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This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025.
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If you are receiving this email, you are one of 70 people confirmed for our Arena Meeting and Luncheon, Thursday October 2nd, at theTelCom Center. The time for lunch has been changed to 11:30 until 12:20. Representatives from the Governor’s Office, the Senate, the House, the Council, the Board of Supervisors, MDA, JRA, the Mayor, Chamber, JCVB, DFA, UMMC, JSU, the City, Clarion Ledger, JFP, JPD, JPS, HCEDD, WAPT, CCCC, Arts Council, Mississippi Mainstreet, Mississippi Business Journal, Jackson Progressives and a host of citizens are pre-registered. The program will begin at 12:30 sharp. If you know of others who wish to come to the meeting at 12:30, please ask them to e-mail me at [e-mail missing]. Seating is limited. *The 11:30 until 12:20 “Deli Sandwich Buffet Luncheon” is filled.

AGENDA

11:30 UNTIL 12:20 LUNCHEON

12:30 UNTIL 12:35 WELCOME AND OVERVIEW BEN ALLEN

12:35 UNTIL 1:05 “HOW WE DID IT AND WHAT IT IS” MICHAEL MARION

1:05 UNTIL 1:20 “FEASIBILITY STUDY” RUSS SIMONS

1:20 UNTIL 1:30 Q AND A

At the conclusion, Russ and Michael will be available for questions from individuals. If you have any questions, please let me know, and thank you for your interest!

Ben

PS: Alltel Arena Manager Michael Marion will be on the radio on this Wednesday afternoon at 5 until 6 pm. WLEZ FM 103.7 on “The Downtown Hour” with Ben Allen. He will ALSO be on 930am “Out of Bounds” show with Bo Bounds from 7:40 until 8:45 this Thursday morning. Listen and get a “preview”.

Founding Editor Donna Ladd is a writer, journalist and editor from Philadelphia, Miss., a graduate of Mississippi State University and later the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, where she was an alumni award recipient in 2021. She writes about racism/whiteness, poverty, gender, violence, journalism and the criminal justice system. She contributes long-form features and essays to The Guardian when she has time, and was the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Jackson Free Press. She co-founded the statewide nonprofit Mississippi Free Press with Kimberly Griffin in March 2020, and the Mississippi Business Journal named her one of the state's top CEOs in 2024. Read more at donnaladd.com, follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @donnerkay and email her at donna@mississippifreepress.org.