Wednesday, February 29
4 the Record
One of my favorite films of all time is "Pee-wee's Big Adventure." It has stuck with me my whole life. It entertained me as a kid, and it made even …
Natural ‘Wonder Drugs' for Stress
My alarm woke me at 6 a.m., and I headed for the shower. Soon I was out of the house and headed to work to arrive by 7 a.m. This …
[Girl About Town] Fantasy Hair
"I can't wait to meet your new hair!" That's been my favorite response to the newest addition to my life: a new length of tresses—real hair, just not my own. …
Thoughts and More Thoughts
There is not just one topic on my mind this week. Instead, I have thoughts on a few things from around the sports world.
[The Slate] The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Not even February's extra day can hold back the Madness of March.
[Publisher's Note] The Ledger's Obsession with ‘Exclusive'
Something interesting came to the attention of our advertising sales department during the production of this edition of the Spring Arts and Events Preview. It seems that The Clarion-Ledger is …
The Ledger's Obsession with ‘Exclusive'
Something interesting came to the attention of our advertising sales department during the production of this edition of the Spring Arts and Events Preview. It seems that The Clarion-Ledger is …
Pushing the Beer Limit
Asking Craig Hendry to name his favorite beer is like asking him which of his two kids he likes best.
Friendship Ball Honors Brooks and Reed
Owen Brooks and Phil Reed are builders. In addition to the voter registration and education drives he led as director of the Delta Ministry, Brooks oversaw economic development projects, organized …
Power to the People
When someone offered Melissa Cooper $700 for some of her prescription pain medication in 2010, she jumped at the opportunity.
Charter Schools Likely Coming
After years of unsuccessfully trying to pass legislation favorable to charter schools, the new Republican majority in the Mississippi Legislature looks poised to get at least one of its bills …
[Editorial] Teach Kids About Safe Sex
Adecision by a Department of Education task force earlier this week confirmed what some of us have suspected for some time: Schools in Mississippi really don't have any legal way …
Teach Kids About Safe Sex
Adecision by a Department of Education task force earlier this week confirmed what some of us have suspected for some time: Schools in Mississippi really don't have any legal way …
[Stiggers] Drink Your Big Black Cow
Mr. Announcement: "Ghetto Science Public Television presents highlights from Kunta 'Rasheed X' Toby's thought-provoking documentary film series 'The Pursuit of Crappyness: The Unemployed, Underemployed and Part-time Djs are Close to …
[Kamikaze] Behind the Curtain
It appears the culture wars of 2008 have returned for a sequel in 2012. You can attribute some of it to the Republican presidential candidates. Sure, gas prices are rising, …
[Purvis] The Art of Appreciation
I love gazing at art, but know only enough about it to embarrass myself if I try to discuss it in more informed company.
Interview
Mississippi Maestro
Maestro Crafton Beck stands in front of the skilled musicians in the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. Beck, 55, stands over the 65 musicians seated in a sea of string, woodwind, brass …
Interview
Six Decades of Music
As 1944 dawned, the course of World War II was turning in the Allies' favor. On the home front, Jackson's population of 70,000 coped with sugar, shoe, gasoline and tire …
African American Art at MMA
Growing up in the 1940s in the South, Walter O. Evans never had the chance to visit museums or galleries because of racial divides in society. In 1978, however, Evans …
‘I Was There'
Turning 12 is hard enough for a girl. Old friends start acting weird, especially the slightly older ones starting high school. You can try to hold on to the magic …
Eating History
If you're looking for a way to improve your mind while you satisfy your mid-day hunger, look into History is Lunch, a lecture series from the Mississippi Department of Archives …
Nirvana for Film Addicts
The 13th Annual Crossroads Film Fest is April 13 to 15 with events in Madison, Fondren and downtown Jackson. At the Malco Grandview Theater in Madison, movie buffs can view …
Romance and Angst
A true rags-to-riches story, "Cinderella" has all the romance and angst perfect for ballet. The Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet presents its performance of a classic story March 3 at Jackson Academy's …
Eyes of Green Fire
Aldo Leopold believed in wildlife management and conservation long before it was fashionable. "Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land," he wrote in his well-known book, "A …
Sandra Murchison
Sandra Murchison, chair of the art department at Millsaps College, began a project on the Mississippi Blues Trail two and a half years ago, focusing primarily on the Delta. She …
‘Abstinence-Plus' Now Just A Mirage
School districts have until the end of June to decide whether they will adopt abstinence or "abstinence-plus" sex-related education policies, but so far, the only "abstinence-plus" curricula that have been …
Whole Foods: A Mixed Blessing
North Jackson's Highland Village has made a deal that could bring economic and health benefits to Jackson. Whole Foods Market is set to open its first location in Mississippi at …
Shopkeep: The Everyday Gourmet
As you browse the wares at The Everyday Gourmet on County Line Road, certain details will immediately grab your attention--like the dangling spoon and fork chandelier, and the sweet, outdoorsy …
Cooper-Stokes Wins Ward 3 Runoff
Unofficial results of yesterday's Ward 3 runoff election are in and show LaRita Cooper-Stokes edged out opponent Joyce Jackson for the City Council seat.
Hood Links Sunshine Act to Pardons
Attorney General Jim Hood's campaign site sent out an email this morning urging his supporters to call senators and oppose the Sunshine Act, which would allow agency heads to hire …
Tuesday, February 28
The Men AG Hood Wants Executed
Attorney General Jim Hood wants the state of Mississippi to kill two more men next month.
Heroes, Expansion, Grants
The City of Jackson awarded grants totaling nearly $30,000 to five local businesses from the Small Business Development Grant and Storefront Improvement Grant programs.
Marian Wright Edelman
Mississippi has made some progress in education within the last half-century, but many people remain at the bottom in terms of education and economics, civil-rights veteran Marian Wright Edelman said …
JPS Students Present Concert
The Jackson Public Schools All-City Music Festival is underway, with 866 students performing in five orchestras.
Monday, February 27
AT&T Seeking Revenge in New Bill?
If telecommunications giant AT&T gets its way, customers will have to call Washington, D.C., regulators to lodge complaints.
William Winter Institute Awarded $3.1 Million Grant
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation recently awarded a $3.1 million grant to the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation at the University of Mississippi.
Mariquita Lewis
In 2008 Mariquita Lewis moved to Richland from Jackson to take care of her mother after she had a stroke. Her concern for her mother's health, as well as the …
Community Events and Public Meetings
AARP Tax Aide Volunteer Service. The service is available to low- and moderate-income taxpayers with special attention to those ages 60 and older. Bring all necessary documents. No appointment required. …
Study Measures Tourism at Casinos and State Parks
A report from the Mississippi Development Authority shows that tourism is the fifth-largest private-sector employer in the state.
Friday, February 24
Lawmakers, Activists Speak Against Abortion
Lawmakers and abortion opponents came together at the Capitol yesterday to support anti-abortion efforts, making their way through various committees in the Mississippi Legislature.
Bennie Thompson
Rep. Bennie Thompson, Mississippi's only Democrat in the U.S. Congress, believes state and local government should be spending the federal money it has available. The state's senior Congressman doesn't understand …
Obama Singing Again
I'm not sure why he's on this tear -- one theory might be that President Obama feels good about his re-election chances given the GOP's rather clueless focus on contraception …
Immigration Bill to Come Up in House
The Mississippi House Judiciary B Committee will consider an anti-immigration measure called the Mississippi Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act.
Thursday, February 23
Anti-abortion Efforts Continue
Pro Life America Network organized a press conference at the Capitol today with legislators and Gov. Phil Bryant to talk about anti-abortion efforts. We'll plan on having more on that …
Fla. Landlord Owns Seized Hinds Complex
For the second time this week, Hinds County sherriff's deputies locked the offices of a Jackson apartment complex on Wednesday.
Staches for Stewpot Celebrates Third Year at Duling Hall
If you've seen an unusual number of mustachioed faces around Jackson this February, it could be because this month marked the Third Annual Staches for Stewpot, a fundraiser for Stewpot …
Team of the Day: Mississippi College Basketball Team
Mississippi College is a perfect 14 for 14 in American Southwest Conference Tournament appearances. MC has the most ASC Tournament bids in conference history.
City Lifts Boil Water Alert
The city has lifted a boil water alert in effect since last Friday after two consecutive clear tests by the Health Department, a statement this morning said.
Wednesday, February 22
Brawley's Blues
Mississippi Blues Marathon runners crossed the finish line to blues pumping from The Juvenators in front of the Old Capitol Museum. The local blues band, fronted by Virgil Brawley, congratulated …
We All Loved Her
In the last couple of months, the music industry has taken quite a hit when it comes to obituaries. Hubert Smith, Howlin Wolf's guitarist, passed. We lost rapper Heavy D …
[The Slate] The Best In Sports In 7 Days
If the New York Knicks could sign Tim Tebow and pair him with Jeremy Lin, it would shut the country down, because the Internet would explode.
Rebuilding the Saints
The 2011-2012 season for the New Orleans Saints might be remembered as "the season that might have been." New Orleans would have won its first road playoff game and hosted …
Where Will Manning Land?
Acquiring a quarterback in the NFL via free agency or trade brings the phrase "buyer beware" to mind.
So 2012: Value, Mini-Bites Trending
The growing popularity of voluntary simplicity—in which practicing individuals aim to reduce commercial consumption and become more self-reliant—also seems unmistakably tied to our collective concerns about the environment and sustainability.
Healthy and Kid-Approved
In 2010, first lady Michelle Obama initiated the "Let's Move!" Program to encourage healthy lifestyle behaviors for children. The initiative focuses on eating healthy and being active. The goal is …
What Happened to Winter?
It seems that winter almost completely passed us by this year, which means our local stores still have stock. Lucky for us, most fall and winter merchandise is marked down, …
Living in Hell
I just finished reading a chilling historical novel, "The Healing," which resoundingly answered an oft-debated question: "What was the Civil War really about?"
[Editor's Note] Living in Hell
I just finished reading a chilling historical novel, "The Healing," which resoundingly answered an oft-debated question: "What was the Civil War really about?"
Jackson to MDOT: Take Back Roads
The city of Jackson has not been able to afford the maintenance on its roads for years. With government budgets facing cuts across the board, Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr., the …
Rebels Without a Pause
On the first floor of the Capitol last Wednesday, a handful of Democrats assembled to enjoy a late lunch when a burly assistant sergeant-at-arms burst in to say that Speaker …
Books-a-Zero
You know things are bad when librarians start protesting. In light of Gov. Phil Bryant's executive budget recommendation that calls for a 15 percent funding reduction for the Mississippi Library …
[Tech Talk] Weaning from Cable
The Cable Company and I have been fighting. Until recently, they've been winning. There was a brief stint where I dealt them a heavy blow when I opted for Internet …
Weaning from Cable
The Cable Company and I have been fighting. Until recently, they've been winning. There was a brief stint where I dealt them a heavy blow when I opted for Internet …
Stop Obstructing and Get to Work
Republicans in the Mississippi Legislature seem to be dealing with a lot of pent-up demand. Every day, we hear of another piece of legislation that is a virtual rehash of …
Stop Obstructing and Get to Work
Republicans in the Mississippi Legislature seem to be dealing with a lot of pent-up demand. Every day, we hear of another piece of legislation that is a virtual rehash of …
[Your Turn] Save the Libraries
Brandon Jones, Executive Director, Mississippi Democratic Trust
In his FY 2013 Budget Recommendation, Gov. Phil Bryant stated that libraries are not an "appropriate government function" and are a "non-core area." Consistent with these beliefs, the Republican budget …
Save the Libraries
Brandon Jones, Executive Director, Mississippi Democratic Trust
In his FY 2013 Budget Recommendation, Gov. Phil Bryant stated that libraries are not an "appropriate government function" and are a "non-core area." Consistent with these beliefs, the Republican budget …
[Your Turn] Fix the System
The recent flap over Haley Barbour's 200 pardons and commutations has highlighted problems in our current gubernatorial clemency processes. At my request, the staff of the legislative Performance and Expenditure …
Fix the System
The recent flap over Haley Barbour's 200 pardons and commutations has highlighted problems in our current gubernatorial clemency processes. At my request, the staff of the legislative Performance and Expenditure …
[Queen] If I Were A Man
We are just as capable and ready for battle as any man—whatever that battle is.
Senate Passes Charter Schools Bill
The after hours of debate, the Senate passed a bill this afternoon to loosen the rules for creating charter schools in Mississippi.
The JFP Interview with Steve Holland
In a matter of 24 hours, Steve Holland went from seemingly being the director of "Punk'd: Mississippi Edition" to directing funerals.
A Magic Deeper Still
Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie accidentally leave their mundane lives for the wonder and adventure that an enchanted wardrobe grants. In C.S. Lewis' celebrated "The Lion, the Witch and …
Interview
The JFP Interview with Joey Fillingane
It's Valentine's Day, and everyone seems to be courting Sen. Joey Fillingane. Just two days before Mississippi's Feb. 16 legislation draft deadline, his secretary and gatekeeper has to run interference …
Nine out of Ten Experts Agree
"If I knew for a certainty that a man was coming to my house with the conscious design of doing me good, I should run for my life." —Henry David …
Personhood: Symbol or Substance?
Although state Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, says it's unlikely the Mississippi Legislature will take up the debate over personhood this year, efforts by state lawmakers in Mississippi and elsewhere in …
A Fire for Change
Spend just a couple of minutes with Joyce Jackson at Collins Funeral Home, where she works, and you will see why many members of her community asked her to run …
Picks for Oscar
Most cinema scholars revere 1939 as the ultimate year in motion pictures. Nothing since the new millennium comes remotely close to the majestic heights reached in 1939 or even the …
Bob Gilchrist
It wasn't until he was at Loyola University in New Orleans in fall 2011 that Bob Gilchrist finally became comfortable with the fact that he is gay.
MIRA Civic Engagement Day
The Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance plans to walk to the Capitol today to protest a series of bills targeted at undocumented immigrants.
Tuesday, February 21
Officers Arrested on Bribery Charges
From the U.S. attorney's office, verbatim:
Jackson, Miss - Monyette Quintel Jefferson, 27, Terence Dale Jenkins, 25, and Anthony Ricardo Payne, Jr., 25, all Jackson Police Department Patrol Officers at the time of the offense, have …
A Win for the State's ‘Power Brokers'
"Power brokers" win out over the voices of individual legislators in a new set of joint rules the Republican-dominated Mississippi Legislature passed last week, Democrats say. The new rules are …
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Attorney General Jim Hood has warned that Mississippians may be the target of a email scam claiming to come from the Ford Foundation.
Shawn Wilson
For most, the words "separate, but equal" bring up dark memories of segregation and racism that haunt the South's past. But when filmmaker Shawn Wilson decided to find out more …
Personhood Resolution in House
As the window for introducing bills in the Mississippi Legislature closes, the personhood debate has once again surfaced.
Monday, February 20
Hip-Hop on ‘The Help'
The film 'The Help' has 99 problems but garnering critical acclaim ain't one. Armfuls of awards and nominations haven't immunized the film based on Kathryn Stockett's best-selling novel about African …
Friday, February 17
Boil Water Notice; JSU Suspends Activities
A water main break is causing low water pressure at Jackson State University, leading the school to suspend classes and activities this weekend.
Pushing Back Against Library Cuts
Gov. Phil Bryant's budget recommendations call for a 15-percent funding reduction for the Mississippi Library Commission. Bibliophiles are gearing to keep the cut from being so steep and, at the …
Mitchell Staying at Clarion-Ledger
Award-winning journalist Jerry Mitchell is not among a dozen Clarion-Ledger employees facing an early retirement buyout choice. Speaking at this morning's Friday Forum at Koinonia Coffee House, Mitchell addressed the …
Sen. Thad Cochran
A national group has recognized Sen. Thad Cochran for advocating for volunteer programs. ON Tuesday, Cochran received the Edward M. Kennedy National Service Lifetime Leadership Award at the Friends of …
Personhood Mississippi: We Are Listening to Voters
Personhood Mississippi founder Les Riley sent out a statement this morning praising Personhood legislation in the Oklahoma Senate and promising further efforts in Mississippi that will address voters' concerns about …
APAC Celebrates 30 years
The Power Academic and Performing Arts Complex is celebrating its 30th anniversary today.
The magnet school opened in January 1982 and serves students in grades 4-12 who want extra instruction in the arts. Last fall, the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts
Thursday, February 16
Getting (a Little) Past Politics on Keystone Pipeline
This morning I got to the office with an e-mail in my inbox, apparently forwarded to me, from the office of Scott Brown, famously the GOP senator from Massachusetts who …
Runaway, Prostitute or Victim?
Not too long ago in another state, a high-school boy offered a high-school girl a ride home. He drugged her drink, took nude photos of her and used the pictures …
City: Spending Down, Overtime Up
When Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. and the city of Jackson set the budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year, they didn't plan to do as well as the first-quarter numbers now …
Deville Smith
Deville Smith was born in Jackson in 1991 and grew up to become a star basketball player at Callaway High School. He averaged more than 20 points and added four …
Rep. Brown: Irby Clemency File Missing
Here is the statement, verbatim:
House Democrats have just released a statement from Rep. Cecil Brown, D-Jackson, on former Gov. Haley Barbour's pardons. In it, he says files are missing for several pardon recipients, including …
Dems: Ain't No Sunshine in this Bill
This time around, the "sunshine" bill didn't wither. Despite their best efforts to slow down and trip up House Bill 211, which supporters argue adds a layer of transparency to …
Wednesday, February 15
Dark Songs of the Bloodbird
Bloodbirds are found in Australia, not Mississippi, but there's one here who sings only in the dark. Adam Harrington, who performs under the name Bloodbird Harrington, is a Jackson-based singer …
Tupac Shakur: 15 Years Later
I have often written in these pages about the cool opportunities that find their way to me based on my position as a music columnist. One of the coolest things …
Strong and Natural
In April 2010, I had my last chemical hair relaxer. "I have had it," I thought as I decided to go natural once and for all, and I made the …
[Girl About Town] Jackson at its Best
My love for Jackson is pretty unbridled all the time, but certain things send it into overdrive. Top among those are the quintessentially Jacksonian events—the times when a diverse group …
Spring Casserole
Au gratin potatoes are a family-revered dish of decadence. A common au gratin preparation uses potatoes, but, really, you can use any combination of vegetables. Traditionally, layers of potato and …
Justice, Faith, Power
For some people, February means king-cake season. In the South, a king cake is like a cake-sized cinnamon roll, usually with purple, green and gold icing. Traditionally, a king cake …
[The Slate] The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Whitney Houston sang one of the best national anthem renditions, ever, at Super Bowl XXV. She is gone, but her anthem will live on forever.
Wii Be Movin'
I am hot, sweaty and getting tired. I am moving as best I can, but I keep getting popped in the face. Next to me, Lacey has a determined look …
Where's the SWAC?
The NFL has become so big that they can televise guys running 40-yard dashes with drills, and people watch. Feb. 22 to Feb. 28, that's exactly what will happen when …
Evolve My Mind
I have always measured the quality of my education against what my father taught me. School bored me mostly, but having a conversation with Papa rarely did. He was a …
[Week in Jacktown] February 8 - 14, 2012
Wassup Jacktown! Miss me? I know you haven't heard from me in a while, but I'm still recovering from the Best Of Jackson party (I have to thank Phingaprint for …
Pardongate: Continuum
Imagine that every person who received a pardon from Gov. Haley Barbour did exactly what the state constitution says and ran a newspaper ad for 30 days before they received …
Bring the Noise
Legislative Republicans are setting 'em and knockin' 'em down. After a clumsy first month when the House didn't even have committee assignments, bills are starting to soar through the committee …
Personhood Redux
Just three months after voters turned down a Personhood Initiative, at least one legislator is trying to get it back on the ballot.
More than Factories
A member of the Screen Actors' Guild, state Sen. John Horhn has some ideas on keeping the state's economy from sagging.
Media
Truth Troops
Some people—including some journalists I've worked with over the years—assume Stars and Stripes is a propaganda arm of the Department of Defense. It's not. It's an all-American institution that is …
No Miracle Cure
'The business of education is not a business, so you can't run it like a business.'
Time to Swim, not Sink, Together
With evidence everywhere that good public education is key to our city and our state's economic future, not to mention public safety, it is time that to slay the dinosaurs …
Time to Swim, not Sink, Together
With evidence everywhere that good public education is key to our city and our state's economic future, not to mention public safety, it is time that to slay the dinosaurs …
[Stiggers] Gainful Employment
My purpose is to celebrate and make history by encouraging the workers who remain jobless in 2012. I will not condescend or criticize people who feel betrayed by the government, …
[Kamikaze] Year of the Underdog
I'm drawn to stories of the underdog—the little guy or gal triumphant against seemingly insurmountable odds.
[Johnson] Right the First Time
Charter schools have the potential to be a boon for children in our state's education system.
Clarion-Ledger Losing Experienced Staffers
Twelve employees at The Clarion-Ledger are considering early retirement buyouts. The Gannett-owned daily newspaper continues to shrink as it loses its most experienced staffers.
Education
Education: A Strong State Economy Starts Here
Research shows that struggling schools and low education levels hurt individuals as well as the state as a whole, bringing economic and social challenges. Fortunately, people outside the educational community …
For the Love of Art
Toddlers dance around the dining room table as Samuel McCain absorbs the musical notes from his iPod. The tunes might inspire his next piece of artwork. Sitting against the patio …
Tick Tock, Tick Tock
"Safe House" is a CIA-agent-gone-rogue thriller. No further information is needed to understand the plot line, and if this picture didn't have Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds and a fine cast …
The Truthniks
When it comes to political memoirs, most are either too safe to be interesting or too salacious to be taken seriously. With political thrillers, the plots are often either too …
Of Love and Pardons: How They Met
On the night of Dec. 7, 1992, Joseph Ozment and three friends arrived to rob J & R's Old Store in Hernando and found Ricky A. Montgomery there, working alone. …
Drilling the Front Lines
Captain Louis Skrmetta is on the front lines. So far, Skrmetta, whose family has operated tour boats between the mainland and Mississippi's barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico since …
Christine ‘Chrissy' Wilson
Mississippi has no bigger cheerleader when discussing the art, history and culture of Mississippi than Christine "Chrissy" Wilson. She has edited many of the markers on the Mississippi Freedom Trail …
City Wants State to Take Back Roads
The Jackson City Council will have a special meeting at 11 a.m. this morning to discuss their recommendations to the state Legislature.
Ward 3 Race to End in Runoff
Although LaRita Cooper-Stokes gained 42 percent of the votes in a special election yesterday, it wasn't enough to give her the Ward 3 City Council seat outright. She and Joyce …
Tuesday, February 14
Sunshine Act Still Clouds Legislature
Debate over the Sunshine Act, which Speaker Philip Gunn introduced last week and failed on a technicality later in the week, continued to rain down on the Legislature as a …
Record Store Coming to Fondren
In an age of iPods and MP3s, Fondren is about to get a dose of good-ol' vinyl LPs and their younger, shinier CD brothers.
Sen. Joey Fillingane
Personhood supporters and detractors are still trying to sort out the ramifications and nuances of an anti-abortion resolution introduced yesterday. Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 555, seeking …
Ward 3 Election Today
The Jackson City Council will fill the empty seat left by recently elected Hinds County Supervisor Kenneth Stokes today after voters in Ward 3 select their new council member.
Monday, February 13
JFP Endorses Beneta Burt for Ward 3 Council Seat
At a Ward 3 candidate forum last week at the Medical Mall, several themes emerged: First, most of the plethora of candidates who are running for Kenneth Stokes' vacated seat …
City Needs Transportation Funds
The Jackson City Council discussed bills the city is supporting in the Legislature at a morning committee meeting.
Community Events and Public Meetings
AARP Tax Aide Volunteer Service. The service is available to low- and moderate-income taxpayers with special attention to those ages 60 and older. Bring all necessary documents. No appointment required. …
Fillingane Introduces Anti-Abortion Resolution
Within the last couple of hours, Sen. Joey Fillingane introduced a resolution to amend the state constitution "to protect the life of every unborn child from conception to birth."
City Supports Several Bills
The city of Jackson will support several bills in the Legislature this session. Roosevelt Daniels, city policy director, is expected to present the following items this morning at a City …
Friday, February 10
Metrocenter Moving Forward
A city councilman who used to be a lawyer and lobbyist for David Watkins and some of his firms made a motion Tuesday to allow the mayor to negotiate payments …
Memorializing Medgar
It's unlikely that Medgar Evers will be forgotten for a very long time.
Stuart Kellogg
At 10 p.m. in Jackson, about 80 percent of the people who are watching TV have their sets tuned to one of the top-three local news stations.
Thursday, February 9
Holland's Gulf of America Bill Sweeping the Nation
To understand his bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in state waters off the Mississippi coast, you have to understand that Holland is one …
Supreme Court Hears Pardongate
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/v3/images/uploads/Jim_HoodtopimageresizeVS.jpghttp://www.jacksonfreepress.com/v3/images/logos/Hood_topimageresizeVS.jpghttp://www.jacksonfreepress.com/v3/images/logos/Jim_HoodtopimageresizeVS.jpg
Ward 3 Candidates Speak
Change, moderator Othor Cain said, was the theme of a Feb. 7 forum at the Jackson Medical Mall. Nine candidates vying to represent Ward 3 on the Jackson City Council …
Wendi Reed
Last season was historic for the Jackson State Lady Tigers softball team. Under first-year head coach Rick Fremin, the team won more than 20 games for the fourth time in …
Wednesday, February 8
Rodeo Songs
In 2008, Chris Cagle left Nashville and the country music business. He spent the next couple of years building Big Horse Ranch in Marietta, Okla., from the ground up while …
The Man Behind The Music
Murph Caciedo is one face you might not recognize in public. This semi-shy, talented and friendly guy, while unknown to most Jacksonians, is arguably the hardest-working musician in the city.
[The Slate] The Best In Sports In 7 Days
NFL hall-of-fame voters got one thing right this year: electing New Orleans Saints former offensive tackle Willie Roaf to the hall.
Cheerleading: A Sport?
Some girls dream of being movie stars. Lexi Worsham dreams of cheerleading.
Time to Make History
March madness could be a great time for Mississippi. As many as four teams could end up getting bids into the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
[Editor's Note] Aloha, Jackson
When we boarded our plane in Dallas bound to Honolulu in January, I'd had only had two hours' sleep. Inevitably, I tossed and turned in anticipation of getting up at …
Aloha, Jackson
When we boarded our plane in Dallas bound to Honolulu in January, I'd had only had two hours' sleep. Inevitably, I tossed and turned in anticipation of getting up at …
Unemployment Down Again
Unemployment figures in the United States continued their downward trend last month from the most recent high of 10.2 percent in October 2009.
[Tech Talk] The iPad v. Laptop Debate
A hard-drive crash that forced me to reinstall the operating system on my 4-year-old MacBook interrupted work on this week's column.
The iPad v. Laptop Debate
A hard-drive crash that forced me to reinstall the operating system on my 4-year-old MacBook interrupted work on this week's column.
Getting Into Workflowy
I am loving Workflowy.com right now, the oddly named, completely free outlining tool that will surprise you. Its simplicity is deceiving.
Stop the Injustice of ‘Justice'
Nothing brings the inequality and foibles of our justice system into stark relief like an upcoming execution. As lawyers battle over last-minute efforts to save a human life, it's impossible …
Stop the Injustice of ‘Justice'
Nothing brings the inequality and foibles of our justice system into stark relief like an upcoming execution. As lawyers battle over last-minute efforts to save a human life, it's impossible …
[Stiggers] In Return for a Dollar
Welcome, fellow hustlers, to the first Compensatory Investment Request Support Group Meeting of 2012. I look forward to a great year for our group. The purpose of the Compensatory Investment …
[Outlaw] A More Perfect Union
Change will come—even in the state that seems slowest to change.
No Sex in This City
A few years ago, I went on a journey to find my Mr. Right by going on 100 dates in a year. I blogged about each date, with plans to …
Red-Washed Origins
Feb. 14 hasn't always been celebrated with flowers, over-decorated chocolate boxes and cards filled with fuzzy sentiments. It's a day steeped in gory pagan ritual, with an executed priest as …
The Single's Valentine's Day Survival Guide
If you're single this Valentine's Day, you probably haven't bought into the hype. Still, Valentine's Day can be trying for the more sentimental singles out there. You're alone in a …
Divine, Delicious, Decadent
The table is set, candles are lit, and music is playing softly in the background. It's Valentine's Day, time for a romantic dinner for two. But what's on the menu?
Vulnerability and Strength
To love is to care deeply enough about an idea to see it come into being, whether that idea is a romance with another person, writing a novel or starting …
Love, Cinema Style
Whether at home or at the theater, nothing is more enjoyable with a loved one like a movie.
[He Said] ‘Stay Awhile'
Even now, though, trying to be romantic can make me ... nervous. It's balancing a gift, a box of chocolates and a dozen roses while sautéing shrimp for the special, …
[She Said] ‘Funny and Sweet'
When I was first contacted regarding writing about romance, my very first thought was: "What the hell do I know about romance? I'm married."
Hitched
To Jump or Not?
If you haven't seen the movie, you've probably heard of it. Tyler Perry's comedy, "Jumping the Broom," tells of two families of different social and economic backgrounds united for a …
Hitched
For the Love of Greek and Sports
The pair first met in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina. Taylor, a Long Beach native, was running through the pouring rain to her dorm from a hurricane party on the Millsaps …
D. I.Y. Valentine
Valentine's Day is the perfect time to get crafty for your loved ones. Sure, store-bought Valentines can be cute, but there's nothing quite like getting something personalized and handmade.
I Believe in Love
Valentine's Day often gets a bad rap. Some think it's too sappy, and others think it should be called "Singles Appreciation Day." Regardless of whether you're in a relationship, I …
Fly
Love
Ah, romance! It's an emotion that has inspired symphonies, poetry and monstrous, fluffy pink teddy bears. As Valentine's Day nears, here's some advice for people playing the dating game, longtime …
Smart? Not Really
Growing up with eager readers, Sumrall native David McRaney flocked to the art of storytelling. McRaney, 34, works by day as director of new media at WDAM, but in his …
Oxford Film Festival 2012
The Oxford Film Festival follows closely on the heels of the Sundance Film Festival, which, in my book, officially launched the 2012 independent film season.
Mississippi Executed Hart Turner
Attorney General Jim Hood this morning argued successfully in a federal appeals court in New Orleans to lift a stay of execution for Edwin Hart Turner. At this point, without …
Fight the Power
When something called the Child Rape Protection Act passes by a margin of 106 votes to 9, you'd think that discussion would be minimal. That wasn't the case last week …
Time Warp on a Platter
"Hail! Hail! The gang's all heeere! What the heck do we care? What the heck do we care?" I smile thinking about where I've heard that tune so many times …
Food for Lovers
The following local restaurants are featuring special menus for Valentine's Day.
The following local restaurants are featuring special menus for Valentine's Day.
Thomas G. Harris
One Sunday before Christmas, a packed bus from an out-of-town Missionary Baptist Church pulled into the parking lot of Romantic Adventures on U.S. Highway 80. The traveling Sunday school disembarked …
In Their Words: Jason Moffitt
The JFP is featuring the stories of some of the people Gov. Haley Barbour pardoned, in their own words.
Tuesday, February 7
Hood Decries "Sunshine Act"
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood cried foul this afternoon on the less-than-sunshiney manner in which the House Sunshine Act was introduced and passed out of committee in less than 18 …
Sunshine Act Aimed at AG Hood
Before a House Judiciary A Committee commenced this morning, a young staffer quipped to a buddy that with the end of hunting season in Mississippi, he has nothing to look …
Welcoming New Businesses to Town
Royal Bleu FashionsOne University Place has opened its doors to a new boutique in the heart of Jackson.
Stephen Ekunwe
Stephen Ekunwe, a biology professor at Jackson State University, has recently been named a fellow of the African Scientific Institute. The ASI Fellows association is an international group of accomplished …
Metrocenter Cabling on Agenda Today
At a special meeting yesterday, Councilman Quentin Whitwell made an emergency motion for the city to get a supplemental lease at the Metrocenter Mall, an idea he shared with the …
In Their Words: Thomas Cole Kendall
The JFP is featuring the stories of some of the people Gov. Haley Barbour pardoned, in their own words.
Monday, February 6
Court Orders Stay of Execution for Hart Turner
Press Release of James Craig (verbatim).
Read Is State Executing a Mentally Ill Man?
Hinds Jails Switching Commissary Providers
Hinds County jails are joining the buy-local movement.
Teaching ‘Nice Girls' to Stand Up to Bullies
Many young girls know one--a "friend" who makes fun of them and points out faults at every opportunity but responds to complaints and hurt feelings with a laugh and "just …
Stephen Gostkowski
Before replacing kicking legend Adam Vinatieri, New England Patriots placekicker Stephen Gostkowski was a three-sport star for the Madison Cenral Jaguars in high-school. He was all-state in football, baseball and …
Community Events and Public Meetings
AARP Tax Aide Volunteer Service. The service is available to low- and moderate-income taxpayers with special attention to those ages 60 and older. Bring all necessary documents. No appointment required. …
Friday, February 3
Is State Executing a Mentally Ill Man?
Hart Turner's mind seems to have broken Dec. 12, 1995. After two failed suicide attempts, a half-dozen stays in mental institutions and years of mental and physical abuse, Turner shot …
EEOC: Discriminating Against Felon Illegal?
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? The question, which is standard on most job applications, often spells heartbreak for many people who know that checking yes means their …
Band of the Day: Colour Revolt
"All bands have their humble beginnings where they just want to play shows and write music," Sean Kirkpatrick says, and tonight Colour Revolt celebrates. Colour Revolt's Vinyl Release Party is …
In Their Words: Mitchell Travis Tanksley
The JFP is featuring the stories of some of the people Gov. Haley Barbour pardoned, in their own words.
Thursday, February 2
Deuce Headed Back to Ole Miss, Reports Say
Not, of course, that he'll be playing. (Although just imagine if he had a year of eligibility and wanted to get a Master's degree...) According to CoachingSearch.com via Sports Illustrated, …
Bryant: Can't Do Nothin' For Ya, Man
Phil Bryant is grounded, and the Legislature's allowance is being reduced. This week, Bryant made his first executive budget recommendation to lawmakers at the Capitol. As expected, he took a …
Study: Race Affects Broadband Access
Gene Marks is not a poor black kid, but he played one in Forbes magazine.
City Tech Wiring Overlooked
City Council members want to know why the city waited so long to notice that developer Retro Metro wasn't providing computer and telephone wiring at the city's new Metrocenter Mall …
Maurice Bolden
The University of Southern Mississippi could be on the verge of a special basketball season.
In Their Own Words: Lindsay Kathryn Welch
Starting today, the JFP will feature some of the stories of the people former Gov. Haley Barbour pardoned, in their own words. Oktibbeha County, 2000 Lindsay Welch gave birth to …
Wednesday, February 1
Diary of The Showstopper
Hip-hop artist Kimberly West came home one day in 2003, and almost as soon as she walked through the door, the phone rang. She didn't expect the bad news that …
[10 Things About] The Weeks
After missing the Esperanza Plantation Holiday Showcase in December, The Weeks return to Jackson. On Friday, Feb. 3, the band performs with Colour Revolt at Hal and Mal's at 8 …
Support Your Local (Mall) Record Store
At a New Year's Eve potluck, James Crow (aka Herbert Brown) told me a tale of buying records at the FYE music store at Northpark Mall. He captivated me with …
[The Slate] The Best In Sports In 7 Days
One last football game of the season this week: Super Bowl XLVI.
It's a Family Thing
Football has always been a way for my father and me to bond. When I played in high school, my father would help me keep in shape and work with …
Savory Morsels
For me, few things cause a dietary downfall as quickly as the presence of hors d'oeurves and appetizers. There's just something appealing about small morsels. I have been known to …
Your Annual Tuneup
When I was a resident physician, I drove a Mercedes. I thought I was doing what people expected of a young doctor in the show-off city of Los Angeles, where …
Get Screened
In addition to the normal tests performed during a physical, the American Cancer Society recommends getting screened for cancer at specific intervals. The following is a summary of recommendations for …
Questions for the Doc
When you go for a physical, be prepared to let your doctor know about any physical or emotional problems (like depression or anxiety) you may be having.
[Girl About Town] Of Sushi and Marathons
I don't think of myself as a particularly athletic individual, but a few years ago, I started running—as in a fitness activity, not because someone was chasing me. It even …
Choosing The Light
In my line of work, people like to talk trash about you. And there's really something about a woman speaking her mind that just hacks off a lot of men, …
Arena Back on the Table
City leaders fear that one day, the USA International Ballet Competition could leave Jackson because Thalia Mara Hall needs about $9 million in repairs.
Sh*t Anonymous Bloggers Say
You know it had to happen. They're too cowardly to put their real names to their angry posts. If you watch closely enough, you realize they must be using the …
Recession Hurt Some More Than Others
During the recent recession, men and African Americans saw the steepest decline in median wages, a new report says, while women made gains, and wages for whites stayed about the …
Plunge Forward
It'll take a year to read Scott Ginsberg's newest book, "Ideas Are Free, Execution Is Priceless". By design. It's one of those motivational books with a suggestion a day for …
MS Supreme Court to Hear Pardongate
The hearing scheduled to take place this Friday, Feb. 3 on the constitutionality of the pardons and commutations granted by former Gov. Haley Barbour has been canceled and the Mississippi …
The Week in Business
The Jackson Redevelopment Authority has begun the process of preparing a new request for proposals for a convention center hotel. The new RFP will have rigid specifications, JRA board members …
[Editorial] Change Felony Voting Laws for All
Here's what continues to get us about former Gov. Haley Barbour's excuses for all those pardons. He keeps saying that he is a Christian and, thus, is concerned about the …
Change Felony Voting Laws for All
Here's what continues to get us about former Gov. Haley Barbour's excuses for all those pardons. He keeps saying that he is a Christian and, thus, is concerned about the …
[Stiggers] Love and Black History
Jojo wants to give his customers the gift of history to instill in them the ability to learn and think critically during the 'Tribute to Carter G. Woodson and Pre-Valentine …
[Kamikaze] ‘I'm No Token'
I attended the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership annual luncheon last week. It's one of those affairs where the city's power players share a meal and listen to a speaker talk …
[Queen] Walking In Dignity
When my father named me, he spoke my destiny into existence. The name is taken from the Nigerian Yoruba tribe. Funmi means to help people, and Folayan means to walk …
Justice
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.
Mississippi Pardongate: What's Next?
When state investigators caught up to convicted murderer Joseph Ozment Sunday night, he was living in a Laramie, Wyo., hotel and driving the Mercedes-Benz of his fiancée, LaChina Tillman, an …
The Barbour Pardons: How We Got Here
July 2008: Gov. Haley Barbour grants clemency to five convicted criminals assigned to work in the governor's mansion by the Mississippi Department of Corrections after reducing their status' to minimum …
The Color of Clemency
Mississippi's pardon process isn't race-blind, either. A Reuters analysis, completed by Himanshu Ojha, Marcus Stern and Jackson Free Press stringer Robbie Ward, found that the more than 200 acts of …
Facebook is Going Public
Facebook is going to have to adjust its privacy settings -- because they're finally going public. The Menlo Park, Calif.-based -media behemoth released its prospectus this afternoon, which contains the …
Communication is Key
Zachery Williams does not want to discuss his age. He doesn't understand why people keep asking him something that to him just doesn't matter. Williams is one of 11 candidates …
Take a Load Off the Elderly
This is not the first time Harrison Michael II has run for City Council. The last time he ran in 2009, he only faced two other opponents, Albert Wilson and …
A Golden Standard
"Are you ready for some football?" A voice in the dark asks before the start of New Stage Theatre's production of "Lombardi."
The Iconic Coach
When I think of NFL head coaches, several names come to mind. Depending on your age, you might think of Bill Belichick, Sean Payton or if you are younger, Mike …
A Pleasing Affair
The poster for "The Artist" reveals a raffishly handsome gentleman gazing into the soft, wide eyes of a beautiful ingénue. They are glamorous in the high-contrast, black-and-white photo.
An Ill-Fitting Life
Jackson native Barrett Hathcock has given readers a small gem with his short-story collection, "The Portable Son". The stories read like a novel. Instead of unrelated snippets, protagonist Peter Gallatin's …
Cyberstalker Hindman: Well-Connected
When you're caught in a sting to catch online sex predators, like Douglas Hindman was, it pays to have friends who dine at the governor's mansion when it comes time …
JRA: No Free Passes
Don't pop in on the Jackson Redevelopment Authority asking board members to buy your property or hire you on the spot because you have a passion for a particular downtown …
Short'nin' Bread
Soul food includes mouth-watering dishes such as collard greens, fried chicken, barbecued spare ribs and corn bread, as well as less well-known but just as sumptuous recipes such as cheese …
Andrea Lynn Phillips
Dr. Andrea Lynn Phillips does a lot with a little at her practice, Phillips Medical Services. She and her staff of seven provide medical care to mostly uninsured patients at …
Somebody Say Something
This past month, I spent a lot of time reflecting on the fact that it has been 10 years since my suicide attempt.
