Friday, October 30
Jackson Recognized, Again, for Business Climate
Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. send out a statement this afternoon, announcing that Jackson has again been recognized for the city's strong business climate, as it has several times in recent …
Aerospace Alliance Draws Fire From Unions
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour's support for an aerospace jobs initiative among Gulf Coast states puts him at odds, with a familiar opponent: labor unions. On Oct. 26, Barbour joined his …
Robby Channell
Robby Channell, media manager at Baptist Health Systems, received the Senior Practitioner award from the Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), Oct. 8 at the Gold Strike Casino Resort In Tunica.
What's Happening this Weekend
If you're stumped for a family-friendly Halloween event, check out Halloween Happenings, which lists no less than nine area events for family fun. Sweet and Safe provides guidelines for keeping …
First Black Judge Sworn In Under Barbour
The state of Mississippi swore in its first African American judge under Republican Gov. Haley Barbour this morning.
Thursday, October 29
Response to an Irrelevant Blogger
This week, John Yargo writes in the JFP about The Ole Miss Rebels and their Irregular Season. You can follow him at The Irregular Season Blog. As you can see, …
Jones Drafts Legislation to Protect Abuse Victims
A Mississippi Gulf Coast lawmaker is drafting a bill that will protect domestic-violence victims from being victimized again. Rep. Brandon Jones, D-Pascagoula, vice-chairman of the House Insurance Committee, says his …
Knife Fight at Holocaust Denier Book-Signing
A knife fight broke out at a Monday book-signing for Holocaust revisionist David Irving in Florida. Two audience members battled it out near a crowd of guests at the author's …
Crime Reports Mixed: Jackson Crime Stats for Oct. 19-25
Major crimes in Jackson last week stayed level with numbers from the previous week, according to a report released today at a Jackson Police Department command staff meeting. Officers reported …
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Viking Classic, Madison Central v. Northwest Rankin and the Rebels see if they can prove something (anything, really) against Auburn on Halloween day. Ah-oooh!
Flu Vaccine Info ‘Nearly Pure Bunk'
People have been receiving all kinds of bad information about the new vaccinations for swine flu via e-mail and flyers. "We've seen e-mails stating that the vaccine is tainted with …
Wednesday, October 28
David Irving: 'Nothing Short of Monstrous'
David Irving is guaranteed to cause a rumble wherever he goesas he did in Jackson earlier this month after white supremacist Richard Barrett promoted his Oct. 21 presentation at City …
The Irregular Season
Unfortunately, this year's Egg Bowl is shaping up to be one of the worst rivalry matchups in the football season. (The Apple Cup, between the University of Washington and Washington …
Decoupage Your Pumpkin
Mateo, my son, loves Halloween. He claims it is one of his favorite days of the year, but he says that about his birthday and Christmas, too. I like Halloween, …
Sweet and Safe
These days, not a lot of people go door-to-door for trick-or-treating. Many families attend local harvest festivals or parties at their kids' schools or churches. Nevertheless, if you are taking …
Halloween Happenings
Looking for a night of great family entertainment? Check out these places this Halloween and let the fun begin.
Whip It Good
Every year for Halloween, I struggle when it come to finding the perfect costume. Instead of dressing up as an oversexed nurse or pop star, I've always found it a …
JPS Needs To Level With Public
The Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees made a mistake last week in not renewing the district's music education contract with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra.
[Stiggers] Momma's Mad
Mr. Announcer: "In the ghetto criminal justice system, the people are represented mostly by two members of the McBride family: Dudley 'Do-Right' McBride, and attorney Cootie McBride of the law …
JPS Students Need Strings
Sometimes I wonder if the people in charge of making decisions about education realize we are the future. We kids are affected by the school board's decision to cut out …
Cover
Saved By Grace
The fighter lies on the floor in a locker room at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. He lets it all go as country music streams from his headphones to help him …
The Sela Ward Story
When Sela Ward stars in a motion picture or a television show and has the freedom to use the full range of her talent, you certainly know that you've seen …
Halloween Flicks
I've never been one to trick-or-treat or dress up for parties, but Halloween is the perfect time to switch off the lights, turn up the volume and sink uneasily into …
Golden Boy
If you ever meet Jackson rapper Rob Gold, you're sure to find him wearing some sort of Mississippi paraphernalia, usually his signature diamond-encrusted necklace, which is the shape of the …
[Herman's Picks] Vol. 8, No. 7
With all the rainy weather lately, you may be compelled to curl up on the couch, zone into the annual "Ghost Hunters" marathon and make your way to the bottom …
Spring Break Out
Combine rock, R&B, hip-hop and electronic music, and you have an eclectic band called Storage 24. Yet, despite their mix of varying genres, the band has a passion that ties …
Back to Life
Though Steven "T-Bear" Johnson never met his grandfather, the famous blues musician Robert Johnson, stories have been passed on from family members since T-Bear can remember.
The Empowerment of Sil Lai Abrams
Empowerment specialist and domestic-violence awareness activist Sil Lai Abrams, author of the book "No More Drama: Nine Simple Steps of Transforming a Breakdown Into a Breakthrough," expresses a desire to …
Candy Apple Memories
Candy Apple Memories
Both my parents were raised in the suburbs south of Chicago. Growing up, I heard stories from my dad about going to the annual county fair as a child, where …
Grownup Punch
Halloween is my favorite time of year, and I take great umbrage with those who insist dressing up is only for children. I'm loath to turn down an opportunity to …
Otis "Obeyjah" White
Sitting in a lounge chair in his living room, dressed in jeans, a T-shirt and wearing a red, green and yellow Rastafarian crown, Otis "ObeyJah" White beats conga drums in …
[Mott] The Cost of Executions
Quitman County, Miss., population 10,500, raised taxes for three years and borrowed $150,000 to provide legal counsel to Robert Simon and Anthony Carr, sentenced to death for the 1990 murders …
Mayor to Hold Up Sales Tax Hike?
Last session, the Mississippi Legislature enacted a referendum vote for a sales tax increase to fix city streets and improve public safety, but Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. says that …
Barbour's Medicaid Letter a Half-Truth?
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour pinched a nerve in September that's still causing pain for some health-insurance reform advocates. Barbour sent a Sept. 8 letter to Mississippi Republican Sens. Thad Cochran …
Obama to Sign Hate Crime Legislation
In a ceremony today at the White House, President Barack Obama will sign a bill into law that has been in the works for more than a decade. The bill …
Tuesday, October 27
JSU Breaking Ground on University Place
A long-awaited development project near Jackson State University has begun its first phase at the corner of Dalton and Lynch Streets. The JSU Development Foundation, which supports the university through …
Servia Fortenberry
If anyone is more American than apple pie, it would have to be Servia Fortenberry. Fortenberry, 39, is a native of Magnolia, Miss., and mother to two sons, Malcolm Williams, …
Gorgeously Green at JSU
In an effort to make a positive change on campus and around the community, Go Green JSU week at Jackson State University runs through Thursday, Oct. 29. "Going Green: It's …
[Balko] We're All Felons, Now
Perpetual public fear of crime has turned us all into criminals.
Barbour Appoints Malcolm Harrison to DeLaughter's Old Judge Spot
Verbatim from Gov. Barbour's office this morning:
Jackson, Mississippi – Governor Haley Barbour today announced the appointment of S. Malcolm O. Harrison, of Jackson, as Circuit Court Judge for the Seventh Judicial District, Sub-district 4, serving Hinds …
Barbour Joins Aerospace Alliance
Yesterday, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour joined fellow Republicans Gov. Bob Riley from Alabama and Gov. Bobby Jindal from Louisiana, in forming the Aerospace Alliance. Executives from two defense contractors, Northrop …
Monday, October 26
Mayor Appoints New Department Heads
Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. announced during the Jackson City Council meeting this afternoon that he was appointing Pieter Teeuwissen as city attorney and Corrine Fox as director of the Department …
Parents, Educators Call on JPS to Renew Music Program
UPDATED October 26, 2009
Complaints inundated Jackson Public Schools Board members after a tie vote on Oct. 20 failed to renew a music education program that serves elementary students across the district. The roughly …
Chavez Brings the Light
The Ward 2 People's Task Force and the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement joined forces Saturday to hand out about 4,000 free compact fluorescent light bulbs to Mississippi residents. People could …
Lukisha Cork
Lukisha Cork, 35, knows an opportunity worth grabbing when she sees it. The Greenville mother of four boys, aged 12 to 17, will be receiving her certified nursing assistant certificate …
Community Events and Public Meetings
Go Green JSU Week Oct 26-29, at Jackson State University, College of Liberal Arts (1400 John R. Lynch St.). This week of events includes a fashion show, an art exhibit …
2009 New Orleans Saints = Real Deal?
Seven weeks into the season and the New Orleans Saints remain undefeated at 6-0, having pulled themselves out of the cellar on Sunday in a challenging contest against Miami. The …
Barbour to Speak at Health Care Symposium
Tuesday, Oct. 27, Mississippi College will host "The Business of Healthcare" symposium at the Jackson Convention Complex. Gov. Haley Barbour will present the keynote address, and other speakers include political …
Friday, October 23
Gene Taylor to Nancy Pelosi: Repeal Insurance Company Anti-Trust Exemption
It seems that every since the AHIP (American Health Insurance Providers) went rogue with their "report" on the costs of healthcare reform and their push to get GOP lawmakers to …
Burkhalter Stepping in as Interim U.S. Attorney
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder picked federal prosecutor Don Burkhalter to serve as interim United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi today. Burkhalter, who served as No. 2 …
JSU Gets $500K Entergy Grant
Jackson State University is dedicating a laboratory and a new power-systems degree track in its engineering program, thanks to a grant from Entergy. The power company has awarded JSU with …
Laura Dees
Soon after Laura Dees gave birth to a baby girl named Ella Cate on May 1, 2008, Dees' daughter was diagnosed with a heart condition that thickened the valves of …
Weekend Happenings
Ever feel the need to cut up and act like a damn Yankee? You'll get your chance tonight at Sophia's, located in the Fairview Inn in Belhaven, starting at 6:30 …
Update: School Board Meeting Cancelled
UPDATED October 23, 2009
The Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees has canceled a special meeting today, because "additional information is needed for a recommendation to approve Qualified School Construction Bond Projects," according to …
Thursday, October 22
Hearing on Renaming Library Racially Divided
Two sides are fighting for a name for the library on Northside Drive, and both were divided along racial lines at today's special hearing. Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes, who …
Fearless Jackson Goes to the Fair
Jackson Breland filed this video report from the last weekend of the Mississippi State Fair. Enjoy:
The Public Option…It's Baaaack
Things are starting to get interesting in the healthcare legislation. From ABC's the Note, Jonathan Karl is reporting that word is now that Harry Reid may well include the "public …
Bus Strikers Want Deal Soon
Union bus drivers for Hinds County schools say the part-time pay for drivers isn't enough to keep food on the table.
Jackson Home Prices Bucking National Trend
While most of the country continues to see a drop in home prices in the wake of the housing and foreclosure crises, Jackson home prices will be going in the …
Kathryn Stockett
The Mississippi Library Association's Authors Award Committee will honor author Kathryn Stockett tonight at a banquet held in the University of Southern Mississippi's Thad Cochran Center.
Holocaust Denier Goes Underground to Ridgeland Hotel
UPDATED October 22, 2009
Holocaust Denier David Irving informed the Jackson Free Press that his public engagement, originally planned for City Hall at 6 p.m. Wednesday, was going underground at an undisclosed location, so …
State Unemployment Rate Drops Again
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Mississippi dropped to 9.2 percent in September, representing 112,500 people collecting unemployment benefits, down from 9.7 percent in August, which represented a 1 percent …
Mike Huckabee Criticizes Government Emergency Assistance
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee used his address at Salvation Army's annual dinner in Jackson last night to criticize the role of government in …
Wednesday, October 21
Doc's Mid-Term Grades
Dr. S is handing out his mid-term grades to Mississippi football teams ... and it ain't pretty.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Junior college football, Copiah-Lincoln at Hinds (6:30 p.m., Raymond): The Eagles' sad season finally ends.
Cori Anderson and Mark Sullivan
Cori Anderson, then 16, was at a friend's house back in summer 2002 when she overheard Mark Sullivan, 18, telling someone he wanted to get rid of his car in …
Symbiotic
Green is en vogue, and I don't mean the color. Sporting purses and jewelry made from recycled materials, celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Christina Applegate, Sienna Miller and Katherine Heigl are …
Why ‘Local' is a ‘Good' Thing
"Chamber of Commerce Announces Free Enterprise Climate Policy" read the headline of the e-mail in my in-box on Monday morning.
Argument for Yearbook Refusal Unfounded, Says ACLU
The ACLU of Mississippi says the Copiah County School District was wrong not to allow a lesbian student to place a yearbook photo.
Walk the Local Talk
Here at the Jackson Free Press, we know well how hard it can be for a small, locally owned business to stand up to a corporation that wants to stamp …
[Stiggers] Facing the Facts
Judy McBride: "Welcome to my 'Coping with the Trials and Struggles of Life' class. My objective is to show you how to deal with negativity."
[Kamikaze] The ‘Balloon Boy' Story
Sometimes I think we live in a bizarro worlda place where logic and reason don't always win out. Up is down. Left is right. Its like we're in an alternate …
[Israel] No Check Required
This weekend, law-abiding citizens will attend the Mississippi Gun Show and undergo a background check to purchase a firearm from a federally licensed firearm dealer.
Parents Should Make Plans for Getting Kids to School
With school bus drivers employed by First Student threatening a strike beginning Thursday morning, the Hinds County School District is urging parents to make alternate plans for getting their kids …
Every Bit Counts
Want to make a difference but don't have a lot of time? Want to donate but don't know where or how much? Many local non-profits are addressing these issues by …
Giving Every Little Bit Counts
Every donation counts. No matter how much you have to give, the donations of everyday people like you and me make a difference in the lives of others.
Operation Adopt
When you hear adoption, you probably think of kids or kittens. But adoption is now expanding to ideas, and thanks to technological advancements, "adopting" a cause can happen with a …
A Food Revolution
In an effort to build local-based food economies and support local farmers, the local food movement has recently sprouted in cities throughout the country.
Cover
Living Better Locally
Too often, the latest "in" thing is something stupid, or even deadly: 5-inch platform shoes, reality TV shows, texting while driving.
Hot Author, Cold Biscuits
We know a few things to be constant in the South: Coworkers are extended family members, porch swings are adult-sized cradles, the weather changes its mind at the drop of …
Greeting the Troops
A man in army fatigues walks off a plane along with a number of identically dressed soldiers. His two sons greet him on the ramp, and then he picks up …
You Cannot Escape
An unwrapped mummy towers over your seat and keeps inching forward. His voice echoes off The Cedars' walls. His awkward arms stretch out before him. His eyes bug out.
Saving the Guts
Survey a random crowd of people for their favorite Halloween-related activities, and you'll hear costumes, candy, parties and, probably, carving a pumpkin. But before you get to the fun of …
Pumpkin Party
I eat pumpkin seeds year-round, but it's never as gratifying as roasting the seeds out of your own jack-o'-lantern. Most ready-to-eat varieties are more salt than seed, and while it's …
[Rob In Stereo] Voodoo and Insanity
In 1999, the Voodoo Music Festival began in New Orleans and promptly became the fall counterpart to spring's Jazzfest. The lineup is always diverse enough to deliver a few can't-miss …
Weill Lone Vote Against New Chiefs
The Jackson City Council confirmed Police Chief Rebecca Coleman and Fire Chief Raymond McNulty after a brief hearing yesterday. Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes was not available for the hearing, …
JPS Board Drops Music Program
The Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees failed to renew funding for a music education program yesterday, effectively discontinuing a 42-year-old collaboration with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. Board members voted …
Julieta Mendez
The poster on Julieta Mendez's office wall at Catholic Charities reads "Communication: Build bridges, not walls." By working and communicating with immigrants, Mendez is building bridges for people in the …
Costs Mounting for Levees, Lake Plans
Legislators say the chances of the Mississippi Legislature approving funding to build levees in Jackson and surrounding counties are slim, especially since it has taken so long to reach consensus …
Tuesday, October 20
Council Confirms Coleman as New Police Chief
In a 5-to-1 vote today, the Jackson City Council confirmed Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr.'s candidate for Jackson police chief, Rebecca Coleman. Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill was the lone dissenting …
[Balko] Failing His Way to Higher Office
Bumbling Prince George's County, Maryland Sheriff Michael Jackson wants a promotion.
Rains Hurt State Fair, Helped Local Restaurants
The weather was unkind to the Mississippi State Fair last week, but the near-constant rain was a boon for one segment of Jackson: downtown restaurant owners. Fair director Billy Orr …
Weill Challenges Mayor Over Bond Money
The Jackson City Council and Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. got off on the wrong foot at the Monday work session after Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill inquired whether the city …
Karen Parker
Before Byron Knight opened Sneaky Beans coffee shop on North State Street in Fondren, just about a year ago, the little house was home to Karen Parker's store, New Vibrations, …
Swine Flu Vaccine Injections Available
The Mississippi Department of Health has received an injectable version of the Swine Flu vaccine, reports WXVT. Spokeswoman Liz Sharlot said the state took delivery of 60,000 doses of the …
Radio Show of Shows
Transcript from this morning's show:
FJ: Good morning and good grief, this is Fearless Jackson and you are listening to your favorite morning show in the entire neighborhood. News this morning. None. Nothing happened. You …
Monday, October 19
Mississippi Farmers Could See 100 Percent Crop Losses
The Mississippi State Fair isn't the only thing suffering because of the state's run of bad weather. The state is considering declaring entire Mississippi counties disaster areas because of enormous …
Hinds Supes Go to Executive Session on Detention Center
Hinds County Supervisors considered adopting a memorandum of understanding with a youth justice advocacy organization at a board meeting this morning. The proposed memorandum, which the board discussed in a …
Dr. James Bowley
"I love my job!" proclaims Dr. James E. Bowley on his Web site. Bowley, an associate professor in the Millsaps College department of religious studies, teaches courses on the Bible …
Community Events and Public Meetings This Week
Raise the Roof, Oct. 19-23, at Jackson Medical Mall (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.). The Jackson Medical Mall Foundation prepares the homes of four senior citizens in the community for …
Fair Extended Through Today
With attendance nearly rained out during the regular run of the Mississippi State Fair, organizers extended the run on Friday, hoping to make up some of their expected revenue. Attendance …
Sunday, October 18
Saint's Go 5-0, Beat Eli's Giants
The New Orleans Saints (5-0) scored on their first drive and never looked back in an offensive effort that gained over 500 yards, with seven different Saints making it into …
Mississippi's Own Storage 24 Wins Band of the Year Honors at National Battle of the Bands
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!!!
Congrats are in order for Mississippi's own Storage 24. The hometown Rock Band came in 1st Place (out of ten bands from around the country) and was named Band of …
Friday, October 16
School Proponents Urge Budget Cut Restraint
UPDATED: October 16, 2009
Education advocates are urging Gov. Haley Barbour to resist making further cuts to the state's education budget in response to revenue shortfalls yesterday. Barbour warned this week that more budget …
Supreme Court: Fairview Illegally Zoned
The Mississippi Supreme Court refused to revisit its August decision regarding a four-star bed and breakfast in Jackson. The court had earlier decided that the city of Jackson had illegally …
Linda Francomb
When Linda Francomb's daughter, Heather Spencer, was brutally murdered by her boyfriend Sept. 11, 2007, Francomb could have chosen to spend her days wallowing in grief; no one could have …
What To Do This Weekend
Looks like we may have seen the last of the summer heat, and the rain may finally be clearing out. Saturday will be a great day to grab a sweater …
Funds Available for Home Heating
For Mississippians who need assistance heating their homes this winter, federal funds are available to help those eligible pay their gas and electric bills through the Low Income Home Energy …
Thursday, October 15
Johnson: Test Scores Reflect Education Funding
Mississippi NAACP President Derrick Johnson blames legislators for the state's low rank in a national summary of elementary school math grades. "The Nation's Report Card: Mathematics 2009," released yesterday, outlines …
Jackson Police Putting Focus on Property Crime
Assistant Police Chief Lee Vance called on Jackson police to concentrate on property crimes in the city, noting at a meeting today that the Jackson Police Department has a "realistic …
Quentin Whitwell
Quentin Whitwell, 37, is a local political advisor and the go-to guy for many campaigns in the state. He co-founded the largely Republican government-relations firm The Talon Group in 2004, …
Bus Drivers Fighting for Contract Improvements
School bus drivers in Hinds, Madison, Clay and Yazoo counties are negotiating for better wages to bring them up from the lowest levels in the area. The drivers, employees of …
Wednesday, October 14
Cover
The JFP Ode To ‘80s Fashion
Whether you remember the 80's or not, it was a decade of rebellion, glitter and high fashion.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
College football, Delta State at North Alabama (7 p.m., Florence, Ala., CSS, 930 AM): The stumbling Statesmen face their nemesis, the unbeaten Lions. It could be a long night for …
Into the Groove
Back in the 1980s, I wasn't too worried about much of anything. I was living in Washington, D.C., working by day as a legal assistant for a huge broadcast corporation …
Dirty Laundry
The Mississippi Democratic Party called on Gov. Haley Barbour last week to speak openly about allegations that former U.S Rep. Chip Pickering laundered a $5,000 donation from his political action …
An Enduring Insurance Exchange
News regarding health-care reform hovers incessantly around either defending or attacking of the so-called public insurance option, a section of H.R. 3200 that provides a government-funded insurance option for customers …
Jackson's Comeback
You can feel it in the air. Jacksonians are starting to believe in the power of Mississippi's capital city to be great, to rise from the ashes that fiery politics …
[Stiggers] Health Care a la Mode
Boneqweesha Jones: "It's 'Qweesha 2009 TV, the show with news and views you should use in your critical thinking process. My guest is Chef Low Fat Meat, the Galloping Gourmet …
[Mott] Bearing Witness
I inherited my love of history from my dad, who had a passion for it. A genuine scholar, the true stories he told around the dinner table were more engaging …
Miss Eudora's State Fair
Eudora Welty not only offers insight into southern culture through literature, but she also reveals the history of the Mississippi State Fair through photographs.
From Blues to Hip-Hop
When I heard about Ali Neff's book on the Clarksdale hip-hop scene, I was relieved that someone had finally decided to talk about something other than the blues. Someone was …
Tired Shoes
Jill McCorkle's short story collection, "Going Away Shoes,"reads like a short soap opera. Narrated by a parade of middle-aged women sharing their fantasies and failures in love, the 11 stories …
Bad Moon Rises ... Again
Stu Cook and Doug Clifford were born just hours apart in Oakland, Calif., on April 25, 1945. By 1959, Cook and Clifford, along with brothers John and Tom Fogerty, then …
Chicks That Mosh
One of the bigger waves of last year in indie rock was the return (for the umpteenth time) of a lo-fi, reverb-heavy sound indebted to British bands like Joy Division …
[Herman's Picks] Vol. 8, No. 5
This week starts off with a singer-songwriter night at Hal & Mal's restaurant on Wednesday, Oct. 14. Among the performers starting at 8 p.m. will be Jeff Maddox, Anthony Little, …
Making Fair Food at Home
You might go for the extra-long corn dog, or choose an old favorite and navigate a Penn's chicken-on-a-stick. My favorite part of that stick of food is the fried pickles, …
Jewish Organization Asks City to Block Holocaust Denier
UPDATED October 14, 2009
The American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants sent an e-mail to the Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. last night asking him to bar Holocaust refuter David Irving …
Navy Going Green
U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus says the Navy will go "green" in the next few years. Mabus appeared at the Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Symposium Lecture Series Friday at the …
STEPS: Barbour's Good Idea?
A new Mississippi program that will use federal welfare funds to help hire new employees has many policy analysts excited. The Subsidized Transitional Employment Program and Services, or STEPS Program, …
Intertwined
"The Bridge," an art exhibit at Jackson State University, features numerous local artists. They are "vibrant, imaginative and diverse," said McCain, a local painter, during the exhibit's opening last week.
Arthur Jones
Twice a month, Arthur Jones, 34, dons his overalls and gets down to business. With a pocket designated for his thermometer, and using tools he forged himself, he lights the …
Baptist Hospital Gets Top National Ratings
HealthGrades, a leading independent health care rating organization, has awarded Jackson's Baptist Medical Center more five-star ratings than any hospital in Mississippi, and ranks the center among the top 10 …
Tuesday, October 13
BREAKING: Jackson 11th Best City For Small Business
The Jackson Free Press has just learned that Fortune Small Business has named Jackson a "best place to launch" a small business. Jackson ranks 11th on the magazine's list of …
Medical Mall Aids Seniors With ‘Raise the Roof'
The Jackson Medical Mall will provide new roofs and other much-needed home repairs to four Jackson senior citizens through its fall "Raise the Roof" campaign. With seniors making up 65 …
You Tell Us!
In honor of this week's special ode to the onerous '80s, today's Person of the Day is a JFP staffer pictured here when he was a strapping young Jacksonian, complete …
[Balko] Scenes From a Crackdown
Police overkill, such as that displayed at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh, is becoming more common every day.
State Tops in Providing Healthy Foods
The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta have named Mississippi one of the top states in the country for providing healthy, nutritious foods in secondary schools. The CDC report, "Profiles …
Monday, October 12
Holocaust Denier Appearing in City Hall?
Holocaust refuter David Irving will appear in Jackson City Hall Oct. 21, according to attorney Richard Barrett, of Learned, Miss. Barrett, a self-avowed white separatist, sent out an e-mail this …
GO Zone Deadlines Coming and Going
Local governments in southern and central Mississippi must begin using federal funds for disaster recovery by the end of the year, according to Gov. Haley Barbour. Barbour recently sent a …
Kristen Thigpen
Before accepting her new job with the Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Kristen Thigpen didn't personally know anyone who had been a victim of intimate partner abuse. Since she took …
Public Meetings and Community Events
Monday, Oct. 12
69th Annual Beauty Professional Association Meeting Oct 10-13, at the Clarion Hotel (5075 Interstate 55 S.). Manufacturers and vendors will be on hand in the Exhibitor Hall. The President of …
Unclaimed Property Booth Set Up at Fair
One of the more unusual booths at this year's Mississippi State Fair is the one manned by the state treasurer's office. Staffers at the Unclaimed Property Booth, located inside the …
Friday, October 9
Katrina Victims Claim Victory in State Supreme Court
The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled on a two-year-old court case related to Hurricane Katrina yesterday, opining that insurance companies could not refuse coverage for wind damage on the Long Beach …
Navy Names Ship After Medgar Evers
The U.S. Navy is naming a ship in honor of Medgar Evers, the civil rights leader who was assassinated outside his Jackson home in 1963. Navy Secretary and former Mississippi …
Thank God It's Friday
'Nuff said about that, right? Kick off the weekend right by joining the JFP gang at Hal & Mal's tonight for another (in)famous version of Southern Fried Karaoke. It's a …
Connie McCaa
Dr. Connie McCaa has set her professional bar high. This week she was again ranked by Best Doctors, an international, independent medical resource, as one of the leading doctors in …
Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to President Barack Obama "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has …
Thursday, October 8
Wicker and Cochran Vote to Protect Contractors, Not Women
Both U.S. senators from MississippiThad Cochran and Roger Wickervoted against an amendment by Minnesota Sen. Al Franken halting government funding for defense contractors who deny assault victims their day in …
Farish Street Nightclub to Increase Security
Attorneys for the Birdland Restaurant and Lounge reached an agreement with Jackson city attorneys yesterday to close the Farish Street nightclub for 30 days while addressing security concerns stemming from …
Dress for Success Honors Women of Strength
First impressions may never be more important than when a job applicant walks into an interview. For many women, learning how to make a good first impression and then maintaining …
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Junior college football, Itawamba at Hinds (7 p.m., Raymond): The Indians and Eagles collide in a matchup of two-win teams. UFL football, California at Las Vegas (8 p.m., Versus): The …
Erica Haskell
From her experiences in countries as far away as Bosnia-Herzegovina, Erica Haskell has gained a deep understanding of music and how it relates to politics and culture. This fall she …
Commission Seeks Comments on Proposed Plant
The Mississippi Public Service Commission has announced its intention to take public comments tomorrow on the proposed $2.4 billion Mississippi Power generating plant in Kemper County. The PSC is in …
Wednesday, October 7
Development
KBR to Engineer Kemper Plant?
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth was electrocuted in his shower stall in Iraq in January 2008. Army documents showed that KBR Engineering and Construction had inspected the building and …
Turn up the Heat
Two quarterbacks could decide their teams' games on Saturday. But only one of them will be playing.
I Can See Clearly Now
"Don't put those on, they'll give you a headache," my mother would tell me when I was little. She was referring to her coke-bottle glasses that she only wore at …
Time For Strength
I was talking to a police officer recently about a domestic-abuse situation I'm worried about. It was the case of a local woman whose partner has beaten her for years. …
No Flood Plan = Higher Rates
Jackson insurance agent Hank Aiken warns that some home-owner insurance policies could triple in price if the Federal Emergency Management Agency changes local flood maps without the benefit of a …
Teens Expect JSU Hazing
A Former Forest Hill High School band director and a local Jackson attorney say that high-school students know what they're getting into when they try out for the Jackson State …
PSC: Keep Rates Low
The Mississippi Public Service Commission has a hard decision before it.
[Stiggers] Aunt Tee Tee, Certified Geek
TaaQweema Jenkins: "Welcome to the final segment of the Ghetto Science Team Public Television special program reviewing of the inspirational documentary titled 'L.O.M.O.: The Life Time Achievement of Aunt Tee …
[You Turn] Oxford's Mean Girls
At the Lyric Theater in Oxford I recently encountered a very strange example of Southern femininitythe vicious sorority girl inflamed by pledge week. The Lyric has quickly become a world-class …
Lessons of Spencer's Death
Awareness has a huge role in making Mississippiand the U.S.a safer place for women. Created in 2006, the Attorney General's Office Domestic Violence Division, works with the entire judicial system …
Crime
Honoring Heather
It is truly a small world that we live in. I attended high school with Mary Heather Spencer, and even though we ran in different circles, I remember hearing of …
Cover
Did She Have To Die?
By 10 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2007, the temperatures were well on their way to 93 degrees when JPD Sgt. Eric Wall pulled his cruiser into the turn lane on …
Author Harry MacLean on Mississippi
When author and lawyer Harry MacLean arrived in Jackson from Denver to chronicle the federal kidnapping trial of ex-Klansman James Ford Seale, he was prepared to confront a dark history …
Real Mississippi
With the title "The Past is Never Dead", Harry MacLean invokes the famous Faulknerian quotation: "The past is never dead. It's not even past." This theme is the foundation of …
All in the Family
The drummer bobs her head as she keeps steady, brassy time, giving the cymbals a lot of love in just the right places. The bass player strums his six-string bass …
'On That Train and Gone,' The Scramblers
Traditional folk music was once played on back porches, at barn dances and in parlors throughout small-town Mississippi but was nearly lost in recent years. The Scramblers are bringing some …
Hello, Melissa Ferrick
Melissa Ferrick, 39, has been busy recording a cover of Radiohead's "High and Dry" for her forthcoming album, but has stopped long enough to call me. She is slightly flustered, …
Breakfast with Mateo
Oatmeal was a staple in my son's breakfast menu for most of his preschool years. As a working mom, I chose it because it was easy to make and filling …
Cooking
Eggless Breakfast
Breakfast always seems to center around the incredible, edible egg. Perhaps it's time, though, that we update our breakfast tables with another centerpiece, something else just as tasty and versatile֖tofu.
[Moore] Stop the Insanity!
I hate the fact that for so many years I believed the propaganda. It is printed, reported, over-reported and regurgitated across all media about the city of Jackson: "Don't go …
How the Masons Got In City Hall
When Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. mentioned in passing at a Sept. 15 City Council meeting that the city shares City Hall with a local Masonic lodge, it was the first …
Catherine Lutz
Since being named the first female brigadier general in the history of Mississippi in March, Catherine Lutz has become a role model for women, as well as the entire state.
Public Option: A Necessity?
Blane McClellan, co-owner of Security Services Inc. of Jackson, says he wants a public option in the national health-care plan to compete with insurance companies that routinely refuse to cover …
Jackson Major Crimes Down Again
Major crimes decreased again last week in Jackson, according to statistics released today at a Jackson Police Department meeting. The city's overall major crime rate was down 13 percent from …
State Fair Kicks Off Tonight
The 150th annual Mississippi State Fair opens its gates tonight at 5 p.m. and runs for 12 consecutive days, through Sunday, Oct. 18. Organizers hope to attract approximately 600,000 attendees …
Tuesday, October 6
[Balko] Should Suing Bad Prosecutors Be Legal?
Should prosecutors who manufacture evidence be susceptible to lawsuits?
Accused Can't See Evidence Against Them
On July 4, 2009, Basil DeJuan Sullivan was arrested for disorderly conduct at Freelon's Bar and Groove. Sullivan alleges that a group of Hinds County deputies threw him out of …
Doctors' Families File $60 Million Lawsuit
The families of two young doctors killed in a head-on collision on Old Canton Road in February are suing Karen and Stuart Irby for $60 million in damages. Police charged …
Dr. James Martin
The Preeclampsia Foundation in Minneapolis recently awarded University of Mississippi Medical Center Maternal-Fetal Medicine Director Dr. James Martin Jr. with the foundation's Hope Award for his "lifetime achievement in preeclampsia …
Princeton Review Puts Millsaps on Top Business Schools List
The Princeton Review's 2010 edition of "The Best 301 Business Schools" has named Millsaps College Else School of Management as one of the nation's top schools. The book compiles surveys …
Monday, October 5
Saints Defense Playing ‘Sharper'
Great story in the Times-Picayune about the role that Darren Sharper is playing in not only picking off quarterbacks but also leading the Saints' relatively young secondary.
Unions Oppose Kemper County Plant
Unions have sided with the Mississippi Sierra Club and the Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities against Mississippi Power's push to build a $2.4 billion lignite-burning plant in Kemper County.
JFP Persons of the Day: Kiara Taylor & Shanna Whitt
A fatal automobile accident claimed the lives of two Tougaloo College freshmen Friday. Kiara Taylor and Shanna Whitt, both of Greenville, were killed when the car Taylor was driving collided …
Jackson Unveils Blues Marker Honoring Ace Records
Jackson will unveil its seventh Mississippi Blues Trail marker this afternoon, honoring Ace Records and its founder, Johnny Vincent Imbragulio (1925-2000). Known simply as "Johnny Vincent," he founded Ace Records …
Public Meetings and Community Events This Week
3:30 p.m., Ace Records Blues Marker Unveiling at the corner of Capitol and Roach streets. Live music from a blues quartet.
Swine Flu Vaccine Arrives This Week
Mississippi is scheduled to receive swine flu vaccine beginning tomorrow in the form of a nasal spray, reports WXVT. About 500 distribution points for the spray include hospitals, clinics and …
College Football: Bad News For USM
Southern Miss quarterback Austin Davis will miss the rest of the season after suffering a foot injury.
Saturday, October 3
Friday, October 2
Fun Over Flash
Unless one's been in a coma or the slammer, it's not news that the "Dancing With The Stars" competition began this week on ABC. It might be news, however, that …
Johnson's Chief Appointees Get Mixed Reviews
One day after Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. announced his nominees for Jackson Police Chief and Fire Chief, many city officials and employees are waiting to form their opinions. Johnson's appointees …
Jackson Nightclubs Central in Lawsuits
Controversies surrounding two Jackson nightclubs have put the clubs in the center of separate lawsuits, one as a defendant, the other as the plaintiff.
Melody Golding
The Smithsonian Institute in Washingon, D.C., has selected Vicksburg photographer Melody Golding's photo collection "Katrina: Mississippi Women Remember," to add to the Smithsonian Archives Center this month. Golding's work is …
This Weekend in Jackson
Take advantage of the cool weather and head to the Jackson Zoological Park this evening for "Feast with the Beasts" at 5:30 p.m. Enjoy food and beverages while zookeepers talk …
Tax Revenues Down Again; More Cuts Likely
With the release of Mississippi's September tax collection information, Gov. Haley Barbour is once again looking to slash the state's budget. Actual collections last month fell short of the state's …
Thursday, October 1
Johnson Names New Chiefs
Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. appointed Jackson State University security chief Rebecca Coleman as Jackson's new police chief, and former Jackson Fire Chief Raymond McNulty as head of the Jackson …
JSU Hazing Victims Facing Fines and Probations
Jackson State University freshmen, including victims of beatings at an alleged Sept 18 off-campus hazing ceremony, are facing judgment at a Student Life Disciplinary Committee hearing today. The committee is …
Governor's Office Announces Employment Programs
Gov. Haley Barbour is attempting to combat dreary economic news with a month-long publicity push called "Let's Get Working Mississippi." The campaign is meant to draw attention to job training …
Dr. Cora Norman
Cora Norman took on the role of executive director for the Mississippi Humanities Council at the organization's 1972 inception, staying with the group for 24 years. Her new book, "Mississippi …
Asking a Friend About Time Machines and Tweeking Instead of Tweeting
Yesterday, in a moment of rage, I slammed a borrowed laptop shut and rolled my eyes at the world while I finished a McDade's plate lunch. A man sitting next …
JSU Hazers Suspended for Two Years
Jackson State University suspended 27 students for two years yesterday as a result of an alleged Sept. 18 hazing incident that resulted in one student with a broken collarbone. WAPT …
