One teacher told Chiles that if the tests were on paper, her students would likely do much better on them.

Looking at the shortcomings of the Third Grade Gate provides an opportunity for the state to address some of the root causes of what makes a school “fail” in its eyes. Access to technology and the skills necessary to survive the Information Age are not equal in all the state’s school districts. Teachers are soliciting donations on websites such as GoFundMe and DonorsChoose for working printers to keep their classrooms moving.

In this state and across the country, children are learning in deeply unequal environments.

While catching the third graders who can’t read is important, having that third grader take the same test three years in a row is just putting a bandage over a wound that needs surgery. Perhaps some students are failing the Third Grade Gate test because they don’t have computers at home to learn on. Perhaps some students are failing the test because their school districts don’t have the local tax revenue to pay for enough computers at their school to train students on them all year long. Perhaps these are the same districts that carry the infamous label of “failing districts,” admonished for low performance.

If we don’t get serious about collecting data and start identifying those districts and schools that need the technological support to even administer tests, let alone train students how to use that technology, we cannot say we seriously believe in equitable education for everyone.

CORRECTIONS: In last week’s Editor’s Note (“Don’t Cut the Arts,” Vol. 15, Issue 31, April 5-11), the story originally stated that the Washington Post reported that NEA, CPB and NEH spent $3.899 trillion in 2016, which was .02 percent of the federal budget. $3.899 trillion was actually the total federal spending for 2016. The organizations have requested a total of about $971 million for 2017, which is .02 percent of the federal budget. Also, in that issue’s Jacksonian on page 3, the story should have said that Wade Acuff is from Avon, Miss., which is about 10 miles south of Greenville.

Jayne Buttross

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‘One Lake’ Can’t Outsmart Nature

I

’ve heard folks trying to outsmart nature say, “This is what God would have done if He’d had the money.”

The “One Lake Project” proposes to clear-cut more than 1,000 acres of an eightmile stretch along the Pearl River through the Jackson metro; widen, deepen and dam the river; and then build a lake with roads, homes and stores around it. It’s suggested that the proposed lake could reduce flooding risks for existing development in the Pearl’s watershed (the land around rivers).

Congress has earmarked $150 million for the project, with the possibility of millions more. The Mississippi Legislature just granted the Pearl River’s levee board the power to tax property on or near the development. The project depends on taxpayer money, and at the same time jeopardizes air and water quality, fish and wildlife, and the river bed—commodities that belong jointly to all citizens of Mississippi, not to landowners or governments. Tinkering with what we own individually is one thing; tinkering with what belongs to everyone is gambling with someone else’s birthright.

It’s hard for politicians to say “no” to pitches that talk free money, promise Jackson will become a paradise, and assert that the likes of the 1979 flood won’t happen again (though some experts believe the reservoir may have worsened it).

Flowing rivers and watersheds may look lazy, but in reality they work very hard.

The Pearl’s watershed puts water in the river and makes life possible for fish, wildlife and recreation. The river gives industries a place to lawfully release their wastewater.

It also sends freshwater in just the right amounts, temperatures and speeds to the coastal marshes that are the breeding waters and nurseries for our Gulf Coast’s worldfamous sport and commercial fisheries.

Rivers flowing naturally, along with the lands and forests on their borders, naturally store floodwaters. They refill underground reservoirs we use for drinking and agriculture. They clean our water, support native wildlife, and give native and migratory birds life-sustaining places to rest and eat. They are home for trees and vegetation that cool our environment, clean the air of the carbon dioxide we can’t breathe, produce the oxygen we do breathe and, yes, they reduce flooding.

A new Pearl River dam and lake raise

huge concerns for the short and long term: lots of lights and lots of traffic; new flooding downstream in Mississippi and Louisiana; and negative impacts to industry, wildlife, air and water quality, Gulf fisheries, recreation and public health.

There’s a tradition of discounting long-term risks and embracing glossy, expensive fixes to perceived problems.

Remember the beef plant? A great idea in theory. Kudzu and cogongrass?

Both touted for erosion control and livestock feed, and both are causing problems for farmers and wildlife. Chinese tallow trees wreck infrastructure, cause fish kills and take over native landscapes.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ history of altering streambeds to control flooding stopped when it became clear that those alterations increased flooding. The New Orleans levees inundated the now famous 9th Ward, which is built in a floodplain.

A Mississippi State University study reported that in 2010 wildlifeassociated recreation had economic impacts in Mississippi of nearly $3 billion, with almost 70,000 related jobs. The “lake” money coming from Washington could be spent in far better ways to make Jackson better for everyone. Clean up and restore the Pearl and its watershed; promote wildlife-related economic impacts and jobs; and fill a few potholes. That’s a long-term, sustainable plan for Jackson.

Last year 72 dams in the United States were removed—because dams worsen flooding. The late John Sawhill said, “A society is defined not only by what it creates but also by what it refuses to destroy.”

I don’t think building dams is what God would have done if He’d had the money.

Saying “no” to this dam and lake will take leadership, statesmanship, vision and courage. Albert Einstein said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

Surely, we can stop using the same thinking we used when we created the problems along the Pearl River. While romanticizing the idea of sipping a cup of coffee on the Pearl, let’s think about all the costs that will go into that cup of coffee, for now and for generations to come.

Jayne Buttross is a conservation advocate and retired attorney living in Jackson.

A new Pearl River dam and lake raise huge concerns for the short and long term.

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A Mayor’s Story Tony Yarber on His Past Mistakes and Evolving Vision

by Donna Ladd

Tony Tarzell Yarber Born: March 17, 1978, Jackson

April 12 - 18 , 2017 • jfp.ms

Education: B.S., Education, University of Southern Mississippi|M.S., Education Administration, Jackson State

16

Election Office Mayor of Jackson, April 2014-present Jackson City Council, 2009-2014 Job: Pastor Previous Job: Principal Family: Wife Rosalind Yarber, daughters Carmen Neal, 22, and Toni Michelle, 11; Son Cameron, 14; Grandson Braylen, 6

Now much has changed, and Yarber acts like a man who has weathered many storms and doesn’t have a lot to lose. He has lost people along the way, including his most generous supporter last time, businessman Socrates Garrett, after city-contract politics plagued the mayor’s first term.

Yarber is running against 15 candidates, four with strong name recognition.

Horhn signs are dotting yards in whiter parts of Jackson, and Ronnie Crudup Jr. is likely drawing many in the Garrett corner.

Lumumba, who has built grassroots support since his last run, polled in March as the front runner, and Hinds County Supervisor Robert Graham is looking to be a spoiler as he presents himself as a grownup in the room who knows government.

No doubt, Yarber has lost political capital, due largely to scandals generated by two ongoing lawsuits alleging sexual harassment and serial infidelity with staff members, mixed with allegations of inappropriate parties that a controversial campaign supporter from Atlanta, Mitzi Bickers, allegedly threw for him and other staffers.

Many voters also blame Yarber for an administration that seems disorganized at best and poorly led at worst with high turnover, including among directors, several of whom have been less than impressive.

Then there are budget woes, streets with unmarked deep potholes that are busting up people’s cars, and all those contract spats between Yarber supporters and haters.

Yet, under fire, Yarber is relaxed and much easier to talk to now, owning many mistakes while denying salacious allegations against him and a widespread rumor about his wife. He points to progress in the city, while admitting openly that he struggled to manage his administration well early on.

The mayor showed up recently alone late on a Friday to sit in the JFP’s Zen Den, casually dressed in jeans, sneakers and a classic Forest Hill High School Rebels Tshirt (they’re now the Patriots). The mayor

laughed, gestured and talked for almost two hours about his first term and what he will do differently, if re-elected, in a conversation that he laughingly referred to as “therapy” as the sun went down outside.

don’t have to deflect, I don’t have to go negative, and I don’t have to start talking about other people. I can speak directly to the issue.

The last campaign, I struggled with that at times because certain things you just Imani Khayyam

M

ayor Tony Yarber is different this time around. During his first run for the job vacated when Mayor Chokwe Lumumba died in 2014, a bunch of urgent business suits surrounded and handled him amid a certain amount of arrogant campaign chaos. He and his entourage tended to get irked about tough questions to the man running to lead Mississippi’s capital city.

Yarber quickly became white Jackson’s candidate then—among a demographic that tends to vote as a bloc here—and combined with strong black support defeated both attorney Chokwe Antar Lumumba and state Sen. John Horhn, who are running against him again this year.

Mayor Tony Yarber is a former city councilman who often knocks head with the Jackson City Council, often over the budget and contracting politics.

So you’re running for mayor.

Yeah. (Both laugh.)

What’s different this time?

Several things. The first time was just like a blur. I didn’t feel like I was in control of anything. I was handled a lot. Go here, be there, go there. I lost 25 pounds in a month and a half. This time I have more control. I get to control who I call for money, OK. ...

That’s on the campaign side. On the policy side, I own the policy now. It’s different because—and I’ve been saying this on the stump—this job is more than a notion.

You can’t wake up and because you want to be mayor, think that you can be mayor.

There’s not anything that can be brought up that I can’t directly answer, not one question that can be brought to me … as it relates to policy and the things that affect the city. I

don’t know unless you’re sitting in the seat.

Most importantly, this time I also control my circle, the people closest to me during the campaign. It was crazy. People in and out; everybody’s your buddy. I’ve done a lot of growing in two years and 11 months.

Were you ready to be mayor when you ran before?

No. Because it’s one of those jobs where you don’t know that you’re not ready until you’re doing it. The job has so many faces. ... It’s got to do with people and the human touch, making sure Meals on Wheels are getting to the right people, those kinds of things. … Most people are ready based on whatever their prior history is, previous experiences, and that’s it, as far as it goes. That might take you to three departments out of all of them, but it won’t carry you

You didn’t make enough of your own decisions?

You’ve got to consider a few things.

Mayor Lumumba had just died. Everybody was grieving. I was grieving. I was trying to make sure I did the very best job of, I don’t want to say picking up where he left off, but I thought that a majority of the city saw him as their leader, so wherever he went, at least 70 percent of the city would follow. I’m looking at those huge shoes, and I’m thinking, “Uh, I can do this,” but it wasn’t as easy as I thought. To be honest with you, he was only there eight months, and there were things that happened after him that would’ve happened anyway.

Mayor Lumumba had remarkable support, considering what many people thought before he got there, especially white people. But he was in a honeymoon stage.

That’s what I mean. You said it perfectly. I wanted to be able to carry on that honeymoon stage. Things happen so fast. I can remember getting up at 4 in the morning, getting home at 10, 10:30 at night, then doing it all over again. Feeling like I had to be at every meeting, every event … every Girl Scout program, which would leave a lot of things for other people to make decisions about. ...

People were really critical that I wasn’t just out front about the airport. I was critical that people weren’t as loud about the wastewater situation in West Rankin. I’m all at DEQ (the Department of Environmental Quality), we’re having hearings, they’re granting permits, about to cause the city to lose a major customer. I’m thinking, “Where are the cameras, the lights, the activists, where are all these folks?”

I had to learn over time what had to be a priority for me. The airport, while it was a priority, makes $50,000 (a year), and it’s not even a major funding source for the city. That wastewater, that’s an enterprise, hundreds of millions of dollars. You got a hundred warriors on the battlefield for the airport, you don’t need Tony Yarber. You’ve got De’Keither Stamps, who is a warrior like no other. Turn him loose, and let him

go get it. I’ll handle this wastewater deal. Of course, it’s not as sexy … but it was a priority that I believed I had to make for the city of Jackson. ... Two years and 11 months later, and I still have ah-has. Maybe we need to consider this way, that way. Almost every area I can point you to there are now positive trends where there were negative, whether small increments or major gains.

I’ve heard people say you don’t have a great relationship with the Legislature.

Well, right now the Legislature is considering this Capitol Complex Bill, and the bill is a merging of an idea that I had along with former Mayor Kane Ditto about how we get funding to the capital city. This is, of course, a tax diversion. (It later passed.)

I’ve been working relationships. ...

We did a legislative reception last year. The City hadn’t done one of those in forever; we partnered with the chamber to do it. We sat down with the Hinds County delegation and did literal workshops with them about our legislative proposals. ...

Last night at the forum, three of the candidates talked about people they can just call. I’ve got his number, too. I can call the governor, the lieutenant governor, I can shoot a text to the speaker of the House, and they’ll respond. I don’t do a lot of hobnobbing. I have three children; I have a son who is active. ... I may not be at Johnny T’s, so that may be the perception.

What has been your biggest lesson to date as mayor?

Probably getting the right people on the bus. You’ve got to get them in the right seats on the bus. ... The job is too big, number one, to leave to chance that the people around you are going to get it done. It’s also too big for you to try to do it all by yourself as well. It has to be this optimum level of trust in the skill sets of the people that are around you. There were staffing decisions that I made because I had to make a decision. So if I had to say anything, going forward, I’d rather have nobody than a nobody. That make sense?

Who among your department heads will definitely return?

We want to evaluate everybody, but I can tell you right now that my fire chief is my fire chief, my police chief is my police chief. We’ll make decisions about everybody else based on evaluations. We started doing performance evaluations on directors and deputy directors in the last year and a half. … We’ve got some people under evaluation that if decisions had to be made, some of them wouldn’t come back based on evaluations. more YARBER, see page 18

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April 12 - 18 , 2017 • jfp.ms

through every last one of those departments. You have to learn those things. ...

Now I’m in forums, and I say things like, “Well, the city’s unemployment rate went from 7 percent to 4.2 percent under our watch. ... Here’s why.” People are saying, “Really? I didn’t know that.”

And I’m thinking, “Yeah, we did that.”

No, I wasn’t ready. Now, I was ready to lead; I think there’s a difference. But walking in and owning every facet of the mayor’s job? No.

17

The JFP Interview with Tony Yarber

April 12 - 18 , 2017 • jfp.ms

18

Talk more about that.

I just think that—the chief and I have talked about this—policing is more than beat cops and riding around with blue lights. I think it’s about being innovative enough to have those beat officers engaged in community development and building.

It has to do with not just using data but also using relationships. ...

We’ve got to figure out a way to connect the beat officers with those people.

We’ve been doing a great job during these COPS meetings on Thursday night. Now it’s time to look at how we morph those COPS meeting. ... We’ve got to get us to go there into the communities.

We’ve got a lot of room for innovation. You’ve introduced us to some people to help us with that. We just started a great conversation, dialogue, partnership with Cities United to help us, too. ...They interview people in the community and folks engaged in the criminal-justice process.

Then we determine our priorities: youth violence, recidivism, whatever it is.

They would work with the City over time to implement programs they helped develop somewhere else—community-based programs, not police.

What about rebuilding relationships with the kids who are most at risk of crime? What happens with them?

We’re going to have to rebuild, in my opinion, our relationship with Jackson Public Schools and their police department.

That’s just me being transparent because JPD has taken a hands-off approach (with JPS). Since that is JPS’ jurisdiction, we kind of sit back and wait for almost an invite. It ain’t about figuring it out. We’ve just got to make it part of the ring of priorities and say we’re going to re-engage the school system.

It’s pervasive that teenagers of color in Jackson say police aren’t there to help them. They believe that they have to carry guns for self-defense. What do we do about that perception?

I don’t know. ... You’ve got to engage people where they are. Everything’s about relationships: the police officer that’s big on social media. ... Children trust who they trust, and they only trust you if you engage them in a trusting way.

out sidewalks. If we can figure out how to get (officers) out of cars, they start engaging with kids. You ride up, see a bunch of boys on the corner, you know they have dope on them. You don’t always have to address the dope. You can engage the kid.

... Now, that’s why I’ve got a police chief, and he’s got people who should be able to take that vision and turn it into a plan. If he can’t do that, that’s a different story. That’s what I mean by evolving over time. You realize you get the right people on the bus, understand what your vision is.

How I see it is officers in cars, and on bikes, and riding on Segways. If they’re riding up to the corner with a group of kids, you’re not there to make an arrest but to assist: “Y’all behave.” I don’t have to say, “I know you got some weed on you.” “Alright Officer Friendly, see you later.”

That is my vision. The chief said, “I love it, but you’ve got to get me some money.” I love it or X,Y, and Z. Prayerfully with courtesy Tony Yarber

How have your views about crime changed or evolved since you’ve been mayor?

They’ve not changed. I came in saying that we’ve got to do a better job of community policing, of crime prevention, where we’re spending less time responding to crimes. That’s still where I am. The data say we’re decreasing, that’s fine. What our problem is, the entire city, every department, is we spent the last two years, 11 months triaging this city. It’s hard to triage and be proactive, and implement these amazing programs, and keep a careful watchful eye on them when you’ve got cuts and bruises you’re trying to mend, bones you’ve got to set. Same thing with the police department and the crime. Crime’s going down, but we see our people killing each other.

So while I can say the chances of you having your property stolen or torn up has decreased drastically, we still got a long way to go helping people find a way not to shoot or stab each other. My views haven’t changed; my frustration is still the same. ...

I laud the work the chief does. I think we’ve got a ways to go to turn the corner on our innovation in terms of crime prevention.

from page 17

Mayor Yarber says his relationship with wife Rosalind (center) and his family is stronger than ever. Also pictured from left: daughter Carmen, grandson Braylen, his wife, Yarber, daughter Toni Michelle and son Cameron.

We’ve got to figure out how to get officers out of beat cars, but that’s hard because if folks don’t see cars going around, bad guys assume it’s OK to do what they do.

When I was on council, they had just purchased Segways. I remember asking Vance, he was the assistant chief then, if y’all were going to use any of these in south Jackson.

He said no; due to safety, Segways were mainly for places with sidewalks. So, I say, areas in Jackson with sidewalks don’t need extra police officers! ... I know we don’t have sidewalks in neighborhoods like mine.

Children are riding bikes all the time with-

this (Capitol Complex) bill, 15 percent off the top goes to police and fire. We’ll look at how to use that money for innovative things. For me, innovation doesn’t mean technology; it means using what you have to get better outcomes. …

Police can’t prevent most violent crime, so how do you get systemic prevention going?

My plan on crime starts with education. You’ll hear us talking about bringing these daycares together to create this Project Read around the city. That’s where it starts.

(I admit) we lost our way. We were doing listening tours, and somewhere along the way when things started getting hectic and the honeymoon was over, we got tunnel vision and forgot about certain things. I want to engage the community and talk to them about this vision—officers being engaged in the community. Get the community folks telling us, “Here’s how we want to see officers in our neighborhoods.” ...

We’re going to talk in tandem about this holistic approach to crime, and use our CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funds for what they really should be used for, not just on infrastructure and economic development, but on development of community centers, making sure children have safe places to go in neighborhoods. If we’d use CDBG money right, we could either build or renovate a community center every year if we do it right. ...

You polled low in March. How do you get re-elected despite the lawsuits and scandals?

Really, the election is about whether or not people want to virtually start over or they want to continue with the progress we’ve started. This job is more than a notion. If we change mayors now, I am telling you, whoever the mayor is, they’ve got two things to contend with. Number one, are they going to run with my plan that’s getting stuff done—streets, all of those things?

Or, are they going to start over, create their own plan? If they’re going to continue my plan, are they keeping my people to do it?

This election is about who’s pumping the brakes or continues to move forward. ...

The lawsuits are extremely unfortunate, particularly in one of the lawsuits where I’m accused of firing because I was denied sex, and I wasn’t even in the city. It’s unfortunate I’m getting sued, and I wasn’t even in the room when you got fired; I didn’t know you got fired. As a matter of fact, I only knew she was fired when she called and told me she was fired.

For me, that’s unfortunate that I’m accused of pay-for-play when probably more people who gave to my opponents received contracts than people who gave to my campaign. How that works, I don’t know. That’s unfortunate, but it is what it is. What’s not happened is that we stopped working; we haven’t been distracted. At no point does our data say that Jackson got off track because of the lawsuits. No point.

We also convince them by pointing at surrounding cities and towns, saying, “Look, everybody talks about Madison, Clinton, those other places, but ask yourself: What do they all have in common? Leader-

with it, and then budget cuts started happening to staff, losing people, so we had to go back to what are the priorities right now.

Let’s do the triage, and if we get a second term, we can move into doing these other things. Sheena was driving a conversation with us about an innovative hub.

How are you feeling about “One Lake” now?

I think it’s going to happen, and my sentiments have been the same—that I and the other folks representing Hinds County have to be at the meetings to make sure Jackson gets the benefit of One Lake. Right now, as it stands, we will if you look at who will probably be taxed for it. We’ve got to be there.

Despite scandals and accusations, Yarber is much more relaxed during his run for re-election than when he ran in a 2014 special election.

of what we had to start doing better, instead of just a letter from the mayor of Jackson asking, “Would you consider Jackson as a place to build your next movie theater?”

We must help them understand our entire government community spanning three or four agencies is interested.

What big, hairy economic-development things do you want to do in the next four years?

What you will see probably in the next 18 to 24 months is this big boom of downtown residential living because we’re going to almost double the amount of units in downtown. Because we’ve added the resort status, the next thing we want to do is move into having an innovation hub downtown where it gives us the opportunity to be a baby Silicon Valley. We started working on that about a year ago; the City has been declared a TechHire city under the Obama administration. ...

Who are you collaborating with beyond government on this?

Our first collaboration is with (app developer) Sheena Allen. Sheena started giving us the framework for how (an innovative hub) should look. We were on a roll

There are non-Jackson people on there that can make other decisions.

I think right now we’ve gotten down the road far enough that we’re OK. Any changes in plans at this point, the (U.S.) Corps (of Engineers) would probably throw it out. ...

Talk potholes. Folks are saying, “They’re just now fixing them right before the election.”

That’s not true. We’ve paved 87 streets so far, in every ward. We started doing that last spring. The first year we generated $13 million (in 1-percent tax funds) from March 14 to April 15. On April 15, we started resurfacing roads and streets. ... But $13 million split between streets, bridges, water and drainage isn’t any money at all.

A lot of that money went to what you’ve got to do first: designs. You’ve got to engineer this stuff; it might be a great paved street but not engineered appropriately.

Then once we got some more money, we were able to do some other things. We did not have staff to get it moving, or a program manager. So before we had a program manager, we had two projects rolling. Then we brought IMS on last December; since then, we have 20-something projects happening right now. That’s in a year.

Here’s what we did. In hindsight, it depends on how you look at it. We did neighborhood streets first. Everybody’s not riding on those streets. Now we’re doing major streets: Raymond, Gallatin, Mill, Ridgewood. What we wanted to do was to

show a commitment to communities that we wanted to take care of the places where they lived. … It also gave us time to understand which of those major thoroughfares we could do without creating too many issues under the ground. We didn’t want to pave a Ridgewood, and then in a year have major water breaks.

You can’t see water lines engineered.

Over on Wood Dale Drive, a street of probably 100 homes, they don’t have fire hydrants. They have 2-inch water lines. We’re getting ready to replace that, but you don’t see it. We replaced Hanging Moss Bridge; only people who see that are people on Hanging Moss Bridge, but that’s 1-percent money. Brook Hollow has flooding … and emergency personnel can’t get back there.

We have to go to engineering to work on getting that remedied, but you can’t see it.

Your administration didn’t start out super transparent, and you and the people around you were defensive. You’ve been a lot more forthright, at least with us, since those early months. What changed?

Just trust. That’s all, it’s just trust.

When I first got in, I can’t describe to you how paranoid, how much anxiety was around the job. You get defensive. What you were able to do was to prove that you had no agenda to get me, that your agenda was to simply get good information out. I was like, “Hell, I ain’t doing nothing wrong, so what’s wrong with giving the information?” That’s what it was. It wasn’t that you proved it. (I realized) it’s OK to be transparent to the degree that whether you’re right or you’re wrong, people get an opportunity to really get the whole story.

Now, that was you. I’m still not comfortable and have trust issues with other people. However, I still don’t mind being transparent because I have nothing to hide.

You asked me about Mitzi (Bickers). I told you she was my friend. I have nothing to hide about my relationship with Mitzi. So what I’m saying is that probably in the past, I’d have been like, “I’m not answering that because I don’t know what you’re going to do with that....” But now, it is what it is, and there’s nothing wrong with that because I’m not doing anything wrong.

Did Mitzi go too far to help?

She hasn’t done anything other than be a friend. She ain’t paid no bills. There’s been no swapping of money to get a deal or any of that, so no.

April 12 - 18 , 2017 • jfp.ms

Switching gears, what are Jackson’s biggest economicdevelopment hang-ups?

We don’t have a big enough incentive pool. Crime and perception. Finally, workforce development. We’ve started working on workforce development. We know primarily where the bulk of jobs are going to be in the next several years based on research by the Chamber. We took that data to Mi-Best at Hinds and Working Together Jackson to create Jackson 500, a workforce development program. We’ve trained 120, 130 people so far based on those primary skills. We focused primarily on infrastructure improvement.

If you’re going to spend all this money on infrastructure, we need to make sure people can partake in the economics of it. We’re trying to get them trained to be plugged into that, and companies don’t have to ship people in here.

The economic incentive is another problem we’ve been going at alone too often. We’ve partnered with the Mississippi Development Authority and Hinds County on some things. That’s one reason we were able to land Seraphim, a solar-panel company over on Lawson Street, a $50million company.

What did you do differently that helped you land it?

It wasn’t just a city-reaching-out piece.

The City of Jackson contacted MDA to help, because this is a company that moved all the way from China. They needed to see we weren’t just this little tiny town in Mississippi and know other entities had an interest in them being here. That’s an example Imani KHayyam

ship that’s been there long enough to effect change.” ... The Madison that we know, whether you agree with what (the mayor) did or not, it’s only 20 years old, maybe.

How? It’s because stability and leadership, opportunity to establish a bureaucracy, implement systems to work. Without stability and leadership, it won’t happen in this city at all. Whoever becomes mayor, they’ve got a two-year learning curve at least—if they bring any executive experience with them.

With the lawsuits, there’s really no way to avoid asking about infidelity to your wife. Three years ago, you told us you had made mistakes, and it was all behind you. How can you convince readers that’s still true?

First of all, I didn’t bring these scandals to Jackson. Second of all, my wife is at home happy, and she’s extremely content.

Ultimately, her testimony is how I convince them: happy wife, happy life. I have little cute text messages (from her) in my phone now. My wife and I were in Mexico, and we got back and found out that she supposedly had torn up a city vehicle. ... And, yeah, the city truck was here at the city garage getting a tire changed. Our personal vehicle was parked at a New Orleans parking lot while we were on a cruise ship.

more YARBER, see page 20 19

The JFP Interview with Mayor Tony Yarber

April 12 - 18 , 2017 • jfp.ms

Are politics going to get ugly and dirty in the next month?

No, nobody can. First of all, the beauty of this poll that just came out … is that the bullseye ain’t on me. So now Antar’s got to look out for the darts that’ll come. So I get to just kind of continue to go to forums and get my message out. People come up and say, “I didn’t know that, that’s great, you’re right.” It’s almost like I don’t have to run as an incumbent. I can go after them, go get it, get my message out.

I don’t have to campaign dirty. Look, in two years and 11 months, despite the drama and all that, we’ve done some really good stuff. I don’t have to talk about anybody. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Antar. I love that man, I loved his father, and I say that to say that there’s no way in the world that I’d be responsible for putting him in a certain light.

I guess it’s kind of arrogant of me, but I don’t think I’d have to do it with Horhn or Graham. They bring their own baggage, so nobody in this race is really in a position to play that game with each other.

Are you still going to draw as much of the white vote?

No. I don’t know if I want to answer that right now, because I still think I have an opportunity to get some of them later on.

What I will say is that I think that the scandals have created a real cloud, and while the white community voted for me, the white community don’t really know me, so when stuff like that comes out, it makes it hard.

Out in the Sub(division 2), Rev. Jessie Sutton has never stopped supporting me. People will vote for you for different reasons; I got an idea why they all voted for me last time, but there are other choices now.

I think that the white community saw me as a mayor that they could embrace versus Antar. This time around, I think the scandals have created some distance in that.

They’re not scandals to me because I ain’t did nothing.

White people in Jackson sure can vote as a bloc.

20 I know they can. Let me tell you some-

thing, though. Let me be honest with you.

This is what they’re forgetting. Since Frank Melton, I’m their only win. They did it with Frank, and they won. They did it with Marshand (Crisler), and they lost. They did it with Jonathan (Lee), and they lost. They did it with me, and they won. You’ve got to ask yourself why. Because I was an attractive candidate to the white community,

that other people could take care of certain things while you were doing other things. I own that there were things that I probably should have done as the mayor to affect the culture a little better.

What are examples?

I’ll give you a safe example that wouldn’t be an admission. Typically when Imani Khayyam

What about the parties detailed in the lawsuits?

Well, I’ll not respond directly to that, but what I’ll say is in Mississippi, you can file a lawsuit and say anything, and I’m still waiting for somebody to say other than the plaintiff that, yeah, we were at a wild party with strippers. I’m waiting on some proof of that, and that’s not there. Nobody will, nobody can because it’s not there.

from page 19

Yarber says he plans to build more alliances to help Jackson’s young people in his second term, but that the need to “triage” the city got in the way so far.

and black folks knew me. For the first time, they had a candidate since Frank Melton that could be both embraced by them as well as (African American voters).

That poll showed Lumumba and Graham leading the race.

I’m going to predict that in the next four weeks, I’ll leapfrog both of them because of messaging primarily. Graham is unknown because it’s hard to really know who in the black community would get behind him. It is clear now that the black community now more than they have been are really becoming more informed, and they’re listening. They’re really, really, really listening to the responses and the answers we’re giving. I think that’s going to help candidates like myself who really want to try to respond.

I didn’t bring the scandals, but I do own the fact that everything starts with me, right, because I’m the leader, and I own the fact that in hindsight, there were some things that I could have done as the mayor that could have kept things from getting to this point. But, like I said, at the time we got in, and we were trying to figure out exactly what to focus on, and you hope

it came to who got fired and stuff like that, I figured I’ve got people that we’re paying to do that. I think in hindsight, and I know that in a second term, I’m really going to want to understand why we’re doing certain things, and if there are other options.

So firing isn’t always the best option.

Sometimes people just need a wakeup call. I’m going to pay you the same money, but you’re going to be a custodian.

You can’t be a manager. Sometimes you affect people’s livelihood, you push them to do certain things. So just in hindsight, I would be in the weeds a little more.

At the same time, something questionable (will happen and) the chief will call and say, “Look, this officer punched the guy in his head,” and I say, “I saw the video, pull the trigger,” no pun intended.

Legal does it pretty well now, too: “Look, we’ve got somebody, and it’s just not working. I’m going to send you the documentation so you know what I’m about to do.” I can look at it and feel comfortable enough, or not comfortable enough to ask other questions.

Probably my biggest saving grace has been when the union is involved. We get in trouble with people that are not union affil-

iated. When the union is involved, they’ve got this process, and if you ask (union head) Brenda Scott, there have been people that Brenda has represented, when we look at it, I say, “Jackie, this is dumb. Why are we reprimanding people for that?” And we overturn it.

Normally, it’s those at-will folks; they get terminated, whatever, and they wind up at EEOC. I don’t as mayor have an opportunity to engage it. If they’re in the union, you can bet your bottom dollar that they’re going to make it to me.

The union has been a saving grace in terms of probably the amount of lawsuits that the city could have encountered and been liable for. When we look at them, I’m thinking, “Who made this decision?” Due process, I don’t see it anywhere. Where is it?

Alright, we’re not doing that.

Do you foresee that the City at least under you and this council is going to do anything different on the immigration front?

I don’t know. My position and council’s position is that we have an ordinance in place that protects not just our citizens but all people from profiling, from any discrimination, and we’ve drawn a line in the sand.

We’re going to defend and protect. I don’t think the feds will do anything, to be honest with you. They’ve got bigger problems.

They’ve still got Obamacare. (Laughs.)

Tell me three things that are going to be different in your second term if re-elected?

How we staff. How we communicate with the public. That’s two. Now, internally, I want to bring on like a senior staffer.

Somebody black, white, doesn’t matter who is respected in the community, who understands politics, policy. This hybrid that I can just turn to and say, “OK, in your 50 (or 60, 70) years on earth, how would you handle this?” A senior adviser. Somebody that gives me different perspectives and helps me see beyond my experiences.

Let’s close with big ideas. What would be Mayor Tony Yarber’s vision statement for this city in his second term?

I’ll say what I always say. Jackson: the place where everybody wants to come, and no one wants to leave. That’s achievable.

Read more about roads, Yarber’s views about other candidates and his recent dust-up with the 1-percent sales-tax commission in the full interview, with links to relevant stories, at jfp.ms/election2017. Send info about campaign events to william@jacksonfreepress.com

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LIFE&STYLE | food&drink Sugar Magnolia Takery (5417 Highway 25, Suite F, Flowood, 601-992-8110)

For Easter, Sugar Magnolia will have treats such as iced sugar cookies, cheesecakes, petit fours, deviled eggs, coconut and Italian cream cakes; and dishes such as holiday ham, squash and green bean casseroles, and cornbread dressing.

Whole Foods Market (4500 Interstate 55 N., 601-608-0405)

The Passover and Easter menu for Whole Foods includes meats such as briskets, fresh turkeys, New Zealand lamb cuts and spiral-cut ham; dishes such as a seasoned shrimp sampler platter; smoked salmon breakfast platter and wild rice with cheese and pistachios; and desserts such as a 6-inch carrot cake, Easter cupcakes and Pasca ceremonial bread. For more information, visit wholefoodsmarket.com. flickr/pommiebastards

Nandy’s Candy (1220 E. Northside Drive, Suite 380, 601-362-9553, nandyscandy.com)

For Easter, Nandy’s has personalized, chocolatewhipped, chocolate-peanut butter and caramel divinity eggs; bunnies in all shapes and sizes in milk, dark and white chocolate; egg-shaped malted milk balls; caramel-dipped apples; petit fours; Easter butter cookies; chocolate-covered marshmallows; foil-wrapped chocolates in Easter shapes; and edible chocolate bird nests with jelly bean eggs. Nandy’s is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 16, and will host a special event featuring the Easter bunny and free samples.

Broad Street Baking Company (4465 Interstate 55 N., Suite 101, 601-362-2900, broadstbakery.com)

Broad Street’s Easter menu features hot cross buns, sugar cookies, Easter king cakes, and other cakes such as lemon icebox, carrot, coconut and strawberry. The restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Easter Sunday, April 16.

Primos Café (515 Lake Harbour Drive, Ridgeland, 601-898-3600; 2323 Lakeland Drive, Suite A, Flowood, 601936-3398; primoscafe.com)

This year Primos will have Easterthemed petit fours, sugar cookies and iced bunny cookies.

Amerigo (6592 Old Canton Road, 601-977-0563; 155 Market St., Flowood, 601-992-1550; amerigo.net)

Amerigo in Ridgeland will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on April 16, and the Flowood location will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. that day.

Hopping Down the Local Food Trail

by Dustin Cardon and Amber Helsel

I

f you don’t want to cook Easter lunch or dinner this year (or if you need treats), why not eat and shop local? Here is your guide to Easter Sunday on April 16.

April 12 - 18 , 2017 • jfp.ms

Sombra Mexican Kitchen (140 Township Ave., Suite 100, Ridgeland, 601-707-7950; 111 Market St., Flowood, 601-215-5445, sombramexicankitchen.com)

On Easter Sunday, April 16, Sombra in Ridgeland will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the Flowood location will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 a.m. Both will serve from their regular menus.

Saltine Oyster Bar (622 Duling Ave., Suite 201, 601-982-2899, saltinerestaurant.com)

Saltine’s Easter menu will feature dishes such as smoked salmon, eggs Benedict and flounder ravioli. The restaurant will also serve various fish specials throughout the weekend in addition to a special roasted rabbit dish. The restaurant will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Easter Sunday, April 16.

Char Restaurant (4500 Interstate 55 N., Suite 142, 601-956-9562, charrestaurant.com)

Char will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and will serve 22 from its regular menu.

The restaurant will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For Easter, customers must order before Thursday, April 13.

Sweet Stuff LLC (307A Clinton Blvd., Clinton, 601-906-1583)

For Easter, Sweet Stuff will have chocolatecovered apples, chocolate rabbits, chocolate-covered strawberries, Rice Krispies pops dipped in chocolate and Rice Krispies treats. The store is closed on Easter Sunday.

Cookin’ Up a Storm (1491 Canton Mart Road, Suite 1, 601-957-1166)

For Easter, Cookin’ Up a Storm will have dishes such as mustard-dill deviled eggs and chutney, pecanand goat-cheese deviled eggs, scalloped pineapple, strawberry bread, poppy-seed bread with an orange juice glaze, and breakfast casserole.

The Strawberry Café (107 Depot Drive, 601-856-3822, strawberrycafemadison.com)

The Strawberry Café will be open for bunch on Easter Sunday, April 16, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The restaurant is currently taking reservations, which are highly recommended.

La Brioche Patisserie (2906 N. State St., 601-988-2299, labriochems.com)

For Easter, La Brioche will have macarons, petit fours, cheesecake, Easter egg entrements, which have vanilla mousse and passion fruit mousse with roasted pineapple and outer shells of white chocolate, and more. For more information, visit labriochems.com or find the patisserie on Facebook.

Campbell’s Bakery (3013 N. State St., 601-362-4628; 123 Jones St., Madison, 769-300-2790; campbellsbakery.ms)

For Easter, Campbell’s will have iced teacakes: eggs, bunnies, crosses, petitfours with jelly beans, and cupcakes with jelly beans.

Aladdin Mediterranean Grill (730 Lakeland Drive, 601-3666033, aladdininjackson.com)

For this Easter, Aladdin will have its regular catering menu. It will also be open on Easter Sunday, April 16, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Pig & Pint (3139 N. State St., 601-326-6070, pigandpint.com)

For Easter, The Pig & Pint will have its regular catering and restaurant menus.

Babalu Tapas & Tacos (622 Duling Ave., Suite 106, 601-366-5757, eatbabalu.com)

From April 14-16, Babalu will hand out Easter eggs around the restaurant. Those who receive the eggs will receive prizes.

This list only shows a portion of the Easter goings-on in Jackson. Add more at jfp.ms/easter2017.

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WEDNESDAY 4/12

THURSDAY 4/15

SATURDAY 4/18

The Jackson 2000 Luncheon is at the Arts Center of Mississippi.

The Mad Hatter Tea Party is at the Mississippi Children’s Museum.

The Mexican Street Food Class is at Farmer’s Table Cooking School in Livingston.

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WEDNESDAY 4/12

The Spring Fling is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Meadowbrook Church of Christ (4261 Interstate 55 N.).

Includes free food, bounce houses, a train, photo opportunities and Easter egg hunts for children 10 and younger and the opportunity to donate canned meat and mac ‘n’ cheese for Stewpot, and paper products for Hope House. Features music from Bryan & the Accumulators. Free; call 601-3625374; email laura@meadowbrook.org; meadowbrook.org.

California psychedelicrock band The Chris Robinson Brotherhood performs Friday, April 15, at Duling Hall.

THURSDAY 4/13

Imani Khayyam

HRC Connect is at 5:30 p.m. at The Iron Horse Grill (320 W. Pearl St.). The monthly gathering features an opportunity for LGBT Mississippians and allies to gather, meet and learn about the work and upcoming events with the Human Rights Campaign. Free; email hrcmississippi@ hrc.org; hrc.org.

Duling Hall (622 Duling Ave.). The psychedlic-rock band performs. Doors open at 8 p.m. $30 in advance, $35 at the door; call 877-987-6487; ardenland.net.

SATURDAY 4/15

Verge JXN is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Lucky Town Brewing Company (1710 N. Mill St.). Participants interact with creative projects from local artists such as daniel johnson, Jina Daniels, Kira Cummings, T.J. Legler, Clay Hardwick, Chuck Jett and more.

Features food, drinks, kids’ acby TYLER EDWARDS tivities, and music from 5th Child and Cody Cox, Kerry Thomas, Alex Fraser and Betsy Berryhill. jacksonfreepress.com Free; vergejxn.org. … The Cynical Fax: 601-510-9019 Twins Album Release Party is from Daily updates at 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Offbeat (151 jfpevents.com Wesley Ave.). The Jackson-native alternative-rock band performs as part of the release of its first album, “Deep in Shallow Water.” $5; call 601-376-9404; offbeatjxn.com.

MONDAY 4/17

The Youth Mayoral Forum is from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Provine High School (2400 Robinson St.). The Jackson Council PTA and the Youth Media Project host the forum addressing the needs of students of Jackson Public Schools. Ten mayoral candidates will attend. Free; call 601960-5393; watch live at jxnpulse.com. … Piano duo Rachel Heard & Lynn Raley perform works from Stravinsky, Ravel and Bolcom at 7:30 p.m. at Millsaps College (1701 N. State St.). Free; call 601-985-7979; millsaps.edu.

April 12 - 18 , 2017 • jfp.ms

events@ TUESDAY 4/18

Kira Cummings is one of the many artists participating in Verge JXN on Saturday, April 15, at Lucky Town Brewing Company.

FRIDAY 4/14

Food Truck Friday is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Smith Park (302 E. Amite St.). Includes local food trucks and a celebration of our state’s first responders. Food prices vary; call 601-960-1557; find it on Facebook. … An 24 Evening with Chris Robinson Brotherhood is at 9 p.m. at

SUNDAY 4/16

Arab/African Culture Night is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the International Museum of Muslim Cultures (201 E. Pascagoula St.). Participants learn about the cultures of Ethiopia, Sudan, Senegal and Egypt and partake in food tastings. Features presentations on local dress, food, religion, demographics, history, music, art and more. Free with admission; call 601-960-0440; muslimmuseum.org.

“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” is at 7:30 p.m. at New Stage Theatre (1100 Carlisle St.). The farce is about a movie star who returns home to visit her brother and sister. Additional dates include: April 19-22, 7:30 p.m., April 23, 2 p.m., April 25-29, 7:30 p.m., April 30, 2 p.m. $28, $22 for seniors; newstagetheatre.com.

WEDNESDAY 4/19

The “Lunch in Paris” cooking class is from 10 a.m. to noon at Farmer’s Table Cooking School in Livingston (1030 Market St., Flora). Participants learn techniques for making vinaigrette, roasted vegetables for a soup, tarts and chocolate mousse. $49; call 601-506-6821; farmerstableinlivingston.com. … James F. Barnett Jr. signs copies of “Beyond Control” at 5 p.m. at Lemuria Books (Banner Hall, 4465 Interstate 55 N., Suite 202). Reading at 5:30 p.m. $28 book; call 601-366-7619; lemuriabooks.com.

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Japanese & Thai Express

Youth Mayoral Forum April 17, 4:30-6:30 p.m., at Provine High School (2400 Robinson St.).

Jackson Council PTA and the Youth Media Project host the forum addressing the needs of Jackson Public Schools students. Ten mayoral candidates confirmed including all front runners.

Free; call 960-5393; streams at jxnpulse.com.

JFP Chick Ball July 22, 6 p.m.-midnight, at Hal & Mal’s (200 Commerce St.). The fundraising event features local food vendors, drinks, live music and a silent auction. Proceeds benefit the Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Contact to donate money or items for the silent auction, or to volunteer. $5 admission; call 601-362-6121 ext. 16; jfpchickball.com.

Dine In and Carry Out

COMMUNITY

Open Every Day 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Jackson 2000 Luncheon April 12, 11:45 a.m.1 p.m., at Arts Center of Mississippi (201 E. Pascagoula St.). Attorney L. Patricia Ice and Bill Chandler of the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance discuss the impact of recent laws on immigration in Mississippi. $12 per person, $10 for members; jackson2000.com.

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CU at the Zoo April 15, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., at Jackson Zoo (2918 W. Capitol St.). The Credit Unions of Mississippi present booths set-up throughout the zoo with games and activities for children and information on youth literacy and saving. Free for first 2,500 guest; jacksonzoo.org.

Citizen Town Hall April 15, 2-3:30 p.m., at Willie Morris Library (4912 Old Canton Road).

The meeting provides a platform for Mississippi’s elected officials to meet with their constituents to discuss current issues affecting all Mississippians.

Free; call 503-704-4857; find it on Facebook.

Arab/African Culture Night April 16, 4-6 p.m., at International Museum of Muslim Cultures (201 E. Pascagoula St.). Participants learn about the cultures of Ethiopia, Sudan, Senegal and Egypt and partake in food tastings. Features presentations on local dress, food, religion and more. Free with admission; muslimmuseum.org.

KIDS

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April 12 - 18 , 2017 • jfp.ms

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KidFest! April 15-16, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m., at Freedom Ridge Park (253 W. School St., Ridgeland).

Includes circus-esque acts, a children’s activity tent, music, food, characters from children’s shows and more. $10; kidfestridgeland.com.

Mad Hatter Tea Party April 15, 10 a.m.-noon, at Mississippi Children’s Museum (2145 Museum Blvd.). Families watch a scene from “Alice in Wonderland,” learn about proper tea-party etiquette and experiment with tea science. Free with admission; mschildrensmuseum.org.

Easter Egg Hunt April 16, 10 a.m., at St. James Episcopal Church (3921 Oakridge Drive). Kids participants in hunting for eggs around the grounds of St. James’ Episcopal Church. Free; call 601-982-4880; StJamesJackson.com.

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Easter Brunch April 16, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at River Hills Club of Jackson (3600 Ridgewood Road). Features adult and children’s buffet options. Reservations required. Seating at 10 a.m. and noon. $25 adult buffet, $15 children’s buffet; call 601-987-4431; find it on Facebook.

Mexican Street Food Class April 18, 6-8 p.m., at Farmer’s Table Cooking School in Livingston (1030 Market St., Flora). Participants make guacamole, fish tacos, grilled skirt steak tacos, tomatillo sauce, grilled Mexican street corn and orange flan. $69; farmerstableinlivingston.com.

SLATE

Cynical Twins Album Release Party April 15, 7-10 p.m., at Offbeat (151 Wesley Ave.). The Jackson alternative-rock band’s album is titled “Deep in Shallow Water.” $5; offbeatjxn.com.

LITERARY & SIGNINGS Events at Lemuria Books (Banner Hall, 4465 Interstate 55 N., Suite 202) • “Out in the Rural” April 18, 5 p.m. Thomas J. Ward Jr. signs copies. Reading at 5:30 p.m. $34.95; call 366-7619; lemuriabooks.com.

the best in sports over the next seven days

by Bryan Flynn

It is time to start growing that playoff beard as the NHL and NBA playoffs begin this week. Be sure to check out Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby if you haven’t watched any hockey.

Thursday, April 13

College baseball (6:30-10 p.m., SECN+): Longtime rivals battle as LSU hosts the UM Rebels in a three-game series, with both teams trying to climb up the standings in the SEC West.

Friday, April 14

College baseball (6-10 p.m., SECN+): It’s a faceoff of top SEC teams as South Carolina hosts MSU in a major conference showdown.

Saturday, April 15

College softball (1-4 p.m., SECN+): MSU looks to move up the conference standings against last-place Georgia. … College softball (3-6 p.m., SECN+): The UM Rebels try to make their way up in the SEC at home against LSU. Sunday, April 16

College baseball (3-7 p.m., SECN): MSU and South Carolina play the final matchup of their three-game series.

Monday, April 17

Capitals take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in game three of their openinground playoff series.

Tuesday, April 18

NHL (6:30-9:30 p.m., CNBC): Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins could be looking for the firstround sweep in game four against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Wednesday, April 19

College baseball (6:30-10 p.m., SECN+): The UM Rebels host Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a midweek out-of-conference game. … College softball (6-9 p.m., SECN+): Alabama hosts Southern Miss in a nonconference affair.

The NHL playoffs begin Wednesday, April 12, and the NBA playoffs begin Saturday, April 15. There are still some matchups left to set and seeding to be done before the professional basketball season ends.

NHL (6-9 p.m., NBC Sports): Alex Ovechkin and the Washington

Follow Bryan Flynn at jfpsports.com, @jfpsports

STAGE & SCREEN

• “Beyond Control” April 19, 5 p.m. James F. Barnett Jr. signs copies. Reading at 5:30 p.m. $28 book; call 366-7619; lemuriabooks.com.

Outdoor Movie Night April 18, 6-8:30 p.m., at Buffalo Peak Outfitters (4500 Interstate 55 N., Suite 115). Includes a group run, a showing of “Life in a Day” and more. Free; buffalopeak.net.

“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” April 18-22, 7:30 p.m., April 23, 2 p.m., April 25-29, 7:30 p.m., April 30, 2 p.m., at New Stage Theatre (1100 Carlisle St.). The farce is about a movie star who returns home to visit her siblings. $28, $22 for seniors; newstagetheatre.com.

FOOD & DRINK

CONCERTS & FESTIVALS

Food Truck Friday April 14, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at Smith Park (302 E. Amite St.). Includes local food trucks and a celebration of our state’s first responders. Prices vary; find it on Facebook.

An Evening with Chris Robinson Brotherhood April 14, 9 p.m., at Duling Hall (622 Duling Ave.). The psychedelic rock band performs. $30 in advance, $35 at the door; ardenland.net.

EXHIBIT OPENINGS Verge JXN April 15, 2-6 p.m., at Lucky Town Brewery (1710 N. Mill St.). Participants interact with projects from artists such as daniel johnson, Jina Daniels, T.J. Legler, Clay Hardwick, Chuck Jett, Igor Iwanek and more. Features food, drinks, kids’ activities, and music from 5th Child and Cody Cox, Kerry Thomas, Alex Fraser and Betsy Berryhill. Free; vergejxn.org.

Check jfpevents.com for updates and more listings, or to add your own events online. You can also email event details to events@jacksonfreepress.com to be added to the calendar. The deadline is noon the Wednesday prior to the week of publication.

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Holy Week & Easter Thurs., April 13: Maunday Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Sanctuary* Fri., April 14: Good Friday at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary* Sat., April 15: Easter Egg Hunt, 10:30 a.m. at the Parsonage * Nursery Available

621 Duling Ave. Jackson, MS 39216 | 601-362-6381 stlukesjackson.org | info@stlukesjackson.org

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WH EN: Sat., April 22, 2017 | 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Mississippi Museum of Art, downtown Jackson ATTIRE: Business Attire or Semi-Formal TICK ETS: www.jackson2000.com We invite you to participate in and support the 2017 Friendship Ball.

We ask that you be a part of this historic event as a sponsor and supporter.

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Trustmark Bank, Neel Schaffer, Jackson Free Press Professional Staffing, Waugh Holding, Regions Bank, EnVision Eye Care, Williamson Law Firm, Leadership Greater Jackson

April 12 - 18, 2017 • jfp.ms

Sun., April 16: Easter Worship at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary*

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LIFE&STYLE | arts courtesy New Stage Theatre

Happy Easter from

New Stage Theatre will perform the Christopher Durang play, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” from April 18 to April 30.

We have everything you need for holiday get-togethers!

April 12 - 18 , 2017 • jfp.ms

• Ham and all the trimmings • Easter Lilies and flowers • Easter Candy • Fresh produce • Bakery fresh baked breads, pies and cakes!

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W

illiam “Peppy” Biddy says a housekeeper prone to prophesy named all he had to tell his family Cassandra, whom Sharon Miles plays, and about the Christopher Du- Nina, an aspiring young actress, whom rang play that he’s directing Hope Prybylski plays. to get a laugh out of them is, “It’s the story Physical comedy, verbal sparring and of three siblings who are in their 50s.” inside jokes for the Chekhov-savvy are in

“Because we’re three siblings … in our the mix, but no Russian lit knowledge is 50s,” he says with a laugh. required for amusement, Biddy says.

Biddy, a Mississippi University for “Any good comedy works on mulWomen theater professor, is the guest di- tiple levels at the same time,” he says. He rector for New Stage Thedescribes Durang’s humor atre’s regional premiere as “always quick-witted, of Durang’s 2013 Tony with a little sting to it. …

Award-winning comedy A little bit off the wall.

“Vanya and Sonia and This is one of his more Masha and Spike,” which contained ones.” opens April 18.

The play isn’t short

Of course, the charon serious family themes, acters in the play are quite either. “We’re all at a cerdifferent from Biddy and tain age, and we’re all dealby Sherry Lucas his siblings. But that didn’t ing with the idea of lost stop him from mentiondreams, lost hopes, our ing to his oldest sister that her correspond- own insecurities, and what’s left? What’s ing character is a movie star. “We got a big next?” Friedman says. laugh out of that,” he says.

Bridgestock says that the play is about

In a YouTube interview for the Mc- remembering your roots, where you come Carter Theatre in New Jersey, where the from, and honoring that. play premiered in 2012, Durang said he In some ways, the play will be a bit borrowed themes and characters from removed from the roots of a few audience the works of Russian playwright Anton members. For starters, the cast is evenly Chekhov, including his 1897 play “Uncle split between New York newcomers and Vanya,” and put them into a blender as in- New Stage veterans, but the comedy is also spiration for the show. set far north in Bucks County, Pa. At the

In the New Stage production, David same time, the attachment to home will Cantor and Jo Ann Robinson play Vanya ring true with southerners, as will the play’s and Sonia, respectively, who have spent their eccentric central figures, Pryblyski says. entire lives at the family farmhouse, looking “I think a Jackson audience in parafter their now-dead parents. Alyson Fried- ticular will really connect with how quirky man plays the third sibling, Masha, a film these characters are,” he says. star who has supported them. She returns “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and with a young boy-toy named Spike, whom Spike” is at New Stage Theatre (1500 Caractor Noah Bridgestock plays, and has the lisle St.), with performances April 18-22 and notion of selling the house.

April 25-29 at 7:30 p.m., and April 23 and

Adding some contemporary wedges April 30 at 2 p.m. For more information, into the Chekhovian family dynamic are visit newstagetheatre.com.

Family Ties, Trials and Tickles

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DIVERSIONS | music

The Highs and Low Ends

by Micah Smith

Courtesy The Low End Theory Players

(Left to right) Matthew Zarba, Derrick Freeman and Julian Gosin of A Tribe Called Quest tribute band The Low End Theory Players

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conic hip-hop act A Tribe Called Quest surprised many longtime listeners in late 2015 when the group seemingly began ramping up for a full return. There was a TV performance, a reissue of Tribe’s debut album, 1990’s “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm,” and then there were rumblings of something even more exciting—the group was working on its first new album in almost two decades.

That excitement shifted to sadness after Malik Taylor, better known as Phife Dawg, died from diabetes in March 2016.

In honor of Taylor, producer Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, better known as Q-Tip, finished the group’s final album, “We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service,” and released it in November 2016.

Through all the emotional highs and lows of the last few years, Tribe’s music has taken on new life in the South through New Orleans-based tribute band The Low End Theory Players.

Musician Derrick Freeman first started the act in October 2015 as a one-night costume-party band featuring emcee Matthew Zarba, better known as M@ Peoples, and members of Freeman’s funk group, Smokers World, and funk-electronic act Gravity A, as well as Julian Gosin, who will not be at the band’s Jackson show.

“What we tend to do is, every Halloween, we usually pick a particular record, or like one year we did all Jay Z songs, one year we did all Madonna songs, one year we did all Pink Floyd songs,” Freeman says.

“We had the idea to do (Tribe’s) ‘Midnight Marauders’ record, or not even the whole record but hits from the record.”

They prepared about six songs from the 1993 album and performed for about 60 people, which they assumed would be the end of it, but the reaction was overwhelming, Freeman says. Even months later, people would ask when they’d be do-

ing a Tribe tribute show again, so the group decided to go bigger, performing a 20-song set at New Orleans bar Tipitina’s last year.

About 600 people attended—nearly full capacity, Freeman says.

While the response was unexpected, the Players didn’t choose to emulate the hiphop legends flippantly. Even before Phife Dawg’s death, Freeman says he understood the weight of standing in the shoes of Tribe’s head emcee, as he had grown up with the group’s music as a major influence, despite focusing on jazz in his early days.

“The musicality of their hip-hop, the jazzy elements of their music, always intrigued me and (many) musicians,” Freeman says. “Tribe was one of those hip-hop bands that musicians were always intrigued by because they sampled from jazz records, and they kind of understood forms of music better than a lot of rap producers did back in their time.”

While The Low End Theory Players in recent months, Freeman says that won’t usually be the case, and not just because the musicians are focused on their other projects. Recently, Fareed and the other remaining Tribe members, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Jacobi White, have been touring more often, which could mean the Players’ days are numbered. In comparison, Freeman points to another New Orleans tribute band, Sabotage, which also features many of his band mates.

“(Sabotage is) an extremely unique thing because you know you’re never going to see the Beastie Boys again,” he says. “You will see Tribe again shortly. So we don’t know about the longevity of it. Is Tribe going on tour going to help us, or is it going to kill us? We don’t really know.”

The Low End Theory Players perform at 10 p.m., Saturday, April 15, at Martin’s Restaurant & Bar (214 S. State St.). For more information, visit martinslounge.net.

Music listings are due noon Monday to be included in print and online listings: music@jacksonfreepress.com.

April 12 - Wednesday Alumni House - Pearl Jamz 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Char - Tommie Vaughn 6 p.m.

Drago’s - Johnny Barranco 5:30 p.m.

Fitzgerald’s - Hunter Gibson & Rick Moreira 7:30 p.m.

Johnny T’s - Adib Sabir 5-8 p.m. free Kathryn’s - Larry Brewer & Doug Hurd 6:30 p.m. free Old Capitol Inn - Lee Harrington Pelican Cove - Chad Perry 6 p.m.

Shucker’s - Lovin Ledbetter 7:30 p.m. free

April 13 - Thursday Bonny Blair’s - Skip & Mike 7-11 p.m. free Burgers & Blues - Johnnie B. & Ms. Ireta Sanders 6 p.m.

Char - Tommie Vaughn 6 p.m.

Drago’s - Johnny Barranco 5:30 p.m.

F. Jones Corner - Raul Valinti & the F. Jones Challenge Band 10 p.m. $5 Fitzgerald’s - Don Grant 5:30 p.m.; Joseph LaSalla 9 p.m.

Georgia Blue, Flowood - Brandon Greer Georgia Blue, Madison - Brian Jones Iron Horse Grill - Sherman Lee Dillon 6 p.m.

Kathryn’s - Bill & Temperance 6:30 p.m. free Old Capitol Inn, Rooftop - Chad Wesley Pelican Cove - Hunter Gibson & Chris Link 6 p.m.

Shucker’s - Larry Brewer & Doug Hurd 7:30 p.m. free Underground 119 - Jesse Robinson & Friends

April 14 - Friday Ameristar, Vicksburg - 3HG 8 p.m.

Bonny Blair’s - The American Band 7-11 p.m. free Burgers & Blues - Jessie Howell Duo 6 p.m.

Char - Ronnie Brown 6 p.m.

Churchill Smoke Shoppe - Ray Vaughn 9 p.m. $10 Duling Hall - Chris Robinson Brotherhood 9 p.m. $30 advance $35 door F. Jones Corner - The Blues Man 10 p.m. $1; Sherman Lee Dillon & the MS Sound midnight $10 Fitzgerald’s - Johnny Crocker 7:30 p.m.

Georgia Blue, Flowood - Shaun Patterson Georgia Blue, Madison - Stevie Cain The Hideaway - Upchurch the Redneck 8 p.m. $18 advance $20 door $45 VIP

Kathryn’s - Chris Gill & the Sole Shakers 7 p.m. free M Bar - Flirt Fridays feat. DJ 901 free Martin’s - CBDB w/ Tesheva 10 p.m. $10 advance $12 door Old Capitol Inn, Rooftop - Scott Stricklin Pelican Cove - Road Hogs 7 p.m.

Pop’s Saloon - Doctor’s Order 9 p.m.

Reed Pierce’s, Byram - Chasin’ Dixie 9 p.m. free Shucker’s - Acoustic Crossroads 5:30 p.m. free; Hunter & the Gators 8 p.m. $5 Soulshine, Ridgeland - Twisted Grass 7-10 p.m.

Underground 119 - Stevie J Blues WonderLust - DJ Taboo 8 p.m.2 a.m.

April 15 - Saturday Ameristar, Vicksburg - Eddie Cotton Jr. 8 p.m. $10 Bonny Blair’s - The American Band 7-11 p.m. free Burgers & Blues - Stormy Monday Blues Band 6 p.m.

DC Guitar Studio, Madison - Spring Guitar Concert 10 a.m.-5 p.m. free Courtesy Cynical Twins

MUSIC | live

Cynical Twins Drago’s - Ronnie McGee 6 p.m.

F. Jones Corner - Big Money Mel & Small Change Wayne 10 p.m. $1; Sherman Lee Dillon & the MS Sound midnight $10 Georgia Blue, Flowood - Jessie Howell Georgia Blue, Madison - Chad Wesley The Hideaway - DJ Dance Party 9 p.m. $10 Iron Horse Grill - Joe Carroll & Cooper Miles 9 p.m.

Johnny T’s - Aries Season feat.

Moneycure Da DJ & MC Kid Black Kathryn’s - Fade2Blue 7 p.m. free Lucky Town Brewing - Verge JXN feat. 5th Child w/ Cody Cox, Kerry Thomas, Alex Fraser & Betsy Berryhill 2-6 p.m.

Martin’s - The Low End Theory Players (A Tribe Called Quest tribute) 10 p.m.

Offbeat - Cynical Twins Album Release Party 7-10 p.m. $5 Pelican Cove - Steele Heart 2 p.m.; Andrew Pates Band 7 p.m.

Pop’s Saloon - Burnham Road 9 p.m.

Reed Pierce’s, Byram - Hired Guns 9 p.m. free Shucker’s - Greenfish 3:30 p.m. free; Hunter & the Gators 8 p.m. $5; Brian Jones 10 p.m. free Soulshine, Ridgeland - Jason Turner 7-10 p.m.

Underground 119 - Todd Thompson & the Lucky Hand Blues Band WonderLust - Drag Performance & Dance Party feat. DJ Taboo 8 p.m.-3 a.m. free before 10 p.m.

April 16 - Sunday Burgers & Blues - Jesse Smith 4-7 p.m.

Char - Big Easy Three 11 a.m.; Tommie Vaughn 6 p.m.

Kathryn’s - The Owens Brothers 6 p.m. free Pelican Cove - Acoustic Crossroads 5 p.m.

Shucker’s - Sofa Kings 3:30 p.m. free Table 100 - Jazz Brunch feat.

Raphael Semmes Trio 11 a.m.

April 17 - Monday Bonny Blair’s - Lumpy Lumbley 7-11 p.m. free Char - Tommie Vaughn 6 p.m.

Fitzgerald’s - Hunter Gibson 7:30 p.m.

Hal & Mal’s - Central MS Blues Society (rest) 7 p.m.

Kathryn’s - Joseph LaSalla 6:30 p.m. free Pelican Cove - Jonathan Alexander 6 p.m.

April 18 - Tuesday Bonny Blair’s - Don & Sonny 7:3011:30 p.m. free Char - Tommie Vaughn 6 p.m.

Drago’s - Johnny Barranco 5:30 p.m.

Fenian’s - Open Mic Fitzgerald’s - Larry Brewer & Doug Hurd 7:30 p.m.

Kathryn’s - Keys vs. Strings 6:30 p.m. free Last Call Sports Grill - Top-Shelf Tuesdays feat. DJ Spoon 9 p.m.

Pelican Cove - Chris Gill 6 p.m.

Sombra, Flowood - Brian Jones 6-9 p.m.

NEW YEAR’S

Risko Danza

April 19- Wednesday

Char - Tommie Vaughn 6 p.m.

Fitzgerald’s - Sonny Brooks & Chris Link 7:30 p.m.

Johnny T’s - Kerry Thomas 5-8 p.m. free Kathryn’s - Jeff Maddox 6:30 p.m.

Pelican Cove - Sid Thompson 6 p.m.

Shucker’s - Silverado Band 7:30 p.m. free Sombra, Flowood - Chad Wesley 6-9 p.m.

3AT $EC s 9pm-2am

4/14 - Drive-By Truckers - Tipitina’s, New Orleans 4/14 - Periphery - Zydeco, Birmingham 4/15 - Mannie Fresh - Republic NOLA, New Orleans

Questions don’t start til 7:30 so round up your team and head to the Pub! Best Pub Quiz: Best of Jackson 2017 % &ORTIl CATION 3T s www.fenianspub.com -ON &RI AM AM s 3AT PM AM s 3UN PM AM

April 12 - 18 , 2017 • jfp.ms

with

31

BY MATT JONES

49 Soundless communication syst.

50 U.K. tabloid, with “The�

51 “Hmmm ... I’m thinking ...�

56 Contends 57 What each of the entries with circles reveals 61 To be in France 62 Lago contents 63 Country divided since 1948 64 Hair band of the 1980s 65 He played Clubber Lang in “Rocky III�

66 Gift on the seventh day of Christmas

35 John who was Gomez Addams 37 Acquired relative 38 Dove noise 39 Abbr. stamped on a bad check 43 Place for supplies, sometimes 44 “Back in the ___� (Beatles song) 45 The gold in Goldschlager, e.g.

46 What “-phile� means 47 Curly-tailed canine 48 Like xenon, as gases go 49 On the ocean 52 “Taken� star Neeson 53 Caltech grad, perhaps

54 Letter-shaped bolt link 55 Site with the tagline “Discover the expert in you�

58 Glass on the radio 59 “Steal My Sunshine� band 60 “___ Boot� (1981 war film) Š2017 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@ jonesincrosswords.com)

Last Week’s Answers

For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents per minute. Must be 18+. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800 655-6548. Reference puzzle #819.

Down

“Hide Your Kids� —they’re in there somewhere.

Across

1 Baker’s buy 6 Group of periods 9 Pet sounds?

13 Threepio’s mate 14 McDonald’s Corporation mogul Ray 15 “Dog Barking at the Moon� painter Joan 16 Maintain the same speed as 18 Tree of Knowledge garden 19 Converse with the locals in Rome, e.g.

21 NBC show since ‘75 24 Lilly of pharmaceuticals

25 Undersized 26 Size in a portrait package 28 It keeps going during the Olympics 31 “You’re not ___, are you?�

32 Guy with a lot of food issues?

33 “Chandelier� singer 36 What regular exercise helps maintain 40 Layer of lawn 41 Mid-sized jazz combo 42 Blue material 43 Clunky footwear 44 Home of Titian’s “Venus of Urbino�

46 Muhammad Ali’s boxing daughter

1 Chatter away 2 Poet’s palindrome 3 Brunched, say 4 Absorbs, with “up�

5 Unbelievable cover?

6 “CHiPs� costar Estrada 7 Bread at an Indian restaurant 8 Eight, to Ernst 9 Audrey Tautou’s quirky title role of 2001 10 Chamillionaire hit that doesn’t actually have “Dirty� in the title 11 Lose one’s mind 12 Cher’s partner 14 “The Bridge on the River ___�

17 Hit with a barrage 20 Concede 21 Exchanges 22 Cheesy chip flavor 23 Bridges of film 27 “Stacks of wax�

28 Cabinet contents 29 Departed 30 “Entourage� agent Gold 32 Werewolf’s tooth 33 Long haulers 34 Onetime Trooper and Rodeo maker

April 12 - 18 , 2017 • jfp.ms

32

BY MATT JONES Last Week’s Answers

“Greater-Than Sudoku�

For this ‘Greater-Than Sudoku,’ I’m not giving you ANY numbers to start off with! Adjoining squares in the grid’s 3x3 boxes have a greater-than sign (>) telling you which of the two numbers in those squares is larger. Fill in every square with a number from 1-9 using the greater-than signs as a guide. When you’re done, as in a normal Sudoku, every row, column and 3x3 box will contain the numbers 1-9 exactly one time. (Solving hint: try to look for the 1s and 9s in each box first, then move on to the 2s and 8s, and so on).psychosudoku@hotmail.com

Before visiting Sicily for the first time, American poet Billy Collins learned to speak Italian.

In his poem “By a Swimming Pool Outside Siracusa,” he describes how the new language is changing his perspective. If he were thinking in English, he might say that the gin he’s drinking while sitting alone in the evening light “has softened my mood.” But the newly Italianized part of his mind would prefer to say that the gin “has allowed my thoughts to traverse my brain with greater gentleness” and “has extended permission to my mind to feel a friendship with the vast sky.” Your assignment in the coming week, Aries, is to Italianize your view of the world. Infuse your thoughts with expansive lyricism and voluptuous relaxation. If you’re Italian, celebrate and amplify your Italianness.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):

It’s closing time. You have finished toiling in the shadow of an old sacred cow. You’ve climaxed your relationship with ill-fitting ideas that you borrowed from mediocre and inappropriate teachers once upon a time. And you can finally give up your quest for a supposed Holy Grail that never actually existed in the first place. It’s time to move on to the next chapter of your life story, Taurus! You have been authorized to graduate from any influence, attachment and attraction that wouldn’t serve your greater good in the future. Does this mean you’ll soon be ready to embrace more freedom than you have in years? I’m betting on it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):

The heaviest butterfly on the planet is the female Queen Victorian Birdwing. It tips the scales at two grams. The female Queen Alexandra Birdwing is the butterfly with the longest wingspan: over 12 inches. These two creatures remind me of you these days. Like them, you’re freakishly beautiful. You’re a marvelous and somewhat vertiginous spectacle. The tasks you’re working on are graceful and elegant, yet also big and weighty. Because of your intensity, you may not look flight-worthy, but you’re actually quite aerodynamic. In fact, your sorties are dazzling and influential. Though your acrobatic zigzags seem improbable, they’re effective.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):

Picasso had mixed feelings about his fellow painter Marc Chagall, who was born under the sign of Cancer. “I’m not crazy about his roosters and donkeys and flying violinists, and all the folklore,” Picasso said, referring to the subject matter of Chagall’s compositions. But he also felt that Chagall was one of the only painters “who understands what color really is,” adding, “There’s never been anybody since Renoir who has the feeling for light that Chagall has.”

I suspect that in the coming weeks, you will be the recipient of mixed messages like these. Praise and disapproval may come your way. Recognition and neglect. Kudos and apathy. Please don’t dwell on the criticism and downplay the applause. In fact, do the reverse!

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):

“Go Tell It on the Mountain” is the title of an old gospel song, and now it’s the metaphorical theme of your horoscope. I advise you to climb a tall peak—even if it’s just a magic mountain in your imagination—and deliver the spicy monologue that has been marinating within you. It would be great if you could gather a sympathetic audience for your revelations, but that’s not mandatory to achieve the necessary catharsis. You simply need to be gazing at the big picture as you declare your big, ripe truths.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):

If you were a snake, it would be a fine time to molt your skin. If you were a river, it would be a perfect moment to overflow your banks in a spring flood. If you were an office worker, it would be an excellent phase to trade in your claustrophobic cubicle for a spacious new niche. In other words, Virgo, you’re primed to outgrow at least one of your containers. The boundaries you knew you would have to transgress some day are finally ready to be transgressed.

Even now, your attention span is expanding and your imagination is stretching.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):

For over a century, the Ringsaker Lutheran Church in Buxton, North Dakota, hosted rites of passage, including 362 baptisms, 50 marriages and 97 funerals. It closed in 2002, a victim of the area’s shrinking population. I invite you to consider the possibility that this can serve as a

useful metaphor for you, Libra. Is there a place that has been a sanctuary for you, but has begun to lose its magic?

Is there a traditional power spot from which the power has been ebbing? Has a holy refuge evolved into a mundane hangout? If so, mourn for a while, then go in search of a vibrant replacement.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):

Most people throw away lemon rinds, walnut shells and pomegranate skins. But some resourceful types find uses for these apparent wastes. Lemon rind can serve as a deodorizer, cleaner and skin tonic, as well as a zesty ingredient in recipes. Ground-up walnut shells work well in facial scrubs and pet bedding. When made into a powder, pomegranate peels have a variety of applications for skin care. I suggest you look for metaphorically similar things, Scorpio. You’re typically inclined to dismiss the surfaces and discard the packaging and ignore the outer layers, but I urge you to consider the possibility that right now they may have value.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):

You’re growing too fast, but that’s fine as long as you don’t make people around you feel they’re moving too slowly. You know too much, but that won’t be a problem as long as you don’t act snooty. And you’re almost too attractive for your own good, but that won’t hurt you as long as you overflow with spontaneous generosity. What I’m trying to convey, Sagittarius, is that your excesses are likely to be more beautiful than chaotic, more fertile than confusing. And that should provide you with plenty of slack when dealing with cautious folks who are a bit rattled by your lust for life.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):

Until recently, scientists believed the number of trees on the planet was about 400 billion. But research published in the journal Nature says that’s wrong. There are actually three trillion trees on earth—almost eight times more than was previously thought. In a similar way, I suspect you have also underestimated certain resources that are personally available to you, Capricorn. Now is a good time to correct your undervaluation. Summon the audacity to recognize the potential abundance you have at your disposal. Then make plans to tap into it with a greater sense of purpose.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):

The poet John Keats identified a quality he called “negative capability.” He defined it as the power to calmly accept “uncertainties, mysteries and doubts without any irritable reaching after fact and reason.” I would extend the meaning to include three other things not to be irritably reached for: artificial clarity, premature resolution and simplistic answers. Now is an excellent time to learn more about this fine art, Aquarius.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):

Are you ready for a riddle that’s more enjoyable than the kind you’re used to? I’m not sure if you are. You may be too jaded to embrace this unusual gift. You could assume it’s another one of the crazy-making cosmic jokes that have sometimes tormented you in the past. But I hope that doesn’t happen. I hope you’ll welcome the riddle in the liberating spirit in which it’s offered. If you do, you’ll be pleasantly surprised as it teases you in ways you didn’t know you wanted to be teased. You’ll feel a delightful itch or a soothing burn in your secret self, like a funny-bone feeling that titillates your immortal soul. P.S.: To take full advantage of the blessed riddle, you may have to expand your understanding of what’s good for you.

Test this hypothesis: The answer to a pressing question will come within 72 hours after you do a ritual in which you ask for clarity.

determined teachers to join our Jackson middle schools. Must have an unwavering DISH TV - BEST DEAL EVER! Only $39.99/ mo. Plus $14.99/mo Internet (where avail.) belief that all children can achieve at high levels and change the world. Must be willing FREE Streaming. FREE Install (up to 6 rooms.) FREE HD-DVR. Call 1-800-398-0901 to obtain certification if not currently licensed.

Competitive salary and full benefits. Visit AT&T U-verse http://www.republiccharterschools.org/ NEW AT&T INTERNET OFFER. $20 and careers to apply $30/mo plans available when you bundle. Print and Digital Marketing Representative 99% Reliable 100% Affordable. HURRY, We’re looking to add a special new member to OFFER ENDS SOON. New Customers Only. the JFP/BOOM Jackson sales team. You should have sales or customer service (retail, restaurant) CALL NOW 1-800-670-8371 experience, along with a drive to build your career Meet Singles! while helping local businesses get ahead in the Meet singles right now! No paid Jackson Metro. You must be personable, outgoing, operators, just real people like you.

Browse greetings, exchange messages persistent, and willing to learn. Commission-driven position with a paid training period and access to and connect live. Try it free. Call now: benefits; potential $3,000-$5,000/mo and beyond!

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Free Work At Home Job Directory You could be earning up to $500 per week Riggers Needed without paying any signup fees. We provide *Looking For* Experienced Riggers Work everything you need to work at home will be located in the Yazoo area Must including Free Jobs, Tutorials, Resources and More Work from home for free from anywhere have the Confined Space Entrant & Will in the world http://tinyurl.com/kmadcek have to pass a respirator fit test. Work will last approx. 30 days & Pay is $15.00/ Work at Home Jobs Available Worldwide (3937) Earn an unlimited income from home starting hr. If interested please call 228-863-3728 today. International company now hiring data or Email resumes to rkbdcontracting@ entry typists, order processors and more. cableone.net EOE. Multiple income streams available check it out today http://tinyurl.com/hewdzu7.

DISH TV

Help Wanted

TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD:

Post an ad, call 601-362-6121, ext. 11 or fax to 601-510-9019.

Deadline: Mondays at Noon.

Holy Week and Easter April 13 Maundy Thursday April 14 Good Friday April 16 Easter Sunday April 29 Circulation Day All are welcome here!

650 E.South Street • Jackson • 601.454.5716 Sunday Service: 10:00am

St. Alexis

Episcopal Church

April 12 - 18 , 2017 • jfp.ms

ARIES (March 21-April 19):

BULLE TIN BOARD: Classifieds As low as $25!

Teachers Wanted Services RePublic Schools is looking for dynamic,

33

PAID ADVERTISING SECTION. CALL 601-362-6121 X11 TO LIST YOUR BUSINESS

------------- H E A LT H C A R E / W E L L N E S S ---------------The Headache Center

Renaissance at Colony Park, Suite #7205, Ridgeland, (601)366-0855 Accurately diagnoses headache syndromes and tailors an individualized treatment plan for you that includes lifestyle modification and FDA-approved medical treatments.

-------------------- HOME SERVICES -------------------Solar Control

291 US-51 E4, Ridgeland, MS 39157 (601)707-5596 Mississippi’s only full-service 3M Authorized window film dealer.

Services include, residential, graffiti shield and automotive tinting.

Are you looking for something fun and healthy to do?

Come out and join in the fun learning how to play tennis!

WHEN: Tuesday, April 25, 6:30-7:30 WHERE: Millsaps College Tennis Courts WHAT: 6 weeks of tennis lessons followed by 6 weeks of match play! “Happy Hour” to follow at Fondren Public COST: $75 which includes a HEAD Tennis Racket, 12 weeks of great fun learning how to play tennis and a one year USTA Membership

For More Information visit jointennisapprentice.com

Tri-county Tree Service

Jackson, (601)940-5499 Personalized and courteous services to valued customers in Madison, Hinds, Rankin or Jackson County. Contact us today for a FREE NO HASSLE ESTIMATE.

---------------------- AUTOMOTIVE ----------------------J & J Wholesale Service & Repair

3246 Hwy 80 W., Jackson, (601) 360-2444 Certified Technician, David Rucker, has 40+ years of experience.

Mr. Rucker specializes in a/c, front end, part replacement, brakes, select services and repairs. Appointments only.

-------------------- BANKS/FINANCIAL ------------------Members Exchange

107 Marketridge Dr. Ridgeland, 5640 I-55 South Frontage Rd. Byram 101 MetroPlex Blvd. Pearl, (601)922-3250 Members Exchange takes the bank out of banking. You will know right away that you are not just a customer, you are a member.

Guaranty Trust

2 Professional Parkway, Ste A Ridgeland, (601)307-5008 Your friendly source for mortgage advice and service in FHA, USDA, VA, Jumbo and conventional mortgages.

------------------- FOOD/DRINK/GIFTS ------------------Beckham Jewelry

4800 N Hwy 55 #35, Jackson, (601)665-4642 With over 20 years experience Beckham Jewelry, manufactures, repairs and services all types of jewelry. Many repairs can be done the same day! They also offer full-service watch and clock repair.

Wells United Methodist Church Easter is about Loving, Caring, Sharing.

Please join us at Wells Church for worship this Easter week Maundy Thursday Service 6 p.m.

Fondren Cellars

633 Duling Ave, Jackson, (769)216-2323 Quality wines and spirits in a relaxed environment. Voted Best Wine and Liquor store by Jackson Free Press readers.

Nandy’s Candy

Maywood Mart, 1220 E Northside Dr #380, Jackson, (601)362-9553 Small batch confections do more than satisfy a sweet tooth, they foster fond traditions and strong relationships. Plus, enjoy sno-balls, gifts for any occasion and more!

McDade’s Wine

Maywood Mart, 1220 E Northside Dr #320, Jackson, (601)366-5676 McDade’s Wine and Spirits offers Northeast Jackson’s largest showroom of fine wine and spirits. Visit to learn about the latest offerings and get professional tips from the friendly staff!

Playtime Entertainment

1009 Hampstead Blvd, Clinton, (601)926-1511 Clinton’s newest high energy video gaming and sports grille destination.

-------------------- TOURISM/ARTS ----------------------Mississippi Museum of Art

380 South Lamar St. Jackson, (601) 960-1515 MMA strives to be a fountainhead attracting people from all walks to discuss the issues and glories of the past and present, while continuing to inspire progress in the future.

Ardenland

April 12 - 18, 2017 • jfp.ms

Good Friday Service 6 p.m.

34

Easter Services 6:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m.

2906 North State St. Suite 207, Jackson, (601) 292-7121 Jackson’s premiere music promoter with concerts around the Metro including at Duling Hall in Fondren. www.ardenland.net

Natural Science Museum

2148 Riverside Dr, Jackson, (601) 576-6000 Stop by the museum and enjoy their 300-acre natural landscape, an open-air amphitheater, along with 2.5 miles of nature trails. Inside, meet over 200 living species in the 100,000 gallon aquarium network.

Mississippi Children's Museum

2145 Museum Boulevard, Jackson, (601) 981-5469 The Mississippi Children’s Museum provides unparalleled experiences that ignite a thirst for discovery, knowledge and learning in all children through hands-on and engaging exhibits and programs focusing on literacy, the arts, science, health and nutrition.

---------------- BEAUTY SHOP/SALON ------------------Barnette’s Highland Bluff

www.wellschurch.org | 601-353-0658

4400 Old Canton Rd, Jackson, (769) 230-4648 Barnette’s specializes in custom hair color as well as beautiful precision cuts.

H AP P Y HOUR ALL DAY, EVERY DAY IN OUR BAR AREA S P ECIAL S IN CL UD E

BAR DRINKS

16oz DOMESTIC ............ $2 HOUSE WINE ................ $3 MARGARITAS ................. $3

SMALL PLATES

PORK TACO ................... $3 CHIPS AND QUESO ....... $4 BBQ NACHOS ............... $5

1060 E County Line Rd #22, Ridgeland, MS 39157 601-899-0038

E TH G

O RO M

E RE N

-Pool Is Cool-

We’re still #1!

Best Place to Play Pool Best of Jackson 2017

INDUSTRY HAPPY HOUR Daily 11pm -2am

DAILY 12pm BEER- 7pm SPECIALS

POOL LEAGUE Mon - Fri Night

DRINK SPECIALS "52'%23 s 7).'3 s &5,, "!2 GATED PARKING BIG SCREEN TV’S LEAGUE AND TEAM PLAY B EGINNERS TO A DVANCED I NSTRUCTORS A VAILABLE

444 Bounds St. Jackson MS

601-718-7665

OYSTERS

THURSDAY

4/13

ON THE HALF SHELL 5-9 P.M.

FRIDAY

CBDB

4/14

W/ TESHEVA 10 P.M.

SATURDAY

4/15

THE LOW END THEORY PLAYERS (TRIBE CALLED QUEST TRIBUTE) 10 P.M.

MONDAY

4/17

OPEN MIC NIGHT

$5 APPETIZERS (DINE IN ONLY)

TUESDAY

4/18

SHRIMP BOIL

KARAOKE

UPCOMING SHOWS 4/28 - The Weeks Record Release Show w/ the Lonely Bicsuits 4/29 - Backup Planet & the Heavy Pets “The Heavy Planet Tour” 5/4 - the Funky Knuckles (Ground Up Music / Snarky Puppy’s Label) 5/5 - Heart Byrne (Talking Heads Tribute Band) 5/6 - Gene Evaro Jr. 5/11 - Naughty Professor 5/13 - Stephen Neeper & The Wild Hearts 6/2 - The Stolen Faces (A Tribute to the Grateful Dead) WWW.MARTINSLOUNGE.NET

214 S. STATE ST. DOWNTOWN JACKSON

601.354.9712

COMING UP

_________________________

WEDNESDAY 4/12

NEW BOURBON STREET JAZZ BAND

Friday, April 14

THURSDAY 4/13

CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD

Dining Room - Free _________________________

D’LO TRIO Dining Room - Free _________________________

FRIDAY 4/14

ZZQ’S

Dining Room - Free _________________________

SATURDAY 4/15

CROOKED CREEK Dining Room - Free

THE FIRST AMENDMENT GALA 2017:

LET THE SUNSHINE IN

HOSTED BY THE ACLU OF MISSISSIPPI Red Room - 7:30-10:30pm _________________________

“An Evening With”

touring in support of “anyway you love, we know how you feel,” which is both a light funk and a rootsier folk rock album

Saturday, April 22 RAY WYLIE HUBBARD chris gill

down ‘n’ dirty roots ‘n’ roll, nobody in the wide world of americana music does it better

Wednesday, April 26

TURKUAZ organ freeman

9-piece “powerfunk” outfit from brooklyn, blending elements of pop, r&b, and soul with their aggressive funk core

Friday, April 28

MAC MCANALLY

country music association named him musician of the year for the past six years

Thursday, May 11

BONNIE BISHOP

americana artist who has won a grammy and a usa songwriters award

just announced!

Tuesday, June 6

ELIZABETH COOK “a world of her own, but if you must classify:

MONDAY 4/17

americana, old-school country, bluegrass, folk”

CENTRAL MS BLUES SOCIETY PRESENTS:

Wednesday, June 7 LADY PARTS JUSTICE LEAGUE’S

BLUE MONDAY Dining Room - 7 - 10pm $3 Members $5 Non-Members

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TUESDAY 4/18

PUB QUIZ

w/ Jimmy Quinn

Dining Room - 7:30pm - $2 to Play

_________________________ OFFICIAL

HOUSE VODKA

Visit HalandMals.com for a full menu and concert schedule

601.948.0888 200 S. Commerce St. Downtown Jackson, MS

VAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR a coven of hilarious badass feminists who use humor and pop culture to expose the haters fighting against reproductive rights

just announced!

Wednesday, June 14

JAMES MCMURTRY

“he creates a novel’s worth of emotion and experience in four minutes of blisteringly stark couplets” - the washington post

JX//RX COMPLETE SHOW LISTINGS & TICKETS

dulinghall.com

April 12 - 18, 2017 • jfp.ms

HIGH TOP

35

Ronnie Crudup Jr. is concerned about the quality of life for all Jackson residents, and will commit to improving:

* Infrastructure

* Youth Investment * Public Safety

* Home Ownership

* Economic Development * Public Health

* City’s Revenue

crudupformayor.com PAID FOR BY THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT CRUDUP FOR PUBLIC OFFICE

DAILY SPECIALS STARTING AT

2 FOR $3.00

Call For Your

Easter Catering

THE FIRST AMENDMENT GALA

Today!

2017

CHICKEN SANDWICHES 2 FOR $3.00

CHICKEN ON-A-STICK 2 FOR $5.00 CHICKEN TENDER BASKET $2.75 þôôÜÄ?jÄ…Ä? uǞ՟ŽÄ?UĂ•Ä…Ä?ĂžÄ?4u ÎŸ¾Ä?

601.968.5171

A GATHERING OF LIKE-MINDED SOULS

PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT ACLU OF MISSISSIPPI

LIVE MUSIC BY REV WILKINS AND ERIC STRANCENER APRIL 15TH, 7:30PM @ HAL AND MAL’S JACKSON MS

HEAVY HOR D’OEUVRES CASH BAR TWO TICKETS $40 SINGLE TICKET $25 STUDENTS $10 DONATE A FLASHLIGHT FOR A $5 DISCOUNT

Crawfish (LIVE & BOILED) SEAFOOD GUMBO PO’BOYS SHRIMP & CRAB LEGS HAMBURGERS FRIED SEAFOOD www.tbeauxs.com

1*3% q $!&,'& q ' 3 '&,3+