MLK Day in Mississippi.
This is BB King

A lot of folks around these parts have vivid recollections of the plane crash that claimed the heart and soul of Southern Rock–Lynyrd Skynyrd. That was thirty years ago today.

Where are they now?

Of those who were members when the plane crashed Oct. 20, 1977:

ARTIMUS PYLE Drummer: Lives in North Carolina and plays with the Artimus Pyle Band

CASSIE GAINES Backup vocals: Died in plane crash

BILLY POWELL Keyboards: Lives in Jacksonville, still playing with Skynyrd

LEON WILKESON Bass: Died 2001 of chronic liver and lung disease

ALLEN COLLINS Guitar: Died 1990 of pneumonia, following paralysis from a 1986 car crash

LESLIE HAWKINS Backup vocals: Lives in Middleburg, still dealing with health issues from plane crash but sings occasionally with tribute bands

GARY ROSSINGTON Guitarist: Lives in North Georgia, still playing with Skynyrd

RONNIE VAN ZANT Vocals: Died in plane crash

JO JO BILLINGSLEY Backup vocals: Now a minister in Alabama, left band two months before crash

STEVE GAINES Guitar: Died in plane crash

Just how high could Lynyrd Skynyrd really have flown? Wonderful piece in the Jacksonville Times-Union. Read it all

Here is Lynyrd Skynyrd, from 1976, doing a live performance of “Searching”

Enjoy your boiled peanuts and root beer on this beautiful college football Saturday in Dixie! Later y’all.

From the Clarion Ledger

A 21-year-old man who was shot Sunday during an apparent robbery died early this morning.

Jerriod Peters died shortly after midnight at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart said an autopsy will be conducted this evening on Peters, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

Jackson Police said Peters, of Jackson, knocked on the door of a home in the 300 block of McKee Street with a gun in hand about 5:30 a.m. Sunday.

When a man answered the door, Peters pointed a gun at him, according to police.

The man retrieved a gun, and a struggle ensued. Both fired shots.

Police said the homeowner will not face charges, but that a background check is under way.

Earlier this week, the Republican State Leadership Committee PAC began airing a new television ad attacking Jamie Franks, the Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor. According to some reports, the group has bought over $440,000 to air the ad. Here’s the video… source

Politics in Mississippi: A full-contact sport.

from FoxNews.com h/t Robert D

Most fans would probably think that a homeland security emergency at a NASCAR race would take the form of a terror attack. But after hearing all the noise in Washington the last couple of days, they’d be wrong.

The argument began when congressional aides were advised to get real-life immunizations against several communicable diseases — including hepatitis, diphtheria, tetanus and influenza — before traveling to look at preparations being made by local first responders for hypothetical scenarios at the tracks in Talladega, Ala., and Concord, N.C.

The head of the House Homeland Security Committee called it standard procedure, but the congressman representing Concord called that bunk.

Gentlemen, start your engines . . .

“I am beginning to get offended,” said Republican Rep. Robin Hayes. “We thought it was silly that you needed to get a vaccination to come to Concord to go to the NASCAR races. This is the greatest sport on Earth today and you sure don’t need a shot to come down here.”

Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson of Mississippi said he never meant to offend or scare anyone about health risks at the races.

Big Bennie Thompson’s hatred for white people is longstanding and undeniable. From his unapologetically racial political campaigns for Hinds County Supervisor in the late 70’s to his election to the House in his gerrymandered congressional district, his safe seat makes him a favorite for advocating far-left causes.

“If you talk to the Whites in Mississippi they will tell you, ‘You can go to any school you want to; we don’t see race.’ Biggest lie ever told.” source

Leslie Southwick and Charles Pickering, both white Mississippians up for Federal judgeships, earned false and misleading posturing from Big Bennie, who accused them of racism. It didn’t matter to Thompson that many black Democrats told Thompson that the judges were not racist. They were white conservatives. To Thompson’s, that’s all that matters.

As Thompson’s stature rises with his chairmanship of the House Homeland Security Committee, Thompson will undoubtably learn to mask his hatred of whites better.