Monday, August 31
Mayor Johnson: ‘Look Behind' Millsaps Report
Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson continued to push back this afternoon against a report commissioned by Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill on the Jackson Police Department's staffing. The report, authored by …
Johnson Questions Millsaps Police Study
Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. is implying that Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill has sidestepped the traditional administrative process by commissioning a survey related to the numbers of police officers …
Burglary Suspect's Death May Have Been Justifiable
Jackson police are investigating a shooting that may fall under the "Castle Doctrine," Mississippi's law governing justifiable homicide in the defense of a home or business. The shooting took place …
Ann Herlihy
Many Jacksonians are still in mourning since Ann Herlihy closed Fondren Traders late last year, the shop where many of us bought so many gifts (most of my staff gifts …
Jackson Public Meetings and Community Events
Tuesday, Sept. 1
4:30 p.m., U.S. Small Business Administration clinic to discuss SBA's guaranty loan program, Regions Plaza, 210 E. Capitol St., 601-965-4378 ext. 11.
Sports
Tennis: Brandon Player On Biggest Stage
The good news for Brandon tennis player Devin Britton. He's in the U.S. Open. The bad news: He's playing Roger Federer, the world's top player, on Monday.
PBS Cancels Childrens' Shows
The Public Broadcasting System, PBS, announced Friday that they will stop distribution on two long-running childrens' television programs: "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" and "Reading Rainbow." The programs began airing in 1968 …
Friday, August 28
All Shook Up: Jam-Packed Weekend Ahead
End August by doing something good for Mississippi's youth. Tonight, attend the "Rise Above for Youth" benefit dinner and silent auction at the Safe Harbor Family Church, starting at 5 …
County Supes Want to Dispute Fee
Hinds County is looking to dispute a $237,784 severance fee it owes the Pearl River Basin Development District. The state Legislature rendered the county's participation in the multi-county district optional …
Katrina: Four Years and Billions Later, Work Remains
On Aug. 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina roared inland from the Gulf of Mexico, virtually flattening the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In New Orleans, the storm proved what experts already knew: The …
Heping Liu
Jackson State University associate professor Heping Liu won a nearly $500,000 award from the National Science Foundation to fund his research over the next five years.
Ole Miss Tweets for Energy Savings
The University of MississippiOle Misshas teamed with Jackson company SmartSynch as part of its "Red, Blue and Green" initiative, moving the university toward energy sustainability, which includes water and energy …
Thursday, August 27
BOOM Jackson Hot Off the Presses
The Jackson Free Press is proud to announce the second annual edition of BOOM Jackson magazine. Billed as a "love-letter to Jackson," the publication is a full-color, high-quality, 84-page publication …
Business News In and Around Jackson
Last Friday, Aug. 21, the James Meredith Lounge opened in the Farish Historic Street District at 217 Griffith St. Civil-rights legend James Meredith owns the lounge, which his niece, Meredith …
Jerusha DeGroote Stephens
On July 1, Mississippi became the 44th state in the nation to license non-physician acupuncturists. This week, Jackson resident Jerusha DeGroote Stephens received the state's first acupuncture license. It's a …
College Football: Belhaven Kicks Off Season - Update
Belhaven will kick off the 2009 Mississippi college football season on Thursday at 7 p.m. when the Blazers play host to West Alabama at historic Newell Field.
State Unemployment Tops 10 Percent
More than one out of every 10 Mississippians was officially unemployed in July138,100 individualsaccording to new data released by the state Department of Employment Security, with the state's unadjusted rate …
Wednesday, August 26
'Local' Means More than 'Locale'
In her Aug. 21 column, "How Locavores Brought On Local-Washing," Forbes magazine Deputy Editor Elisabeth Eaves takes umbrage with the story "A Local Lie" (link) published here and in a …
High Noon Café Needs You
Brad Hooey is the manager of High Noon Café, Jackson's only strictly vegetarian and vegan restaurant operated by Rainbow Cooperative Grocery in Fondren. On Monday Aug. 24, Hooey led a …
A Place To Watch The Game
Don't want to watch the game alone? Try these hot spots to enjoy the game with other local fans!
Jackson's Guide to Sports Bars
Fall is quickly approaching and some of us are scrambling to find the perfect place to watch our alma maters triumph this football season. Unless you have season tickets and …
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Doc's Football Fashion Follies
We admit it. Doctor S is obsessed with uniforms. With the threats that pour in every year (especially from Hattiesburg) after his SWAGs, you'd think he was dissin' the quarterback's …
Voter ID: Partisan Posturing?
Mississippi Democratic Party Executive Director Sam Hall is accusing Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant of pushing for voter identification for political reasons. "We have to ask if this is nothing …
Lose the Rhetoric on Health Care
When Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi's second congressional district hosted a town hall meeting on health-care reform Monday in Jackson, there were no angry mobs, protesters with guns or yelling …
[Stiggers] Anger and Spite
Bone-Qweesha Jones: "In this summer's political climate, what's hotter than July? The answer is: August, baby! And the nation is sizzling in a debate over health-care reform.
[Lee] Remembering Kelly Pates
Last week, I received a Blackberry message from a good friend informing me of Kelly Pates' death. While I was immediately saddened to learn we had lost him so younghe …
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
College football: West Alabama at Belhaven (7:30 p.m., Newell Field, Jackson): The Blazers kick off the college football season in Mississippi. ... Junior college football, Hinds at Northeast Mississippi (7 …
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2009 College Football Preview
Triggerman. Signal-caller. Pivot. Field general. By any name, the quarterback is the most important player on the field.
Tough Babes
If you've ever wondered about the history of the female superhero, then the upcoming "The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines" may just be the …
Love and Control
As the classical orchestral music builds into a crescendo, four dancers stagger around the stage in stifled movements. They slowly climb into a human edificeone man on another's shoulders and …
Musical Evolution
By experimenting, you get some interesting results. A plus B equals C, oil can mix with water, and sometimes things taste better with salt. But also you can have that …
The Tragedy of Slum Village
Detroit-based hip-hop group Slum Village is best known for producer Jay Dee. A member of the influential production team, The Ummah, he worked with many of the Native Tongues acts …
To Kula, with Love
I consider cooking an act of devotion. I don't bow in front of my stovetop (although I've considered full prostration in front of my stand mixer), but creating food that …
Carlton Martin
Football talent came naturally for Carlton Martin. The 6-foot-2-inch, 270-pound Brandon native is a senior defensive lineman for the Madison Central Jaguars.
JPS Employee Raised Overbilling Concerns in 2008
Over a year ago, a Jackson Public Schools employee warned supervisors that a private tutoring company may have overbilled the district by $400,000 or more. To date, JPS has not …
Forester Alleges ‘Irresponsible' Clear-Cutting Scheme
A former Mississippi Forestry Commission employee from Franklin County says he can account for the surge in revenue from Section 16 timber sales reported by the Mississippi Secretary of State's …
Focus on Women's Equality Day
Today, National Women's Equality Day commemorates the 89th anniversary of women's suffrage, the day that women gained the right to vote in the U.S. While women have reached several milestones …
Jackson Crime Stats for Aug. 17-23
Major crimes in Jackson decreased again last week, according to a weekly report (PDF) released at a meeting today by the Jackson Police Department. Police reported 230 total crimes, down …
NAMIWalks 2009: Help me continue to stomp out the stigma of mental illness!
I am writing you today to tell you about an upcoming event that I am participating in that is both very important and very exciting to me. It is NAMIWalks …
Sen. Kennedy Dead at 77
Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy, 77, died early today of a brain tumor. Kennedy served in the U.S. Senate since 1962, when he took the seat held by his brother, John …
Tuesday, August 25
Innocent Man Freed; Shabby Prosecutor Now a Judge
Bernard Baran served 22 years on dubious child molestation charges, yet the prosecutor who convicted him isn't even inconvenienced.
Corps Says Lakes Plans Dead, Wants Levees
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has told the local levee board that it has to agree on a flood-control plan for the Pearl River by the end of Septemberand …
Political Parties Neck-and-Neck in Mississippi
Mississippi is the second-most conservative state in the union, according to a poll released last week. The Republican Party, however, holds only a one-percentage point lead over Democrats in the …
Rep. Bennie Thompson
Opening up a forum for civil discussion and debate, Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi's Second Congressional District addressed questions to more than 300 people last night on proposals for health-care …
Extreme Makeover Coming to Jackson
Producers of the ABC television show, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," are seeking deserving Jackson families to feature on the show. To be eligible, a family must own their single family …
Monday, August 24
WaPo: Attorney General Holder to Appoint ‘Torture' Special Prosecutor
The Washington Post is reporting that Attorney General Eric Holder plans to appoint a special prosecutor to look into possibility that CIA personnel "may have broken the law in their …
$86.7 Million Green Renovation for McCoy Building
Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. met with members of the Hinds County legislative delegation, representatives of the U.S. congressional delegation and local business advocates to celebrate $86.7 million in renovations for …
Green Stimulus Funds Come to Jackson and State
A Jackson-based company will receive $3.75 million in federal stimulus funds to improve energy efficiency in public buildings around the state. The company, SmartSynch, provides smart grid infrastructure, in the …
Jackson Public Meetings This Week
6:30 p.m., Health-care Town-Hall Meeting with Rep. Bennie Thompson, Stringer Grand Lodge, 1072 J.R. Lynch St.
Brad Hooey
Brad Hooey is the manager of High Noon Cafe, Jackson's only strictly vegetarian and vegan restaurant operated by Rainbow Cooperative Grocery in Fondren. Tonight, Hooey will lead a meeting on …
Quick Video - Underground 119 Opening
This is from the Flip cam in a noisy jazz club setting, so pardon the audio:
I tossed this together after Donna and I *finally* got out of the office around 9:30pm last Friday (her Palm Desktop had a meltdown and I was trying in vain …
Town Hall Meeting in Jackson Tonight
Rep. Bennie Thompson, Mississippi's Democratic congressman from the state's Second Congressional District, will host a town-hall meeting in Jackson tonight. The meeting, providing an opportunity for constituents to get their …
Friday, August 21
Mississippi Test Scores Show Mixed Results
The Mississippi Department of Education released 2009 state school test results today showing slight gains in some areas and decreases in others. The 2008-2009 school year was the second year …
Ready for the Weekend Jackson?
If you can't find entertainment in Jackson this weekend, you're just not looking. Start the weekend right by heading to the Underground 119 grand opening, starting with a happy hour …
Cooking up Something Good
Today the Viking Cooking School, along with its partners Riverwood Home Appliances and Everyday Gourmet, will open its doors to the public. The grand opening is from 10 a.m. until …
Ben Payton
Ben Wiley Payton, 62, grew up with the Mississippi blues. The Coila, Miss. native listened to his grandmother, Mabel Johnson, playing gospel music on piano, and his uncle, Joe Birch, …
Film Company Casting in Mississippi
If you've had dreams of gracing the silver screen, Cypress Moon Productions may be able to grant your wish. Today and tomorrow, the Alabama-based film company is holding casting calls …
Thursday, August 20
Corps Finally Reveals $2.8 Million Flood Study
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/v3/images/uploads/two_lakes2.jpg
It's a Great Night in Jackson
August 20, 2009 - Whether you live or work in Jackson, or you've been looking for an excuse to come to town, take the opportunity tonight to get out, meet …
Mayor Brings Back Crime Unit, UMMC Grant
Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. reversed two of the last mayor's more controversial decisions Wednesday, announcing that he is bringing back the Crime Prevention Unit that Mayor Frank Melton eliminated four …
Jonathan Sims
Industrial technology may not be a subject you immediately connect with an artist, but for 29-year-old Jonathan Sims, metalworking is an essential part of his craft. Sims, artist in residence …
Agency Ready to Provide New Mortgages
On Monday, Mississippi Home Corporation, whose mission includes mortgage financing for the state's working families, announced that it is taking reservations for $25 million in bond funds for home buyers.
The Good News
The good news from the Mississippi Animal Rescue League is both Happy and Rosie have found forever homes. Happy and Rosie were both featured in the Jackson Free Press and …
Wednesday, August 19
God's Secret Club
The shocking details of Leisha Pickering's suit against the alleged mistress of former U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering is only the latest scandal connected with C Street House, a Washington, D.C.-based …
Alexis Larkin and Aaron Schwartz
Before Alexis Larkin and Aaron Schwartz met on J-Date, an online Jewish dating service, they each had gone out with people who had stretched the truth about themselves. Alexis had …
The Future of Anonymous Tablogging
Y'all enjoy the wild, wild west while it's still here. Thanks to personal-attack-filled "tablogs" (as I call tabloid-quality blogs), more and more people are suing over unsubstantiated and libelous attack …
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
High school football: The season officially kicks off in the metro area with a pair of intriguing games. First, it's St. Andrew's at Canton Academy (7 p.m., Canton, 1300 AM, …
Transitions
When managing editor Maggie Neff walked into my office a couple months ago and closed the door, I sensed what was coming. She and husband J.P. were moving to Chattanooga …
Last Balloon Out of Canton
When I arrive at the Canton Equine Center early July 3, I'm sleepy. But I slowly awake as I watch hot-air balloons aficionados staring up at the rich, orange sky.
Ratepayers, Beware
The Mississippi Public Service Commission will begin the first round of hearings Oct. 5 to determine the feasibility of an expensive, new coal-burning plant in Kemper County.
[Stiggers] Packing Heat for Health Care
Nurse Tootie McBride: "Greetings counter protesters! We're gathered today to counteract the anti-health-reform folk who disturb the politicians at the town-hall meetings."
[Kamikaze] ‘Their America'
When faced with overwhelming adversity, you often discover what some people are made of. When under great duress from fear of the unknown, you can also find out what people …
[Hutchinson] Obama's Death Threats
President Obama has gotten more death threats in a shorter period of time than any other president in U.S. history.
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Power Plays
Back in 2001, drivers heading down Highway 220 on cold weekday mornings could see plumes of heat billowing out of the exhaust towers of KGen's Jackson power plant on Beasley …
Eating Out
Not a Spectator Sport
Sitting in the brightly lit family life center of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Madison, I stared intently at the plate of barbecue chicken in front of me. To …
A Beautiful, Rambling Mess
Arthur Goldwag's "Cults, Conspiracies, and Secret Societies: The Straight Scoop on Freemasons, the Illuminati, Skull & Bones, Black Helicopters, the New World Order, and Many, Many More" is a messy …
Crisis of Righteousness
Some people argue that the purpose of good literature is to make you think, while the purpose of good art is to make you feel. While this is an oversimplification, …
Organic On A Budget
One of my mother's favorite family dinners is "Shake and Bake" chicken, made with a store-bought box of flavored bread crumbs used to coat the chicken pieces. Mom always serves …
Tattoo and Nail Shops ‘Undesirable' in ‘Burbs
In their zeal to protect their growing cities, aldermen in Ridgeland and Flowood have banned "undesirable" businesses, ranging from pawnshops and payday lenders to tattoo parlors and nail salons.
Magnolia Bar Wants Black Judge
The Magnolia Bar Association says it is examining the process by which Gov. Haley Barbour will select a replacement for convicted Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Bobby DeLaughter this month. …
Yosef Ali
Yosef Ali believed Jackson needed more options for restaurants, and in 2004 he opened Aladdin in the heart of Fondren.
Jackson Crime Stats for Aug. 10-16
Jackson police reported 238 major crimes last week, according to statistics (PDF) released this morning at a Jackson Police Department command staff meeting. Last week's total represents a 10 percent …
Young Philanthropists Host Baby Shower
"Labor of Love," the area's largest baby shower, will take place tomorrow, Aug. 20, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Schimmel's Restaurant (2615 N. State St.), providing an opportunity for …
Health Department Prepares for Swine Flu Vaccine
Every year, about 36,000 Americans die of flu-related complications, according the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. This year, swine flu joins the more common, older flu strains that become …
Tuesday, August 18
[Balko] Cross-Examining Forensics
The Supreme Court says that forensics analysts can be cross-examined ... for now.
Johnson to Present Budget to Council
Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. reminded Jackson City Council members at yesterday's payroll meeting that he will present his budget proposal to the council at a noon tomorrow, Aug. 19. …
Omar Morris
When Omar Morris walked into the Boys and Girls Club on West Capitol Street yesterday, he came to give the kids a treat. Morris and his business partner, Vinson Jackson, …
Hinds County Sheriff Launches Teen Driving Program
The Hinds County Sheriff's Department announced today the start of a teen safe-driving program aimed at reducing the number of teen deaths due to car accidents.
NFL: Favre Unretiring ... Again
Just three weeks ago, Brett Favre said he wasn't coming out of retirement to play for the Minnesota Vikings. He was lying.
Tonight: Childer's Tele-Town-Hall Meeting
Blue Dog Democratic Rep. Travis Childers announced yesterday that he will be holding a town-hall meeting via telephone tonight at 7:20 p.m. The congressman will make opening remarks, after which …
Monday, August 17
Fairview Inn Restaurant in Jeopardy
A restaurant at the Fairview Inn on Fairview Street could close to the public if a recent ruling by the Mississippi Supreme Court stands. On Thursday, the high court ruled …
Waterworks Flowing at Smith Park
The fountain in Smith Park is running again. The park, which sits in downtown Jackson along Amite Street, contains a large spill-over fountain with attached manmade creek that winds through …
Piano Man's Exit Leaves a Void
I first met Jim Dickinson in the mid-1980s, when I was writing editorials about the Memphis music industry for The Commercial Appeal in an effort to revitalize the local music …
Public Meetings This Week
Monday, August 17
4 p.m., Jackson City Council, Council Chambers, City Hall, 219 South President St.
West Nile Kills Second Victim
The Mississippi Department of Health is reporting a second death from the mosquito-borne West Nile Virus this summer, highlighting the fact that this well-known virus is more dangerous than the …
[MHAP] Spread The Truth About Health Care Reform
The Mississippi Health Advocacy Program believes Americans deserve to know the truth about how health insurance reform helps them and their families.
Saturday, August 15
A Glimpse of the Future in Midwestern Wind Farms
I've long lamented the fact that "the future" seems to be such an incremental affair. As we approach the year 2010, we have handheld communicators, swept and angular electric and …
Friday, August 14
Kelly Pates
If you've lived in Jackson for a few years or more, chances are you've heard the Patesa family roots-rock bandperform at local clubs, bars, festivals and other venues in the …
Zapping the Coverage Gap
The Mississippi Public Service Commission is pushing a program to help phone companies focus on areas with intolerably limited cell-phone coverage. Commissioner Brandon Presley adopted the multi-state "Zap the Gap" …
Movie Reviews, Sort of
"Daria: Is it Fall Yet?"
Yeah, I watched something with Daria Morgendorffer in it. The movie starts from where the fourth season ended. The last two episodes of the season are included in the special …
Foreclosures Down in Mississippi
The numbers of Magnolia State residents receiving foreclosure notices dropped dramatically in July. RealtyTrac, the California company that tracks foreclosure notices nationwide, reports a 38 percent drop in the state …
Thursday, August 13
Rosie is waiting for a home.
I was walking this morning in Fondren when it came to me I could spotlight a homeless dog a day for 365 days just like Julie did on her blog …
Warrs Say ‘Not Guilty'
Former Republican Gulfport Mayor Brent Warr and his wife Laura both pleaded not guilty yesterday to four new charges of misleading loan officers on two mortgage loans in 2003, before …
Thompson Schedules Health-Care Town Hall Meetings
In an effort to give Mississippians an opportunity to discuss the proposed health care reforms currently under debate in the U.S. Congress, Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson of the state's 2nd …
Johnny Bertram
With the Tuesday release of "Sing your Song," musician Johnny Bertram dished out a seven-song prelude to a full-length album scheduled to debut later this year.
State Receives Funds for Energy Emergency Preparedness
Yesterday, Rep. Travis Childers announced that Mississippi will receive more than $450,000 in federal funding to improve the state's emergency preparedness plans and ensure fast recovery of energy disruptions. The …
High School Football: 3 Mississippi Teams Among Nation's Best
Three Mississippi teams are ranked among the top 50 in the nation including Madison Central.
Wednesday, August 12
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Pro golf, PGA Championship (Thursday and Friday, 1 p.m., TNT; Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m., Ch. 12): Tiger Woods is looking for his first major title of the year. The …
Forward Commute
For the past year, I have embarked on what I call the backward commute. I worked in Ridgeland at the Madison County Journal, but lived in downtown Jackson. A Florida …
Ya Heard Me?
From Africa to America, everyone around the world has a story to tell, and more and more every day this story is being told through the medium of hip-hop.
The Real Local Alliance
Buying local is among the best things we can do for the country, for ourselves and for the planet. It keeps more money circulating in the local economy. Local businesses …
[Stiggers] No More Foolishness
Boneqweesha Jones: "Welcome to Boneqweesha Jones' Journal. My guest is Judy McBride, psychologist and author of a new book titled 'Coexisting in a Society of Race and Class,' with illustrations …
[Chatter] JFP Interns: Where Are They Now?
We loved 'em. We needed 'em. We used them. Just who are these unsung wonder-people I'm talking about? Interns!
[Eubanks] Wig Stylist, Road Warrior
Friday, July 17 was one of my fullest, weirdest, most interesting days as an intern. I usually came into the office Monday through Thursday, but had extended my schedule as …
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Jackpedia 2009
So you're new to Jackson. What next? Where do you eat, or drink tasty whiskey sours until you convince yourself to sing karaoke? Where do you find cool bargains and …
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[Jackpedia 2009] Guide to Shopping
So you want to jazz up your space without going broke? Several local shops and boutiques offer premium style for paltry prices. From funky photo frames and art pieces to …
Fit in Jackson
Fried chicken, biscuits with butter and honey, mashed potatoes with gravyall that outstandingly delicious Southern comfort food has a way of adding pounds and inches, fast. Add it to a …
Don't Wreck Yourself: Jackson's Guide to Jackson
New to town? Welcome. Wanna learn the ropes, kid? Well, ignore the glossy brochures found at the Chamber of Commerce and follow my lead.
Meals Under $10
Universal Fact: The recession sucks, and not everything is affordable these days. Everyone is budgeting and watching out for frivolous spending. However, don't let eating out be a killjoy.
A Personal Touch
Lacey Norris, 25, started working in the field of cosmetology after she decided that college was not for her.
Living for a Purpose
When Margaret Nana Yaa Baker moved back to her hometown of Jackson in 2002, she was disheartened at the lack of African culture in the area. She wanted to open …
Daniel Johnston
Daniel "Danny" Johnston, a senior music composition student at Belhaven College, mixes some of the most brilliant concoctions the city's coffee-drinkers can handle.
Jackson Restaurants Under New Ownership
Two Jackson-area restaurants, Char (4500 Interstate 55 N., Suite 142) and Amerigo (6592 Old Canton Road, Ridgeland), are under new ownership, following a half year in court-appointed receivership. David Joseph, …
Council Votes ‘No' on Library Name, ‘Yes' on Payroll
On Monday, the Jackson City Council voted down an ordinance renaming the Northside public library in honor of the late Jackson Advocate publisher Charles Tisdale, and voted for the city …
Spacecraft Coming to Jackson
A full-sized mockup of America's next-generation spaceship is making a stop in Jackson on its way from Florida to Texas. NASA's Orion crew exploration vehicle will dock at the Mississippi …
Jackson Crime Stats for August 3-9
Jackson saw a significant reduction in major crimes last week, according to a weekly report (PDF) released at today's Jackson Police Department command staff meeting. Jackson police reported 200 crimes …
Millsaps College is Mississippi's Best
Forbes.com put Millsaps College back in the news again, when it ranked the Jackson school as the best in the state based on educational quality, student experiences and their achievements. …
Tuesday, August 11
Anti-Semitism at Jackson-Based Right-Wing Blog?
Over at Ipse blog, attorney Jim Craig is calling out the local right-wing blog run by Alan Lange for anti-Semitism for a rather remarkable video they've cooked up against Travis …
Hey Palin: The ‘Death Panels' Are Already Here, Darlin'
Over on Salon, Mike Madden responds to ex-Gov. Sarah Palin's latest idiocy, stating what should be obvious to all of us: The "death panels" are already here:
Levee Board Rescinds 2007 Flood Control Approval
The Rankin-Hinds Pearl Flood and Drainage Control District voted to rescind its 2007 approval for a locally preferred flood control plan yesterday, and then voted unanimously to ask the U.S. …
[Balko] Surprise! Lobbying Industry Grows Along With Government
More government spending equals more lobbyists. It's a fairly obvious point, yet it flies in the face of two consistent leftist policy goals (or at least stated leftist policy goals).
Jackson Schools Complete Renovations
Nearly three years after the Jackson Public School District passed a $150 million bond issue for a capital improvement program to aid deteriorating infrastructure and overcrowding, renovations are complete at …
Sallie Eola Reneau
Yesterday, Mississippi University of Women President Claudia A. Limbert honored Sallie Eola Reneau, 131 years after her death. After an exhaustive 22-month search for an appropriate new name for the …
Happy the Caanan Mix
I was out at the Mississippi Animal Rescue League the other day and met Happy. Happy is a Canaan mix dog who was brought to Mississippi from Turkey. I had …
Barbour Defends Town Hall Confrontations
The recent spate of rowdy behavior at health-care town-hall meetings is because Americans don't understand the Obama administration's plan, Gov. Haley Barbour told reporters during a conference call Monday organized …
Monday, August 10
Court Grants Restraining Order Against JHA
Hinds County Chancery Court opted to grant Mississippi Housing Solutions a temporary restraining order to stop the Jackson Housing Authority from considering other bidders for development of a housing project …
Andre de Gruy
Attorney Andre de Gruy knows that the American justice system isn't perfect. Sometimes circumstances combine to convict people who didn't commit the crimes they're accused of. As director of Mississippi's …
[Parman] Redefining Service
In the early 1800s, when the United States recognized a need for military leadership, President Thomas Jefferson authorized the creation of West Point, a school uniquely crafted to address these …
Mississippi History Store Closing
The state Department of Archives and History says it will close the doors of the main Mississippi History Store, Sept. 30, due to low sales. The store, located in the …
Three Mississippi Colleges Named ‘Best Buys'
Mississippi State University, Mississippi College and Millsaps College all made the 2009 Forbes "Best College Buys" list, which divides a school's overall quality score by its average tuition rates for …
Saturday, August 8
College Football: Ole Miss No. 10 in Preseason Coaches Poll
Ole Miss is ranked No. 10 in the USA Today/Coaches preseason football poll.
Friday, August 7
Working for the Weekend?
It's Friday, and that means it's time to plan your weekend. Today, get a jump on barbecues and picnics by heading to the new farmer's market at the Jackson Medical …
JPS Board Seeks Budget Audits
The Jackson Public School Board chose not to approve some aspects of the school budget last night, including money for some new buses, textbooks and school nurses, citing the need …
MBN Seeing Spike in Meth Labs
Drug dealers and producers are getting smarter, says the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. The agency is seeing a rise lately in methamphetamine labs and in the numbers of cocaine investigations, …
Thursday, August 6
Goodbye, Bobby DeLaughter
Ever since the former Judge Bobby DeLaughter's plea deal with the feds was announced last week, with him headed to prison, we've heard the words "Cedric Willis" come out of …
Coming to Terms in the Delta
Forty years ago in Mississippi, federal judges had had enough. A decade and a half had come and gone since Brown v. Board of Education, and the state's public schools …
Childers on GOP Hit List
The National Republican Congressional Committee is campaigning early this season. The NRCC identified 70 Democrats to target for the 2010 election, according to an email obtained by Washington political periodical …
Myrlie Evers-Williams
Today, the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn., named Myrlie Evers-Williams, 76, as a 2009 National Freedom Award winner. Widow of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers, Evers-Williams became …
Stop! In the Name of Art
The long-anticipated "Stop! In the Name of Art: Motown/Downtown Invitational" will open today at the Arts Center of Mississippi with about 60 works displayed. Pieces vary in media, from photography …
[Jordan] New School Year; New Beginnings
Interim State Superintendent of Education
It's that time again. Summer break for our boys and girls is nearing an end. Communities are preparing activities to get everyone excited about the new school year. Parents are …
Wednesday, August 5
[Cool Kids Club] Seeing Clearly
Optometrist Dr. Tonyatta Hairston says it is important for children to get their eyes checked every year starting from age 3when most children can communicate if they are having some …
[Cool Kids Club] Power Hour
With school quickly approaching, many parents are asking, "Where will the children go after school?" Many after-school programs offer activities for youngsters, including the Boys and Girls club.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Major League Baseball, Atlanta at Los Angeles Dodgers (9 p.m., SportSouth, 620 AM): The memories of last weekend's beat down will still be fresh when the Braves roll into Mannywood.
Swallow and Smile
It was hazy outside. The rainstorm the night before had colored the sky a beautifully awful gray, and the dense humidity was palpable. The northbound lanes of Interstate 55 were …
Chasing Mimsy
Chris Mims, 34, has returned to city government, this time as director of the city's communications department. He worked as a staff member in the department in Mayor Harvey Johnson …
Johnson to Fill City Boards
Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. told the Jackson Free Press that he is putting a priority on filling city boards or re-committing board members whose terms expired under the last administration.
DeLaughter Pleads Guilty
Former Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Bobby DeLaughter, 55, resigned his job and pleaded guilty to misleading authorities this week. The former judge had five counts against him, all representing …
[Editiorial] Tutoring Privatization=Epic Fail
When Mississippi children return to school next week, money will follow them. The federal government provides Mississippi with more than $170 million to educate low-income students, with millions more for …
[Stiggers] Rewriting Ghetto History
Welcome to another reader's guide to Ken Stiggers. My last reader's guide (published April 22, 2009) explained the term "Ghetto Science Team."
Status of the National Civil Rights Museum
I read with interest the article "Civil Rights Museum in Trouble?" written by Adam Lynch in the Jackson Free Press. I was somewhat taken aback by the suggestions attributed to …
[Jacome] Scaling the Wall
"Mom, come take a picture." I am in the other room washing dishes. "What do you need?" I call out. "Come see what I'm doing." Now I'm worried.
Productive Pizza
Many ways exist for one to entertain the taste buds with warm breadthe kind that is slightly crunchy with a soft middle, piled high with gooey mounds of salty cheese …
Trial in the Desert
The year is 1942. The United States has just entered World War II, but England still stands almost alone against the Axis powers. Germany's Afrika Korps and their Italian allies, …
Sweatin' Suits
After performing at a local venue in Monroe, La., one night a few years ago, I quickly rushed my drums off stage to make way for the next band. Before …
[Herman's Picks] Vol. 7, No. 47
Martin's welcomes Mississippi newcomers this Thursday night. Milton Menasco & the Big Fiasco are a Bozeman, Mont.-based rock/soul three-piece band with a passion for funk and reggae. Listen to their …
'Southern Female Attitude'
Songs by Athens, Ga.-based band Drive-by Truckers run the gamut from "stories of corruption, crime and killing" (as Mike Cooley's "Cottonseed" puts it) to modern tales of the Iraq War …
'The Business of Us All
On an August day in 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till went inside a Money, Miss., grocery store to buy bubblegum with his cousin, Curtis. On his way out, newspaper clippings suggest, …
Business
Who's Getting Rich off ‘No Child Left Behind'?
In a fenced-in complex of buildings sandwiched between Capitol and Amite streets, a small tutoring business is making big money.
PSC Refuses Bill of Rights Vote
Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley lashed out at fellow commissioners Lynn Posey and Leonard Bentz after the two refused to vote on a proposed Mississippi Ratepayers' Bill of …
Mayor to Study Highway 80 Potential
Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. is putting the Highway 80 corridor on his agenda this year. The mayor announced a $500,000 study of MetroCenter Mall and the U.S. Highway 80 corridor …
Stacey Donaldson
Stacey Donaldson, an English teacher at Murrah High School, is the picture of confidence and calm. Pretty and pulled together, she looks you straight in the eye when she speaks.
Want a $100 Gift Card to Tye's Restaurant? Post a ‘Local List' on Jackpedia.com!
Inspired by The Clarion-Ledger's owners' bizarre and Orwellian attempt to redefine "local business," we've decided to launch a LocalList contest on Jackpedia.com. Just head to this Jackpedia 'Local Jackson' page …
Sports
NFL: Eli Cashes In
Eli Manning of the New York Giants has agreed to a seven-year, $106.9 million contract that will make him the highest-paid player in the league.
AG Sues Barbour Over Veto
Citing case law that restricts the Mississippi governor from selectively vetoing the purpose of an appropriation and redistributing its funds, Attorney General Jim Hood filed a lawsuit against Gov. Haley …
Tuesday, August 4
'ShopLocal' Blog Declares War on JFP; Says We're 'Misinformed'
In a post that can only be called "jaw-dropping" in its hubris, Gannett's ShopLocal blog has taken major umbrage with the JFP's special local-business issue last week, which exposed "local …
From A to C but where is B?
Youth Media Project
Oftentimes children will explain to you that they want to change the world or impact their society without knowing how.
[Balko] The Coroners Revolt
Mississippi coroners attempt to defy a ban on disgraced medical examiner Steven Hayne.
Brad White
As chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party, Brad White is on a mission: He's going to put a voter ID initiative on the ballot in November 2010. To accomplish that …
Barbour Calls for Prudence Amid Lagging Revenue
State tax collections fell below already lowered expectations in July, Gov. Haley Barbour announced yesterday in a statement urging state agencies to be cautious with their budgets.
Help! Jackpedia Needs to Know About Jackson's Best Bargains!
In the JFP's continuing quest to honor local Jackson-area businesses, we are publishing the 2009 Jackpedia next week -- a guide to the coolest and most local businesses, artists, people, …
West Nile Claims First 2009 Victim
Yesterday, the Mississippi State Department of Health reported the first death of the 2009 season due to West Nile virus. The deceased was from Washington County in the Delta. Three …
Monday, August 3
Jim Ingram
Mississippians owe much of the freedoms that we now enjoy, not to a governor or a legislative body, but to a legendary FBI agent named Jim Ingram. Sadly, he passed …
Public Meetings This Week
Monday, Aug. 3
Jackson Public Schools special meeting, 5:30 p.m. school board meeting room, 621 S. State Street.
Builder Guild Improves Gulf Coast Workforce Housing Standards
Gulf Coast Renaissance Corporation, a nonprofit organization that focuses on affordable housing in the Mississippi counties hardest hit by 2005's Hurricane Katrina, has revised and improved its standards for affordable …
Legislative Tab Comes in at $21 Million
Mississippians are paying a $21 million bill from the state Legislature this year, $2 million more than 2008, according to the state auditor's annual report. The 13-month session, which ended …
When push comes to shove, shove back and follow through….
Youth Media Project
I began to be asked questions like, "So you're from Mississippi, I hear racism and homophobia are pretty bad down there.." or "I'm afraid to go there because of being …
What About the Generations to Come?
Youth Media Project
Jackson is missing out on a major cash cow. It's definitely something they should think about.
Sunday, August 2
Jackpedia Coming Aug. 12—Need Your Help Compiling It!
1. What is the best thing about living in Jackson? (Be specific! Contact info helps!)
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Saturday, August 1
Hitched: Premier Bridal Show Connects Vendors and Brides-to-Be
Brides, brides, and more brides. Chatting with their lady companions, they formed a long line in the lobby of the Embassy Suites Ridgeland. All of them were waiting to get …
Two New Exhibits Open at MMA
This weekend, the Mississippi Museum of Art will unveil two new exhibits, "Name Change: One Artist, 12 Personas, 35 Years" and "Mississippi Invitational." The latter is an exhibition of 10 …
