Tuesday, May 31
Yes on Budget Shift, Electric Cars
The Jackson City Council approved a $3.5 million budget revision this week, funneling budget savings into new shortfalls found halfway into the budget year.
Cellphones "Possibly Carcinogenic"
AP is reporting that the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classifieds cellphones as "possibly carcinogenic," a label that it also applies to DDT and coffee. The Agency is …
Council Considers Gate Ordinance
Under a new city ordinance Ward 1 Councilman Quentin Whitwell proposed today, 75 percent of a Jackson neighborhood's residents could vote to gate their community even though the city would …
Midtown Market Opens; Biz Support Group
A national nonprofit designed to educate entrepreneurs and support small businesses needs volunteers to help establish a chapter in Jackson.
Anna Kline
Within the past two weeks, Anna Kline saw the devastation of the Mississippi River flooding, wrote a song about it and played it during practice with her band. In the …
Flood Recovery Volunteers Needed
Several community and faith-based organizations are seeking volunteers to help 14 counties in Mississippi recovered from flooding.
Monday, May 30
Quentin Whitwell, Nic Lott, Othor Cain, and Chris Bell on "Direct Line" Tuesday 7pm
Just FYI, We've got an action packed Direct Line on tap for Tues. Ward 1 City Councilman Quentin Whitwell will join us. Along with Mississippi Link Editor Othor Cain, Nic …
Friday, May 27
the Southern Ties Tour at Fenians
I didn't get a chance to highlight this event in the most recent edition of Eight Days a Week, so I thought I'd mention it here. Thanks to Amy Willis …
Biz District Plan Moves Forward
With little dissent, downtown Jackson property owners approved a plan last night that would expand the Downtown Jackson Partners' Business Improvement District and maintain assessment rates at 10 cents per …
Sales Tax Commission Authority Still Unclear
The city of Jackson and one of its state senators still disagree over the mechanics behind a localized 1-percent sales tax increase.
Chicken of the Day: Jane Hen
The people at PETA are no chickens. Members of the Norfolk, Va.-based organization escorted their "crippled chicken"--another PETA member clad in a chicken suit and toting a cane--across the street …
TGIF: The Weekend's Here!
Let's make this a Memorial Day weekend to remember, shall we? Start it off tonight with Latin flair. Eat, dance and try out your conversational Spanish at Fiesta Latina, the …
Thursday, May 26
Farish Street, Capitol Green Moving Forward
B.B. King Blues Club has signed a lease deal with Farish Street developer Watkins Development, LLC. John Reeves, a member of the Jackson Redevelopment Authority, confirmed the deal this morning …
Freedom Riders Call on Governor for Action
Several civil-rights activists and Freedom Riders gathered this morning, and called on Gov. Haley Barbour to put his apology into action and issue a full pardon for the Scott sisters.
Billy McCoy
Mississippi House Speaker Billy McCoy, 68, a Delta farmer from Rienzi, announced yesterday that he would not run again for his seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives.
Mayor Harvey Johnson on ‘JFP on WLEZ' Today
At noon today on WLEZ-FM 100.1, Mayor Harvey Johnson will join JFP editor Donna Ladd and publisher Todd Stauffer for a wide-ranging discussion covering issues currently facing Jackson and its …
JFP Sports Coverage of Day One of the C-USA Baseball Tournament
The first major live event that JFP Sports is covering is the C-USA Baseball Tournament. Everyday after all the tournament action is done, JFP Sports will recap the day's action …
Wednesday, May 25
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Doctor S sez: Mississippi State baseball coach John Cohen has satisfied the Bulldog fans for now. Meanwhile, things are less settled at Ole Miss.
‘Old Southern' Cooking with Sara Foster
Sara Foster's career has come back home. After growing up in Tennessee in a family of cooks, Foster went to culinary school in New York. She worked with Martha Stewart …
Doctor Who
A few weeks ago, some of our Twitter friends suggested we dedicate a FLY page to Doctor Who. He's a cultural icon who has the ability to travel through space …
Take My Hand
I was not about to lie down in a body imprint left in the grass no matter how much the artist encouraged me. Looking at the impression of a fallen …
Deficit Hawks Push Oil Tax Breaks
U.S. Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker both voted May 18 to maintain $2 billion in annual tax breaks to the world's five largest private oil companies.
Council Recalculating Budget
The Jackson City Council is willing to approve a budget revision next week filling a $4 million budget shortfall, Ward 2 Councilman Chokwe Lumumba believes.
Tax Commission Battles Continue
City and state leaders are debating whether a 10-member commission will have to oversee a proposed 1-cent sales-tax increase in Jackson. The city's roads, water, sewer and other infrastructure are …
Downtown Biz District May Expand; Disaster Jobs Available
The Downtown Business Improvement District may expand up to the second block of the Farish Street Entertainment District, which includes Peaches Restaurant and the Alamo Theater.
Chamber, Work With the Mayor
The Jackson Free Press has often agreed with Sen. John Horhn over the years, and we're finding that new Ward 1 City Councilman Quentin Whitwell can be a breath of …
[Stiggers] Post-Judgment Refund
"Remember: In the ghetto everything is everything, and everything at Jojo's is still a dollar."
[Kamikaze] Trash Talking
Let's put some accurate information onto the turnpike, shall we? Crime in Jackson is down. Dropping. Heading south. It's a slow decline, yes, but a decline, nonetheless. For those of …
[Halkias] Love Lost and Gained
On a recent drive home, I started crying, in part because of an argument I had with my mom. I also had a mix of emotions after a weekend trip …
Art Intensive
Tougaloo Art Colony returns for its 15th year this July. Accomplished artists and curious amateurs are all accepted for the intensive experience, space permitting. The object at this retreat is …
Free Mix
What's the best thing about the Mississippi Museum of Art's Art Remix this summer? It's free.
Sneaky Fest
If you are planning on driving around the Fondren area Aug. 27, you may want to think of an alternate route instead of North State Street. The street will be …
"Love, Sex and the IRS"
Think of a Neil Simon play's energy ("The Odd Couple"), the ribald French movie "Les Cage Aux Folles," and the eclectic characters from television's "Carol Burnett Show." Put them into …
Fun on the Road
This past weekend, I traveled with my son's Cub Scout troop to Louisiana for a tour of the Honey Island Swamp. As cliché as the phrase is, it doesn't stop …
Institute Honors Mississippi Artists, Writers
In June, the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters will award prizes for works first published, shown or performed in 2010. Categories include poetry, fiction, nonfiction, visual arts, photography and …
Art
Jackson's Creative Economy
Tracie James-Wade was tired of corporate America. After working in sales and marketing for various corporations in Nashville, Tenn., for nine years, she decided it was time to pursue a …
How much radioactive tritium did Grand Gulf release?
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission still has not assessed how much radioactive tritium Entergy Mississippi employees accidentally released into the Mississippi River late last month.
Bye-Bye, Be-Bop
As Kathy Morrison surveys the crowds browsing CDs in the aisles at Be-Bop Record Shop May 19, she is reminded of a time before iPods, MP3 players and iTunes.
LaRita Smith
LaRita Smith is exhausted. Not only has she been painting until 3 a.m. and cutting countless strips of paper for collages with glue-covered hands, she's been doing it at age …
Musicians Unite for Skaters
One day, Jackson's (gently) aging skaters, scarred-knee veterans of a thousand plywood ramps and endless miles of dented handrails, came to a realization. Society now recognizes skateboarding as a sport, …
For the State
As a former roller-derby queen, I admire those who've picked up the hobby and talent of skating, whether as an eight-wheeled mafia (aka roller-derby team), by inline skating or executing …
Coming Home
Medgar Evers' work has never been forgotten. To honor his memory, the Evers family has held a Medgar Evers Homecoming event each June. In 1973 Mayor Charles Evers and B.B. …
Court Stops Execution
Just hours before officials were scheduled to execute Mississippi death row inmate Robert Simon Jr. Tuesday, a federal appeals court blocked the execution.
Tuesday, May 24
Downtown Biz District May Expand; Disaster Jobs Available
Read a list of all properties and payments included in the BID here
Freedom Riders Recognized
Freedom Rider Jesse James Davis said his historic ride on a Greyhound bus to protest Jackson's segregated bus station was not a planned event.
Zandrea King
At 28, Zandrea King is a self-described up-and-coming professional who decided to take the path less traveled with her career choice.
Simon Asks Court to Block Execution
Death row inmate Robert Simon Jr., who is scheduled to die today, is asking a federal appeals court to block his execution in order for the court to thoroughly review …
Monday, May 23
City Filling Budget Holes
Halfway into the budget year, the city of Jackson has to move money around thanks to overtime costs and JATRAN budget overruns, among other issues.
C-USA Tournament Begins
On Wednesday, Trustmark Park, home of the Mississippi Braves, becomes home to the Conference USA Baseball Tournament.
Gov. Haley Barbour
"To the Freedom Riders yourselves, our state does celebrate and thank you for your courage, your commitment, your suffering and your sacrifices of 50 years ago. We apologize to you …
Community Events and Public Meetings
Return of the Freedom Riders: 50th Anniversary Reunion through May 26. More than 100 Freedom Riders and their families will reunite with their colleagues and tell stories about the struggle …
Friday, May 20
River to Flood into June
The Mississippi River flood crest that everybody's been waiting for is, unfortunately, not the final phase of the drama, Jeffrey Eckstein, Vicksburg District commander of the U.S. Army Corps of …
Whitwell: Move Forward on Sales Tax
Referring to himself as a "tell-it-like-it-is politician," Ward 1 Jackson City Councilman Quentin Whitwell told community members this morning that the makeup of a commission to oversee Jackson's proposed 1-percent …
Kayla Watkins
Kayla Watkins, Madison Central High School's head softball coach, is looking forward to her fast-pitch softball team winning the championship against Petal High School today and Saturday.
It's the Weekend
Art House Downtown Cinema brings Jackson independent and interesting films consistently. You have a chance to catch two films, "Blank City" at 7 p.m. and "Heartbeats" at 8:45 p.m. today …
City Launches Summer Reading Program
The Jackson Public Schools District and city leaders announced an initiative yesterday to recruit 30,000 young readers across the city to read 100,000 books over the summer.
Thursday, May 19
Bike to Work Week Kicks Into High Gear
Gas prices got you down? Thankfully, leg muscles don't cost $3.95 for every 20 miles you travel. Make it easy this week by celebrating National Bike Month along with a …
Wendi Reed
Rick Fremin, who became coach of the Jackson State University women's softball team in January, does not hesitate naming the on-the-field leader for the Lady Tigers. "Without question, one player …
Circle of Us Meeting
Although I created an event listing for this, I wanted to highlight this event because I think this group serves an important purpose. More and more African Americans are deciding …
Wednesday, May 18
Un-gifting JPS
State budget cuts are forcing Jackson Public Schools to scale back its gifted-education classes to the bare minimum required by state law. With their emphasis on hands-on learning and critical …
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Doctor S sez: Mississippi State or Ole Miss could win the SEC West. Or they could miss the SEC Tournament completely. Tight race, huh?
Coping with Food Allergies
About four years ago, I finally realized that the health problems I had been having for years would recur every time I ate tomatoes or dishes in which tomatoes were …
Royal Cocktails
You may not be royalty, but that shouldn't stop you from adding a little pizzazz to your summer wedding. Consider adding these royal-themed drinks to your bar menu. They're provided …
Eco-Honeymoons
When most couples talk about their honeymoon, it's usually stories of how wonderful the masseuse was at the hotel spa or how delectable the food. They might even mention the …
Wedding Dance Lessons
On your big day, don't step out on the dance floor with two left feet. Instead, invest a little money and time to make your first dance together as husband …
Register Locally
For some couples, developing a bridal registry is one of the most exciting parts of getting married. It is their one opportunity to think about the special items they want …
Spring Renewal
Spring is a time of renewal. Flowers blooming, Easter, the birds and the bees doing their things—it all makes a girl want to shop for a new look and go …
Strenuous Liberty
I saw an earth-shattering tweet yesterday. The Fairview Inn in Belhaven was tweeting the link to their blog post heralding the Freedom Riders' anniversary. So what, you might respond. It's …
Bracing for Destruction
Dave Collins of Collins Farms in Tallulah, La., sits in his office, staring across his desk at his older brother Curt Collins who sits in a broad blue sofa, holding …
Out of Time
Once the drugs started to flow, it took only a minute for Benny Joe Stevens' lips to stop moving. He slipped out of consciousness, and soon his heart stopped.
A Newspaper Is Born
Never in the history of journalism, as we know it in the State of Mississippi, has any newspaper from its inception had such bold aims and purity of purpose as …
[Stiggers] My Dog Bites Booty
"The Crime Watch Report News Brief is your source for information on suspicious individuals and activities in desirable suburban communities. Here's your Crime Watch News Brief reporter, I. M. Scared."
[Dickerson] Civil Rights Ain't Just History
Gov. Haley Barbour did the right thing by lobbying for a civil-rights museum.
Cover
Freedom Rides Again
Their Story, 50 Years Later
Hank Thomas walked up the steps of the Greyhound bus on a sunny day May 4, 1961. As he calmly surveyed its drab, blue-gray interior, the lanky 19-year-old black student …
[Balko] How Bin Laden Won
In "The Looming Tower," the Pulitzer Prize-winning history of al-Qaeda and the road to Sept. 11, author Lawrence Wright lays out how Osama bin Laden's motivation for the attacks that …
Recreating the Rides
Forty college students got on the bus earlier this month and began tweeting and blogging about retracing the 1961 Freedom Rides from Washington, D.C., to New Orleans.
‘It Won't Be Long'
Before Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., telling the nation of his dream in 1963, Medgar Evers also had a dream. The civil-rights activist …
Common Struggle
The first time Lewis Zuchman saw Freedom Rider Hank Thomas was in 1961. Thomas was giving a television interview about the violence he had encountered in Anniston, Ala., while challenging …
Freedom's Main Line
When Robert Parker Adams was a teenager, he spent muggy Mississippi afternoons playing pinball at Jackson's Greyhound station at 219 N. Lamar St. It was just across the street from …
‘Jail Not Bail'
Fred Clark always felt something was not right with how the South treated blacks.
Peter Zapletal, Puppeteer
The puppets Peter Zapletal makes are works of art, all unified by his craftsmanship. The sly smile on bunnies wearing striped suits in "Carnival of Animals" and the details in …
Dancing with Eddie Griffin
Eddie Griffin has come a long way from choreographing Chiefs games in his hometown of Kansas City, Mo., at 16. What began as a dare to tell jokes at a …
Bridging Sandridge's Divide
Malco Grandview Theatre may not be running Mark Sandridge's controversial campaign ad for Madison County Sheriff anymore, but his message has spurred debates about Jackson stereotypes and the responsibility of …
Echoes of Shoccoe
As the waters of the Mississippi River creep to a historic high, lapping at Vicksburg's ankles, some local residents are getting nervous about how long the city of Jackson has …
Jeanne Luckett
Jeanne Luckett has a contagious enthusiasm for studying and preserving Mississippi's civil-rights legacy. She put her passion and energy to use helping to plan the 50th anniversary Freedom Riders reunion …
Pot's Simmering, Gumbo's Ready
By day, the men are schoolteachers and repairmen. But by night, the gentlemen of Southern Komfort Brass Band bring New Orleans-style brass-band music to Jackson.
‘Grey Skies' Clearing
Brad "Kamikaze" Franklin, aka Kaz, is many things to many people: husband, father, advocate for Jackson, columnist for this paper, rapper, business owner, activist and a member of the Kiss …
Tuesday, May 17
The Conservative "War on Math," Part One
LED BULBS HIT 100 WATTS AS FEDERAL BAN LOOMS
Look, I get it. People want someone to blame, and you've got Obama right there. But this exchange on Facebook (names changed) the other day was a bit too much …
Council Battles Over Zoning
Jackson City Council members agonized over how to classify newly annexed city property during a lengthy zoning meeting yesterday.
Restaurant Makeover
Belhaven mainstay Keifer's Restaurant is set to move to a new building in late September. Assistant general manager Jeff Stricklin told the Jackson Free Press today that the restaurant is …
Shaunti Dennis
With the help of the community, The Journey Ministries Coordinator Shaunti Dennis is raising money for church members to take a mission trip to Tanzania, Africa, this summer. The goal …
Monday, May 16
Keep Current Maps, Says Court
Read the court's decision (PDF)
City Eyes $6M in Upgrades
City Eyes $6M in Upgrades
The city is moving ahead with funding $5.8 million in contracts with Johnson Controls Inc. and Siemens Building Technologies Inc. this week.
Witnesses Praise Edwards' Leadership
Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Lonnie Edwards has made major improvements to the school district but still needs more time, witnesses in the hearing on Edwards' contract said today. Vicki Davidson, …
Ermea Russell
On May 23, Ermea Russell will begin her term as a Mississippi Appeals Court judge. Gov. Haley Barbour appointed her last week.
Community Events and Public Meetings
Introduction to SCORE. Learn more about a nonprofit that helps small businesses grow and succeed. Free; call 601-540-5415.
Friday, May 13
Burton: Schimmel Pushed Edwards' Ouster
George Schimmel, member of the Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees, drove the board's consideration of whether to replace Superintendent Lonnie Edwards, said Otha Burton, his fellow board member, today. …
In Jackson, ‘Always Something to Do'
Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center Manager Pam Junior dashed arguments that there is little to do in the city of Jackson.
Abigail Susik
With less than 24 hours before The Plant on Highway 80 is transformed into a participatory arts event with more than 40 projects, FIGMENT Jackson Lead Curator Abigail Susik is …
It's the Weekend
Unleash the animal within this Friday at Zoo Brew, starting at 6 p.m. at the Jackson Zoo. Sample more than 40 specialty beers from Capital City Beverage, margaritas by Paco's …
Thursday, May 12
$20 Million Hold-up on Capitol Green?
Old Capitol Green developers cannot take advantage of $20 million in state bonds for infrastructure work because the state and city have not committed to the bonds.
State's African Americans See Higher Unemployment
Like many things in Mississippi, the hardship of unemployment during the Great Recession has fallen unequally on the state's population. African American workers in Mississippi experienced an 18 percent unemployment …
Michael Hrivnak
Michael Hrivnak has spent the past few days sending miniature rubber ducks on a test swim through Smith Park's fountain in downtown Jackson. This weekend, more than 300 ducks will …
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Doctor S sez: Y'all quit playing Led Zeppelin's "When the Levee Breaks." Now is not the time.
Wednesday, May 11
Parenting Styles
Your child may not have come with a handbook on how to be a good parent, but you can learn nevertheless. Many factors determine how you choose to parent. The …
Growing Great Writers
I firmly believe that anyone can be a good writer. Writing leads to clear thinking, and reading and writing feed each other. Don't give up on yourself or your child, …
From At-Risk to OK
Constant, intense stimulation, pressure to do more and better, media and peer pressure, and life's everyday changes bombard kids from all directions. Living in atmospheres of poverty, crime and abuse …
Steps to Adoption
Choosing to adopt is a major decision that can reap rewarding and unfathomable benefits of giving an orphaned child a place to call home.
Hard Decisions
If you are a child with aging parents, or a caring parent with foresight for your children, here are some of the documents that will help you deal with end …
Co-housing Now
The decrease in the number of Americans participating in bowling leagues since 1950 is just one example of America's movement toward isolated communities. Robert Putnam uses this example in the …
Growing Herbs: Kid-Friendly Gardening
A handful of culinary herbs are easy to grow and useful in the kitchen—even for new gardeners with little space and for those (including kids) who are too busy to …
How to Live in a Multi-Generational Household
The number of people living in multi-generational households has steadily increased over the last three decades, according to the Pew Research Center. As of 2008, 49 million Americans lived in …
Family Communication
Families live farther apart than ever. Several tech tools can help you keep in touch from afar. Here are some tips for staying in touch.
Planning an Ideal Neighborhood for Kids
An ideal neighborhood for children begins with including children in the planning process. This doesn't mean families, developers or planners put in an amusement park with ice cream stands on …
Groups That Support Families
Even families have hard times, and need some form of help. Thankfully, there are groups of people and organizations that are willing to help. If you don't need the help, …
Making An Urban Family
When Beth Kander moved to Jackson in 2003, she hardly knew anyone. Kander, an author and playwright who has also written for the Jackson Free Press, was far from her …
I-55, Revisited
Better Than Ezra burst onto the national rock scene in 1995 with the hit single, "Good." Formed while its members attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in 1988, Better …
Schoolhouse Rock
Many musicians here live an almost "Hannah Montana" lifestyle—going to school daily as a teacher, yet rocking the masses at night. I've been teaching 11 years in the Jackson metro …
Simple Suppers
I don't know if the sky has always been this blue, or if the long and unusually harsh winter this year has made me enjoy the sunshine that much more. …
A Rez-olution.
Every year about this time I start thinking about vacation. The only hang up is that I'm a working girl with vacation days, and they're limited. So I've begun negotiations. …
Thanks for Brooklyn
It seemed everyone knew one another, and always, always someone was looking out and watching over the kids.
KiOR Heats Up
Biofuels company KiOR has yet to produce any of its vaunted crude oil substitute in Mississippi, but the startup is making big moves on financing.
McGowan Non-Profit Foots Study Bill
Flowood Mayor Gary Rhoads says the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District (aka the Levee Board) is working with a non-profit foundation backed by McGowan Working Partners for …
Political Ad Stirs Controversy
Many residents of both Hinds and Madison counties spoke out this week against a controversial political ad that played on fears of Jackson's "violent crime" showing prior to feature movies …
Talking It Out
Hakeem and Matthew have been fighting. Seated in a classroom at Blackburn Middle School, the two eighth-grade boys explain the origins of their conflict, an ever-escalating series of slights.
Divisiveness Hurts Kids and Families
Cue the ominous voice: "Imagine for a moment this road is our county line. This side represents one of the most violent cities in the nation. Over here, on our …
[Stiggers] Cootie Creek County Sheriff
In the ghetto criminal justice system, the people are represented by members of the Ghetto Science Team: police officer and part-time security guard at the Funky Ghetto Mall; Dudley 'Do-Right' …
[Kamikaze] Freedom and Responsibility
Ah, the First Amendment: freedom of speech—that little inalienable right that we all have and that we all have invoked. Clearly some of us don't really understand what it means. …
[Moore] One Year Later
We understand that Jackson has its problems. Aren't there problems everywhere? Utopia doesn't exist.
Good Ideas
Families are at the heart of everything we do. They serve as a witness to our lives, support us when we fail and remind us of where we came from. …
Metro Facing Sewer Headache
Jackson's outdated sewage treatment plant is dumping too much sludge and waste back into the Pearl River, and the city is paying big bucks to get it into federal compliance.
A Helping Hand
A storage closet inside a homeless day shelter is an unlikely studio for well-known Mississippi folk artist McArthur Chism. But these days Chism is just glad to have a quiet …
Marie Owens
Marie Owen wants to create a greater sense of community between her neighbors and the rest of the city through the concept of co-housing. Owen and her sister Hilda Owen …
Art Revival
As he flipped through a slideshow of a "Wizard of Oz"-inspired golf course, an outdoor living room made of grass and children jumping in a bed of flower petals, David …
An Eye for an Eye
Set against the backdrop of Argentina's military regime in 1982, "Invisible Eye" tells the story of a young schoolteacher who falls prey to her supervisor's trap of sexual abuse.
Tuesday, May 10
Mississippi Executes Benny Joe Stevens
The state of Misssissippi has executed death-row inmate Benny Joe Stevens. Sunflower County Coroner Heather Burton pronounced Stevens dead at 6:22 p.m. Stevens is the first person executed in Mississippi …
Malco Pulls Controversial Political Ad
UPDATED: Malco has issued a follow-up statement, ensuring that campaign ads on its screens will "not happen again." See full statement in comments below.
Arena Study Fundraising; Restaurant Makeover
Former Bombay Bistro owner Parveen Kapoor has partnered with former Jerusalem Cafe manager Victor Hugo to reopen his Indian bistro as a Mexican restaurant called Tres Amigos.
Giraffe of the Day: She-Who-Will-Be-Named
Spring, prime time for school field-trips, is a busy time for Jackson Zoo keepers and staff. On May 5, however, witnesses stood in awe as Diamond the giraffe gave birth …
[Balko] The ‘War on Cops' That Isn't
Despite what you may have read, it's safer to be a police officer today than it has been in 35 years.
Mississippi Receives Federal Disaster Designation
<i>Verbatim statement from Gov. Haley Barbour</i>:
JACKSON - Gov. Haley Barbour announced today that residents in 18 counties affected by the severe storms, flooding and tornadoes April 15-April 28 are now eligible for federal disaster assistance.
Monday, May 9
Madison Sheriff Candidate Bashes Jackson in Disturbing Ad
This dude, Mark Sandridge, shouldn't be elected dog catcher after this expensively offensive–and inaccurate–campaign ad. Shame!
Tea Party Weighs in on Redistricting
The Mississippi Tea Party wants a federal three-judge panel to toss a redistricting map that favors Democrats.
Tougaloo Opens Civil-Rights Center
Tougaloo College leaders and elected officials gathered Saturday to celebrate the completion of Bennie G. Thompson Academic and Civil Rights Research Center, a project eight years in the making.
Julie Skipper
A four-year downtown resident and a thriving socialite who enjoys the nightlife and all things Jackson, Julie Skipper once vowed to never return to Mississippi upon leaving for scholarly pursuits.
Community Events and Public Meetings
Oral Cancer Screenings May 9, at Jackson Medical Mall (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.). In the Oral Oncology Clinic, located inside the UMHC Cancer Institute at the Thad Cochran Center. …
Stevens Execution Set for Tuesday
The state is scheduled to execute death-row inmate Benny Joe Stevens at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the Mississippi State Penitentiary.
Friday, May 6
Mobile-Food Ordinance Finds Supporters
Jackson residents want mobile restaurants if yesterday's public hearing is any indicaiton.
Community Activist Promotes Dialogue
Brad "Kamikaze" Franklin--community activist, entrepreneur and Jackson Free Press columnist--called on the Jackson community this morning to engage in proactive dialogue and finding connections to move the city forward.
Justin Schultz
Justin Schultz believes that Jackson's arts scene is exceptionally supportive.
Thursday, May 5
State Announces Freedom Trail
The Mississippi Freedom Trail, an initiative of the Mississippi Development Authority, will create markers for tourists and Mississippians to explore the state's civil-rights heritage. This morning, state and city leaders …
Advocates Urge Canceling of Youth Prison Contract
Mississippi should cancel its contract with private prison company GEO Group, juvenile justice advocates said today. GEO Group, which operates the Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility, is the subject of …
Juanita Ward
Former Callaway High School and Tulsa Shock women's basketball champ Juanita Ward, 23, is bringing the round ball to kids in Bolton this month with a two-part basketball camp.
City Tackles Blighted Property
<i>Verbatim statement from the City of Jackson:</i>
On May 3, the Jackson City Council adopted a resolution declaring twenty-eight parcels of property as a menace to public health and safety. As a result, city officials will be …
Wisdom of a Mom
Every year that I'm a mother I am amazed at how much wisdom my own mother has, and how little I actually know. The sacrifices she made overwhelm me, as …
Wednesday, May 4
Blondes vs. Brunettes
When I was young, I used to love to visit my grandparents who lived next door. Granddad loved to watch sports.
Momma's Kitchen Wisdom
Around sixth or seventh grade, a friend's mother decided that we needed to learn how to cook. I already could prepare basics such as scrambled eggs, chocolate chip cookies and …
"Show Me Your Papers"
The whole thing about Obama's birth certificate got on my nerves because I was sick of hearing about it ad nauseum, but in the video below, the speaker discusses the …
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Doctor S sez: This has been a spring of discontent for Ole Miss and Mississippi State fans. The Rebels and Bulldogs just aren't very good this season.
Take Mom Out to Eat
Make it a day to remember for mom. Treat her to a meal at one of the metro area's eateries.
New Moms' Care and Feeding
Mateo was about 4 when I reached a point of complete and utter despair. "Mom, I can't do this. I'm going to lose it. Can you please help me with …
The Bedazzler
Like many little girls, I acquired a deep love of sequins, costumes, and song and dance around the age of 3. This love never diminished as I grew older. Thus, …
Chocolate Treats for Mom
All the women in my family share a love of all things chocolate. Mothers passed down several delicious family chocolate recipes through the generations. At my wedding shower six years …
Mother's Day Gift Guide
Do you adore your mom, but always struggle with what to get her for Mother's Day? Well, you're in luck, because this year I've done the hard part. All you …
Best Gifts for New Moms
The best gifts for new moms are not necessarily cute little outfits or monogrammed bibs. Although most moms love opening tiny treasures at baby showers, the first few weeks of …
Top 5 Best Books For New Moms
So many questions, so many worries. What to do when the baby is sick? Or when the baby chews on something? Fortunately, here are some solutions to help getting back …
Mother's Day Playlist
I was going through my mother's closet looking for old pictures, and I found a small dusty shoebox pushed way in the back. Curious to see what my mother stashed …
Ode to a Mother's Love
These days, everything reminds me of my mom. I was in a department store about two weeks ago and saw an adult daughter and her mom shopping for an Easter …
Johnson Slams Commission
Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. opposes part of a new state law allowing the city to levy a 1-percent sales tax increase on some businesses' sales. The tax, which would …
Capital City's Tough Year
The Jackson Police Department is no stranger to the Capital City Alternative School. The Jackson Public Schools' alternative school, whose students usually have referrals from other schools for discipline reasons, …
Redevelopment Roadblocks
The Jackson Redevelopment Authority is looking to tear down two dilapidated apartment buildings on Jackson West Boulevard near the former Metro Manor apartments.
GOP May Oppose Court-ordered Maps
The Mississippi Republican Party likely will contest a three-judge panel's decision to impose the Mississippi House of Representatives' redistricting map as the official House election map for 2011.
Hands Off Jackson's ‘Local Control'
Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. wants the city to have more input on a controversial commission that will decide the fate of potential new revenue generated by a 1 percent …
[Stiggers] New Day, New Troubles
The Ghetto Science Community and friends are invited to attend the Mommas' Day Celebration Buffet and Disco at the Clubb Chicken Wing Multi-Purpose Center. If you cannot afford to take …
[Dennis] Love Your Moms
What kind of world would this be if none of us were brought up feeling loved?
Cover
MPB: Public Servant?
Max Breazeale checked his transmitters at station WMAH in McHenry Sunday night before Hurricane Katrina ripped the Gulf Coast asunder. From frequency control to power supply, he made sure everything …
Bring the Hidden to Light
It was dark and a cell-phone dead zone. James Edward Bates and a friend trudged through a few hundred yards of swampy woods in Vidor, Texas, to reach their car. …
A Good Shepherd
The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi is the only diocese in the country to have a third-generation bishop. Bishop Duncan M. Gray presided over the diocese from 1943 to 1966; his …
Vicksburg Hip-Hop Show
A massive show is going down in Vicksburg, giving locals a rare chance to experience the best of Mississippi hip-hop. The show is the brainchild of Vicksburg MC Zalamar "ZeeDubb" …
‘The Other Side of Jackson'
On April 3, DJ Young Venom and I were standing in the parking lot outside the North Midtown Arts Center watching Bob "Scrap Diggy" Nichols spin soulful house music on …
An Unlikely Artifact
While walking in the woods along the Pearl River in Jackson last year, Millsaps College senior art student daniel johnson discovered a 1948 Westinghouse Refrigerator. Finding an appliance mysteriously placed …
Pops Perfection
An annual outdoor orchestra performance on a late-spring evening has become a staple for the Jackson metro over the past 30 years. Mississippi Symphony Orchestra Pepsi Pops at the Ross …
Barbour Veto Shortsighted?
A day after Gov. Haley Barbour announced that he would not make a bid for U.S. president in 2012, he used his veto power to kill a bill to develop …
Fair Funds for Kids?
Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., increasingly seems like a holdover from another, kinder era of national politics. Cochran has largely removed himself from the hyper-partisanship of recent years.
Debra Wertz
After Debra Wertz's son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 15 years ago, she made it her mission to help other parents who were going through the same thing. Wertz has …
Tuesday, May 3
City Wants More Say in Tax Spending
Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. wants the city to have more power to spend its own money.
New West Jxn Consignment Store; Biz Events
A new consignment store is slated to open this summer in West Jackson. Carmichael, Miss., native Thelma Hardiman said the store, which she is in the process of naming, will …
Cynthia Stuart
Cynthia Stuart came to theater late in life. Winning her battle with cancer heightened her enthusiasm. Although she had worked in music education for years, Stuart did not consider herself …
Barbour Joins Offshore Drilling Coalition
Gov. Haley Barbour and three other governors have formed a coalition to advocate for offshore drilling permits, Dow Jones Newswire reported yesterday.
Monday, May 2
Court Prefers Democrat-endorsed House Redistricting
A U.S. Circuit Court three-judge panel declared Friday that the Mississippi House redistricting map--rejected three times by the state Senate--is the redistricting plan to beat for state's new House districts, …
Byram Town Center Gets $5.5M TIF Boost
Construction workers have begun a commercial development that will bring new restaurants, shops and offices to the young city of Byram. The Hinds County Board of Supervisors voted today to …
Cindy Clegg
Even though Cindy Clegg is busy making last-minute preparations for tonight's "Take a Tasty Bite Out of Crime" fundraiser, she is eager to explain the importance of raising money for …
Community Events and Meetings
6 p.m., Jackson Arts Collective Monthly Meeting, at The Commons at Eudora Welty's Birthplace (719 N. Congress St.). Every first Monday, the Collective Steering Committee meets to discuss business of …
Obama: Justice Has Been Done
Read the transcript of Obama's national address:
Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of …
