Clarksdale, a city in Mississippi, is dropping a lawsuit filed against The Clarksdale Press Register. The lawsuit had accused the newspaper of defaming officials.
On Feb. 8, The Clarksdale Press Register published an editorial titled “Secrecy, Deception Erode Public Trust” which criticized city officials at Clarksdale and the mayor for scheduling a special session to approve a request to the state to increase taxes on tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol. The session was scheduled without informing the public. State law requires that a copy of notices announcing specially called meetings must be sent to media and publications.
The Clarksdale Press Register claimed that neither they nor any media organization they know of were notified. The editorial questioned the interest of city officials on the matter….