Friday, September 30
Dedmon Pleads Not Guilty
During his arraignment hearing this morning, Rankin County teenager Deryl Dedmon pled not guilty to the capital murder of James Craig Anderson.
Chamber: Young People Want to Be Heard
Jackson's young people want to be heard and are demanding more ways to have fun, socialize and network, according to a new study the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership revealed this …
It's the Weekend!
Fall is here and the weather is perfect for a weekend of outdoor events. Grab your bike this afternoon and head to Rainbow Grocery in Fondren at 6 p.m. for …
City Accepting Applications for Business Development Grants
<i>Verbatim from City of Jackson</i>
Beginning October 3, 2011, the City of Jackson's Office of Economic Development will accept applications for its Small Business Development Grant (SBDG) and Storefront Improvement Grant (SIG) programs.
Thursday, September 29
Study: ‘Green Economy' Growing in Mississippi
The number of "green jobs" in Mississippi will grow by 18.5 percent over the next 10 years and add 9,000 new jobs to the state, if a recent survey is …
Robert Poore
Robert Poore, one of the landscape architects for the Art Garden at the Mississippi Museum of Art, pointed to the reflection of the new green space in the glass walls …
Study: States Must Improve Civil Rights Education
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Wednesday, September 28
Armed and Dangerous
Leandra Medine, a New York City blogger also known as The Man Repeller, has termed the recent bracelet craze as an "arm party." And being that I'm a huge fan …
Foods That Heal
Having a healthy immune system through proper nutrition is a key to combating illnesses. Supplementing your diets with foods high in nutrients like antioxidants, phytochemicals and enzymes will have a …
What Is It About the French?
What gives? They drink wine, they eat baguette after baguette, they love rich sauces and pasta, they inhale cheese like it's air. Yet, French women tend to look fabulous, and …
You might be a foodie if ...
• You have every menu in Jackson memorized.
• You eat at Parlor Market three times a week even if can't afford toilet paper. At least at the bar.
Eating for Heart
Heart disease is the number-one killer in the U.S. You can reduce your risk of heart failure and coronary artery disease, which is the blockage of vessels that supply blood …
Get Smart
Yes, Mississippi is the most obese state. We're too sedate, and our diets suck. No news there.
Feed Your Brain—And Your Kids'
Brain science is exploding with new research showing why it's vital to not only feed your stomach, but to feed your brain. In Doctors Health Press last week, Dr. Victor …
Raw and Naked
My wife looked incredulously at the glass before her. "It's green," she said. This was not the typical cup of coffee I usually bring her.
Donna's Power Smoothie
I'm just going to be honest. Once my day starts, I don't always eat enough fruit, and as a vegetarian, I need non-animal forms of protein and other nutrients. I …
‘Curry is a Technique'
Grandma Modak, a quiet, kind woman who wore simple white saris, gave my mother a wonderful gift. She taught her how to make mouth-watering curry chicken from West Bengal. Although …
The 10-Day Food Challenge
Food rules? Really? Really. After finding the website http://www.100daysofrealfood.com, which led me to Michael Pollan's "Food Rules: An Eater's Manual" (Penguin, 2009, $11), I finally got it. While I profess …
Armchair Farming
I grew up swearing I would never step foot in a garden again. My stepdaddy's hobby was growing stuff, and he would produce way more watermelons, tomatoes, potatoes and what …
The Power of the Family Dinner
Drive by any fast-food restaurant at 5:30 p.m., and you may be amazed at the number of people in the drive-through line. You may be one of them. In our …
Regina's Solutions
With centuries of history, stories and legends, the stately antebellum homes and ageless oaks of Natchez create a wonderland of southern romanticism. Situated in the middle of it all is …
New For Fall
It isn't common around Jackson for restaurants to change their menus or have seasonal dishes. Below are the exceptions to the rule. Check out these local restaurants already planning fall …
@JxnRestaurantWk
@JxnRestaurantWk
Guys, what's your favorite part of being a chef in Jackson? #chefchat
A Content Veggie Life
When friends quiz me on why I'm a vegetarian, I answer honestly: "for every reason." Todd and I decided to give up meat—all animal flesh; not just red meat—13 years …
Pescatarian, Thank You
People ask me all the time why I pass up the pork loin. Simply put: I don't want it. No iota of my palate wants a hot dog, having been …
Eat Right for Nutrients
More than half of U.S. adults take dietary supplements, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Some consumers mistakenly think supplements give them a way out of eating healthy, …
Power of Love
Let's just be honest. Science frowns on the idea that certain foods have the power to, you know, increase your libido. (If you don't know what that is, you shouldn't …
Mood Food
Food greatly affects our moods. Chamomile tea can calm us, strong coffee can invigorate us, and comfort food makes us feel loved. Science backs up many food choices we make …
Food Porn
OK, it's not really pornography—it's more like high-art erotica—but if you want an aphrodisiac with absolutely no calories, do I have a book suggestion for you. "La Figa: Visions of …
Let There Be Apples
If you want to change the world, you've got to feed people. Seriously, sharing food and drink is a powerful way to build community. Offering hospitality is welcoming to people—even …
Glasgow: Classic(al) Rock
Sitting with a guitar in lap and notepad on the ground awaiting inspiration is a luxury foreign to Sam Craft. Instead, an idea will hit him while driving down the …
Back Roads of Righteousness
While The 484 South Band claims to have started in 2005, it really began 20-something years ago in the small paper-mill town of Monticello, Miss.
Lies and Damn Lies
As movies shift from mindless summer action adventures to more award-worthy releases, you may hear a lot about "Moneyball," starring Brad Pitt.
Give ‘Em a Break
I am going to go out on a limb and write about two quarterbacks who have already met up in Monday Night Football: Rex Grossman and Tony Romo.
JFP Top 25: Week 5
LSU continues its march to a showdown against Alabama in November. Both teams have big tests in the way; Florida plays the Tigers and the Crimson Tide this month. We'll …
Primitive Power
My husband balanced a lumpy, orange sweet potato in one hand. His other hand was poised on the juicer. He arched an eyebrow while I tried to keep my mind …
Eat to Help Mississippi
Yes, you heard that right. We urge all of our readers to start eating and feeding your family well—not only for selfish reasons, but because Mississippi needs you. It needs …
[Stiggers] Operation Backlash
In the ghetto criminal justice system, the people are represented by two members of the McBride family: police officer and part-time security guard at the Funky Ghetto Mall Dudley 'Do-Right' …
[Kamikaze] Address Causes, not Symptoms
When is enough going to be enough? When will be fed up? No, better yet, when will we get mad? It's these times that challenge the passion in positive Jacksonians.
[Mott] I Surrender
My sister Inga was a Diet Coke junkie. She kept spare quart bottles of the stuff in reserve so she wouldn't run out. If you saw her out and about, …
Lavell Crawford's Big Day
The phrase "larger than life" usually describes an entertainer's persona on stage, not his physical appearance. For Lavell Crawford, it's the other way around.
Many Kinds of Magic
It's not every day that I pick up a novel that surprises me on every level and sets all my senses on fire. But this happened with "The Night Circus", …
Cover
Power Choices
Food is powerful, very powerful. In short supply, it causes starvation and war; in over-abundance, it causes obesity and gluttony. Food has the ability to both help cure and cause …
Aiming Against Government
District 73 Rep. Jim Ellington was busy getting ready for a fundraiser for the Central Mississippi National Rifle Association on Sept. 22 when he gave this interview. The Raymond resident …
Outcome of PERS Study Uncertain
Speculation has been running rampant since August, when Gov. Haley Barbour appointed a commission to study the Public Employees' Retirement System.
Oberhousen: Hinds County Needs Fresh Leaders
Brad Oberhousen, Democratic candidate for Mississippi House of Representatives in Hinds County's District 73, is the kind of guy you could meet and easily have a three-hour conversation with. He …
Angela Grayson
Angela Grayson has been baking since she was a teenager. "How long does that take?" and "what are you going to put in that?" were among the many questions she …
Byram-Clinton Corridor Receives Federal Funds
Hinds County has received $1.2 million from the Federal Highway Administration to develop the Byram-Clinton Corridor, Hinds County District 3 Supervisor Peggy Calhoun announced yesterday.
Tuesday, September 27
Income Down; Poverty Up
America's income and poverty in 2010, the first full year since the recession "officially" ended:
Courts to Adopt ‘Fair' Rules for Criminal Cases
A proposed set of rules to govern the state's criminal cases would streamline court proceedings and make cases fair for prosecutors, defendants and victims, Mississippi College School of Law professor …
A Club for Grown-ups and Meals for a Good Cause
Old Skool Club 101 is a new nightclub open in Jackson, with a specific audience in mind: No one under 25 years old allowed.
Larry McNeil
Jackson State University Athletics Department has named Larry McNeil as its interim women's basketball coach for the upcoming basketball season. In 2012, Jackson State will begin a national search for …
MDES to Host Green Jobs Conferences
The Mississippi Department of Employment will release a study on the state's green job economy this week at its green job conferences.
Monday, September 26
Homeless Man Found Dead in Fondren
Police discovered the body of a homeless man this morning in Fondren behind the Yana Club on Hartfield Street.
Council Approves Hotel Financing Agreement
Developers of a proposed convention center hotel said they could move forward on a $96.1 million project now that the Jackson City Council has approved a cost-sharing agreement for the …
Grant Helps Families toward Self-Sufficiency
A national program is helping Jackson-area families in need get on the path to self-sufficiency and financial stability.
UPDATED: LaTonya King Found Safe
On Saturday, Sept. 24, family members reported LaTonya King, 31, missing to the Jackson Police Department. The authorities received the report around 1 a.m. from concerned family members who suspected …
Community Events and Public Meetings
Sports League Registrations, at Jackson Medical Mall (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.). The Department of Parks and Recreation is conducting registration for the upcoming season from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays. …
Friday, September 23
Homeless Conference Promotes Self-Sufficiency
Despite the fact that 34-year-old Andrew Black works as a bagger at McDade's Market, he slept in Poindexter Park last night because he has been unable to find affordable housing.
Learning to Work Together in a ‘Donut City'
In the late 1980s, a researcher visiting Jackson made Phil Hardwick a prediction. "Jackson is going to become a donut city," the researcher said, with people moving out of the …
Thursday, September 22
Dedmon Indicted by Grand Jury
On Monday, a Grand Jury indicted Deryl Dedmon on capital murder charges for the murder of James Craig Anderson.
Yes on 26 Launches Fake Website
The campaign working in support of the Personhood Amendment has launched a fake website to attack the Political Action Committee working against the ballot measure that would redefine the word …
Legislators Promise to Keep ‘13th Check'
This morning, legislators tried to calm fears about upcoming recommendations from the Public Employees' Retirement System Study Commission, saying they would not be in favor of ending the "13th check," …
Do Regulations Really Kill Jobs Overall? Not So Much
It's become a mantra on Capitol Hill and a rallying cry for industry groups: Get rid of the job-killing regulations. In recent days, with nearly every one of the GOP …
Mary Thompson
When Mary Thompson can help a woman get back into permanent housing and find stability, she knows she has done her job.
High School Counselors Pick Millsaps College
U.S. News and World Report's newest edition of "America's Best Colleges" has named Millsaps College as a "High School Counselors' Pick" for the second year in a row.
Wednesday, September 21
Reinventing Soul Music
Who do you get when you mix India Arie's soulful voice with Johnnie Taylor's blues style? You get Tasha Taylor, Johnnie Taylor's youngest daughter who is carrying on the family's …
Fear and Loathing at Sneaky Fest
The following account may or may not be a truthful re-telling of my day at Sneaky Fest Aug. 27, 2011.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Mississippi schools keep embarrassing us. Last week: Ole Miss 'teddy bears' vs. Vanderbilt.
What if the SEC expands?
If the SEC can get the Aggies and Seminoles into the fold, it is likely they would want two more teams to form a 16-team super conference. Texas A&M joining …
JFP Top 25: Week 4
Week three was tough for the bottom of the JFP Top 25. Four schools dropped out allowing four new schools to jump in the poll. Dropping out was Mississippi State, …
Comegy Gets a Gold Star
There has not been too much to be happy about this season from the big schools in college football. In fact, after three weeks, a lot has been downright ugly.
A New Face for Chinese Cuisine
For the better part of three decades, Ding How (6955 Old Canton Road, Ridgeland, 601-956-1717) was Jackson's choice for a Chinese buffet. Originally opened in 1979 by Lina Lynn's aunt …
The Science of Addiction
Addiction is described in the "Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book" as "cunning, baffling, powerful." Its reach is widespread. Else Pedersen, executive director of Bridge House, an addiction treatment center in New …
Booked Solid
It's been a few years since autumn meant back to school for me, but this year I've embarked on a semester as an adult learner. This adventure is courtesy of …
The Eye of the Needle
I usually ponder, ruminate, tweet, blog, joke and seethe about some or another issue for a week or more before I write a new editor's note. This week, though, I …
Council Gets Hotel Details, Finally
Jackson City Council members finally got the details on a proposed convention center hotel Monday at a council work session, but some still had questions about the city's role in …
Dialing Up Solar
Solar energy has generated a lot of attention in Mississippi in recent weeks as the Legislature approved an incentives bill to persuade Calisolar, a California-based silicon manufacturing company, to build …
Playing Catch-up on Net Metering
Mississippi is one of only four states in the nation that has not implemented net metering, a consumer-oriented energy policy. Through net metering, consumers who generate renewable energy—such as wind, …
Voters, Choose Wisely
Politicians are good at distracting voters. They seem to be getting better at it all the time. With the majority of them lawyers, it may just be a matter of …
[Stiggers] Hustle Mania
The objective of the 'Hustle Mania 2011 Entrepreneur Start-Up Conference' is to help laid off workers understand the benefits of being their own boss and generating jobs in their communities, …
[Lee] My Health Is At Stake
In 2008, I was living in Colorado and facing a ballot initiative known as Amendment 48 to the state Constitution. It aims to define personhood as beginning at the moment …
Unmasked Letterer
Gloria's eyes grow bigger. Fear turns to defiance. Her face zooms in and out as Johnny Lowe's fingers deftly move across the screen of his iPad. His eyes shine.
The No-Name Problem
When feminist leader Betty Friedan passed away in February 2006, traditional and online media were flooded with stories from women who were affected in some way by her 1963 book, …
Ivan Rider Drives ‘Daisy'
Director Ivan Rider returns to Jackson to direct "Driving Miss Daisy" at New Stage Theatre.
Hood vs. Simpson
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, a Democrat, and his Republican opponent Steve Simpson accused each other last week of conflicts of interest.
Candidate
The JFP Interview with Steve Simpson
When Stephen Simpson stands over you with his 6-foot-7-inch frame, you might want to think twice before disagreeing with him. The Republican will tell you that "it's easy being on …
Strong Opinions
Addie Green has strong opinions about life's basic necessities. She is running for a seat on the Public Service Commission, she said, because water, phone and sewage bills are too …
Being Proactive
Public Service Commissioner Lynn Posey was traveling when he called for this interview. As he was talking about his family—Kathy, his wife of 27 years, his son, Hunter, and his …
Council Demands Farish Audit
Despite a recommendation from the city's legal department, Jackson City Council members voted at its meeting last night to conduct an audit of the Farish Street Entertainment District.
A Security Requirement with No Teeth?
In less than a month, convenience-store owners in Jackson's city limits must hire security guards if their business is open from midnight to 5 a.m.
Tamu Green
Tamu ("sweet" in Swahili) Green speaks with enthusiasm and conviction about his vision for Mississippi. Like a proud parent of a star athlete showing off his trophies, he walks between …
Tuesday, September 20
Convention Center Hotel to Become Reality?
Jackson City Council members finally got the details on a proposed convention center hotel Monday night at a council work session.
STEPS Makes a Comeback
The Mississippi Department of Employment Security has funds available for its Subsidized Transitional Employment Program and Services, a program that provides wage subsidies to employers who, in exchange, provide a …
Greg Grimes
Greg Grimes has already dealt with a stray-cat problem this morning. He's also looking at someone's water leak. As the city of Jackson's constituent services manager, he takes complaints from …
Hood Announces Guide for DV Victims
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood announced a new information guide for domestic violence victims at a press conference yesterday.
Monday, September 19
Calhoun: Jails Becoming Mental Health Centers
Hinds County wants help dealing with a rising population of incarcerated prisoners who suffer from substance abuse and mental health issues. The board of supervisors passed a resolution today formally …
Bright Future
Despite the recent high-profile bankruptcy of Solyndra, a solar panel manufacturer in Fremont, Calif. that was backed by a federal loan guarantee, proponents of solar power in Mississippi said the …
Rickey Cole
Rickey Cole's political activism started at the age of nine when he would help his parents put up signs supporting Mississippi's first female treasurer, Evelyn Gandy.
Community Events and Public Meetings
Project Homeless Connect Week. The theme is "Paving the Road to Self-Sufficiency." At Smith Park (302 Amite St.), the homeless service fair is from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sept. 20, and …
Stion Opens in Hattiesburg
The city of Hattiesburg celebrated the opening of a new solar-panel manufacturer last week.
Sept. 19, 2011
Friday, September 16
Business
Fondren Blows a Fuse
Entergy is on the scene repairing the pole now.
Two loud explosions rang out in the Fondren business district just before lunch; the culprit, it seems was a semi truck taking out some power lines behind McDade's Market in …
Simpson Defends Ethics of Consulting Contract
Attorney General Jim Hood's re-election campaign is accusing opponent Steve Simpson of using his former position as commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety to secure his current consulting …
Construction Bids Debated for City Project
Jackson Redevelopment Authority board members made no excuses for late bids yesterday when they approved a construction contract for Century Construction Company to renovate the Richard J. Porter Building for …
Jackson Is Learning, Yarber Says
Jackson has been "teetering between lucky and learning" for the last 20 years, Ward 6 Councilman Tony Yarber said at Friday Forum this morning. The city has problems, but is …
Andrew Stankevich
Andrew Stankevich tried to start a group for gay students at Mississippi College School of Law, but administrators told him they were morally opposed to the idea. Stankevich said he …
It's the Weekend!
This weekend is a great time to catch an art show. Starting Friday, Diane M. Jordan's quilt exhibit at the Mississippi Craft Center (950 Rice Road, Ridgeland) hangs through Sept. …
Hinds Adopts Budget
The Hinds County Board of Supervisors passed the county's budget yesterday just hours before a midnight deadline.
Thursday, September 15
JPS Has More Star Schools
Jackson's public school performance for 2011 is a mixed bag of successes and failures, according to new data from Mississippi Department of Education. While five Jackson public schools rate as …
Thompson to Co-Sponsor Autism Act
At least 8,139 children in Mississippi have autism, according to a July 1 report from the Mississippi Autism Advisory Committee. The Legislature established the committee earlier this year to suggest …
Spike Lee
It wasn't enough for filmmaker Spike Lee to make one documentary about the anger and outrage of Gulf Coast residents in the months after Hurricane Katrina. His new documentary, "If …
Joe McGinniss' Book on Sarah Palin: Truth or Tall Tales?
McGinniss' book "Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin" comes out Sept. 20, and the claims he makes in the book are raising eyebrows - and tempers - according to …
Let Him Die?
In the last televised Republican presidential debate on CNN, moderator Wolf Blitzer asks the candidates what should be done if a man without health insurance is seriously injured and cannot …
[Column] A Jobs Crisis We Can Solve
President Obama is proposing important steps toward doing what Americans have been asking for since the financial collapse of 2008--putting a focus on families and jobs.
Rigby's Continual Reinvention
For many girls growing up in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Cathy Rigby was the petite Olympic gymnast with blonde pigtails who popularized the sport in the United States. …
Wednesday, September 14
Fall ‘11 Trend Report
Ready for fall fashion? If not, then may I present the Trend Report, where we view upcoming trends and styles for the fashionista in you.
Deep Awareness
In the fall of 1991, Deborah Harris, then 39, picked up a couple of muffalettas for lunch from a local restaurant in Shreveport, La. She went downtown to the rooftop …
‘Anybody Can Do It'
Basketball was her game. Football officiating is her profession. Sarah Thomas, a 37-year-old mother of two sons (Bridley, 10, and Brady, 7), wife to Brian Thomas and full-time pharmaceutical sales …
Odyssey of Discovery
Back in July 2006, I found myself on the edge of a new life. Four months earlier, I'd been laid off from a job after nine years. I was at …
The Out-of-Towners
The month of September has started out as a barnburner for Jackson musicheads like me.
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
I'm trying to pick myself off the floor from my pick-em beat down.
JFP Top 25: Week 3
After two week of college football, there is not much turnover in the JFP Top 25 poll at top of the poll. The top 10 stays the same as last …
Happy Delicious Birthday to You
A little over a year ago, I got a call from Jackson Free Press Editor-in-Chief Donna Ladd asking if I had heard about the new restaurant called Parlor Market being …
Healthy Meals for Hectic Days
Those on-the-go days, filled with work and other errands are the most difficult aspect of maintaining a healthy diet. By the end of the day, it's tough to motivate myself …
Double Chic
I found so many great pieces while I was out shopping for our fall trends shoot.
Teen Births Have High Cost
Instead of focusing on emotions, the Women's Fund of Mississippi is highlighting the cost of teen births to advocate for comprehensive sex-education in the state's public schools. Last week, the …
From Vacant to Vibrant
Many people in Mississippi put significant effort into successfully reviving downtown areas and making them welcoming places. But to get downtown, people often have to drive past worn-out, unoccupied strip …
Preparing for Battle
Twenty years ago, when Cristen Hemmins was a student at Millsaps College, two teenagers pulled out a gun and abducted her in the campus parking lot. The young men raped …
Sex Education is Not a Partisan issue
For so long, Mississippi's public officials, and its community and school district leaders have shied away from talking about sex to avoid the potential political consequences. Last week however, the …
[Stiggers] Agitate, Agitate, Agitate
A change might come when tons of letters of concern from angry minority voters pile up in politicians' offices.
[Kamikaze] The Green Light
I remember making my transition from doing music full time to more community-oriented exploits. I like to categorize it as maturation. It was about seven or eight years ago, and …
Mississippi's Storm
Ask any Mississippian, and they'll tell you where they were the week of Aug. 29, 2005, the week Hurricane Katrina hit. They'll tell stories of the eerie silence waiting for …
[Rhodes] Hopeful Realism
As a Christian minister and public theologian, my days are spent in prayerful reflection about souls—not just the immaterial part of us, but all of who we are. For me, …
Cover
A Long Time Coming
In 1983, Jackson landscape architect Steven Horn presented Jackson city leaders with a detailed plan to revitalize Farish Street. His plan, under the city's guidance, would transform a two-block section …
Longtime Standards
Cowboy boots, straw hats, a couple of purses and a pair of high-heeled shoes fill the front window at Dennis Brothers Shoe Repair (325 N. Farish St., 601-354-9125). Men's boots …
The Past Lives On
The heart of the historic Farish Street district follows North Farish Street from Amite to Fortification streets. The street is named for Walter Farish, a former slave who lived on …
Beloved Farish
On its Facebook page, the Farish Street/Main Street Project says that it "seeks to stimulate revitalization in the Farish Street Historic District by encouraging cooperation and building leadership in the …
Fire in Carson's Belly
Dorsey Carson, 40, has lived in northeast Jackson most of his life. He calls himself one of the "floodplain kids," youngsters who lived there during the Easter Flood of 1979. …
WAPT's Fondren T-Shirt ‘Controversy'
WAPT aired an interesting piece yesterday, which implied that Swell-O-Phonic's T-shirts are causing controversy. The piece highlights the T-shirt slogans such as "Brandon, We Ain't Pearl Dammit," and "Don't make …
Denny: A Busy Man
State Rep. Bill Denny, R-Jackson, is a hard man to find. He doesn't seem to have a campaign website or someone to send out press releases. When I called the …
Leron Jackson
When people told Leron Jackson he couldn't make it, he never believed them. "Knowing about the things I went through inspires people to go out and do great things," he …
Kosher Gospel
A young, black man dressed in an embroidered jacket sits at the piano. He belts out a gospel tune in layers of emotion. Sweat pours down his face as he …
Census Data Show Increase in Poverty
New U.S. Census data released yesterday reveals that the poverty rate in Mississippi rose from 15.6 percent to 22.9 percent in 2009, The Mississippi Economy Policy Center reports.
Tuesday, September 13
Hinds Election Sparring Continues
Read Dennery's announcement
New Caterer Opens Downtown
The Copper Iris Catering Co. Inc. (115 N. State St.) has been open for less than two weeks, but its owners are already talking about changing, perfecting and adding variety …
Ivan Rider
Ivan Rider returns to Jackson to direct "Driving Miss Daisy," opening tonight at New Stage Theatre.
"It's the theater of my heart," Rider told the Jackson Free Press this morning. "I'm delighted to be back."
Conference for Advocacy Groups Scheduled
The William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation at the University of Mississippi is hosting a conference for progressive service and advocacy groups Sept 22.
Monday, September 12
Tired of empty strip malls? Me too.
Last week I spent some time learning about the Mississippi Development Authority's new plan to revitalize old, ugly strip malls, called the Retail Center Revitalization Program. (Read more here or …
Advocates Gear up For Personhood Battle
Anti-abortion advocates celebrated a Mississippi Supreme Court ruling last week that OK'd a Nov. 8 ballot initiative asking voters whether the state Constitution should define when life begins, but the …
Upcoming Parkway CEO will Remain in Florida
The incoming CEO of Jackson-based real estate company Parkway Properties plans to remain in Florida after he takes the reins in January.
Jennifer S. Love
Jennifer S. Love, a Mississippi native and Jackson State University graduate, is the new assistant director of the FBI's Security Division. Love most recently served as acting assistant director of …
Community Events and Public Meetings
Fall Community Enrichment Series, at Millsaps College (1701 N. State St.). Most classes start the week of Sept. 19 and fall into the categories of arts and crafts, computer, dance, …
JFP is Turning 9—What's Your Favorite JFP Memory?
I'll include a couple to get us going:
We need your help, JFP Nation. Our 9th birthday issue publishes this week, and we want to include favorite JFP-related moments (funny or serious) from staffers, readers, freelancers, etc. Please …
Barbour to Raise Funds for Republican PAC
Gov. Haley Barbour has joined American Crossroads, a well-funded conservative Political Action Committee that heavily influenced the 2010 elections, The Washington Post reported last week.
Friday, September 9
‘Bullish' Gas ‘Fracking' Could Prove Boon for State
Recent, and controversial, advances in drilling technology have put the state in a unique position to attract new industry and create new energy-related jobs, natural-gas industry leaders yesterday told a …
JPS Board Members Question Music Funding
Some members of the Jackson Public School board said the district is spending too much money on its strings program at a board meeting Tuesday night. The program will get …
Capt. Ken Chapman
Capt. Ken Chapman claims he taught Aretha Franklin how to do the Bankhead bounce for a performance at the opening ceremony for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. She was …
American Jobs Act: Why Obama is Right and Wicker Is Wrong
Make no mistake: The American Jobs Act introduced by President Obama last night in a fiery speech last night in Congress is one thing -- stimulus. It's exactly what we …
Davis Drops Out of Supervisor's Race
Republican candidate Roger C. Davis confirmed this week that he is dropping out of the race for Hinds County District 1 supervisor against incumbent Robert Graham.
City to Host 9/11 Memorial Events
Several events are scheduled today to honor the victims of 9/11 as the ten year anniversary of the terrorist attacks approaches.
Thursday, September 8
Council Adopts Budget with Raise Compromise
Jackson City Council adopted the city's $317 million budget for fiscal year 2012 today after debating how to balance the budget and provide additional raises for the city's employees.
Rehabilitating Retail Space
The Mississippi Development Authority is testing a program to beautify old strip malls and make them useful again. The Retail Center Revitalization Program will award grants of up to $50,000 …
JFP People of the Day: Outstanding Educators
Parents for Public Schools of Jackson and the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson honored four outstanding teachers in the Jackson Public Schools: Diane Setzer, Mary Cook, Barbara Stevens and La'Keshia …
JFP Radio @ Noon: Gubernatorial Candidate Johnny DuPree and JFP Sports
Update: The podcast has been posted at JFPRadio.com; interview with DuPree is at the top of the hour.
Obama to Address Nation Tonight
President Barack Obama is expected to release details about a $300 billion jobs package during a televised speech at 6 p.m. tonight.
Important Correction Regarding The Home Repair Grant Call
The phone number originally listed to get more information about the grant is incorrect. Please do not call the Jackson Medical Mall with questions. Instead, contact the city of Jackson …
Wednesday, September 7
BOY is Back in Town
"We left Mississippi as men," the invitation teases. "We return as BOY."
"We left Mississippi as men," the invitation teases. "We return as BOY."
Down-Home Recipe
Blend tangy, honey-infused mandolin with a simmering string bass, and then add a double-layer of hot, finger-licking guitars. Jackson-based Anna Kline and the Grits and Soul Band satisfy a hunger …
The Full Circle
He was a tall, kind of goofy-bumbling-professor type who was nice to me, even though I was there to whisk his daughter away. We did not get much time to …
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
The NFL live chat starts this Sunday. Post your thoughts and read our in-depth break down of the action at http://jfpsports.com.
Iron Doc Heads to Kona
Emerging from the water in the Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas last May, Dr. Larkin Carter found himself 10 minutes off his normal pace. The 49-year-old, originally from Meridian, had …
JFP Top 25: Week 2
We have a slight change at the top of the JFP Top 25 this week: LSU gets rewarded for playing a top-5 team, Oregon, and moves to the top of …
The Aging Brain
An aging brain can be frightening. Many of us fear succumbing to Alzheimer's disease or yielding to dementia.
My Mediterranean Veggie Life
Last summer was a season of new experiences for me. One experience that I now revisit almost every week is my encounter with Greek and Mediterranean foods.
Pampering the Self
Sometimes it's nice to get away and indulge yourself. I tend to joke that living and working downtown, where I walk everywhere, makes driving to the suburbs feel like a …
Family Files Wrongful Death Suit
Morris Dees is not singling out Mississippi in his organization's efforts to seek justice for an alleged hate murder of James Craig Anderson because he was black.
‘Disparity' Study Call Disrupts Session
Percy Watson knew that getting the Mississippi Legislature to fund a disparity study was a long shot, but he had hoped it would somehow make it through the Republican-majority Senate …
Council Mulls JATRAN Cuts
Jackson's bus service could face cuts to deal with a tight budget and low ridership. JATRAN has proposed shortening some bus routes and combining others in areas with few riders.
City Urges Residents to Prepare for Pearl River Flooding
See earlier coverage of the rising Pearl River
Journalism and Ethics
If you take one point away from Valerie Wells' cover story this week, let it be this: Mainstream media have agendas that don't always serve the needs of the citizens …
[Stiggers] The Invisible Man
This poem titled 'Return of the Invisible Man: Observations of an Unemployed Poet' is my personal expression about black men, like me, experiencing the highest unemployment rate of all gender/race …
Cracking a Marriage
Any marriage, good or bad, looks easier from the outside than it ever does when you're inside it. They're like fragile statues, marriages. The slightest crack can cause shattering, even …
Southern-Style Laughs
Black Rose Community Theatre (103 Black St., Brandon) presents the comedy "Divorce Southern Style" Sept. 14-18.
[Rhodes] Monuments of Hope
I have long admired Martin Luther King Jr. and the movement that made him a global leader. I remember seeing a framed portrait of him while visiting a poor village …
[Queen] Reaching for Greatness
'It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with you. Always.' —Oprah Winfrey
Cover
News Wars: The Rise and Fall of The Clarion-Ledger
Orley Hood and Walter Philbin lugged their laundry bags into the laundromat near the Jitney 14 on Fortification Street. They sorted their clothes, put their coins in the slots and …
Polk Wants a Do Over
Hinds County residents who voted in Terry's Dry Grove precinct Aug. 2 may need to return to the polls to vote again for a Democratic candidate for the District 73 …
Not for Lack of Inititative
While some voters worry about abortion, voter ID and eminent domain, others are passionate about gambling, federal meddling in health care and--that hallowed Mississippi tradition--football.
Ronnie Agnew
On Sundays, Ronnie Agnew and his eight brothers and sisters piled into his father's 1967 Buick LeSabre and headed to church. "My mom and dad were very religious," he says. …
Newspaper Bites Self
Coincidentally, today's Editor & Publisher e-blast featured a story about USA Today's long-standing habit of padding their official "paid" subscriber numbers with the "freebie" newspapers they distribute through hotel chains. …
How Brunson Green ‘Helped'
Much has been written lately about the friendship between Jackson natives Kathryn Stockett and Tate Taylor, the author and director, respectively, of "The Help." But a third Jackson native served …
Report: Teen Births Cost State $155M
Mississippi's high teen birth rate costs taxpayers $155 million annually, a Women's Fund of Mississippi study released today finds.
Tuesday, September 6
State to Receive $38M from Medicaid Fraud Suit
verbatim statement:Jackson, MS--Attorney General Jim Hood has won the State more than $38 million in a Medicaid fraud suit.
Family Files Wrongful Death Suit Against Teens
Family members of the late James Anderson decided not to speak this morning as previously planned at a press conference to announce a wrongful death lawsuit they have filed against …
Council Tackles Bike Trails
The City Council voted today to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 and approved the next phase of repairing Fortification Street, but did not vote on the fate of …
Pat Harrison
The south Mississippi rivers rising with days of heavy rain make up the Pat Harrison Waterway District, named in 1962 for a key U.S. senator.
James Anderson Family Gets Help from SPLC
Also see: Hundreds March to Heal and Denounce
Red Cross Opens Shelters
The American Red Cross has opened shelters in Jackson for families affected by flooding in the Jackson area. The Following shelters are open:
Monday, September 5
Pearl River Rising, City in State of Emergency, Shelters Open in Metro
See Weather Service and MEMA warnings about metro here as they come in.
Mayor Declares a State of Emergency, Watching Pearl River
This morning Mayor Harvey Johnson, Jr. declared a State of Emergency for the city of Jackson as a precautionary measure in light of the recent storm. There have been some …
Friday, September 2
Minority Jobs, MDA at Center of Special Session Debate
Several black representatives have expressed concerns today that a proposed funding bill to bring 1,800 jobs in the state will overlook minorities. In a special session Gov. Haley Barbour called …
Sargent Plans for Future of JPS
Interim Superintendent Jayne Sargent will only be at Jackson Public Schools for six months to a year, but she is working on technology and curriculum changes that will help the …
Abigail Phillips
Abigail Phillips, 22, recently came to Jackson to make a difference. As a service member of Food Corps, a national non-profit organization, she builds and tends school gardens, helping children …
Stop That Laboring
Start the long Labor Day weekend off tonight unwinding with friends. Head to Dreamz JXN for Can't Feel My Face Friday, The Irish Frog in Clinton to hear Davey Arwine …
Gulf Storm Bringing Slow, Heavy Rains
Experts expect Tropical Depression 13 in the northern Gulf of Mexico to become a tropical storm today. The National Weather Service reports that this system will hit central Mississippi Saturday …
Thursday, September 1
JATRAN Proposes Cuts
Proposed changes to Jackson's JATRAN bus routes to save money drew anger from some at a public hearing Tuesday evening. Others expressed relief that the reductions in service are much …
Legislators to Decide on Project Funds
In a special session tomorrow, the Mississippi Legislature will vote on $75 million in bonds and incentives for two technology plants to open in Mississippi.
James Hatten
As the director of development of The Plant on Highway 80, James Hatten wants to bring more economic activity and creativity to the Highway 80 Corridor in South Jackson.
