V16n29 - Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

vol. 16 no. 29

FREE MarCh 21 - 27, 2018

Celebrating 15 Years of the JfP

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e c s a l Y o P u e ’ l l h t G , o h !

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Project EJECT Expels Gun Offenders to Faraway Prisons Ladd and Bragg, pp 14 - 18

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2 0 1 8

Budget Fights Ahead at #msleg Dreher, p 7

Cinnamon-y Goodness Walker, p 20

Medical Pop Up Ballot, p 11 Nominations Close April 1 vote online bestofjackson.com

In the Ring with ‘The Fighter’ Smith, p 24

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JACKSONIAN ChrisTOPHER Lockhart Stephen Wilson

C

hristopher Lockhart, owner of Capital City Kayaks, says he has always enjoyed being out on the water. The 27-year-old Jackson native grew up kayaking during the summer and continued the hobby into adulthood. He started buying boats so friends could join him. Soon, he says, “I had a whole fleet.”

Lockhart graduated from Murrah High School in 2008. He attended Hinds Community College and then Mississippi State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in biology education in 2012.

In 2015, he opened Capital City Kayaks as a way to share his love of kayaking with the community. He offers canoe and kayak rentals, as well as tours along local waterways such as the Pearl River and the reservoir.

Once people make an appointment with the business, Lockhart helps them plan their route and meets them at designated launch points along the water.

He says kayaking is a great opportunity to explore a lesser-known side of Jackson while enjoying the beauty of nature.

“When you are out on the water, it doesn’t even feel like you’re in the city,” he says. “It’s so quiet and peaceful.”

Lockhart says he enjoys showing people his favorite spots and helping first-time kayakers get comfortable on the water.

“To see the smile on people’s faces when they spot a turtle or other wildlife is great,” Lockhart says.

He adds that most first-timers end up coming back and bringing their friends.

“It’s a way to get people out of their comfort zones,” he says.

In the winter, Capital City Kayaks is open on weekends. During the prime season, from May to September, it is open every day, which Lockhart says works perfectly with his schedule as a science teacher and track coach at Clinton High School.

“I want to show people that they don’t have to travel to enjoy kayaking,” Lockhart says. “We have beautiful natural resources and waterways that you can explore right here in Jackson.”

Lockhart also helps organize cleanups along the Pearl River, working with Hinds Community College and other groups to help keep Jackson’s waterways clean.

As a natural outdoorsman, Lockhart says his job doesn’t feel like work. In the three years that he has been in business, he has acquired more boats and a bus to haul them and transport people to launch sites, but he says he is taking it “year by year.”

“I definitely want to reach out to more people,” he says. “I want to offer a different experience and get people trying something new.”

—Abigail Walker

contents 6 ............................ Talks 10 ......................... Op / Ed 14 ............ Cover Story 20 ........... food & Drink 22 ......................... 8 Days 23 ........................ Events 23 ....................... sports 24 ......................... BOOKS 25 ........ music listings 26 ...................... Puzzles 27 ......................... astro 27 ............... Classifieds

6 Child Protection Services in Budget Trouble?

The state’s foster care system needs a lot more funds than the Legislature plans to give them now to avoid violating (more of) a settlement agreement.

20 Cinnamon-y Goodness

Did you know the Jackson metro area has a local business dedicated to cinnamon rolls?

24 In the Ring with ‘The Fighter’

“If you sit down and work on your story, and you keep driving these characters to their limits, eventually it’s going to occur to you where they all belong.”

—Michael Farris Smith, “Following ‘The Fighter’”

March 21 - 27, 2018 • jfp.ms

4 ............ Editor’s Note

Lusia Porter; courtesy your cravings cinnamon rolls; Courtesy Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services

March 21 - 27, 2018 | Vol. 16 No. 29

3

editor’s note

by Amber Helsel, Managing Editor

All Those Crazy Jackson Ideas

W

File Photo

hen Mississippi Arts Com- playing, tailgating and people screaming for mission Executive Director beads. Even when it has rained in the past, Malcolm White first moved crowds seemed to have a good time. White to Jackson in 1979, he said it accomplished what he set out to do: create was a fairly straight-laced city where people a celebration that is uniquely Jackson. went to work, church, school and raised Besides the parade on March 17, their kids, but they would go out of town the last few weeks have been jam-packed to do anything fun. He didn’t like that, so with cool local events: The first Entreprehe set out to change it. neur Quarterly was at Sal & Mookie’s on

In 1983, White hosted the first Mal’s March 1; the Mississippi Anime Festival (now Hal’s) St. Paddy’s Parade.

“It was just this sort of gaggle of goofy friends of mine who thought it sounded like fun,” he told the Jackson Free Press in a recent interview about the now long-running annual event (see the story at jfp.ms/stpaddys2018).

White had a crazy idea, and he made it happen. His idea has helped shape the way some people perceive the city.

In that interview, White said that if it wasn’t for the pa- Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade & Festival is one rade, a lot people would not example of a “crazy Jackson idea” that has know much about downtown, taken off and become part of local culture. from its renovations to its new additions. was on March 10; Offbeat’s “Jujutsu: Vibes,

He and other organizers estimate that Anime, Chill,” an event that rolls anime, nearly 75,000 people crowd the streets of hip-hop, deejaying and cosplaying into one downtown Jackson to see the parade. If cohesive ball, was the night of the anime you’ve been over the last few years and have festival; and more. had to deal with all those people, you know Jackson is the kind of place where, that number is probably pretty accurate. with the right people and resources, you But no matter how crowded it gets, the at- can make almost anything happen. White mosphere is always exciting. People from all made the parade happen. Mangia Bene walks of life—white, black, Asian, young, Marketing Manager Susan Farris and Manold, college students, working professionals, tle. co-owner Christopher Lomax brought people from out of town—gather to enjoy a swath of Jackson’s entrepreneurial comwhat’s pretty much a huge block party in munity together under one roof. Phillip downtown Jackson. There’s drinking and Rollins, who owns Offbeat, frequently

hosts events that bring people to midtown, exposing some locals to a neighborhood they otherwise might not know much about—or may even be afraid of (it’s not uncommon to hear people say that).

Greg Hanks, founder of SOPOCU Con and later Mississippi Comic Con, saw a need for more pop-culture-related events in Jackson and made it happen. Now AVC Conventions, the business behind the comic con and Mississippi Anime Fest, has conventions across the Southeast. The two events here bring droves of people to the Mississippi Trade Mart twice a year.

People like Jina Daniels and daniel johnson are working to put art back into the community through avenues such as Daniels’ The Community Canvas at JaxZen and johnson’s Significant Developments, a creative consulting business.

People like Michael Milnick, Ahmad and Saddi Thompson, Bradley Adair, Ian Hanson and Garrad Lee wanted to create space for more art, music and other forms of culture, so they started The Flamingo in 2017. That same year, Nicole and Jason Jenkins opened The Beacon, which is one of only two places to buy art supplies locally and sells a variety of local products, such as Sweet & Sauer’s kombucha, d+p Design Build’s cutting boards and more.

Those are ideas that, on the surface, look like they may not work for a smaller city like Jackson. We have nothing but potholes and homeless people and crime, right? But if you even so much as hang out in Jackson, you know that isn’t true.

“If you’re in the Jackson culture, you know about the Jackson culture,” Sergio Lugo II, who hosts podcast “Reality Breached,” told the Jackson Free Press in early March. “Outside of that, this is just

that place with potholes.” That was his reason for launching the “Local Spotlight” segment on “Reality Breached,” he said.

Speaking of podcasts, have you tried to figure out how many we have in Jackson?

While it can be tough to pinpoint an exact number, we have quite a few, and more are popping up. For instance, Michele Mathis’ “Point of Perception” begins airing this week, and Justin Ransburg, Robert Morris and Ryan Weary, who deejays under the name Donche, recently started their podcast, “The Black Pocket.”

All of those ideas have one thing in common: They inspire us to shop or listen or hang out locally. They don’t take us out of the city. They make us do the exact opposite of what so many people did in the 1980s: They make us flock to Jackson.

They make us pay attention to what’s happening here and see all the locals who keep the wheels turning. They keep people interested in the city.

If you aren’t part of Jackson’s culture, it may be easy to see the city as some foreign place you never go to. But chances are, you probably will venture into the capital at least once, whether it’s for Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade & Festival, or an event at Thalia Mara Hall, Mississippi Trade Mart, Mississippi Coliseum or any of our venues. That’s because we have something to offer.

“Mississippi and Jackson have this amazing story to tell about arts and culture and our role in the American cultural landscape,” White said.

“… It’s our greatest asset. We talk about all the things we don’t have, but I like to talk about the things that we do have.”

Managing Editor Amber Helsel is a feminist, writer, artist and otaku. Email story ideas to amber@jackson­freepress.com.

March 21 - 27, 2018 • jfp.ms

contributors

4

Ko Bragg

Donna Ladd

Arielle Dreher

Stephen Wilson

Abigail Walker

Micah Smith

Rebecca Hester

Kimberly Griffin

City Reporter Ko Bragg is a Philadelphia, Miss., transplant who recently completed her master’s in journalism. She loves traveling and has been to 25 countries to date. She co-wrote the cover story.

JFP Editor, CEO and co-founder Donna Ladd also started the Mississippi Youth Media Project. Come to a youth-crim dialogue Thursday, March 22, at Jim Hill High School, 6 to 8 p.m. See jxnpulse.com. She co-wrote the cover story.

News Reporter Arielle Dreher is trying to read more than 52 books this year and wants to foster an otter from the Jackson Zoo. Email her tips and story ideas at. She wrote about forthcoming budget woes at #MSLeg.

Staff Photographer Stephen Wilson is always on the scene, bringing you views from the six. He contributed photographs to this issue.

Abigail Walker is a freelance writer from Clinton, Miss., who spends most of her time playing with her corgi puppy, Eudora Welty. You can find her at Lemuria Books. She wrote about Your Cravings Gourmet Cinnamon Rolls..

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 author Michael Farris Smith.

Events Editor Rebecca Hester recently moved to the Jackson area, and loves Alabama football, Boston Celtics basketball, the outdoors, music, dogs and volunteering as much as humanly possible. She is also managing distribution.

Associate Publisher Kimberly Griffin is a Jackson native who loves Jesus, her mama, cooking, traveling, the Callaway Chargers, chocolate, her godson, Mississippi University for Women and local restaurants, not necessarily in that order.

April 12 - 15, 2018 Films & music videos, after-parties and an Awards Brunch

A W A R D

W I N N I N G

Locations in Greater Jackson, including Malco Grandview, Hal & Mal’s, Offbeat Records, and Iron Horse Grill.

crossroadsfilmfestival.com

MUSIC VIDEO SHOWCASE 13 Music Videos featuring Mississippi artists and directors.

Showing Friday, April 13 at 8:00 PM at Malco Grandview Cinema Tix at

crossroadsfilmfestival.com

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March 21 - 27, 2018 • jfp.ms

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5

“(T)o realize that this program and these shootings affect African Americans disproportionately should raise concern for all of us….”

Friday, March 16 A report from a national panel finds that abortion in the U.S. is very safe, but in states with restrictions, women have trouble accessing services.

Saturday, March 17 Student survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting call for greater gun-safety measures at the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai.

Sunday, March 18 Russian President Vladimir Putin is re-elected to another six-year term for a fourth consecutive time. ... Two people are injured in a bomb attack in Austin, Texas, the fourth after three package bombs that detonated earlier this month elsewhere in the city.

March 21 - 27, 2018 • jfp.ms

Monday, March 19 Gov. Phil Bryant signs House Bill 1510, imposing the tightest abortion restrictions in the nation by banning most abortions after 15 weeks. … The Rankin Hinds Flood Control District approves an $82,430 payment for the final support agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg to finish the agency technical review of the “One Lake” project.

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Tuesday, March 20 Three state Republicans announce that Gov. Phil Bryant will appoint Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi’s first female member of Congress, to fill Sen. Thad Cochran’s seat. … U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves block House Bill 1510 from taking effect for 10 days following a lawsuit against the bill from Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

Get breaking news at jfpdaily.com.

@JxnFrEEPrEss

‘Galactic Trouble’ for Foster Care Ahead?

by Arielle Dreher

J

ess Dickinson likes to use an a certain number of cases, according ancient maxim he heard in a to ratios and weights set out in the film, “The Bourne Ultimasettlement agreement. By Septemtum,” to illustrate where he ber 2017, 50 percent of the frontsits currently as the commissioner of line workers were supposed to comMississippi’s foster-care system. ply with caseload requirements— “Hope for the best; plan for the and they did. But by December, worst,” Dickinson says.

90 percent of frontline workers were He might have to, especially required to be compliant. The curwith the budget predicament the rent percent of compliance hovers still relatively new Mississippi Dearound 60 percent, Dickinson says. partment of Child Protection SerLowry said caseloads are critivices faces. Since 2004, the State cal because they affect how other has fought a federal lawsuit, which work gets done placing children in a child-welfare advocacy group, A homes, licensing foster-care homes, Better Childhood, brought on behealth care and other services fosterhalf of the children in Mississippi’s care children need. foster-care system.

“All of that kind of stuff is in seriSo far, Mississippi has avoided ous jeopardy right now,” she said. receivership in the case, improving Dickinson, a former Mississippi outcomes by licensing more foster Commissioner Jess Dickinson says the Mississippi Supreme Court justice, says the prihomes, implementing an informa- Department of Child Protection Services needs mary reason CPS struggled to meet $35 million more in state funds if the agency is to tion systems strategy and work- stay out of “galactic trouble.” the caseload goal in December is ing on improvements listed in the due to hiring and retaining frontline settlement agreement in 2017. By staff—and ultimately funding.

December, the agency was violating one “They were not in compliance with “The primary reason we can’t meet provision of the settlement agreement. caseloads. … You can’t do anything with- it is we don’t have enough money to hire Marcia Lowry, the primary attorney out caseloads; that was one of the reasons enough workers to take care of all these and executive director at A Better Child- we put off the monitoring for a year,” Low- children,” Dickinson told the Jackson Free hood, sent Child Protective Services a letter ry told the Jackson Free Press.

Press. “We’ve got to have a sufficient workin December with a warning.

Every social worker at CPS is allocated force out there, and it’s not just hiring caseworkers. You can hire them all day long— it’s keeping them, it’s retention.”

Statistics for new hires at CPS support Dickinson’s words. Since January 2017, CPS has hired 398 frontline workers but lost 295, leaving a net gain of only 103 frontline workers instead of nearly 400.

Dickinson went to the State Personnel Board to ask for permission to increase salaries for frontline workers, the social workers who work directly with children and families, from $26,000 to $30,000 starting in 2018. It is hard to retain a recent college graduate who starts a new job on that salary and then realizes they could literally make more at the lowest certified teacher level ($34,000), he said.

Many come to work at CPS while continuing to look for another job, he said.

When workers leave, their cases are transferred to the other frontline workers in a county office, which increases their Courtesy Mississippi DepartMent of ChilD proteCtion serviCes

Thursday, March 15 The Mississippi House sends House Bill 387, which states that Mississippians will not automatically go to prison if they do not pay fines or court fees, to Gov. Phil Bryant for approval.

@JaCksonFrEEPrEss

— Jacksonian Calandra Davis on Project EJECT and policing at a City Council meeting in February.

WEEK IN REVIEW Wednesday, March 14 Republican State Sen. Chris McDaniel announces that he will drop his primary challenge to Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker and instead run for retiring U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran’s seat.

@JxnFrEEPrEss

“Fetal viability does not occur at 15 weeks.”

— Attorney Rob McDuff, at the emergency hearing in federal court on the 15-week abortion ban on Tuesday, arguing on behalf of the state’s only abortion clinic and the patients who seek services there.

“Did the Legislature have any hearings on this legislation?”

—U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves, questioning an assistant attorney general in an emergency hearing on Tuesday concerning the 15-week abortion ban.

Lawmakers Turn to Budgets; Re-Entry Reforms on Governor’s Desk

by Arielle Dreher

Transportation Funding (SB 3046; HB 354)

Last year, lawmakers were forced into a special session caseloads, compounding the problem with CPS’ struggle with compliance. Dickinson wants the Legislature to help with funding to improve hiring and retention.

A Stunning Discovery

When Dickinson got to CPS in September, he made a stunning discovery.

“There was no operational budget being produced here,” he said, noting that he was not blaming anybody because the agency was amid a transition.

Guns in Schools (House Bill 1083)

What started as a means to ensure that Mississippians with enhanced-carry licenses can carry firearms on campuses, including in athletic events, has turned into a measure to allow schools to establish “safety programs” as well as slightly tightening state gun laws. The author of the measure, Rep. Andy Gipson, R-Braxton, indicated on social media that he is not open to some of the Senate’s changes.

“Bottom line: a new restriction of existing concealed carry rights is something I just cannot support. I doubt that surprises anybody,” he wrote on Facebook.

This measure is likely to go to conference where it could die or come out looking very different.

Re-Entry Bill on Governor’s Desk

Gov. Phil Bryant has until Monday, March 26, to sign House Bill 387. This year clergy and conservative groups, includLawmakers sent Gov. Phil Bryant (pictured) a measure that will expand ing Right on Crime, supported re-entry reforms in the state’s criminal-justice system. Bryant has until the bill, which will keep MissisMarch 26 to sign the measure; he vetoed a similar bill last year. sippians out of jail if they cannot afford to pay fines or fees. structure in the next five years—if revenue meets certain The measure will allow lawmakers and groups of triggers, specifically more than a 1-percent increase in sales public officials to continue studying disparities in the state’s tax growth. The measure includes $240 million in imme- criminal-justice system, including how judges issue sendiate funds for infrastructure. House Bill 354 would also tences for various crimes. The bill also gives judges the opdivert any surplus funds above 2-percent growth to infra- tion to deviate from the “habitual offender” law, offering an structure needs in the state. explanation if they do not want to give the maximum sen Both transportation funding measures are in confer- tence state law requires for a Mississippian’s “third strike.” ence, and senators and representatives will have to agree on Comment at jfp.ms and follow state reporter Arielle how much money to set aside for roads and bridges.

Dreher at @arielle_amara on Twitter for #msleg coverage.

CPS had been a standalone agency since May 2016, however, and had submitted budget requests, which Dickinson soon found were drastically wrong.

After 60 days of going through every spending detail and expense, Dickinson realized the agency would have a budget deficit of more than $50 million. That was when he started meeting with lawmakers and making phone calls.

At least part of the budget hole is due to the Legislature removing CPS from the

Mississippi Department of Human Services in 2016. As part of MDHS, CPS had benefitted from a lot of federal funds, which previous staff believed they would receive, Dickinson said.

As Dickinson discovered the agency’s budget woes, he wrote John Davis, the MDHS executive director, about Temporary Assistance for Needy Family federal funds, which the agency had counted on in their budget request. Davis had already allocated the funds—and eventually had to

retract $30 million to give to CPS, Dickinson said. The two agencies entered into a memorandum of understanding to remedy that problem moving forward. A bill now in conference at the Legislature—meaning in negotiation between the House and the Senate—would allow CPS and MDHS to combine bank accounts again in order to receive federal matching funds as they did before. Dickinson expects it to pass, and more FOSTER see page 8

March 21 - 27, 2018 • jfp.ms

Bills to Watch This Week Medicaid Amendments (SB 2836)

This measure authorizes the Division of Medicaid, and six lawmakers will work to come to a compromise between the House and Senate positions. Both chambers support allowing Medicaid to cover opioid and other drug-addiction support services. Lawmakers will likely make decisions about the number of hospital admissions and increasing the number of prescriptions for Medicaid recipients in their conference report for this bill.

after the two chambers could not agree on transportation funding. The House has thrown out myriad proposals, and this year Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves decided to introduce his own proposal, called the “BRIDGE Act.”

That bill, which includes some bonds for infrastructure needs as well as creates two new state funds to target road and bridge funding, could mean $1 billion for infraTrip Burns / File Photo

I

t’s crunch time at the Mississippi Capitol. This week lawmakers will have to finalize the state budget, predominantly behind closed doors, before passing a slim fiscal-year 2019 budget. So far, legislators plan to spend about $70 million less than they did last year, House of Representative budget documents show.

Representatives, so far, appear willing to increase funding for the Mississippi Adequate Education Program this session, despite Republicans’ failed attempts to re-write the education funding formula. The Senate budget proposal does not increase funding for education, however.

The House budget also calls for enough funding to keep the Mississippi Department of Mental Health at the same budget levels as last year. The U.S. Department of Justice is currently litigating a case against the state for its over-reliance on institutionalization in mental-health care.

Lawmakers will be forced to make tough decisions this week, however, as the lawsuit against the state’s fostercare system, called “Olivia Y,” requires more than $35 million than what is currently allocated for the agency, as the new commissioner told reporters last week. Without those funds, the still relatively new division of Child Protection Services could risk going into federal receivership.

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Timeline:

How Child Protection Services Got Here December 2015: Gov. Phil Bryant announces he will appoint David Chandler to lead the new Child Protection Services agency that the state is forced to create due to 2004 lawsuit.

April 2016: Legislature passes law that creates new agency, gives them $34 million using some one-time funds.

May 2016: The first settlement agreement signed between plaintiffs and state, keeping state from going into receivership until the fall, at least.

December 2016: The second settlement agreement signed between plaintiffs and state, starting the yearlong timer for the state to drastically improve its foster care system.

March 21 - 27, 2018 • jfp.ms

December 2017: MDCPS is in violation with caseload requirement in second settlement agreement. Marcia Lowry, lead attorney for Mississippi foster care children, sends MDCPS a letter notifying them.

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March 2017: Dickinson says he needs $133 million not $98 million like the Legislative Budget Office has recommended for the state to avoid “galactic trouble.” Lowry set to meet with compliance monitor, MDCPS about options, potential receivership.

FOSTER from page 7 that $30 million will help plug the current year’s budget deficit. The Legislature, so far, also seems poised to appropriate $12 million to CPS’ deficit, which will be put into an MDHS matching account, to cover the more than $50 million deficit.

“I am sitting here on pins and needles, hoping, praying that the Legislature gives us that deficit appropriation,” Dickinson said.

But that deficit is in the agency’s current budget—not the new budget that begins July 1. CPS needs $133 million in State funds for its new budget to meet the requirements in the settlement agreement, Dickinson says.

Receivership Ahead?

The most recent budget numbers from the House and the Legislative Budget Office show a proposed $98-million budget for CPS, $35 million short of Dickinson’s request.

“I don’t know what they’re going to appropriate. They could level-fund us. They could give us $98 million, in which case we are in serious ‘Star Trek’ trouble—galactic trouble,” Dickinson said, noting he did the math necessary to increase caseworkers at the agency as the settlement agreement stipulates when he asked for $133 million.

Any State funding short of $133 million will mean cuts for Dickinson, which ultimately could lead to CPS coming out of compliance with more provisions of the settlement agreement.

Public Catalyst, the monitor of CPS in the lawsuit, which is called “Olivia Y” after the pseudonym given a child in the State’s custody in the case, is set to publish an annual report from 2017 for Lowry and the plaintiffs next week. Lowry noted that there is an open contempt order in the case, signed in 2015, that says if the State does not comply with the settlement agreement, plaintiffs can seek a hearing on their pending motion for contempt.

If the State fails to comply with the settlement agreement, that will be “a sufficient basis for the Plaintiffs to submit evidence and argument to the Court concerning any available remedy at the remedial hearing, including the creation of a receivership,” the 2015 agreed order says.

Put simply, Lowry can ask to appoint a “receiver” over the State’s foster care system. She admits that is a drastic option but also points out that the State has had a long time to change its system.

“Because at some point one has to give up on the State’s ability to (fix) the welfare system,” she said.

Lowry said she has planned a meeting with Dickinson and CPS staff in two weeks. At that point, the Legislature will be close—if not finished— finalizing budgets before the session ends.

Judge Blocks 15-Week Abortion Ban for 10 Days

by Arielle Dreher

I

t took less than 24 hours for Mississippi’s 15week abortion ban to become law and then be stopped from taking effect. U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves blocked the most restrictive abortion ban enacted in the country this morning for 10 days.

Attorneys representing the state’s only abortion clinic and Sacheen Carr-Ellis, the medical director there, asked the federal court for a temporary restraining order on Monday, after Gov. Phil Bryant signed House Bill 1510 into law.

Carr-Ellis wrote that the law, which became effective immediately, would affect a patient she was scheduled to see Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. for an abortion.

“If the ban takes effect, we will have to stop providing abortions after 14 weeks 6 days lmp (last menstrual period), including canceling the appointment of the patient already scheduled for Tuesday, because we cannot risk the civil and other penalties that the ban imposes,” Carr-Ellis wrote in her declaration.

“This patient will not be able to obtain an abortion in Mississippi. She will either be forced to carry her pregnancy to term against her will or have to leave the state to obtain care.”

Judge Reeves agreed to grant the plaintiff’s request for a temporary restraining order.

“The law threatens immediate, irreparable harm to Mississippians’ abilities to control their ‘destiny and ... body,’” Reeves wrote in his temporary restraining order, quoting the Casey v.

Planned Parenthood Supreme Court opinion.

“This is especially true for one woman scheduled to have a 15-week abortion this afternoon. A brief delay in enforcing a law of dubious

constitutionality does not outweigh that harm, and in fact serves the public’s interest in preserving the freedom guaranteed by the United States Constitution,” he continued.

On Tuesday, in an emergency hearing, Rob McDuff argued over speakerphone on behalf of the Jackson Women’s Health Organization and Ellis that the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly Imani kHayyamm / File Photo

September 2017: Chandler retires abruptly, and Bryant appoints Jess Dickinson to the role. Dickinson arrives to find no operational budget in place.

TALK | state

U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves blocked the 15-week abortion ban from taking effect for 10 days on Tuesday.

said a state may not prohibit any woman from ending a pregnancy before viability.

“Fetal viability does not occur at 15 weeks,” McDuff told the court.

Assistant Attorney General Paul Barnes, representing State Health Officer Mary Currier and the other named defendants, emphasized the State’s interest in “protecting unborn life” as the “underpinning justification for this law.”

Barnes told the court that if the restraining order was granted, “there is one unborn life that

this law was unable to protect.”

Reeves asked Barnes if the Legislature had any hearings on the bill, with doctors testifying about the potential of viability at 15 weeks.

“Did the Legislature have any hearings on this legislation?” Reeves asked Barnes.

“I do not know,” he said.

They did not, outside of normal committee meetings where the bill was discussed. In fact, the bill is based on model language from the conservative Alliance Defending Freedom, and is the first of a planned wave of 15-week abortion bans with the goal of ending legal abortion outright.

McDuff told the court that JWHO performed 78 abortions last year after the 15-week period—not 200 as lawmakers falsely claimed when they passed the measure. The clinic does not perform abortions past 16 weeks, he added.

Gov. Phil Bryant signed HB 1510 into law on Monday, quipping that he expected a lawsuit to follow. Last week, Bryant told Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, that the measure would protect minorities.

“We are protecting the unborn children of this great state, many of whom are minorities, many of whom are female, obviously many that are at 15 weeks are moving in their mother’s womb,” Bryant said on Perkins’ radio show. “...

We are going about protecting women, protecting minorities from being torn apart during these horrible later-term abortions.”

The governor said the case could go to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and perhaps to the U.S. Supreme Court. Judge Reeves asked the parties in the lawsuit to quickly file briefs for and against a preliminary injunction.

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White People: Respect Our Struggle

T

he mere suggestion that not seeing my skin color should somehow make me feel comfortable is ignorant. I am proud of my race and my skin color. You don’t see me? Why not? I don’t want to be invisible. I want to be seen and appreciated for the black beauty that I am.

I don’t want to be looked at and not seen. I think black, feel black, act black, everything black. If you can’t see my color and respect it when it’s so obvious, you’re either trying not to give my color strength and power, or you’re so uncomfortable with your thoughts about my color that it’s just easier to disregard it all together.

What a person usually means when he or she proclaims that it’s impossible to be racist because they have black friends or don’t see color is that racists, in their mind, are so horrible—people burning crosses and brutally attacking those of another race. How could they be racist if they tolerate black folk beyond work or at their favorite eatery?

Here’s a tip: Let’s just assume you do have a real friendship with a black person.

That doesn’t mean you automatically don’t feel prejudiced toward others. It happens every day. I’ve known white people who have close associations with many black people but revel in white privilege routinely and aren’t aware of it.

I was never a slave on a plantation, picking cotton. But because my ancestors and family members did, it’s who I am. I am a descendant of Africans who were stolen,

brought over here in slave ships and treated like property. That’s my history. I own it.

I recognize that my race is the reason why I’m profiled and mistreated. I don’t like it.

I wouldn’t write that story for myself or my people. But it’s true, and I acknowledge it.

White folk must do the same for their history. That doesn’t mean you have to be a slave owner to reap the benefits of those in your family who did. Just like my history shows up in my skin tone, so does yours.

Stop trying to erase the past. Embrace

I think black, feel black, act black, everything black. it. Acknowledge the shame, the rage, the guilt, the embarrassment. The idea that separating yourself from the blood line that created oppression for an entire race of people will somehow free your soul of ownership is ridiculous. Many white people want to talk about moving on and reconciling, but they are still unable to speak respectfully and with dignity to black subordinates.

There is still a sense of entitlement when it comes to jobs, seating at restaurants, being pulled over by cops—hell, even when it

comes to speaking about the black experience in this country.

When a white colleague asked me what needs to happen at this point for us to “move on” beyond the history that creates racial tension, my answer was clear: Respect our struggle, and accept that your people created and thrive in this oppression. Then, start calling out your friends who use the n-word freely in private circles.

Stop acting like you don’t see it and hold them accountable for it.

Trying to conceal the facts, disassociate from the evil or excuse the connection to it doesn’t eliminate history. It’s those people who are either ignorant or racist who need to be addressed, not black people.

We are clear. We know this struggle.

And contrary to popular belief, we also know how to fix it. We don’t need a white savior, but your people do. It’s the only way real reconciliation can occur. It merely displays the lack of humanity that got us here in the first place.

If you use statements like “I don’t see skin color” or “I have black friends” but can’t see the underlined racial bias, at least acknowledge the lack of humanity.

Funmi “Queen” Franklin is a word lover, poet, a truth yeller and community activist.

She is the founder of an organization that promotes self-love, awareness and sisterhood. Plus, she has a wicked addition to Lemonheads.

This column does not necessarily reflect the views of the JFP.

Public Officials, Get Facts Straight on Project EJECT

T

March 21 - 27, 2018 • jfp.ms

here are two sides to the proverbial Project EJECT coin: what the public hears and what actually happens. In December, Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst announced the initiative and the meaning behind his acronym: Empower Jackson Expel Crime Together. Since then, Jacksonians either get minimal information, or public officials have just been wrong.

Hurst frames Project EJECT as a Hurst is taking violent-crime fixer. He promises safer credit for streets by sending Jacksonians who qualthings he did ify for federal charges to faraway federal not implement. prisons, revoking their bond and parole.

The U.S. attorney cannot deny bond or parole himself and admitted later there is no parole in the federal system, and hasn’t been since the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984. He also cites Operation Ceasefire as a model for EJECT, but was not clear on what it actually in10 volves. Not to mention, its primary designer is clear that EJECT is

very different from the Ceasefire approach (see pages 14-18).

When Hurst announced the project, he alluded to some of the most heinous gun crimes committed in Jackson in the last few years: the Kingston Frazier case and the ambushed woman shot at a red light last summer. But those suspects are charged in those crimes, and in reality, this project has targeted felons in possession of a firearm for almost half the cases as of Feb. 26.

Then there are our local officials. Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba claims the City is not involved with EJECT, although Jacksonians’ tax-funded police department has been a named participant in this initiative since former Police Chief Lee Vance helped announce it. Interim Chief Anthony Moore, is tight-lipped on it. And DA Robert Smith is facing his own gun-related felony.

Lumumba also said EJECT is the same program former U.S. Attorney Greg Davis implemented under President Obama. That is not precise, either, nor does Hurst’s approach include the preventive measures that Davis embraced. Project EJECT is a City initiative as long as JPD helps implement it. It’s that simple.

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I

March 21 - 27, 2018 • jfp.ms

put them within Hurst’s jurisdiction rather than the more typical route of state or local criminal charges, even for acts committed with guns. Their robbery allegedly interfered with interstate commerce because customers from outside the state can purchase items inside the store.

Every single case Hurst is pursuing under Project EJECT involves illegal use or possession of firearms in some way under an initiative U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has resuscitated from the years before Barack Obama became president.

‘Making America Safe Again’

On a cool, breezy and overcast morn-

topher Freeze, and clergy to stand by him as he unveiled Project EJECT (Empower Jackson Expel Crime Together).

“Today is a new day,” Hurst began, adding. “The message to violent criminals in Jackson is simple: you break the law, you terrorize our neighborhoods and you will be ejected from our community.”

Hurst’s goal to “eject” violent criminals into federal court and then prisons outside the state is much like Project EXILE in Richmond, Va., in the 1990s, which sent felons into “exile” for firearm violations. Freeze of the FBI, in fact, worked for the agency in Richmond at the time, back when James Comey was the U.S. at-

ingness and ability to be a partner in that regard will be something we are discussing and will further discuss with them.”

Freeze found a willing partner in Hurst, who said on Dec. 7 that a dozen special agents from both federal and state agencies had already begun collaborating with local law enforcement and going out to crime scenes with JPD officers to identify crimes he can prosecute. Those cases go to Hurst’s office, and a task force determines if there is enough evidence to prosecute suspects in the federal system. Hurst said then that authorities will lock suspects up immediately in detention without bond, and law enforcement will not cut a deal so the Stephen Wilson

n November 2017, Ledarious Anderson apparently thought he was going on a date with a woman named Alexus Guster, but he was headed to a set-up. Two men, Darrell Moore and Cedric Winfield, allegedly told Guster that she would receive a portion of the take from a robbery if she could get Anderson to meet up with her.

Guster agreed and lured Anderson via Facebook, an affidavit shows.

Guster told Anderson to meet her at the Arbor Park Apartments near Clinton, where she stood waiting with Winfield, whom she introduced as her brother when Anderson pulled up in his 1999 red Pontiac Grand Am. Guster and Winfield talked to Anderson from his passenger side, and while he was distracted, Moore came to the driver’s side window with a firearm. Moore pulled Anderson out of the car and took $200, court documents say.

Anderson apparently ran away as Moore shot at him. Winfield then drove off in the stolen Grand Am, and Guster left with Moore in his car, authorities say.

But it wasn’t just the robbery, or the aiding and abetting, or the shooting that landed the trio in federal court, where they are much more likely to be sent away to faraway prisons outside Mississippi. Rather, the fact that the Grand Am had been transported, shipped and received through interstate commerce—meaning it crossed a state line—makes Guster, Moore and Winfield early offenders charged under U.S. Attorney Michael Hurst’s “Project EJECT.”

“Carjacking is a federal crime because the car was manufactured in interstate commerce,” Hurst said in his office in February.

Thus, so was a plan to steal a vehicle made outside the state in this local incident.

Hurst has charged 32 others since he first announced the anti-crime initiative in late 2017, like Bobby Ray Mahone and Latesha Vavuris, who allegedly held up a Family Dollar store in October 2017. Like 14 the other case, it is not robbery per se that

U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst announced Project EJECT (Empower Jackson Expel Crime Together) on Dec. 7, 2018, with then-Jackson Police Chief to his right and Christopher Freeze, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Jackson, to his left.

ing this past December, U.S. Attorney Hurst called a press conference on the steps of the U.S. District Court in downtown Jackson. President Donald Trump had appointed Hurst in a second wave of U.S. attorney nominees and described him as sharing “the President’s vision for ‘Making America Safe Again,’” the June 29, 2017 White House announcement reads.

A sign with a large red button “Project Eject” written across the center leaned on a tripod easel. He had invited media, Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith, Hinds County Sheriff Victor Mason, FBI Special Agent in Charge Chris-

torney leading the program there. Freeze started pushing a version of Exile in Mississippi soon after he arrived in late 2016.

“Project Exile was founded and based on the concept that if you’re a convicted felon, caught in commission of a crime, with a weapon, there’s a five-year automatic sentence to federal prison,” Freeze told WDAM in Hattiesburg in April 2017.

“I’ve talked to some of our partners in the Jackson area and some of our state partners to kind of hear them out and see if they think it would be viable,” Freeze said then. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office would be a big part of that, so certainly their will-

suspect could be out in a few months.

Here’s where the ejection comes. Once convicted, the theory goes, the felon would spend time without parole in the federal system “far, far away from Mississippi so that they cannot continue their criminal activity behind bars,” Hurst said in December. There is no parole in the federal system, anyway. The idea is that the criminals would be away from their criminal networks and, thus, be likely to commit less crime. They would also be removed from their families and existing support networks while in prisons known for rough gang activity, as even Hurst described in an interview.

that Davis had used the same approach as EJECT but by a different name. “My predecessor Greg Davis had really focused on violent crime his last few years in Jackson,” Hurst said. “I’m really building off what he had started and with direction from the president and Attorney General Sessions.

They really wanted to make violent crime a focus of this administration.”

For Sessions, that meant bringing back a controversial approach to prosecuting gun crimes federally with mandatory sentencing as part of the innocuous-sounding, but highly controversial, Project Safe Neighborhood initiative, which predated Obama and Davis and drew charges of racial bias.

“I couldn’t think of a better place to

Jacksonian Calandra Davis expressed her dissatisfaction with Project Eject in Jackson over the last year at a city council meeting on February 27, 2018.

He pushed back on the suggestion this his promises meant violating people’s rights to bond; they will suggest no bond, he said.

“We’re moving for detention, and the judge makes a decision based upon the facts.”

Hurst also made it clear in his office that he knows the federal system does not offer parole, so it cannot be rescinded.

At council, Calandra Davis also wanted to know if the mayor was explicitly in favor of Project EJECT, which is focusing solely inside Jackson so far, Hurst said.

Council President Charles Tillman of Ward 5 did not let the mayor respond, grunting into the microphone to vocalize his disapproval, and shaking his head “no” to illustrate it further. The mayor did not get to speak further on the EJECT strategy.

But, before he was interrupted, Lumumba added that Project EJECT is a federal initiative from three or four years ago, when former U.S. Attorney Gregory Davis was in office, which he had told the Jackson Free Press earlier, saying it a program the Obama appointee oversaw.

In his office, Hurst also pointed out

start that here in the Southern District of Mississippi than in Jackson,” Hurst said in February. “Seeing what Greg had done and how federal law enforcement in particular had worked with the state and locals, we thought it would be good to reboot the old Project Safe neighborhoods into our own initiative called Project Eject.”

Obama Era to Trump Era

Former U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis said Project Eject is not, in fact, the exact same, and added some nuance to both Lumumba and Hurst’s use of his name to justify the enforcement approach.

“There have always been, sort of, initiatives in place to address violent crime,” Davis said in a March 13 interview. “And I think the Jackson Violent Crime Initiative that we started … was kind of a prelude to some of these initiatives that are going on now. I think (Project) EJECT may have just been an initiative with the current administration. They may have changed it up somewhat, but it’s still a program to address violent crime.”

Davis said his iteration did not specifically threaten to send convicted criminals far away from Mississippi. Even if a judge recommends people serve time as close to Jackson as possible, the Yazoo City facility is the state’s only federal prison for them. The other federal prison, in Adams County, is mainly used for immigration. So, people would likely go beyond state boundaries if convicted of federal gun crimes. That’s just the nature of the prison system, Davis said.

“We didn’t come out and say ‘we’re going to eject you from the City of Jackson,’” Davis said. “Our issue was more so that violent people need to be prosecuted, the law needs to be enforced, and once they’re sentenced, they will be sent to a prison. More than likely that would be at a different location other than a local area.”

Davis’ Violent Crime Initiative aimed to remove violent offenders from the streets to make communities safer. A lot of the charges under his initiative were similar to the ones Hurst is pursuing. Forty percent of the people charged under Hurst’s Project EJECT as of Feb. 26 were felons in possession of a weapon. In a press release from August 2015, seven of the 10 people listed for either charges or indictments under Davis’ Violent Crime Initiative were previously convicted felons in possession of a firearm.

Five of those 10 people are serving time in federal prisons now.

At either a judge’s recommendation or luck of the draw, some of the aforementioned 10 went to Yazoo City. Others went to Arkansas, West Virginia, Florida or Georgia. Davis did not set out to have people who commit violent crimes sent far away like Hurst; that is where they landed.

Davis explained that federal-local partnerships to rein in violence are not new; they get recycled and rebranded with each new administration. He modeled his policies toward violent crime after national initiatives from Obama-era U.S. Attorney Generals Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch.

Holder launched a “Smart on Crime” initiative in 2013 to deprioritize prosecuting non-violent crime and encouraged U.S. attorneys to use scarce federal resources mainly for violence prevention to help prevent the crime before it happened rather than rely on the threat of arrest and prison, which can actually lead to worse crime.

To that end, Lynch added Jackson to the Violence Reduction Network, which the U.S. Department of Justice framed as a “comprehensive program” to leverage resources and provide a “hands-on approach” to reducing violence in targeted cities across the nation. Little came of it here because it was late in the Obama administration.

Hurst’s initiative is more consistent with Jeff Sessions’ law-and-order, tough-on-

March 21 - 27, 2018 • jfp.ms

City’s ‘Sphere of Influence’

Calandra Davis approached the wooden podium during the time allotted for public comments at the Jackson City Council meeting on Feb. 27. She said she moved back to Jackson a year ago and is not pleased with local policing strategies— including Project EJECT. “During my time back, the police in the City have implemented the Project EJECT program, and there have been at least seven officer-involved shootings,” Davis said. “And to realize that this program and these shootings affect African-Americans disproportionately should raise concern for all of us….”

When Davis finished, the mayor wanted to clarify the City’s involvement with Hurst’s brainchild.

“Project EJECT is (not) and has never been an initiative of the City,” Lumumba said. “…This administration has never said it is in favor of Project EJECT, we have never made any comments on Project EJECT. In my opinion, it may be out of our sphere of influence. What our police department is tasked with doing is investigating cases.”

The mayor added that the City can neither make the feds prosecute cases nor stop them from prosecuting them in either federal or state court. He did, however, offer some criticism of Hurst’s approach.

“I will say that some of the comments that were made during the (Hurst) press conference where it talked about people not getting bonds and everything else was inappropriate,” the mayor said then.

“I don’t think that it is even within the sphere of influence of the people who said it because a prosecutor doesn’t dictate whether somebody gets a bond—a judge dictates whether somebody gets a bond.”

Hurst agreed with that statement in his office in February, backtracking from the promises of his earlier press conference.

“Oh, yeah, people have misconstrued what I said at the press conference,” he said. “…

We are only a part of the judicial process, and our part will be to move for detention.”

Stephen Wilson

The state involvement comes at the hands of DA Smith, who committed to provide cases that can be prosecuted federally in order to free up the his resources. He is scheduled to face trial himself in Rankin County in September 2018 for domesticrelated felonies involving a firearm.

Then-Jackson Police Chief Lee Vance also stood next to Hurst at the announcement to show support for the initiative.

Vance, who later resigned at the end of 2017, said at the press conference that his “greatest wish” is that a young man in Jackson rethinks a life of crime will rethink his actions after watching others go to federal prison “for a long time, perhaps thousands of miles away from here.”

Vance’s replacement, Interim Police Chief Anthony Moore, has been tightlipped on virtually everything, including Project EJECT, despite the Jackson Free Press’ requests to interview him since he took over the position on Jan. 2.

Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba has offered few public statements on Project EJECT, despite public criticism of it. The same day the interim chief was announced, Lumumba told the Jackson Free Press that he and Moore had not yet had a chance to discuss it, but the mayor emphasized that the two spoke about ensuring good relationships between police and community.

Meanwhile, citizens are forcing a public conversation about Project EJECT.

more EJECT, see page 16 15

from page 15

Project EJECT

35

40%

March 21 - 27, 2018 • jfp.ms

13 6 1

prejudice

The Operation Ceasefire approach, which Kennedy’s team now brings to cities through the National Network for Safe Communities, is about prior engagement with those believed likely to commit gun violence, offering them help and services, and also threatening them with arrest on the state or federal levels if they or their associates commit violence. It is also about identifying illicit markets for weapons. And those trafficking the weapons aren’t usually the young black people who get caught up in federal EXILE-type enforcement.

Initially, the NRA liked his approach, Kennedy said, but redirected its support away from identifying illicit markets to supporting the street-level federal arrests the Bush administration adopted—that could send a young person to a gang-packed prison thousands of miles away for additional years, while not bothering to also focus on how they got the guns in the first place.

In his office, Hurst backed away from Ceasefire when asked if his office was also including the services and prevention side of the strategy he used as a comparison for EJECT. “It’s really not something, that aspect of Ceasefire, we have not really considered. (EJECT is) really going to be more in line with Exile. It’s almost Exile Plus in the sense of Exile was very strong. But I don’t know how much of the prevention and, yeah, re-entry they did, but it’s hard to argue with their numbers during the time.”

Kennedy does argue with the numbers of Richmond’s Exiles and all its clones.

Violent gun crime did fall dramatically in Richmond then, but it did not in other cities that emulated the strategy, raising his suspicion that more was going on, he said.

“The reason we know EXILE doesn’t work is … because there’s a small body of really good formal evaluations … that say it doesn’t work,” Kennedy said. “I’m not aware of any place where (EXILE) was associated with violent crime reduction.”

“What else was going in Richmond at the time? Was there something else that accounted for the reduction?” he added.

‘The More That You Learn’

Wearing the red-and-white top hat illustrated in Dr. Seuss’ “The Cat in the Hat,” U.S. Attorney Hurst posed with Jackson Public School students at Johnson Elementary School for Read Across America Day on March 2. In his later tweet with snapshots next to the majority-black class, Hurst quoted from a different Seuss book.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know,” the U.S. attorney tweeted. “The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

It was the second school visit Hurst had made in two weeks. On Feb. 21, he spoke at a Teen Town Hall meeting hosted

by Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a subsidiary of Washington D.C.-based Council for Strong America at Jim Hill High School Imani Khayyam / File PHoto

crime positions, which focus on enforce- A lot of cities have done this—focusing ment over prevention, at least so far. federal resources on local violent crime.”

In February 2017, President Trump The violence expert who helped design signed an executive order directing Sessions Operation Ceasefire—which launched as to establish and to appoint or designate the Boston Gun Project in the 1990s— did an individual or individuals to chair a task not mince words a couple weeks later when force on crime reduction and public safety. asked about Project EJECT and its earlier “A focus on law and order and the safety and models in Richmond, Va., Rochester, N.Y., security of the American people requires a and other cities in the U.S. commitment to enforcing the law and de- David Kennedy disdains Project Safe veloping policies that comprehensively ad- Neighborhood as an anti-violence approach dress illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and does not believe it is effective, despite and violent crime,” the order reads. violence statistics its proponents cite to

By June 2017, Sessions had his part- prove otherwise. Not to mention, he said, nership in place to go after gun violence. In strategies like EJECT and EXILE have little October 2017, Sessions sent a memo to all to do with his Ceasefire approach, which is U.S. attorneys reviving Project Safe Neigh- often referred to as the “Kennedy model” of borhoods, a George W. Bush-era initia- violence deterrence. tive he deemed successful,

“One of the innuwhich had cost the governmerable mistakes is to say ment about $2 billion since that Project Safe Neighborits inception in 2001. hood was built on Kennedy’s

That strategy prowork,,” Kennedy said in his pelled Hurst’s office to office at John Jay College of by the numbers Criminal Justice in New York secure indictments such (As of Feb. 26, as Guster’s, Moore’s and where he is a professor. “...

2018) Winfield’s under Project That’s not right. It was in a EJECT rather allow them small way based on my stuff. to go to court. When asked … We produced the first if he was fearful or hopeful research that really showed about how things will go in there was such a thing as ilthe U.S. Attorney’s office licit markets in firearms.” people have been now, Davis seemed torn.

But the approach that indicted under

“I’m both,” Davis became Project EXILE under Project EJECT said. “I’m hopeful the good U.S. Attorney James Comey things we did will continue, in Richmond ignored vital and…” Davis paused for a aspects of his team’s work to beat, choosing not to delve decrease group violence, Keninto any qualms he may nedy said, calling his work “a have had. “Let’s just say, I’m partnership approach focused of them were hopeful that it will continon groups.” “felons in ue,” he added.

“The other (approach) possession of a was Exile, which actually has Ceasefire Fires Back its roots in opposition to my firearm”

U.S. Attorney Hurst, work,” Kennedy added. who comes across as peren Unlike Operation nially cheerful, has the ProjCeasefire, Project Safe Neighect EJECT sign now on an borhood declined to focus on easel outside his office in people scheduled how violent people get firethe sleek federal courthouse arms, whether legally or illeto go to trial in building in downtown gally. The EXILE approach, Spring 2018 Jackson. In February, he which was also endorsed by explained the inspiration the National Rifle Associabehind Project EJECT. tion, puts the prosecutorial

“On the prosecution onus on the street-level shootside, we’re not reinventing ers with little attention to plea deals the wheel,” he explained. where the supply of weapons “We’re taking a lot of what came from or how to stop it. has been done in other citThat led to charges of racial ies, whether it be Richmond disparities, and contributed (Va.) with Project EXILE to increased distrust between or Boston with (Operation) police and communities of dismissal without color, Kennedy said.

Ceasefire or Baton Rouge.

16

Former U.S. Attorney Gregory Davis said Project EJECT differs somewhat from his violent-crime initiative.

with Interim Jackson Police Chief Anthony Moore.

Hurst also tweeted after that event, which students there say did not focus on Project EJECT, with a nod to his new initiative. “You can do absolutely anything you put your mind to!” Hurst wrote on Feb. 21. “Empowering Jackson Expelling Crime TOGETHER #ProjectEject.”

Juan Cloy, a former Jackson police officer who was assigned to the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, is the Mississippi project director of Fight Crime, a nonprofit to help prevent youth crime. Cloy was at Jim Hill and said the event went pretty well.

“The whole gist of it is to first of all bring youth and police closer so they can have some common ground and some understanding of what each other needs from each other,” Cloy said in February.

Cloy said Hurst showed up at the town hall because he cares, and that conversations between law enforcement officials and children help build trust. Cloy said the event was an informational dialogue rather than a scare tactic, per se.

Still, “Hurst said in the town hall (that) he didn’t want to see young kids going to federal prison, Cloy recalled.

The conversation did include what can happen when someone enters the federal system. Cloy said he did not know about the accuracy of Hurst’s threats at the December EJECT announcement. From Cloy’s experience, particularly with repeat offenders he arrested on the federal task more EJECT, see page 18

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from page 16 force, a lot of prisoners ended up going to the federal prison in Yazoo City. Where you end up just depends on the judge and the Bureau of Prisons, Cloy said.

In a perfect world, Cloy said, no one would need to go to prison. He wants to approach the justice system with the kind of balance David Kennedy talks about— balancing the stick of arrest with compassion and programs that preempt people from entering the system, especially kids.

“So what we’re trying to do is keep young people from even being introduced into the federal system or into the local or state system…,” Cloy said.

“That way we don’t have to worry about any acronyms at all, right?”

Greg Davis agrees. While in office, the former U.S. attorney had an initiative called LEAD: Mississippi’s Legal Enrichment and Decision Making Program. Through it, he spoke to students around the state about staying on the right path—but still focusing on what would happen if they did not.

foul against another player.

“Goodness knows, I had my fair share of fouls,” Hurst said in December. “But, if you intentionally, fragrantly violate the rules, you will be ejected. That’s the consequence. What we’re announcing today with Project EJECT are consequences, but also hope.”

Hurst added that even if you get ejected from a basketball game, you don’t have to leave the sport for life.

Rather, you can come back the next game and abide by the rules. He sees the same thing happening for people sentenced far from home under Project EJECT.

“Come back after you serve your sentence, be rehabilitated, abide by our rules, and we will welcome you back with open arms in our community,” Hurst said.

Not everyone who has been in prison or involved with efforts to rehabilitate criminals takes such a rosy approach, however, especially to sending prisoners far away from their families and expecting them to Stephen Wilson

March 21 - 27, 2018 • jfp.ms

Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba has both distanced himself and the City from Project EJECT and criticized it.

“One of my primary goals as a prosecutor is to prevent crimes from happening in the first place,” Davis told a group of students at N.R. Burger Middle School in Hattiesburg in October 2014.

“Educating students about the social and legal consequences of their decisions is essential to reducing negative behavior and making our communities safe,” he added.

Hope and Consequences

When Hurst announced Project EJECT, he grinned as he drew connections between his initiative and basketball—par18 ticularly what happens when you commit a

come back as better citizens ready to work.

John Koufos, the national director of re-entry initiatives for the Koch familyfunded Right on Crime, was in Jackson recently to urge conservatives to support prison reform and re-entry. A former felon in New Jersey, Koufos slammed the idea of ejecting offenders to another state.

“Many times ... you’ve got people locked up all over the country. How are you supposed to re-integrate these folks back into the community when they’re in Kansas?” he said at the Old Capitol Inn.

Hurst holds firm, though, that the threat of being shipped away can lower vio-

lence. “That’s kind of the deterrent effect that we’re looking at here. I understand the opposing arguments that, and that’s definitely a concern,” he said in his office.

Promising ejection is key to the strategy, Hurst emphasized. “The thinking behind that is to send a message that we’re going to eject you from our community,” Hurst said in his office. “I know that’s tough love, but it’s combined with the fact that if you want to come back and follow along, we really will help you reenter society. It can’t just be tough love; it’s got to be that.”

Re-entry: Trend or Reality?

The non-law enforcement piece of Project EJECT involves the faith-based community, nonprofits, neighborhood associations and businesses, Hurst said. In fact, local stakeholders represent the “T” in EJECT—together. Hurst wants business owners to give people a second chance once they have served their time and returned.

He does talk about getting to the root cause of crime through prevention, education, rehabilitation, communication and collaboration, but it is not built into Project EJECT with federal resources and strategies behind it. Hurst made his limitations clear, and leaned on the community behind him instead to achieve better communities.

“We don’t have all the answers, guys,” Hurst said in December. “Project EJECT is fluid, flexible for a reason so we can adapt to the changes and circumstances, and frankly reply upon the expertise of these men and women standing behind me.”

Jeff Sessions has been less clear, quiet even, on re-entry, especially when compared to his predecessors. In his October 2017 Safe Neighborhoods memo, Sessions promised a “comprehensive approach” to public safety, including prevention, enforcement and re-entry efforts. But he mentions re-entry only twice, and suggested supporting locally based groups’ re-entry efforts, as Hurst later echoed.

That is, the feds bring the big stick, and locals fund the prevention carrot.

Both Holder and Lynch had zeroed in on re-entry efforts as well. Lynch, in particular, had a National Re-entry Week that Davis implemented here in Jackson, he said. He stressed the importance of re-entry efforts for both the offender and the citizens in community.

“Re-entry is important because what happens is this,” Davis said before pausing and releasing a long sigh. “Once someone has paid their debt to society, they need to have an opportunity to re-enter society and be a productive member.

“If they re-enter society and they’re not prepared, unable to get a job, unable to

have a driver’s license, unable to get health care needs, unable to get whatever services that they should have to allow them to be productive, then they run the risk of reoffending.”

Recidivism after spending time in violent prisons is an epidemic. “If somebody re-offends, they have another victim … ” Davis said. “And that’s one way you reduce crime, by not having people who get out re-offend.”

In a recent interview, Phillip Goff, co-founder and president of the Center for Policing Equity at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, delved into the risks of removing people from their social supports by way of federal projects like EJECT.

The criminal-legal system tends to be comprised of the poorest, most vulnerable, poorly educated, least advantaged and least connected to opportunities, and those prosecuting them do not tend to be of that demographic, he said in a phone interview.

“The people making decisions about removing folks, shunning folks, and excommunicating them from their homes are often not the same people who are in community with those committing crimes,” Goff said. “That’s a fundamental flaw with the way that we handle the criminal-legal system right now.”

Goff does not consider programs like EJECT that remove people from their support networks to be forward-looking to set a community up for success; rather, it makes re-integration of those who served their time more problematic, he said.

“What are the chances of when that person gets out, their lives can be transformed?” Goff said.

“Who among us … can be removed from social networks and become better for it? Any policy that removes someone from their social support, is not a policy that is aimed at making them more likely to succeed when they re-enter….”

Thirteen people are going to trial in the next two months before a federal jury of their peers to decide whether they will be among the first to be ejected from Jackson under the strategy embraced by Hurst and Sessions, with support from the City of Jackson.

Alexus Guster already took a plea deal for her part in the car theft, but Cedric Winfield and Darrell Moore will go to trial on May 8, and if found guilty, they could be off and away, far from their families.

An investigative fellowship through the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice at Penn Law School assisted with research for this article. Read more about evidence-based crime-prevention solutions at jfp.ms/preventingviolence.

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At Your Cravings Gourmet Cinnamon Rolls in Jackson, owner Michael Harris likes to make different flavors of cinnamon rolls, such as red velvet and peanut-butter and strawberry jelly, in addition to the traditional bun.

M

ichael Harrisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; business, Your Cravings Gourmet Cinnamon Rolls, sprung from a family tradition. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My grandma taught me how to make them,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something that everyone enjoyed, and she would try to make them for our family when we gathered at her house.â&#x20AC;?

But Your Cravings does not just have traditional cinnamon rolls. Besides the classic, Your Cravings, which Harris opened in late 2017, has daily signature rolls such as banana pudding, bourbon caramel, red velvet, Oreo, and peanutbutter and strawberry jelly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I started off with the basics and began playing around and adding flavors that I love,â&#x20AC;? Harris says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I perfected it in my own way.â&#x20AC;?

When making the rolls, he uses his grandmotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s classic yeast dough recipe.

He mixes the ingredients, kneads the mixture and then lets the dough rise. After that, he spreads on the fillings and shapes the rolls into their iconic swirl. He bakes them for about 15 to 20 minutes before topping them off with different icing flavors. Harris says a batch of cinnamon rolls usually takes about three hours to make from start to finish.

Customers can also customize their sweet treats, with multiple toppings to choose from. The rolls are available individually or by the dozen, although large custom orders are available upon request.

Harris says that what makes Your Cravingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rolls different from other bakeries is that they actually taste homemade. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the biscuit-like or donutlike rolls youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find elsewhere,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They are soft and doughy, like a cinnamon roll should be.â&#x20AC;?

Despite only being open for a few months, Harris says that Your Cravings has already seen a lot of business in the Jackson metro area. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every time people try them, they love them and come back for more,â&#x20AC;? he says.

Your Cravings also sells cinnamon-roll ice cream, which Harris says tastes just like a frosted cinnamon roll. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I like variety and putting different things together,â&#x20AC;? he says.

Your Cravingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cinnamon rolls are currently available for delivery or pick up Wednesday through Saturday, but Harris says that he plans to turn the business into an â&#x20AC;&#x153;in-and-out bakeryâ&#x20AC;? in the near future.

He will also soon add pies, cookies, brownies and other baked goods to the menu, and says that he envisions Your Cravings shops on street corners around Jackson.

Your Cravings Gourmet Cinnamon Rolls (5096 Parkway Drive) is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for delivery and pick-up only. For more information, call 601-503-5288 or find the business on Facebook.

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THURSDAY 3/22

FRIDAY 3/23

SATURDAY 3/24

Michael Farris Smith signs copies of “The Fighter” at Lemuria Books.

The “Freedom Song” film screening is at the Mississippi Museum of Art.

“Chalk at the Trace” Sidewalk Chalk Festival is at the Mississippi Craft Center.

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WEDNESDAY 3/21

“History Is Lunch” is from noon to 1 p.m. at the Two Mississippi Museums (222 North St.) in the Craig H. Neilson Auditorium. Malcolm White and illustrator Ginger Williams-Cook discuss their book, “The Artful Evolution of Hal and Mal’s.” Free admission; call 601-576-6998; mdah.ms.gov.

THURSDAY 3/22

courtesy New Stage Theatre

“Help Prevent Youth Crime in Jackson” is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Jim Hill High School (2185 Coach Fred Harris St.). The community dialogue circles feature a discussion of causes and potential solutions to teen violence. The feedback will be part of the YMP Youth Crime Summit later this year. Free admission; call 601-966-0834; email info@ youthmediaproject.com; youthmediaproject.com. …

“Boy” is at 7:30 p.m. at Warehouse Theatre (1000 Monroe St.). The Anna Ziegler drama tells a story about finding love amidst the confusion of sexual identity through the tale

(Right to left) Michael Tait, Duncan Phillips, Jeff Frankenstein and Jody Davis of Newsboys perform alongside original members Phil Joel and Peter Furler as part of the “Newsboys United” tour, which comes to the Mississippi Coliseum on Sunday, March 25.

FRIDAY 3/23

CelticFest Mississippi 2018 is from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum (1150 Lakeland Drive). The festival is a celebration of Irish and Celtic heritage. Includes food and drink vendors, games, the Kindred Spirits Whisky Tasting, music from artists such as the Máirtín de Cógáin Project, the Coyne Family Band, Finvarra’s Wren, Chambless & Muse, and more. Additional dates: March 24, 10 a.m.-midnight. Friday: $5 admission; Saturday: $16 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, $8

by Rebecca Hester for ages 3-17; celticfestms.org. …

Katt Williams performs at 8 p.m. at Mississippi Coliseum (1207 jacksonfreepress.com Mississippi St.). The CincinnatiFax: 601-510-9019 native comedian performs as part Daily updates at of the “11:11: RNS World Tour.” jfpevents.com $49-$99; ticketmaster.com.

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events@

SATURDAY 3/24

(Left to right) Kate Woodley, Richard Lawrence, Wendie Sheppard and Sam Furman star in “Boy,” which runs March 22-25 at Warehouse Theatre.

of a child who was raised as a girl following an accident.

Suggested for mature audiences. This production is part of “Unframed at New Stage Theatre.” Additional dates: March 23, 7:30 p.m., March 24, 2 p.m., March 24-25, 7:30 p.m. $10 admission; call 601-948-3533, ext. 236; 22 find it on Facebook.

The Jackson Black Business Expo is from noon to 5 p.m. at Tougaloo College (500 W. County Line Road) in the Health & Wellness Center Gymnasium. The expo features more than 150 local African American-owned and -operated businesses. Free admission; jacksonblackpages. com. … “Epic Elegance” at 7:30 p.m. at Thalia Mara Hall (255 E. Pascagoula St.). The Mississippi Symphony Orchestra performs a concert featuring Johannes Brahms’ “Variations on a Theme by Haydn” and Gustav Mahler’s “The Titan.” $20-$62; msorchestra.com.

SUNDAY 3/25

“Newsboys United” is at 6 p.m. at the Mississippi Coliseum (1207 Mississippi St.). The contemporaryChristian band performs alongside original members Peter Furler and Phil Joel. $25 admission, $45 premium package, $100 VIP package; premierproductions.com.

MONDAY 3/26

Robert Gordon signs copies of “Memphis Rent Party: The Blues, Rock & Soul in Music’s Hometown” at 5 p.m. at Lemuria Books (Banner Hall, 4465 Interstate 55 N., Suite 202). Reading at 5:30 p.m. $28 book; call 601-3667619; lemuriabooks.com.

TUESDAY 3/27

“Dinner, Drinks & Jazz” is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Hal & Mal’s (200 Commerce St.) in the dining room.

Jackson jazz artist Raphael Semmes performs with a different lineup of Mississippi musicians each week. Free admission; call 601-948-0888; halandmals.com.

WEDNESDAY 3/28

“Independent Women: Passion and Practice in Mississippi’s Artists” is from 11:30 a.m. to noon at the Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St.). Museum curator Elizabeth Abston leads the discussion of women artists from Mississippi, including Marie Hull, Dusti Bongé, Ruth Miller and Gwen Magee. Free; msmuseumart.org.

Live Music Every Thurs, Fri & Sat Night!

COMMUNITY Spring Market Jackson March 23-24, 9 a.m.8 p.m., March 25, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m., at Mississippi Trade Mart (1200 Mississippi St.). The shopping event includes more than 100 merchants. $10 one-day ticket, $15 three-day ticket, free for ages 12 and under; themarketshows.com.

Jackson Black Business Expo March 24, noon-5 p.m., at Tougaloo College (500 W. County Line Road). In the Health & Wellness Center Gymnasium. The expo features more than 150 local African American-owned and -operated businesses. Free admission; jacksonblackpages.com.

4th Annual Moonlight Market March 22, 6-8 p.m., at Mississippi Farmers Market (929 High St.). The market includes food, drinks, music and cooking demonstrations along with some fresh veggies, diary products and meats from Mississippi farmers. $40 individual, $75 couple, $300 group; eventbrite.com.

JXN Gumbo March 22, 6-8:30 p.m., at Cathead Distillery (422 S. Farish St.). Participants can eat gumbo, hear pitches for community projects happening in Jackson and vote on which project should receive funds from money raised at the dinner. $5 minimum donation; eventbrite.com.

SPORTS & WELLNESS

KIDS Family Day March 24, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St.). The time-travel-themed family event features games, activities, art projects and more throughout the day. Dress for mess. Free; msmuseumart.org.

SLATE

FOOD & DRINK

March Madness Ping-Pong Tournament March 24, 1-7 p.m., at Cathead Distillery (422 S. Farish St.). The ping-pong tournament is a doubleround elimination competition with a cash prize for the winner. Includes food trucks, basketballgame screenings, drinks for sale, tours and more. $10 entry fee; find it on Facebook.

the best in sports over the next seven days

by Bryan Flynn, follow at jfpsports.com, @jfpsports

THURSDAY, MARCH 22

College basketball (6-11 p.m., CBS/ TBS): The men’s round of 16 begins with Cinderella teams Nevada and Loyola Chicago on CBS. FRIDAY, MARCH 23

College basketball (6-11 p.m., ESPN/ ESPN2): The women’s tournament semifinals include a battle between MSU and NC State on ESPN. …

College basketball (6-11 p.m., CBS/ TBS): The men’s Elite Eight will be set after the night’s games, which kick off with Kansas and Clemson on CBS. SATURDAY, MARCH 24

College basketball (10:30 a.m.-7 p.m., ESPN): Find out half of the women’s Elite Eight, with games such as UConn versus Duke. … College basketball (5-10 p.m., TBS): The first two teams in the NCAA Men’s Tournament Final Four earn their spots.

SUNDAY, MARCH 25

College basketball (11 a.m.-9 p.m., ESPN): Tune in for games that will

reveal the first two Final Four teams in the NCAA Women’s Tournament. …

College basketball (1-7 p.m., CBS): A double-header will reveal the other two teams in the NCAA Men’s Tournament Final Four.

MONDAY, MARCH 26

College basketball (6-11pm ESPN): Another double-header will decide the last two teams in the NCAA Women’s Tournament Final Four.

TUESDAY, MARCH 27

College basketball (6-11 p.m., ESPN): If the MSU men beat Louisville on March 20, they will play in the NIT semifinals. … College baseball (6:3010 p.m., SECN+): UM Rebels host Southern Miss in Oxford.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28

High-school basketball (4-8 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN): The college stars of tomorrow take the court for the McDonald’s All-American Game, with the women playing on ESPN2 and the men following on ESPN.

Katt Williams March 23, 8 p.m., at Mississippi Coliseum (1207 Mississippi St.). The Cincinnatinative comedian performs as part of the “11:11: RNS World Tour.” $49-$99; ticketmaster.com.

“Fairytale Favorites” March 24-25, 2 p.m.-, at Jackson Academy Performing Arts Center (4908 Ridgewood Road ). The Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet performs a showcase of excerpts from fairytales. $20-$22; msmetroballet.com.

March 22 - Chris Gill

CONCERTS & FESTIVALS Blackberry Smoke March 22, 8 p.m., at City Hall Live (1000 Municipal Drive, Brandon).

The Atlanta southern-rock band’s latest album is “Like an Arrow.” Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown also performs. $32.50; ardenland.net.

March 23 - Brandon Santini

Tyler Childers March 23, 8 p.m., at Hal & Mal’s (200 Commerce St.). The Americana artist’s latest album is titled “Purgatory.” $12 in advance, $15 at the door; ardenland.net.

CelticFest Mississippi March 23, 6-11 p.m., March 24, 10 a.m.-midnight, at Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum (1150 Lakeland Drive). Includes food vendors, games, a whisky tasting, music and more. Friday: $5 admission; Saturday: $16 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, $8 for ages 3-17; celticfestms.org.

Jackson Nights: Party With Purpose March 24, 7 p.m.-2 a.m., at Next Level Experience (3645 Metro Dr.). Performers include Tonya Boyd Cannon, La’Porsha Renae, Alvin Garrett and DJ Azziatik Black. $20 in advance, $40 VIP admission; find it on Facebook.

The Mulligan Brothers March 24, 8 p.m., at Duling Hall (622 Duling Ave.). The Americana band’s latest album is titled “Live from the Netherlands.” Oh Jeremiah also performs. $10 in advance, $15 at the door; ardenland.net.

LITERARY SIGNINGS Events at Lemuria Books (Banner Hall, 4465 Interstate 55 N., Suite 202) • “The Past Is Never” March 21, 5 p.m. Tiffany Quay Tyson signs copies. Reading at 5:30 p.m. $24.99 book; lemuriabooks.com.

• “The Fighter” March 22, 5 p.m. Michael Farris Smith signs copies. Reading at 5:30 p.m. $26 book; lemuriabooks.com.

• “Memphis Rent Party: The Blues, Rock & Soul in Music’s Hometown” March 26, 5 p.m. Robert Gordon signs copies. Reading at 5:30 p.m. $28 book; lemuriabooks.com.

• “P.I.G.G.Y. Plan It: Prudent Investors Get Going Young!” March 27, 5 p.m. Nancy Lottridge Anderson, Ryder Taff and Susan McAdory sign copies. $16.95 book; call 601366-7619; lemuriabooks.com.

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.

March 24 - Stephanie Luckett

www.underground119.com 119 S. President St. Jackson

E RE N

O RO M

“March Madness” was on full display over the weekend.

Highlights included No. 16-seed UMBC’s victory over No. 1 Virginia, giving 16th seeds a 1-135 record in the first round.

STAGE & SCREEN “Boy” March 22-23, 7:30 p.m., March 24, 2 p.m., March 24-25, 7:30 p.m., at Warehouse Theatre (1000 Monroe St.). The drama tells a story about finding love amidst the confusion of sexual identity. $10; find it on Facebook.

-Pool Is CoolThank you for voting The Green Room “Best Place to Play Pool” once again, extending our run of a Best of Jackson winner since 2006!

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 '!4%$ 0!2+).' s ")' 3#2%%. 46 3 LEAGUE AND TEAM PLAY B EGINNERS TO A DVANCED I NSTRUCTORS A VAILABLE

444 Bounds St. Jackson MS

601-718-7665

March 21 - 27, 2018 • jfp.ms

Help Prevent Youth Crime in Jackson March 22, 6-8 p.m., at Jim Hill High School (2185 Coach Fred Harris St.). The community dialogue circles feature a discussion of causes and potential solutions to teen violence. The feedback will be part of the YMP Youth Crime Summit later this year. Free; youthmediaproject.com.

“Chalk at the Trace” Sidewalk Chalk Festival March 24, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at Mississippi Crafts Center (950 Rice Road, Ridgeland). Individuals, teams and families create sidewalk art for fun or as part of a contest for prizes. Includes craft demonstrations, exhibitions, food and drink vendors, and more. Free admission; visitridgeland.com.

E TH G

JFP-SPONSORED

23

books

Following “The Fighter”

by Micah Smith

J

says. “So that led me to the brain injuries he might have, which would lead to loss of memory, and the emotional issues that people who suffer from those things go through. Then, how would he treat it?”

From there, Smith says, the character caught fire, becoming clearer and clearer as he developed the story of “The Fighter.”

Instead of working from an outline or predetermined plot, he just continued to write, which led to the book’s other lead characters, Jack’s beloved foster mother, Maryann, and the free-wheeling carnival worker Annette, whom he befriends.

“One of the things that I’ve learned is that if you sit around and think about it, nothing’s really going to happen,” Smith says. “But if you sit down and work on your story, and you keep driving these characters to their limits, eventually it’s going to occur to you where they all belong, what their relationship is and what it means. Those are the best days: when you hit that moment where you realize why the paths cross or where they’re crossing, and the impact of

Saturday, March 24 | 9 AM - 1 PM

March 21 - 27, 2018 • jfp.ms

FREE FOR ALL AGES!

24

Come to the Mississippi Museum of Art for a time-traveling adventure! We’ll venture back in time and look to the future during this fun and art-filled family day. We’ll have art-making activities in the studio, games, gallery-safe crafts throughout the bicentennial exhibition on view, “Picturing Mississippi,” an artist drawing caricatures, musicians performing period pieces, science experiments with materials from the future, bubble blowing outside, and more! Dress for mess! No registration is required. Doors open at 8 AM for breakfast in the café (available for purchase), and gallery activities begin at 9 AM. MISSISSIPPI MUSEUM of ART | 380 SOUTH LAMAR STREET | JACKSON, MS 39201 | 601.960.1515

LUISA PORTER

ack Boucher barrels down a Delta road in his truck, his bruised and bloodied hands swapping between a bottle of bourbon, a bag of pills and an envelope full of cash. The first two items are for him—something to dull the pain from more than two decades of bareknuckle boxing. The money, on the other hand, he owes to Big Momma Sweet. Even worse, he is about to lose every dollar.

That is where readers join Oxford, Miss., author Michael Farris Smith on his latest thriller, “The Fighter” (Lee Boudreaux Books, 2018, $26), which hits shelves on March 20. He began working on the novel shortly after finishing his critically acclaimed third book, 2017’s “Desperation Road.” Rather than a story idea, Smith says “The Fighter” started with an image—a middle-aged man, broken down due to years of physical wear and tear.

“I immediately imagined a bareknuckle cage fighter, and I imagined a guy who had probably concussion after concussion that would’ve gone untreated,” he

that collision and what it all means. I never really know what’s going to happen, but I’m always very excited when I figure it out.”

One of his biggest discoveries through working on the book was the world that it inhabits, a seedy corner of the Mississippi Delta. Smith says that he had long wanted to set a novel in the Delta, having spent time there over the years, but his decision to set “The Fighter” there came from writing the aforementioned Big Momma

Michael Farris Smith signs copies of his latest novel, “The Fighter,” at Lemuria Books on March 22.

Sweet, a powerful player in the South’s underbelly who is a looming threat to Jack throughout the story.

“When I began to imagine Big Momma Sweet and the kind of deep, dark place she would have that could be hidden away, where she could really be in control—I don’t know. For some reason, my mind wandered out to those dark, flat Delta lands, and I thought that would be the perfect place to put her,” Smith says.

He also saw it as a mirror to Jack’s isolation, which follows him from his childhood abandonment to his struggling career in the ring as an adult. Once Smith had selected the Delta as the setting, he says that he went about researching as he has for every other project that he has written.

“I got my feet in the dirt. I’ve had drinks and gotten to know some locals, spent some time hearing the language, and just really participated in what’s going on over there. I mean, my expense report, under the heading of ‘research,’ there’s a lot of bar tabs,” he says with a laugh.

Michael Farris Smith signs copies of “The Fighter” at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 22, at Lemuria Books (4465 Interstate 55 N., Suite 202). For more information, visit michaelfarrissmith.com.

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

1908 Provisions - Bill Ellison 6:30 p.m.

Alumni House - Jerry Brooks & Jack Beal 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Char - Tommie Vaughn 6 p.m.

Drago’s - Johnny Barranco 6-9 p.m.

Johnny T’s - Jonte Mayon 5-8 p.m. free Kathryn’s - Gator Trio 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Lounge 114 - “Poets & Jazz” feat.

Chris Lockhart & Akyra 7-9 p.m.

Pelican Cove - Owens Pratt 6-10 p.m.

Shucker’s - Proximity 7-10 p.m.

Table 100 - Andy Henderson 6 p.m.

MARCH 22 - THURSDAY Char - Tommie Vaughn 6 p.m.

City Hall Live - Blackberry Smoke w/ Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown 8 p.m. $32.50 Drago’s - Johnny Barranco 6-9 p.m.

F. Jones Corner - Maya Kyles & the F. Jones Challenge Band 10 p.m. $5 Fairview Inn - CelticFest Kickoff Party feat. Finvarra’s Wren, Jackie O’Riley, Joey Abarta & Spirits of the House 7-10 p.m. free Georgia Blue, Flowood - Aaron Coker Georgia Blue, Madison - Jason Turner Hal & Mal’s - D’Lo Trio 7-9:30 p.m. free Iron Horse Grill - Jimmy “Duck” Holmes 8 p.m.

Kathryn’s - The Jackson Gypsies 6:30-9:30 p.m.

MS Craft Center - “Art at AmFed” feat. Wolftrap Trio 5-7:30 p.m. $15 advance $20 day of Old Capitol Inn Rooftop - Gena Steele & Buzz Pickens 6-9 p.m. free Pelican Cove - Chad Perry Duo 6-10 p.m.

Shucker’s - Sofa Kings 7:30 p.m. free Soulshine, Flowood - Josh Journeay 7-10 p.m.

Table 100 - Andrew Pates 6 p.m.

Underground 119 - Chris Gill 7-10:30 p.m.

MARCH 23 - FRIDAY 1908 Provisions - Babs Wood 6:30 p.m.

Castlewoods Country Club - Hunter Gibson 7-10 p.m.

Cerami’s - Doug Bishop & James Bailey 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Char - Ronnie Brown 6 p.m.

Drago’s - Johnny Crocker 6-9 p.m.

F. Jones - Smokestack Lightnin midnight $10 Fitzgerald’s - Faze 4 8 p.m.

The Flamingo - DJ Young Venom 9 p.m.-1 a.m. $15 Georgia Blue, Flowood - Chad Wesley Georgia Blue, Madison - Shaun Patterson Hal & Mal’s - Barry Leach 7 p.m. free; Tyler Childers 8 p.m. $12 advance $15 door

Iron Horse Grill - Evol Love 8 p.m.

Kathryn’s - Travelin’ Jane 7-10:30 p.m.

Last Call - DJ Finesse & Bigg Shocka free before 9 p.m.

Lounge 114 - DJ Lava 6-8 p.m. free Majestic Burger - Chad Perry 6 p.m.

Martin’s - Modern Measure 10 p.m. $10 MS Ag Museum - CelticFest feat.

Finvarra’s Wren, Coyne Family Band, Emerald Accent, Beyond the Pale, The Old Ways & more 6-11 p.m. $5 Pelican Cove - DoubleShotz 6-10 p.m.

Pop’s Saloon - Just Cauz 9 p.m. $10 Shucker’s - Sonny Duo 5:30 p.m.; Hairicane 8 p.m. $5; Josh Journeay 10 p.m.

Soulshine, Flowood - Jason Turner 7-10 p.m.

Soulshine, Ridgeland - Casey Phillips 7-10 p.m.

Table 100 - Tommie Vaughn 6 p.m.

Underground 119 - Brandon Santini 8:30 p.m.

WonderLust - DJ Taboo 8 p.m.

MARCH 24 - SATURDAY American Legion Post 112 - The XTremeZ 9 p.m.-midnight Char - Bill Clark 6 p.m.

Pelican Cove - Georgetown 2-6 p.m.; Lucky Hand Blues Band 7-11 p.m.

Shucker’s - Steele Heart 3:30 p.m.; Hairicane 8 p.m. $5; Billy Maudlin 10 p.m.

Soulshine, Flowood - Casey Phillips 7-10 p.m.

Table 100 - Tommie Vaughn 6 p.m.

Thalia Mara Hall - MS Symphony Orchestra’s “Epic Elegance” 7:30-9:30 p.m. $23-$65 Underground 119 - Stephanie Luckett 9 p.m.

MARCH 25 - SUNDAY 1908 Provisions - Knight Bruce 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

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

The Flamingo - “Get Money, Stop Hatin’!” Tour feat. Jess Jones, Jayali, Kappaccino, Harold Jamez, Raiyn & more 9 p.m.2 a.m. $10 advance $15 door Kathryn’s - Jay Wadsworth 6-9 p.m.

MS Coliseum - Newsboys w/ Zealand 6 p.m. $25-$100 Pelican Cove - Bad Example noon-4 p.m.

Shucker’s - Acoustic Crossroads 3:30 p.m.

Table 100 - Raphael Semmes Trio 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Dan Michael Colbert 6-9 p.m.

Wellington’s - Andy Hardwick 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

MARCH 26 - MONDAY

Tonya Boyd Cannon Club 43, Canton - Lovin Ledbetter 9 p.m.

Drago’s - Travelin’ Jane Duo 6-9 p.m.

Duling Hall - The Mulligan Brothers w/ Oh Jeremiah 8 p.m. $10 advance $15 door F. Jones - Big Money Mel & Small Change Wayne 10 p.m. $5; Stevie J Blues midnight $10 Fitzgerald’s - Johnny Crocker 8 p.m.-midnight Georgia Blue, Flowood - Andy Tanas Georgia Blue, Madison - Brandon Greer The Hideaway - Miles Flatt 9 p.m. $10 Iron Horse Grill - Anissa Hampton 9 p.m.

Kathryn’s - Luckenbach 7 p.m.

Martin’s - Vibe Doctors 10 p.m.

MS Ag Museum - CelticFest feat.

Mairtin de Cogain Project, Beyond the Pale, Coyne Family Band, Spirits of the House & more $16 adults $8 ages 3-17 Next Level - “Jackson Nights” feat. Tonya Boyd Cannon, Alvin Garrett, La’Porsha Renae & DJ Azziatik Black 7 p.m.-2 a.m. $20 advance $40 VIP

Char - Tommie Vaughn 6 p.m.

Fitzgerald’s - Johnny Crocker 7-11 p.m.

Hal & Mal’s - Central MS Blues Society (rest) 7 p.m. $5 Kathryn’s - Barry Leach 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Table 100 - Andrew Pates 6 p.m.

MARCH 27 - TUESDAY Bonny Blair’s - Sid Thompson 7:30-11:30 p.m.

Char - Tommie Vaughn 6 p.m.

Drago’s - Johnny Barranco 6-9 p.m.

Fenian’s - Open Mic Hal & Mal’s - Raphael Semmes & Friends 6-9 p.m. free Kathryn’s - Keys vs. Strings 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Table 100 - Chalmers Davis 6 p.m.

MARCH 28 - WEDNESDAY 1908 Provisions - Bill Ellison 6:30 p.m.

Alumni House - Hunter Gibson 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Char - Tommie Vaughn 6 p.m.

Drago’s - Johnny Barranco 6-9 p.m.

Hal & Mal’s - New Bourbon Street Jazz Band 6-8 p.m. free Johnny T’s - Terrell Moses 5-8 p.m. free Kathryn’s - Larry Brewer & Doug Hurd 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Pelican Cove - Two for the Road 6-10 p.m.

Shucker’s - Proximity 7-10 p.m.

Table 100 - Andy Henderson 6 p.m.

COMING UP

_________________________

THURSDAY 3/22

D’LO TRIO

Dining Room - 7pm - Free _________________________

FRIDAY 3/23

TYLER CHILDERS

Red Room - Doors 7pm - Show 8pm - $12 in Advance $15 at Door

BARRY LEACH

Dining Room - 7pm - Free _________________________

SATURDAY 3/24

CLOSED FOR PRIVATE EVENT _________________________ MONDAY 3/26

Saturday, March 24

THE MULLIGAN BROTHERS

emerging americana stars coming to duling!

Friday, March 30

KILLER BEAZ

the king of comedy returns! save up!

Saturday, March 31

WILL HOGE

americana singer straight out of nashville

Friday, April 20

YOUNG VALLEY

ALBUM RELEASE SHOW come party with jackson folk rock heroes

Saturday, April 21

CENTRAL MS BLUES SOCIETY PRESENTS:

BLUE MONDAY Dining Room - 7 - 11pm $3 Members $5 Non-Members

_________________________

TUESDAY 3/27

MS HUMANITIES COUNCIL PRESENTS

IDEAS ON TAP Red Room - Free - 5pm DINNER, DRINKS & JAZZ W/ RAPHAEL SEMMES Dining Room - 6-9pm - Free

_________________________

WEDNESDAY 3/28

NEW BOURBON STREET JAZZ BAND Dining Room - 6pm - Free

_________________________ UPCOMING: _________________________ 4/5 Big KRIT 4/13 - Johnnie B & Mrs. Iretta Sanders 5/5 - JFC 11th Annual $10,000 Drawdown and Silent Auction _________________________ OFFICIAL

HOUSE VODKA

Visit HalandMals.com for a full menu and event schedule

601.948.0888 200 S. Commerce St. Downtown Jackson, MS

THE LONE BELLOW one of our favorite indie folk acts returns!

Tuesday, April 24

RAILROAD EARTH

an evening with jam band icons. get pumped!

Wednesday, April 25

PIGEONS PLAYING PING PONG

one of the hottest new funk and jam bands out! just announced!

Friday, April 27

LARRY RASPBERRY AND THE HIGHSTEPPERS legendary memphis rockers return to duling!

Get on the Hip Ship COMPLETE SHOW LISTINGS & TICKETS

dulinghall.com

March 21 - 27, 2018 • jfp.ms

MARCH 21 - WEDNESDAY

COURTESY TONYA BOYD CANNON

MUSIC | live

25

of March 50 ___ to arms 51 Winter ride 52 Diddley and Derek, for two 55 Bete ___ (nemesis) 56 Jokers, usually (or what the circled letters represent) 58 Not yet burning 59 Gator or Power follower 60 Constellation with a “belt” 61 Catch on clothing 62 “___ Kommissar” (1983 pop hit) 63 Jury members

BY MATT JONES

33 Dissipate slowly 35 Juliet’s surname 36 Medical suffixes 37 Drug bust participant 38 At any point 42 Offshore drilling structure 43 Half of a headliner at the Rio in Las Vegas 44 Like cheaper textbooks 45 The rougher interrogator, in procedurals 46 Roman god with two faces 47 Home of the Huskies, for short

48 Boxer Ali 49 Stage whisper, perhaps 52 Cheese that goes with red wine 53 Quality of some cheeses 54 Some bank acct. data 56 Stack of cash 57 “___ you for real?” ©2018 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 #869.

Down

“The Jokers” —and the ones seen with them.

Across

1 ___ Lama (Tibetan leader) 6 Some football linemen, briefly 9 “The Destroyer,” in Hinduism 13 Oak-to-be 14 Slip up 15 McGregor in a hyped 2017 boxing match 16 “Super Freak” singer 18 The Mad Hatter’s guest 19 Commotion 20 Roths, for short? (abbr.)

21 “King Lear” daughter 22 Tree with an extract that purportedly

helps memory 25 Sea of ___ (Biblical location) 28 Word before bump or boom 29 It’s a sign 30 Actor Benicio del ___ of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” 31 Daily ___ (political blog since 2002) 34 Worth a “meh” response 39 D&D game runners, for short 40 Quicker than quick 41 Participate in a poll 42 Letters over 0 on older touchtones 43 Stretchy shirt of sorts 46 He was assassinated on the Ides

1 Irish comedian ___ ” Briain 2 Hydrochloric ___ 3 In ___ parentis (legal doctrine) 4 Boat with a pair of bears 5 Monopoly board words near “Just visiting” 6 2011’s “Arthur,” e.g.

7 Duane Allman’s brother 8 Near-grads, for short 9 Without help 10 “The Princess Bride” character ___ Montoya 11 Word knowledge, briefly 12 Scene of action 15 Arctic herd 17 Actress Hathaway of “The Princess Diaries” 22 “I Just Wanna Stop” singer ___ Vannelli 23 Wind section member 24 Surname of two brothers behind a root beer brand 25 Beyond passable 26 Radio band letters 27 Microscope piece 30 Cough syrup amt.

31 Shape of a pretzel (but not a pretzel stick) 32 Septa- plus one

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@gmail.com

IRISH CREAM SWEET CREAMY IRISH MALT

March 21 - 27, 2018 • jfp.ms

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

26

Treat your sweetheart to a night out and the best latin food in town with our

DATE NIGHT SPECIAL! Enjoy an appetizer, two entrees, and a dessert to share!

All for $30

Monday-Wednesday Nights at Eslava’s Grille Dinner Hours: 5pm-10pm

2481 Lakeland Drive Flowood | 601.932.4070

ARIES (March 21-April 19):

The “School of Hard Knocks” is an old-fashioned idiom referring to the unofficial and accidental course of study available via life’s tough experiences. The wisdom one gains through this alternate approach to education may be equal or even superior to the knowledge that comes from a formal university or training program. I mention this, Aries, because in accordance with astrological omens, I want to confer upon you a diploma for your new advanced degree from the School of Hard Knocks. (P.S.: When PhD students get their degrees from Finland’s University of Helsinki, they are given top hats and swords as well as diplomas. I suggest you reward yourself with exotic props, too.)

Europeans used to think that all swans were white. It was a reasonable certainty given the fact that all swans in Europe were that color. But in 1697, Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh and his sailors made a pioneering foray to the southwestern coast of the land we now call Australia. As they sailed up a river the indigenous tribe called Derbarl Yerrigan, they spied black swans. They were shocked. The anomalous creatures invalidated an assumption based on centuries of observations. Today, a “black swan” is a metaphor referring to an unexpected event that contravenes prevailing theories about the way the world works. I suspect you’ll soon experience such an incongruity yourself. It might be a good thing! Especially if you welcome it instead of resisting it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):

Crayola is one of the world’s foremost crayon manufacturers. The geniuses in charge of naming its crayon colors are playful and imaginative. Among the company’s standard offerings, for example, are Pink Sherbet, Carnation Pink, Tickle Me Pink, Piggy Pink, Pink Flamingo and Shocking Pink. Oddly, however, there is no color that’s simply called “Pink.” I find that a bit disturbing. As much as I love extravagant creativity and poetic whimsy, I think it’s also important to cherish and nurture the basics. In accordance with the astrological omens, that’s my advice for you in the coming weeks. Experiment with fanciful fun, but not at the expense of the fundamentals.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):

According to Vice magazine, Russian scientist Anatoli Brouchkov is pleased with the experiment he tried. He injected himself with 3.5-million-year-old bacteria that his colleagues had dug out of the permafrost in Siberia.

The infusion of this ancient life form, he says, enhanced his energy and strengthened his immune system. I can’t vouch for the veracity of his claim, but I do know this: It’s an apt metaphor for possibilities you could take advantage of in the near future—drawing on an old resource to boost your power, for example, or calling on a wellpreserved part of the past to supercharge the present.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):

Booze has played a crucial role in the development of civilization, says biomolecular archaeologist Patrick McGovern. The process of creating this mind-altering staple was independently discovered by many different cultures, usually before they invented writing. The buzz it provides has “fired our creativity and fostered the development of language, the arts, and religion.” On the downside, excessive consumption of alcohol has led to millions of bad decisions and has wrecked countless lives. Everything I just said is a preface to my main message, Leo: The coming weeks will be a favorable time to transform your habitual perspective, but only if you do so safely and constructively. Whether you choose to try intoxicants, wild adventures, exhilarating travel or edgy experiments, know your limits.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):

The astrological omens suggest that the coming weeks will be favorable for making agreements, pondering mergers and strengthening bonds. You’ll be wise to deepen at least one of your commitments. You’ll stir up interesting challenges if you consider the possibility of entering into more disciplined and dynamic unions with worthy partners. Do you trust your own perceptions and insights to guide you toward ever-healthier alliances? Do what you must to muster that trust.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):

If you want people to know who you really are and savor you for your unique beauty, you must be honest with those people. You must also develop enough skill to express your core truths with accuracy. There’s a similar principle at work if you want to know who you really are and savor yourself for your unique beauty: You must be honest with yourself.

You must also develop enough skill to express your core truths with accuracy. The coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to practice these high arts.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):

Your journey in the coming weeks may be as weird as an R-rated telenovela, but with more class. Outlandish, unpredictable and even surreal events could occur, but in such a way as to uplift and educate your soul. Labyrinthine plot twists will be medicinal as well as entertaining. As the drama gets curioser and curioser, my dear Scorpio, I expect you will learn how to capitalize on the odd opportunities it brings. In the end, you will be grateful for this ennobling respite from mundane reality!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):

“Love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence,” wrote philosopher Erich Fromm. I would add a corollary for your rigorous use during the last nine months of 2018: “Love is the only effective and practical way to graduate from your ragged, long-running dilemmas and start gathering a new crop of fresh, rousing challenges.” By the way, Fromm said love is more than a warm and fuzzy feeling in our hearts. It’s a creative force that fuels our willpower and unlocks hidden resources.

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CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):

My goal here is to convince you to embark on an orgy of self-care—to be as sweet and tender and nurturing to yourself as you dare to be. If that influences you to go too far in providing yourself with luxurious necessities, I’m OK with it. And if your solicitous efforts to focus on your own health and well-being make you appear a bit self-indulgent or narcissistic, I think it’s an acceptable price to pay. Here are more key themes for you in the coming weeks: basking in the glow of self-love; exulting in the perks of your sanctuary; honoring the vulnerabilities that make you interesting.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):

One day, The Beatles’ guitarist George Harrison decided to compose his next song’s lyrics “based on the first thing I saw upon opening any book.” He viewed this as a divinatory experiment, as a quest to incorporate the flow of coincidence into his creative process. The words he found in the first book were “gently weeps.” They became the seed for his tune “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Rolling Stone magazine ultimately named it one of “The Greatest Songs of All Time” and the 10th best Beatle song. In accordance with the astrological omens, I recommend you try some divinatory experiments of your own in the coming weeks.

Use life’s fun little synchronicities to generate playful clues and unexpected guidance.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):

Millions of you Pisceans live in a fairy tale world. But I suspect that very few of you will be able to read this horoscope and remain completely ensconced in your fairy tale world.

That’s because I have embedded subliminal codes in these words that will at least temporarily transform even the dreamiest among you into passionate pragmatists in service to your feistiest ideals. If you’ve read this far, you are already feeling more disciplined and organized. Soon you’ll be coming up with new schemes about how to actually materialize a favorite fairy tale in the form of real-life experiences.

Homework: Imagine a bedtime story you’d like to hear and the person you’d like to hear it from. Testify at Freewillastrology.com.

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