JAC K S O N VOL 19 NO. 4 // OCTOBER 14 - 27, 2020 // SUBSCRIBE FREE FOR BREAKING NEWS AT JFPDAILY.COM
FREE PRESS MAGAZINE REPORTING TRUTH TO POWER IN MISSISSIPPI SINCE 2002
The Battle Over Voting Safety Judin, pp. 6-7
Stopping Local Evictions Crown, p 9
Frightening Fun Finds for Halloween Smith, p 21
Seth Power: Musician and Mississippi Advocate Schumann, pp 12-13
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October 14 - 27, 2020 • jfp.ms
DISCOVER OUR
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JACKSONIAN
contents October 14 - 27, 2020 Vol. 19 No. 4
Dani McIlwain
ON THE COVER Seth Power Photo courtesy Seth Power
4 Publisher’s Note 6 Talks
6 No Voting Expansion Despite anticipating crowded polling stations amid a pandemic, legislators vote against expanding voting options in Mississippi.
courtesy Dani McIlwain
10 Opinion
14 ‘Killers in Disguise’ While many Mississippians adapted to working from home following the onset of the pandemic, McIlwain joined her coworkers to staff the front lines at the clinic, barring the brief period that McIlwain herself had to quarantine at home when she contracted the coronavirus, which she overcame relatively unscathed. At one point, McIlwain managed the calendars of 18 doctors by herself. Her dedication to always perform to the best of her ability has kept her going throughout this challenging year. “I’m pretty selfmotivated and a perfectionist,” the 25-year-old says. “(On the soccer field), it’s on you to go out and do your best and play your best,” McIlwain says, and she strives to apply that same philosophy to both her current job and to nursing. “I love helping people, and I love the one-on-one contact you can have with nursing.” As a nurse, McIlwain plans to emphasize the relationship aspect of the profession, taking the treatment of a patient beyond the scope of a checklist. “I feel like sometimes, especially when people can’t have their family there, they need that relationship. They need to know they are cared for and they matter,” she says. —Kyle Hamrick
Local artist Christopher Windfield’s recently released graphic novel features a tale of discrimination and adolescent assassins.
16 Devilish Delights Browse some of the tasty, Halloween-themed goodies that businesses in the Jackson area are offering this month.
18 Events 21 shopping guide 22 Puzzle 22 Sorensen 23 astro 23 Classifieds
October 14 - 27, 2020 • jfp.ms
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rowing up, Dani McIlwain played multiple sports, including soccer, basketball and tennis. Throughout her athletic career, she underwent three knee surgeries. These experiences inspired McIlwain to pursue a career in the medical field, with plans to begin her studies in Mississippi College’s accelerated bachelor of science in nursing program come January 2021. McIlwain credits her parents for developing her drive when it comes to accomplishing her goals. After graduating high school, she attended Liberty University in Virginia, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science in December 2018. Five months later, she married her husband, Jacob, and moved to Brandon. In February of this year, McIlwain took a job as a physician scheduler with University Physicians in the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and she has used her time in the position to prepare for nursing school. “I needed to work while Jacob was finishing physical therapy school, and I knew I wanted to pursue a career in nursing,” McIlwain says. Barely a month into her new job, the COVID-19 pandemic struck Mississippi. “It was a little chaotic there for a while,” she recalls, noting that patients made appointments over the phone and were spread thin among a shrinking group of physicians.
12 Music
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publisher’s note
by Todd Stauffer, Publisher
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ast weekend, Donna Ladd was honored as the “Survivor of the Year” by the Susan G. Komen Foundation of Mississippi after her breast cancer battle these past two years. The group threw a “virtual parade” at Smith-Wills Stadium (real cars and people, but mostly Facebook Live fans), which meant decorating my car so she could ride along and give her homecoming-queen wave for the cameras. The day before, I was pushing the door open at Party City in Ridgeland to pick up balloons for the car when I read their sign that said “Mask Required—By Order of the Governor,” (or words to that effect), and it occurred to me that the sign was no longer accurate. It was Friday, Oct. 2, and the same week Gov. Tate Reeves rescinded his statewide mask mandate. Ironically, it was also the same day that the Marines
October 14 - 27, 2020 • jfp.ms
Nothing has changed about the virus or its infectious nature.
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airlifted one of the country’s leading antimask propagandists, Donald Trump, to Walter Reed hospital after he contracted COVID-19. (He, of course, blamed military families for his infection.) We’ve heard it over and over again. Masks are the best defense against the spread of the virus. They’re about helping other people as much as about helping yourself, especially cloth and non-medical masks. A team at the University of California San Francisco recently published a paper theorizing that masks might help the wearer develop an immune response because if they inhale less of the virus, they may still contract it, but remain asymptomatic. But what occurred to me when I saw that sign is that a mask mandate is pro-business. With a statewide mask mandate in place, small businesses had the advantage of being able to point to leadership in the state while protecting their clientele and employees from the spread of the virus. Without it, small businesses are forced to make the decision themselves and then enforce it— all without the clout and certainty that comes from a mandate. Nothing has changed about the virus or its infectious nature. Today, a
Mississippi State Department of Health showed 713 new cases of COVID-19 and 14 deaths. These numbers aren’t the highest they’ve been. But they’re high. I believe the reason the governor lifted the mask mandate is threefold. One, he lives in an echo chamber that says it’s “unconstitutional” to require masks in public accommodations, which is ridiculous. The Supreme Court case Jacobson v. Massachusetts and many state-level decisions have found that the government has emergency powers to address a public-health crisis, with remedies considerably more invasive than requiring protective clothing in public. Two, Reeves is just watching the hospital numbers. I think it’s a cynical leader who looks at it that way. By relaxing the mask mandate, he seems to say he’s OK with more people getting sick because of his politics as long as there are beds and ventilators available. Presumably, if hospitals are overwhelmed again as they were in August, he’ll alter course. If you were doing this with your bank account, it would be called “living paycheck to paycheck.” That’s being reactionary, not being a leader. Third, he’s following Trump around like a puppy. Trump’s anti-mask crusade doesn’t do Americans—or governors— any favors. I’d suggest getting off that bandwagon. Masks are a critical public-health tool during this pandemic. Reeves himself encourages them, although he’s afraid to require them. But doing so would help on three different levels. First, when there’s a mandate, it’s easy for everyone to know the rules. Signs in the business’ window, billboards
Photo by Arturo Rey on Unsplash
A Mask Mandate is Support for Small Business
Todd Stauffer argues that a mask mandates helps small, local businesses.
on the interstate. Simple and effective. Second, businesses can point to the mandate to support their customers and staff. Instead of forcing them to take on every Karen and Karl on their own, the mandate supports local and small business with clear rules for navigating their role—and staying afloat—during the pandemic. Third, fewer people get sick. This is particularly important in Mississippi, because a higher percentage of people are dying in Mississippi from COVID-19 complications, probably due to our population’s relative unhealthiness and our health-care system’s inadequacy and disparities. Instead of more of that same old Aw-Shucks-Mississippi-is-50th thinking, our vulnerability makes a mandate that much more essential. For instance, North Carolina has registered more than 233,000 cases of
contributors
Nate Schumann
Kayode Crown
Shaye Smith
Deputy Editor Nate Schumann loves consuming stories and engaging in various areas of “nerdom,” especially comic books and related media. He coordinated the issue and wrote the cover story on local musician Seth Power, as well as the Halloween treat roundup.
City Reporter Kayode Crown recently came to Mississippi from Nigeria where he earned a post-graduate diploma in Journalism and was a journalist for 10 years. He likes rock music and has fallen in love with the beautiful landscapes in Jackson. He wrote about eviction relief.
Editorial Assistant Shaye Smith holds a bachelor’s from the University of Mississippi in psychology and English lit and master’s degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in marriage counseling and religious education. She did the Halloween gift guide and events listings this issue.
COVID-19 and 3,799 deaths as of this writing. That’s 1% morbidity. In that same timespan, Mississippi has recorded over 105,000 cases and 3,101 deaths. That’s nearly 3% morbidity. WJTV reports that today, about 10 days after Reeves lifted the mask mandate, we’re back up to 80% capacity in our hospital’s ICUs. The solution is simple. Reeves should reinstate the mask mandate and tell people it isn’t going anywhere until the pandemic is really over. Not piecemeal, not half-baked, not trying to track “hotspots” when the State doesn’t have anything near the contract-tracing capacity that it should. What about “mah rites”? They’re intact. When you go outside, they can arrest you for not wearing pants or a skirt, right? For now, during a pandemic, the government can direct you to cover your nose and mouth when you’re inside places of public accommodation, too. You’ll need to overturn Jacobson to change that. Let’s make this happen. Wear your MAGA mask if it helps, governor. Stick with science and put some teeth in your public-health messaging. If you can’t do it to save lives in Mississippi, Gov. Reeves, then do it to support small and local businesses. Give business owners and managers tools they need to be part of the fight against the coronavirus on an equal playing field. A state mask mandate is support for business owners. Put it back in place. Todd Stauffer is president, publisher and co-owner of the Jackson Free Press.
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October 14 - 27, 2020 • jfp.ms
On November 3rd, Mississippians will have
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news,
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storytelling & re, ir tu
”The greatest form of violence is poverty; it really reflects the best of who we are as Jacksonians when we respond to people in need. In our efforts as a city to create what we see as a dignity economy, we feel it is important that we focus on areas of need such as this.”
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— Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba announcing eviction relief funds from a collaboration between City of Jackson and the Salvation Army.
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@jacksonfreepress
@jxnfreepress
ce eren rev
Expanded Voting Access Still Off Table For Mississippians by Nick Judin
October 14 - 27, 2020 • jfp.ms
After legislative leadership killed the last attempts at expanding voting access in Mississippi during the COVID-19 pandemic, lawmakers are raising alarms that failure to prevent overcrowded polling places in November could have a deadly cost.
prevented adherence to mask mandates at the polls thus far. More importantly, the size of the gatherings anticipated for a presidential election are completely incomparable to
One-Way Socially Distant Trick-orTreating Ideas
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any children spend the weeks leading up to Halloween planning the costumes they will wear to score buckets full of candy. Trick-or-treating in 2020 can still be fun—and meet social-distancing practices—by employing one of these clever ideas or by coming up with something creative on your own.
the small special elections that have taken place in 2020 already. ‘A Missed Opportunity’ A few legislators who saw the threat
of packed polling places on Election Day during a pandemic mounted one last attempt to expand voting options for Mississippians concerned about threats to their safety from the vi-
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Set up a station with individually bagged treats for children to take home so that multiple hands are not reaching into a single bowl of candy.
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Create a candy slide or shute. Many materials could be used to create a slide that is at least six feet long so that hosts distributing candy can send the candy directly into treat-or-treaters’ buckets.
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Photo by Julia Raasch on Unsplash
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Photo by Tiffany Tertipes on Unsplash
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s October unfolds, Mississippi State Sen. David Blount, D-Jackson, is watching the rising case numbers in what threatens to be the third spike in Mississippi’s COVID-19 pandemic, and he fears for the worst. In the waning days of the nearly endless 2020 legislative session, Blount was part of a last-ditch effort to expand access to absentee voting this year. His bill, aimed at reducing packed polling places in November, did not make it to the floor. Dying with it were Mississippi’s chances to challenge its reputation for the strictest laws regulating absentee voting in the nation. “To me it’s a complete no-brainer, and a total failure on behalf of the legislative leadership and Republicans,” Blount told the Jackson Free Press in a recent interview. Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson does not appear to share Blount’s concerns. “Our plan is good, our plan is safe,” he announced on Oct. 2, joining a small pool of reporters for an update on election safety. Watson used the live-streamed event to assure Mississippians that a safe election was well in hand during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, even as Gov. Tate Reeves had ended the statewide mask mandate two days before, prefacing a sharp, sudden uptick in new cases. The secretary of state described visiting a special election in Humphreys County on Aug. 4, 2020, in which all poll workers assured him that they felt safe and well protected. That election took place on the first day of the statewide mask mandate—an order that had meaningful impact on reducing the spread of coronavirus in Mississippi. Watson argued that those restrictions have never applied to polling places, nor would they on Nov. 3. Watson’s position that it is unconstitutional to require masks at the polling place is consistent with the state’s guidance throughout COVID-19. But it is unclear how much that argument has
Create a pulley system that allows hosts to place candy in a bucket for children who visit their homes and then send the bucket toward the children so that they can reap the rewards. Be sure to only place enough candy for the visitors to take with them so that multiple people are not touching the same pool of candy, and sanitize the bucket between visitors. For extra fun, add a doll or other figure to the pulley system so that it looks like a fun or spooky character is passing out the goodies. Whatever the approach, be sure to keep the activities outdoors when possible, wash your hands before touching any treats, and mask up!
VOTING policy prohibits employees from serving as witnesses in their official capacity while on duty, due in part to the potential operational impacts. The Postal Service does not prohibit an employee from serving as a witness in their personal capacity offduty, if they so choose.” Walton confirmed that a U.S. Postal Service worker could perform the role assigned to them in Mississippi state code by, for example, clocking out for their lunch break and using their personal time to witness the ballot. Blount’s bill also would have provided no-excuse early voting for all Mississippians, a solution he said would reduce crowd sizes on Election Day without even the potential for vote fraud. “You’re going to walk past a sheriff’s deputy, look eye-to-eye with a trained election worker, show your photo ID and cast your ballot,” Blount said. Reps. Shanda Yates, D-Jackson; Jansen Owen, R-Poplarville; and Kent McCarty, R-Hattiesburg, joined Blount in filing the bill, which died when the Legislature adjourned on Oct. 10. In an interview with the Jackson Free Press, Yates lamented the danger of crowded polling places as the pandemic rages. “We know that large groups of people are a bad idea, and generally not permitted in many parts of the state,” she said. “But we want to concentrate essentially all voting to one day, so that we have these large groups of people congregating and standing in line to vote at polling places. “It’s nonsensical to do that.” Yates stressed that individuals who are eligible for expanded early voting should take the opportunity as quickly as is possible. “People that are over the age of 65, who are disabled, and who are under a medical quarantine or are caring for a (quarantined) family member … those are all valid reasons.” Hygiene Theater Watson celebrated the dedication of election workers and promised dedicated hygiene protocols at all polling places on Nov. 3. “The focus is on safety and cleanliness,” Watson told the group of reporters. “You’ll see hand sanitizers, you’ll see gloves, facemasks. (We’ll be) making sure individuals do not have to share pens. You’ll see additional poll workers … to clean the machines, to clean doorknobs and high-touch surfaces.” Proper cleaning protocols are helpful in preventing touch transmission of COVID-19, a less-common route of infection. But many health experts caution that a sole focus on cleaning and sanitization can
expose individuals to droplet spread—from unmasked individuals breathing, speaking and coughing near others—which is universally believed to be the primary method of coronavirus transmission. Rutgers University Professor of Microbiology Dr. Emanuel Goldman told ABC News in late September that what he called “hygiene theater” can “change the focus from what will really protect you, and that is protecting what you breathe.” Dr. Bhagyashri Navalkele, medical director of infection prevention and control at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, explained in an Oct. 5 interview that there was little chance that proper hygiene protocols could make a venue like a polling place safe in the absence of proper mask usage, especially given long lines and large crowds. courtesy Secretary of State
rus as this year’s endless legislative session came to a close. Sen. Blount, a Jackson Democrat who worked as the communications director for former Secretary of State Eric Clark before holding office himself, was one of a group of legislators who attempted to bring up bills to provide for more ballot access outside of Election Day. “My bill would’ve done two things—it would’ve allowed any Mississippian to vote early, in person, at the courthouse, and it would’ve allowed people who were currently eligible to vote by mail to not have to get their documents notarized … which is a real onerous procedure,” Blount said in the interview. In years past, Mississippians have counted on the U.S. Postal Service to make that process easier. Mississippi State Code § 23-15-631 explicitly allows for any “United States postmaster, assistant United States postmaster, United States postal supervisor, clerk in charge of a contract postal station, or other officer having authority to administer an oath or take an acknowledgment” to serve an attesting witness for the purposes of absentee ballots. Simply put, this means that the two parts of the absentee voting process—the application for the ballot and the ballot itself, both of which require a witness “authorized to administer oath,” usually a notary, can be completed at the post office. But, in spite of the immense danger of COVID-19, USPS is pushing enforcement of a rule this year that explicitly bars postal workers from serving in this role while on the clock. David Walton, a spokesman for the United States Post Office, said the ban was written policy long preceding 2020. The Jackson Free Press obtained a Sept. 29 email to all Mississippi postmasters about the 2020 presidential elections, specifically reinforcing the policy of prohibiting postal workers from serving as witnesses for absentee ballots “in their official capacity with the Postal Service.” The email acknowledged that “some state laws specifically authorize Postal Service employees to provide a witness signature on ballot envelopes. However, performing this function is not within the scope of a postal employee’s duties and is not required by the Postal Service’s regulations.” After the interview, Walton provided a statement reflecting USPS’ official response to the enforcement of the policy. “The U.S. Postal Service’s number-one priority between now and the November election is the secure, timely delivery of the nation’s Election Mail. Postal Service
Secretary of State Michael Watson is enthusiastic about Mississippi’s plans for a hygienic election, but health experts warn that focusing on cleanliness over masks and distancing is dangerous and unlikely to prevent the spread of the virus.
“If you’re standing within six feet of someone and you don’t have a mask on, you can easily spread it to others,” Navalkele told the Jackson Free Press. At his press conference, Watson seemed content that individuals worried about catching the virus could choose to wear a mask to protect themselves. “I think individuals should make that decision on their own,” he explained. “I suggest they wear a mask just to be safe.” He also confirmed that all poll workers would be masked as well. But as reporter Ashton Pittman confirmed in the Mississippi Free Press, “poll workers may ask masked voters to momentarily remove their masks to verify their identities,” meaning it is voters who choose
to wear a mask who may, in fact, have a state mandate imposed upon them under the state’s voter-identification law. Moreover, as many experts have confirmed, the primary value of a mask is protecting others, not yourself. A mask, properly fitted over nose and mouth, eliminates droplet spread coming from an infected individual and massively reduces aerosol spread, transmitted through breathing and speaking in enclosed spaces. But a masked individual exposed to an infected, unmasked voter may still be at high risk for contracting the virus. COVID-19 may be transmitted through contact with any mucus membrane, including the eyes. “The primary mode of transmission is an unmasked sick person—symptomatic or asymptomatic—coming in and spreading their droplets around in an enclosed space,” Navalkele said. She thus confirmed that a single unmasked voter, even displaying no symptoms, could infect many others at a polling place, even those wearing masks. As part of a last ditch effort to protect voters, MSDH announced on Oct. 12 that it would provide free masks and face shields to voters over 64 and those with chronic illnesses at all county health department testing sites from now until the election. Sharp Increase in Mississippi As of press time, Mississippi’s rolling seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases is 609, a sharp and sudden increase compared to recent lows in September. The new upswing in viral transmission follows on the heels of an end to the statewide mask mandate, prompting State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs to warn on Oct. 7 that “our equilibrium is unraveling.” Already, the Mississippi State Department of Health warns of increasingly full hospitals in many of the same areas stretched thin during the summer peaks of the disease. Despite all the danger, Mississippi maintains the strictest voting requirements of any state in the U.S. Mississippi joins six other states, Texas, South Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee, New York and Indiana, in requiring excuses for absentee voting. It joins five—Kentucky, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Missouri and Connecticut—that do not allow for early voting. But many of the other states with similar restrictions, such as South Carolina, have passed legislation allowing for risk of exposure to COVID-19 to serve as an excuse for voting absentee. Missismore VOTING, p 9
October 14 - 27, 2020 • jfp.ms
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BROADBAND
PSC Accuses AT&T of ‘Spin’ on Broadband Expansion; Company Responds by Nick Judin
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elecommunications giant AT&T is challenging Northern District Public Services Commissioner Brandon Presley’s claims that it has a “pattern of submitting false data.” In an Oct. 7 letter to the Federal Communications Commission, AT&T called
are seeking a comparison of data AT&T submitted to the Universal Service Administrative Company’s High Cost Universal Broadband, or USAC HUBB, detailing service availability, with Mississippi homes that have actually received high-speed internet access. COURTESY COMMISSIONER BRANDON PRESLEY
October 14 - 27, 2020 • jfp.ms
Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley has requested a full compliance audit of AT&T’s efforts to provide internet service to rural Mississippians, alleging that the company has engaged in a “pattern of submitting false data” on service availability.
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assertions that it had provided erroneous data to a federal entity about its broadband plans “unfounded.” Cathy Carpino, AT&T’s assistant vice president and senior legal counsel, said in the letter to the FCC that AT&T “remains in compliance with its interim build milestones and will exceed its 100% build requirement by the end of this year.” She challenged the central assertions of Presley’s Sept. 29 request for an audit of the company’s Connect America Fund II, or CAF II project. Presley recently asserted that AT&T had provided bad data after receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds to expand broadband services in Mississippi. In his Sept. 29 letter to the FCC, Presley requested a full compliance audit of the telecom giant’s project to bring high-speed internet to 133,000 households and businesses in rural Mississippi, as part of CAF II. Presley and the PSC
In an interview with the Jackson Free Press on Oct. 12, Presley called Carpino’s response a “spin job,” and laid out the complaints that spurred his investigation. “We have lists of people that have contacted us that were told by AT&T—through advertisement and other means—that they had internet service (available for installation) at their house as part of the build-out, paid for by federal aid, and yet when the technician gets there, (AT&T’s) own employees tell these people, ‘we’re sorry, you don’t have service,’” Presley wrote. Carpino’s letter, however, said that “AT&T Mississippi provided the requested information and noted that the addresses on that list that it reported in USAC’s High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) portal represent 0.006 of the total locations AT&T Mississippi has reported in the HUBB and it will remove these locations from the HUBB before the end of the year.”
That number is a fraction, not a percentage. AT&T Director of Corporate Communications Jim Kimberly clarified the data in a statement to the Jackson Free Press, explaining that it equated to .6% of the entire list of over 133,000 households, not those that have actively sought the service. This is the equivalent of at least 798 instances of locations AT&T reported as covered under CAF II that are, in fact, inaccessible. Presley called AT&T’s breakdown of the numbers “meaningless” without including how many households actually applied for the service in the first place. “They claim to have 133,000 houses covered, right?” Presley told the Jackson Free Press. “That doesn’t mean 133,000 households have applied for service or are taking service. (Households applying) is where you find these addresses that are wrong. They come out to provide the service, and it’s not there.” Presley’s argument is that if not all of the 133,000 supposedly internet serviceaccessible locations have applied for connection, the number of complaints about promised service that has not happened may represent a far greater percentage of the whole than AT&T suggested in its letter to the FCC. In an Oct. 5 article for the conservative Y’all Politics blog, AT&T Mississippi President Mayo Flynt acknowledged that service availability did not perfectly translate to service adoption. “No matter the product, service, or provider, data shows that there is a sizeable gap between access to high-speed Internet and consumer adoption of those services,” he wrote. The Connect America Fund’s Phase I began in 2012, with the goal of connecting homes and businesses in Mississippi to high-speed internet services. In 2018, Flynt said the project had provided broadband access to 150,000 homes and businesses across the state. CAF II received $283,780,000 of federal funds to provide internet service of at least 10 megabits download speed and one megabit upload speed to 133,000 locations across Mississippi. In
both Carpino’s letter and a Sept. 14 statement to the Jackson Free Press, AT&T said it will meet and exceed that number by the end of the year. Presley first raised the issue with a Sept. 11 subpoena to the telecom service provider, demanding detailed information on how many of the 133,000 locations have actually requested and received broadband internet service. On Oct. 6, Kimberly provided the Jackson Free Press with the following statement on behalf of Mayo Flynt: “The data we report as part of Phase II of the Connect America Fund is already subject to strict audit and compliance measures by the federal government. We will continue to focus on doing work that matters to Mississippians by deploying high-speed infrastructure in communities across the state.” Now, both Presley and AT&T await the FCC’s response and whether the commission will force the transparency that the public service commissioner claims is lacking. Email state reporter Nick Judin at nick@jacksonfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @nickjudin.
MOST VIRAL STORIES AT JFP.MS: 1. “Mask Use Dropping Rapidly After Mississippi Mandate Ends, Dr. Dobbs Warns” by Julian Mills, Nick Judin 2. “OPINION: Southern Evangelical: Trump ‘Fits the Scriptural Definition of a Fool’” by Fred Rand 3. “OPINION: The Case for Medicinal Marijuana in Mississippi” by Rev. Dr. Marie deYoung 4. “Joe Biden and the Dixiecrats Who Helped His Career” by Ashton Pittman 5. “Lawyer in Flowood OfficerInvolved Shooting Wants Video, Answers” by Ko Bragg
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poverty
200 Jackson Families to Avoid Eviction with Assistance from City, Salvation Army by Kayode Crown
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VOTING, from page 7 they have early voting, or they at least let people vote absentee due to COVID,” he said in an interview this week. Dortch, who previously served as a Democratic representative in the Mississippi Legislature, resigned in early July to take leadership of the Mississippi ACLU, warning at that time that “our democracy and voting rights are under assault.” In the interview, Dortch explained that he had participated in attempts to expand absentee-voting access in previous years, only to be stymied by the leadership of then-Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves in the Senate. The lack of progress even in 2020
worries him, but Dortch said there is still cause for hope. “There are Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature that agree we need to expand early voting,” Dortch said. “It’s about getting leadership that’s on board,” he added. Regardless of what is to come, Mississippi, which has suffered from one of the worst outbreaks of COVID-19 per capita of any state in the nation, stands alone in its restrictions upon voters, a pattern that 2020 has done little to change. Email state reporter Nick Judin at nick@ jacksonfreepress.com.
file photo / Imani Khayyam
sippi does not. The Democracy Initiative, a progressive voting-rights organization, said in an Oct. 8 release that “Only one remaining state—Mississippi—still has in-person voting on Election Day as the only option available to all voters.” Jarvis Dortch, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, told the Jackson Free Press in an Oct. 13 interview he worried that “we’re setting things up for failure Nov. 3.” He says we are risking a superspreader event that could drive hospitalizations and deaths up in the colder winter months. “If you look at all the states we border,
Jarvis Dortch, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi and a former legislator, warns that Mississippi risks a superspreader event at the polls on Election Day.
October 14 - 27, 2020 • jfp.ms
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File Photo by Stephen Wilson
ow-income families threatened with mayor and his staff for bringing us into eviction in Jackson can receive assisthis partnership. We promise you will do tance via a $517,706 homelessnessthe best with what we have, and again this prevention grant offered by Salvation city is a great place to serve,” Lyle added. Army in partnership with the City’s Office of Housing and Community Develop‘Poverty Is The Greatest ment, Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba anForm Of Violence’ nounced Monday. ”The greatest form of violence is The initiative may help more than 200 poverty; it really reflects the best of who families avoid eviction. It began Friday as we are as Jacksonians when we respond the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown takes to people in need, in our efforts as a city an economic toll, Salvation Army Major to create what we see as a dignity econoRobert Lyle said at the event. my, we feel it is important that we focus ”In order to be helped, you have to on areas of need such as this,” Lumumba provide a court-ordered eviction notice,” said at the Monday press conference. Lyle said. “You will need to call for an ap Lumumba expressed fear that those pointment.” who need the rental-assistance program The number to call is 601-982-4881, may not benefit from it because they may not get the information about it. He and the items to bring along are a photo ID, called for the public to help. Social Security card, a lease agreement, any Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba said that a new rental-assistance program, with recent bill and the eviction notice. “Far too often, when we have a prothe City working with the Salvation Army, will help many families affected ”We realize that COVID has caused a economically by the COVID-19 pandemic. gram of this caliber, the people that are lot of grief, but we are in the greatest counin greatest need don’t have access to the try of the world and at the greatest time in history, and we Development gives the City of Jackson by taking, selecting process, meaning they are unaware,” the mayor said. know we are going to be able to make a difference because and distributing funds to local service providers. “So we are not only speaking to people who di ”COVID-19 has been a pandemic on multiple fronts, rectly face the issue of eviction, if you know a family of this partnership,” Lyle said. ”This right here will allow us to help more people, not only to the physical health of people in our community that is facing the issue of eviction, if you know someone and again it’s just a good thing for this community, and but the financial health of many people within our commu- who is less inclined to go to the Salvation Army to call it’s good to keep families together,” he added. “No one nity,” the mayor said Monday. “And so it is important that the Salvation Army, please encourage them to do so. wants to have to come home and say to their child, ‘we we have programs and partnerships as the one that we are ”Sometimes, you will find if resources are available announcing today so that we can have a holistic approach like this, many of those resources are not utilized beare moving because we can’t afford the rent.’” to all of the things that our communities are suffering from cause there are not enough people who know to call.” not only locally but nationwide.” ‘A Pandemic on Multiple Fronts’: The Salvation Army major said he appreciates the Physical and Financial Email story tips to city/county reporter Kayode Crown The Office of Housing and Community Develop- opportunity to collaborate with the City of Jackson to at kayode@jacksonfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at ment states on its website that it manages federal grant help people and pledged judicious use of the funds. @kayodecrown. ”We want to say thank you to the City and to the money the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
9
Sen. DaviD Blount
A
bsentee voting is underway now. Because state law prohibits most Mississippians from voting early or by mail, long lines at crowded polling places are likely on Election Day. It didn’t have to be this way. This will be the highest voter turnout in four years, with races for president, U.S. senator and the state flag on the ballot. All Mississippians need to be able to vote and vote safely. We need to be prepared. Instead, we have seen a complete failure to deal with Mississippi’s restrictive voting laws, even in the face of a pandemic. For years and again last week, I have proposed common-sense election reforms that most Americans enjoy: online voter registration (more than 40 states); no excuse early voting in person (more than 40 states); and restoration of suffrage after a person completes his/ her sentence (40 states). These measures have failed in Mississippi each year. This year, with COVID-19 raging, I offered two simple solutions to be prepared for Election Day: Let every Mississippi voter cast a ballot early in person (showing Voter ID as the law requires) and improve our absentee voting-bymail process for those currently eligible.
October 14 - 27, 2020 • jfp.ms
The bottom line is make a plan to vote now.
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These proposals were all rejected. If you are under 65, not disabled, not under a “physician-imposed quarantine” and not away from your home county on Election Day, you will be standing in line at the polls. You cannot vote early. You cannot vote by mail. Concern about COVID19 is not a legal excuse. Lines will be long, and people will be forced to wait. Polling places are often crowded. Gov. Tate Reeves’ most recent order prohibits group gatherings of more than 20 people indoors. And poll workers, who work 14-hour days on Election Day, are usually older. If you are a senior citizen and
Kristin Brenemen
What will Election Day look like in Mississippi on Nov. 3? Prepare Now.
Editor-in-Chief and CEO Donna Ladd Publisher & President Todd Stauffer Associate Publisher Kimberly Griffin Creative Director Kristin Brenemen REPORTERS AND WRITERS City Reporter Kayode Crown State Reporter Nick Judin State Intern Julian Mills Contributing Writers Dustin Cardon, Bryan Flynn, Alex Forbes, Jenna Gibson, Tunga Otis Torsheta Jackson, Mike McDonald, Anne B. Mckee, EDITORS AND OPERATIONS Deputy Editor Nate Schumann JFPDaily.com Editor Dustin Cardon Executive Assistant Azia Wiggins Editorial Assistant Shaye Smith Consulting Editor JoAnne Prichard Morris ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY Senior Designer Zilpha Young Contributing Photographers Seyma Bayram, Acacia Clark, Nick Judin, Imani Khayyam, Ashton Pittman, Brandon Smith
Sen. David Blounts says Mississippians should enjoy safer, “common-sense election reform” that haven’t materialized. So a plan is vital on Election Day.
choose to vote by mail from home, you must request an absentee-ballot application from your Circuit Clerk, have it notarized by a notary public, mail it in, receive your absentee ballot, have it notarized by a notary public and mail it in. Your ballot must be postmarked by Election Day to count. Mississippi is the only state in the nation that requires both the absentee application and ballot envelope to be notarized. Republicans rejected our efforts to change this procedure. Some have criticized vote-by-mail in other states (five states have entirely vote-by-mail elections). To be clear: No one in Mississippi has proposed mailing ballots to every person on the voter rolls. Republicans and Democrats know the rolls are inflated in many counties. We have proposed that when a citizen initiates the process of voting absentee by mail that the process be convenient and safe. And, clearly, demand for voteby-mail would decrease if citizens could vote early in person. In short, in Mississippi the voting process is not designed to be user-friendly or encourage participation. We have made it more difficult for citizens to vote than any other state. If we say we want “to run state government like a business,” our election officials should commit to the business tenet that the customer is always right. The voter is the customer, and she wants better customer service.
A lawsuit is pending in federal court to achieve what I proposed during the session. This would not have been necessary if the Legislature had been proactive and addressed obvious problems. Regardless of who you will vote for, none of us should want any Mississippian to have difficulty casting his or her ballot. None of us want to say “I told you so” if problems occur on Election Day. None of us prefer to have our state’s problems solved in court. The bottom line is make a plan to vote now. If you have any questions about voting, please call your Circuit Clerk today. They can answer your questions concerning absentee voting (if you qualify) and steps you need to take. Don’t wait until the last minute. It is past time for Mississippi to change our voting laws to ensure that every Mississippian can vote and vote safely in our elections. Until then, voters need to plan ahead— because their state government didn’t. Sen. David Blount represents District 29 (Hinds County) in the State Senate. Prior to being elected in 2007, he worked for 13 years for two Mississippi secretaries of state. He is vice chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus and serves on the Senate Elections Committee. This column does not necessarily reflect the views of the JFP.
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Email letters and opinion to letters@jacksonfreepress.com, fax to 601-510-9019 or mail to 125 South Congress St., Suite 1324, Jackson, Mississippi 39201. Include daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for length and clarity, as well as factchecked.
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11
Seth Power: Advocating for Mississippi and Celebrating Milestones in Life and Music by Nate Schumann
H
October 14 - 27, 2020 • jfp.ms
12
Launching a Career Based on Convictions While Power feels blessed by the feats he has been able to accomplish as a musician thus far, he remembers a time during his early days as a recording artist when choosing to write a song about a controversial issue led some people to believe he had sabotaged his own career. Shortly after graduating from Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in business in 2015, Power began working with a number of people who were deeply affected by the underlying symbolism surrounding the former Mississippi state flag that bore Confederate imagery, and who were passionate about their positions that it needed replaced. “As a whole, it was not a subject I had put much thought into, but when I was sitting down and talking to these people who
S“#ChangeMissFlag” T-shirts shortly followed. The song’s opening invokes imagery surrounding the systemic violence perpetrated by law enforcement against Black Americans across the nation, but “Free” also contains the message that people hold the power to take action in the present to change the future for the better. “I can picture the blood of my brother on the pavement. The world is crying out for you, and I am gonna save it. Yeah, we are the future, and that is the past. In the present we can change it,” the chorus starts. It continues: “And the road that we’ve chosen has been so long and dangerous. And the face of my father is filled with grief and anguish. Sometimes we forget, oh, sometimes we forget that the world is what we make it.” News stations picked up the video, but many conservatives responded negatively to the implications of the song, saying, “If you don’t like it, then leave,” Power recalls. “David and I would push back and say, ‘We live here. We’re from here. We don’t want to leave. We want to help improve (the state). We want to bring awareness and try to communicate a feeling that people legitimately have. We’re trying to recreate the human experience with music,’” Power says. “‘That’s what we’re doing. That’s what we’re called to do. So you can have whatever opinion you want, but no, we’re not going to leave. We are going to stay, and we are going to talk about these things because we want to and because we have the right to do that.’” Five years later, Power and Horton were two of many Mississippians who celebrated when the legislators voted to change the state flag back in June. “I knew that it was kind of an illadvised way to start a career, by starting with controversy, but it was a big moment for me as an artist where I (decided) that I’m going to talk about the things I’m passionate about,” Power says. “I’m not going to avoid saying things that I want to say just because I’m trying to make a living in the world of entertainment. I don’t feel like I should be muzzled just because people think my job is to simply make music.” courtesy Seth Power
is foot held in place against the accelerator of were natives to this state, had grown up in this state and had his white Toyota Tacoma, Seth Power recalled several family generations that came from this state, they the words that Nashville Songwriters Hall of told me about how it made them feel and how it seemed Famer Walt Aldridge had told him earlier that like a symbol of oppression,” Power says. day after listening to a guitar melody Power “It was a very eye-opening experience for me.” had been working on: “That sounds like a The topic continued to weigh on his mind when his wedding song.” friend David Horton, a Black hip-hop artist who goes by Along the course of the roughly four-hour drive from D. Horton, sent him a tack he received from a producer in Muscle Shoals, Ala., to his Brandon, Miss., home, the mu- Atlanta. Listening to it made Power think about the subject sician recorded himself singing song lyrics to accompany of the flag again, so he suggested he and Horton collaborate the melody. In six days he was marrying the love of his life, on a song that deconstructed these issues. Collette Usry, and he would be ready. Completing the song Agreeing, Horton began writing rap verses while the night before the ceremony, Power surprised his wife by Power independently wrote the chorus. When the pieces performing “I Do” just after their first dance, marking June were brought together in the studio, they meshed so seam15, 2019, as the single’s unofficial debut. lessly that the two recorded the entire song in under four Fast-forwarding to September of this year, Train hours. “Free” released in fall 2015, and a music video Tracks—an hour-long segment on SiriusXM’s The depicting the two artists performing the song while wearing Pulse—showcased “I Do,” Power’s first song to play on live radio in the United States. In the weeks since then, SiriusXM In the last year, Seth Power and other stations have played the track has released two albums, multiple times. and multiple radio stations “Having ‘I Do’ be picked up for the have played his single, “I Do.” radio is probably the most memorable accomplishment I’ve ever had, probably period,” Power says, emphasizing how meaningful it is for this song that holds so much significance for him and his wife to be heard by so many new listeners.
Developing as an Artist and Responding to COVID-19 Following the release of “Free,” Power released “Make it Mine,” his first single as a solo artist, in 2015. In 2017, he released a six-
Seth Power will perform an outdoor show on at The District at Eastover on Thursday, Oct. 22.
pandemic across the nation forced those plans to a halt. “There’s just such a wide array of strategies that are being used to navigate this pandemic that the world of live music is a little hazy right now, a little unclear,” Power says. “We’re really hopeful for 2021 that we’ll be able to get back on the road and hit these college shows. That is the plan, and that is the strategy, but obviously we just don’t know how that’s going to play out.” Not wanting to stagnate, Power delved deeper into producing more music, releasing an EP titled “Souvenir (Acoustic)” over the summer that features acoustic remixes of six tracks from the original album, with two bonus mixes. To keep connected with fans, the 28-year-old has increased his social-media presence, joining TikTok and livestreaming on Instagram. Recently, Power held a dual stream with Jaymes Brass, a music artist from Arkansas whom he had never met. The two got to know each other during the live-stream by exchanging stories behind their songs and performing them so that the other could give feedback. “I was a little nervous about it because … you never really know if your personalities are going to jive or not. But it actually made for a really cool interaction,” Power says. In addition to “I Do” circulating on the radio, Power has been working with local videographer J.B. Lawrence on another new development, a documentary series on the makings of “Souvenir,” which is set to release on Power’s YouTube channel later this year. Each episode of the four-part series lasts between five and seven minutes and features the musician detailing his artistic journey. “It’s called ‘Souvenir: The Last Seven Years’ because it’s about how the last seven years of my life have shaped me and formed me into the person I am to write this album and pursue this path,” Power says. “We’re going to dive into how we made the album, show scenes from being in the studio, show footage from the tour. The
last part is going to put a bow on everything and talk about the future and how I plan to evolve and progress as an artist.” Specifically, Power—an advocate for Mississippi—will offer an in-depth overview of how his experiences growing up in this state influenced him and created the body of work he has been incorporating into his craft. “I’ve never shied away from the fact that I am a Mississippian. When I go places, I am proud to be from here, and I promote us. I promote the good things about us, and I think it’s important to do that,” Power says. “It’s something that I didn’t do much when I was younger because I was insecure about some of the more negative parts of our image, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that the positives outweigh the negatives and that this is a place to be proud of, especially our musical and artistic heritage. It’s really profound.” Power and his wife, Collette, are expecting their first child in the next two weeks. Before their child is born and they become swept up in the transition of parenthood, Power has one live show scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 22, at The District at Eastover (1250 Eastover Drive) on the green space. Having the show outdoors so that people can social distance more easily was a must for the musician. “I’ve had some offers to play some inside shows, but a lot of people who come to our shows are older folks who just really love live music, but who are more high-risk. So I said no to all those shows because I feel uncomfortable promoting inside shows right now with the current environment,” Power says. The show will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will include an acoustic set of both originals and covers. For more information on Seth Power, visit sethpowermusic.com. Listen to his music on Spotify, iTunes or other musicstreaming services.
October 14 - 27, 2020 • jfp.ms
courtesy Seth Power
track EP titled “Magnolia Soul,” which he recorded at Blue Sky Studios in Jackson and co-produced alongside Jonathan Le Sueur. The album infuses elements of soul, rock, blues and pop, and features a collaboration with another local music artist, Micah Smith of Empty Atlas. In 2018, the Brandon High School graduate opensourced the music he had created up to that time, which allowed anyone to freely use his music without having to worry about copyright issues as long as they credited him for the songs. This decision, Power says, generated a lot of growth for him as an artist, as his songs started playing on radio stations in Poland and Switzerland and were collectively played 3 million times across multiple YouTube videos. The momentum that built from his music reaching a larger audience motivated Power to spend the next year developing songs for his first full-length album, “Souvenir,” which he released on Jan. 10, 2020, holding an album-release party at Duling Hall, which sold about 170 tickets. Power worked with two local producers for “Souvenir,” Micah Smith and Shell Ens, who owns Crown Studios in Fondren. Power describes the 14-track album as the culmination of his experiences with stepping out into the world and discovering who he is as a person and as an artist. “These songs are the most honest representation that I can give of that period of my life,” he told the Jackson Free Press in January. After the album’s launch, Power hit the road for his first regional mini-tour, making stops in Nashville and Knoxville, Tenn.; Asheville, N.C.; and back in Mississippi in Tupelo and Starkville before returning to Jackson for a closing show at Hal and Mal’s on Jan. 24. Power planned to tour college campuses further into the year as part of a deal organized through the National Association for College Activities, but the onset of the COVID-
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arts
‘Killers in Disguise’: A Tale of Adolescent Assassins and Rebellion by Carlton McGrone
F
courtesy Christopher Windfield
or decades now, the world has witnessed a gradual oversaturation of superheroes within various forms of media, well before the unforeseen success of the billion-dollar Marvel Cinematic Universe. This new wave of popularity within comics and general geek culture, however, has occasionally produced gems in the form of smaller, independent artists who draw upon their own culture, heritage and interests to produce remarkable narratives. These more dynamic, inclusive stories bent on championing relevant, valuable themes comprise the culmination of Jackson native Christopher Windfield’s anime-inspired comic series, “Killers in Disguise.” The first volume showcases many familiar elements within its immaculately illustrated pages. Children with superpowers uncover a sinister plot that lies just the thinly veiled surface of the assassination corporation for whom they work. The types of powers depicted range from abilities fairly standard within the superhero genre to ones that still somewhat baffle me, as I attempt to understand the full scope of these adolescent assassins’ capabilities. The main character attempts to escape the organization, suffering heavy losses along the way. It’s a classic tale of discrimination, bondage and rebel- Local artist Christopher Windfield holds a first-edition copy of his debut graphic novel, “KIDs: Killers in lion that sounds fun in practice but suffers a bit in its execu- Disguise,” which released earlier this year and is available on Amazon. tion. While reading, I stumbled upon many moments in the narrative that I wish Windfield had spent a little longer mysterious False Flag Agency organization, Windfield der why he’s killing. After years of working with FFA, his unraveling to strengthen the immersiveness of the world introduces interesting characters who play as foils to the lead handler, without much explanation, becomes suspicious he created, as in certain places the graphic novel feels like character and his handler. The protagonist’s fellow child of the organization. I feel that these character progressions a gore-fest. Nevertheless, Windfield’s impeccable art com- assassins brag about their kill counts and bicker over records would have been more effective if the development could pelled me to consume page after page. and rankings, which is telling of the types of people these have occurred across a grander stretch of content. Clearly a veteran artist with a scathing drafting hab- youngsters were groomed to be. That said, Windfield’s characters—while occasionally it, Windfield boasts an incredible skill for detailed panels Unfortunately, these details are as deep as the well of stifled by somewhat unconvincing dialogue that’s often eithat place characters in the foreground and draw less at- intrigue goes, as the volume does not explore the politics ther stilted or riddled with out-of-touch vernacular— abtention to the lack of background or environmental shots. or daily happenings within this organization further be- solutely scream of detail and intrigue. It’s plain to see the Action scenes are bombastic and sometimes downright fore the protagonist makes his explosive exit. Had the FFA amount of time and care that went into this ensemble of chilling, although the increased movebeen delved into a little more thoroughly uniquely designed supers—with the cast including one ment of the combatants sometimes leave upfront, I would have felt more con- anger-prone boy who molts into a fiery blaze and destroys the character models looking less renected to the comic’s world and have a commercial aircraft, as well as disturbing twins who skip fined than they do in more static scenes. been affected more strongly by the lead’s rope with their victim’s entrails. The personality and years In any event, Windfield’s art remains departure from the group. of abuse and neglect etched into these Black faces are rethe book’s greatest strength, making it The most prevalent issue I found markable and, at times, haunting. easy to understand why several comicwith “KIDs” is the breakneck pace of Because I found myself so drawn to these characters, book fans believed in the project enough its narrative, as the story progresses as a I do believe that “KIDs” would be heightened by presentto back it with their own wallets during series of bloody plot points that leave less ing a closer look at what makes each character unique on a the crowd-funding phase. room for development than I would have personal level. Upon finishing the first volume, I found my The effective plot also won me over, preferred. Events occur, characters react, self as confused about FFA’s purpose and the goals of their if only for how recognizable I found it, and then the scene moves on without experiments as when I was first introduced to this world. I although the storyline often fell into any time for the characters to digest the imagine, though, that Windfield has a long game in mind tropes that felt a smidgeon too comfortinformation or explore how the happen- and that many of my unanswered questions will be resolved able and well-trodden. The initial five ings may affect them. As a result, the read- in later installments of the series. pages immediately engrossed me, estab- Cover of the graphic er finds themselves not as invested in the While imperfect, “Killers in Disguise” offers an internovel’s second printing. lishing an ambiguous thriller setup as our emotional stakes that could have otherwise esting premise and exquisite art, and I can definitely foresee nameless protagonist executes his mission been more gripping. this series developing a cult following deserving of its own to assassinate the governor’s son under the Because the characters’ thoughts are local comic-con booth. I look forward to future volumes to governor’s own command. largely invisible, some plot points feel inexplicable. Only see how Windfield polishes and expands on the elements As the reader is pulled deeper into the roots of the after his 60th murder does the protagonist begin to won- introduced in this first volume.
October 14 - 27, 2020 • jfp.ms
courtesy Christopher Windfield
14
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I
n the Jackson area, rolling into October means that many of our favorite local shops are offering a number of tasty Halloweeny treats. Review the following list of a few options for you to browse to satisfy that sweet tooth.
Broad Street Baking Company & Cafe (Banner Hall, 4465 Interstate 55, Suite 101, 601-362-2900, broadstbakery.com) All month long, Broad Street offers sugar cookies and rice krispies treats that have been decorated with Halloweeninspired designs. Both snacks cost $2.75 apiece. Broad Street will also be offering Halloween cookie kits so that patrons can decorate their own cookies. Each kit costs $36 and comes with one dozen Festive sweets sugar cookies, from Broad Street four icings of dif- Baking Company. ferent colors and four ounces of sprinkles. Broad Street is open on Sundays and Mondays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday.
Nandy’s Candy (1220 E. Northside Drive, Suite 380, 601-362-9553, nandys-candy. myshopify.com) The confectioner offers a variety of treats made especially for the Halloween season, such as its popular “Halloween apples,” which are granny smith apples dipped in small-batch caramel, coated in milk chocolate, drizzled in dark and white chocolate, and then topped with sprinkles. Other goodies include chocolate in a variety of Halloween-inspired shapes, as well as festive popcorn, cookie, candy and other options. Items can be purchased either at the store’s physical location or online. Nandy’s Candy is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is closed on Sundays. Campbell’s Bakery (3013 N. State St., 601-362-4628; 111 Colony Crossing Way, Madison, 769-300-2790; campbellsbakery.ms) Campbell’s is offering iced tea cakes with fall and Halloween-inspired designs at $1.65 apiece. Additionally, the bakery will also be selling pumpkin spice latte petit
fours for $3 each. Both locations are closed on Sundays, but open on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Tuesdays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Saturdays, the Fondren location is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., while the Madison location is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Prickly Hippie (500 Highway 51, Suite F, Ridgeland; 601-910-6730; pricklyhippie.com) The Prickly Hippie is offering an assortment of Halloween Grab & Go Case Cakes that range from $65 to $75. Owner Jenni Sivils recommends that customers keep their eyes on the business’ social-media accounts or visit the physical location to browse the decorated cakes available at a given time. In addition, other treats available include “meat krispies,” which are strawberry and cherry-flavored rice krispies treats packaged to appear like raw meat; “Charlie Brown Great Pumpkin” PeaceTarts, which are homemade iced pastries that feature a combination of pumpkin, apple and butterscotch flavors; decorated sugar cookies; and psy- The Prickly Hippie offers grab-andchedelic donuts. The Prickly go case cakes. Hippie is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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La Brioche Patisserie (1200 Eastover Drive, 601-988-2299, labriochems.com) The patisserie’s October flavors include chocolate-peanut butter, Snickers and pumpkin pie. La Brioche is open from noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and is closed on Sundays. Know of other Halloween goodies in the Jackson metro? Send the tips to nate@jacksonfreepress.com.
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4 pg Block 4.375x5.5).pdf
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EVENTS
Looking for something great to do in Jackson? Visit JFPEVENTS.COM for more.
COMMUNITY
HOLIDAY
Fall Family Fun Day Oct. 23, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at Hinds Behavioral Health Services (3450 Highway 80 W.). The event features live music, food and drinks, health and prevention resources, candy, and a first-come, first-served clothing giveaway. Free admission; hbhs9.com.
Pumpkin Adventure 2020 Oct. 14-16 and 21-23, 9 a.m.-noon; Oct. 17 & 24, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum (1150 Lakeland Drive). The agriculture museum offers a family activity during the month of October. The event includes a hayride, a snack and a stop at the pumpkin patch to pick a pumpkin. Groups of 10 or more require reservations. $8 general admission (for adults and children ages 2 and up); call 601-432-4500; email msagmuseum@mdac.ms.gov; find it on Facebook.
KIDS Look and Learn with Hoot | Iggy Peck Architect Oct. 16, 10:30 a.m., at Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St.). The interactive story time returns to its original, in-person format with this month’s edition, which features “Iggy Peck Architect,” written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts. Participants experiment with building their own buildings using graph paper and collage. Pre-registration recommended to allow for enough space and art kits. For those unable to attend the in-person reading, a recording of the event can be accessed on social media and the MMA website after the event. Free admission, pre-registration recommended; call 601-960-1515; msmuseumart.org. Mississippi Children’s Museum Partners: Discovery Night Remix Oct. 18, 4-6 p.m., at Mississippi Children’s Museum (2145 Museum Blvd.). MCM supporters reinvent their signature fundraising event, bringing the theme of experimentation and innovation into the homes of their participants. Discovery kits, containing everything needed for science experiments encouraging imagination and play, are included with purchase of tickets. Adults receive a mixology kit for creating a signature cocktail. Proceeds support MCM’s literacy and STEM initiatives. $25 child, $50 adult, sponsor package prices vary; call 601-709-8971; email maryfrances@ mcm.ms; mschildrensmuseum.org.
FOOD & DRINK
October 14 - 27, 2020 • jfp.ms
Sausage Fest 2020 Oct. 17, noon-5 p.m., at Cultivation Food Hall (1200 Eastover Drive, Suite 125). Cultivation Food Hall has partnered with Country Pleasin’ Sausage to host the event celebrating National Sausage month and the fall season. The event features a variety of sausages grilling on the patio, seasonal drinks, music, a photo area, and specialty sausages served inside by the vendors. Free admission, vendors’ prices vary; call 601-487-5196; email events@cultivationfoodhall.com; find it on Facebook.
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Guns and Grub Member’s Shoot and Dinner Oct. 22, 2-10 p.m., at Providence Hill Farm (2600 Carsley Road). The farm hosts a monthly sport shooting competition and dinner. Members may bring as many guests as they like, with no guest fee. Flat rate of $30 per shooter and $55 per meal. Meal prices subject to change. Price of meal includes open bar. Guest are requested to RSVP at least two days prior to event. $30 shooting fee, $55 dinner (meal price subject to change); call 601-720-6616; email clubhouse@ providencehillfarm.com; find it on Facebook.
SPORTS & WELLNESS African Dance Fitness Class Oct. 17, 10-10:30 a.m., at Old Trace Park (304 Highway 51, Ridgeland). Niketa Pechan leads the fitness class featuring Kukuwa African Dance. Participants are invited to stay after the 30-minute class for a dance party. All fitness levels welcome. Zoom links available for those wishing to participate online. $8 class; call 786-603-1748; email niketapechan@gmail.com; Eventbrite.
Museum After Hours | Halloween on the Green Oct. 15, 6-10 p.m., at Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St.). The art museum hosts a Halloween-themed event, which features a drawing challenge during the month of October on the MMA Facebook page, Trick-or-Treat Trivia, spooky gallery tours, themed cocktails, and an outdoor, socially distanced screening of “The Wizard of Oz.” Pre-registration requested. Costumes encouraged. Masks required. Free admission; call 601-960-1515; msmuseumart.org. Halloween Swamp Bash Oct. 23, noon-11 p.m., at Elton Swamp (1200 Elton Road E.). Elton Swamp ATV/SXS Park hosts the Halloween Swamp Bash. The event includes a haunted trail ride, costume contests, prizes for the best decorated campsite, a bonfire and trunk-or-treat for the kids. Kids 12 and under get in free, unless operating their own bike. Entry prices are per person. No refunds, no exceptions. Prices subject to change. $25 per day, $50 for weekend, $30 RV site/night, $10 primitive/weekend; call 601-919-6045; email eltonswamp@gmail.com; eltonswamp.com. Rocky Horror Picture Show Oct. 23, 9 p.m., at Highland Village Shopping Center (4500 Interstate 55 N. Frontage Road). Highland Village presents its third-annual Rocky Horror Picture Show experience. Ticket information and details release closer to event date. Admission TBA; call 601-982-5861; email highlandvillage@wsdevelopment.com; find it on Facebook. Fall Festival Oct. 24, noon-8 p.m., at Brandon Amphitheater (Boyce Thompson Drive, Brandon). The city of Brandon hosts the festival featuring a cornhole tournament, pumpkin carving contest, car show, cake walk, hayrides, games, candy and more. Tickets may be purchased online or at the gate. Additional fees may apply for activities and contests. $5 general admission, free for children 10 and under; call 601-825-5021; find it on Facebook. Haunted Hayride Oct. 24, 5-8:30 p.m., at Mississippi Horse Rescue (184 Twelve Oaks Road, Canton). The Halloween-themed event features a haunted hayride, “trunk-or-treat” in their “spooky” stalls, and the chance to see the horses in their Halloween costumes. To-go chicken plates grilled by Grills of Mississippi are available for $10. $5 admission, kids under 10 free, $10 chicken plate; call 601-201-8522; email rescuemshorses@gmail.com; find it on Facebook.
Let Me Adjust My Crown II: Women’s Health Edition Oct. 23, 6-9 p.m., Virtual. The EmpowHER Podcast with Krississippi hosts its second virtual event, an evening of networking, education on women’s health, beauty demonstrations and more. Free general admission, $5, $15, $25 sponsorships available; email empowerherpodcast@gmail.com; Eventbrite. Reggae Yoga Vibration Oct. 25, 5-6 p.m., at Old Trace Park (304 Highway 51, Ridgeland). Niketa Pechan, of Golden Aura Counseling and Wellness, leads a class fusing yoga with reggae music. The class explores the concepts of self-liberation, strength, unity and love. The class is also offered via live stream, through Zoom. Link available upon request. $10 class; call 786-603-1748; email niketapechan@gmail.com; Eventbrite.
STAGE & SCREEN Events at Chuckles Comedy House Jackson (6479 Ridgewood Court Drive) • Melissa & Daddazz Oct. 16-17, 7:30 p.m. & 10 p.m. The local comedy club welcomes the comedic sketch team and real-life couple who made their name on Facebook. VIP ticketes include premium parking and seating. $22 general admission, $50 VIP; call 769-257-5467; jackson.chucklescomedyhouse.com. • Earthquake Oct. 23-24, 7:30 p.m. & 10 p.m., Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m. The local comedy club welcomes the comedian, actor and voice-artist known for performances on BET’s Comic View, HBO’s Def Comedy Jam, and HBO’s One Night Stand. $32.50 general admission, $50 VIP; jackson.chucklescomedyhouse.com.
CONCERTS & FESTIVALS Events at Martin’s Downtown (214 S. State St.) • Strung Like a Horse Oct. 16, 10 p.m. The local bar and music venue presents American band Strung Like A Horse. Door opens 9 p.m. Ages 18 and up. Admission TBA; call 601354-9712; find it on Facebook. • The Jarekus Singleton Band Oct. 17, 9 p.m. The Mississippi-born modern blues artist. Admission TBA; call 601-354-9712. Renaissance Sunday Music Series Oct. 18, Oct. 25, 2-5 p.m., at Renaissance at Colony Park (1000 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland). The local shopping and dining destination presents the series of outdoor concerts from local musicians. Participants are invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets and social distance on the green space while enjoying the music. No coolers allowed. Refreshments are available for purchase from the nearby Renaissance restaurants. Free admission, food and drink prices vary; call 601-519-0900; find it on Facebook. Seth Power – Acoustic Oct. 22, 6-8 p.m., at The District at Eastover (1250 Eastover Drive). The Brandon-native singer-songwriter performs an outdoors acoustic set on the Green. Social distancing protocols apply. Free admission; call 601914-0800; email abbey@districtateastover.com. John Ford Oct. 22, 6-9 p.m., at The Iron Horse Grill (320 W .Pearl St.). The local restaurant and bar welcomes the musician playing the blues of the 1920s and ‘30s. Free admission, food and drink prices vary; call 601-398-0151; email info@theironhorsegrill.com; find it on Facebook.
Gandhi’s Gun / Days To Come Oct. 22, 7 p.m., at Pop’s Saloon (2636 Gallatin St.). The two touring rock bands perform. $10 general admission; call 601-961-4747; find it on Facebook.
LITERARY Author Conversation with Aimee Nezhukumatathil and Catherine Pierce Oct. 15, noon1 p.m., Facebook Live (4465 Interstate 55 N.). Authors Aimee Nezhukumatathil and Catherine Pierce join Lemuria Books for a conversation via Facebook Live. Both authors’ books are available for purchase at lemuriabooks.com. Free online discussion, $16-$25 books available to purchase; call 601-366-7619; email lemuria@lemuriabooks.com; find it on Facebook.
CREATIVE CLASSES Metal Clay Class with Lana Stamper Oct. 17, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at Craftsmen’s Guild of MS (950 Rice Road, Ridgeland). Jewelry artist Lana Stamper leads a class in the exploration of the use of metal clay to craft jewelry. Participants create a pair of heart-shaped earrings and a heart pendant with a bail. Pieces will be completed and ready to wear at the end of the class. No previous experience required. $180 class fee and materials; call 601-856-7546; email director@mscrafts.org.
BE THE CHANGE RUNable $5 5k for First Responders Oct. 15, 6-8 p.m., at Outback Steakhouse (5286 Park Way, Flowood). The “no pressure” 5k benefits a different local cause each month, with this month’s proceeds going to First Responders of Mississippi. No pre-registration required. Family and dog friendly run. $5 fee; email chris@runable.life; find it on Facebook. 6th Annual Mercy House Golf tournament Oct. 23, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at Bay Pointe Resort & Golf Club (800 Bay Pointe Drive, Brandon). The golf tournament benefits the organization helping overcome drug and alcohol addiction. Complimentary refreshments and lunch are served. Cash prizes. $100 single entry, $400 team of four, $125 single hole sponsor, $250 dual sponsor, $500 special team sponsor; call 601-213-8536; find it on Facebook. 9th Annual Laps for Little Ones 5k and Fun Run Oct. 24, 8-11 a.m., at Madison Healthplex Performance Center (501 Baptist Drive, Madison). The Little Lighthouse hosts their 9th annual Laps for Little Ones running event. Per the “Greatest Show on Earth” theme, participants are encouraged to wear non-scary circusthemed costumes and join in. Safety guidelines followed. $35 5k, $35 virtual, $20 LLH alumni, free for current LLH students and sponsors’ guests, various levels of sponsorship available; call 601-956-6131; email tammy@llhms.org; thelittle-light-house.networkforgood.com. Mississippi’s Virtual Walk for Diabetes Oct. 24, 10-11 a.m., Virtual. The Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi holds its first virtual walk. Participants have the month of October to raise funds, walk the route of their choosing, and post pictures to social media tagging the DFM. On Oct. 24, the DFM walks with the friends on Facebook Live. Free entry, donations appreciated; call 601-9577878; email msdiabetes@msdiabetes.org.
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.
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SHOPPING
Frightening Finds
F
or anyone feeling festive this spooky season, the Jackson metro has your back. Many local businesses have Halloween-themed items on sale that you can use to decorate your home or office, or to give to family, friends or coworkers. Browse the selection below. “Bumpy Pumpkin” Painting $35, The Cupboard
Large Bronzed Pumpkin $44.95, The Olive Branch
“Get Wicked” Witch’s Hat $20, Impromptu Gift Company
“Pumpkintown” Children’s Book $10.99, Mississippi Museum of Art
Halloween-Themed Novelty Cups $8.50 per sleeve, Smitten Gift Boutique Decorative Sheaf of Wheat $29.95, The Olive Branch Spooky Spider Rings $6, Impromptu Gift Company Jack-o-Lantern Bracelet $4.50, Impromptu Gift Company
Rustic Pumpkin $36.95, The Cupboard
Jack-o-Lantern Trickor-Treat Bucket $9, Smitten Gift Boutique
Striped Dress with Pumpkin Appliques $54, Smitten Gift Boutique Boy’s White Shirt with Embroidered Pumpkin $30, Smitten Gift Boutique
Fondren Restaurant Week Special
Philly Cheese Fries 9.50 + Tax
Fall Leaves Wreath $60, The Commissary
Quill Ornaments $16 apiece, Mississippi Museum of Art
“The Scream” Finger Puppets $6.50 apiece, Mississippi Museum of Art
Skull Shot Glasses Set/4 $14, Mississippi Museum of Art
Where 2 Shop
Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St., 601-9601515, msmuseumart.org); The Cupboard (300 E. College St., Clinton, 601-924-5245, thecupboardgifts.com); The Olive Branch (449 US Highway 80, Clinton, 601-924-7684, theobranch.com); The Commissary (1000 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 9011, Ridgeland, 601-366-5577, www.oldetymecommissary.com); Smitten Gift Boutique (207 W. Jackson St., Suite E, Ridgeland, 601-856-1655, SmittenGiftBoutique); The Pine Cone (500 US Highway 51, Ridgeland, 601-7131421, pineconejackson); Impromptu Gift Company (1029 US Highway 51, Madison, 601-853-0332, shopimpromptu)
MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 730 Lakeland Dr. Jackson, MS | 601-366-6033 | Sun-Thurs: 11am - 10pm, Fri-Sat: 11am - 11pm We Deliver For Catering Orders Fondren / Belhaven / UMC area
Best of Jackson 2018 Best Place For Hummus-Winner Best Vegetarian-Winner Best Meal Under $10-Finalist Best Place For Healthy Food-Finalist
October 14 - 27, 2020 • jfp.ms
“Harvest Blessings” Tea Towel $9.95, The Pine Cone
by Shaye Smith
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Last Weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Answers 48 Figure on Foxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;First Responders Liveâ&#x20AC;?, e.g. 49 â&#x20AC;&#x153;... and Bingo was his ___â&#x20AC;? 51 Remove the rind from 55 Durational patterns in music 60 Gallery showing 61 And your secret ingredient is ... 64 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why would this even happen?!â&#x20AC;? cry 65 â&#x20AC;&#x153;___ kleine Nachtmusikâ&#x20AC;? 66 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Red Rocksâ&#x20AC;? city of Arizona 67 Stereotypically Canadian interjections 68 Those things, in Tijuana 69 Setting of Huluâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shrillâ&#x20AC;?
BY MATT JONES
33 Prepped 34 Brian who produced several U2 albums 35 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aw, shoot!â&#x20AC;? 37 Cautionary connector 39 Head boss 40 State tree of Massachusetts 41 Sewer rodent 44 Fill with fury 45 Overtly enthusiastic 47 Made, like cotton candy 50 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Well, gollyâ&#x20AC;?
52 ___ forth 53 Kitchen tool for potatoes 54 Chopin practice piece 56 3-D scans 57 College in New Rochelle, N.Y. 58 Pool props 59 City pollution 62 Suffix for a particle 63 Photographer Goldin 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 #943.
Down
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Secret Ingredientâ&#x20AC;? --time to rack your brain. Across
1 American realist art school 7 Former â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tonight Showâ&#x20AC;? host Jack 11 â&#x20AC;&#x153;What Do You Do With ___ in English?â&#x20AC;? (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Avenue Qâ&#x20AC;? song) 14 BLAT ingredient 15 Entrâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;___ (play interlude) 16 Carson Dalyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s old MTV show 17 Get a message across 19 Day of the week Uranus was discovered (abbr.) 20 Location of Ball State University 22 Future viewer
23 Farm habitats 24 Not worth a ___ (without value) 27 Classic (and, today, problematic) comic strip character Andy 31 Peevish mood 32 Went on an unfriending spree, maybe 36 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Old MacDonaldâ&#x20AC;? sounds 38 Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s equal to the sum of the two before it 42 Made up (for) 43 â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Streetcar Named Desireâ&#x20AC;? shout 44 Sea eagles 46 Leaves town
1 Gp. that keeps planes from hitting each other 2 The Great Lakesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ___ Canals 3 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let me think ...â&#x20AC;? 4 â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Strangerâ&#x20AC;? author 5 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Can you carry ___?â&#x20AC;? 6 Present time, poetically 7 Running speed 8 Trendy berry that will probably outlive its popularity thanks to crosswords 9 Fax cover sheet abbr. 10 Oboists need them 11 Like some goals 12 Sultanate on the South China Sea 13 Oriolesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; div. 18 â&#x20AC;&#x153;If memory serves,â&#x20AC;? in text shorthand 21 â&#x20AC;&#x153;___, Mario!â&#x20AC;? (Nintendo catchphrase) 24 Abbr. on a sunscreen bottle 25 Yes, to Pierre 26 Snopes debunks them 28 Multiple-choice question choices, perhaps 29 ___ gow poker 30 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Choppedâ&#x20AC;? props
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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
â&#x20AC;&#x153;You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t learn anything when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to look like the smartest person in the room,â&#x20AC;? writes author Barbara Kingsolver. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a useful message for you right now. Why? Because you will soon be exposed to teachings that could change your life for the better. And if you hope to be fully available for those teachings, you must be extra receptive and curious and open-mindedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;which means you shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t try to seem like you already know everything you need to know.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve decided not to use quotes by famous writers whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve endorsed bigoted ideas. In the future, my horoscopes wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mention the work of T. S. Eliot, Roald Dahl, V. S. Naipaul, Edith Wharton, Kingsley Amis, H. P. Lovecraft, Flannery Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor, Rudyard Kipling, and Louis-Ferdinand Celine. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sorry to see them go, because Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned a lot from some of them. And I understand that many were reflecting attitudes that were widespread in their era and milieu. But as Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve deepened my commitment to fighting prejudice, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come to the conclusion that I personally donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to engage with past perpetrators. Now, in accordance with current astrological omens, I invite you to take an inventory of your own relationship with bigoted influencesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and consider making some shifts in your behavior. (More info: tinyurl.com/ BigotedAuthors1 and tinyurl.com/BigotedAuthors2)
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
Capricorn chemist Tu YouYou doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a medical degree or PhD. Yet she discovered a treatment for malaria that has saved millions of lives. The drug was derived from an ancient herbal medicine that she spent years tracking down. In part because of her lack of credentials, she remained virtually unsung from the time she helped come up with the cure in 1977 until she won a Nobel Prize in 2015. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most unsung about your accomplishments, Capricorn? Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a much better chance than usual that it will finally be appreciated in the coming months.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Luck is what happens to you when fate gets tired of waiting,â&#x20AC;? says author Gregory David Roberts. If thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true, I expect that a surge of luck will flow your way soon. According to my astrological analysis, fate has grown impatient waiting for you to take the actions that would launch your life storyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next chapter. Hopefully, a series of propitious flukes will precipitate the postponed but necessary transformations. My advice? Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t question the unexpected perks. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get in their way. Allow them to work their magic.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
Have you formulated wily plans and crafty maneuvers to help you navigate through the labyrinthine tests and trials up ahead? I hope so. If you hope to solve the dicey riddles and elude the deceptive temptations, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need to use one of your best old tricksâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and come up with a new trick, as well. But please keep this important caveat in mind: To succeed, you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily have to break the rules. It may be sufficient merely to make the rules more supple and flexible.
ARIES (March 21-April 19):
Would you be willing to meditate on how you might become more skilled in the arts of intimacy? Would you consider reading books and websites that offer guidance about strategies for being the best partner and ally you can be? Are you receptive to becoming more devoted to practicing empathy and deep listening? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not saying youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re deficient in these matters, nor am I implying that
you need to improve your mastery of them any more than the rest of us. I simply want you to know that now is an especially favorable time for you to make progress.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
Entre chien et loup is a French idiom that literally means â&#x20AC;&#x153;between dog and wolf.â&#x20AC;? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s used to describe twilight or dusk, when the light is faint and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tough to distinguish between a dog and a wolf. But it may also suggest a situation that is a blend of the familiar and the unknown, or even a moment when whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ordinary and routine is becoming unruly or wild. Entre chien et loup suggests an intermediary state thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unpredictable or beyond our ability to define. In accordance with astrological omens, I propose you regard it as one of your main themes for now. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fight it; enjoy it! Thrive on it!
GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
For 34 years, the beloved American TV personality Mr. Rogers did a show for children. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s now widely acknowledged as having been a powerful teacher of goodness and morality. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fun fact: His actual middle name was â&#x20AC;&#x153;McFeely.â&#x20AC;? I propose that you use that as a nickname for yourself. If McFeely doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite appeal to you, maybe try â&#x20AC;&#x153;Feel Maestroâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;Emotion Adeptâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sensitivity Genius.â&#x20AC;? Doing so might help inspire you to fulfill your astrological assignment in the coming weeks, which is to allow yourself to experience more deep feelings than usualâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and thereby enhance your heart intelligence. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crucial! In the coming weeks, your head intelligence needs your heart intelligence to be working at peak capacity.
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CANCER (June 21-July 22):
CLOG-FREE GUT TERS
A blogger named Dr.LoveLlama writes, â&#x20AC;&#x153;You may think I am walking around the house with a blanket around my shoulders because I am cold, but in fact the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;blanketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is my cloak and I am on a fantasy adventure.â&#x20AC;? I approve of such behavior during our ongoing struggles with COVID-19, and I especially recommend it to you in the coming days. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be wise to supercharge your imagination, giving it permission to dream up heroic adventures and epic exploits that you may or may not actually undertake someday. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to become braver and more playful in the inner realms.
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LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
According to author Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The body has its own way of knowing, a knowing that has little to do with logic, and much to do with truth.â&#x20AC;? I recommend that you meditate on that perspective. Make it your keynote. Your physical organism always has wisdom to impart, and you can always benefit from tuning in to itâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s especially important for you right now. So let me ask you: How much skill do you have in listening to what your body tells you? How receptive are you to its unique and sometimes subtle forms of expression? I hope youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll enhance your ability to commune with it during the next four weeks.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
In his fictional memoir Running in the Family, Virgo author Michael Ondaatje returns to Sri Lanka, the land where he spent his childhood, after many years away. At one point he enthuses that he would sometimes wake up in the morning and â&#x20AC;&#x153;just smell things for the whole day.â&#x20AC;? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love for you to try a similar experiment, Virgo: Treat yourself to a festival of aromas. Give yourself freely to consorting with the sensual joy of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many scents. Does that sound frivolous? I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think it is. I believe it would have a deeply calming and grounding effect on you. It would anchor you more thoroughly in the here and now of your actual life, and inspire you to shed any fantasies that you should be different from who you are.
Homework: What belief would you be willing to change your mind about if offered convincing counter-evidence? FreeWillAstrology.com
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â&#x20AC;&#x153;The hardest thing you will ever do is trust yourself,â&#x20AC;? says Libran journalist Barbara Walters. Really? I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think so. In my experience, the hardest thing to do is to consistently treat ourselves with the loving care we need to be mentally and physically healthy. But I do acknowledge that trusting ourselves is also an iffy task for many of us. And yet thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s often because we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t habitually give ourselves the loving care we need to be healthy. How can we trust ourselves if we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t put in the work necessary to ensure our vitality? But hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the good news, Libra: In the coming weeks, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re likely to be extra motivated and intuitively astute whenever you improve the way you nurture yourself.
23
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