Wednesday, September 30
Sports
A Long Time Coming
Mississippi State and Southern Miss announced last week that they will play a two-game, home-and-home series in football starting in 2014. It's about bloody time.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
College football, Southern Miss at UAB (7 p.m., Birmingham, Ala., CBS College Sports, 1180 AM/103.3 FM): The Golden Eagles can take out their frustrations on the punchless Blazers. Valdosta State …
A Homegrown Wedding
Six weeks after Dustin Jernigan and Caroline Ware went on their first official date in January 2009, he took her ring shopping.
Kicking It Up
I have a confession; lately I haven't been living in the moment. Here at the JFP we have a million ideas and staff members who work insanely hard because of …
Barbour Targeting Dem Governors
It's political deja vu all over again. In his new role as chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Gov. Haley Barbour is playing a key role nationally againstrategizing about how …
Straitjacket of Straight Thinking?
The Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees may be holding back its superintendent, but depending on whom you ask, that may not be a bad thing.
Immigrants, Reform, and You
Republicans throughout the country, especially in the South, have raked "ObamaCare" over the coals, swearing that the president is paving the way for free health care to illegal immigrants.
McGowan Questions Levee Board's ‘Backbone'
Would-be Two Lakes developer John McGowan reacted strongly this week to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers statement that it was not taking seriously his or any other plan to …
Take the Next Step on the Pearl
This week the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seemed tofinally and forcefullymake clear its stance on flood management for the Pearl River, repeating what the Jackson Free Press has been …
[Stiggers] A Dream Deferred
Miss Doodle Mae: "Greetings, shoppers! Jojo asked me to be his spokesperson for a new program called 'Working It Out' at Jojo's Discount Dollar Store. This program is for a …
[Kamikaze] Thinking Big
Momentum can be described as the impetus of a non-physical process, a process that could be either an idea or a course of events. Any time you have momentum, there …
[Israel] State Needs Health Reform
Elizabeth, of Jackson, is a single mom and among the roughly 20 percent of Mississippians who are uninsured or 37 percent of Mississippians under age 65. She works at a …
Business
House Of Lott
"I love your wrap," drawls a genteel lady from the veranda of her Victorian on State Street. "It's a Sami Lott," I say with a smile.
Blues and Burks
Michael Burks grew up learning how to play music. His father taught him his first notes on the guitar at the age of 2, and at 5 years old, he …
[Herman's Picks] Vol. 8, No. 3
There is something about October that just screams road trip in my mind. Perhaps it's the annual Voodoo Music Festival in New Orleans each Halloween.
[Rob In Stereo] Knocking The Hustler
Perhaps the bar has been set unreasonably high for Jay-Z's "Blueprint 3." Invocation of 2001's "The Blueprint" alone sets expectations soaring. Add to its title the list of contributing superstar …
Ready and Abel
It's been high times for Saving Abel. The Corinth, Miss.-based post-grunge band just finished the last leg of an ultra-successful North American tour with Nickelback, Papa Roach and Hinder. And …
The Oldest Story
Two men awkwardly circle each other in the dimly lit fellowship hall of Broadmeadow Baptist Church in Fondren. The two men glare at each other angrily, the tension palpable. Suddenly, …
Spice World: Revamp Your Culinary Wardrobe
My husband's Grandma Ella knows how to feed a crowd: She's been doing it her whole life. One of the first times I met her, we talked in her kitchen …
Corps Threatens, Predicts Insurance Rate Hikes
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Monday threatened to withhold certification of the incomplete levee system between Hinds and Rankin counties, potentially raising insurance rates for homes along the …
Gina Carter-Simmers
After 20 years in working for public broadcasting, Gina Carter-Simmers, 41, has found a tune of her own as the general manager at WJSU.
Fisher: $1.5 Million County Loan ‘Irresponsible'
District 4 Supervisor Phil Fisher was the lone dissenting vote on the Hinds County Board of Supervisors this morning when the board voted to borrow $1.5 million to cover a …
Jackson Crime Stats Continue Downward Trend
Major crimes in Jackson dropped again last week, according to a weekly crime report released this morning at a Jackson Police Department meeting. Violent crime was down 20 percent from …
Adam Lynch: Letter from the Hinds County Jail
I got dragged away this morning for an incredible cause. The Muscular Dystrophy Association is linked inextricably to comedian Jerry Lewis and hours-long telethons, but this morning they're known for …
President to Visit Gulf Coast
Fulfilling one of his campaign promises, the White House announced yesterday that President Barack Obama will be visiting the Gulf Coast areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, reports the …
Tuesday, September 29
Ex-Bodyguards Challenge Ridgeway Restitution
Two former Jackson police officers are disputing the amount that federal prosecutors say they must pay in restitution for the 2006 demolition of a Ridgeway Street duplex. Marcus Wright and …
Guy Cavett Taff
Known for his gentle nature and unique story-telling skills, Jacksonian Guy Cavett Taff passed away Saturday Sept. 26 at the age of 60.
[Balko] A Shake to the System
New research into "shaken baby syndrome" could put hundreds of convictions in peril.
Hearings Set for Kemper Coal Plant
The Mississippi Public Service Commission has announced phase one hearings for a proposed new "clean" coal power plant in Kemper County. The hearings are in reponse to a petition filed …
Monday, September 28
Gannett In ‘VIP' Trademark Dispute
The owner of a Jackson-based events promotion company alleges that Gannett River States Publishing Corporation, which publishes The Clarion-Ledger, is trying to muscle him out of a trademark that he …
State Receives $9 Million for ‘Green' Initiatives
Several Mississippi counties, including Hinds, will receive funding from the U.S. Department of Energy channeled to the state through Energy Efficient Block Grant Programs.
Public & Community Meetings in Jackson
4 p.m., Jackson City Council special meeting at Jackson City Hall (200 S. President St.). The council holds a special meeting, open to the public. Call 601-960-1033.
Scott Colom
A new attorney with the Mississippi Center for Justice, Scott Colom will spend the next two years working to combat predatory payday lending in the state. Colom is the recipient …
Intuit Offers $1000 Local Business Grants
Here's a widget that can get you started:
Intuit, the folks who make QuickBooks and Quicken software, have a fun little contest going on. Called "Love a Local Business," the promotion lets you nominate a small business as …
Legislators Scrambling to Fill Budget Holes
Mississippi Legislators are searching for new sources of revenue to ensure services are not cut to the state's citizens; they want to maintain government operations without raising taxes. Lawmakers say …
Friday, September 25
Hood Spars with Medicaid Director Over $24 Million
On Wednesday, Medicaid Director Bob Robinson accused Attorney General Jim Hood of failing to investigate an alleged $24 million case of Medicaid fraud. Today, Hood counter-accused the director of defending …
Are You Ready for the Weekend, Jackson?
Kick off the first weekend in autumn tonight with a couple of movies for only $5. At 6:30 p.m., Crossroads Film Society presents "My Time Will Come," from Ecuador, and …
[Miller] Coal Plant: Unnecessary, Expensive and Dirty
The Mississippi Sierra Club, AFL-CIO and NAACP strongly oppose Mississippi Power Company's proposal to build a $2.4 billion "clean coal" plant and adjoining mine in Kemper County.
Bill Luckett
Clarksdale attorney Bill Luckett has confirmed that he will run for the Mississippi governor's seat in 2011. Luckett told the Mississippi Business Journal yesterday that he will formally announce his …
Mississippi Unemployment Rate Dips in August
August unemployment numbers in the Magnolia State dropped below 10 percent, with a seasonally unadjusted rate of 9.5 percent, representing 121,300 people, which is 1 percentage point lower than the …
Thursday, September 24
PSC Orders Entergy to Comply with Audit
The Public Service Commission ordered Entergy to stop dodging an audit yesterday, threatening the company with subpoenas if it does not comply. Horne CPA, which is conducting two fuel adjustment …
Jackson Area Businesses Open, Close and Give Awards
BRAVO! Restaurant in Jackson is asking its patrons for stories of the people who changed their lives. The upscale Italian restaurant is giving away $600 in gift cards for the …
Elizabeth Crisler
Elizabeth Crisler, president and founder of Jackson advertising agency Liquid Creative, will celebrate the company's 10-year anniversary tonight. Crisler opened the agency in 1999 as a branch of Dallas-based Squires …
City's Crime Numbers Still Down Despite Shooting
Yesterday, the Jackson Police Department released ComStat crime figures for the week of Sept. 14 through Sept. 20. The report shows that major crime statistics in Jackson dropped again last …
JSU Hazing Suspensions Have Consequences
Yesterday, Jackson State University announced that 45 members of the school's Sonic Boom of the South are suspended due to an alleged hazing incident that resulted in a student's fractured …
Wednesday, September 23
Saturday Night Lights
"Yaw bee baw," then-Ole Miss football coach Ed Orgeron told offensive tackle Michael Oher when he was recruiting him.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
College football, Ole Miss at South Carolina (6:30 p.m., Columbia, S.C., ESPN, 97.3 FM): The fourth-ranked Rebels will face their first real test of the season against the Chickens.
Higher Ground
Amid all the bellowing anger and finger-pointing and insults and threats to shove tennis balls you-know-where, last week I was fortunate enough to participate in something remarkable in downtown Jackson.
Barbour: Stop the Lame Games
Gov. Haley Barbour butt-thumped a community organization devoted to poor people this week.
[Stiggers] You Lie!
Boneqweesha Jones: "Welcome to the motivational portion of Hair Did University's fall semester orientation. Our guest speaker is Smokey 'Robinson' McBride, representative of Ghetto Science Team District No. 1042 and …
The JFP Interview with Chokwe Lumumba
Chokwe Lumumba was one child among seven in Detroit's West side public housing projects. His birth name is Edwin Taliaferro, though he abandoned what he considers his slave name in …
Manhunt D.A.‘s ‘Guard' Duty
When Bruce Dunagan heard that Tallahatchie County prosecutor John Whitten III was involved in a vigilante-style manhunt last month, in Sumner, he wasn't surprised. Dunagan, who was Biloxi's police chief …
The Love and Politics of India.Arie
India.Arie's music is poetry. Her sound is eclectic: a fusion of R&B, gospel, soul and jazz. Her songs range from spiritual and introspective to playful and political.
Less Traveled Roads
At first glance, David Magee's "The Education of Mr. Mayfield" (John F. Blair, 2009, $21.95) gives the impression of a "Good Will Hunting" knock-off set in the rural South. Race …
A History of Defiance
To determine whether or not to read a new book of history, examine the footnotes. If the notes reference previous books and journal articles, you've got a rehash. If, on …
'Mobile' Art
Jamie Weems first saw Alexander Calder's mobiles suspended in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Weems had heard of Calder while studying classical guitar at the University of …
Tailgating: My Favorite Sport
Attending a football game is complete torture for me. But while I can't appreciate the ins and outs that go into making a good game, I do enjoy tailgating. I …
Don't Box Us In
"Boxmen" allows its audience to see that the homeless are just like anyone else. One of the actors in the play has been living on the streets for two years.
Two Lakes Developer Long a 'Green' Foe
Northside Sun Publisher Wyatt Emmerich declared in a recent column that the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District should appoint Jackson oilman John McGowan to head the board's …
Joel Bomgar
When Joel Bomgar developed a new type of software at age 23, he had no idea that in a few years, he would be running one of the fastest growing …
The GOP's Obsession with Tort Reform
As the health-insurance reform debate swirls, Gov. Haley Barbour is claiming that most Americans are actually looking for tort reform, not a government-guaranteed insurance option, to lower their health-care costs.
Power Industry Watchdog Grows Three New Teeth
The Mississippi Public Service Commission will be getting $824,901 to better watchdog the power industry. This morning, District 1 Rep. Travis Childers announced the grant award from American Recovery and …
Mississippi Casino Revenue Still Declining
For an industry that was once considered recession-proof, Mississippi casinos continue to see their revenues slide. For August, the Mississippi State Tax Commission reports a drop of 9 percent over …
Tuesday, September 22
Barbour Misses ACORN Bandwagon
The day after Gov. Haley Barbour announced he was cutting state funds to ACORN, the JFP broke the news that the state gives no money to the groupwhich no longer …
State Courts Face Spring Shutdown
State lawmakers received an unwelcome surprise yesterday, when Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller revealed that the state court system is set to run out of money in April.
Roger Wicker
Passed by a 68-to-30 Senate vote, an amendment authored by Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, mandates that Amtrak allow passengers to carry handguns in their checked baggage. The amendment is an …
[Balko] The Hunt for Criminality
Why it's important that prosecutors know when not to bring charges.
Partnership Brings Free Dental Care to Kids
Approximately 400 students in two of Jackson's elementary schools will be receiving dental screenings today and tomorrow through the Colgate "Bright Smiles/Bright Futures" mobile van. The van, which is in …
Monday, September 21
Editorial Takes Dim View of Katrina Recovery Fund Diversions
An editorial in yesterday's New York Times looked askance at the way the federal government has allowed Mississippi to divert funds from disaster aid meant to assist moderate and low-income …
Hinds Officials Challenge Personnel Cuts
A round of budget cuts and layoffs last week prompted outcry from two Hinds County officials at this morning's meeting of the Board of Supervisors. Tax Collector Eddie Fair told …
Jackson One of 20 Strongest-Performing Markets
A new report issued by the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., ranks Jackson as one of the nation's strongest-performing metro areas in the country. The MetroMonitor report tracks the recession …
Future for Clinic Uncertain
The future of the Catholic Charities Legal Assistance Clinic in Jackson, which provides legal services for women and children fleeing domestic abuse, is uncertain, as pending upcoming funding decisions. Funding …
Rwth Ashton
The unusual spelling of her first name is not the only thing compelling about the new Millsaps College chaplain, who comes to Jackson by way of Belzoni and Boston, among …
Public and Community Meetings In and Around Jackson
5 p.m., Fondren Association of Businesses Annual Membership Meeting at Schimmel's (2615 N. State St.). Find out about membership opportunities and what's in works for the Fondren Business District. E-mail …
Jackson Man Arrested at Grow House
Called an "elaborate marijuana growing operation" by authorities, Hinds County sheriff's deputies, Jackson police, and federal and state drug agents arrested Zachary Alexander, 33, on Friday, seizing 86 plants. According …
Sunday, September 20
Steps to Success
A few months ago, this little project of ours was just starting. We had almost no idea what we would be doing with this thing. Now, we have a lot …
Finally Doing it
For the past few weeks, I kept saying I was going to ride my bike to work,but then each day I found a reason preventing me from doing so. So …
Saturday, September 19
"The Relationship Conference" – 2009
I'm so excited about this! From October 29 through November 1, The Life Support Center will offer its first annual "Relationship Conference" held at The Church Triumphant. This conference is …
Friday, September 18
Video: Bill Moyers on Dick Armey's Personal Healthcare
Interesting report from Bill Moyers...Dick Armey, the leader of FreedomWorks, (former House Leader and one of that architects of the "Contract With America") is now raking in the cash from …
Shoestring ‘Conversation' Focused on Solutions
Diving into state and city challenges, panelists at last night's annual Operation Shoestring fund-raising dinner brought the issues to light along with potential solutions. The diverse crowd listened attentively to …
Weekend Happenings
A weekend of history, music and soul begins tonight at the 31st Annual Farish Street Heritage Festival. At 6 p.m., a pep rally and a step show will kick off …
Public-Good Rankings Include Mississippi Schools
Washington Monthly magazine has published college rankings based on their contribution to the public good. The listings include several Mississippi universities and colleges, and are based on three broad categories: …
Thursday, September 17
Immigrant Rights Alliance Says Enforcement Unbalanced
Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance Executive Director Bill Chandler is charging that the indictment of Jose Humberto Gonzalez in the 2008 Howard Industries immigration-enforcement raid highlights the unbalanced enforcement of federal …
BCBS: Domestic Abuse Not Pre-Existing Condition
State Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney has clarified a statement he made to the Jackson Free Press used in a story Wednesday regarding Mississippi being one of the eight remaining states …
Robert Langford
Jackson's Operation Shoestring on Bailey Avenue represents the opportunity for the city's children and families to break out of cycles of poverty through education. The organization's mission is about empowerment …
Jackson Crime Down Again
Major crimes in Jackson decreased slightly last week, according to statistics (PDF) released yesterday at the Jackson Police Department's weekly COMSTAT meeting. For the year to date, violent crime is …
Flu Continues to Take a Toll
The Mississippi Department of Health reports that the numbers for the H1N1 flu, commonly known as swine flu, continue to rise in the state. As of yesterday, the confirmed cases …
Wednesday, September 16
Golden Moment for Eagles
Southern Miss plays Virginia Saturday in the most important game for the Golden Eagles in several years.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Junior college football, Hinds at Pearl River (6:30 p.m., Poplarville): The Eagles face the Wildcats, one of the top juco teams in the nation. This could get ugly.
Council: Be Responsible
Over the last several weeks, we've watched several Jackson City Council members act irresponsiblyand probably for blatantly political purposes. This needs to end.
[Stiggers] White Backlash Blues
Boneqweesha Jones: "Welcome to Ghetto Science Television's special report titled 'What's Up with Operation White Backlash?'"
[Kamikaze] Don't Be A Jerk
We have become a society that applauds bad behavior. We have become a nation that shuns decorum and champions those who break rank with tact. We have become a country …
[Rejebian] Moving Forward
Raymond carries a bucket. Anyone who spends any time in downtown Jackson has seen him. Tall and lanky, he walks the streets with a perpetual offer to clean your car …
Entergy continuing move to Jackson
Downtown Jackson Partners President Ben Allen said the city of Jackson will certainly feel the benefit of Entergy's decision to move about 200 transmission workers from New Orleans to the …
Dish with Fran Howze
The North Midtown Community Development Corp has big plans for the area west of Millsaps College.
Business
A Work In Progress
When Ira Murray moved to Jackson from Nashville four years ago, he knew the city was poised for metamorphosis.
Homage to History
The 31st Annual Farish Street Heritage Festival celebrates African American history in a revitalizing neighborhood that, in its prime, was a center of commerce and culture for Jackson's black community.
The Laughs Keep Coming
Imagine a musical in Germany, and you might envision a singing, lederhosen-clad family and their nanny, gallivanting around the hillsides, dodging Nazi persecution. Doug and Bud, the central characters of …
When Kansas Bled Over Slavery
The war between North and South began in the West. In the 1850s, the fight over whether Kansas would allow slavery became so violent that it ignited the Civil War. …
ZZQ Revisited
Some of my earliest memories involve music, more specifically the music that my parents listened toCat Stevens, The Beatles, Peter Framptonall these albums were on heavy rotation at our house …
[Herman'ns Picks] Vol. 7, No. 1
This Thursday is the Mississippi Museum of Art's monthly Jazz, Art and Friends series, with Barry Leach playiing jazz from 5:30-8:30 p.m. $7. Have a beer, jazz it up and …
A Love Letter to Birthday Cake
Dear Birthday Cake, I've loved you since the moment I first laid eyes on you. The sweet smells of you baking in the oven swirls in my memory. Oh, and …
Local Bakeries
Need an afternoon sugar "pick-me-up" or have a special occasion coming up? From cupcakes to cinnamon buns, sugar cookies and cakes, you'll find what you need with these local bakeries.
Box Cake Makeover
Made-from-scratch cake is worth the effort, but if you've been making box cakes all your life, you might need the equivalent of culinary training wheels before you feel comfortable riding …
Have Your Cake and Drink it, Too
What could be more fitting for a birthday party than a bottle of wine named Cupcake? Cupcake Vineyards, a California-based winery, began launching the Cupcake line of wine in 2008.
Domestic Abuse is a Pre-Existing Condition in Mississippi
Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney expressed outrage today that the state of Mississippi is one of eight states in the nation, including the District of Columbia, which allows insurance companies …
[Stauffer] A 21st Century Boom Town?
When we launched the Jackson Free Press seven years ago this week, it was with a cover story on Jackson's "creative class." Seven years later as the JFP rolls into …
Business News In and Around Jackson
Ida's, a restaurant serving up soul food and blue-plate specials, recently changed locations but will continue serve to South Jackson. Owner James Reed said the business recently moved from 4501 …
Whitney Grant
Whitney Grant, 24, lives and works in a think tank. She is an intern architect at the Jackson Community Design Center, a research laboratory that analyzes urban design and provides …
State Sued over ‘Abstinence'
In an effort to stop taxpayers from funding religious events, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in federal court last week against the Mississippi Department of Human Services …
Crisis Line Training Available
CONTACT the Crisis Line, a volunteer interfaith telephone ministry in operation since 1971, is starting a training class for new volunteers tomorrow, Sept. 17, from 6:45 to 9:45 p.m. The …
Tuesday, September 15
From Senior to Senior Citizen in Such a Short Time
Youth Media Project
I know that I won't be the first and certainly not the last when I say that my senior year is passing me by. So far, this has been the …
Study: MS Second Most Corrupt State
Should they be complaining about Mississippi-style politics? ;-)
This study was reported back in December, but I just came across it and thought it was interesting -- according to the story The Corruption Belt by the Institute for …
Toss Me the Pigskin, Whatever That Is
Youth Media Project
There you have it. Football is more than a sweaty sport with an even sweatier devout following. It's a link to community togetherness and pride, and a chance for me …
[Balko] Drug Warriors Want Your Assets
The Supreme Court reviews Illinois' awful asset forfeiture law.
JPD Blasts ‘Negative Crime Story'
Using FBI statistics that the agency warns not to take out of context, The Clarion-Ledger reported a 9.3 increase in violent crime for the Jackson area this morning.
Council OKs Budget, No Pay Raises
The Jackson City Council voted to approve the city's 2010 budget Monday with a five-to-two vote, with only minor changes in the $359.5 million package. The budget, only rejected by …
Daniel McMullen
Eighteen-year FBI veteran Daniel McMullen is the new special agent in charge (SAC) of the FBI's Jackson Division, moving from his most recent position in Los Angeles where he was …
Gasoline Tax Hike Proposed
The Mississippi Department of Transportation is considering requesting a possible increase of 5-cent per gallon to the state's gasoline tax to bolster the department's budget for new roads and existing …
Monday, September 14
Justice Association Slams Barbour's Request to Court
The Mississippi Association for Justice is accusing Gov. Haley Barbour of playing politics with a wrongful-death case in Bolivar County. "Haley Barbour's recent motion to the Supreme Court to reconsider …
Most-Endangered Places List Includes Jackson and Raymond Sites
The Mississippi Heritage Trust has unveiled its 2009 list of the 10 most-endangered places. This year's list includes the Hinds County Armory in Jackson and the Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal …
Paul E. Winfield
Vicksburg Mayor Paul E. Winfield was one of 18 mayors in the country to participate in the Cities of Service Inaugural Summit last week in an effort to engage citizens …
Public Meetings This Week
Monday, Sept. 14
4 p.m., Jackson City Council, special meeting in the City Hall council chambers, 219 S. President St.
Barbour Hosts Small Business Forum
Gov. Haley Barbour will host a small business forum at the Jackson Convention Complex tomorrow from 1:30 until 4:30 p.m. The topic of the forum will include how health care …
Friday, September 11
Small Business Associations Recommend Reform
Small business owners are nervous about a potential new round of taxes connected to H.R. 3200, the embattled health-care reform bill being knocked around in Congress.
The Real Deal
People come up to Shaun Patterson after a show and tell him, "We like the covers that you play but we really want to hear more of your original stuff."
New Madison Hospital, Despite Battle
Madison County will soon have a new hospital. The Madison County Medical Center hosted a Sept. 10 groundbreaking ceremony for Madison River Oaks Hospital, a 67-bed hospital covering more than …
Weekend Happenings
Save Saturday night for the animals at Jackson Zoo's annual Zoo Party. This year's theme is "Malaysian Magic," and proceeds from the event go to the restorations and expansion of …
Les Range
With the state unemployment rate at 10.5 percent, Les Range, newly appointed executive director of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, has his work cut out for him.
Senate Youth Program Accepting Applications
[verbatim] The Mississippi Department of Education is accepting nominations for the 48th Annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). Two Mississippi high school student government leaders will each receive a …
Thursday, September 10
Myths v. Truth: The Truth Behind HR 3200
With all of the misinformation about health-care reform, how can you tell what's a myth and what's the truth?
Council Seeks $2.6 Million for Pay Increases
The Jackson City Council's budget committee passed a motion yesterday, 3-2, asking the Johnson administration to locate funds to finance a $1,000 per employee pay raise, a cost increase of …
Melton Bodyguard Recio Gets House Arrest, Probation
Michael Recio, who served as a Jackson police officer and bodyguard to the late Mayor Frank Melton, will serve one year of probation for his role in the 2006 warrantless …
Marcy Nessel
Fischer Galleries on North State Street in Fondren has a steady, knowledgeable hand at the helm in art enthusiast Marcy Fischer Nessel. The gallery opened last November, after Nessel's former …
Chaney Denies Rate Increase
Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney has temporarily denied a 45 percent rate increase for homeowners on the Gulf Coast, saying that he needs additional information. State Farm Fire and Casualty …
Wednesday, September 9
[Lynch] Why I Lost My Temper
I lost my temper last week, and here's why: After I filed this week's cover story, I headed over to a health-care forum at Lemuria bookstore. The forum, hosted by …
Alison Hogan and Andrew Ross
From the night that Alison Hogan and Andrew Ross met, they never wondered whether they were going to get married. They just assumed it. "It's very cliché," Alison says, "but …
Is ‘Best' Good Enough?
Drew Brees was the NFL's best quarterback in 2008, throwing for 5,069 yards, just 15 yards short of Dan Marino's single-season record. It was all wasted because the New Orleans …
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
NFL football, Tennessee at Pittsburgh (7:30 p.m., Ch. 3): The Titans try to spoil the Steelers' Super Bowl celebration in the league's season opener. Junior college football, East Central at …
Spreading False Fears
Women are stupid. At least that's what the National Independent Women's Forum seems to believe. This week the Republican-leaning non-profit advocacy group aired a television ad with inaccurate information about …
Medicaid Drops Therapies
Adele Krichbaum's son is 18, but he has a 5-year-old's grasp of conversation. "He can learn things as well as anybody, but you have to be able to talk to …
Time To Talk Back
A remarkable thing has happened on the way to a national public dialogue about health reform: Bullies (many of them well-funded by industry groups) have taken over the conversation by …
A Very Good Policy
When Susan Marquez bought health insurance for her daughter, Nicole, she was thinking about covering Nicole's annual gynecological exams and making sure she could get a flu shot.
Drastic Change
A working mother of five children, Monique Davis has been both a have and a have-not. When her husband worked for Verizon in Washington, D.C., the entire family received health …
‘Massive' Pre-Existing Condition
Since the age of 2, Madeleine Kelly-Kellogg, now 7, has gone through three surgeries to remove a benign brain tumor. After the first surgery Madeleine lost all ability to function …
Delaying Treatment
Cornelius Harvey was a 27-year-old barber when, in fall 2005, his stomach started hurting. Harvey could not afford health insurance, though, so he waited. Ignored his stomach pains for several …
[Rob In Stereo] Relevancy In Roots
Modern roots music has hit a creative low in recent years. Artists have shown decreasing concern for progressing the genre, focusing instead on "authenticity." Of course, valuing authenticity over progress …
Chakra Wakening
I have been practicing yoga on and off for a few years now, first taking classes at the YMCA, then Butterfly Yoga, which I still frequent when I can. But …
Strange Beauty of Fennel
I spent years casting sly glances at fennel in the produce section before I ever brought it home with me.I was fascinated by the strange beauty of its feathery chartreuse …
Killer Ribs
If you go to a restaurant called The Rib Shack, you'd better order some ribs. The Lynch Street barbecue joint just opened in late July, and I recently decided to …
[Stiggers] Of Fear and Hope
Miss Doodle-Mae: "Looks like this summer is just another memory. And what a time it wasa period of anxiety, fear, hatred, and doubt mixed with hope, perseverance and patience.
State Farm Rate Hike an Exit Policy
Democratic Sen. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, says State Farm Insurance company's request for a 45 percent rate hike may be an attempt to pull out of the covering the …
Jarvis Dortch
Since 2006, Jarvis Dortch has worked as a communications coordinator for the Mississippi Health Advocacy Program, which aims to improve health care for all Mississippians, "especially those whose health is …
Relevancy of Roots
Modern roots music has hit a creative low in recent years. Artists have shown decreasing concern for progressing the genre, focusing instead on "authenticity." The Felice Brothers are a challenge …
A Sordid History: Manhunt Leader Has History of Violence
The man who allegedly led a group of armed white citizens assisting in a search for a black burglary suspect in Sumner had a history of taking the law into …
Cover
The Young and the Uninsured
Amanda Starnes, 24, is in duress. She learned a few months ago that she suffers from Type 1 diabetes. She is a Holmes Junior College student and unemployed, with no …
Former Bodyguard Wright Gets Probation
A federal judge has sentenced former Jackson police officer Marcus Wright to one year of probation for his role in the 2006 warrantless destruction of a private home on Ridgeway …
Barbour Bleeds Education
After largely dodging cuts during the 2009 legislative session, public education in Mississippi absorbed the brunt of a new round of budget cuts that Gov. Haley Barbour announced Thursday.
PSC Revokes TelCom Certificates
The Mississippi Public Service Commission announced yesterday that it has revoked the certificates of 53 telecommunications companies to do business in the state. The companies have failed to provide the …
Tuesday, September 8
Many Metro Students Won't See Obama's Speech
President Obama delivered a back-to-school speech to students this morning emphasizing personal responsibility, but not all Mississippi students got the message. The speech, which was televised and available as a …
[Balko] Don't Tase Me, Sis
"The Police Women of Broward County" takes reality cop TV to new depths.
Downtown Vandalism Creates Tension
John Gomez, associate director of business improvement of Downtown Jackson Partners, vowed that the recent vandalism at Tye's Restaurant & Bar would not significantly upset the organization's attempts to sell …
Dr. Aaron Shirley
Dr. Aaron Shirley is challenging those opposed to a government-run public health plan to put their convictions where their mouths are. Shirley says that if they believe what they're saying, …
Free Paternity Tests Offered
In an effort to increase child support collections, the Mississippi Department of Human Services is offering free paternity tests this month. DNA testing to prove whether a man is a …
Monday, September 7
[Miller] A Labor Day for the 21st Century
Every year, we celebrate Labor Day to honor the work of everyday Americans who built this country brick by brick, community by community. It's an honorable holiday that pays tribute …
Saturday, September 5
College Football: Mississippi State 45, Jackson State 7
Mississippi State began the Dan Mullen era by trouncing Jackson State, 45-7, in Saturday's historic SEC-SWAC game in Starkville.
Friday, September 4
Weekend Happenings
Tonight starts the long weekend Labor Day weekend for most of us, with Monday an official federal holiday. Get the weekend off to a rockin' or rappin' start by heading …
Customers Rallying to Support Schimmel's
Even though Schimmel's Restaurant owner Jay Schimmel declared bankruptcy this week, he says he is optimistic and sees it as an opportunity to restructure and reorganize the Fondren restaurant. "There …
Rick Klein
An employee of Mississippi Public Broadcasting for 28 years, Rick Klein got his first taste of Los Angeles glitz at last month's Daytime Emmy Awards. "Between the Lions," the educational …
Health Fair Today
A health fair to fight obesity is happening today from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Jackson Medical Mall. Sponsored by Community Outreach for Health Awareness, participants will have …
Thursday, September 3
Education Falls Under Barbour's Knife
Governor Barbour announced $171.9 million in budget cuts to state agencies today. Education, which accounts for over half of the state's budget, will pick up the brunt of those reductions, …
Serendipity Art Show and Auction Today
Twenty years ago patients at the Mississippi State Hospital held their first art exhibit, displaying their paintings, ceramics, drawings and mixed-media work. Continuing that tradition, the 20th annual Serendipity art …
State gets D+ for Protecting Water Quality
Mississippi rates a lowly D+ for protecting the quality of natural water sources, according to the Gulf Restoration Network. The organization, an alliance of local individuals and national and regional …
Earnestine Bowden
Earnestine Bowden remembers the golden old days of Lynch Street. A Jackson native and a graduate of Lanier High School and Jackson State University, Bowden, 60, used to eat breakfast …
Northside Sun Praises John McGowan for Outsmarting Environmentalists
One wonders if Northside Sun publisher Wyatt Emmerich is actually working against John McGowan and this Two Lakes project. This week in his column, Emmerich smugly praises the oilman from …
Red Cross Wants You to Be Prepared
When an emergency strikes, will you and your family be prepared for it? September is national Preparedness Month, and the Central Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross wants to …
Let The Games Begin ... Updated
Saturday's Jackson State-Mississippi State game is the most intriguing so far this season, even if it's a huge mismatch.
Wednesday, September 2
A Delta Manhunt, With Booze and Guns
Federal authorities are investigating an Aug. 20 incident in which armed white citizens, using a military vehicle, helped search for an unarmed black burglary suspect in the Delta.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Southern League baseball, Mississippi at West Carolina (6:15 p.m., Zebulon, N.C., 103.9 FM): The M-Braves, who were officially eliminated from the playoff race last week, begin their final series of …
Obama To Address Joint Session of Congress
According to The Hill, President Obama will address a joint session of Congress next Looks like Obama will be working to get the talking stick back after a month of …
Art is the Best Revenge
This past Saturday I gave a seminar on freelance writing, and a whole lot of creative people showed up.
It's the Presentation, Stupid!
Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill did an odd thing Monday, and it ended up backfiring on him because of the way he did it.
[Stiggers] Funky Vibes
Brotha Hustle: "Aunt Tee Tee and I are back on the scene with our refurbished mini-DVD camcorder, portable work light and high-powered parabolic boom mic.
[Hutchinson] The GOP's Birthers Con Game
Republicans have a nice little con game going with the birthers. Here's GOP Chairman Michael Steele speaking this summer: "The birthers are an unnecessary distraction."
Cover
Out of Line: HeARTWorks Bringing Hope to Homeless
Michael Lewis stands in front of a table covered with a sheet of canvas, which he has splattered with colorful acrylic paints in the style of Jackson Pollock.
Mississippi Blues: A Pictorial History of Poverty in the Rural South
The photographs from the "Mississippi Blues: A Pictorial History of Poverty in the Rural South" provide an insight to life in the Delta that is virtually unknown to outsiders.
Art
The World's Window
Promoting cross-cultural understanding through cinema is the goal of the Global Lens film series, which began showing films from around the world in U.S. venues in 2003. It will begin …
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Set in the Mississippi Delta, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is a story about greed, passion and an old man named Big Daddy. New Stage Theatre takes on Tennessee …
Dogs, Kids and Art
Four Dog Blues band in the Big City; Gents dapper and ladies pretty; Art ball guests will dance all night; Our band will play 'til morning light. Horrrruuuuuuu!
[Herman's Picks] Vol. 7, No. 51
September in Mississippi is when we start to promise ourselves that jacket weather, the state fair and Oktoberfests are just around the corner.
Food as Art
If I were to take a survey of how many people watch some sort of cooking show in a week's time, I would guess that at least three-quarters of you …
Like a Caveman: F'n Burger
I heard the bang when the F'n Burger hit the table at F. Jones Corner. This menu itemwhich joins a short list of incredibly good food with irredeemably suggestive names, …
Nathan Glenn is on Fire
Nathan Glenn, chef extraordinaire and the executive chef at The Auditorium in Fondren, has recently whipped up a new cooking show idea, "Nathan Glenn Cooks!
[Kamikaze] Blindsided by the Sun
You'd think some newspaper editors would at least have taken the time to do a little more research.
Health-Care Events in Jackson
Two health-care reform events will take place in Jackson tonight and tomorrow representing the opposing viewpoints of the reform debate.
Don't Drink the Water
A month ago, Martin and a handful of neighbors in rural Sunflower County made national news, when ABC Nightly News devoted two minutes to their six-year fight for what many …
Richard McKey
Richard McKey didn't know he was destined to be an artist. On a path similar to Van Gogh's, McKey first studied pre-ministry at Belhaven College.
JFP Needs Reader Health-care Stories
P.S. We would like to use your real name, and run a picture of you where possible.
All, we're looking for health-care stories from people in and around Jackson to feature in the next issue of the JFP, which will focus on health-care issues. We would like …
Tuesday, September 1
Sports In Politics: Digging Up Jack Johnson
Can't Jack Johnson, boxing's first black heavyweight champion, rest in peace? Many idiotic things that have been said by both Republicans and Democrats in the ongoing debate over health care …
[Balko] Lockerbie and Old Lace
What does a thumbprint at the scene of a Scottish spinster's murder have to do with the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103?
Woodrow Wilson Gets $1.6 Million Facelift
Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. is announcing the groundbreaking of the Woodrow Wilson overlay project today. The announcement will come at a press conference 1:15 p.m. at the corner of …
Ted Duckworth
Ted Duckworth, owner of Duckworth Realty in Jackson, has been the driving force behind millions of dollars worth of development in the city. Graduating from Mississippi State University in 1988 …
Tennis: Brandon's Britton Shines In Loss
Not surprisingly, tennis god Roger Federer beat Brandon's Devin Britton in straight sets at the U.S. Open on Monday. But the former Ole Miss standout was the star of the …
Health Department Urges Measures to Curb Flu's Spread
With the second death in Mississippi from the H1N1 flu, commonly known as swine flu, the state Department of Health is urging parents to teach children the basics of good …
