Saturday, May 31
Cochran Campaigns Calmly Amid Senate-Race Photo Scandal
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran is in the fight of his political life in a brutal, too-personal Republican primary that has drawn his bedridden wife into the …
U.S. Trades Gitmo Detainees to Free American Solider from Taliban After Five Years of Captivity
WASHINGTON (AP) — The only American soldier held prisoner in Afghanistan has been freed by the Taliban in exchange for the release of five Afghan detainees from the U.S. prison …
3 Indicted on Conspiracy Charges in Prison Riot
Three people have been indicted on federal charges of conspiracy to commit murder related to a deadly prison riot in Mississippi.
Friday, May 30
Health Care
5th Circuit Could Soon Ban Abortion in State
Any day now the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals could decide the constitutionality of a law that would close the last abortion clinic in Mississippi, effectively banning abortion in …
Person of the Day
Mona Nicholas
Mona Nicholas, the newly appointed deputy director of the USA International Ballet Competition—one of the largest international ballet competitions in the world—,fell in love with dance the first time she …
Medicare Coverage Ban on Sex-Change Surgery Lifted
Transgender people receiving Medicare may no longer be automatically denied coverage for sex reassignment surgeries, a U.S. Department of Health and Services review board ruled Friday in a groundbreaking decision …
Shinseki Resigns Amid Veterans' Health Care Issues
Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki resigned Friday after publicly apologizing for systemic problems plaguing the agency's health care system.
Elon Musk Unveils Spacecraft to Ferry Astronauts
A company that has flown unmanned capsules to the Space Station unveiled a spacecraft Thursday designed to ferry up to seven astronauts to low-Earth orbit that SpaceX founder Elon Musk …
Texas' Top Prosecutor: Drug Source Can Be Secret
Texas can keep secret the name of its supplier for its execution drugs, the state attorney general determined after law enforcement argued that suppliers face serious danger.
Obama Plans 'Serious Conversation' With Shinseki
President Barack Obama said Friday he plans to have a "serious conversation" with Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki about whether he can stay in his job as the agency head …
Meal Programs Expand Summer Nutrition for Kids
A federal government-backed nutrition program seeks to provide two million meals to Mississippi schoolchildren this summer.
Thursday, May 29
Person of the Day
Archie Manning
If a Mississippian brings up "Archie," they are without a doubt talking about former Ole Miss and New Orleans Saints great Archie Manning, one of the most recognizable sports figures …
White House Touts Energy Policies as Rules Loom
Setting the stage for upcoming restrictions on coal-fired power plants, the Obama administration is making a concerted effort to cast its energy policy as an economic success that is creating …
House Democrats' Campaign Arm Reserves $44M in Ads
House Democrats are ready to empty their deep pockets for television ads in their uphill climb to overtake Republicans as the majority party.
Maya Angelou, the Nation's Wise Woman
Maya Angelou walked into a meeting of civil rights leaders discussing affirmative action back in the 1990s, looked around, and put them all in their place with a single, astute …
Head of Miss. Environmental Agency to Resign
Trudy Fisher, Mississippi's chief environmental regulator, will resign her post at the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality at the end of the summer.
Wednesday, May 28
Bryan's Rant
World Series Repeat?
Last year, we saw a great sports moment in our state: Mississippi State not only reached the College World Series but made it all the way to the championship.
The Slate
May comes to a close this week, and June is ready to bust out a ton of sports events. The Stanley Cup Finals, NBA Finals, World Cup and a shot …
Film
‘Chef’ Serves Up Tasty Cinematic Cuisine
Jon Favreau, who launched his career with the smash-hit indie film "Swingers" in 1996, is back at his bread and butter with the soulful and delicious "Chef."
Art
Pam Kinsey’s Light
Pam Kinsey's art studio is on a small lake in Cleary, Miss., nestled between Byram and Florence. The building is quiet and serene, not unlike her vividly real and serene …
Girl About Town
The Power of Tiny Dancers
Being a grown-up, I do now have friends who have kids—and I find that they can be fun once they reach an age where they start to become little people.
The Summer Problem for Kids: In Mississippi, the Hottest Months Put Lower-Income Learners at Risk
Extensive research shows that all children are prone to learning losses when they do not have educational opportunities during the summer.
Civil Rights
Lifting Up Black Boys: What the Experts Say
When a critical mass of the nation's foremost experts on educating black boys gathered in Jackson in April to hobnob, commiserate and impart their latest findings on how to get …
Investigate the Hayne Cases, Gen. Hood
Reading journalist Radley Balko's May 15 piece on Steven Hayne in The Washington Post reminded me, again, of our broken justice system.
Media: Stop Feeding Bloodthirst Toward Kids
No doubt, research shows that treating even guilty minor suspects as adults increases recidivism and their chances of committing more severe crimes later.
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Blatant Disregard'
Mayor Yarber is right to be mad about the senseless loss of life in the capital city. Later, WLBT paraphrases Yarber saying the Jackson Police Department, which he oversees, would …
LGBT
Step Up on LGBT Rights, City of Jackson
I am wondering how it is that Waveland just became the seventh city in Mississippi to pass a diversity resolution acknowledging that LGBT citizens are a valued part of their …
City & County
Water Meters Still Worry Council Members
The Siemens deal has made council members and citizens wary since May 2012, when Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. presented a deal for council approval.
City & County
Jatran Natural Gas Conversion May Cool ‘Heated’ Bus Riders
Due to ongoing issues with air-conditioning units on several JATRAN buses, passengers might have to find an alternative solution to their traveling needs this summer.
City & County
Police, Experts Say Youth Programs Help Cut Crime
With Jackson Public Schools now out for the summer, many people are worried that the students' newly found freedom will lead to kids getting bored or giving in to peer …
Jacksonian
Frank Spencer
It's lunchtime at Stewpot Community Services, and Frank Spencer, executive director, stands off to the side, watching as Stewpot does what it's meant to do—serve the people of Jackson.
Editor's Note
Silencing Our Fear of Youth
This issue is all about uplifting black boys, but it's hard to empower black boys when we are so invested in constantly tearing them down.
Music
Florida Georgia Line: Hip-Hop Goes Country
Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard fuse hip-hop into several songs on their debut full-length album, "Here's to the Good Times," and it isn't a gimmick.
Books
John Currence's Big Bad Cookbook
Chef John Currence spells out his cooking manifesto before we get to the first recipe. It includes advice such as make your own bread, buy quality ingredients, cut the "low-fat" …
Sender of Ricin Letters Sentenced on State Charges
A Mississippi man sentenced who sent letters dusted with the poison ricin to President Barack Obama and other officials has been sentenced to 20 years in prison on unrelated state …
Tuesday, May 27
Crime
Madison Judge Racial-Abuse Case to go to Grand Jury
Madison County Justice Court Judge Bill Weisenberger is being accused of knocking down, slapping and kicking a mentally disabled young black man and yelling a racial slur: "Run, n*gger, run."
Biz Roundup
Lost Pizza Co. and The Meridian at Fondren In, Nick's Restaurant Out
Brothers Will and Jones McPherson, owners of JJ Brothers LLC, are bringing the Lost Pizza Co. restaurant to Jackson's Maywood Mart, to the space that housed Bon Ami before it …
Person of the Day
Ramona Spann
Ramona Spann, 55, is on a mission to break the cycle of poor food choices and obesity in Mississippi by working from the ground up, starting with kids.
Monday, May 26
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, May 24
Miss. Death Row Inmate Challenges Rape Conviction
The Mississippi Supreme Court has given attorneys for a death row inmate more time to file briefs supporting Charles Ray Crawford's appeal of a 1994 rape conviction.
Friday, May 23
Obama Aides Tackle Hill Foreign Policy Concerns
White House officials have been holding private meetings this week aimed at soothing lawmakers' concerns over the U.S. posture in Syria, the future of the American military presence in Afghanistan …
Visa, MasterCard Renew Push for Chip Cards
Visa and MasterCard are renewing a push to speed the adoption of microchips into U.S. credit and debit cards in the wake of recent high-profile data breaches, including this week's …
Putin Promises to Respect to Ukraine's Election
President Vladimir Putin pledged Friday that Russia will respect the results of Ukraine's presidential election, a strong indication the Kremlin wants to cool down the crisis.
Civil Rights
Freedom Summer to Empower Youth
Albert Sykes grew up in west Jackson the next block over from the street where Medgar and Myrlie Evers lived, but says he never had a real connection to the …
Health Care
Gaps in Kids' Dental Coverage a Trouble Spot
No one wants to go to the dentist, but kids need to. A small cavity left to fester can grow into a big health problem. That's why the government made …
Person of the Day
Lindsey Lemmons
When not delving into nature, Lindsey Lemmons, 33, serves as environmental management systems coordinator for the National Guard and advocates in Jackson for an end to manufactured foods and genetically …
Tennessee Brings Back the Electric Chair
As the rest of the nation debates the feasibility and humanity of lethal injections against a backdrop of scarce drugs and botched executions, Tennessee has come up with an alternative: …
In Switch, Gay Rights Issue Now Favoring Democrats
It wasn't all that long ago that Republicans used gay marriage as a tool to drive Election Day turnout. But as public opinion on the issue has turned and courts …
Thai Coups Makers Hold Ex-PM After Coup
Ousted members of Thailand's former government turned themselves in to the country's new military junta Friday, as soldiers forcefully dispersed hundreds of anti-coup activists who defied a ban on large-scale …
2 More Arrests in Cochran Photo Probe in Miss.
Authorities in Mississippi say they have arrested two more suspects, including a tea party official, in the investigation of photos taken of the ailing wife of U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran.
Thursday, May 22
City & County
Thalia Mara Work to Wrap Early
Soon, Thalia Mara Hall will be back, and officials overseeing its renovation say the opera house will be better than ever.
Person of the Day
Omar Johnson
Jackson State baseball coach Omar Johnson has been able to keep the defending SWAC Baseball Tournament Champions focused during a trying time.
Defense of Pennsylvania's Gay Marriage Ban Dropped
Hundreds, if not thousands, of same-sex couples who live in Pennsylvania are rushing to get marriage licenses or celebrate the sudden recognition of their out-of-state marriages in their home state.
11 Ukrainian Troops Dead, 33 Wounded by Rebels
Three days before Ukraine holds a presidential vote, pro-Russia insurgents attacked a military checkpoint Thursday in eastern Ukraine, killing at least 11 troops and wounding at least 33 others in …
Koreas Exchange Fire Near Disputed Sea Boundary
North and South Korean warships exchanged artillery fire Thursday in disputed waters off the western coast, South Korean military officials said, in the latest sign of rising animosity between the …
Wednesday, May 21
Bryan's Rant
World Cup Dreams
In less than a month, 32 teams will descend on Brazil with hopes of winning the 2014 World Cup.
The Slate
Jackson State's baseball team went from seeing nearly all their equipment and luggage burn in a bus fire May 5 to winning the SWAC Baseball Championship May 18. That is …
Music
Pitbull Doesn’t Know What Love Means
I don't normally call out a particular song or performer. There are plenty of things that I don't like, but venting is best done with close friends or anonymously on …
Food
Dinner Like Grandma Made
Norma Ruth's is a small establishment tucked tight into a little plaza between a clothing store and a barbershop on Ellis Avenue.
Wellness
The Stigma of Mental Health
Laqwanda Roberts doesn't look like the type of person to suffer from mental-health issues. Bloggers and video bloggers often praise Roberts for her fashion sense and beautiful natural hair.
Best of Jackson
Pop-Up Ballot: Nail Care
Melissa Harrison and Cathy Campbell opened The Nail Bar Oct. 8, 2013, and it is already setting a new standard for nail care.
Music
Lil Boosie’s Touchdown Tour
Lil Boosie returns to his southern stomping grounds during his "Touchdown 2 Cause Hell Tour." The rapper will appear at the Mississippi Coliseum Saturday, July 5.
Wellness
Active and Adventurous
Camp Tiger Tails on the Jackson State University campus is the just the right cure for summer time boredom.
Theater
‘Ogres Are Like Onions’
Who could have predicted that when "Shrek" came out in 2001, the inverse fairy tale would captivate audiences so? The animated film spawned three more movies and, now, a theater …
Cover
Grr, Baby
In July 2012, higher-gravity beer hit Jackson refrigerators, and then, last summer, folks learned the ins and outs of home brewing.
Business
2014 JFP Chef Week Winners Announced
In the 2nd Annual JFP Chef Week charity event, participation was overwhelming with 25 restaurants and chefs competing for their favorite charities.
Immigration
Fight for the Right
If you're a student of civil-rights history, one of the best things about living in Jackson is the fact that your heroes walk among you.
Books
Bright Ideas
Are you feeling uninspired? No challenges left? Did you read another depressing statistic about Mississippi? I have a cure for that. Read Polly Dement's "Mississippi Entrepreneurs."
Cover
JXN Scavenge
This summer, let's recreate that fun with a Jackson-centric scavenger hunt that you can do one weekend.
What Chokwe Lumumba Taught Me
A good friend visited earlier this month. She used to live in Jackson, but moved away seven years ago to work as a community organizer in another city. And she, …
Gov. Phil Bryant Must Explain 2681 Support
Either Gov. Phil Bryant has no idea what is happening in his own state—or he isn't being forthright about his motives for signing SB 2681, the so-called Religious Freedom Restoration …
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Timely and Orderly'
A number of recent planned executions have highlighted exactly why the public should know more about the deadly cocktail states use to put people to death.
On Our Side of Town
"In the so-called real world, you will experience malicious attitudes from many corporations, business owners, and talk-radio hosts who believe people like you are just a bunch of inept savages …
LGBT
HRC: Why LGBT Moves Like Waveland's Are Vital
On a stop of his tour through the South, Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin spoke at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson on May 13 about the Human Rights Campaign's …
Business
Casinos, LGBTs Still Allied in Face of SB 2681
To say that Mississippi, where citizens passed a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage in 2004, has been slow to cash in on the economic potential of embracing LGBT people and …
City & County
Yarber’s Early Moves: Roads, Safety
The city's pothole problem has long been a source of stress for many Jackson motorists.
Jacksonian
Sue Lobrano
Without Sue Lobrano and her years of knowledge, the USA International Ballet Competition probably wouldn't be as big as it is today.
Editor's Note
Mrs. Truth, Mr. Humanity
I first visited Battle Creek's monument to Sojourner Truth, an illiterate woman who shed her slave name and chose "Truth," saying "... and truth shall be my abiding name."
Theater
On the EastSide
After a wildly successful, yet nerve-wracking Kickstarter campaign to fund season two of his critically acclaimed web series "EastSiders," Kit Williamson wants to sleep.
Art
Norman Rockwell: Inside Iconic Art
"Norman Rockwell: Murder in Mississippi" opens June 14, and will hang through Aug. 31 at the Mississippi Museum of Art.
China Signs 30-Year Deal for Russian Natural Gas
China signed a landmark deal Wednesday to buy Russian natural gas worth about $400 billion, giving a boost to diplomatically isolated President Vladimir Putin and expanding Moscow's ties with Asia.
Putin Says Troops Withdraw to Help Ukraine Vote
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday he ordered troops to pull out from the regions near Ukraine to help create a positive environment ahead of the nation's presidential vote, but …
Tissues, Counselors Help Ease Pain at 9/11 Museum
There are prominent videos of the twin towers collapsing and photos of people falling from them. Portraits of nearly 3,000 victims and voice mail messages from people in hijacked planes.
Course Aims to Increase Women in Miss. Politics
Organizers of a leadership course for college students say they're trying to increase the number of women in Mississippi politics.
Tuesday, May 20
Obama Hosts CEOs Whose Firms are Investing in U.S.
At the White House, President Barack Obama played the role of business pitchman Tuesday, saluting 11 executives whose companies have chosen to gain or expand a footprint in the United …
Pennsylvania Gay Marriage Ban Overturned by Judge
Pennsylvania's ban on gay marriage was overturned by a federal judge Tuesday.
Biz Roundup
Venom Strikes Midtown, Bomgar and Seafood Get Boosts
Phillip Rollins, better known around Jackson as DJ Young Venom, opened a new store called Offbeat Saturday, May 17.
Crime
Pardoned Ex-Prisoner Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter
One of the ex-prisoners who received a pardon from then-Gov. Haley Barbour has pleaded guilty to manslaughter after he killed another man in an exchange of gunfire.
Person of the Day
Derrick Johnson
When two Tougaloo College alumni convinced Derrick Johnson, a Detroit, Mich., native, that he belonged at the college, Johnson ended up discovering a passion for civil-rights work.
Thailand's Army Declares Martial Law, Denies Coup
Thailand's powerful military chief intervened Tuesday for the first time in the country's latest political crisis, declaring martial law and dispatching gun-mounted jeeps into the heart of the capital with …
UN Says Forced Labor $150 Billion-a-Year Business
Trafficking, forced labor and modern slavery are big business generating profits estimated at $150 billion a year, the U.N. labor agency said Tuesday.
25 Years for Miss. Man in Poisoned Letters Case
A Mississippi man who pleaded guilty to sending letters dusted with the poison ricin to President Barack Obama and other officials was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison.
Monday, May 19
Report: Rural Miss. Schools Poorer, More Diverse
Rural schools in Mississippi are growing in enrollment and serving more low-income and minority students than previous years, according to a report released Monday.
Politics
Cochran, McDaniel Spar Over Wife Photo Scandal
A longtime incumbent and a firebrand startup vying for the Republican nomination to U.S. Senate continue sparring over a scandal that broke over the weekend and shows no sign of …
LGBT
Analysis: LGBT Group Faces Miss. Political Hurdles
A national civil rights group called Human Rights Campaign faces significant challenges as it tries to make Mississippi's legal climate more open for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents.
Events
Community Meetings and Events
A Memorial Day Parade will be held in downtown Vicksburg on Monday, May 26
Ruling Expected Monday on Oregon Gay-Marriage Ban
A federal judge was expected on Monday to knock down Oregon's same-sex marriage ban after the state refused to defend it in court, and gay couples were poised to tie …
Putin Orders Troops Near Ukraine to Return Home
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered troops deployed near Ukraine to return to their home bases and praised the launch of a dialogue between the Ukrainian government and its …
US Government Cites China in Cyber-Spying Case
The United States has brought first-of-its kind cyber-espionage charges against five Chinese military officials accused of hacking into U.S. companies to gain trade secrets.
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.
Friday, May 16
GM is Fined $35 Million Over Deadly Defect
Federal safety regulators slapped General Motors with a record $35 million fine Friday for taking more than a decade to disclose an ignition-switch defect in millions of cars that has …
Obama and Hollande Discuss Ukraine and Nigeria
President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande on Friday discussed developments in Ukraine and the terrorist threat posed by the group Boko Haram in Nigeria, two of the more …
City & County
Yarber Signals Shakeup with Crisler Pick
The appointment of former Ward 6 Councilman Marshand Crisler as public-safety commissioner marks the start of Mayor Tony Yarber's vow to overhaul the city's organizational chart.
Environment
Building Bike Commuters One Bike Lane at a Time
It's that time of year: Bicyclists young and old are lubing chains and dusting off cheap supermarket bikes, top-of-the line Treks and everything in between.
Person of the Day
Ginger Williams-Cook
Ginger Williams-Cook, 33, was afraid, at first, to tell the story of her mother's death and her personal grieving process when Katie Green, a filmmaker from New York, approached her …
Official Says Immigration Program Up for Review
President Barack Obama's new homeland security secretary is offering his first public hints at executive action the administration might take on immigration, suggesting changes to a much-criticized program that runs …
Pro-Russian Insurgents Retreat in Ukraine's East
Local patrols by steelworkers have forced pro-Russia insurgents to retreat from the government buildings they had seized in a major city in eastern Ukraine, giving residents hope that a wave …
Police Unions Push for Medical Coverage of PTSD
Police unions across the U.S. are pushing for officers to be able to collect workers' compensation benefits if they suffer post-traumatic stress disorder, whether they got it from the general …
Thursday, May 15
City & County
JPD Holds Police Memorial
The Jackson Police Department held a memorial service this morning honoring the memory of fallen Jackson law enforcement officers.
Personhood
No Life-at-Conception Proposal on '15 Miss. Ballot
Mississippians will not vote on a new ballot initiative that would declare life begins at conception.
Person of the Day
Eddie Young
Eddie Young has been giving of himself since he first started volunteering 14 years ago at the YMCA on the corner of Farish Street, while he was attending college at …
No New Arkansas Gay Marriage Licenses, for Now
Gay couples in Arkansas will not be able to get wedding licenses, even though the state Supreme Court upheld a ruling that struck down the ban on same-sex marriage, because …
10,000 Gallons of Oil Spill on Los Angeles Streets
Crews sopped up the remains of about 10,000 gallons of crude oil that sprayed into Los Angeles streets and onto buildings early Thursday after a high-pressure pipe burst.
15 Crew Indicted Over S. Korean Ferry Disaster
Prosecutors indicted the captain of the sunken South Korean ferry and three crew members on homicide charges Thursday, alleging they were negligent and failed to protect more than 300 people …
Waveland Vietnam Vet Receives Purple Heart
A Waveland man has finally been presented the Purple Heart he was supposed to have received 46 years.
Wednesday, May 14
The Slate
The St. Louis Rams aren't afraid of making history as a franchise. In 1946 (a year before Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color-barrier), the Rams signed Kenny Washington the first black …
Bryan's Rant
Another Draft in the Can
Finally, the NFL Draft has come and gone after moving from April to May. As usual, on paper, some teams had a great draft, but others appear to have bombed …
Music
The Festival Game
Warm weather has finally arrived, and that means it's that time of year: music festivals.
Music
Shakey Graves' Found Songs
Singer, songwriter and actor Alejandro Rose-Garcia gives life to Shakey Graves, which walks the thin line between being a throwback in time and a pitch forward in the evolution of …
Theater
Jesus in the La-Z-Boy
Grilled catfish, watermelon donkeys and Jesus in a La-Z-Boy might not be what you envision while reading the story of Martha and Mary, but it's exactly what you will find …
Food
Chef Bhatt: Top of His Class
Vishwesh Bhatt, 48, is the chef at Oxford's Snackbar, part of the City Grocery family of restaurants that John Currence owns.
City & County
Jailhouse Blues: Is Help on the Way for the Raymond Detention Center?
In 2006, the U.S. Justice Department estimated that more than 50 percent of all prisoners have some type of mental health issue. For incarcerated women, the percentage is closer to …
When You’re Down and Out
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, who rode into the Governor's Mansion decrying the evils of undocumented migrant workers, says he also doesn't want "unions involved in our businesses or our public …
Justice System Should Help, Not Just Punish
Last summer, a SWAT team descended on the home of a man named Cornealious "Mike" Anderson in a quiet suburb of St. Louis, Mo., and took him to jail. The …
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Representation'
As the county's top prosecutor and an elected official, Smith can do just as much as, if not more than, the public defender to see to it that mentally ill …
Teen Pregnancy, Misunderstood
It takes a lot of courage for teens to go to a clinic. Shaming them when they get there doesn't encourage them to come back or tell their friends it's …
City & County
Couple Donates 30,000 Books to Honor Late Mayor
Although Richard and Sandra Koritz are not originally from Mississippi, it's safe to say they have earned their place as honorary Jacksonians thanks to their recent donation of more than …
City & County
SPLC Blasts Henley-Young Plan
After receiving a reprimand for its management of the Henley-Young Juvenile Justice Center, Hinds County officials have come up with a solution to the ongoing legal problems, one that has …
City & County
Golden Key Apartments Unsuitable?
Residents at the Golden Key Apartments, located on Albermarle Road, have visited Jackson City Council meetings several times over the course of the last few months to make complaints about …
Jacksonian
Jack Welch
Jack Welch is part of Community Animal Rescue and Adoption, a team of people who work both behind the scenes and on the front lines caring for about 300 dogs …
Publisher's Note
AFA Bearing False Witness Against Businesses?
This past week, the American Family Association put out an "action item" that accuses the "We Don't Discriminate" campaign of being ... discriminatory.
Art
Hatching a New Art Movement
The area between Woodrow Wilson Avenue, and Fortification, West and Mill streets is full of what looks like abandoned buildings and warehouses, some laced with graffiti and others just plain …
Style
Red Flags in Downtown Bars
While eating at the bar at a downtown restaurant or enjoying a beverage at the King Edward Hotel Bar on a weeknight, it's not at all unusual to strike up …
A Look at Allegations of Cover-Ups at VA Hospitals
A team of federal investigators swept into Phoenix last month amid allegations of a disturbing cover-up at the veterans hospital.
Judge Strikes Down Idaho's Same-Sex Marriage Ban
Amber Beierle and Rachael Robertson say they'll be the first in line if Idaho starts issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples on Friday.
Ukraine Agrees to Talks, But Its Foes Are Missing
The Ukrainian government reluctantly agreed to launch talks on decentralizing power Wednesday as part of a European-backed peace plan, but did not invite its main foes, the pro-Russia insurgents who …
Poison-Letters Defendant Wants to Withdraw Plea
The Mississippi man who pleaded guilty in January to sending poison-laced letters to President Barack Obama and others changed his mind Tuesday, asking a judge to withdraw his plea just …
Tuesday, May 13
Judge: Try Marathon Suspect's 3 Friends Separately
Three college friends of the Boston Marathon bombing suspect will be tried separately, but those trials do not need to be moved out of Massachusetts, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.
GM Recall Reveals Gaps in Air Bag Knowledge
General Motors is recalling 2.6 million small cars to fix the ignition switches in air bags.
A Look at the Proposed Peace Plan for Ukraine
A potential peace deal for Ukraine has emerged after months of political chaos, deadly violence, economic volatility and the worst crisis between Russia and the West in a generation.
15 Dead, Hundreds Trapped in Turkish Coal Mine
An explosion and a fire at a coal mine in western Turkey killed at least 15 workers Tuesday and trapped another 200 or more miners underground, the country's disaster agency …
LGBT
State Reps Back Human Rights Campaign
Project One America, which HRC first announced last month, is the largest coordinated campaign for LGBTQ equality in the South's history, with a three-year budget of $8.5 million and a …
Biz Roundup
Rainbow's Troubles, Fondren Data and Metrocenter Revival
Fondren's Rainbow Co-op has been dealing with flooding issues ever since a pipe burst beneath the store's neighbor, Montgomery Hardware, in February.
Person of the Day
Lawayne Orlando Childrey
Award-winning and respected news journalist Lawayne Orlando Childrey is living a dream he's had since childhood. More admirable than his list of awards, however, is his ability to persevere during …
Couples Challenging Alaska Gay-Marriage Ban
Five gay couples filed a lawsuit Monday challenging Alaska's ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional.
German FM in Ukraine to Help Broker Dialogue
Germany's foreign minister on Tuesday tried to broker a quick launch of talks between Ukraine's central government in Kiev and the pro-Russia separatists who declared independence a day ago in …
European Court: Google Must Yield on Personal Info
People should have some say over the results that pop up when they conduct a search of their own name online, Europe's highest court said Tuesday.
Red Wolf Pups Named at Mississippi Zoo
Seven endangered red wolf pups now have Choctaw names to honor the state's only federally recognized Indian tribe.
Monday, May 12
State
Precious Martin, Well-Known Attorney, Mourned
Precious Martin, a prominent Jackson-area attorney, died yesterday in an accident. His 10-year-old son remains hospitalized, according to media reports.
Personhood
Anti-Abortion Ballot Proposal Uncertain in Miss.
Organizers have little time left to push for a new Mississippi ballot initiative that would declare life begins at conception.
Person of the Day
Amanda Holder
When Amanda Holder speaks out to raise awareness about autism spectrum disorder, she does so from personal experience. The Brandon native's son was diagnosed in 2011, but not before Holder …
Events
Community Meetings and Events
Made for a Runway II Fashion Weekend is Friday, May 16, from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Jackson Convention Complex.
Extremist Video Shows Abducted Girls Praying
A new video from Nigeria's Boko Haram terrorist network purports to show dozens of abducted schoolgirls, covered in jihab and praying in Arabic.
Kremlin Seeks Talks for Ukraine, Not Annexation
The Kremlin made it clear Monday that Moscow has no intention of immediately annexing two regions in eastern Ukraine after a weekend referendum there showed most voters allegedly backing sovereignty.
High Cost, Corruption Claims Mar Brazil World Cup
The cost of building Brasilia's World Cup stadium has nearly tripled to $900 million in public funds, largely due to allegedly fraudulent billing, government auditors say.
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.
Friday, May 9
LGBT
Ole Miss Students to Protest Gov. Phil Bryant's Signing of SB 2681 at Graduation
At a leafy college campus in north Mississippi and an upscale dinner club in New York, groups are protesting a Mississippi law that opponents say could sanction discrimination against gays …
Mother's Appreciation Day
Mommies and babies--they're everywhere I look these days. Magazines and the Internet track the growing baby bumps and pregnancy fashion of Mila Kunis, Scarlett Johansson, and Kerry Washington daily.
City & County
Lumumba Ally Sweet in Ward 6 Race
In what could shape up to be a continuation of the recent Jackson mayor's race through proxies, a protege of late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba officially launched his candidacy for the …
Mother's Day: A Funny Thing Happened
I once read a quote that said, “You don’t need to take a big family outing to make a big family memory.” As a new mother again, I've been making …
Music
Band of the Day: Lillian Axe
The 1980s were a golden time for hard-rock bands. If you turned on your radio or watched MTV, you probably saw bands such as Motley Crue, White Lion or Bon …
Miss. Legislature Approves Tornado Recovery Money
The Mississippi Legislature in a three-hour session Thursday approved $17 million to help pay for recovery from disasters, including tornadoes that recently pounded the state.
Thursday, May 8
City & County
County Reviewing Emergency System Blackout
Officials in Hinds County are investigating the cause of a recent failure of its emergency-operations system.
Education
Atheist Group Renews Suit on Rankin School Prayer
A student supported by an atheist group says the Rankin County school district is still violating a ban on school prayer.
Person of the Day
Matt Hall
Belhaven University offensive tackle Matt Hall has all the physical skills to be drafted before Saturday, but he also has plenty of red flags against him.
Muslim World Scholars Condemn Nigeria Kidnapping
Top religious scholars working under the world's largest bloc of Islamic countries said Thursday they strongly condemn the kidnapping of more than 270 Nigerian schoolgirls, calling for their immediate release.
Pro-Russia Insurgents to Hold Vote in East Ukraine
The pro-Russia insurgency in eastern Ukraine decided Thursday to go ahead with Sunday's referendum on autonomy or even independence despite a call from Russian President Vladimir Putin to postpone it.
Obama Taps Tech World for Cash Amid Privacy Debate
They come from different worlds — the buttoned-down political culture of Washington and the entrepreneurial, socks-optional, let's-do-this-faster ethos of Silicon Valley.
Miss. Lawmakers to Consider Tornado Recovery Funds
Mississippi lawmakers are returning to Jackson on Thursday for a special session to consider up to $20 million in state funding for tornado recovery.
Wednesday, May 7
Bryan's Rant
Around the Sports World
It hasn't been a very good couple of weeks in the sports world. Donald Sterling got most of the press, but he was not the only sports figure exhibiting racist …
The Slate
It feels like the Super Bowl was a year ago—that is how much I've missed football. Finally, the NFL Draft is here, and we football fanatics get a little hit …
Music
The Music of Stray At Home
Arkansas traveler and troubadour Adam Faucett has an evocative, nearly operatic voice that is well-suited to the deep, passionate lyrics he pens.
Art
Straying at Home
When Mary Claire Primos, founder of Stray at Home Art and Music Festival, moved back home to Jackson after living in Nashville for seven years, she noticed that something was …
Theater
This Actor’s Life
Watching Yohance Myles, 33, on stage in the recent Fish Tale Group Theatre production of "The Laramie Project," you witness a continual character transformation not typical of most plays.
Film
Summer Blockbuster Preview: Part One
The Hollywood cash cow known as the summer movie season is here, and the industry is preparing to unload mega-budget action adventures and gut-busting comedies.
Art
Fishes of Many Colors
Samuel Jalapeno-Pepperoni Finn is a fish—a beta, to be exact—and he's about to start his first day at the Crystal Coral Fins Academy. Sam is the star in Shaydrienne N. …
Food
It’s Take-Mom-Out-to-Eat Day
Without mothers, where would we be? They raise us, feed us and teach us so many invaluable life lessons. This Mother's Day, let's say thanks by giving them what they …
Hitched
City Love
When she was a student at Mississippi College, Lindsey Brooks, now 30, attended a Blue and Gold social club party at Northpointe Barn and told a girlfriend, "I'm going to …
Cover
To Mommy With Love
I have always been a pretty artsy-craftsy person. It came from my mom, who created her own art in frames by using old fabric and leftover wallpaper from her DIY …
Cover
Proud Mama
My mom is a sigher. On any given day, she would walk in after work, sling her leather purse onto the kitchen counter and let out a heaving sigh that …
Cover
Meditations on Motherhood
When I try to clear my mind, an image that comes to mind is a dandelion in the middle of a rolling green meadow, downy white seeds blown hither and …
Cover
My Stealthy Superhero
Plot twist: I have always been one person, slowly transforming into my mother while developing my own opinions and ideas along the way.
Cover
An Apology from Mother to Son
Here are some tips from psychotherapist Anne Toles, who works at Watershed Counseling Associates in Jackson, about asking your child for forgiveness.
Cover
My Persephone
As I scramble during spring to find natural remedies for my allergies, my mother, Carolyn Miller, is full of delight as her babies awaken to greet the new season.
Cover
Dear Mom
No day goes by that I don't think of her. I sometimes wonder how she found and continues to find the willpower, and I have for many years.
Cover
#Not1More Deported Mom
On an ordinary Monday, many mothers and fathers went to work at Howard Industries in Laurel, Miss. It was Aug. 26, 2008. The Howard Industries raid, in which a record-breaking …
What Mothers Do
At some point, parents have to recognize that they've given their children all the tools, and it's then up to the child.
Voter ID Is Here, Like It or Not
On June 4, for the first time in modern history, Mississippi voters will be required to show a government-issued photo-identification card before submitting a ballot. Registration for that election—the Republican …
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Appropriate'
As of October 2013, there were 3,088 people on death row in the United States (48 here in Mississippi, which has the second-highest incarceration rate in the nation). A significant …
Talkin’ Softly to Each Other
"After hearing the news about a racist rant from Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team, Jojo called for an emergency meeting with the Jojo Discount Dollar …
Education
Inside Charter School Funding
On May 8, Mississippi's Charter School Authorizer Board will play the role of a university dissertation committee as groups hoping to start the state's first charter schools "defend" their applications.
Politics
Miss. Politics: Where the Sun Don’t Shine
Comparatively speaking, Mississippi does a poor job regulating political spending and granting access to government, national watchdog groups say.
City & County
Who Will Take Ward 6?
Each of Jackson's seven wards is important, but there's something special about Ward 6. Located wholly on the city's gritty south side, the ward has had representation in each of …
City & County
Parents Rally to Keep Swim Team Afloat
The story of the Briarwood Dolphins swim team is truly one of hope and diligence.
City & County
Lumumba ‘Disappointed’ in Officials
Chokwe A. Lumumba, the son of Jackson's late mayor and the second-place finisher in the recent mayor's race, said he's disappointed the city pulled its support for the Jackson Rising …
Jacksonian
Mia Whitehead
When, at about 3 years old, Mia Whitehead first began tagging along with her mother while she was teaching dance, she never imagined that she would one day share the …
Editor's Note
No Matter What Happens
Throughout my life, I've had my fair share of heartbreak and heartache. I've had best friends come and go over the years, some just because we got older and others …
Music
Silo on Reviving the Delta Spirit
What Tallulah has in abundance is history and nature, and that's the rich spring from which female folk duo Silo chose to drink with its first album, "Tall Tales."
Food
All Things in Moderation
"Hungry for Change" focuses on many of the things the diet, weight-loss, and food industries don't want us to know, and what keeps us from being healthy.
2 Ugandans Go on Trial Over Homosexual Offenses
A Ugandan court on Wednesday started hearing the case against two Ugandans accused of engaging in gay sex, the first trial of homosexuals here since a severe law was enacted …
House Democrats Protest Plan for Benghazi Panel
House Democrats insist that a special select committee on the deadly 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya, be evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, raising doubts about their participation in the …
Putin: Postpone East Ukraine Vote on Autonomy
Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged that a planned May 11 referendum on autonomy in southeast Ukraine be postponed.
2 Mississippi Students are Presidential Scholars
Two Mississippi students have been selected as 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholars.
Tuesday, May 6
City & County
Mayor, JCVB Unveil LeFleur Museum District
Freedom 50 will celebrate the anniversary of Freedom Summer by recognizing those who combated segregation in 1964 as well as developing strategies to continually improve the lives of Mississippians and …
Biz Roundup
Classic Movies and Fine Sicilian Dining
Vintage Movie and Entertainment Theater shows classic black and white, silent and other older films, featuring the likes of Bing Crosby, Mickey Rooney, Bela Lugosi and John Wayne.
Person of the Day
Service Dog of the Day
About 10 years ago, an assault and robbery left Mississippi Gulf Coast native Davis Hawn physically and mentally scarred.
Kemper Overruns Drag Down Southern Co. Stock
Troubles at the Kemper County power plant that Mississippi Power Co. is building are so great that they're dragging down the stock of parent Southern Co.
Monday, May 5
Politics
SCOTUS: Prayer at Govt. Meetings OK
Outside the Bible Belt, it may seem odd for so much praying to take place at government meetings, considering the longstanding doctrine of separation of church and state. Is this …
National
Snapped Clamp Eyed in Circus Accident; 2 Critical
Investigators were looking at a snapped clamp on Monday as they try to figure out why eight circus acrobats plummeted to the ground during an aerial hair-hanging stunt, although the …
Person of the Day
Excell Butler
The winds of change were blowing through most of Mississippi in 1967. At Jackson's mass-transit authority, JATRAN, things were no different. It was that year that then-30-year-old Excell Butler applied …
Events
Community Meetings and Events
The Canton Flea Market is Thursday, May 8 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Historic Canton Square.
At UN, Vatican Seeks Limit on Abuse Responsibility
In its second grilling at the United Nations this year, the Vatican on Monday sought to limit its responsibility for the global priest sex abuse scandal by undercutting arguments it …
South Korea Changing Maritime Rules After Sinking
The South Korean government is scrambling to fix what the prime minister calls the "deep-rooted evils" that contributed to last month's ferry sinking, which left more than 300 people dead …
Fighting in East Ukraine Kills 4 Troops, Wounds 30
Ukrainian troops fought pitched gunbattles Monday with a pro-Russia militia occupying an eastern city, and the government sent an elite national guard unit to re-establish control over the southern port …
Nigeria: Boko Haram Threatens to Sell Kidnapped Girls
Nigeria's Islamic extremist leader is threatening to sell the more than 300 teenage schoolgirls abducted from a school in the remote northeast three weeks ago, in a new videotape received …
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, May 3
Temporary Hospital Headed to Miss. After Tornado
A mobile disaster hospital is on its way from North Carolina to Louisville, Mississippi, to help fill the gap after Monday's tornado heavily damaged Winston County's only hospital, a nursing …
Friday, May 2
Jackson Men Rally in Response to Killings
Zachery Robinson was killed on Tuesday evening; Christopher Kyles the following morning.
City & County
City Almost Grounds 'Jackson Rising' Conference
A keystone of late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba's economic agenda, the Jackson Rising: New Economies Conference, which starts today, was almost derailed this week when the city of Jackson pulled its …
Environment
Cities Waffle on Incinerator proposals
Short on landfill space and keen to find novel ways of generating electricity, cities nationwide have begun considering a new wave of incinerator plants designed to be cleaner and more …
Person of the Day
Cheryl Pearson-McNeil
Cheryl Pearson-McNeil created Nielsen's African American consumer report, published for the first time in 2013, and served as Nielsen's senior vice president of communications prior to being vice president of …
55 Colleges Face Federal Sex Assault Investigation
Some of the 55 colleges and universities facing federal investigation for their handling of sexual abuse allegations say they're cooperating with the U.S. Education Department, though few are offering details …
Gunfire, Blasts in Insurgent-Held Ukraine City
Gunfire and blasts were heard early Friday around an eastern city in Ukraine that has become the focus of an armed pro-Russian insurgency, whose leaders claimed that government troops had …
Drugs in Botched Oklahoma Execution Leaked from IV
Some of the three drugs used in a botched Oklahoma execution this week didn't enter the inmate's system because the vein they were injected into collapsed, and that failure wasn't …
Obama, Merkel to Display Unity Against Russia
President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are mounting a display of trans-Atlantic unity against an assertive Russia, even as sanctions imposed by Western allies seem to be doing …
Miss. Looks to Volunteers, Federal Aid to Recover
As Mississippi digs out from Monday's tornadoes, officials are trying to manage a blessing—volunteers.
Thursday, May 1
City & County
Hendrix, Amos Among Ward 6 Possibles
With Tony Yarber becoming Jackson's fourth mayor in a year's time, a special election will be required to fill his old Ward 6 seat.
State
Twister: Scores of Dead Chickens on One Miss. Farm
There's nothing left of the poultry farm owned by Charlie and Cindy Wilkes save for splintered wood, twisted metal and scores of dead chickens pungently rotting on the land.
Botched Execution Could Renew 'Cruel' Challenges
The botched execution of an Oklahoma inmate is certain to fire up the debate over what constitutes cruel and unusual punishment—the phrase written into the U.S. Constitution and defined by …
North Korea: New Kind of Nuke Test Still an Option
North Korea says it may still go ahead and test a new kind of nuclear device following U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Seoul, but is keeping analysts guessing as …
Israeli Leader Pushes for Jewish State Legislation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he plans to promote legislation that will enshrine the country's status as the nation-state of the Jewish people.
Miss. Leaders Seek Disaster Declaration
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and the state's congressional delegation are asking President Barack Obama for a federal disaster declaration for tornado-ravaged areas of the Magnolia State.
