Friday, July 30
Civil Rights Memorial Corridor Moving Forward
Jackson State University is moving ahead with a project to transform a section of Lynch Street near the university into a memorial to the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi, Interim …
Mississippi Worst in the Nation for Child Well-Being
Mississippi ranks last in the nation for overall child wellness, according to findings from an Annie E. Casey Foundation study released earlier this week.
Cathy Baker
As head server and bartender at the Fairview Inn's restaurant, Sophia's, Cathy Baker is responsible for more than just food and drink. She is an unofficial ambassador for the city.
Weekend Events
Start your weekend off right with a little back-to-school shopping. The Mississippi Sales Tax Holiday started at 12:01 a.m. today and ends Saturday at midnight. Buy shoes and clothes that …
Hood Seeks Transparent Claims Process
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood and other Gulf states attorneys general will meet today with Ken Feinberg, BP claims administrator for the Obama administration, to present a protocol for residents …
Thursday, July 29
JFP Wins Shining Example Award
Verbatim Statement: Jackson, Mississippi - The "best of the best" of Jackson's tourism industry were honored today at the Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau's 2010 Hometown Hero and SUMITT Awards …
Mental Health Claims From Oil Spill Probably Won't Be Paid
BP's $20 billion fund to compensate those hurt by the Gulf oil spill will probably turn down one controversial class of claims: those for mental-health problems.
Jackson Pushes Brownfield Grants
The city of Jackson has two months to spend the remainder of a federal grant aimed at spurring the redevelopment of underused industrial or commercial sites. At a meeting this …
Jay Dean
Jay Dean saw his first opera more than three decades ago, and his passion for the art has grown since then.
Barbour Downplays Oil to Lt. Governors
Speaking to a group of about 20 of the nation's lieutenant governors in Biloxi yesterday, Gov. Haley Barbour used his pulpit to minimize the damage of the destroyed BP Deepwater …
Wednesday, July 28
Karaoke Connections
In a darkly lit corner of Fenian's Pub on Fortification Street, an older long-haired man in a T-shirt looks around tentatively as he puts down his pint. His wife, still …
Karaoke Wishes, Contract Dreams
Ever dreamed of getting up to sing the karaoke track you're known for—"‘I Will Survive' as performed by Gloria Gaynor," perhaps—and in the audience sat a record producer looking for …
Hospitality for Less
"If there is any concept worth restoring to its original depth and evocative potential, it is the concept of hospitality," wrote Henri Nouwen in his 1975 book "Reaching Out." As …
Demystifying Wine
From the earliest days, wine has been looked upon as a natural remedy for man's ills. In ancient times, physicians found it invaluable. Today, many doctors recommend it for various …
Slim-Down Challenge
The sugary-sweet scent of morning pastries pervades the air among the boisterous morning patrons in the tiny, single room of Scurlock's Donut Shop and Eatery near the corner of South …
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Doctor S sez: Hang on, sports fans. The NFL starts playing meaningless games in just over a week.
Shall We Overcome?
I find it hard to trust someone who claims we should never talk about race. And I find it impossible to fathom someone who says it's "racist" to call out …
JPS Board Mulling Metrocenter Move
Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. said at last week's Jackson Public Schools board meeting that he supports developer David Watkins' vision to relocate the entirety of JPS administration to the …
Constitution Man
Bill Marcy is a history buff and cites articles of the Constitution when making his case for the role of government. The Chicago native will challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Bennie …
Is Suing in Our Best Interest?
Gov. Haley Barbour said he is moving forward with a plan to hire counsel to stop the spread of Choctaw gaming to Jones County, but is the investment in lawyers …
[Stiggers] ‘Letter of Concern'
Miss Doodle Mae: "Good morning, Jojo's Discount Dollar Store staff! Jojo asked me to conduct a special staff meeting in response to the Shirley Sherrod controversy. Most of you witnessed …
Be Vigilant
Donna Ladd's "My Kind of Tea Party," which appeared in your July 15-21, 2010, issue, brought back vivid memories of a few people who spoke out against unbridled racist propaganda …
[Mott] ‘Bring On the Rest'
Driving away from Parchman Penitentiary on the night Mississippi executed Joseph Burns, I was having trouble putting my feelings into words. I had just watched a man die in front …
Cover
Keeping Kids In School
Inside the Medical Mall's Thad Cochran Center, a group of students and teachers hover around a circular table.
Slow Progress On Pre-K
Early-childhood education in Mississippi is the big engine that couldn't: Despite reams of documentation showing its economic and educational benefits, pre-kindergarten has not attracted the political support—and public funding—in Mississippi …
Tough Times Await Bigger JPS Board
Jackson Public Schools will enter the coming school year with a lean budget and a growing Board of Trustees. The five-member school board, which already boasts four members with less …
Minimalist Musings
Though a lover of words, Wyatt Hillyer is not very good with them. The main character in "What is Left the Daughter" by Howard Norman, Hillyer writes to his daughter: …
Children's Canvas Conversations
Local artist Rosalind Roy, or Roz as she prefers to be called, does not like to think of herself as a teacher—not in the traditional sense of the word, that …
Council Approves Capitol Street Construction
The Jackson City Council approved a memorandum of understanding last night granting Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. the authority to continue to change Capitol Street into a two-way street.
Hinds Youth Center Director Resigns
The troubled Hinds County Youth Detention Center has lost its second director in one year. Clifton Strong resigned July 20, only one month after he accepted the director position. Strong …
Neshoba County Fair Sked
The week-long Neshoba County Fair is a summer tradition of family, fun, festivities and politics in Philadelphia, Miss. On Thursday, candidates running for office kick off the political speeches, and …
Ridgeland Apartment Complex says "Jackson" crime has spilled into Madison WHAAAA??
In the latest in Jackson bashing news: I have a colleague who recently showed me the weekly newsletter from his apartment complex. While the actual complex will remain nameless, it …
Tuesday, July 27
‘Fresh Air' Returning to MPB
Mississippi Public Broadcasting is reinstating the nationally-syndicated radio program "Fresh Air," two weeks after its decision to cancel the show for "inappropriate content" drew widespread criticism. In a statement released …
Hedonistically Healthy
I'm not big on deprivation. Never have been, and I've been blessed to not feel like I've had to deprive myself much over the years in order to be healthy …
City to Vote on Water Main Price Increase
The Jackson City Council is expected to vote on a $222,208 price increase for the installation of a 54-inch water line at tonight's city council meeting. The project is necessary …
Businesses Gear Up for Sales-Tax Holiday
For the second year in a row, the Mississippi Department of Revenue is holding a sales tax holiday in time for back-to-school shopping. From 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 30, …
Robert Dudley
Former Hattiesburg resident Robert Dudley will succeed Tony Hayward as BP's new CEO, the embattled oil company announced today. Dudley, who has been directing BP's cleanup operations in response to …
Monday, July 26
Barbour to Hire Outside Counsel to Fight Choctaw Casino
Read Barbour's letter to Hood
Thompson Kicks off Economic Summit
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi's Second Congressional District, urged local governments to increase contracts with minority businesses during the Mississippi Economic Recovery and Procurement Summit this morning.
Panel Tweaks State Grading System for Schools
Mississippi's model for evaluating schools and school districts could change next year, if the state Board of Education approves changes recommended by a panel today. The state Commission on School …
Community Events and Public Meetings
56th Biennial Gamma Phi Delta Sorority National Conference July 27-31, at Hilton Jackson (1001 E. County Line Road). The theme is "United in Heart, Sisterhood and Services." Visit gammaphideltasorority.com for …
Larry "Butch" Brown
Mississippi Department of Transportation Executive Director Larry "Butch" Brown's fun at the Beau Rivage casino ended early Friday morning when Biloxi police arrested him for disorderly conduct and public intoxication, …
The Way I See Things
While driving Sunday morning, I saw a church sign that read, "Life is 10 percent how you make it and 90 percent how you take it." This reminded me of …
Saints Tour Comes to Jackson
The New Orleans Saints are bringing their bragging rights to Jackson today. The "Championship Tour" will make a stop at the Jackson Convention Center (105 E. Pascagoula St.) from 10 …
Friday, July 23
JRA Mulls ‘Union Market' Downtown
The city is soliciting community input on an empty storage space across from the King Edward Hotel in downtown Jackson that could become an open-air market, dubbed "Union Market," Jackson …
AARP: Consumer Advocate Needed For PSC
AARP state Director Sherri Davis-Garner says she wants a consumer advocate working in office of the Mississippi Public Service Commission.
Butch Bailey
Butch Bailey thinks Mississippians are missing out on something divine: gourmet beer.
Tropical Storm Stalls Work on Relief Well
Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen called for an evacuation of hundreds of workers and vessels at the Deepwater Horizon blowout site in the Gulf of Mexico late Thursday night, The …
Thursday, July 22
JFP Chick Ball: Only $5 Cover Charge - Saturday, July 24, Hal & Mal's, 6 p.m.-1 a.m.
Pass it on! The cover charge for the JFP Chick Ball is only $5, as always. (You can also purchase $5 door-prize tickets.) The $5 includes food from local restaurants …
Burns Met Death Unafraid
Moments before the executioner filled Joseph Daniel Burns' veins with the lethal drug cocktail that would end his life, Burns, his voice soft but steady, apologized to his victim's family.
Dr. Keisa Mathis
When Dr. Keisa Mathis opened an e-mail from the American Heart Association in May, she was disappointed that she hadn't received a medical research fellowship she applied for. But she …
JPD Pushes Communication
Read this week's crime report
House Approves Safe Drilling and Cleanup Legislation
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation yesterday to make oil-spill clean up and deepwater drilling safer, the Associated Press is reporting.
Wednesday, July 21
Condemn the Cowardice
Men get a bad rap. Oftentimes we deserve it. But generally—luckily—the many good ones among us overshadow the bad apples. As we look forward to the annual JFP Chick Ball …
Bridging the Gap
Marty Stuart, a Philadelphia, Miss., native, is firmly rooted in traditional country music with a mission of preserving that history. Stuart is a self-proclaimed bridge, connecting young musicians with their …
[Hermans Picks] Vol. 8, No. 45
In case you haven't heard, the Downtown at Dusk music and food event is moving indoors to the Mississippi Museum of Art this Thursday, 5-8 p.m. It's even free. Be …
Party on the Porch
Denise Gee wants your outdoor summer gathering to be relaxing and uncomplicated, while exuding southern charm and elegance. Her latest book, "Porch Parties: Cocktail Recipes and Easy Ideas for Outdoor …
The New Locals
David Blumenthal and Derek Emerson are surprisingly relaxed for two guys who just opened Madison's most popular new restaurant.
‘Always a Coach'
It's not hard to tell that Brent Southern is a coach. Peppering his conversation with phrases like "when the whistle blows" and "read all the angles," the attorney describes the …
Willis Suit Moves Ahead
Jackson resident Cedric Willis said he will still get his day in court regarding his malicious prosecution suit against the city of Jackson, though the judge has moved the court …
State Faces Multiple Rate Hikes
Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney said he will refuse to grant a 44.4 percent rate- hike requested by Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance on Mississippi homeowner insurance customers. Chaney said …
Don't Soft-Pedal Domestic Abuse
Under Mississippi state law, it is too easy to get away with abusing animals and spouses. And too often, the same people do both.
[Stiggers] Renegade Runaway
Mr. Announcement: "Controversial independent filmmaker Kunta ‘Rahsheed X' Toby presents a scene from his new epic movie ‘Kunta King James: Runaway Franchise Athlete.' Look for guest cameo appearances from Rev. …
[Purvis] Wasteland of Empty Promises
"Call—call the police!" I stammered through the phone tenuously gripped in my trembling hand. I was kneeling in my mother's living room in the midst of broken glass and a …
6th Annual JFP Chick Ball
It's Chick Ball week in the city! Every summer, the Jackson Free Press presents the JFP Chick Ball at Hal & Mal's in downtown Jackson for two reasons: to fight …
Women Speak Out
We asked JFP readers and domestic-abuse victims to share their stories. Here are a couple of the many responses we received. I always thought I was too strong, smart and …
JFP Chick Ball Auction Guide
Paintings on canvas and bright sparkly jewelry
Julie Andrews was spot on in the "Sound of Music": Our favorite things have the ability to lift our mood and our spirits.
U.S. Supreme Court Delays Execution ... Briefly
6:37 p.m. UPDATE: WLBT is reporting that the U.S. Supreme Court has denied Burns' petition.
Tiff Over Hinds TIF
The developer of a south Jackson housing development is asking Hinds County to support infrastructure developments, but at least one supervisor remains skeptical of the request.
Chicks We Love
Every year, the Jackson Free Press chooses a delightful slate of Chicks We Love to spotlight, and each year we host the JFP Chick Ball to raise money to fight …
Burns' Execution ‘Very Likely'
Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps briefly spoke with reporters at Parchman Penitentiary at 2 p.m. today.
Behind the Art
Normally when I go to art exhibits, I don't think about who donated or sold the work to the gallery, much less consider their personalities or who they are as …
Cover
Starting Again: Mississippi Laws Trap Women In Abuse
Claire sat with her back to the wall on the washed-out blue bedspread covered with big cabbage roses, once pink, now faded nearly to white. The neat little room barely …
Honor the 2010 Chicks We Love at Chick-A-BOOM!
Every year, the Jackson Free Press chooses a delightful slate of Chicks We Love to spotlight, and each year we host the JFP Chick Ball to raise money to fight …
Watkins Unveils Master Plan for Metrocenter
Read the master plan Powerpoint. (PDF, 1.6 MB)
Hole-Filled Souls
I know a woman who lives in the house with her children, her husband and his violent temper. She wears a mask. This woman, whenever I see her, has a …
Meeting the Monster in the Gulf
The plane's engine roars as it idles on the runway last Wednesday, July 14. The four propellers on the Army National Guard's C-130 blasted waves of suffocatingly humid Mississippi July …
Amy Andress
Amy Andress' life motto is modeled after Genesis 50:20. "Even though people want to harm you, God will take what happened to you and turn it into good so that …
Burns Execution Set for Today
The state is set to execute death-row inmate Joseph Daniel "JoJo" Burns this evening at 6 p.m.
Burns, who is in a holding cell at Parchman, filed a clemency request with the governor's office last week, asking for a delay so that he could undergo a mental …
Testimonial: Spirit Freedom
Leading up to the 2010, the Jackson Free Press asked domestic-abuse survivors to tell their stories. This is one of the pieces we received, republished verbatim.
Tuesday, July 20
JPS to Move to Metrocenter?
This story was updated at 6:54 p.m.
Jackson developer David Watkins presented a proposition to relocate the entirety of JPS administration to the Metrocenter Mall during tonight's Jackson Public Schools Board meeting.
Itawamba Lesbian Teen: ‘It Was Pretty Bad'
Itawamba County Agricultural High School student Constance McMillen says she is relieved by the Itawamba County School District's offer of $35,000 for damages plus court costs, and adoption of an …
Broadband, Food On The Go
InLine, a Birmingham-based technology company, is set to install a high-speed fiber network that will connect 16 counties to high-speed Internet in southern and central Mississippi.
Lianne Takemori
When her colleagues needed a creative solution for an exhibit or a workshop, Mississippi Museum of Art curator Lianne Takemori would go out of her way to help no matter …
[Balko] Justice For Johannes Mehserle
Early the morning of Jan. 1, 2009, in a now-infamous incident that dozens of cell phones captured on video and then replayed across the globe, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) …
Fish Wash Up on Mississippi Shore
Thousands of small dead fish have washed up on shore in Gulfport, The Sun Herald reported today.
Monday, July 19
Anderson Attacks County Spending In Jackson
Hinds County departments should not spend money in the city of Jackson, Supervisor Doug Anderson said at a meeting this morning. Anderson made the claim after learning that county public …
Paige Still Discourages School Unionization
Former U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige said this morning that he has not changed his mind on what he considers the negative impact of teacher's unions like the National …
Community Events and Public Meetings
10 a.m., Disaster Preparedness Expo for Senior Citizens at Jackson Medical Mall (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.), in the UMC Conference Center. Topics include: Where to go if your home …
Sandra Peterson Lott
The moment Sandra Peterson Lott sits down with her lunch, I sense her comforting nature. She has an hour-long lunch break from her duties as a pediatric nurse, but she …
'Stimulus Now' Manifesto Making the Rounds
Daily Beast seems like an odd place for a Manifesto to find its origins, but that appears to be where a number of prominent economists and (mostly liberal) thinkers have …
Mabus: Time for New Gulf Economy
U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus met with representatives from Mississippi universities and colleges Friday to gather information on the economic and environmental recovery of the Coast following the Deepwater Horizon …
Friday, July 16
[Slate] The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Doctor S sez: The World Cup championship game was an example of everything that's wrong with top-flight soccer.
Willis Trial Postponed
Hinds County Circuit Court has postponed a malicious prosecution lawsuit filed by Cedric Willis, Jackson city attorney Pieter Teeuwissen said today.
Oil Leak Stopped, Coast Elated but Cautious
With the leak from the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig temporarily stopped, Gulf Coast residents are breathing a sigh of relief. BP officials announced yesterday that the company had managed to …
This Weekend: Operation Chill
After this long, hot week you're probably in the mood to chill, so head over to calm and cool Lemuria Books (202 Banner Hall, 4465 Interstate 55 N.) for copy …
Marlena Duncan
Marlena Duncan sounds more like the star of an action movie than a dancer when talks about her craft. "I enjoy the adrenaline, the fear, the surprise and the delight …
Burns Asks Barbour to Delay Execution
Attorneys representing death-row inmate Joseph Daniel Burn are asking Gov. Haley Barbour to delay Burn's July 21 execution date, The Associated Press reported today.
Thursday, July 15
MPB Cancels ‘Fresh Air' for ‘Inappropriate Content'
Updated 5:15 p.m. (See the full statement from MPB Executive Director Judy Lewis in comments below.)
Construction Begins for Medical Mall Housing Development
Officials from the Jackson Medical Mall Foundation, the city of Jackson, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Mississippi Development Authority gathered this morning to break ground on …
Calhoun, Developer Spar Over Hinds TIF
The developer of a south Jackson housing development is asking Hinds County to support infrastructure developments, but at least one supervisor remains skeptical of the request. Clarence Chapman, principal of …
Richard Lawrence
Richard Lawrence loves everything about stage performances--from bringing cast members together to the creativity that stems from acting.
Suit Filed Against ‘Personhood' Initiative
A Jackson attorney and two organizations filed a July 6 lawsuit to block a 2011 voter initiative that would designate that life begins at conception in the state constitution, the …
Wednesday, July 14
2010 JFP Chick Ball to Create Domestic Abuse Legal Fund, Honor ‘Hero' Attorneys
The 6th Annual JFP Chick Ball will build awareness about domestic-abuse victims' struggle in the state's legal system, and recognize attorneys who are helping them navigate a system stacked against …
The Definition of Making It
The small group stands on Capitol Street outside the Clarion Hotel Roberts Walthall well after midnight when all the downtown buzz has died. Discussions about the city's progress (or lack …
[Rob In Stereo] Breaking Up is Hard to Do
It's incredibly difficult to be objective about The Roots. It has been one of my favorite groups since I first heard "You Got Me" back in 1999. The song was …
The Ultimate Layer Cake
Summer is full of occasions to get together: a backyard barbecue here, a potluck there, your third step-cousin twice removed's 29th birthday (for the fourth year in a row). It …
Ryals Goat Dairy
I frequently hit the Mississippi Farmer's Market on Saturdays with the Child. We go to see friends, as well as stock up on fruits, veggies and other necessary items like …
Get It Fresh
Nothing beats farm- or garden-fresh produce for flavor and nutrition. Lucky for Jacksonians, the area has a number of venues where local growers sell in-season and organic produce and, in …
To Be Changed
Every Thursday at 10:30 a.m., women between the ages of 60 and 80 stand up in Trinity Episcopal Church at 1315 Jackson Ave., here in New Orleans, and place their …
My Kind of Tea Party
Recently, I was asked to appear on a local cable talk show to talk about issues of the day. I didn't think much about it; it sounded easy and innocent …
Cover
Give Me Shelter: Protecting Animals, Prosecuting Abusers
The mutt turned up in the Providence Madison subdivision one day in early October 2009 . A black and tan hound mix, around 7 months old, she was skittish around …
A Second Chance
When Hinds County animal-control officers pick up a dog, they take it to a temporary shelter at the county Penal Farm in Raymond. The county shelter houses between 700 and …
After the Flood
It only took Millie Williams a few minutes to decide that the animals needed her. Watching footage of Hurricane Katrina on television at her home in Pennsylvania, Williams saw evacuees …
Stokes Addresses Alleged Personal-Care Home Abuse
On Tuesday, Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes proposed a new ordinance imposing fines and jail time for people found guilty of neglect or mistreatment of residents of small nursing homes, …
Hitched: A Groom's Story
Most grooms consider everything that might go wrong the night before the wedding. For me, those considerations came a year and a half before Rachael Gray-Lewis and I said, "I …
Mayor Hypes Restarted Housing Project
Tucked into Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr.'s July 7 State of the City address was the news that a 26.7-acre housing development previously held up by a lawsuit is now back …
Willie Mae Shirley
At first sight, one wouldn't suspect that the freshly painted home of Willie Mae Shirley has been standing since 1926. The home, located on Shirley Avenue in the Washington Addition …
Council Re-Elects Prez and Targets Profiling
The Jackson City Council voted to retain current council President Frank Bluntson and Vice President Charles Tillman after a lightning-fast roll call during Tuesday's council meeting.
Christmas Every Day
On a cold November morning, you see a teenager walking in nothing but shorts and a T-shirt––no coat. He is visibly cold and doesn't "belong" in your neighborhood.
Tommy Gun and the Juggernauts
Thomas "Tommy Gun" Leonard conducts football practice in the blistering Mississippi summer heat. At midday, the temperature seems like 100 degrees, and the players and coach are exhausted.
Find Another Way
Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant is no stranger to right-wing nuttery, but he offered a prime example of conservative hysteria in comments in a July 12 article in The Clarion-Ledger. Suggesting …
[Stiggers] Where is the Love?
Brother Hustle: "Bill Withers sang it best: ‘Sometimes in our lives/We all have pain/We all have sorrow./But if we are wise/We know that there's always tomorrow.' I also like what …
[Beety] The Cost of Death
On July 21, the state of Mississippi is scheduled to put Joseph Daniel Burns Mississippian, murderer and father of three—to death. Our state has executed only 10 men over the …
[Balko] A Case Study in Local News Futility
The Norman Lear Center at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism recently surveyed 490 hours of local news reports in the Los Angeles area and …
A Timeless Tale Remixed
As I swung open one of the massive white doors into New Stage Theatre, the buzz of young voices immediately greeted me.
Grappling with Inertia
When most people think of symmetry, perfection often comes to mind. But Audrey Niffenegger confounds this definition, as the title suggests, in her latest novel, "Her Fearful Symmetry".
UMMC to Lead Alzheimer's Study
The University of Mississippi Medical Center will lead a comprehensive $26 million study to identify risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of cognitive decline. Funded through a grant …
You Can't Even Call Me Shallow for It
Youth Media Project
Though I bet some of you are going to try. This is a true recount of my weekend in New Orleans, a city whose vibe I really feel. And had …
Tuesday, July 13
Athena Protects Her Children
Sunday, I sat, twirling the hair at my right temple around my index finger, until I saw something that startled me. Walking into the room was a young woman wearing …
George Steinbrenner (1930-2010)
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner died on July 13. He drove some of the major changes in sports over the last four decades. He meddled with his team's chemistry, bringing in …
PEER Peering into Levee Board
The legislative Joint Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review is investigating the process by which the Rankin-Hinds Pearl Flood and Drainage Control District Levee Board settled on a recent …
Barbara Ann Harris Johnson
Instead of only recognizing African Americans in February each year, Barbara Ann Harris Johnson decided that African American accomplishments should always be honored. Through her column, "Black History Every Month," …
Business Law, Restaurant Raves
One of the more common obstacles to fledgling entrepreneurs is a lack of adequate legal advice, Michael Harris, program manager of the Jackson Business Accelerator, said today.
Jacksonian Featured by JFP Auditions for American Idol
Santore Bracey was featured as a Jacksonian in the Jackson Free Press back in March 2006. On July 3, he participated in Fox 40's American Idol auditions and was chosen …
Interior Department Issues New Drilling Ban
The U.S. Interior Department issued a new offshore drilling moratorium yesterday that will be in effect until Nov. 30.
Monday, July 12
Council To Vote on Bigger JPS Board
The City Council is set to vote tomorrow on an expansion of the Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees from five to seven members. Proponents of the move argue that …
Vashti Muse
When Angela Hite met Vashti Muse 20 years ago while dancing for Hinds Community College Hi-Steppers, she received encouragement and support from Muse to continue dancing.
Doing Good: Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service
Several state nonprofits received a boost to their programs July 7, when the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service announced $10 million in federal grant allocations for the state's AmeriCorps program.
Community Events and Public Meetings
5 p.m., America Reads-Mississippi Member Recruitment at Jackson State University (1400 John R. Lynch St.), at the Sally M. Barksdale Educational Resource Center. ARM members tutor full-time during the school …
BP Installing New Cap
In the company's newest effort to contain the oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, BP officials said Sunday that they are making progress with a plan to place a …
Friday, July 9
James, Wade, and Bosh Land in Miami
LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh have decided to bring together their talents in Miami. The city of Cleveland, including Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, is heartbroken. Gilbert fired off …
Breathe!
One of the items on my Road to Wellness list is to do deep breathing exercises. I must admit that I had forgotten all about this, but I remembered it …
ProPublica Photographer: I Was Followed by BP Security and Then Detained by Police
Freelance photographer Lance Rosenfield was working on assignment for ProPublica in Texas City, Texas, last week, when a BP security guard began following him. Rosenfield was later detained by police …
Katie O'Neal Sorey
Katie O'Neal Sorey began to get a sense of her life's purpose when she was 14 years old. While attending the Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church's annual Mission Fest, a …
BP Announces Hiring Improvements
BP officials announced improvements to make the company's Vessels of Opportunities program more efficient and incorporate more regional employees, during a media briefing Wednesday.
Weekend Summer Soirees
After work today, stop by Joyflow Yoga (7048 Old Canton Rd., Ridgeland) for a free Sun Salutation class at 5:45 p.m. to get ready for the Sun Salutations benefit for …
Bad Genes or Personal Problem?
At my last doctor's appointment, I was told that I have high cholesterol at a total of 217. I'm am 26 and have had high cholesterol since I was 18. …
Mississippi Drop-Out Rate Still Increasing
Jackson Public Schools reported a drop-out rate of 24.3 percent in 2009, up from 17.6 in 2008. Statewide, Mississippi's 2009 graduating class had a drop-out rate of 16.7 percent, up …
Thursday, July 8
Johnson Champions Developments Despite Budget Shortfalls
In his State of the City address yesterday, Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. pointed out that selecting the MetroCenter Mall as the event's location bears significance for Jackson. Despite the city's …
Keith Plunkett
For the next year, Keith Plunkett will spend his weekends in a boat. On Saturday, Plunkett launches "Lucy's Revenge," a yearlong project that will send him paddling more than 600 …
JPD Combats House Burglaries
This morning, the Jackson Police Department reported 95 house burglaries for the week of June 28 through July 4--an increase from 79 in the prior week. Overall, major crimes decreased …
Bus-Sized Tar Mats Sighted; Barbour Announces Study
A five- to six-mile stretch of large tar mats washed up on Long Beach Harbor late last night, reports The Sun Herald.
Wednesday, July 7
DIY – Decorated Shirt
Every now and then when you're being budget conscious, you'll feel the urge to splurge. Those "I've gotta have it!" moments seem to come from nowhere. But fiscal responsibility doesn't …
[Herman's Picks] Vol. 8, No. 43
The Mississippi Museum of Art is hosting its next Art Remix indoor/outdoor music party this Friday night with local bluesman Sherman Lee Dillon inside from 5-8 p.m.; John Paul Keith …
The Simple Majesty of the BLT
Some things just go together: peanut butter and jelly, bagels and lox, mushrooms and wine, chicken and rosemary, Scotch and ice ... you get the point. But if there was …
Where's the Bacon?
When Parlor Market opens later this summer, diners ordering any cured pork dishes will enjoy the handiwork of Frank Coppola, the current owner of Stan's Country Store in Batesville, Miss.
Fast, Light and Healthy
An Italian frittata is economical and delicious. Easily made with almost any fresh vegetable, it's even better with last night's leftover sautéed veggies. Similar to a Western omelet in taste …
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Doctor S sez: The Doctor thought he was watching football the other day, but it turned out to be a CFL game. Sometimes you have to use what's available.
Make it Count
Nonprofit organizations rely on donations from individuals and businesses to fund programs and services for those in need, and on volunteers. Without volunteers, entire operations would shut down because of …
Budgeting 101
Nancy Lottridge Anderson knows a thing or two about finance. She is a financial adviser, professor of finance at Mississippi College and author of the book, "Tough Talk for Tough …
A Year of Fun Without Spending
On Jan. 1, 2009, Angela Barton, a writer and editor in Los Angeles, joined a movement called The Compact, named after the 1620 Mayflower Compact, to attempt a hefty challenge: …
Having Fun in Jackson on a Dime – or Less
If Jackson is your thing, but spending money isn't, you're in luck. Jackson offers plenty of things to do that won't cost a penny.
Just Say No To Plastic Bags
In my house, there are drawers and cabinets I am afraid to open. It is not for a fear of the unknown; I know exactly what is in there: hundreds …
Swap Your Clothes, Save Money
You know you have them: shoes, clothes, belts and purses in your closet that you will never wear again. Maybe your favorite standby pair of black pants doesn't fit anymore. …
Promote Your Band for Free
Amanda Rainey, owner of local recording label Passenger Jones, says you don't need money to make music these days. All you need is creativity. "I know bands who put all …
Feeding A Family of 4 for $10
For those on a strict budget, here are some flavorful, but inexpensive meals for the family.
Eat Out, Eat Local
With the economic downturn, eating out at restaurants can be a splurge if you are trying to save money. But Grady Griffin, director of the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association, …
The Price of Getting Sick
We're constantly reminded of the health risks of obesity and smoking, but have you ever stopped to consider the costs? Smokers and those who are overweight can accrue thousands of …
Generation Debt
Each month after I pay about $220 toward credit-card debt, $150 toward student-loan payments (which I will do until I'm about 45), $400 on my car note, and about $400 …
Reducing Energy Costs
The U.S. Department of Energy ranks Mississippi 30th in the nation for electricity consumption; we're ninth in residential per capita electricity consumption, 38th in the amount of homes heated with …
How to Start Your Own Small Business
In 2009, CNN Money ranked Jackson the 11th best mid-size metro area to open a small business. Mike Davis, business development manager for the city of Jackson, explains that this …
The Cost of Cars and Oil
Our dependence on oil and cars comes with a hefty price tag. MSN Money reports that Americans spend an average of $8,600 per year for a vehicle for car payments, …
Facing ‘Generation Debt'
About two and a half years ago--a few months before I graduated college--my grandmother said something I'll never forget: "Just wait; after college, that's when your standard of living really …
Cover
GOOD Money
When it comes to spending money, we can all find something to cut back on. But even when our consumer culture meets the Great Recession, changing our attitudes and actions …
Johnson Gives State of the City Address
verbatim statement
Thank you Reverend Stanley Smith for offering the invocation today. To President Bluntson and members of the Jackson City Council, other elected officials, City Employees, citizens of Jackson and friends, …
And So It Goes
July 4th in Lousiana with the family has come and gone. Family was visited, pies were resisted, drive-through daiquiris were acquired. The weather was hot but the water and lemonaid …
BP ‘Lied Through Their Teeth'
Jackson attorney Hiram Eastland has filed a civil suit on behalf of Gulf Coast property owners, alleging that BP infiltrated a U.S. government agency and knowingly lied about its ability …
Gusher in the Gulf: June 2010
June 1: NOAA Fisheries Service revises the fishery closures to include more than 31 percent of the Gulf of Mexico.
‘Fidelity to the Law'
Frank Farmer prides himself on his evenhandedness. Farmer, 34, a candidate for Hinds County Court Judge in District 1, grew up in Hattiesburg, the son of a veterinarian and a …
Supremes' Decision Could Affect Minor
The U.S. Supreme Court's June 29 decision to vacate the 2006 fraud conviction of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman and remand that case back to the U.S. 11th Circuit Court …
Start the Apollo Project for Clean Energy
It's time for an "Apollo Project" for clean energy in America.
It's time for an "Apollo Project" for clean energy in America.
Party Rock For Shape Shifters
Rise Up Howling Werewolf is straight-up electro-pop garage-rock from Muscle Shoals, Ala. Except, that is, when Rise Up Howling Werewolf is riff-driven, supernatural punk-blues; or retro psychedelic drone; or spooky, …
[Stiggers] Branding the Unemployed
Boneqweesha Jones: "I heard James Brown paraphrase a Bible verse at the end of one of his songs: ‘If you don't work, you don't eat.' And right now in America, …
[Kamikaze] The Key Ingredient to Growth
Every growing city has major problems. Jackson is no different. It is a blossoming metropolis, but is not without its issues: crumbling infrastructure; old water pipes; bad roads; understaffed police …
[Hutchinson] Michael Jackson: A Threat?
Pop king Michael Jackson has been dead for one year. But the controversy that surrounded his life didn't end with his death. On June 25, the eve of the first …
Is Mississippi Rushing Executions?
The state of Mississippi is set to execute Joseph Daniel Burns on July 21, making Burns the third inmate executed this year. Attorney General Jim Hood asked the Mississippi Supreme …
Auditorium Closes; Relaunching as Events Space
The Auditorium, a Fondren restaurant and music venue, has closed temporarily as its owners develop a plan to re-open as an events space. The restaurant, located in the Duling School, …
Bill Payne
After more than 14 years of waking up early mornings and going to his small office that sits in the back of Church's Chicken at the intersection of the Medgar …
Scorching Beauty
Blues melodies are gritty and rich with life's sorrows, just like the soil of the Delta; they haunt the listener long afterward. So does "Delta Blues," edited by Carolyn Haines …
New Deadline for Seale's Appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court set an August 9 deadline last week for the U.S. Department of Justice to respond to the appeal of former Ku Klux Klansmen James Ford Seale, …
Tuesday, July 6
Shoegasmic Sale
Tell them FLY! blog sent you!
Right now, at this very moment, there's a summer shoe sale going on at the Shoe Bar at Pieces. The entire stock ... read it again: The entire stock of …
Hinds Seeking Fed Money for Byram-Clinton Corridor
The Hinds County Board of Supervisors took another small step forward today on its long-delayed Byram-Clinton corridor road-building project. The board voted unanimously to earmark $2 million for the project …
[Balko] Confirmation Theater
My task this week is to write a column on how criminal-justice issues are likely to play out at the Elena Kagan confirmation hearings, and how her expected confirmation will …
New Fondren Boutiques; Millsaps a ‘Best Buy'
After spending the past 12 years in retail, Andrea Galloway-Thomas saw the growing Fondren business community as an opportunity to start her own business.
Adam Malone
Adam Malone, 8, wants all children to have access to playgrounds. With the help of his parents, Drew, and Angela, Adam is raising money for a wheelchair-accessible playground at Freedom …
Navy Blimp Used for Oil Spill Clean Up
A U.S. Navy blimp is aiding oil spill clean-up efforts in the Gulf of Mexico this morning, the Sun Herald reported today.
Monday, July 5
Donate art and gifts to Chick Ball by July 14 to be in shopping guide!
Artists, business owners and individuals: Please donate a piece of artwork, or a gift or gift certificate from your shop, by Wednesday, July 14, to be included in the 2010 …
6th Annual 2010 JFP Chick Ball is July 24
The Jackson Free Press created the JFP Chick Ball in 2004 for two reasons: to raise education about and money to fight domestic abuse in Mississippi; and to showcase women …
2010 JFP Chick Ball Sponsors Announced
Diva ($2,500 and up)
And, no, it's not too late for you to get your name on this elite list -- for as little as $50! Call ShaWanda Jacome at 601.362.6121 ext. 16; make …
Full Smoking Ban Takes Effect
An expanded version of the city's ban on smoking in restaurants and bars took effect July 1, but compliance with the ban is still spotty.
Leslie Coleman
A former student recently stopped by Principal Leslie Coleman's office at Casey Elementary School. He had just one thing he wanted to say: "Thank you."
Community Events and Public Meetings
Tuesday, July 6
Small Business Leadership Conference July 6-7, at Jackson Medical Mall (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.), in the Community Meeting Room. Conference hours are 9 a.m.-2 p.m. July 6 and 5-9 …
Times Such As These
In a non-descript back-lot studio near the downtown fairgrounds, long-time collaborators Taylor Hildebrand and producer Byron Knight, of Sneaky B Records, have forged a beautifully melancholy treasure has that may …
Gulf States Request Mental Health Funds From BP
Mississippi Alabama, Louisiana and Florida officials are asking BP to provide funds for mental health services for residents who have been affected by the oil spill, the Associated Press reported …
Friday, July 2
Health Coverage Available for High-Risk Patients
Mississippi residents can apply for a new federally financed and operated high-risk health insurance pool this month as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that President …
South Jackson Mall Seeks Community Input
The Jackson Square shopping center that has struggled with crime and vacancy for years is showing signs of life. The South Jackson retail mall at Terry Road and Interstate 55, …
Red, White and Blues
The annual Celebrate America Balloon Glow event kicks off the Fourth of July weekend festivities tonight at Northpark Mall in Ridgeland featuring food, games, a hot air balloon glow, country …
Tim Slattery
Putting a balloon a few hundred feet in the air is not an easy task, but for balloonist Tim Slattery it's just like any other hobby--one he compares to sailing …
Mississippi Sound Closed to Fishing; Oil in Food Chain
Executive directors at the Mississippi departments of Marine Resources and Environmental Quality closed the Mississippi Sound for commercial and recreational fishing yesterday in response to the gusher in the Gulf.
Thursday, July 1
Mayonnaise Comes to Jackson
It's difficult for to imagine mayonnaise as exotic at all, but Eudora Welty remembers its advent in Jackson as an event.
New Mississippi Laws in Effect
A host of new laws, and modifications to existing laws signed by Gov. Haley Barbour in the 2010 Legislative session go into effect today.
Officer on Leave After Shooting
Read this week's crime stats.
Jessica Auberney Smith
Jessica Auberney Smith, who writes under J. Auberney, is a self-proclaimed "hopeless romantic." So much so, that she is turning poetry and gift-giving into her livelihood.
Allergy Meds Now Require Prescription
Beginning today, cold and allergy sufferers who rely on products containing pseudoephedrine will need a doctor's prescription to purchase them in Mississippi. The law passed during this year's legislative session …
