Wednesday, December 31
City & County
Yarber Touts First Term 'Wins'
If the city had a rocky year, it was due in no small part to the growing pains of scrambling to assemble a mayoral administration mid-year and jumping right into …
Politics
Lynn Posey
Lynn Posey said Tuesday that he won't seek a third term as the central district member of the Mississippi Public Service Commission.
Health Care
U.S. Bishops Take Aim at Sterilization
Amid the escalating conflicts over reproductive rights, tubal ligations haven't generated nearly as many headlines as abortion. But many doctors and patient advocates feel strongly about the topic, especially their …
Witness Confirms Cover-Up of Mexico Army Slayings
In her first interview since being falsely imprisoned for five months on weapons possession charges, a woman said a cover-up of the June 30 mass killing by the Mexican army …
Report Prompts Mixed View of Health Care Sign-Ups
The first 50-state report on the latest sign-up season under President Barack Obama's health care law shows that more than 4 million people selected plans for the first time or …
Man Tries to Run Down Police; They Shoot, Kill Him
A man who had posted an online video threatening to kill police and FBI agents tried to use his car to run down officers seeking to arrest him on Tuesday …
Palestinians Plan Next Steps After Failed UN Bid
Palestinian leaders will meet Wednesday to plan their next steps after the U.N. Security Council rejected a resolution to end Israel's occupation and could set a date for applying to …
Tuesday, December 30
Music
Stepping off the ‘Front Porch’
Country music is a difficult genre of music to appraise. Most songs sound startlingly common, with similar or identical subjects and not much difference in how they're discussed.
Music
Starkgrass Takes Over the Capital City
Starkville-based bluegrass band The Tombigbees began as a trio, performing at open-mic nights and backwoods bars.
Cover
Howell Trophy Favorites
Each year the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum hands out the Howell Trophy to the best men's college basketball player in Mississippi.
Bryan's Rant
Cap Problems
The Saints will start 2015 much the way they started 2014: in salary-cap hell once again.
The Slate
The College Football Playoff is finally here. Four teams will battle for the title but expect changes after the Texas Christian and Baylor snub this season.
Cover
JFP 2015 College Basketball Preview: The Smalls
Alcorn State University has to be one of the favorites to win the SWAC this season. The Braves return with preseason SWAC Player of the Year and preseason first-team All-SWAC …
Cover
JFP 2015 College Basketball Preview
Baseball has been successful in this state for a few years. Football had an amazing season that leaves everyone wondering if it can be replicated. Is it basketball's turn to …
Civil Rights
I Am Not My Father
My father was very intent on ensuring that we knew who we were and where we came from. He wanted us to be aware of this world and its prejudices …
Resolve to Have Clean 2015 Elections
2014 raised awareness about the way elections have been run in this state since time immemorial and the need for that to change.
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Racist'
It's clear that it's Idris Elba's skin tone that is giving Rush Limbaugh the hives. Go figure.
Kuumba and Imani to You
My family and I have been celebrating Kwanzaa for 11 years as of this year. In 2003, I decided my family was going to have our first Kwanzaa after researching …
State
State Grant to Train Teens for Safer Dates
The "Safe Dates" program aims to help teens differentiate between relationships that are caring and supportive and those that are controlling, manipulative and abusive.
City & County
For Jackson, ‘Progress in the Face of Adversity’
In December 2013, with a new city council and a once-controversial mayor who was starting to win the hearts and minds of his detractors, things were looking up for the …
City & County
Money, Ministry and Stewpot’s Future
Stewpot, a pillar in the Jackson community for its service to the homeless population, has a long history of struggling to make ends meet.
Jacksonian
Cordaryl Campbell
Also a husband and father, Cordaryl Campbell believes he is better prepared for making it in professional basketball by the road he has traveled.
Editor's Note
A Fresh Start
John Lennon once said, "Life happens when you're busy making other plans." That's always been one of my favorite quotes, but never one that seemed to apply to me.
Biz Roundup
4 the Record, RimTyme, J. McLaughlin, Emerging Leader Series and State Trade and Export Program
Jackson's premier vinyl convention, 4 the Record, looks to be skipping next year after a number of larger vendors cancelled to attend the Alabama Record Collector's Association CD & Record …
Food
Pomegranate Power
This is a celebratory, enchanted time of year, and nothing conveys these gustatory emotions as happily as the appearance of pomegranates in markets across town.
Art
From Mother School to Museum
From the outside, one can't possibly see the beautiful and tragic history that the two-story gray building on Bloom Street holds.
Monday, December 29
Gunmen Fire on L.A. Police Car
Two men opened fire on a police car patrolling a tough part of Los Angeles, but the two officers inside were not injured and one was able to shoot back, …
City & County
Quietly, Campaign Season Starts Over Holiday Break
Despite the election being almost one year away, candidates are already announcing runs for local and state races in next year's statewide election, when voters will choose leadership for state …
Crime
Pill Ring Federal Trial in Mississippi Set for January
A federal judge has scheduled for Jan. 26 the trial of a Georgia doctor accused of recruiting casino workers in Biloxi to run a prescription pill ring.
Person of the Day
Elbert Rich III
Elbert Rich III, known as Trey, was hit by a pickup truck as he rode his bicycle home from work at FedEx on Christmas Eve. He was dead on the …
Obama Warns GOP He Plans to Use Veto Pen in 2015
Warning from President Barack Obama to congressional Republicans: I have a veto pen and, come January, I won't be afraid to use it.
Russian Ruble Drops 7 Percent as Economy Shrinks
The Russian currency extended its losses on Monday after a report showed the economy has started shrinking in annual terms for the first time since 2009 as the country is …
In Crowded Skies, Lost Plane's Request for New Path Denied
The plane sought permission to climb above threatening clouds. Air traffic control couldn't say yes immediately—there was no room. Six other commercial airliners were crowding the surrounding airspace, forcing AirAsia …
Shots Fired on Los Angeles Police Car; No One Hurt
A man fired a rifle at two Los Angeles officers in a patrol car, but no one was injured in the attack that comes amid tension nationwide between police and …
Friday, December 26
Mississippi Towns Regroup After Deadly Storms
Elizabeth Bordelon planned to go Christmas shopping until nasty weather blowing through southeastern Mississippi convinced her to hold off.
Ole Miss Law School Enrollment Falls
The University of Mississippi School of Law's first-year enrollment has dropped from 199 in 2010, to 156 in 2012 and just 127 students this year.
Thursday, December 25
Theaters Begin Screening 'The Interview'
Critics and early viewers agree that "The Interview" is less than a masterpiece. But thanks to threats from hackers that nearly derailed its release, it has become an event.
Nissan Supplier Efforts Key to Miss. Output
Topre America's robots, tended by 165 employees, are now welding together support frames for trucks inside a Mississippi facility that's a long walk from where Nissan assembles them.
Wednesday, December 24
City & County
Ashby Foote Joins Jackson Council
The Jackson City Council has moved closer to returning to full strength with Ashby Foote officially joining the body as Ward 1 councilman.
Person of the Day
Dr. Phyllis Hollenbeck and Dr. Charles Sherwood
It took courage and conscience for physicians Charles Sherwood and Phyllis Hollenbeck to blow the whistle on their employer, the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center in Jackson, officials with …
Russia: NATO Pushed Kiev to Drop Nonaligned Status
NATO members pushed Ukraine toward dropping its nonaligned status, Russia claimed Wednesday, and also criticized the alliance for expanding its military presence near Russian borders.
IS Shoots Down Warplane in Syria, Captures Jordanian Pilot
Islamic State group militants captured a Jordanian pilot after shooting down his warplane while conducting airstrikes over Syria, Jordan said Wednesday, in the extremists' first successful downing of an aircraft …
Officer Kills Armed 18-Year-Old Near Ferguson
Violent protests broke out in suburban St. Louis after another black 18-year-old was fatally shot by a white police officer.
Tuesday, December 23
State
Storms Kill 4 in Miss., Emergency Declared
Severe weather slamming the southern U.S. two days before Christmas killed at least four people, flipped cars, knocked out power to thousands and damaged several homes and businesses.
US Moves to End Ban on Blood Donations by Gay Men
Federal health officials are recommending an end to the nation's lifetime ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, a 31-year-old policy that many medical groups and gay activists …
Sony Announces Limited Release for 'The Interview'
"The Interview" has been re-gifted to moviegoers as a limited Christmas Day release, putting back into select theaters the comedy that prompted an international incident with North Korea and outrage …
Gay Marriage Cases Teed Up for Justices' Action
Gay marriage cases are on the Supreme Court's agenda with enough time for the issue to be argued and decided by late June.
Bryan's Rant
Finishing Strong
Bowl games are all about motivation. Sometimes, the best team doesn't win. It's the team that is excited, and both the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University should be …
The Slate
You know it's been a strange year when Tony Romo is more reliable than Drew Brees. The Saints misses the playoffs for several reasons. Their quarterback is one of them.
Music
The Weeks: Southern Heritage, Soulful Sound
The members of indie-rock outfit The Weeks, natives of Florence, Miss., grew up on a blend of classic rock and alternative music.
Memorable Quotes from TEDxJackson
"There are as many ways to be creative as there are Muppets. And there are a lot of Muppets." —Kermit the Frog
The Best Tweets from TEDx Jackson
@browndamon 'I followed this idea of archeology as a romance and a science.' —Dr. George Bey(@SoQuoMe) #quote #archeology #science #TEDxJXN @TEDxJackson
Cover
Wishes for Change in 2015
Gandhi's call for each of us to just go become the change we want to see around us is truly the first step to creating stronger communities and bridging the …
Cover
What Grew Out of TEDx Jackson
Here is some of what the Jackson Free Press learned at TEDx Jackson and some ideas we gleaned from the day and all the inspiration packed into an old movie …
City: Don’t Let Uber Run Over Jackson
In a place where the mere presence of a national albeit uninspiring brand like Walmart can be a source of civic pride, it's easy to understand the excitement over the …
Sweet Quote of the Week: 'Responsibility'
In a society that increasingly shifts too much of the accountability for kids off on institutions—schools and jails, to name two—it's easy to forget our individual responsibilities to youth.
A Very Clubb Chicken Wing Christmas
Big Roscoe: "This year, Little Mama and I decided to televise our annual Christmas gift to the community: A Clubb Chicken Wing Christmas."
LGBT
Marriage Equality and Beyond for LGBTs
Failure to protect LGBT people extends beyond shutting off the marriage, and a sobering new report sheds light on the economic and social effects of denying lesbian, gay, bisexual and …
Women Excised from Public Life, Abused by IS
Extremists are working to excise women from public life across the territory controlled by the Islamic State group, stretching hundreds of kilometers (miles) from the outskirts of the Syrian city …
Cuba Signals that Extradition of US Fugitives Off the Table
Cuba's point person on U.S. relations says anything is up for discussion as the two countries move to re-establish diplomatic ties, from anti-drug cooperation to joint environmental agreements.
Key N. Korean Websites Back Online After Shutdown
Key North Korean websites were back online Tuesday after a nearly 10-hour shutdown that followed a U.S. vow to respond to a crippling cyberattack on Sony Pictures that Washington blames …
Report: At Least 60 Journalists Killed in 2014
At least 60 journalists around the world were killed in 2014 while on the job or because of their work, and 44 percent of them were targeted for murder, the …
Key Developments in Case of 2 Slain NYPD Officers
The recent NYPD killings have raised concerns and tempers in the already tense nationwide debate surrounding police conduct. Some key developments after the weekend shooting in New York.
Jacksonian
Dr. Olurotimi Badero
With his laid-back demeanor, most wouldn't guess that Dr. Olurotimi Badero, 43, is one of the most knowledgeable medical minds in Mississippi.
City & County
New Homes Keep Midtown Revival Going
Midtown Partners, which promotes social and economic revitalization in the neighborhood just north of downtown, developed a master plan in 2010 that calls for expansion of services, parks and housing.
State
Does Uber Have a Dark Side?
The ride-sharing app, Uber, has plans to change the transportation game forever. The company included Jackson in those plans as it expanded into the city with its UberX program, beginning …
Food
Curfews and Coffee Cake
It was tradition for us to have coffee cake on Christmas morning, which Mom would prep before we could unwrap a single gift.
State
Remembering Mr. G.
I met him first in late January 2006. It was a sunny day that betrayed the magnitude of misery that had befallen the city.
Girl About Town
Old Friends and New
Holidays are often a time full of tradition and emotions—some warm and fuzzy, others stress-related. But for some, it's more about a lack of tradition.
Editor's Note
Living and Loving in a Know-It-All Nation
I doubt I'm the only one who has struggled to find the holiday spirit this year. Mind you, I'm a holiday fanatic—decorate, give, wrap, deliver, entertain, even cook—but I've had …
Food
What to Do on New Year’s Eve '14
On New Year's Eve, Hal & Mal's hosts its fifth annual 'Sippi the Catfish Drop. The event begins at 11:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
Monday, December 22
Jackson Punts on $76.5M Bank Decision
The clock is ticking on a decision of where the city of Jackson will keep its money for the next two years. State law requires the municipal to have a …
City & County
City to Unveil Legislative Agenda
An unusually long agenda faces today's special business meeting of the Jackson City Council, as members consider what appears to be Mayor Tony Yarber's agenda for the coming legislative session, …
Person of the Day
Jim Hood
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood has quietly been locking horns with Web giant Google Inc. for well over a year, but the fight has started to brim over in recent …
Education
State Certifies School Referendum for 2015 Ballot
Voters in November 2015 will decide a referendum to write a funding guarantee for "an adequate and efficient system of free public schools" into Mississippi's constitution.
Ariz. Sheriff Aims to Halt Obama Immigration Order
A gadfly attorney and an Arizona county sheriff want to halt President Barack Obama's immigration order in the first courtroom battle over an initiative designed to spare nearly 5 million …
Police Departments on Alert After Cop Killings
Big-city police departments and union leaders around the country are warning the rank and file to wear bulletproof vests and avoid making inflammatory posts on social media in the days …
North Korea Skipping UN Security Council Meeting
An angry North Korea, now on the defensive over a U.S. accusation of hacking, is refusing to take part in a groundbreaking U.N. Security Council meeting Monday where the country's …
Saturday, December 20
Jackson State to Borrow $10 Million to Buy Apartments
A unit of Jackson State University will borrow up to $10 million to buy a 444-bed apartment complex next to its campus.
Friday, December 19
Google Sues Miss. AG Jim Hood
Google Inc. is suing Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, trying to block him from pursuing criminal charges or filing a civil lawsuit against the company.
Obama Says North Korea Hacked Sony, Vows Response
President Barack Obama declared Friday that Sony Pictures Entertainment "made a mistake" in shelving a satirical film about a plot to assassinate North Korea's leader and pledged the U.S. would …
Report: FBI's Anthrax Investigation Was Flawed
The FBI used flawed scientific methods to investigate the 2001 anthrax attacks that killed five people and sickened 17 others, federal auditors said Friday in a report sure to fuel …
Business
Mayor Wants to Move $76.5 Million from Trustmark
After banking with Trustmark for at least three decades, the City of Jackson is looking to make a change.
City & County
Fire Damages Building Near Welty Birthplace
A fire has heavily damaged a building that's used for receptions near the birthplace of a noted Mississippi author.
Person of the Day
Diamond the Giraffe
The Jackson Zoo lost one of its most famous residents earlier this week. On Dec. 16, Diamond the reticulated giraffe passed away at the age of 28, missing her 29th …
Colorado Vows to Defend Pot Law Against States' Challenge
Colorado's top law enforcement official promises to vigorously defend the state's historic law legalizing marijuana after Nebraska and Oklahoma asked the U.S. Supreme Court to declare it unconstitutional, saying the …
US Not Fully Prepared for Nuclear Terrorist Attack
The U.S. government isn't fully prepared to handle a nuclear terrorist attack or a large-scale natural catastrophe, lacks effective coordination, and in some cases is years away from ensuring adequate …
Theater Shooter's Parents Plead for His Life
The parents of Colorado theater shooting suspect James Holmes are pleading for him to be spared the death penalty.
8 Children Killed, Mother Stabbed, in Australia
The bodies of eight children—aged 18 months to 15 years—and a wounded woman were discovered in a home in northern Australia on Friday, police said.
Mississippi Board Rejects Test Contract
A state board has rejected a contract that would have bought tests for Mississippi students with intellectual disabilities.
Thursday, December 18
Apple CEO Tim Cook Boosts South's LGBT Efforts
Apple chief executive Tim Cook, the first openly gay CEO of a Fortune 500 company, is donating money to help fund a gay rights initiative in his native Alabama and …
2 Astronauts Will Expand Envelope with 1-Year Spaceflight
The two men assigned to a one-year spaceflight said Thursday that their upcoming mission will allow the world to push deeper into space.
Tsarnaev Appears in Court for 1st Time Since 2013
Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev returned to court Thursday for the first time since he was arraigned in July 2013.
Palestinian Leader Supports More Talks on UN Bid
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that he supports further negotiations on a proposed U.N. Security Council resolution that sets a 2017 deadline for an Israeli withdrawal from war-won lands …
NASA's Orion Spacecraft Back in Florida After Test Flight
NASA's experimental Orion spacecraft left Florida by rocket and returned by truck. The capsule arrived back at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday.
Putin: West Wants to Defang, Declaw Russian Bear
Sternly warning the West it cannot defang the metaphorical Russian bear, a confident-looking President Vladimir Putin promised Thursday to shore up the plummeting ruble and revive the economy within two …
Suspected Islamic Extremists Kidnap 185 in Nigeria
Islamic extremists killed 35 people and kidnapped at least 185 in an attack near the town where nearly 300 schoolgirls were taken hostage in April, witnesses said Thursday.
LGBT
Southern LGBTs Get Good, Bad News
Despite new information about social and economic disparities facing lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender people in the South, Mississippi continues to make slow, steady progress toward equality.
Person of the Day
Charlie Flowers
Our state lost a legendary football player on Dec. 7, when former University of Mississippi fullback Charlie Flowers passed away. The Rebel great lost his fight against cancer at the …
2 Finalists Set for Miss. College Board Director
The 10-member Community College Board will meet Thursday to interview two finalists seeking to become the next executive director of the board that oversees Mississippi's two-year colleges.
Wednesday, December 17
Bryan's Rant
Thoughts from the Sports World, Again
In a year of really great college football players, the Heisman voters got it right in realizing that University of Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota was the best player this …
The Slate
The college football bowl season starts this weekend. It leads up to the first ever college-football playoff and on Jan. 12, the national championship game.
Art
An Artistic Invitation at the Mississippi Museum of Art
Art is the most intense form of individualism the world has known," said Oscar Wilde, a man who knew a thing or two about exercises in individual expression. That phrase …
Diy Guides
Add Some Sparkle to Your Holiday Decor
Liven up your holiday decor with lights, a bit of glitz and some colorful blossoms this season. Now is the time to put on your gardening shoes, grab the pruners …
Music
Jammin’ to Carols
If you're feeling the pressure, a spin on the treadmill or some yoga is just what you need. Here are some holiday tracks to keep you company.
Wellness
Healthy Holiday Gatherings
Holiday eating can result in an extra pound or two every year, the National Institutes of Health reports, and the holiday season can set the precedent for the upcoming year.
Fly
Last Minute Lovelies
The holidays are approaching quickly, and it's time to get those last-minute gifts together. While you're in a mad rush to finish, why not buy gifts from local places?
Food
Happy Local Holidays!
If you don’t want to cook this Christmas season, local restaurants can help you out.
What is a ‘Segregation Academy’?
The greatest hike in private academies in Mississippi was from 1968-1971, during which segregated private schools grew from educating just over 5,000 to 40,000 students in the state.
Cover
Then and Now: When ‘School Choice’ Creates a Divide
"School choice" is a hot-button political phrase, used in some form since the 1960s. At its most generic, it means giving parents an option of where to send their kids …
Full Funding Would Give All Schools a ‘Choice’
It can be hard to determine the motives of those who push for "school choice." After all, it can be difficult to distill what proponents of school choice, a movement …
Education
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Today'
Thigpen is either so gung-ho about pushing the "school choice" agenda that he'd look past the residual racism still alive in the state, or he's just naive.
Civil Rights
I’m Here, and I Can’t Breathe
I wanted to write a warmer, fuzzier column. I'm sorry, but my conscience won't let me. We're in the midst of a national moment, so warmer and fuzzier can wait; …
City & County
County Wants Fewer Detained Youth
William Skinner recently fired off a letter to a federal judge in Jackson saying that Hinds County officials are trying to usurp his authority over the detention and release of …
City & County
Future Cloudy for Both Welfare Receivers Testing Dirty
One in 40—that's the likelihood that a person participating in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Programs, a monthly subsidy program for poor and working-class families, in Mississippi is a drug …
Education
State Loses Out on Preschool Funding—Again
Mississippi's flawed application and underdeveloped plans to provide preschool for all children is partly to blame for why the state's youngest learners were bypassed once again for federal funds that …
Education
Education Funding Center of State Budget Fight
With Republicans controlling both houses and the Governor's Mansion, not a lot of compromise is necessary for the GOP to get its way in the new session. But Democrats are …
Music
Christmas Music States the Obvious
I'm a Christmas music junkie. I love when this time of year rolls around because I get to dust off the collection of holiday music I've amassed through the years.
Editor's Note
A Media Outlet with a Mission
We can work together—even through our shopping and end-of-year purchases—to create a prosperous new year for Jackson.
Jacksonian
Cindy Townsend
At 9 in the morning on school days, you can find Cindy Townsend with her class of seventh graders at Jackson Preparatory School. As director of the school's Global Leadership …
Music
The Aural Tapestry of Argiflex
Argiflex, the stage name of neo-rave electronic artist Curtis Lehr, 21, isn't about meeting expectations or making music that appeals to everyone. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Tuesday, December 16
Roundup: Foote Beats Carson, Human Rights Resolution OK'd
Ashby Foote defeated Dorsey Carson tonight by a 106-vote margin to win the race for Jackson Ward 1 councilman.
Civil Rights
What I Learned from “Law and Order SVU”
While obtaining a Ph.D in "Law and Order SVU," I acquired a real-world understanding of how beneficial an individual's civil liberties are when navigating the criminal-justice system.
City & County
Mud Flies Late in Ward 1 Race
Residents of northeast Jackson's Ward 1 are heading to the polls once more to select their representative to the city council.
Biz Roundup
Batteries Plus Bulbs, Golden Moon Reopening and Networking at Old Capitol Inn
Chad Langley, local franchise owner for Batteries Plus Bulbs, recently announced the opening of a new store, located at 1060 E. County Line. Rd. in Ridgeland.
Books
Bryan Stevenson
The founding attorney for the Montgomery, Ala.-based Equal Justice Initiative, Bryan Stevenson works in a broken system of justice. The indigent clients EJI represents deal with issues such as mental …
As Ukraine Truce Holds, Russia Vows Economic Pain
Fighting in eastern Ukraine between government troops and Russian-backed separatist forces has ground almost to halt. That should be good news for Ukraine, but Russia looks intent to pile on …
Navajos Buy Back Sacred Masks at Paris Auction
When diplomacy and a plea to return sacred ceremonial masks to an American Indian tribe in the United States failed, officials from the Navajo Nation traveled to the Paris auction …
Senate May Confirm Up to 88 Federal Judges
No longer impeded by Republican blocking tactics, Democrats are on track to win confirmation of up to 88 of President Barack Obama's top judicial nominations this year, a total that …
Siege at Pakistani School Ends with 126 Dead
Taliban gunmen stormed a military-run school in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Tuesday, killing at least 126 people before Pakistani officials declared a military operation to clear the …
Search Intensifies for Gunman Who Killed 6
The manhunt for a Marine veteran suspected of killing his ex-wife and five of her relatives amid a child custody dispute has spread to two suburban Philadelphia counties.
Court: Pardon Does Not Mean Clean Criminal Record
A pardon by the governor is not grounds to wipe clean a criminal record, the Mississippi Supreme Court has ruled.
Monday, December 15
City & County
James Anderson Hate Murder Fallout Continues
Sarah Adelia Graves and Shelbie Brooke Richards, who are white, pleaded guilty in federal court in Jackson to charges associated with the murder of James Craig Anderson, a black man …
Person of the Day
Rose Cochran
Rose Clayton Cochran—who became a focal point in the re-election campaign of her husband, Sen. Thad Cochran, when a man was accused of taking bedridden photos of her to use …
Families of Newtown Victims Sue Rifle Manufacturer
The families of nine of the 26 people killed and a teacher wounded two years ago at the Sandy Hook Elementary School filed a lawsuit Monday against the manufacturer, distributor …
Justices Reject Arizona Bid Over Abortion Drugs
The Supreme Court is refusing to allow Arizona to enforce stringent restrictions on medical abortions while a challenge to those rules plays out in lower courts.
At UN Climate Talks, a Crack in Rich-Poor Barrier
A last-minute deal that salvaged U.N. climate talks from collapse early Sunday sends a signal the rich-poor divide that long held up progress can be overcome with a year to …
Black Churches Pray in Protest of Police Slayings
Congregants in African-American churches across the country wore black to Sunday services and prayed over the men in attendance in a symbolic stand against fatal police shootings of unarmed black …
Hamas Stages Military Rally to Mark Anniversary
The Islamic militant group Hamas displayed rockets and other heavy weapons Sunday during a rally marking the 27th anniversary of its founding.
CIA Report Revives Legal Debate on Interrogation
When the CIA sought permission to use harsh interrogation methods on a captured al-Qaida operative, the response from Bush administration lawyers was encouraging, even clinical.
Sunday, December 14
Education
Mississippi Schools' Money Gap Grows to $1.5B
In a state with a long history of lousy education, and a bad habit of not paying for it, nowhere is the problem as profound as in Durant, a tiny …
Friday, December 12
Business
Jackson Film Projects Show Promise of State Tax Breaks
Mississippi is famous for things such as blues music and its civil-rights history, but the state's burgeoning film industry may be the next big thing for the Magnolia State.
City & County
Uber App Rides to Jackson
Uber, the controversy-stirring taxi-ride sharing app, launched service in Jackson this week.
Art
Nell Knox
Attempting to condense a whole community into a single coffee-table book is an ambitious goal, but Jackson native Nell Knox seems prepared for the task.
Ukraine: Truce Results in 1st Casualty-Free Day
Ukraine's president said Friday that a fragile truce between his government's troops and Russian-backed separatists in east Ukraine had resulted in the first day free of deaths or injuries for …
Miss. Ex-Lawmaker Being Honored by Michigan State
The man who broke the color barrier in the Mississippi Legislature is being honored by his alma mater in Michigan.
Thursday, December 11
City & County
Dorsey Carson Releases Taxes, Slams Ashby Foote on Liens
Dorsey Carson, one of two candidates running to fill the Jackson Ward 1 seat, is taking his opponent, investment advisor Ashby Foote, to the mat over Foote's history of not …
Burning Death Inquiry Eyes Woman's Last Hours
urveillance video that shows a woman at a convenience store gas station less than two hours before she was set on fire and left to die is part of the …
State Government
Democratic Budget Proposal Fills Funding Gaps
Democratic lawmakers announced their plans today to use the money not yet allocated in the state budget towards education, state employee pay and state highways.
City & County
Stokes Resignation to Prompt Ward 3 Election
As expected, Ward 3 Councilwoman LaRita Cooper-Stokes tendered her resignation from the Jackson City Council last night to take a seat on the bench as a county judge.
Person of the Day
Jeffery Moore
On Thursday, Dec. 4, the Southwestern Athletic Conference honored Jackson State running back Jeffery Moore, a star for the Tigers from the late 1970s.
Putin Turns to India to Clinch New Deals
Facing a stumbling economy at home and increasingly biting Western sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin sought Thursday to strengthen once-close relationship with India through an ambitious plan to help New …
Hong Kong Police Arrest Protesters, Demolish Main Camp
Hong Kong authorities demolished a protest camp Thursday at the heart of the city's 2 ½-month pro-democracy movement but scores of activists taken away by police vowed their fight for …
42.9 Million Americans Have Unpaid Medical Bills
Nearly 20 percent of U.S. consumers with credit records—42.9 million people—Have unpaid medical debts, according to a new report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
House GOP Confident of Finishing Spending Measure
Confident House Republicans pressed ahead with a $1.1 trillion government-wide spending bill Thursday despite persistent grumbling among Democrats whose votes they need for passage, and lingering opposition from tea party …
Miss. Misses Out Again on Federal Preschool Money
The U.S. Department of Education announced Wednesday that Mississippi has missed out on its share of $250 million in federal money to expand its fledgling prekindergarten program.
Wednesday, December 10
Massive $1.1 Trillion Spending Bill Unveiled
A huge, $1.1 trillion spending bill funding every corner of government opened to mixed reviews Wednesday, with conservatives unhappy that it fails to challenge President Barack Obama's immigration policy while …
UN Experts Call for Prosecution Over US Torture
All senior U.S. officials and CIA agents who authorized and carried out torture like waterboarding as part of former President George W. Bush's national security policy must be prosecuted, top …
Mary Ann Mobley, Former Miss America, Dies at 77
A former Miss America who went on to appear in movies with Elvis Presley and make documentary films around the world has died.
JFP Top 25: Week 15
This is the final football poll until after the bowl games and the playoff games finish in mid-January. If you don't know by now, the four playoff teams are the …
Bryan's Rant
Time to Add Four More?
Anyone who watches the NCAA basketball-tournament selection show knows that even with 68 teams getting in the dance, some teams always scream that they should have been in as well. …
The Slate
It was a good weekend for Mississippi college football. Alcorn State University won the SWAC Championship, and Mississippi State and Ole Miss got huge bowl invites.
Music
Kindred: Bringing Soul to the City
Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon Dantzler, the powerhouse vocalists of Kindred the Family Soul, perform with Mike Burton and the Good Times Brass Band, and actor and comedian Palmer Williams …
Books
Marcie Cohen Ferris Goes Through the Food Lens
In "The Edible South: The Power of Food and the Making of an American Region (University of North Carolina Press, 2014, $35), Marcie Cohen Ferris uses the lens of food …
Business
Tackling Brain Drain
Mississippians are looking for ways to solve the state's "brain drain" issue—the exodus of college graduates due to a perceived lack of jobs and little incentive to stay.
Art
Ballet Magnificat’s ‘Most Incredible’ Gift
Ballet Magnificat! of Jackson adds another element to your holiday accoutrements with "Most Incredible Christmas," at Thalia Mara Hall on Saturday, Dec. 20, and Sunday, Dec. 21.
Art
Heart for a Cause
The American Heart Association's Metro Jackson Heart Ball is both a fundraiser and an opportunity to promote the organization and its mission: to improve cardiovascular health and reduce deaths from …
Art
LEGO Jackson: Making Progress in Plastic
Scott Crawford, the builder behind the LEGO Jackson display, began the project under his Christmas tree with a few decorations and some spare time.
Sports
Playoff Committee Unfair to SEC West
In an effort to right this wrong, the Big 12 purportedly will petition the NCAA for the right to stage a championship game in future seasons.
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Can't'
Stamps is correct in that rules must be followed to prevent chaos during government meetings. However, in recent weeks, community activist Enoch Sanders addressed the council at least twice to …
Everything is a Dollar
Miss Doodle Mae: "Corporate-owned big-box, retail and department stores ushered in the holiday season by having employees work before, during and after Thanksgiving. Now, these same stores are wailing and …
Response to "Making Mississippi 420 Friendly" by R.L. Nave
The need to immediately legalize marijuana nationally is the most pressing moral issue of our time. More and more present and former members of law enforcement agree. Please see leap.cc.
Response to "Mississippi Last In Vaccine Choice" by Anna Wolfe
Mississippi should be lauded as first in protecting its citizens, especially children, from infectious diseases.
Addressing Infrastructure Essential
When the 2015 elections comes around, we will hear about education, health care, job creation and economic development. These issues without a doubt are essential to a community's growth, but …
Food
Soup for the Soul
When the weather begins to get cold or even if rain is in the forecast, the first thing that comes to my mind is soup.
Health Care
Stay Healthy for the Holidays
As we head into the winter months, we all look forward to the holidays and festive times with family and friends. Unfortunately, we also have to anticipate a higher likelihood …
Editor's Note
Legos Make Jackson Better
In places such as Rankin County, there's this major misconception that Jackson is this evil place where everyone robs everyone, and witches brew their sinister potions on street corners.
National
Shaunna Thomas’ Fight Against Sexism
Shaunna Thomas, Ultraviolet cofounder, says her organization creates costs for sexist behavior.
City & County
Ward 1: Side-by-Side
Given the mountain of challenges staring at the Jackson City Council, it's hard to imagine two candidates whose resumes make them better equipped to get their hands dirty than Ashby …
Jacksonian
Astin Sullivan
Filmmaker Astin Sullivan, 24, is proof that passions lead to interesting places.
Tuesday, December 9
City & County
Fireworks Over Siemens, Human Rights
The Jackson City Council approved a $7,200 pyrotechnic display for Thalia Mara Hall for New Year's Eve. But the real fireworks came later on in the meeting, when the council …
Biz Roundup
Some Companies Face Charges, Others Make Donations
The Rotary Club District 6820 recently approved a $7,500 grant for the Jackson Zoological Park to purchase technology equipment for the zoo's Wild Learning program, according to a release from …
Person of the Day
Willie Richardson
The Southwestern Athletic Conference Alumni Association awarded JSU alumni Willie Richardson with the Lifetime Achievement Award Dec. 6.
Senate Report: Harsh CIA Tactics Didn't Work
Senate investigators delivered a damning indictment of CIA practices Tuesday, accusing the spy agency of inflicting pain and suffering on prisoners beyond legal limits and deceiving the nation with stories …
Policy Snags Hold up $1.1 Trillion Spending Bill
Ahead of Congress' midnight Thursday deadline, snags caused by policy differences are holding up a $1.1 trillion, government-wide spending bill, with efforts to relax new regulations on some risky financial …
Monday, December 8
LGBT
Miss. Appeal Leaves Gay Marriage Status in Limbo
U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves on Nov. 25 overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage, but put his ruling temporarily on hold to let the state appeal. The 5th U.S. …
Politics
Making Mississippi 420 Friendly
The potential of cannabis as an appetite stimulant is among the key arguments from proponents of rolling back legal restrictions for marijuana for its medicinal purposes.
2nd Night of Berkeley Protest Turns Violent Again
Raucous demonstrations hit Berkeley's streets for a second straight night as protesters angered by police killings in Missouri and New York clashed with officers, vandalized businesses and even fought with …
Chokehold Case Stirs Debate on Special Prosecutors
After a police officer wasn't indicted in a fatal chokehold caught on video, some officials are reviving calls to entrust such cases to special prosecutors, rather than local district attorneys.
US, NATO End Afghan Combat Command After 13 Years
The U.S. and NATO closed their combat command in Afghanistan on Monday, more than 13 years after invading the country in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks to …
US Sends 6 Prisoners from Guantanamo to Uruguay
Six Guantanamo Bay prisoners sent to Uruguay to be resettled as refugees are doing well and are undergoing medical checkups before being released to begin new lives, the country's defense …
City & County
10 Local Stories of the Week
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.
Saturday, December 6
Mississippi OKs 1 School, Rejects Second
Mississippi officials on Friday signed off on the state's second charter school, but rejected plans for a third.
Friday, December 5
Person of the Day
Bettye Quinn
Bettye Quinn, a professor of elementary education and psychology at Belhaven University, has been attending the university's Singing Christmas Tree event for 77 years.
Civil Rights
After Ferguson, Mississippi Pushes Cop Accountability
Several Mississippi officials are looking at ways to increase police accountability in the wake of deadly encounters between police and unarmed men nationwide.
Cameras Worn by Police are no Panacea, Experts Say
Police body cameras have become a rallying cry in the wake of racially charged decisions by grand juries in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York City, but experts caution that increased …
South Africans Mark Anniversary of Mandela's Death
Friends and family of Nelson Mandela laid wreaths Friday at a bronze statue of the late statesman to mark the anniversary of his death.
Dawn of Orion: NASA Launch Opens New Era in Space
NASA's new Orion spacecraft zoomed toward a high point of 3,600 miles on an orbital test flight Friday, ushering in a new era of exploration that could one day put …
Economy
US Adds 321,000 Jobs, the Most in Nearly 3 Years
A burst of U.S. hiring in November—the most in nearly three years—added 321,000 jobs and provided the latest evidence that the United States is outperforming other economies throughout the developed …
Thursday, December 4
Rep. Espy Calls For Body Cameras
In light Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson, Mo., a Mississippi legislator has followed suit with President Barack Obama’s proposal to require that police officers wear body cameras while on duty.
Civil Rights
Activists Want City Human Rights Commission
In the aftermath of a string of extrajudicial killings, including Michael Brown in Ferguson and Eric Garner in New York, advocates in Jackson want to charter a commission to protect …
Business
Pregnancy Discrimination Case Reaches Supreme Court
Today the U.S. Supreme Court will hold oral arguments in yet another blockbuster case at the intersection of sex discrimination, workplace law and reproductive justice.
Person of the Day
Senquez Golson
College football is full of highs and lows for every player and coach, but no player knows more about perseverance and fighting through the lows than University of Mississippi senior …
House Set to Rebuke Obama on Immigration
House Republicans are prepared to rebuke President Barack Obama over immigration, with a vote on legislation that declares his recent executive actions "null and void and without legal effect."
Hong Kong Student Leaders Mull Protest Retreat
Hong Kong student leaders said Thursday they're considering retreating from protest sites on city streets after more than two months in the latest sign that momentum is fading in their …
Flu Vaccine May Be Less Effective this Winter
Health officials are telling doctors that the flu vaccine may not be very effective this winter.
Protests Erupt After Decision in Chokehold Death
While legal experts note it's impossible to know how the grand jurors reached their conclusion, they say the Garner case, like Michael Brown's death in Ferguson, Missouri, once again raised …
Police Breaking Down Huge California Homeless Camp
Police and social services in Silicon Valley are starting to clear away what likely had been the nation's largest homeless encampment.
Multistate Coalition Sues Over Immigration Order
Texas is leading a 17-state coalition suing over President Barack Obama's recently announced executive actions on immigration, arguing in a lawsuit filed Wednesday that the move "tramples" key portions of …
Wednesday, December 3
Fondren Hotel Project Withdrawn
The developer of a hotel slated for Fondren has withdrawn the project.
JFP Top 25: Week 14
Florida State University is the last unbeaten team at the highest level of college football after University of Western Kentucky upset Marshall University. Mississippi State University falls from the playoff …
Bryan's Rant
When Special Isn’t Special Anymore
The sports gods are a fickle bunch. It seems like a lifetime ago when the Associated Press tied Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi were tied for third. …
The Slate
The week before the Egg Bowl, Ole Miss lost 30-0 to the University of Arkansas, and Mississippi State won 51-0 over Vanderbilt University. It didn't look that way at the …
Civil Rights
What If He Were White?
The tragic death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., leaves us with an opportunity to embrace the simple notion of empathy just as Grisham's fictitious jurors did.
Fly
Stuff Your Stockings Local
It's a proven fact that shopping local boosts the economy in your community, and the holiday season keeps many small businesses thriving. This Christmas, why not put the gift of …
Hitched
A French Wedding
As I glanced at the menu, I groaned inwardly. We had two more courses to go--a "soupe de fruits rouges" and a "piece montee." It already felt like the wedding …
Ending Racial Bias: Hard and Necessary Work
White Americans are more punitive than people of color. Whites misjudge how much crime African Americans and Latinos actually commit. Whites who more strongly associate crime with racial minorities are …
LGBT
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Unfortunate'
A majority vote has never justified the systemic erosion of a group of people's rights—which is the point of the U.S. Constitution. If anyone, a state leader in Mississippi should …
Civil Rights
I Can’t Not Talk About Ferguson
I can't not talk about Ferguson, because the child in my lap, the sweet one that I nurse and nourish, is brown and male just like Michael Brown.
Civil Rights
Ferguson: An American Moment
What started organically in Ferguson with mad, disconnected young African American boys and girls, as a series of unorganized nightly actions, has matured over the past 100 days into a …
Civil Rights
Revisiting the Kerner Report: How Much Has Changed Since the 1960s ‘Riots’?
To get at the causes of the riots, and potential ways to prevent them, President Lyndon Johnson assembled the 11-member National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders in July 1967 to …
Food
Brunching in the Capital
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But what if it's the weekend, and you sleep in? What if you want permission to have an adult …
Jacksonian
Corey Ellison
Corey Ellison doesn't have a background in cooking, and she never thought it would be something she would do as a career. Yet, what started as an entry-level job waiting …
City & County
It's Carson, Foote In Ward 1 Runoff
Dorsey Carson, an attorney specializing in construction businesses, faces financier Ashby Foote in a runoff for Jackson Ward 1 councilman.
Business
Waging Battle Against the Minimum Wage
Today, the campaign for $15 has spread to 150 cities and 33 countries. City councils in Seattle and San Francisco have raised the minimum wage to $15 in those cities.
Music
The Year of Omingnome
Omingnome is busy kicking off "The Year of Healing," a four-stage tour that follows the transformative life cycle of a butterfly: caterpillar, cocoon, butterfly and laying her eggs.
New Lawsuit Brings Cosby Abuse Claims into Court
A lawsuit by a woman who claims Bill Cosby molested her when she was 15 years old has moved allegations of sexual misconduct against the comedian from the court of …
GOP White House Prospects Clash on Foreign Policy
Even as they attack President Barack Obama's foreign policy, and with politics turning to the 2016 race for president, the GOP's most ambitious leaders have begun to clash with each …
3 Hong Kong Protest Leaders Surrender to Police
Three founders of a civil disobedience campaign that helped spark Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests surrendered to police Wednesday, saying they want to take responsibility for their actions and that time …
Diplomats Worldwide Target Islamic State Militants
Nearly a year after the Islamic State overran key cities in western Iraq, diplomats from more than 60 counties and international organizations gathered in Brussels to plot a way forward …
Tuesday, December 2
Editor's Note
Why Don’t We Value Black Lives?
Young, black men are often killed because white people fear them, and they kill each other because society tells them their lives are worthless. But the most terrifying part is …
Education
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves Attacks Common Core, Urges 'Investments That Matter'
Mississippi's second-highest elected official says that Mississippi needs to spend its money responsibly on "investments that matter" instead of focusing on more money to "do something for our kids" as …
Biz Roundup
Teddy Bear Tea, Millsaps International Program and Outstanding Educator Award
This holiday season at the historic King Edward Hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn Jackson Downtown will host a series of Teddy Bear Teas for kids of all ages.
Person of the Day
Josh Robinson
It took time, but the spotlight finally found MSU running back Josh Robinson. His story to just get to this point is amazing, and it took a whole community to …
3 Hong Kong Protest Leaders to Surrender to Police
Three founders of Hong Kong's pro-democracy protest movement called Tuesday for an end to street demonstrations to prevent more violence and take the campaign to a new stage, but it …
Change of Leadership in Crimea Means Property Grab
In a preliminary estimate, Ukraine's Justice Ministry told AP that around 4,000 Crimean enterprises, organizations and agencies have had their property expropriated by Russia.
GOP Senator: Obama Picks Carter to Lead Pentagon
President Barack Obama has tapped former Pentagon No. 2 Ashton Carter to be his next defense secretary and carry out the U.S. military effort against the Islamic State in Iraq …
House Plans to Vote Down Obama Immigration
The Republican-led House will vote this week to undo President Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration, House Speaker John Boehner told lawmakers Tuesday as he sought to give outraged conservatives …
Reeves Wants Miss. to Shelve Common Core Standards
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves says Mississippi should stop using the Common Core State Standards to guide its public school curriculum and should instead create its own higher standards.
Monday, December 1
Hong Kong Teen Protest Leader on Hunger Strike
A prominent Hong Kong teen protest leader said Monday he's going on a hunger strike after a failed attempt by pro-democracy activists to step up their flagging movement for democratic …
Hands-Up Gesture Animates Ferguson Protests
Five St. Louis Rams players entered the football field with their hands raised. A day later, people walked out of work or school showing the same gesture of solidarity with …
Obama Wants More Police Wearing Body Cameras
President Barack Obama wants to see more police wearing cameras to record events like the shooting death of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown, but is not seeking to pull back federal …
City & County
The Ward 1 Money Race
The race for the Ward 1 seat on Jackson City Council is nearing its end. Voters will go to the polls tomorrow, Dec. 2, to pick new representation. After that, …
National
Ferguson Mayor: No Severance Package for Wilson
Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson did not receive a severance package when he resigned over the weekend, the St. Louis suburb's mayor said Sunday.
Person of the Day
Dr. Aaron Shirley
Dr. Aaron Shirley, who broke racial barriers at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and founded the Jackson Medical Mall, has died. He was 81.
Obama to Hold White House Meetings on Ferguson
President Barack Obama will discuss the situation in Ferguson, Missouri, with his Cabinet, civil rights leaders, law enforcement officials and others Monday.
Republicans Push to Update Education Law
The No Child Left Behind education law could be making a political comeback.
Congress Crams Unfinished Agenda into Final Days
Lame-duck lawmakers return to Washington on Monday facing a stacked agenda and not much time to get it all done before the new Congress convenes in January and a Republican …
WHO Says Liberia, Guinea Meeting Ebola Targets
Liberia and Guinea have met a Dec. 1 target for isolating 70 percent of people infected with Ebola and safely burying 70 percent of those who die, the World Health …
