http://www.wjtv.com en bbrown@wjtv.com Copyright 2007 2007-08-15T21:52:00+00:00 http://www.wjtv.com/gulfcoastwest/jtv/Blogs.html Mississippi voters need to turnout to voice their opinions yet again!On August the 7th, voters across the state went to the polls and cast their ballots in several state and county races. This was the primary election for the republican and democratic parties. But under Mississippi law, a candidate must earn 50-percent plus one vote to win his or her party’s nomination. There are several races that remain undecided for each party. Please take time on August 28th to return to the polls and finish your job! Voter turnout for this runoff election will be must less than on August 7th. This means your vote will count even more! Polls open at 7am and close at 7pm! Please support the party of your choice! More importantly, please MAKE A CHOICE! Tell me what you think. 2007-08-15T20:52:00+00:00 http://www.wjtv.com/gulfcoastwest/jtv/Blogs.html The Mississippi Supreme Court says football players in North Mississippi can return to the practice field.     The Mississippi Supreme Court has overturned a judge’s order that banned schools in several North Mississippi counties from holding outdoor activities during certain hours because of the extreme heat. Five school districts asked the high court to change the order. Thursday Chancellor Mitchell Lundy of Grenada County stopped all outdoor football, volleyball and band practices. His order also prohibited recesses for elementary school students and outdoor activities for community college students between the hours of 9am until 7pm. Friday school systems in DeSoto County, Panola County, Senatobia, Montgomery County, Winona and Water Valley asked the Supreme Court to overturn the order. The school districts were joined by the Mississippi High School Activities Association and the Mississippi Private School Association. In it’s ruling, the Mississippi Supreme Court pointed out that no one petitioned the judge to ban the practices. So why did the judge ban the practices? Was he trying to protect children from the heat? How could anyone stop the mighty South Panola football team from practicing? Tell me what you think. 2007-08-10T20:22:00+00:00 http://www.wjtv.com/gulfcoastwest/jtv/Blogs.html It only took the Mississippi Department of Human Services about two weeks to answer WJTV’s questions. Now you judge whether you agree with their decision.Two weeks ago, a Lincoln County woman gave birth to a child, then stuck the newborn in a closet. The woman was charged with child abuse and neglect. The Mississippi Department of Human Services took custody of the baby. WJTV investigated and found out the mother also had a two year-old child. WJTV immediately asked DHS a series of questions about both children. Today (July 30th), 10 days after possing the questions, Don Taylor, the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, responded to some of our questions. According to Mr. Taylor, the baby is with a relative rather than in a foster home to cause less “trauma” to the child. Taylor goes on to say the mother in question is allowed supervised visits. Taylor says the two year-old c 2007-07-30T21:10:01+00:00 http://www.wjtv.com/gulfcoastwest/jtv/Blogs.html It only took the Mississippi Department of Human Services about two weeks to answer WJTV’s questions. Now you judge whether you agree with their decision.Two weeks ago, a Lincoln County woman gave birth to a child, then stuck the newborn in a closet. The woman was charged with child abuse and neglect. The Mississippi Department of Human Services took custody of the baby. WJTV investigated and found out the mother also had a two year-old child. WJTV immediately asked DHS a series of questions about both children. Today (July 30th), 10 days after possing the questions, Don Taylor, the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, responded to some of our questions. According to Mr. Taylor, the baby is with a relative rather than in a foster home to cause less “trauma” to the child. Taylor goes on to say the mother in question is allowed supervised visits. Taylor says the two year-old child is currently with another relative awaiting a judge’s decision. Tell me what you think. 2007-07-30T21:10:00+00:00 http://www.wjtv.com/gulfcoastwest/jtv/Blogs.html It only took the Mississippi Department of Human Services about two weeks to answer WJTV’s questions. Now you judge whether you agree with their decision.Two weeks ago, a Lincoln County woman gave birth to a child, then stuck the newborn in a closet. The woman was charged with child abuse and neglect. The Mississippi Department of Human Services took custody of the baby. WJTV investigated and found out the mother also had a two year-old child. WJTV immediately asked DHS a series of questions about both children. Today (July 30th), 10 days after possing the questions, Don Taylor, the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, responded to some of our questions. According to Mr. Taylor, the baby is with a relative rather than in a foster home to cause less “trauma” to the child. Taylor goes on to say the mother in question is allowed supervised visits. Taylor says the two year-old child is currently with another relative awaiting a judge’s decision. Tell me what you think. 2007-07-30T21:10:00+00:00 http://www.wjtv.com/gulfcoastwest/jtv/Blogs.html A woman gives birth, then puts baby in the closet. Bad enough but why would DHS give that baby back to the family? Last week a Lincoln County woman secretly gave birth to a child then stuck the newborn in a closet. The mother was taken to the hospital for treatment. She later admitted giving birth and told officials where she put the baby. The baby was found alive and is doing well. The mother was later charged with child abuse and neglect. Now this story gets even stranger. The child is put into the custody of the Mississippi Department of Human Services. That agency then gives the baby to another family member. The mother in question still has custody of her two year-old child. WJTV asked DHS a series of questions about this case. Did the agency investigate whether the woman’s other child was in danger? Did the agency place any visitation limitations on the mother? Who was the person that gave final approval to allow this baby to be placed back into this family’s care? So far, a DHS spokesperson tells WJTV only one person can answer our questions and he is on the coast in meetings. That was Friday, July 20th. As of Tuesday, July 24th, WJTV still has not received any answers to our questions. WJTV understands Mississippi taxpayers supply this person with a cell phone. DHS will not provide WJTV with that number so we can ask this person our questions. We will keep trying to get someone to answer these questions and when we do, we’ll be sure to pass the answers on to you. I’ve been in some long meetings but one that lasts five days? Tell me what you think. 2007-07-24T20:54:00+00:00 http://www.wjtv.com/gulfcoastwest/jtv/Blogs.html Nationalist Richard Barrett demands a retraction from WJTV. I’ll tell you why he won’t get it!News Channel 12’s Carole Carr recently produced a very nice story about the death of Charles Tisdale. The story centered around people leaving messages in memory of Mr. Tisdale. Nationalist Richard Barrett was one of the people to leave a message. Carole Carr mentioned that fact in her story. Ms. Carr used the following statement in that story: “...BARRETT IS KNOWN FOR HIS AFFILIATION WITH THE KLAN…“ Mr. Barrett called me and demanded we do a retraction. Here is why I do not believe we owe Mr. Barrett a retraction. The statement Ms. Carr made is a fact. Mr. Barrett chose to affiliate with various Klan members over the years. Here are a couple of examples: 1) Mr. Barrett publicly supported Edgar Ray Killen before, during and after his trial. Mr. Killen was convicted for his role in three Klan murders. 2) Mr. Barrett also supported James Ford Seale before, during and after his trial. Mr. Seale was convicted for his role in two Klan murders. Mr. Barrett’s support for these two men was VERY public. He not only chose to affiliate with these Klan members, he chose to make those affiliations VERY public. WJTV did not say Mr. Barrett was a member of the Klan, we only reported he was affiliated with the Klan. Now tell me what you think! 2007-07-19T21:38:00+00:00 http://www.wjtv.com/gulfcoastwest/jtv/Blogs.html Plenty of “Big Stories” in Jackson recently.  Give me your thoughts of our coverage.A Hinds County jury finds Jackson Mayor Frank Melton “Not Guilty.“ Three Madison County deputies are shot during a standoff. A truck fire closes Interstate 55. All this in just the last week. Tell me what you liked and didn’t like about WJTV’s coverage. 2007-05-04T14:07:00+00:00