MLILY Mattresses in Jackson, MS

Jackson Indie Music Week is back for 2024 and will run from Sunday, Jan. 7, to Sunday, Jan. 14, organizers said.

Presented by Southern Beverages, Jackson Indie Music Week is celebrated every second week of January and honors independent music artists and filmmakers with different entertainment events, including concerts, showcases, parties and more.

The Jackson Indie Music Week will highlight different genres of music including rock 'n' roll, hip-hop, blues and more, as Mississippi is known as the “Birthplace of America’s Music.”

"We are happy to announce this year hip-hop artist and performer Juvenile will be here in Jackson at Hal & Mal's and One Block East as part of Wednesday night's events doing meet and greets while here to promote his new product that Southern beverages has called 'Juvie Juice,'" said Brad Kamikaze Franklin, founder and executive director of Jackson Indie Music Week.

Many of the artists performing or showcasing talent, including Prep Cashmere, Ahmil Wilson and more, at planned events throughout the week are from Mississippi and are well-known in their cities and communities.

Maranda Joiner, author and motivational speaker, will also be hosting a two-hour self-care segment for upcoming creatives and artists. Sunday night's final event will include a showing of the documentary "Thank You" by Jackson's own Meezy, creator and director of the films "Crosses" and "Double Crosses."

"Mississippi is the birthplace of America's music, and it's appropriate that Jackson, Mississippi, has this seven-day festival," Kamikaze Franklin said. "It is appropriate that we have something here that highlights and spotlights our independent music scene and our creatives here so going into our ninth year, we have proven that our creative community and our music community can be an economic driver for the city of Jackson, and we bring revenue to this city, which is why its so important that politicians and business people nurture the creative community."

Below is the complete schedule of events during the Jackson Indie Music Week.

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Complete event schedule below:

Purchase all tickets on eventbrite.com by searching "Jackson Indie Week" and all event passes are $40.

Know an event coming up or have a good story idea? Reporter Kiara Fleming can be reached via email KDFleming@jackson.gannett.com

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Just a month ago, WLBT reported to you that Mississippi is leading the nation in rent increases, and those of you in Jackson are feeling it.

Wednesday, the city announced a new program that they hope will turn high rent-paying Jacksonians into affordable homeowners.

“About half of the residents in Jackson are renters,” said Jackson’s Director of Planning and Development, Chloe Dotson.

Dotson says the high number of renters is largely due to the average price of a home in Jackson right now, as well as the amount it would take for a family to build a home from scratch.

As such, she says Jacksonians are forking out an absurd amount of money to afford rent, that could be saved for the future.

“That means, that half of the residents in the city of Jackson are not generating generational wealth. That means you don’t have something to pass on to your children, and your children’s children.,” said Dotson.

Dotson says it’s time for you to stop forking out tens of thousands of dollars a year, and to start taking advantage of the city’s newest way to make you a homeowner.

“This is basically an opportunity for the average family in the city of Jackson to be a homeowner,” said Dotson.

Over a dozen Jacksonians gathered at Rosemont MB Church Wednesday night to learn more from Dotson about the opportunity.

The city, along with the Mississippi Manufactured Housing Association, the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America, and Freedom Homes, are planning to offer factory-built housing.

The pre-manufactured houses will be completely customizable for those looking to buy one, at a fraction of the rate it costs to purchase a home right now.

“We have developed a program, that we can actually build a single-family house, and these are stick-built,” said Dotson. “These are not, you know, some plastic that falls apart. These come with 30-year mortgages, 2x4s, drywall, carport, garage, they’re customizable, you can design them yourselves to fit your needs.”

Dotson says one of these houses would cost you roughly $150,000.

Well under the price range that she’s seeing across Jackson right now.

By partnering with NACA, you’re promised there will be no down payment required, no closing costs, no fees, and no perfect credit score needed.

“The idea is that we want to push and support families to be homeowners in the city of Jackson because it just doesn’t make sense for us to be wasting our money on rent,” said Dotson.

If you’d like to learn more about how to go about purchasing one of these houses, there will be a Free Homebuyer Workshop from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, January 6, at Rosemont MB Church in West Jackson.

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Iceland became the focus of many this past week as one of its many volcanoes erupted. Photos and videos mesmerize as they show fountains of lava spewing from the ground and thick plumes of smoke rising into the air.

It's also an event that is causing concern. Thousands of people have been evacuated from the Reykjanes Peninsula in Southwest Iceland and have had their lives upended by the fiery event.

Could this happen in Mississippi? After all, it's home to several volcanoes and one sits right under Jackson.

"The Jackson dome, or the effects of the uplift from the Jackson Volcano, are widespread beneath the Jackson metro area," said James Starnes of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality's Office of Geology. "It is centered beneath downtown Jackson, but stretches from Ridgeland to Richland and from Clinton to Flowood and Pearl. At the apex is downtown Jackson, centered about where the fairgrounds are now and the Jackson Coliseum."

Starnes said the volcano was first discovered in the 1800s during geologic surveys. In the 1900s, deep drilling brought up warm water and volcanic rock. He said the top of it sits about 4,000 feet underground.

It probably last erupted toward the end of the Cretaceous period which ended roughly 66 million years ago. At that time, the volcano would have towered over an island as most of what is now Mississippi was under water, Starnes said.

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What would happen if the Jackson Volcano erupted?

So, what would happen if the Jackson Volcano erupted today? Well, let's just say trash collection and drinking water would no longer be at the forefront of the city's problems.

"The volcanic eruption on land would be dramatically different than the ones once at sea for the Jackson Volcano," Starnes said. "The immediate effects of such an eruption would be devastating for the environment; not just in the Jackson metro area, but would effect the entire region with thick clouds and blankets of volcanic ash and toxic gases in the atmosphere.

"You could imagine it being just like the destruction of Pompeii in this densely populated area. The volcanic rock pushing through the geologic layers on the way towards the surface would push the land around it up and volcanic intrusion into the local geology would likely devastate the groundwater resources in the vicinity, as well."

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Mississippi is home to several volcanoes

The existence of an ancient volcano below Jackson is fairly well-known, but it isn't the only one in the state. Others quietly lie below the surface of an area most closely associated with the Blues, agriculture and big white-tailed deer.

"Because this is a hot spot type of volcanism, there are others associated with it," Starnes said. "Here in Mississippi there is a volcanic island complex in the Mississippi Delta Region called the Monroe-Sharkey uplift by geologists.

"It consists of Panther Burn Dome, Midnight Dome, Cary Dome in Mississippi and Epps Dome across the river in Louisiana. These were first explored by oil and gas exploration companies in the 1930s as the presence of some sort of structures were evident from early remote sensing surveys."

What are the odds of Mississippi's volcanoes erupting again?

The idea of volcanoes sitting below the surface may seem menacing, but according to Starnes, the odds of them erupting again just aren't very good.

Starnes said the volcanoes in our area are thought to be part of the 'Bermuda Hot Spot', which is a chain of volcanoes. Over time, the volcanoes of Mississippi and their source of magma have drifted apart.

So, they aren't the threat they once were in the days when dinosaurs roamed the land and mosasaurs ruled the seas.

"People are wise to buy flood insurance and even earthquake insurance in parts of Mississippi today to safeguard their properties from the threat of natural disasters," Starnes said. "I imagine it would be advisable for buying asteroid insurance before purchasing volcano insurance today here in Mississippi — if either is even such a thing being offered."

Starnes jokingly added, "But, if we were here living on the tropical islands of Jackson and Midnight during the late Cretaceous, it would be an absolute must to get volcano insurance in addition to dinosaur protection for your home and property."

Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.

More Jackson residents can now become homeowners due to a new City of Jackson "Pre-fab Program" that aims to bring affordable housing to the capital city.

The city will provide a $40,000 grant — meaning residents don't have to pay it back — as a downpayment on the home. The initiative utilizes prefabricated or manufactured homes, which are prebuilt in a factory and are much cheaper than traditionally built homes.

"The idea is that we want to push and support families to be homeowners in the City of Jackson because it just doesn't make sense for us to be wasting our money on rent," said Chloe Dotson, director of the Department of Planning and Development.

Dotson spoke at a town hall meeting on Wednesday at Rosemont M.B. Church about the program, along with officials from the Mississippi Manufactured Housing Association, Rosemont Human Services and the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America.

See more on water rates in Jackson:Council abstains on raising water rates. Henifin still plans to move forward. What to know

The average cost of a manufactured home in the program is $150,000, which includes kitchen appliances, an air-conditioning unit, as well as delivery and setup of the home. Residents with an income more than $40,000 per year and pay more than $1,000 in rent qualify for the new initiative.

Some homes will be cheaper depending on the buyer. You will also have the ability to customize the style and interior of the home.

The overall goals of the program are to build more affordable housing throughout the city, as well as increase the city's tax base, Dotson said. Dotson stressed to those in attendance about the importance of homeownership as a means to build generational wealth.

There are also now more renters than homeowners in Jackson, she said, which is something the program is hoping to decrease.

The city has partnered with the Mississippi Manufactured Housing Association, which estimates over 500,000 Mississippians have purchased manufactured homes.

NACA can help residents become homeowner ready

The city has partnered with the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America, a nonprofit that provides financial counseling and planning for those interested in becoming homeowners. They provide over 30% of all housing counseling in the country, according to their website.

"We first give people homebuyers education. Then we look at their whole financial situation and we discuss with ways that will help them become homeownership ready," said Andre'a Haqq, a counselor with NACA. "So we provide them counseling to get them ready, then we help them secure a loan and close out on a loan.

Along with providing counseling, Haqq is also a licensed loan officer. Originally from New Orleans, Haqq bought her home in Jackson in 2017 with the help of NACA.

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NACA's counseling includes assessing a person's income and debt, making sure all taxes are paid off or up-to-date within the past year and creating a budget. They will also help define a person's housing price range.

"Those budgets have to be really realistic because not only do they have to have their finances in order, they have to have their lifestyle habits in order to be successful in their homeownership," Haqq said.

Workshops for residents to attend that will focus on homeownership education and the process of becoming qualified will take place in both February and March around Jackson. The first being on Feb. 3 at the Madison County Library. A second workshop will take place in March, though Haqq said the date for that one has not been finalized.

For those interested in counseling, you can call NACA's phone number: 601-922-4008.

Some things we can be sure of in the coming year — local and national elections, new laws will be enacted, and there will be plenty of celebrations.

Other events you can't be sure of — storms, crises and all sorts of surprises, significant events and important issues that will impact each of our lives.

Whatever the impactful event may be, the Clarion Ledger will be there to provide coverage.

Last year, Clarion Ledger staffers told you about all sorts of new business developments in and around the Jackson area, including a proposed $150 million movie studio that could change Jackson’s landscape.

Development:$150 million movie studio proposed near Midtown could change Jackson landscape

The Clarion Ledger reported on the fallout after Deion Sanders announced his move to the University of Colorado in Boulder, and covered other sports, athletics and athletes throughout Jackson and Mississippi with the state's most complete sports staff.

In addition, the Clarion Ledger chronicled stories of deer and other wildlife harvested by Mississippi hunters, including a state-record alligator.

State record:'It was surreal': Mississippi alligator hunters bag state-record monster. Details will amaze

Not only did the Clarion Ledger tell those stories, but the journalists also chronicled candidates running for statewide and local offices on the ballots in 2023, from candidates filing to run for office to candidates filing campaign finance reports, not to mention coverage of the primary and general election results.

The Clarion Ledger provided coverage of two musicians with Mississippi ties who competed to be the next “American Idol,” and we took you to the town of Amory where their friends and families gathered to root them on in the finale.

Results:'American Idol' fans in Amory are disappointed but proud now that the show is over

On March 24, however, perhaps the most devastating event of 2023 in Mississippi occurred as some 20 tornadoes tore through several communities in the Delta and other areas killing more than 20 people.

On that day, a confirmed EF-4 tornado touched down near Rolling Fork, destroying homes and businesses, and 20 tornadoes were reported in the Delta in the towns of not only Rolling Fork but also Black Hawk, Silver City and in the counties of Panola, Lafayette, Union, Itawamba, Chickasaw, Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe and Sharkey.

Rolling Fork tornado:Mississippi tornado live updates: At least 23 dead, including Rolling Fork damage in MS

Clarion Ledger staff members were on the scene to provide immediate coverage of the tornadoes' devastation and loss with pictures, stories and drone video. The Clarion Ledger's stories told of people’s survival, loss of homes, businesses and loved ones.

Now, more than nine months later, the Clarion ledger continues to provide coverage of the rebuilding process through photos, videos and stories that highlight progress in rebuilding, the needs of the community and how people can help.

The Clarion Ledger also continues to cover the ongoing Jackson water and sewer systems crisis and the progress being made by JXN Water and Third-Party Federal Water Administrator Ted Henifin.

Much progress was made on the city’s water and sewer systems in 2023, and the Clarion Ledger has reported every step made, but much more is left to do, and the Clarion Ledger will be there to report the progress, ask relevant questions and hold officials accountable.

Water:Henifin announces water shut offs will begin just after the new year. What you need to know

Which brings us to Jackson’s ongoing garbage crisis that last year left residents without garbage pick up for weeks as the mayor and city councilmembers sued each other over the vendor contract process and the vendor in turn sued the city.

Garbage crisis:See the latest on garbage collection options in Jackson after Monday court hearing recess

The current garbage collection contract that was the result of a judge's order is up at the end of March, and our staff will be paying attention to and reporting on the process of awarding a new contract which is in the works.

All of those stories are just some examples of the impactful work Clarion Ledger journalists do every day to help you stay informed and entertained, and we will continue to do so throughout this year.

It is what we do.

Inside Sunday’s Clarion Ledger you will see a special IMPACT section produced by USA TODAY that chronicles some of the other impactful work done by other journalists at newspapers throughout the USA TODAY network.

Check it out. You never know what might impact you.

Scott Hawkins is communities editor for the Clarion Ledger.

Greyhound, the leading provider of intercity bus transportation in North America, resumed its services out of Jackson, with two routes.

Greyhound will be located at Jackson Union Station on 300 West Capitol Street in downtown Jackson. Company officials said there are two daily routes.

The westbound route connects Jacksonians with Shreveport and Dallas while the eastbound route leads to Birmingham and Atlanta.

“Greyhound is so pleased to resume service to Jackson,” Regional Vice President for Greyhound Gilda Brewton said in a press release. “We are grateful to the Jackson Redevelopment Authority (JRA) for their invaluable support in making this possible. With the holiday season upon us, Greyhound is committed to providing the great people of Jackson and the surrounding areas with convenient and affordable bus travel options.”

The manager of Greyhound in Jackson declined to respond to questions related to the return of the service.

“Greyhound has always been integral to this country's transportation system,” Rep. Bennie Thompson said in a release. “I am proud to welcome Greyhound back to Jackson, Mississippi, as part of an affordable transportation alternative."

A few passengers, waiting for the bus to arrive, stated they were happy the buses were come back to Jackson.

Customers can purchase tickets by visiting Greyhound.com and FlixBus.com or through the Greyhound or FlixBus mobile apps.

The Clarion Ledger reached out to the company seeking comment on the discontinuation of services in Jackson, but the request went unanswered.

WLBT previously reported the company said it ceased its operations in the city last year due to "poor conditions and lack of improvement at the bus station."

WLBT also reported about a lawsuit filed in 2022 by the Jackson Redevelopment Authority stating Greyhound failed to pay more than $617,000 in holdover rent to JRA, the entity that owns Union Station.

The Clarion Ledger asked Greyhound for a statement on the lawsuit, but no comment was given. Instead, the operation provided a statement on Jackson itself.

“The partnership of JRA and Greyhound, which is now operating from a new space in Union Station, demonstrates the shared commitment to providing affordable, safe, and accessible intercity bus service. It is important to underscore that Jackson Union Station serves as a critical transit hub providing bus passengers nationwide access to thousands of big and small cities across the U.S," the comment said.

"Greyhound, being the backbone of the intercity bus network, provides the people of Jackson and surrounding communities with more extensive mobility options.”

Mississippi Clarion Ledger

Jackson City Attorney Catoria Martin submitted her resignation this week effective Jan. 12.

“For weeks, we’ve known that our City Attorney was heading to a new position with the Federal Government,” Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said in a press release issued Thursday. “The administration was proud to offer its recommendation for Attorney Martin.”

Lumumba acknowledged the role of recent spats on the council in the resignation.

“It’s no surprise that her fights on behalf of the City of Jackson attracted the likes of Washington, D.C.,” Lumumba said in the statement. “Once her appointment was official last year, she spoke with us at length about her plans. It’s with a heavy heart that we accepted her resignation, because Attorney Martin has done incredible things for the City of Jackson.”

Lumumba credited Martin for several aspects of her work.

“Through her leadership, we’ve seen the City Attorney’s Office settle more cases than ever before,” Lumumba said. “Attorney Martin was instrumental in the negotiations surrounding our Water and Sewer systems. She’s also fought diligently to help resolve numerous issues within the city. We are grateful for her service and were honored to be a part of the process that led to this appointment.”

Martin's resignation comes just one day after Jackson City Council members continued to discuss the possibility of hiring their own attorney instead of Martin. The council held another closed session during their Wednesday meeting, but Ward 6 Councilman and Council President Aaron Banks said no decision was made in that session.

Historically, the city attorney represents both the City of Jackson, as well as the city council.

But, issues between councilmembers and Martin have flared for months now, mostly surrounding an ongoing garbage collection contract fight. Specifically, the city's lawsuits with garbage company Richard's Disposal Inc. that is suing the city due to being denied a long-term contract last April. Richard's is also suing in an effort to block the city's latest request for proposals for trash pick-up for 2024. Council members have asked Martin to request the judge to dismiss the lawsuits, but they are still ongoing.

It is unclear what will happen with those cases now or who will take over now that Martin has resigned.

It's up to Lumumba to decide who will take Martin's position. Speaking at City Hall Thursday afternoon, the mayor said he doesn't have anyone yet to announce to fill the position, but he will address the matter at a later press conference.

Another resignation for the city

Martin is the third city official to resign within several months.

In September, Khalid Woods resigned — for the second time — resigned from the position of Director of the Department of Public Works, though he was never officially approved by the council. The city is still without a public works director.

That same month, Ison Harris, the director of the city's Department of Parks and Recreation, resigned as well. Abram Muhammad, the deputy director of the city's Department of Parks and Recreation, took over as director on Wednesday after being unanimously approved.

A federal judge released an order Wednesday after determining his previous ruling stands to allow Mississippi officials to move forward with creating a state-run court in part of the majority-Black capital city of Jackson.

The Capitol Complex Improvement District Court will have a judge appointed by the state supreme court chief justice and prosecutors appointed by the state attorney general.

During a Wednesday status conference, U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate and each party shared their views of the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals directive for a “final appealable order.”

The deliberation was about the Fifth Court granting a temporary administrative stay Monday, halting Mississippi officials from creating the CCID Court until Friday, at the latest. The court and parties concluded that directive came before Wingate had the opportunity to file an order.

The Wednesday order states that after conferring with each party, the court agreed that the court’s Dec. 31 decision to dismiss the NACCP's requests to block the new court is a “final appealable order.”

"This court, hearing no new argument from the Plaintiffs, again denied the Plaintiffs’ request for an injunction," the order reads.

Court hears oral arguments Dec. 19:U.S. judge to rule on appointed court in Jackson by end of year

The court order states it was in "lockstep with the State Defendants’ argument" finding the Plaintiffs' motion must be denied for four reasons:

The court also addressed the plaintiffs’ “renewed” motion for a preliminary injunction pending appeal, which asked the judge to issue an injunction to prevent Chief Justice Mike Randolph and Attorney General Lynn Fitch from making appointments to the court. Those requests were denied as well.

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - A federal appeals court has overrriden a lower judge’s ruling to deny a restraining order blocking the creation of the Capitol Complex Improvement District Court, at least until Friday.

On Sunday, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals granted an administrative stay blocking the CCID court from going into effect until noon on January 5.

The Fifth also has directed U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate to issue a “final appealable order” by noon on Wednesday.

The decision came the same day Wingate denied the NAACP’s request for a temporary restraining order blocking the CCID court from taking effect until the challenges to H.B. 1020 are fully litigated.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People filed a notice of appeal shortly after.

“The NAACP stands firm in our belief that this legislation is inherently undemocratic,” the group said in a statement. “We will continue to do everything in our power to fight for Jackson residents’ rights to have control over their own institutions and live free from state-driven discrimination.”

H.B. 1020 was passed by lawmakers in 2023. Among provisions, it created a special inferior court to preside over cases originating within the CCID.

The court would operate similar to a municipal court, with the judge being appointed by the chief justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court and the prosecutors being appointed by the Mississippi Attorney General.

Jackson is a majority-Black city, while the state leaders who are tapped to make the appointments are white.

The court was expected to take effect on January 1. As of Monday, no appointments to the court had been made.

NAACP and others filed a motion seeking a temporary restraining order on the court’s implementation last month, saying, in part, that its judge should be appointed by local elected leaders, not the state.

The group asked Wingate to issue a temporary restraining order blocking the court last week, threatening to appeal the case if a restraining order was not granted.

Wingate denied the request on December 31.

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Copyright 2023 WLBT. All rights reserved.

Water shut-offs for Jackson residents who have unpaid water bills will begin after the first of the year.

The announcement was made by federally appointed third-party water administrator Ted Henifin during a special meeting called Wednesday by the Jackson City Council.

Henifin debriefed Council members about the proposed new water rate increase he announced on Nov. 17.

"It's a blunt and terrible tool (the water shut-offs) but people need to be paying their bill," he said.

Henifin has stated previously that Jackson residents will soon have their water shut off if they have unpaid water bills, though he has refrained from saying when that would take place.

Currently, JXN Water has a water bill collection rate that varies between 55% and 60%.

Any water bill debt residents may have prior to Nov. 29, 2022 — the day Henifin and JXN Water took control of the water system — is not being collected, Henifin said, though it's unclear what will happen with that money in the future.

"Any debt prior to Nov. 29 last year we've just parked," Henifin said. "Doesn't show up on people's water bills (but) we can't get rid of it according to Mississippi law, but we can bury it in our system. … until we can ultimately figure out how we can get rid of it."

The shut-off program is going to be "very fast," Henifin said. The goal is not to allow people get to get behind on their water bills. Those who are only one month behind on their water bill can usually make it up, Henifin said, but it becomes a problem when residents are two months or more behind.

"The minute you are overdue, we're going to notify you and start the process to shut you off before you get two months," Henifin said. "It's really hard to catch back up (after that) and we just need them to keep paying on time and we'll do everything we can to make that happen."

A letter will be sent to residents who are behind on their water bills notifying them that they are behind. They will then have 10 days to pay the bill or their water will be shut-off, Henifin said. Once the resident pays, their water will be turned back on within 48 hours, though Henifin said the goal eventually will be within 12 hours.

To help, JXN Water has set up a 12-month payment plan residents can sign up for on their app and website. Also, JXN Water started an assistance program for residents who have one-time financial challenges.

"We've opened up a fund with the Mississippi Community Foundation and our representatives are empowered if you've got a particular financial struggle for one month. You might have had a hospitalization, lost a job, your car broke down. We'll help you out on those one time financial needs to make sure you stay current," Henifin said.