Latest news with #ClarionLedger
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Jackson Election Day is here: candidates, wards, polling info and what to expect
In just days, Jacksonians will return to the polls one last time to elect a new mayor and decide whether to keep or replace members of the Jackson City Council. June 3 is general election day in the capital city. The primaries and runoffs are in the books — now it's winner takes all. The candidate with the most votes wins their race, no runoffs this time. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and if you're in line by 7 p.m., you'll still be allowed to vote. Voters can find their precinct by visiting the Mississippi Secretary of State's website and entering their address and zip code. Here's everything you need to know. The race to become Jackson's mayor started with 20 candidates - plus two who were disqualified - and has been narrowed down to just six: one Democrat, one Republican and four independents. State Sen. John Horhn, the Democratic nominee, is the heavy favorite to become next mayor as Jackson has not elected a Republican or independent candidate to the position in decades. Horhn defeated incumbent Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba in the Democratic primary and runoff elections held in April. In the runoff, Horhn carried 74.77% of the vote, according to the official results certified by the Mississippi Secretary of State's office. His Republican challenger is Kenneth Gee, a Bailey Magnet High School graduate currently attending Rasmussen University, who has worked as a law enforcement officer. To say Gee faces an uphill battle in the race isn't an exaggeration. In the April 22 GOP runoff, he secured the nomination by winning 100 of the 159 total votes cast, outlasting candidate Wilfred Beal. The four independent candidates are Rodney DePriest, Zach Servis, Lillie Stewart-Robinson, and Kim Wade. Because they're not affiliated with a political party, the independents skipped the primaries and advanced straight to the general election. Five of the seven seats on the council will be up for grabs come Election Day. Two seats — Wards 4 and 6 — have already been decided. That leaves Wards 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 still up for grabs. Ward 4 Councilman Brian Grizzell retained his seat after the April 1 primary, defeating challenger Malcolm May. Grizzell is running unopposed in the general election, therefore winning the seat. It will be his second term on the council. Similarly, Lashia Brown-Thomas became the next Ward 6 councilwoman after defeating Democratic candidate Emon Thompson in the April 22 runoff. She is also running unopposed in the general election. Brown-Thomas replaces incumbent Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks, who is not running for reelection this year. More information on the candidates vying for seats on the council can be found on the Clarion Ledger website. In early January, Jackson Municipal Clerk Angela Harris confirmed to the Clarion Ledger that letters had been sent to residents whose wards may have changed due to last year's redistricting. To assist residents who are still unsure of their ward, use the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District's — the group that helped the council with the redistricting process — online tool. Residents can enter their address to check their ward. The tool is available on CMPDD's website. Gray Ouzts, a principal planner with CMPDD, previously told the Clarion Ledger the online tool is open to the public, but residents should confirm they are voting in the correct ward with the city. Residents can also check with the city to verify their polling precinct. To do so, visit Jackson City Hall or call the Municipal Clerk's Office at (601) 960-1035. Contact Charlie Drape at cdrape@ This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Everything to know before voting in Jackson for Election Day on June 3
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Jackson City Council election: What to know about the 12 candidates on the June 3 ballot
Thirty-five candidates qualified to run for Jackson City Council in January. Now, just 12 remain. Tuesday, June 3, is general election day in Jackson, and voters will decide whether to keep or replace members of the council. Five of the seven seats are up for grabs. Two seats have candidates running unopposed and, barring a major write-in campaign, those candidates are expected to win. Below is a look at the candidates who will be on the ballot in each ward, as well as their campaign finance reports that were due Tuesday, May 27. The Clarion Ledger reviewed the reports on Wednesday, May 28. Incumbent Ward 1 Councilman Ashby Foote is seeking reelection to the seat he has held since 2014. Typically a Republican, Foote chose to run as an independent this year as a way to encourage voters to participate in the April 1 Democratic mayoral primary — a contest that has historically determined Jackson's next mayor. Foote's challengers include Democratic candidate Jasmine Barnes and independent Grace Greene. All three candidates submitted the latest batch of campaign finance reports due on May 27. The reports show each candidate has raised tens-of-thousands of dollars, with Foote leading the way. Foote has raised $48,660 in contributions and has nearly $20,000 in cash on hand, according to his report. Greene reported $42,605 in contributions and $13,562.85 remaining. Barnes raised $32,521 and is entering the final stretch with just under $2,500. Ward 1 is located in Northeast Jackson, and is one of the city's most affluent neighborhoods. The ward begins as far south as LeFleur's Bluff with County Line Road and the Ross Barnett Reservoir serving as the northern boundary. Ward 1 includes neighborhoods such as Eastover, The Country Club of Jackson, Colonial Heights and Sheffield. See the Ward 1 candidate questionnaire: Jackson City Council Ward 1 election: 4 Democrats, 2 Independents running. Primary election is April 1 Incumbent Ward 2 Councilwoman Tina Clay, a Democrat, is facing off against Republican challenger Bethany Williams-Sherif. Clay is the newest member currently serving on the council, having won the Ward 2 special election in October 2024. The special election was held due to the resignation of Councilwoman Angelique Lee. Hours after her resignation, Lee ended up pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in a wide-reaching scandal that includes other elected officials such as Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks. Unlike Lee, all three have pleaded not guilty. According to her latest campaign finance report, Clay has raised over $9,000. The report shows she has spent $2,430.35 on campaign mailers from Chrome Strategies. Williams-Sherif did not submit a campaign finance report. Ward 2 covers the northern and northwestern parts of Jackson, including neighborhoods such as Presidential Hills, Woodhaven, Natchez Trace Estates and Briarwood Heights. Tougaloo College is also located in the ward. See the Ward 2 candidate questionnaire: Jackson City Council Ward 2 election: 3 candidates set to face-off. Primary is April 1 Longtime Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes, who has held the position since 1989 except from 2012-2015, is back on the ballot and will face off against independent Marques Jackson. Neither Stokes nor Jackson submitted a campaign finance report by the May 27 deadline. Ward 3 is located in the central and west parts of Jackson. It includes the neighborhoods of Georgetown, Mid-City, Virden Addition and Cottage Grove, as well as Hawkins Field Airport. See the Ward 3 candidate questionnaire: Jackson City Council Ward 3 election: 2 candidates, a Democrat and an Independent, face off. Primary set for April 1 Incumbent Ward 4 Councilman Brian Grizzell retained his seat after the Democratic April 1 primary, defeating challenger Malcolm May. Grizzell is running unopposed in the general election, therefore winning the seat. It will be his second term on the council. According to the latest campaign finance report submitted May 27, the "Committee to Re-Elect Brian Grizzell" has raised a total of $18,042 and spent $17,583.30, leaving $458.70 on hand. Ward 4 is one of the largest in the city, covering the western portion of Jackson. It extends as far north as Northside Drive, as far west as Buddy Butts Park, and south to parts of South Jackson, including Forest Hill High School. The ward includes neighborhoods such as Belair, Brookhollow Place, Cedar Hills, Oak Creek and parts of Queen-Magnolia Terrace. See the Ward 4 candidate questionnaire: Jackson City Council Ward 4 election: 2 Democrats face-off to become next councilman in April 1 primary Incumbent Ward 5 Councilman Vernon Hartley is seeking reelection for a second term after defeating two Democratic challengers, ReJohnna Brown-Mitchell and Charles Alexander, in the April 1 primary election. Now, Hartley will face independent candidate Raymond McCants III in the general election. Hartley did not submit a campaign finance report, while McCants did. McCants' report shows he has raised $1,646 while spending $1,593. A total of $1,546 of McCant's contributions came from loans from himself, while $100 came from Yolanda Bullock, who lives in Detroit, according to the report. Ward 5 is located in West Jackson with its eastern boundary being Downtown Jackson. The ward encompasses the Jackson State University campus and the Jackson Zoo, as well as neighborhoods such as College Park, Capitol Neighbors, Alta Woods, Colonial Heights and Washington Addition. See the Ward 5 candidate questionnaire: Jackson City Council Ward 5 election: Four candidates challenging for the seat. Primary election is April 1 Lashia Brown-Thomas is the next Ward 6 councilwoman after defeating Democratic candidate Emon Thompson in the April 22 runoff. She is also running unopposed in the general election and therefore has won the council seat. Brown-Thomas replaces incumbent Banks, who has been representing Ward 6 since 2017. He is not running for reelection this year. Banks is under indictment in the Jackson bribery scandal. Brown-Thomas did not file a campaign finance report. Ward 6 makes up South Jackson, including neighborhoods such as Appleridge, Briarcliff, Brookwood Estates, Pecan Acres and Windsor Forest. The ward also includes the Neighborhood Association of South Jackson. See the Ward 6 candidate questionnaire: Jackson City Council Ward 6 election: 9 Democratic candidates vying for the Ward 6 seat. Primary election is April 1 Democratic candidate Kevin Parkinson, Republican Taylor Turcotte and independent Ron Aldridge are all vying for the Ward 7 seat currently held by Council President Virgi Lindsay. In January, Lindsay announced she would not seek reelection. Parkinson defeated Democratic challenger Quint Withers in the Democratic runoff while Turcotte did not have any challengers in the Republican primaries. Aldridge advances straight to the general election as independents do not hold primaries. Turcotte did not submit a campaign finance report. Parkinson's report shows he has raised $46,417.65, while spending just over $44,800. Aldridge's report shows he has raised $14,903 while spending $14,360. Aldridge has $542.26 on hand, according to the report. In the period between April 15 and May 27, Parkinson's report shows he raised just over $5,700 and spent just over $9,900, leaving him some -$4,200 in the red. Ward 7 encompasses the eastern portion of Jackson, starting as far south as Bounds Road and as far north as Meadowbrook Road. It includes neighborhoods such as Fondren, LOHO, Belhaven Heights, Belhaven and Midtown. The ward also encompasses Downtown Jackson and the Farish Street Historic District. See the Ward 7 candidate questionnaire: Jackson City Council Ward 7 election: Five Democrats, one Republican and one Independent. Primary election set for April 1 This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Who will lead Jackson, MS, next? City Council race heads to June 3
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Baylor defensive lineman Alex Foster, 18, dies after shooting
Baylor defensive lineman Alex Foster, 18, dies after shooting Baylor defensive lineman Alex Foster has died after being shot multiple times in Greenville, Mississippi, the Washington County Coroner's Office confirmed to the Clarion Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network. He was 18. "We are heartbroken by the unexpected loss of Alex Foster, a beloved teammate, friend and a cherished part of the Baylor Family," vice president and director of athletics Mack B. Rhoades and head football coach Dave Aranda said in a joint statement on Wednesday. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Alex's family and all those who loved him." Authorities responded to a call of shots fired in the early morning of May 28 at 12:11 a.m., the Greenville Police Department confirmed to the Clarion Ledger. Officers found a male victim who had been shot multiples times in a car at the scene. He was transferred to Delta Health Center, where he died from his injuries less than an hour later. "In this time of deep sorrow, we draw strength from our faith and the unwavering love of the Baylor community," the university added in a statement. "Our immediate focus is on supporting Alex's family and his teammates through this devastating loss. Alex's memory will forever be a part of Baylor University." The 6-foot-5, 292-pound defensive lineman is a native of Greenville, Mississippi and attended St. Joseph High School, where he was a three-star recruit and the No. 13 overall recruit in Mississippi, according to 247sports. Foster received offers from multiple colleges, including Georgia Tech, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Kentucky and Texas before ultimately signing with the Baylor Bears in July 2023. He redshirted his freshman year and was set to enter his sophomore year this season. John Baker, head coach of the St. Joseph Catholic football, told the Clarion Ledger that Foster was back home in Greenville for summer break. Baker added that Foster was scheduled to return to Baylor in Waco, Texas this weekend. "He was just a great guy," Baker told the newspaper. "Real quiet, soft-spoken guy, you know. Had his head on right and was wanting to make it out. He was a good dude, man." In a follow-up posted on X, Aranda described Foster as a "beloved member of our Baylor Family." He added, "In his time at Baylor he made a long-lasting impact on all of us in the program. Our hearts are broken, and our prayers are with his family, friends and all those who loved him so deeply." The Big 12 also shared condolences, writing, "The Big 12 Conference extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Baylor football student-athlete Alex Foster. We are deeply saddened by his passing and join the entire Baylor community during this time of mourning." Contributing: Michael Chavez, Mississippi Clarion LedgerThe USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Baylor football's Alex Foster, former St. Joseph Catholic-Greenville star, dies after shooting
Alex Foster, a Baylor football defensive lineman and former St. Joseph Catholic-Greenville star, died after being shot early on May 28 in Greenville, the Washington County Coroner's Office confirmed to the Clarion Ledger. Foster was 18. Advertisement The Greenville Police Department confirmed with the Clarion Ledger that at 12:11 a.m. on May 28 it responded to a shots fired call at 1800 East Alexander St., where police found a male shot multiple times in a car. He was transferred to Delta Health Center, where he died 35 minutes later. Police did not release the name of the victim. St. Joseph Catholic-Greenville football coach John Baker said Foster was in Greenville for summer break and planned to return to the Baylor campus in Waco, Texas, this weekend. "He was just a great guy," Baker told the Clarion Ledger. "Real quiet, soft-spoken guy, you know. Had his head on right and was wanting to make it out. He was a good dude, man." Foster, a Clarion Ledger All-State first-team selection in 2023, helped St. Joseph Catholic-Greenville win the MAIS Class 4A state title in 2022 and the MAIS 3A title in 2023 while recording 80 tackles, 12 sacks, and 21 tackles for loss in 17 games. Advertisement Baylor athletics announced Foster's death with a joint statement from Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades and football coach Dave Aranda. "We are heartbroken by the unexpected passing of Alex Foster, a beloved teammate, friend and a cherished part of the Baylor family," the statement said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Alex's family and all those who loved him. In his time of deep sorrow, we draw strength from our faith and the unwavering love of the Baylor community. Our immediate focus is on supporting Alex's family and his teammates through this devastating loss." Foster was a part of the 2024 recruiting class and was a redshirt during his freshman season for the Bears. Foster was a four-star recruit according to 247Sports Composite and the No. 13 overall recruit in Mississippi. He was also listed as the highest-rated high school signee in Baylor's 2024 recruiting class. Advertisement "We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of a young life in our community," St. Joseph Catholic School-Greenville said in a social media post. "We extend our prayers and deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Alex Foster, a graduate of our school. During this time of sorrow, we stand together in faith, compassion and prayer. May God comfort all who are grieving." Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@ or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Alex Foster, former St. Joseph Catholic-Greenville football star, dies
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Memorial Day weekend protests against President Donald Trump planned in Mississippi. See where, when
Grassroots organizations are mobilizing for another series of protests, this time on Memorial Day weekend, continuing their ongoing pushback against President Donald Trump's second term. Thus far in 2025, one group labeled as the 50501 Movement has organized various protests at the Mississippi State Capitol Building: on Feb. 5; President's Day, Feb. 17; on March 4; on April 5; on April 19; and again, on May Day, May 1. During the protests, people spoke of their concerns with Trump's policies, governing style and expansion of executive authority. These protests are part of a national movement in opposition of Trump and ongoing federal cuts that DOGE is making to government agencies under Elon Musk's guidance. "This Memorial Day weekend, we stand together, peacefully but firmly, to demand a more responsible and responsive governance, and to uphold the fundamental rights and dignity of every individual," protest organizers wrote in a press release. Flyers provided to the Clarion Ledger show events are planned across the state on Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25 in Jackson, Hernando and Hattiesburg. Jackson: "Peace, Not Chaos" — 50501 Mississippi will have an event at noon on May 24 at the Mississippi State Capitol Building on 400 High Street. Organizers said this event is "to uphold the constitution and end executive overreach." Hernando: "Stand Up for America" — Indivisible DeSoto MS will have an event at 3–4 p.m. on May 24 at the DeSoto County Courthouse on 2535 Highway 51 South. "Defund our constitution from Trump. Save our democracy," organizers said. Hattiesburg: "Candlelight March" — 50501 Mississippi will have an event at 7–8:30 p.m. on May 25, beginning at the intersection of Hardy Street and East Pine Street by the Hattiesburg Centennial Monument and ending at Town Square Park. Organizers said this is "an event to honor the brave who died for our liberty." 80 days into Jackson crime initiative: Has the city seen a reduction in homicides amid gun violence? Why are people protesting in Mississippi on Memorial Day weekend? Organizers provided the following statement in full: "We are coming together to address and challenge the reckless actions of the current administration, actions that we believe have far-reaching consequences for our communities and our nation. "This is a crucial moment for us to unite our voices and collectively advocate for the principles we hold dear. We aim to shine a light on policies and decisions that undermine the well-being of the people, and to champion those individuals and groups who tirelessly strive to uplift and protect the interests of all citizens." Pam Dankins is the breaking news reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at pdankins@ This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Memorial Day weekend protests against President Donald Trump in MS
