Friday, December 30
Council Approves Tax Abatements for Companies
It's no secret that Jackson needs businesses inside the city limits to pay taxes and provide jobs and services. But at a City Council meeting earlier this week, council members …
Cyclists of the Day: Jackson Bike Advocates
Tonight's Jackson Bike Advocates ride leader is Anna Allred, 24. She is originally from Meridian, Miss. She graduated from Meridian High School in 2005. She has lived in Jackson just …
Thursday, December 29
History Made in Hinds
Much like television news directors who intentionally place sports and weather coverage at the end of the news broadcast to keep audiences tuned, organizers of this morning's Hinds County swearing-in …
Group Plans Westin Hotel Downtown
Joseph Simpson wants to build a luxury hotel in downtown Jackson near the federal courthouse and re-open the Iron Horse Grill a few blocks away. He briefly described his development …
Keeping it Fresh
Hip-hop and fashion have always been linked. Back when hip-hop was just developing, before it had a name even, the earliest practitioners of the emerging culture were already marking themselves …
Wednesday, December 28
Cocktail Parties Made Easy
The effort involved in planning a cocktail party is can be daunting. For a small, intimate—and even middle-of-the week—cocktail party for friends and family, consider a simple but impressive wine …
Cooking 101: A Glossary
Maybe, like me, you're not that great of a cook, but you want to improve your skills. As you watch cooking shows and read cooking magazines, you may found that …
Bridal Gown Silhouettes
Ball own: This one is for the princess at heart. These gowns normally have a fitted bodice and a large skirt normally made of tulle, taffeta or satin.Mermaid: A very …
Alternative Weddings
Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue just might be out the door as brides and grooms want their special day infused with creativity and personality. Couples pull …
Drink a Cup of Kindness
This time of year is full of tradition and opportunities to celebrate. Some of my favorite annual holiday parties include my downtown friends, who have become like a family. I …
Holiday Hands
I had a hard time getting in the holiday spirit this year, but that quickly changed once I got my spirit fingers. I recently made a visit to AQUA the …
Resolution Tango
When I was younger, I would annually trot out the usual suspects when it came time to make my new year's resolutions. You know the ones: lose weight; quit smoking; …
Drill, Haley, Drill
With less than one month left in office, Gov. Haley Barbour primed the pump for oil and natural gas drilling to take place off the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Lies and Damned Lies
Factcheck.org, a non-profit, non-partisan project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, bills itself as the voters' consumer advocate. The organization checks TV ads, debates, speeches, …
Statewide Pre-K Faces Setback
The results are in, and Mississippi has lost out on its part of a $500 million pot to improve early-childhood education. Now, politicians and education advocates can't quite agree on …
Media
Shields Up
Mississippi, like 10 other states in the union, doesn't have a shield law that protects journalists from revealing sources, turning over documents or answering subpoenas. In 40 states, reporters and …
Most Intriguing Jacksonians 2011
For better or worse, you talked about them. A lot. Some deserved it. Others? Well ...
For better or worse, you talked about them. A lot. Some deserved it. Others? Well ...
The ‘Smalls'
The Jackson area schools that aren't major contenders in Mississippi college basketball are known as the "small" schools. But they're only small in enrollment, not in talent, drive or determination.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Happy New Year. No matter how good 2011 was, here's to an even better 2012.
Game Changer
Women's college basketball is rightfully gaining attention these days. Last season, the women's national championship game between Texas A&M and Notre Dame was much more exciting than the men's title …
JFP Bowl Schedule: Week 3
The third week of the bowl schedule features the majority of the games including Mississippi State. As always, my picks are included. By now, I am sure to have been …
Worst and Best Films of 2011
2011 was an incredibly fascinating year in cinema. America's two finest directors, Martin Scorsese and Stephen Spielberg, elevated children's cinema with efforts that far outshone Hollywood's apparent monopoly ruled by …
Poignant, Comic Gift
"The Descendants" bubbles to the top of critic lists and Golden Globe nominations. The film goes against the current of behemoth blockbusters; it defies the prevailing philosophy of franchising prior …
Cover
JFP 2012 College Basketball Preview
The great thing about sports is that each season begins fresh and anew. Every new year, hopes begin high, and every fan dreams of dancing.
Making Music Relevant
Marlan "ML" Williams came close to a Grammy nomination this year. The R&B artist, who goes by ML "The Truth," had two songs make the last round of voting Nov. …
[Queen] A Light Ahead
Having a friend with depth and the ability to shoot from the hip is always a plus. But having one who has those characteristics and a degree in social work …
Melissa DiFatta
After Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, lawyer Melissa DiFatta wanted to revaluate her priorities. Her brother lost his home and, a month later, lost his son. "I …
Superintendent Search Update
Jackson Public Schools could have a new superintendent as early as the middle of 2012. Representatives from Ray and Associates, the consulting firm that will lead the search for the …
Domestic Violence: Health Crisis?
Twenty-four American women and men will become victims of intimate-partner violence in the minute it will take you to read this story. If it takes you two minutes, the number …
Tuesday, December 27
Decor and Donations
Red Square Clothing Co. (1000 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 9004, Ridgeland, (601) 853-8960) used holiday decorations in the store to raise money for a good cause.
Steve Guyton
Steve Guyton, 63, has been involved in Mississippi politics for more than 40 years. He has worked on numerous campaigns and with countless public officials including Sen. Roger Wicker, former …
In Race for Pre-K, Mississippi Falls to the Back of the Pack
The U.S. Department of Education announced last week that nine states will divvy up $500 million in federal funding for early childhood education. Politicians and education advocates can't quite agree …
Friday, December 23
The Week in Crime
Due to yesterday's police academy graduation, we got the weekly crime stats a little late.
Due to yesterday's police academy graduation, we got the weekly crime stats a little late. Here's an overview.
Council: Take Any, All Action Regarding TCI
The TCI-owned land across from the Jackson Convention Center may soon belong to the city, depending on what action officials take.
8 Toddler Pitfalls to Avoid Christmas Morning
Regardless of your nostalgic, Christmas-morning-frenzy memories, you'll quickly learn that a no-holds-barred approach doesn't go over well with your toddler--especially on the most anticipated morning of the year. Don't wing …
Thursday, December 22
City Council Votes to Dissolve Relationship with TCI
It's about time. Here at the JFP, we've been writing for years now about the potential minefield that is a relationship with Frank Melton's buddies at Trans Continental Realty (connected …
Dr. Aaron Shirley
Blackburn Middle School will have a ribbon cutting ceremony on Jan. 3, at 6 p.m. They were recently chosen to receive federal grant money from the U.S. Department of Health …
JPD Chief: New Cops Will Help Curb OT
In a packed and muggy auditorium and under the watchful eye of instructors who continued barking orders throughout the ceremony, 33 new recruits joined the Jackson Police Department this morning.
Barbour's 2013 Budget At a Glance
In his final budget recommendations before leaving office, Gov. Haley Barbour put everything from Mississippi Public Broadcasting to the Egg Marketing Board on the chopping block Tuesday.
Barbour Headed Back to ‘K Street'?
AP in Jackson has an unnamed source saying that Barbour plans to return to BGR Group (formerly Barbour, Griffith and Rogers), a lobbying firm that focuses primarily and Republican issues …
Wednesday, December 21
For the Little Angels and Demons
Sometimes shopping for the kids can be tough, especially when you don't know what the young ones are into these days. This year, it doesn't have to be hard, because …
Serve It Forth: Gifts for Your Kitchen
Are you struggling to find the gift for the cook who has everything? It's really not as hard as it seems, and it doesn't have to be pricey. I tend …
Don't Give a Dog a Bone
It is always tempting to throw the dog a bone off your plate, especially during the holidays, but some human foods are not safe for your pets.
[10 Things About] The Oxford American Southern Music Issue
The Oxford American is an American quarterly literary magazine "dedicated to featuring the very best in Southern writing while documenting the complexity and vitality of the American South. And here …
Ring in the New Year
It's been a blast attending great parties and concerts, but I'm ready for the holiday hustle and bustle to be done and to get back to the normality of life. …
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
The Christmas holiday features bowl games, the NFL and the return of the NBA. Ho, ho, ho!
Mississippi Teams Go Bowling
Two Mississippi college football teams are going bowling this year: Mississippi State University and the University of Southern Mississippi. Both the Bulldogs and the Golden Eagles fell short of expectations, …
JFP Bowl Schedule: Week 2
This week's college bowl games feature Southern Miss and North Carolina—that's Larry Fedora's "old" team and his new one.
Favre for JSU?
An interesting piece of news came out of the Mississippi State bowl practice the other day: Redshirt freshman quarterback Dylan Favre is leaving Starkville. Favre says his plan is to …
The Jobs Act: Help or Not?
It's no wonder that economics is called the "dismal science." Regardless of what motivated Thomas Carlyle to coin the term (some say it was a prediction that the world's resources …
Where The Jobs Are ... and Aren't
Where are the jobs? Everybody should move to North Dakota, where there are more jobs than people and more people than housing. But you don't have to go so far …
The Side Hustle
Thomas Davis is passionate about beef jerky. An aficionado of jerky himself, he invested in his own business. But this isn't your average filling station dried meat. "It is great …
Education
Good Schools=Good Jobs
For a healthy economy that can compete on a national and international level, job training begins early—very early. Children are preparing to find jobs later in life even as they …
A Great Ride
After nine years with one company, I got a pink slip. It was inevitable. The company had been sold several times, and with each takeover, my department's budget and staff …
Searching, Searching
In November, 5.7 million people in America had been unemployed for at least 27 weeks, or about six months—the official, federal definition of long-term unemployment. The long-term unemployed accounted for …
Ring in the New Year with Fun and Food
Don't have any plans for New Year's Eve? Start 2012 off with a bang by eating good food, sipping fancy drinks and enjoying local music. Here are some local restaurants …
21st Century Job Hunting
For many fields, the 21st century job seeker benefits from having an online resume. First, get a blog. Blogger and WordPress are free online hosts for blogs where you can …
The Big 50: Tips for Work Success
Work is never easy, whether to find it or to keep it. You can't even get by with a simple resume any more, as you must have newer (and more …
Diversity at Work: It Matters
In a piece called "Racism And Meritocracy" on techcrunch.com, Eric Ries talks about research on musical orchestras in which musicians auditioned behind a screen. No surprise, sadly: The screen yielded …
Finding Time
Humans are funny creatures when it comes to dealing with time. Most of us always want more of it while wasting much of what we have. Or we spend valuable …
Defining Sexual Harassment
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits harassing someone because of their sex, which includes making unwanted sexual advances, threatening to demote someone if they don't give …
Creative Work Options
Deirdre M. Danahar of Jackson-based InMotion Consulting and Coaching has operated her company from home successfully for eight years. She offers these tips for being productive while working from home.
Manage, Motivate, Inspire
Inspiring your fellow co-worker (whether boss or underling) shouldn't be a one-way affair. Each should motivate the other to accomplish more and to perform better. However now and again work …
Intern Your Way to The Top
Ask a professional with a great job if he or she ever interned. Chances are the answer will be yes. Internships (and externships, which often refer to shorter intern periods) …
Preparing for Success
Though most women may have the desire to be successful, some need a hand—and a suit. Dress for Success prepares disadvantaged women to enter or re-enter the work force. The …
Help When You Need It
Are you jobless, or do you feel limited in your current job? Several local organizations can help you get the skills and assistance you need to move up in the …
Local Fights Back
Stacy Mitchell, a senior researcher with The New Rules Project, an initiative of the Minneapolis-based Institute for Local Self-Reliance, examined how local businesses have fared compared to their national competitors …
The Holiday Playlist
Defining when the holiday season begins gets more complicated every year. A growing number of retailers pull out the Christmas garlands and ornamentation around Halloween. Black Friday and cyberspace Monday …
Elephant in the Hotel Room
The Rev. Ronnie Crudup ended the Dec. 16 Jackson Redevelopment Authority's special meeting on a positive note. "We believe we are going to get a convention center hotel very shortly," …
Are ‘Workers' All We Want?
As we move into the fourth or fifth year of the Great Recession (depending on whose measurement you use), it's more and more difficult to divorce anything from its ability …
[Stiggers] The Dirty Lowdown
Congressman Smokey "Robinson" McBride: "Citizens of the Ghetto Science community: I am honored to host the premiere broadcast of 'Christmas at Clubb Chicken Wing Holiday Television Special.'
[Kamikaze] Parental Sanity
Our children are our greatest commodities. It is our responsibility as parents, as teachers and adults to protect and nurture them so they can grow to be productive citizens.
Cover
Good Ideas Work
Work. We need it; we love it; we hate it; we dread it. Whatever the case, it dominates our lives by necessity. This GOOD Ideas issue is dedicated to the …
Online Tax Debate Looming
Sidewalks, busy sidewalks. In the air, there's a feeling that the economy might finally be picking up momentum if trends during the holiday shopping season are any indication.
Supremes Question Kemper
In all the pages of court records regarding a dispute between environmentalists and an electric utility company--pages that one Mississippi Supreme Court justice characterized as the most voluminous he has …
Tatiana McDonald
Tatiana McDonald had modest beginnings when she arrived in the United States from Bogota, Colombia, eight years ago. "Before I entered the nonprofit world, I was always trying to make …
In the Flow of Good Work
My obsession with the spirituality and science behind "good work" started innocently enough. We were about five years into publishing this newspaper and were working so much that I didn't …
Documenting Mississippi
Photographer Suzi Altman didn't glance back when she left New York City after years working for prestigious news outlets such as the Associated Press and Rolling Stone magazine. When she …
Tuesday, December 20
Barbour Budget: Slash Education, MPB, Combine HBCUs
Gov. Haley Barbour called for a 2.9 percent average funding reduction to various state agencies today including education and Mississippi Public Broadcasting. He also called for state universities, including HBCUs, …
AT&T Admits Defeat, Newk's Expands
AT&T has agreed to end its bid to acquire T-Mobile after complaints that the merger would take AT&T from one of the largest wireless providers in the nation to a …
Ineva May-Pittman
One of Ineva May-Pittman's greatest current concerns is the process the Jackson school board uses to select a new superintendent. She feels the people who should be making the decision …
Monday, December 19
Barbour Touts Skills Training
Gov. Haley Barbour is singing the praises of skills training programs at community colleges and high schools while warning of future budget cuts to education. Barbour spoke during his conference …
Barbour Reacts to Race to the Top
The Obama administration announced the recipients of this year's Race to the Top grants, and Mississippi was not on the list.
Old Capitol Green Could Get $13 Million
The long-delayed Old Capitol Green downtown development project drew a little closer to fruition this morning.
Domestic Violence: Public Health Issue
Twenty-four American women and men will become victims of intimate-partner violence in the minute or so it will take you to read this story.
Elise Winter
Habitat for Humanity Metro Jackson dedicates its 500th house tomorrow at an event honoring Elise Varner Winter. The nonprofit group built the house in honor of Winter, a founding member …
Community Events and Public Meetings
6 p.m., Anime and Manga Night, at Pearl Public Library (2416 Old Brandon Road, Pearl). Share your love of the Japanese art forms with other teens. Free; call 601-932-2562.
Friday, December 16
JRA Rejects Two Bids for Convention Hotel
An Austin, Texas, developer publicly threw its hat into the convention-center hotel ring this morning with a presentation to the Jackson Development Authority. TCI, a Dallas-based company that currently owns …
JPD Releases Crime Stats
Now in the homestretch of its effort to finish out 2011 with a reduction in overall crime, the Jackson Police Department released its crime report for the week of Dec. …
Nettie Stowers
CORRECTION: In an earlier version of this story, we spelled Nettie Stowers wrong. We apologize for the error.
Thursday, December 15
PERS Commission Recommends Cuts
After a four-month wait and much speculation, a commission studying the Public Employees Retirement System has recommended freezing the cost-of-living adjustment paid to retirees for three years.
Judges Want to See PSC's Rationale
What exactly happened for the Mississippi Public Service Commission to let a utility company jack up the price on a plant by nearly a half-billion dollars in less than a …
Charley Jenkins
What do animals do for fun and entertainment when humans aren't around? That's what Charley Jenkins has been trying to answer with his art.
Wednesday, December 14
[Week In Jacktown] December 7 - 13, 2001
With what that goes on around Jackson, we indeed live in interesting times. Events come and go, weirdness happens, occasional gossip about someone, and of course the usual political muckraking. …
Cookin' Up Christmas
The holidays don't necessarily mean you're relegated to spending long hours in the kitchen. Instead, take the time to relax with your family and friends and let a local restaurant …
Eat Your Medicine!
Nothing warms a sickly body wracked with a cold or the flu like homemade soup. After putting up a small fight, we'll agree that soup sounds good at a time …
Crafts and Cupcakes
Lately it seems that the movement to "support local" is stronger than ever.From shops and restaurants, to local musicians and artists, to local farmers, the mantra is increasingly a part …
Sugar and Spice
Need a few gifts for the gals on your list? Maybe you're in search of something special for your leading lady. Our local shops have so many great gift items …
[What's On My Playlist?] Somethin' To Ride To
I may be a picky music lover, but I have a playlist to fi t any situation or mood. Sometimes the music has to resonate with the time of day …
Garrad's Holiday Music Shopping Guide
It's Christmas shopping season, so I have compiled my own music gift wish list. These are all things that I want (hint, hint), but you should be able to find …
Esperanza Extravaganza
On Dec. 17, Jacksonians home for the holidays will have a chance to hear what they have been missing on the Jackson music scene, and newcomers can get a taste …
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
'Tis the season to be jolly, but football is nearing the end. Bah! Humbug!
Gifts for Your Sports Fanatic
A few years ago, my wife, Lacey, gave me one of my favorite books. "The Sports Book" (DK Publishing, 2007, $19.95) has an Astroturf cover and contains information about multiple …
JFP Bowl Schedule: Week 1
No JFP Top 25 football poll this week. Instead we are going to give you a weekly schedule of college bowl games coming up and Bryan Flynn's picks for the …
Dome Sweet Dome
New Orleans Saints fans should send the Arizona Cardinals a gift this holiday season. At the very least they should send the team a Christmas card.
Angel of the Court
When it comes to domestic violence, the best defense is an orchestrated, integrated justice system. That's the kind of system that earned the Clinton Municipal Court this year's Angel Award …
Smokin' the Polls
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is smoking the polls. Well, one poll anyway. The Raleigh, N.C.-based firm Public Policy Polling, which Democratic pollster Dean Debnam founded, unveiled its findings Friday, Dec. …
How to Win (or Lose) an Election
Johnny DuPree faced an uphill battle in his race for governor this year. As a Democrat running in a state trending more Republican, an African American where people often vote …
Another Landfill?
R. L. Nave
All day long, hulking trucks rumble along North County Line Road to dump loads of rubbish at one of the area's two waste dumps. At the north end of the …
[Stiggers] Survive, Thrive, Stay Alive
Brother Hustle: "Newt the Ging-Grinch said this about poor people and children: 'Really poor children in really poor neighborhoods have no habits of working and have nobody around them who …
[Hales] Death of the College Dream?
For the past two months, Americans have struggled to figure out what exactly the Occupy Wall Street movement is about. Who are the protesters? What do they stand for? What …
Candidate
The JFP Interview with Heather McTeer
Greenville Mayor Heather McTeer, 35, isn't afraid to challenge herself. She completed the St. Jude Marathon years after doctors said she'd never be able to run due to an old …
PERS Commission Recommends Three-year Freeze on COLA
Verbatim from Gov. Haley Barbour's office:
Verbatim: PERS Study Commission Releases Recommendations for Strengthening Pension Fund
Stand Up Big
When I shook his hand, I knew instantly that Larry Jackson wasn't a full-time comedian. His enormous paw, covered with callouses and cuts, swallowed my hand. In fact, he's only …
Making a Place
Author Lalita Tademy describes Mississippian Lynne Bryant's debut novel "Catfish Alley" (New American Library, 2011, $14) as being "In the tradition of 'The Help,'" by Kathryn Stockett. True, both Mississippi …
With Friends Like This
When I read the subtitle of this book—"Blues Tourism and the Mississippi Delta"—I thought it looked to be a winner. A book that offers pointers on blues promotion is greatly …
JRA Faces More Hotel Hurdles
CORRECTION: This is an updated version of the story referencing the law firm of Balch and Bingham. In an earlier version, we had the firm's name incorrect. We apologize for …
Graham Defiant in Auditor Probe
More than five months since receiving a demand from Mississippi State Auditor Stacey Pickering, Hinds County District 1 Supervisor Robert Graham has not paid the $45,736 the auditor said Graham …
Gene Moore
Gene Moore is a chaser of dreams and determined to do what he can to leave the world a better place. In 2003, he left his position as the news …
Barbour: Don't Marginalize Women
I'm not sure what Gov. Haley Barbour is "running" for now--vice president? chief of staff?--but I was dismayed to read about his recent speech in which he focused on how …
Can We Learn from the Hotel Morass?
As the city administration and the Jackson Development Authority scramble to close a convention-center hotel deal filled with "complexities" (as JRA member John Reeves put it), the situation should make …
Tuesday, December 13
Overtime Kerfluffle Causes Council Detour
City Council members took a detour from the agenda this morning to discuss the millions of dollars the city spends on overtime pay each year.
They're Crafty
They say that handmade gifts mean so much more to the recipient. They also mean a lot to the artists who craft the items as well as to the local …
Carl Jackson
On Dec. 8, recording artist Carl Jackson joined more than 30 other local performers featured on the Mississippi Country Music Trail. The trail, similar to the 140-member strong Mississippi Blues …
Monday, December 12
City Mulls Bond Deal
The City Council and city attorney have thick stacks of documents to review detailing the deal the Jackson Redevelopment Authority worked out to build a convention center hotel.
Clinton Municipal Court is an Angel
Victims of domestic violence have a strong resource in the Clinton Municipal Court.
Presidential Pardons Heavily Favor Whites
White criminals seeking presidential pardons over the past decade have been nearly four times as likely to succeed as minorities, a ProPublica examination has found.
Community Events and Public Meetings
7 p.m., "Taking Charge of Your Health and Wellness" Seminar, at New Destiny Christian Center Church (Wind River, 405 Briarwood Drive, Suite 301). Topics include the fundamentals of good nutrition …
Friday, December 9
Creative ‘Coworking' Comes to Jackson
Creative Distillery hasn't quite finished setting up its new office on the third floor of Banner Hall. A few walls are still awaiting paint and an empty corner in the …
Can Sacred, Secular Coexist on Farish?
Despite popular beliefs, churches are not ivory towers. Or, as the Rev. Dr. Hickman Johnson put it: "The church should not be cloistered somewhere because it has to be holy. …
Malcolm White
Malcolm White just won a top honor from the Mississippi Art Education Association for promoting visual arts in the state. White, executive director of the Mississippi Arts Commission, received the …
City Crime Rankings: ‘Invalid, Damaging and Irresponsible'
We've been warning Jackson for years about the "dangerous" city rankings scam designed to sell books. Leaders in most cities across American cringe and complain when the CQ Press (formerly …
Thursday, December 8
Reasons Behind Dropouts
Students drop out of school for many reasons, a panel of high-school students said, but the community can help them stay in school.
Jamie White
The Jackson Police Department recently recognized Officer Jamie White for apprehending a pair of armed-robbery suspects. JPD named White the Officer of the Month for October. He received his award …
"Newt Gingrich is the Kim Kardashian of the GOP"
Evangelical explains why Gingrich doesn't deserve your vote via this YouTube clip.
Child Abuse, Bad Diets Lead to Brain Issues Lead to Crime?
It's kind of one of those scientific findings that ought to be obvious, but here it is: Children who are physically and emotionally abused often become violent criminals. In the …
LA Times: Cancer Victim Apologizes to Obama
Am I the biggest fan of Health Care Reform? No... I think a number of additional steps, like the public option, could have been taken to make this a more …
Wednesday, December 7
[Kamikaze] The War Outside
"There's a war going on outside no man is safe from." —Prodigy of Mobb Deep
[Jones] A Lottery for 3-Year Olds
In 1962, 58 Michigan toddlers won a lottery. To pick up their prize, these 3-year-olds were dropped off at a row of buildings in Ypsilanti, a small town near Ann …
The Art of Giving
Shopping for artists can be fun because it allows the shopper to tap into his or her creative juices to find the perfect gift. Plenty of local shops make it …
Hair for the Holidays
If you're like me, you're in the full swing of holiday season, and your weekends are booked solid with parties and gatherings. It's pretty much a given that your outfits …
10 Things: Purpertrator
A lot of things can be said about Purpertrator. Because there are so many, we've managed to narrow them down to ten, just to give you a taste on how …
Straight, Black Coffin
Coffin Breath's m.o. is not writing catchy tunes, and they are certainly not radio friendly.
A Life's Dream Realized
After years of opening locations for restaurant groups such as Copeland's, Ruby Tuesday and The Peasant Restaurant Group of Atlanta, Ga., Kevin Thompson realized his dream of opening his own …
Eat Right
It's hard sticking to health goals when the winter months and holidays roll around. With family gatherings and parties where food, often the unhealthy kind, is everywhere, it's easy to …
Old Fannin Road Market Open For Winter
Shop locally and fresh at the Old Fannin Road Farmer's Market (307 Old Fannin Road, Brandon) all winter long. The Farmer's Market is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday …
‘All About the Children'
Three months into Clinton Johnson Jr.'s new position as Jackson Public Schools executive director of athletics, he sees the challenges and is proud of the progress he has made.
Sustain This
I hate buzzwords. I hear them all the time when watching the news or political programs. If you work for a corporation, you are sure to hear buzzwords around the …
JFP Top 25: Week 15
It is sad to say, but this is the last JFP Top 25 college football poll; that is, the final poll until after the national championship.
Art for AIDS
Mississippi HeARTS Against AIDS hosts its 20th anniversary benefit Feb. 11. The benefit, Mississippi's largest fundraiser for HIV and AIDS-related issues, is a live and silent art auction. Over 300 …
Creating Respect on the Road
They follow the rules of the road, they stop at all stoplights, and they do their best to create a respectful atmosphere between cyclists and motorists. The Jackson Bike Advocates …
Ignite the Night
Flappers might seen doing the Charleston at the Roaring '20s-themed gala at the Mississippi Children's Museum (2145 Highland Drive). The museum hosts the annual Ignite the Night Gala Saturday, Feb. …
‘We Eat Ham and Jam ... a Lot'
Fans of the comedy classic film, "Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail," will appreciate the humor and re-imagined history of the Broadway hit "Spamalot." Fans of Broadway …
A Soulful Messiah
Legendary producer Quincy Jones took the classic Handel's "Messiah" and added some soul. Jackson school choirs and area dancers will add life when they perform the modern classic this holiday …
Millsaps Brings in Literary Celebrities
Each semester, Millsaps College, with the help of assistant professor of English Steve Kistulentz, brings award-winning authors to campus for craft talks, lectures and public readings. Kistulentz curates the Millsaps …
How to Cook Up Date Nights
Give your sweetheart an experience to remember and not just another food processor to store in the cabinet. Viking Cooking School (1107 Highland Colony Parkway, 601-898-8345) offers opportunities for the …
Nostalgia as Art
A maker of wooden toys and a children's book illustrator team up for a new exhibit at the Mississippi Library Commission (3881 Eastwood Drive, 601-432-4111).
Wearing Art You Love
Wearing art is becoming a mantra of sorts at circa. Urban Artisan Living (2771 Old Canton Road, 601-362-8484). The shop with the odd name often has trunk shows with designers, …
Blues Marathon Offers Multiple Categories
If you are going to run a marathon in January in Jackson, you better dress in layers and expect any type of weather. The 5th annual Mississippi Blues Marathon Saturday, …
Inflated Sense of Self
When I first saw Jean M. Twenge and W. Keith Campbell's "The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement", I think I actually groaned.
Giving Miss Eudora
If you're a Mississippian, and you love great literature, you love Eudora Welty. So why not spread some Miss Eudora love to those on your holiday list?
One Fork at a Time
About 30 students from Chastain Middle School filed into The Penguin Restaurant, dressed in collared shirts and ties or dresses and bows. They politely took their seats at tables arranged …
Black Farmers: Getting Their Due?
Mississippi is likely to have the highest concentration of farmers who are entitled to a piece of two landmark decisions. In fact, more than one-fourth of the claims under the …
Honey, I Shrunk My City!
Scott Crawford maneuvers his wheelchair from the front of his house through his living room to a dining room table set with LEGO replicas of Jackson landmarks.
Follow Lead of Powell, Barksdale
There are people who complain, seeing insurmountable problems everywhere, and there are people who take action infused by hope and informed by facts and evidence. We were thrilled to see …
[Stiggers] Stimulation to Occupation
Live from the Funky Ghetto Mall is the Ghetto Science Community Annual Holiday Parade, brought to you by Ghetto Science Team Public Television. With me is co-host, D.J. 'Loose Booty' …
'We're A Miracle'
Ballet Magnificat! Marks 25 Years
As a professional ballerina, Kathy Thibodeaux began to pray about her career and her future when she became a Christian in 1979. "Should I keep dancing? Do I give up …
Doomsday for Black Folks?
By all measures, the state of black Mississippi should be strong. Mississippi's concentration of African American residents, 37 percent, is the highest of any state. Mississippi also has the highest …
Jackson Aces Elementary Math
Jackson is focusing more of its financial resources on schools with the neediest students, bucking a national trend, U.S. Department of Education data suggest.
Carol Clark Hammond
Michelangelo once said, "He who does not master the nude cannot understand the principles of architecture." It's just one of many quotes by which Carol Clark Hammond lives. As a …
Finding Seagulls in the Grain
I crossed the street quickly and hurried under Interstate 55 to catch the bus. The gray, concrete columns stood silent, holding up tons of speeding commuters. The underpass space is …
Making Joyful Noises
Jackson comes alive when Christmas comes to town. With the Belhaven Singing Christmas Tree, Chimneyville Crafts Festival and several other local traditions, most people seem to get into the holiday …
Tuesday, December 6
Not Giving Up on Jackson Kids
Jackson struggles with a graduation rate below the national average, but the community is not giving up on its students, an organization started by Colin Powell says.
Big Changes at Koinonia
If his ability to juggle a phone interview while whipping a breakfast bagel is any indication, Nate Coleman is going to make one heck of a restaurateur. Coleman, a Jackson …
Carol West
Carol C. West, a law professor at Mississippi College, died yesterday at age 67. An expert in domestic relations, women's issues and criminal law, West donated some of her academic …
Monday, December 5
Guns: A Public Health Issue?
It's difficult to have a serious conversation about the prevalence of guns in American society because it's one of those issues where so many people are strident one way or …
Hinds Balks at Madison Landfill
A decade-long controversy over the placement of a landfill on North County Line Road could soon draw to a conclusion. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, which must grant NCL-Waste …
Eastover Subdivisions Limited
Developers eyeing properties in the Eastover neighborhood will not be able to purchase land and divide it up into smaller parcels. City Council members voted this morning to extend a …
Rick Comegy
Coaching football is the one profession where the common question is "what have you done lately?" Jackson State University knows the answer to that question. Coach Rick Comegy led Jackson …
Community Events and Public Meetings
<b>Monday, Dec. 5</b>
6 p.m., It's the Perfect Time: To Purchase a Home, at Jackson Medical Mall (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.) in the Community Meeting Room. The workshop is part of the …
Archie Manning Talks Ole Miss: Nutt to Freeze
The University of Mississippi has released this video of Archie Manning, Ole Miss alum and former football great, who co-chaired their search committee for a head coach to replace Houston …
Friday, December 2
Old Capitol Green Progressing
An earlier version of this story had the wrong photograph. We apologize for the error.
Making Science and Math Exciting
William Johnson III, a third-grader at Casey Elementary School, looked skeptically at the rubbery, gray sheep's brain displayed on a Styrofoam plate. Tentatively, he poked at it, then turned around …
Michael Rubenstein
Mississippi has a long and rich sports history. The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame was created to protect and showcase the history of sports in our state. Michael Rubenstein was …
Thursday, December 1
People Under 30 Face Greatest AIDS Risk
People who weren't yet born when AIDS first emerged are at the highest risk for becoming HIV positive today. It's an alarming development that underscores how essential awareness is, especially …
Jim Borsig
Jim Borsig said the "tremendous opportunity" to lead the University of Women humbles him. When the State College Board announced it wanted him to be the school's next president last …
Repub Govs: Fear Occupy, Divert Attention from Middle Class to Win
At a Republican governors meeting this week, GOP partisans were warned to keep the subject away from the middle class in the upcoming presidential election—or President Obama will win.
Proms and Pork
Some truisms are absolute. Among them: Ladies my age love an 1980s party, and guys love fire and meat. But when undertaken properly, these different undertakings can appeal to both …
Defensible Space Reduces Crime
"Defensible space is a model for residential environments which inhibits crime by creating the physical expression of a social fabric that defends itself." — Oscar Newman, 1972
