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. If Mississippi executes Michelle Byrom, now 56, she will be the first woman the state has put to death in 70 years. It may also be a horrible injustice.
2. Before she announced that she had indeed decided to seek the mayor's office, Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon was already the target of automated robocalls.
3. Immigrant-rights advocates have been working to change the law to make college more affordable for Mississippi's growing immigrant population.
4. Jennifer-Riley Collins, executive director of the ACLU of Mississippi, believes the so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act holds open the potential for legalized discrimination despite the House's removal of a controversial provision.
5. The candidates at Thursday's Jackson mayoral forum tackled topics including the utilization of tax credits, crime prevention, crafting a budget, education and economic development.
6. In an interview with the Jackson Free Press editorial board Thursday afternoon, Ward 6 Councilman and mayoral hopeful Tony Yarber spoke candidly about his accomplishments on the Jackson City Council, his vision for the capital city and how working through past infidelity with his wife has strengthened their marriage.
7. The anti-abortion organization  Personhood Mississippi  filed paperwork for Initiative 41 on March 5, 2013. If supporters gather 107,216 signatures by May 14, 2014, the bill will appear on the ballot in November 2015.
8. Recently, St. Dominic’s announced an expanded partnership with REACH Health Inc. that will allow the hospital to connect lung specialists with acute care pulmonary patients.
9. Too many people, men and women, don't want a female boss telling them what to do and what not to do. The socialization against such "bossiness" starts young, with girls told not to be loud, too proud and definitely not "bossy."
10. Time and time again, studies show that when women's lives improve—economically, educationally, health-wise or otherwise—so do their family's.

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