Jackson Free Press

There's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them:

1. With the controversy over Senate Bill 2681, Jackson has served as the epicenter for much of the pushback against the measure, including an April 3 rally in Jackson against the bill.
2. Campbell's Bakery owner Mitchell Moore is heading an anti-discrimination movement called "If You're Buying, We're Selling."
3. A newly formed group is taking a fresh tack on school funding, albeit one that first requires a lot of votes and a constitutional amendment to provide money for cash-strapped schools.
4. Hinds County Sheriff Tyrone Lewis has come under fire for a recent jail riot that resulted in the death of a prisoner and Supervisor Kenneth Stokes' call for a no-confidence vote in Lewis' leadership.
5. A female Mississippi senator is questioning a 20-week abortion ban that awaits signature from Gov. Phil Bryant, saying the bill is not grounded in medical fact.
6. The latest information from the clerk's office shows Chokwe A. Lumumba narrowly edging out Ward 6 Councilman Tony Yarber by only 10 votes—10,910 to 10,900—putting them both in an April 22 runoff.
7. The removal of a mural in Jackson's Monument Park that honors the late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, inscribed with Lumumba's portrait and the phrases "Peace and Unity in the Streets" and "One City. One Aim. One Destiny," turned into an emotional and politically charged issue.
8. An open-records request revealed that the city received "numerous, relevant telephone calls," related to a painted tribute to late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba before its removal.
9. Jesse Houston has researched the local and national history of oysters in preparation for opening his own oyster bar and restaurant in late summer.
10. As executive chef at Char, Derek George is excited about bringing in some new seafood dishes to the classic Jackson eatery.

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