Thursday, May 31
Parking Battle in Fondren
Businesses in Fondren are skirmishing over limited parking space in the area. Managers and owners of businesses in Fondren Corner say the owners of Lenny's Sub Shop, on the other …
Supreme Court Denies Green Motion
The Mississippi Supreme Court denied a motion from Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Tomie Green regarding sanctions against attorneys for Mayor Frank Melton, chief among them former Mayor Dale Danks.
Long-Time Clarksdalians Open New Retaurant and Blues Club
For years it has been a dream of Clarksdalians Charles Ledbetter and Tommy "Baby Boy" Strider to operate a local restaurant and blues club. On June 11th, these 2 life …
City Directors Get Legal Training
The city of Jackson's department directors got legal training from State Auditor Phil Bryant's office yesterday.
Lou Dobbs: American Bigot
A few comments on my last blog about immigration made my heart pound with indignation in a way that felt oddly familiar. Was it the Jackson 2020-- a group dedicated …
Wednesday, May 30
A Letter to Caller Number One
"Why don't y'all just leave him alone?" The passion in the caller's voice was alarming. "He's an old man. Just leave him be. Let sleeping dogs lie." When I heard …
Seale the 'Last' Case? We Doubt It.
To fill space this weekend in The Clarion-Ledger's package on the James Ford Seale case, reporter Jerry Mitchell returned to a well from which he has drunk in the past …
This Won't Stay in Vegas
My honey and I flew off to Sin City to tie the connubial knot last week. Maybe I have had too much sun (a six-hour golf lesson in the desert …
Cyber Wine
When I first became obsessed with learning all I could about wine, I subscribed to Wine Spectator, the premier publication on wines in the U.S. The problem was that I …
Transmitting Reflections
Roy Adkins and Jerri Sherer are familiar figures in the Jackson art scene. These talented artists, also a married couple, have opened their studio, Light and Glass, in the Old …
Flat World, Deep Game
When reviewing a game like "Super Paper Mario," it's difficult to avoid comparing it to its predecessors. "SPM" is technically the sequel to the two "Paper Mario" games released on …
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Pro baseball, Mississippi Braves at Chattanooga (6:15 p.m., Chattanooga, Tenn., 930 AM): The M-Braves continue their series in the mountains. Don't miss the diorama, guys.
[Viewpoint] Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia
In the days since Rev. Jerry Falwell died, much has been written about his influence on politics, but relatively little has been written about his hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia—that is, his "fear of …
Budget Crisis Deepens
The Jackson City Council voted this week in a special meeting to reduce the pay of two rejected department heads to their salaries before they were promoted to interim heads. …
Battle for the Library
Phtoto by Roy Adkins
The Mississippi Center for Justice has made clear its desire to occupy the old library on 301 N. State Street. The group is offering to pay more than the appraised …
No Damages Against Melton
A Lauderdale County Circuit Court jury voted unanimously last Friday that former Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Director Frank Melton should not have to pay damages after leaking a memo falsely …
Greenwood Cop Trial Delayed a Year
U.S. Magistrate Judge Eugene Bogen has set July 7, 2008, as the trial date for the $2 million assault and battery and wrongful imprisonment suit against Greenwood Law Enforcement Trainee …
Goodbye, Mrs. Chaney
It took 41 years, but Fannie Lee Chaney lived to see her home state mete out a degree of justice for the murder of her son, James Chaney, on Father's …
[Stiggers] Stuck Like Chuck
Taaqweema Jenkins: "This is a Ghetto Science Team Television Network pre-Memorial Day news flash. In the wake of the gas price increase, The Sausage Sandwich Sisters (International Electric Slide Ambassadors …
[Kamikaze] Tomorrow's Storms
As I sat and watched Fox News a few Sundays back, I had a moment of clarity.
Palm Intros ‘Foleo' Mobile Companion to Treo
Palm Inc. today announced the Foleo, a "mobile companion" designed to work with a Treo. The Foleo has a 10-inch screen and "full-sized" keyboard for answering e-mail received on your …
Ladd: Why the Past Is Not Past
Read JFP Editor Donna's Ladd's cover essay this week about why Mississippians must continue "dredging up" the past—regardless of what the national, or local, media think about it.
Dredging Up the Past: Why Mississippians Must Tell Our Own Stories
It was warm under the mammoth magnolia tree on the north side of the Neshoba County Courthouse, just yards from where the Confederate soldier stood on his marble pedestal until …
Tuesday, May 29
The Campaign Against BET: Is it too late for change?
While Black America continues the dialogue regarding the portryal of Black women in the media, I am concerned that we need to start taking action to support our opinions.
BREAKING: Ellis Hearing Officer Recuses
Charles McClelland recused himself as hearing officer from the Jackson Public Schools administrative termination hearing for Chastain Principal Michael Ellis this morning.
Monday, May 28
"Wake Up Jackson!" - Phase II
More features have been added to the official Web site, and I will meet with the members for the first time in June.
Women in Hip-Hop Speak Out: A Good Read
In light of the roundtable discussion at the Jackson Medical Mall on Tuesday. Thought Id bone up a bit.. As Im sure to have my a-- handed to me LOL, …
James Ford Seale Trial to Begin Wednesday
The federal kidnapping and conspiracy trial of former Klansman James Ford Seale is now set to begin Wednesday, May 30, with jury selection in a federal courtroom in Jackson. Seale …
Saturday, May 26
SEC Tournament: Vandy KOs Ole Miss
Ole Miss won't be playing in the SEC Tournament championship game for a third straight year. Vanderbilt beat Ole Miss 7-6 in 10 innings on Saturday night, knocking the Rebels …
SEC Watch: That's A Big Hog
From DEADSPIN: Meet Malcolm Sheppard, defensive tackle for the Arkansas Razorbacks. According to Loser with Socks, that's Malcolm one year ago, and Malcolm today (photo below). There have been instances …
College Baseball: USM Sent Home
Tulane knocked Southern Miss out of the CUSA Tournament on Friday by beating the Golden Eagles 6-2.
Friday, May 25
JFP on WLEZ Podcast Posted
Not my best work on the sound board and songs, but some interesting stuff about all the news that's fit to blog, plus an interview with principals from New Stage …
No Damages Against Melton
A Lauderdale County Circuit Court jury voted unanimously Friday that former Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Director Frank Melton should not have to pay damages after leaking a memo falsely incriminating …
Salon.com Questions Barbour's ‘Mississippi Miracle'
Salon.com today has a "hard look" into the job that Haley Barbour has done with Katrina recovery. Some interesting stuff in there, particularly about how slowly some of the non-casino …
ARTICLE: Jamaica's First Rastafarian Beauty Queen heads to be Miss Universe
When you hear the words "Miss Universe", do you picture a dark-skinned woman with waist-length dreadlocks? If not, Zahra Redwood is hoping to change all that at the Miss Universe …
Thursday, May 24
College Baseball: Ole Miss Wins; MSU, USM lose
Ole Miss scored five runs in the first inning and then held on for a 6-3 victory over Tennessee on the second day of the SEC Tournament at Hoover, Ala. …
Council Majority Fears Illegal Transfers
A majority of the City Council held a press conference today explaining their recent votes of no confidence in City Attorney Sarah O'Reilly-Evans and to withhold pay from two city …
MCJ Wants to Buy Old "White" Library in Downtown
[verbatim release] Mississippi Center for Justice Ready to Invest in Downtown Jackson - The Mississippi Center for Justice recently presented to city officials a proposal to purchase the old library …
Fashion, Freedom, and Feminism
Can feminists wear micro-minis and still be taken seriously?
The word feminist, as I understand it, describes a woman who believes in the right to make decisions about her life as an individual, not as a certain sex. To …
Mardi Gras Closed
The Clarion-Ledger is reporting confirmation of something that has been pretty clear for the last month or so -- Mardi Gras, the downtown restaurant and club, is closing its doors. …
Wednesday, May 23
CUSA Tournament: Eagles Win
Southern Miss scored six runs in the seventh inning and rallied for a 9-5 victory over Alabama-Birmingham Wednesday in the first round of the CUSA Tournament. The Golden Eagles play …
Drinking Wine with a Vulcan
Photos by Caroline Lacy
"You don't seem like the Trekkie type," people say. I suppose they are referring to my lack of computer skills or that I would much rather shop instead of argue …
Ron Mills
If you've ever gotten frustrated spending 20 minutes of your lunch break looking for a parking spot in Fondren, then "Captain" Ron Mills is your man.
With A Good Intention
People come up and thank me all the time for being "daring." Or "courageous." Or "fearless." No, the Jackson Free Press is not particularly daring or courageous (although admittedly we …
BREAKING: Board Rejects Firefighter Examination
The Mississippi State Minimum Standards Board voted down a critical exam for the city of Jackson's class of firefighters today, saying the city had broken a standard rule while administering …
Shish Your Kebabs
Recently, my husband and I went to a local Mediterranean restaurant with several friends. It was late, and everyone was starving, so we ordered an appetizer plate. As we passed …
The Bitter Hooker
If you suddenly find yourself overtaken by a creepy feeling while drinking at George Street Grocery, it may be more than the alcohol affecting you. It might be the establishment's …
So Cynical I Could Cry
Like Vincent Van Gogh and Jackson Pollack, few recognized the artistic genius of Hiram "Hank" Williams while he was alive. He was only 29 when he died in 1953, on …
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
College baseball, Mississippi State and Ole Miss in SEC Tournament (times, opponents TBA, Hoover, Ala., CSS/620 AM/97.3 FM): Since they played each other in the first round on Wednesday, one …
A Hidden Tax Increase?
State Reps. George Flaggs, D-Vicksburg, and Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, are asking Gov. Haley Barbour to call a special session to address the state's rising college tuition costs.
Melton Budget 'Smoke and Mirrors'
The City Council cut short a budget session last week after the Melton administration failed to present detailed budget revisions.
The War on A-1
City code enforcement performed a site inspection of A-1 Pallets on Mill Street last week, one day after Municipal Judge Melvin Priester signed a search and inspection warrant for the …
Open Season on George Dale
Anonymous opponents of Insurance Commissioner George Dale are circulating annual lobbyist's reports that show Dale's attorney, Greg Copeland, is a well-paid lobbyist for the insurance industry.
No Confidence in City Attorney
As the JFP goes to press, City Council is set to hold a vote of no confidence in City Attorney Sarah O'Reilly-Evans at the May 22 council meeting. Council members …
The Crime: May 2, 1964
The last time Mazie Moore ever saw her boy, 19-year-old son Charles, he was standing in front of Dillon's gas station on Main Street in Meadville, trying to thumb a …
Proposed Work Program a Bust
This week, the U.S. Senate is considering comprehensive immigration reform that includes the creation of a new temporary worker program.
[Stiggers] Ghetto-Made
Bonqweesha Jones: "It's your favorite on-the-scene reporter, giving you the 411 on the low down faster than you can say 'War Czar!' I'm here with Bruh Sylvester, the controversial Christmas …
No. 31, May 23 - 30
<b><em>All the Metro Dead</b></em>
Never again. With these words, the world community reacted to the Holocaust and all the horrors associated with it. With these words, the world community proclaimed its resolve to prevent …
[Viewpoint] My Mississippi Delta
Being born in the Bolivar County hospital on a sweltering day in August is just about my chief claim to credibility as a writer. I was raised in the Mississippi …
The Klansmen Bound: 43 Years Later, James Ford Seale Faces Justice
Photos by Matt Saldaña and Kate Medley
Shuffling behind a young black woman in an identical orange jumpsuit, James Ford Seale entered the fourth-floor courtroom of the James O. Eastland Federal Building in Jackson on Feb. 22 …
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To: Chick Ball Volunteers, Donors, Entertainers, and Supporters
Thank you for all your hard work that resulted in the "best-ever" Chick Ball. Donna and her gang at the Free Press have truly outdone themselves this year. These ladies …
City Council Votes 'No Confidence' on City Attorney
City Council cast a vote of no-confidence in City Attorney Sarah O'Reilly-Evans at the May 22 council meeting, saying O'Reilly-Evans acts as if she works for the mayor rather than …
What's Wrong with Women?
The full blog entry nearly brought me to tears. An excerpt:
Joss Whedon, creator of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", has posted a blog entry about hatred of women, connecting the dots between "honor" killings of women and Hollywood glamorization of violence.
Tuesday, May 22
BREAKING: City Council Withholds Pay
The Jackson City Council voted Tuesday to freeze the pay for two high-ranking city employees, Assistant Chief Administration Officer Charles Melvin and Assistant Fire Chief Todd Chandler. The council voted …
The Klansman Bound: The Crime
The last time Mazie Moore ever saw her boy, 19-year-old son Charles, he was standing in front of Dillon's gas station on Main Street in Meadville, trying to thumb a …
The Klansman Bound: The Road to Justice (A Timeline)
Klansmen kidnap Charles Eddie Moore and Henry Hezekiah Dee, two African American teenagers in Meadville, Miss., beat them at gunpoint in a Mississippi national forest, and forcibly throw them into …
Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt
"Anxiety Disorders can be Debilitating." The headline, from The Clarion-Ledger a few weeks ago, speaks volumes about the way we live our lives. Fear stops us in our tracks, making …
A Deal with el Diablo: The Immigration Bill's Dirty Fine Print
Much of this country's legislative history is built on compromise. Indeed, deal making among lawmakers has contributed to a robust, if sometimes flawed, system of American democracy. One of the …
JPS Board Stalls on ‘Larkin-Gate' Contract
Members of the Jackson Public School board and City Council are delaying crucial votes in connection with a contract dispute over the school board's $150 million bond.
Asked to Tour/Perform in the Czech Republic: Need Your Help
Greetings all, Im blessed to have been asked to come perform in the Czech Republic later this summer on waht is being billed the 2007 Crunk Tour. Southern/crunk music has …
Monday, May 21
Busted: They like us! Er, no, they don't ...
Google Blogs Alert for: "jackson free press"
So a Google alert just popped up showing that the Mississippi Press Association had picked the thread on their sleepy blog about Gannett's Goliath distribution scheme as one of their …
StateDesk.com Ramping Up for Elections
And we're off ... !
The JFP's new statewide political site, StateDesk.com, is starting to ramp up after a few months of beta bug testing (yes, it's faster now). We have a new political intern, …
Non-White Population Grows in Mississippi
The Commercial Appeal is reporting:
Don't just dress to impress, dress to express
Wearing the wrong outfit makes me feel like someone else
I loved meeting so many interesting people at the chick ball. There were many outfits to be admired. I changed my mind about the dress I bought to wear that …
Sunday, May 20
How to Stir Up 'Holy Mischief'
"Speaking of Faith" had an amazing interview with young Christian Shane Clayborne this morning. I wasn't familiar with his work, or his book, but he was just breathtaking. The Tennessee …
Friday, May 18
SWAC Tournament: JSU Loses
Pack up the bats and balls, Jackson State's baseball season is over. The Tigers lost twice on Friday in the SWAC Tournament at Smith-Wills Stadium. Southern's 19-10 victory knocked the …
Families to Replace Marker for Dee, Moore
Over at MississippiPolitical.com, C.W. is reporting about a memorial service to be held in Meadville on Memorial Day. The families of Henry Dee and Charles Moore will replace the memorial …
Watch "Dumped on Skid Row" on 60 Minutes Sunday, 5/20
From NAMI:
Are some Los Angeles hospitals simply throwing homeless patients out on the street after discharging them, literally dumping them on Skid Row -- even if they come from other places …
Judge Denies Contractor on School Bond
Hinds County Chancery Court Judge Denise Owens denied a motion for a temporary restraining order against the Jackson Public School District this afternoon. Jackson business Integrated Management Services PA filed …
JFP Chick Ball Raises $7,000 for Domestic Abuse Victims
A preliminary count shows that the 3rd annual JFP Chick Ball raised just over $7,000 for the Center for Violence Prevention in Pearl. This amount was raised through direct donations, …
DA Candidate Michele Purvis on Radio JFP Friday
DA candidate Michele Purvis will be the guest on Radio JFP on WLEZ (103.7 FM) Friday at noon. You can also listen to the stream here.
Thursday, May 17
SWAC Tournament: JSU Wins Again
Jackson State moved into the semifinals of the SWAC Tournament with a 13-1 victory over Mississippi Valley State on Thursday. The loss ended the Delta Devils' season. JSU plays Prairie …
Pigeons and Other Violations at A-1 Pallets
City code enforcement performed a site inspection of A-1 Pallets on Mill Street this morning, one day after Municipal Judge Melvin Priester signed a search and inspection warrant for the …
3rd Annual JFP Chick Ball - Raised $7,000!
May 18 Update: The Chick Ball raised just at $7,000 for the Center for Violence Prevention!
Plan your outfits now for the JFP's 3rd Annual JFP Chick Ball on Thursday, May 17, in Hal & Mal's Red Room. This one will be the biggest Chick Ball, …
Of Chick Balls and Big-Mouthed Women
Frank Melton called me a "big mouth" on Councilman Ben Allen's radio show Friday. Sitting in my bedroom listening as Todd showered, I couldn't help but laugh. Heartily. Loudly. You …
BONUS: Kaze's Hip Hop Hater of the Week: The R.N.C.
Yet another reason not to vote Republican....just kidding..not really LOL. Read
This from Allhiphop.com. In a report just released today, the Republican National Convention had members of the hiphop community spied upon before their 2004 National convention in New York. Ironaically, …
Wednesday, May 16
SWAC Tournament: JSU Wins
Jackson State defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3-2 Wednesday in the first round of the SWAC Tournament at Smith-Wills Stadium. The Tigers will play Mississippi Valley State (a 10-0 loser to Prairie …
BREAKING: Melton Budget 'Smoke and Mirrors'
The City Council cut short a budget session today after the Melton administration failed to present detailed budget revisions.
Get Wet On The Okatoma
As the sorority sisters from the University of Southern Mississippi began crashing through the rapid known as "the chute" on the Okatoma Creek, the guys in our Scout troop took …
The Yin and Yang of Health
Photos by Ronni Mott
Needles. The mere word reminds me of my last blood test when a clumsy nurse poked for a vein in my right arm, gave up and poked around some more …
Does It Hurt?
It's the first question people have about acupuncture, and I'm no exception. But you gotta do what you gotta do for a story, right? So, putting my fear aside, I …
[Music] Chompin' At The Bit
Mckinney "WorkHorse" Williams Jr. has plenty to rap about. With an easy-going voice, the West Jackson native doesn't give you 16 bars of nursery rhymes. Instead, he conveys stories of …
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
College baseball, Southern Miss at Houston (7 p.m., Houston, CSTV): USM begins its final C-USA series of the season and Golden Eagle fans finally get a chance to see their …
Heather Wagner
Heather Wagner credits her mother, Jane Philo, with inspiring her career in victims' rights law. Now retired, Philo spent 23 years working with victims of domestic violence in Biloxi, and …
MySpace Sex Fiends
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, along with seven other state attorney generals, signed a letter Monday demanding that MySpace provide a list of sex offenders who use the online social …
Police Assaulted Boy, Mother Says
A Jackson mother alleges that a JPD officer threw her child against a police car and gave his face a cut that required 11 stitches.
Stiffing the Help
The Hattiesburg American reported last week that the Department of Labor is investigating a Jackson business owned by Rosemary Barbour, wife of Hinds County Supervisor Charles Barbour, a nephew of …
Death Trailers
Recent Environmental Protection Agency testing of FEMA trailers reveals higher average levels of formaldehyde than was originally found by Sierra Club testing last year. EPA testing showed unventilated trailers were …
Transforming Lives
Domestic violence affects one in three women in their lifetimes, according to the Family Violence Prevention Fund. The staff at the Center for Violence Prevention is trying to quell the …
[Grayson] Our Way Of Life
When I was 16 years old, my friends talked me into going to a local teen dance club. I begged my grandmother to approve, and we were off. I spent …
Step Up, Ledger
If you read the JFP's account of the Mayor Melton's "open" meeting with department heads this week (page 6), and then you read the Clarion-Ledger's online account posted Monday, you …
[Stiggers] It's A Mad Crunchie World
Mr. Announcement: "Gasoline climbs to $3 per gallon. American soldiers remain in limbo and at war. Frustrated males go on shooting rampages. The chemical called melamine contaminates our food supply …
[Kamikaze] A Weapon For ‘Rage'
My most heartfelt thanks goes out to the controversial rock band Rage Against The Machine. Why, you ask? Simply because, if but for a moment, they've taken a little pressure …
No. 30, May 17 - 23
<b><em>Register Guns, Ban Some</b></em>
The shooting crisis at Virginia Tech has once again sparked the debate over gun control. The Second Amendment speaks of a "well-regulated militia." The National Guard and Coast Guard have …
Que Sera Sadilla
My mom is amazing at any number of things. She can speak and/or read seven different languages, many of them dead. She can sing louder than a whole church full …
From Point A to You
What a deflated party balloon it was—filling up an online shopping cart only to get a denial: "Do not pass GO, do not collect your wine." At some point, you've …
Still I Rise
Photos by Josh Hailey
Rosalind Roy, a 46-year-old Jackson native known as Roz, bubbles with energy. Her vigor emanates from her like an invisible vapor—it will either infect you or make you feel guilty …
New Interpol Drops July 10
Fresh from their blistering headlining performance at Coachella, Interpol gear up to release their third studio album, Our Love To Admire, out July 10th on Capitol Records. Produced by Interpol …
Air It Out
"We've told people they can air those trailers out," Paulison said.
FEMA really is the gift that keeps on giving, isn't it? Witness the deep concern of FEMA Director David Paulison about formaldehyde contamination of FEMA trailers on the Gulf Coast:
The City Hall Shuffle
Some council members learned for the first time Tuesday that rejected Parks and Recreation Director Charles Melvin is still making almost as much as he was as interim head of …
Yolanda Denise King, 1955-2007
The eldest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Coretta Scott King, passed away Tuesday night in Santa Monica, California. She was 51.
Tuesday, May 15
Staying Focused
I hope that people aren't getting tired of hearing the familiar stories about teenage mothers and their struggles. Statistics show that teenage pregnancy in America is higher than in any …
Kaze's Hip-Hop Hater of the Week: Ebony Magazine
Here we go again folks. America just can't seem to do anything without going to the absolute extreme. As I expected the en-vogue pursuit to clean up objectionable lyrics is …
Monday, May 14
Melton Orders Demolition Blitz
Mayor Frank Melton told department heads he wants a serious re-commitment to house demolition and downtown development in Jackson at a meeting held before members of the press today.
Sunday, May 13
Who I "was", Who I "am", and Who I want to "become"
It's funny how things have a way of happening at just the right time. How things are said at just the right moment. How your point is explained so clearly …
Bling, Bling, Baby! Carter's Jewelers Donates Diamond Hoops
It gets better by the minute. Ching, ching.
Carter's Jewelers just called out of the blue to donate diamond hoop earrings worth $700 for the silent auction Thursday night. Needless to say, Carter's is now a Queen Level …
Chick Ball to Honor Attorney General, Domestic Violence Unit
[Verbatim release] The Jackson Free Press and the JFP Chick Ball organizers and sponsors announce that Attorney General Jim Hood's Domestic Violence Prevention Unit, headed by Assistant Attorney General Heather …
Saturday, May 12
Where's My Jetpack?
Fun piece in (on?) Salon today lamenting the lack of a truly futuristic future here in what is now the present. (You follow?) People who know me know that I'm …
How to Donate to the Chick Ball
We're getting calls from individuals (and political candidates) who want to donate money to the Chick Ball, and thus the Center for Violence Prevention. You can make checks out directly …
Friday, May 11
Red Hot Tamales and Kool-Aid Pickles
Here are two wide-eyed articles, by New York reporters, about enigmatic Delta dishes: the Kool-Aid Dill by John T. Edge of the New York Times and the Red-Hot, Pork-Stuffed, Corn-Wrapped, …
BREAKING: Mayor Wants Larkin Withdrawn
Mayor Frank Melton submitted a memorandum to council members (PDF, 118 KB) requesting that they withdraw Jackson Public School Board Vice President Jonathan Larkin's name for re-appointment to the board. …
Radio JFP to Discuss Melton Interview Noon Friday
Here's a double whammy for y'all. Mayor Frank Melton is slated to appear on Ben Allen's WJNT radio show Friday morning. Then, at noon, the JFP will discuss is comments …
Lester Williams Resigns to Run for Sheriff
[Verbatim from Williams] In a letter sent to the Mayor's office three weeks ago, I indicated I was requesting an extended leave of absence from my position with Community Improvement …
‘Buy Me, Caroline': Tales of An Experienced Clearance Shopper
I can smell a clearance sale a mile away.
I believe I was born with a radar in my brain that can detect the faint sound of red clearance price stickers being applied to shoes, lamps, stationary, imported chocolates, …
Thursday, May 10
Master Pee
A group of Milwaukee Brewers fans has vowed to urinate on themselves when the Brewers reach the playoffs. God help us all if the Brewers win the World Series.
Riding While Blind
Steve McNair, the former Alcorn State legend turned NFL superstar, pulled off a neat trick. He was arrested for DUI in Nashville on Thursday ... but he wasn't driving the …
Susie Flynn for President
I normally don't openly endorse candidates, and especially if the candidate is a 10-year-old, but I think her platform is enough for any citizen to take her seriously.
Men of Leisure — "Men of Leisure"
It's hard playing music influenced by the likes of the Allman Brothers, Neil Young and the more melodic, song-based version of the Grateful Dead without botching it. A fair number …
The Rondo Brothers Present
San Francisco's go-to producers The Rondo Brothers set to release club-worthy Seven Minutes To Midnight. Duo proves its versatility with songs in new Ice Cube flick, Sundance indie hit and …
Barbour Raised $3.4 Million in First Quarter of 2007
[Verbatim from Barbour] JACKSON, MS - Governor Haley Barbour today filed a campaign finance report showing he raised more than $3.4 million in the first four months of 2007 and …
FEMA Trailers 12 Times Formaldehyde Limit
Recent Environmental Protection Agency testing of FEMA trailers reveals higher average levels of formaldehyde than was originally found by Sierra Club testing last year. EPA testing showed unventilated trailers were …
Putting Babies in Danger
Recent news from the citizen-based environmental advocacy group Environmental California states that your baby's plastic baby-bottle may be leaching toxins. From their report's executive summary:
Ready to Rock: Chick Ball Line-Up Announced
Updated May 10, 2007 The Third Annual Chick Ball entertainment schedule is below. Make sure to come early to bid on art and register for door prizes! Click here to …
Wednesday, May 9
Marley Le
"I did all the hard work, and she looks just like Scot. She's precious, but she looks just like him," Marley Le, owner of Fondren Nails, says of her now …
More Than A Maid
Growing up, I spent a lot of time with my grandmother. I didn't have to; I wanted to. Most of my summer days, we watched "Donahue" re-runs and "Sanford and …
Latinismo: Heatin Up Local Dance Floors
Until recently, the only way for Jacksonians to experience live Latin dance music would be to book a flight to New York, Miami or another distant city. However, a new …
Living Better In Austin
Since their formation in 2000, Living Better Electrically has been a staple on the Jackson music scene. Now, keyboardist Chris Michaels and brothers Joshua and Jakob Clark (a JFP designer) …
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Pro baseball, West Tenn at Mississippi (7 p.m., Pearl, 930 AM): It's Thirsty Thursday at Trustmark Park (all 16-ounce drinks are $1). If Mayor Frank Melton is driving you to …
JRA on the Chopping Block
The mayor's recent proposal to dissolve the Jackson Redevelopment Authority and use the savings to reduce the city's $4.3 million budget deficit may do little to address the city's budget …
Whirly Bird or K9?
"Imagine yourself in the dead of night looking for a dangerous escaped inmate," a new promotional brochure from SafeCity Watch, which helps fund the privately owned Metro One helicopter, begins. …
Judge Excludes Informant's Statements
U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate denied a motion last Wednesday from prosecutors in the James Ford Seale federal kidnapping trial to admit statements from Ernest Gilbert, a deceased FBI informant …
Get the Mayor to 'Do His Job
A common refrain during the build-up to Mayor Frank Melton's felony trials this past month was that "people should just let the mayor do his job.
[Stiggers] Booty-Gate and the Mystery Pol
Mr. Announcement: "On this episode of 'All God's Churn Got Shoes,' the deputy secretary of state's mishap has inspired the 'hypocrisy division' of the Ladies in Church Hats, Union 203 …
No. 29, May 10 - 16
<b><em>Friar Bill Clinton?</b></em>
In the things mattering most to Democrats such as health care and opposition to the war, John Edwards has been much more unambiguous and straightforward than the candidates noted for …
[Mott] Feed Them On Your Dreams
Earlier this week, my friend Terry e-mailed me a link to a short film from 1947 called "The Secret Lives of Cats." Two things struck me as I watched: First …
The Blind Giant: Insurance Companies Play By Their Own Rules
Hurricane Katrina was a nasty surprise for Mississippi Gulf Coast resident Mike Perronne when it slammed into Mississippi Aug. 29, 2005. Perronne left his Diamondhead, Miss., home that Sunday before …
Young Mothers Can Be Great Moms
I don't know many 20-year-old girls who would turn down a good party or give up the freedom and spontaneity of youth for days of diaper-changing and Saturday evenings spent …
One Day is All I Ask
I am not particularly fond of Mother's Day. For the first few years of adulthood, I had high expectations for holidays; I was often disappointed. Because of my disappointment, I …
An Unexpected Trip
"Imagine you've decided to take a trip to New York City," the "exceptional education" teacher at my son's school said as she took a seat next to me on the …
Expecting Gifts
A huge debate is raging within my inner circle. We're usually at odds about where to eat out or whose turn it is to drive, but the latest argument is …
Tuesday, May 8
So, what are YOU wearing to the Chick Ball!?!
What's a Chick to do? Go shoppping ... but where? Thoughts?
OK, this is on my mind this week. The JFP Chick Ball—aka The Grrl Jam—is coming together fabulously; we expect throngs of people Thursday night; we have dozens and dozens …
New Feature: Kaze's Hip-Hop Hater of the Week: Jere Eaton
In my ongoing return of fire to those that wish to attack hiphop, especially those who attack it with hidden motives at heart. Each week I will be identifying a …
Council Rejects Melvin, Mayor Lashes Out
This story will appear in this week's print edition of the Jackson Free Press.
Saturday, May 5
Hi From New York
We're up in New York for a long weekend while I study at a Columbia reporting seminar called "Let's Do It Better," a workshop on covering race. (I met Henry …
Friday, May 4
GOP '08 Debate: The Hair Tonic Brigade
Just in case you had something better to do and missed it, I thought I'd remind y'all that the GOP had its first presidential debate last night at the Ronald …
Thursday, May 3
ARTICLE: Obama placed under Secret Service protection
Of course, the Secret Service doesn't say why, but my guess is that he got a death threat.
From
Why Does The Crawfish Boil Have NO local bands?
Im really just venting here, but Im mad as HELL. As an artist that fights vigorously for the careers of our local and regional artists here (of ALL genres), its …
Wednesday, May 2
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
College baseball, Belhaven in GCAC Tournament (time, opponent TBA, Mobile, Ala.): The Blazers are looking for a tourney title to go with their regular-season champ's trophy.
Chuck Culpepper
Saint Alexis Episcopal Church is in the heart of Jackson, just down the street from Hal and Mal's.
[Green Eats] Giants Dominate Organics
If you think the farmer-in-the-dell wearing Birkenstocks and singing "Kum Ba Yah" owns that organic brand you're so fond of, think again. According to "Organic, Inc.: Natural Foods and How …
[Green Eats] Eat your Veggies!
While most of us agree that organic produce is healthier in general simply because it is grown without enormous amounts of pesticides, it's not always easy (or cheap) to buy …
[Green Eats] Eating the Rainbow
Summer is fast approaching, and everyone is rushing to fit into that itsy-bitsy bikini. That means it's time to eat healthier. Swimsuit season is my motivation—as I told a friend, …
Snake Charming
My mother says that when I was a toddler in diapers, I almost picked up a water moccasin in our Jackson backyard. Branson legend has it I was "saved" by …
Back In The USSR
In 1972, Arkadi and Boris Strugatsky, brothers who were celebrated Russian science-fiction writers, published a short novella called "Roadside Picnic." It chronicled a man's journey into "The Zone," a quarantined …
Roadmap to Longevity
Collective Soul makes a fairly straightforward promise to its fans: to deliver loud, catchy rock 'n' roll music. The hard guitar riffs and charging vocals are a perfect fit for …
Green Protests Danks Hearing
Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Tomie Green filed a motion (PDF, 211 KB) with the Mississippi Supreme Court objecting to the court's decision on her call for sanctions against former …
Critical Mass: An Interview With Better Than Ezra's Tom Drummond
You probably know Better Than Ezra from one of its hit radio singles, like "Good," "Desperately Wanting," "Extra Ordinary" or "Juicy." What you may not know is that each of …
Crawfish Boil Encore Predictions
The tradition of playing your "last song" and retreating backstage while the audience chants, "One more song!"—only to emerge again triumphantly—is de rigueur in rock. While they may not have …
Council Questions High Pay
The city council questioned an extra $35,000 that City Attorney Sarah O'Reilly stands to make on two Tax Increment Financing deals the council approved last week. The council also discussed …
Analysis: Passion Ruled In Melton Trial
Photos by Jaro Vacek
On April 26, a Hinds County jury acquitted Mayor Frank Melton and Dets. Michael Recio and Marcus Wright of all 11 charges they collectively faced for demolishing a duplex at …
Gimme Shelter
Some Jackson residents are growing concerned about the high number of halfway houses and homeless shelters populating the midtown area.
We the People with ID
State Sen. Charlie Ross, R-Brandon, a GOP candidate for lieutenant governor, held a press conference on the steps of the capitol this morning, requesting Gov. Haley Barbour to call a …
Fight or Fight
It's an odd world where Councilman Kenny Stokes is standing with FOX News celebrities who care more about profiling young blacks than protecting citizens' rights. But in the aftermath of …
[Gregory] Becoming Blonde
As a woman, there are quite a few ridiculous things I do to myself in the pursuit of "pretty." The least of these is my weekly scouring of local drugstores …
[Stiggers] Sticks and Stones
Aunt Tee Tee Hustle: "The way I see things these days is that people live in critical times where critical people criticize with critically destructive words and actions.
[Kamikaze] The Real World, Jackson
This probably isn't the best time for "I told ya so's." But … I told ya so.
Rally Today
You may be interested in attending this event today.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Anna DillonWednesday, May 2, 2007 601-383-4160
The Debut of Peel
Peel's debut is an indie snob's dream, earning comparisons to Pavement, Stereolab, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and others. Airplay continues from tastemaker stations KCRW, KEXP and WRAS. Band reveals that name …
Harvard Test to Gauge Racial Bias
This is an interesting test.
This website has several tests which will gauge your bias towards several different topics. The one on racial bias is really, really cool. If you go into the "demonstration" part …
Tuesday, May 1
City Web Site Needs Help
I've tried to stay off the "city's website sux" bandwagon for as long as possible because (a.) I know firsthand that it's a pain in the arse to design and …
‘Citizen Bloggers' Get Busy at the Ledge
I need some room to rant. Have you seen this crap?
I am just now discovering the CL's "Citizen Bloggers"
