Latest news with #ForestHillHighSchool
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Forest Hill student receives more than $10 million in scholarship offers
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Forest Hill High School senior Jayme Anderson has been accepted to more than 50 colleges and universities across the country and has received over $10 million in scholarship offers. Murrah High senior receives National Merit Scholarship According to the Jackson Public School District (JPS), Anderson is a dedicated student and active member of the Pride of Forest Hill Band. His scholarship offers include opportunities from institutions such as Stanford University, San Francisco State University, Penn State, UCLA and UC Berkeley. 'This milestone not only showcases Jayme's hard work and perseverance but also highlights the excellence we work to cultivate at USJ,' said Forest Hill Principal Torrey Hampton. 'It reflects the results of our All-Hands-On-Deck approach—where every team member plays a role in supporting scholar success.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Two Democrats will face-off to decide who will represent Ward 4 on the Jackson City Council
Two candidates are vying for the Ward 4 seat on the Jackson City Council — Incumbent Councilman Brian Grizzell and challenger Malcolm May. Both are Democrats and will face off in the April 1 primary. Since there are no Republican or Independent challengers, the winner of the primary will become the next councilman for Ward 4. 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. The Clarion Ledger contacted the Ward 4 candidates to answer questions regarding who they are, why they decided to run for office and what their positions are on issues that face Jackson. Below is a look at the answers, which have been edited for length, style and clarity. May did not send in his answers by publication time. Key dates for Jackson's election: When is the 2025 municipal election? See key dates Grizzell, 48, is the incumbent Democratic councilman for Ward 4 and is seeking his second term in office. He has several degrees, including two doctorates — one in management, the other in higher education — a Master's of Business Administration degree, a Master's of Education degree in adult education. He also received a Bachelor's of Business Administration degree with a focus on finance from Jackson State University. Why are you running?: I am seeking re-election because I have been able to accomplish a lot in this first term and I still have a lot of projects still on the table. In short, I want to see everything get done. What are issues you'd address in your ward if elected?: The most pressing issues in Ward 4 and the City of Jackson is blight. For the first time my council colleagues and I budgeted 1.3 million to tackle commercial blight. I'd like to move that same effort to tackling residential blight. I will continue what I've already started, which is fully support public safety, push a strong budget to help improve infrastructure, beautify parks, and support citizens as we work together to build stronger communities. Collaboration and strong budget management. What issue do you think is most important/needs to be solved for Jackson's future? How would you solve that?: I want Jackson to be a place that most are proud to call home. I want Jackson to be the place people desire to return. We already have the best restaurants and entertainment. We have great schools with a successful school district. We have several colleges and universities. Crime is down and the technology that my council colleagues and I, along with the administration, made possible helped in achieving this decrease. Jackson isn't perfect, but it's a great place to live and grow. We need more commercial and residential development so that we can regenerate our tax base and be more of a pull factor than a push factor for families to thrive. We need more roof tops, which means we'll have more water customers. And we need to do a better job controlling our own narrative because the media has not always been friendly in that area. Collaboration and making sure that as a councilman I do all I can to help draw Jacksonians home. Through my legislative powers, I will support the administration's efforts through legislative and budgetary efforts. I will also use my connections to help recruit more businesses and support those businesses that are already here. How would you engage with the city/mayor in a constructive manner as a council member?: Honestly, I already do. If I am upset or concerned about something I go directly to the individual that I have the concern with and try to clear the air behind closed doors. I communicate well and have the temperament necessary to stay focused on goals. I can work with anyone who is like-minded and is genuinely focused on getting the work done. I also provide constructive feedback to the administration and my council colleagues so that they know where I stand on the issues. It is important to do that! I don't play out issues in the media and maintain a professional demeanor. The Citizens do not want to see or experience discord among elected officials, so it is important to get along and stay focused on the issues that matter most. Ethics, Equity, and Social Justice govern how I operate. I maintain a line of transparency and let constituents know the issues both online and during in person town halls. I will always be able to stand by my vote. While I am not perfect, I am pleased with my record thus far. I have been able to deliver major projects for Ward 4 and I look forward to delivering more. Malcolm May did not respond to repeated attempts to answer Clarion Ledger election questions by publication time. May does not have an election website. His Facebook page calls him a candidate for Ward 4 but has not been updated since 2021. The Mississippi Today identifies him as a 68-year-old Hinds County Sheriff's deputy. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Meet the candidates running for the Ward 4 seat on the Jackson City Council
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
At forum, mayor candidates agree: Jackson water system should return to city after repairs
Former Hinds County District 2 Supervisor David Archie didn't mince words when he was asked about the Jackson Water Crisis and what steps he would take to ensure clean, reliable water for residents. "Jackson owns Jackson water and no one is coming into Jackson, Mississippi under my leadership and taking anything," Archie said. "We're going to fight, day and night, to send a clear-cut message either to the Republicans of this state or to the federal government of this country, that you don't come to Jackson, Mississippi and take anything." Archie's remarks were among 11 responses from mayoral candidates at a forum held Thursday morning at Forest Hill High School. The candidates — eight Democrats and three independents — answered questions in front of students and teachers from multiple high schools within the Jackson Public School District. While the candidates differed on how to run Jackson, the majority agreed on one point: Jackson's water system should be returned to the city once repairs are complete. Since late 2022, the city's water system has been under federal oversight following the Jackson water crisis, which left about 150,000 residents without drinkable or usable water for weeks. A court order appointed Ted Henifin, seasoned water utility professional, as the third-party water manager to oversee infrastructure repairs until 2027. He created the company JXN Water to help manage the system. Henifin's appointment followed a dispute between city and state leaders, including one between Democratic Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and Republican Governor Tate Reeves, over who should control the water system. The future of the water system remains a point of contention. Jackson leaders want the system returned to the city, but state lawmakers have attempted to pass bills that would give state officials control. Those bills, introduced in 2023 and 2024, failed to pass. Henifin threw his support behind the 2024 bill. Following the forum, the Clarion Ledger asked JXN Water if Henifin still supports a state takeover of the water system. In response, JXN Water Spokesperson Aisha Carson sent this statement: 'The governance of Jackson's water system is ultimately a decision that rests with the federal judge and policymakers. Our sole responsibility is to provide safe, reliable water service and to rehabilitate the system, which has seen historic underinvestment for decades. We diligently remain focused on that mission. Any discussions about long-term governance are best directed to the appropriate state and local officials," the statement reads. More forums: Jackson Zoo's future: move, revamp, or close? Jackson mayoral candidates weigh in "He who controls the water controls the economy," Socrates Garrett, a Democratic mayoral candidate, said during the forum. Garrett's statement underscores a central theme of the debate over Jackson's water system: who controls this vital resource holds significant power over the city's future. "It's critically important that Jackson gets control over its water and when Ted Henifin leaves here that the Jackson water plant is run and operated by Jacksonians," Garrett said. James Hopkins, a Democratic candidate and founder of nonprofit Reset Jackson, agreed, but stressed the need for a qualified replacement for Henifin. He didn't specify a name but mentioned a local resident with more than 25 years of experience running water systems similar to Jackson's. Independent Rodney DePriest and Democrat Marcus Wallace said while the water system should return to the city, it will be important in the future for city leaders to cooperate with state and federal officials for the system's long-term success. Bribery scandal: Lumumba, Owens, Banks are headed to trial for alleged role in bribery scandal. See when "I hear the voice of 'what is Jackson's, we have to protect' and I agree 100%," DePriest said. "But I also know that if we are going to have the resources that we need, it's going to be built on relationships." Lumumba presented his plan for returning control of the water system to the city, which he previously unveiled last October. His proposal calls for a two-board solution: a five-member operations board to oversee the system, alongside a 15-member community advisory board to ensure diverse representation. Independent candidate Zach Servis proposed a "public-private" partnership for managing the system. He pointed to Elisabeth, New Jersey, as an example where the city retains ownership while a private entity handles operations under strict contractual terms. "We retain ownership of the water system, but we actually let a private entity do the work, so they're held to the same standard, but we don't have to spend all of our money doing it and if they don't read the contract terms then we can terminate it (the contract)," Servis said. Two candidates, Albert Wilson and Delano Funches, said they don't believe Jackson's water is safe yet — a point Henifin and JXN Water have been working to combat for years now. In December 2022, Henifin declared Jackson's water "the most tested water in America." In response to Wilson and Funches claims, JXN Water sent this statement to the Clarion Ledger on Thursday afternoon: 'JXN Water exists outside of politics and remains solely focused on repairing and improving the water system for the people of Jackson. Water quality is not a matter of opinion — it is based on science and regulatory compliance. Our water is tested for numerous quality standards at nearly 150 points throughout the city's water distribution system bi-weekly, monthly, and quarterly and reports submitted to the Mississippi State Department of Health and the EPA confirm that the water leaving our treatment plants meets all federal and state safety standards. Our latest water quality report and monthly dashboard are publicly available online. If customers experience quality issues, we encourage them to report concerns so our field teams can respond accordingly. Misinformation about water quality does a disservice to residents who rely on accurate information to make informed decisions. Any candidate or individual seeking to understand the system's progress is encouraged to review the publicly available reports rather than making statements without full knowledge of the facts.' This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson MS mayoral candidates discuss future of city's water system
