Thursday, June 30
Life After Retirement
Take some time to evaluate your loved ones’ outlook on retirement, aside from the financial aspect.
Pentagon Ends Ban on Transgender Troops in Military
Saying it's the right thing to do, Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced Thursday that transgender people will be allowed to serve openly in the U.S. military, ending one of the …
Louisiana 1st State in Deep South to Expand Medicaid
Louisiana is becoming the first state in the Republican-dominated Deep South to expand its Medicaid program, with more than 233,000 people already enrolled in the government-financed insurance coverage that begins …
Retirement? Never Mind; Holland Staying in Mississippi House
The ever-quotable Rep. Steve Holland says he will remain in the Mississippi House, despite announcing to colleagues that he was planning to retire.
Development
Court Upholds Developer David Watkins' Securities Violations
After years of appeals, the local developer tasked with renovating the Belk building in Metrocenter Mall must pay over $600,000 in restitution and fines.
Education
Feeding Jackson's Hungry Children: Summer Program Continues Until July 15
Hundreds of Jackson-area children gathered at McWillie Elementary School today to for the opportunity to eat lunch, learn healthy habits and, time permitting, hit the Quan.
Report: US Sailors Ill-Prepared for Iran Encounter in Gulf
Weak leadership, poor judgment, a lack of "warfighting toughness" and a litany of errors led to the embarrassing capture and detention by Iran of 10 U.S. sailors in the Persian …
At 150, KKK Sees Opportunities in US Political Trends
Born in the ashes of the smoldering South after the Civil War, the Ku Klux Klan died and was reborn before losing the fight against civil rights in the 1960s. …
Judge Faces Deadline for Decision on Indiana Abortion Law
A federal judge is facing a deadline for deciding whether to block a new Indiana law banning abortions sought because of fetal genetic abnormalities.
Authorities: Explosion, Fire, Rock Plant; No One Injured
Two explosions and a fire rocked a natural gas plant in southern Mississippi, where flames shot out of the building for hours and one of the blasts could be felt …
Cover
Fourth of July Eats and Festivities
For the Fourth of July, Broad Street will have July 4-themed sugar cookies on a first-come-first-serve basis, though they can be special ordered as well. Customers must pick orders up …
Wednesday, June 29
Regulators Fine BancorpSouth $10.6 Million for Redlining
The Department of Justice and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau fined Mississippi-based BancorpSouth $10.6 million, alleging the bank deliberately discriminated against minorities in its lending practices.
Politics
Rep. Steve Holland
Rep. Steve Holland says he might be on the verge of retiring from the Mississippi House, after 33 years' service.
Food
Not an Average Fourth of July
There is no better time to indulge in color than the Fourth of July—specifically red, white and blue. While cookouts, games and fireworks are de rigueur, these colorful cocktails and …
Shop Local, Help Whole Community
With our hyper-local focus here at the Jackson Free Press (we're a locally owned business, too), we've emphasized the importance of shopping local since our very first issue.
For the Love of Women, Kids, Everyone Else
The Legislature is already in a financial bind—calling a special session with two days left in the fiscal year clearly means things are bad. So quit making them worse by …
LGBT
Still Separate After Orlando Massacre
Where is our compassion, when because it happened at an LGBT nightclub and not a Presbyterian church, we choose whether to help or not? The idea is that although I …
Jasper Died, But We Can’t Give Up
I was ready to give up: the work, Mississippi, everything. Jasper had been killed in Parchman. They say suicide, but anyone who is familiar with death in prisons knows that …
Business
Continental Tire to Open with 100 Jobs by 2018
Continental Tire is set to begin work on its Mississippi tire plant, which will start with clearing the 900-acre site just outside Clinton. While it won't be hiring any actual …
Art
Portraits of an Artist Jump off the Page
Roger Leonard Long has a talent for making his subjects come to life. Some of his subjects such as Prince or even someone's pet look like they're about to jump …
Editor's Note
‘Shift Your Shopping’ During Independents Week
As we pause this week to consider what makes this country great, I'd like to suggest that you think about the small, local, independent businesses that make this region a …
LGBT
Establishment Clause Front, Center in HB 1523 Courtroom
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...." How those words affect the language in House Bill 1523 could lead to a …
Music
Dolla Black’s Biggest Days
While Jackson listeners have been jamming to verses from rapper Dolla Black for nearly a decade now, the genre wasn't his first introduction to making music.
Governor Could Dip Deeper into Mississippi Rainy Day Fund
Mississippi House members will return Wednesday to finish giving Gov. Phil Bryant permission to take as much as he needs from financial reserves to cover a deficit of up to …
Jacksonian
Gregory McCarty
Gregory McCarty, 32, has had a lifelong fascination with numbers—something that has been both a blessing and a curse. Born in Jackson, he spent his childhood years moving.
State
Jones to Remain on JRA Board Despite Indictment
Jackson Redevelopment Authority Chairman McKinley Alexander said he would not pursue any action to replace or oust board member Andria Jones, amid questions about her pending legal charges.
City & County
City Leaders Ally Against Airport ‘Takeover’ Move
The saga of who controls the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers Airport moves into the federal courthouse, and complex legal mechanizations are now paramount to the question of who owns the land …
Tuesday, June 28
LGBT
Judge on HB 1523: Clerks Can’t Recuse Selves from Marriage Licenses
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves blocked the part of House Bill 1523 that says circuit clerks can recuse themselves from issuing same-sex marriage licenses due to a “sincerely …
Biz Roundup
Que Sera Sera Closes, Green Ghost Tacos Coming to Fondren and Final Friday
Boo Noble, owner of Cajun restaurant Que Sera Sera in Fondren, officially retired and closed his popular establishment after 27 years of operation on Thursday, June 23.
Person of the Day
Deuce McAllister
The New Orleans Saints have had several popular players through the years. You could name ones such as Drew Brees, Archie Manning, Rickey Jackson, Pat Swilling, Sam Mills and a …
Supreme Court Denies Mississippi, Wisconsin Abortion Appeals
The Supreme Court has rejected appeals from Mississippi and Wisconsin seeking to put in place restrictions on abortion clinics that were struck down by lower courts.
Appeals Court Opens Way for Mississippi to Resume Executions
Mississippi could be able to resume executions early next month after an appeals court denied to rehear a case challenging a drug the state plans to use in lethal injections.
Monday, June 27
Judge Blocks Part of Mississippi LGBT Marriage Law
A federal judge ruled Monday that Mississippi clerks cannot cite their own religious beliefs to recuse themselves from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
City & County
JPS Dismisses Defamation Lawsuit Against BOTEC, Alleged 'Cruelly False Assertions'
Jackson Public Schools ended its legal wrangling with Los Angeles-based research firm BOTEC Analysis over results it published in a Mississippi attorney general-funded study about the relationship between school discipline …
City & County
Violent 'March Against Fear,' Roots of 'Black Power' Honored at Tougaloo College
On Saturday, June 25, the Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement, Inc., Tougaloo College, The Fannie Lou Hamer Institute and Nissan hosted the 50-year commemoration of the March Against …
Person of the Day
Bobby Moak
The Mississippi Democratic Party elected new leaders to head the organization for the next four years, including former House minority leader Bobby Moak as party chair, the organization said in …
Mississippi Gov Sets Special Session to Patch Current Budget
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant is calling legislators into special session Tuesday to patch a hole in the budget before the fiscal year ends at midnight Thursday.
Supreme Court Strikes Down Texas Abortion Clinic Regulations
The Supreme Court struck down Texas' widely replicated regulation of abortion clinics Monday in the court's biggest abortion case in nearly a quarter century.
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, June 24
Bryant Could Call Tuesday Session to Deal with Budget Gap
Gov. Phil Bryant says he's considering calling a special legislative session Tuesday to deal with a shortfall as Mississippi's 2016 budget year comes to a close.
State
Mississippi's Children Make Gains But Still Land in Last Place
Child well-being in Mississippi is improving, but largely due to poverty, the state finished 50th in the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2016 Kids Count data.
Person of the Day
Ernie Hudson
After a successful move to a two-day festival in 2015, Mississippi Comic Con (formerly known as the SOPOCU Con) is returning for its third year this Saturday, June 25, and …
Sanders Says He'll Vote for Clinton, But No Endorsement Yet
Bernie Sanders said Friday he will vote for Hillary Clinton for president, stopping short of a full endorsement of his Democratic presidential rival more than a week after the final …
Britain Votes to Leave EU: Cameron to Resign; Markets Rocked
Britain voted to leave the European Union after a bitterly divisive referendum campaign, toppling the prime minister Friday, sending global markets plunging and shattering the stability of a project in …
US Judge Hears Arguments Over Mississippi LGBT Marriage Law
Mississippi is the only state to enact a law listing specific religious beliefs to be protected in reaction to the legalization of same-sex marriage, a professor testified Thursday in federal …
Thursday, June 23
City & County
Fight for Jackson Airport: City, JMAA Join Stallworth's Lawsuit Against State
The City of Jackson and the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority announced Thursday afternoon that they would be filing a joint motion to intervene in the ongoing lawsuit filed by former …
City & County
DOJ, Hinds County Reach Settlement on Criminal Justice System Reform
The Justice Department today reached a landmark settlement agreement to reform the criminal justice system in Hinds County, Mississippi, a press release states.
Person of the Day
Archie Manning
Former University of Mississippi quarterback Archie Manning hasn’t taken a snap on the field in 32 years, but he is still collecting accolades. This summer, Manning was awarded the Liberty …
City & County
Walking from Memphis: James Meredith's Bloody 'March Against Fear' 50 Years Later
Sunday, June 26, 2016, marks 50 years since the March Against Fear concluded in Jackson. To commemorate the milestone, Pamela Junior and Cynthia Goodloe Palmer have organized a special series …
City & County
UPDATE: Bomb Threat Clears Hinds County Courthouse
Moments after the Hinds County Circuit Clerk explained that he could not produce documents supporting Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith's counter-accusations against Attorney General Jim Hood'ss office, deputies …
Obama Immigration Plan Blocked by 4-4 Tie at Supreme Court
A tie vote by the Supreme Court is blocking President Barack Obama's immigration plan that sought to shield millions living in the U.S. illegally from deportation.
Police Driver Acquitted of All Charges in Freddie Gray Death
A judge acquitted a police driver of all charges on Thursday in the death of 25-year-old arrestee Freddie Gray, whose broken neck on the way to the station set off …
Trump Has Trouble with Facts in Clinton-Bashing Speech
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a speech skewering Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump assigned her far more influence than she had as secretary of state as he blamed her directly for a …
Bryant Taps Deputy Treasurer to be State Finance Director
A deputy state treasurer will become the new director of the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration.
Dems Stage Election-Year Sit-in On Guns; GOP Refuse to Yield
A drained and dwindling group of Democrats carried their remarkable House floor sit-in into the morning Thursday, disrupting the business of Congress in the wake of the Orlando shooting rampage …
Wednesday, June 22
City & County
Hinds District Attorney Arrested by AG, Sheriff
An arrest warrant was served and executed on Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith Wednesday morning for six counts of what court documents state was assisting criminal defendants during …
LGBT
To Fetch a Pail of Water
This summer marks 25 years since I came out of the closet. Today, coming out happens so often in the world of the Hollywood A-listers, athletes, journalists and elected officials …
It’s Time to Fight for Disability Rights
At its core, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act is about discrimination. The federal act was passed in 1990, and Title II "prohibits discrimination on the basis of …
LGBT
Equal-Opportunity Bullets
If one peeked through the veil of gun freedom rhetoric, he or she may take issue with our gun culture and discover it to be a bullet-riddled illness that has …
Education
For Student Achievement, Facilities Matter
This past February, the Yazoo County School District made a $4.2-million deal with Schneider Electric, a global company that specializes in automation and energy, to make its schools "greener" in …
Health Care
The State of Mental Health in Mississippi
Mississippi's mental-health system is mainly run through the Mississippi Department of Health, which certifies private and public mental health-care providers, rapid-response teams of mental health-care professionals and public community mental-health …
City & County
Councilman Stokes: Ban Confederate Flags and Decrease the Reserve Fund
Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes proposed an order last week revising the required reserve fund in the budget from the ordinance-mandated 7 percent to a lower number that the City …
Politics
Mississippi, Your ALEC is Showing
From laws that allow tax breaks for out-of-state businesses to the state's special-education voucher program, the Mississippi state Legislature has picked up and written into law model policy language from …
Jacksonian
Jordan Jefferson
For Jordan Jefferson, who graduated as the valedictorian from Callaway High School in May, time management has been a critical skill in his daily life.
Food
Latin Flavors
Upbeat Latin music fills the dining area at El Sabor Latin Cuisine in Ridgeland. Once you open the restaurant's double-door entrance, you walk into a lofty, welcoming space adorned with …
Mississippi LGBT Law Withstands 1 Challenge; 3 Others Await
A federal judge has declined to block a Mississippi gay marriage law in one challenge filed against it. But it's still possible he will block the law after considering three …
City & County
Uneasy Riders: People with Disabilities Face ‘Layers of Discrimination’
On Sundays, Dr. Scott Crawford rides his power wheelchair down Meadowbrook Road to church, usually in the road and against the flow of traffic. The city's public-transit service, JATRAN, does …
Music
Going with the Grey
Since April 2008, Shadz of Grey has taken the stage at countless restaurants, venues and private events, performing classic rock, pop and R&B for audiences in the Jackson metro area …
Tuesday, June 21
City & County
Mayor Yarber on Crime: Saw ‘7 or 8 Dead Bodies’ Before Age 13, All Must 'Get Out of Our Bubble'
Mayor Tony Yarber sat down to discuss crime with Jackson Free Press Editor-in-chief Donna Ladd on June 20 at Millsaps, sharing stories that showed that for him that the consequences …
Editor's Note
Of Love and Orlando
The day before a gunman massacred 49 mostly Latino men and women at the gay club, Pulse, in Orlando, I was wandering through the Brooklyn Pride festival in New York …
LGBT
HB 1523 in the Courthouse: Roberta Kaplan Makes Her Case
House Bill 1523 was destined to go down Congress Street, a straight shot from the Capitol to the federal courthouse, where U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves heard the first arguments …
Biz Roundup
The Pet Shop of Fondren, Orangetheory Fitness, and Taste of Detroit
Taste of Detroit, a family-owned and -operated restaurant with locations throughout Detroit, branched out of the city and opened a location in Brandon on Friday, June 18.
Books
Teresa Nicholas
About a year after Jackson-based author Teresa Nicholas released her first book, "Buryin' Daddy: Putting My Lebanese, Catholic, Southern Baptist Childhood to Rest," she decided to take on another challenge …
Monday, June 20
'Mississippi Burning' Civil Rights Case Closed
The investigation into the infamous slayings of three civil rights workers in Mississippi is finally closed, the state's attorney general said Monday, 52 years almost to the day after the …
City & County
Jackson Police Purchase 39 Tasers: 'Intended to Save Lives'
The Jackson City Council gave the Jackson Police Department week the go-ahead last to purchase 39 "conducted electricity weapons," or Tasers.
Education
Mississippi Sees Growth in Early Childhood Literacy, Graduation Rates
Mississippi's public-school students are showing significant gains in graduation rates and kindergarten literary, the Mississippi Department of Education is reporting.
Person of the Day
Michael Oher
The Panthers are making sure Cam Newton's blind side is protected. Carolina signed left tackle Michael Oher to a three-year contract extension on Friday.
Trump Campaign Manager Forced Out
Republican presidential contender Donald Trump has forced out his hard-charging campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, in a dramatic shakeup designed to calm panicked Republican leaders and reverse one of the most …
Supreme Court Leaves State Assault Weapons Bans in Place
The Supreme Court has rejected challenges to assault weapons bans in Connecticut and New York, in the aftermath of the shooting attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that …
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, June 17
Business
Koinonia Coffee House Closes But Will Return
Koinonia Coffee House closes at the end of the month, owner Lee Harper announced this morning during the weekly Friday Forum, promising that in its place a whole new stage …
Education
School Choice Group Names Lt. Gov. Reeves 'Education Reformer of the Year'
Empower Mississippi, an education "choice" nonprofit organization, named Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves the "Education Reformer of the Year" for his work on several education bills in the past legislative session.
Music
the CUT: Creating New Energy
For Madison, Miss., alternative quartet the CUT, genre labels can get a bit tricky. Keyboardist Vincent McMurtery, his brother, drummer Vinson "Vic" McMurtery, saxophonist Judson Wright and guitarist Ben Atkinson …
Mississippi Community College Fees Rise 7 Percent on Average
Tuition will rise almost 7 percent on average this fall at Mississippi's 15 community and junior colleges.
Thursday, June 16
Economy
WalletHub Study: Mississippi Has 'Worst State Economy,' ALEC Says Economic Outlook Hopeful
Few people are moving to Mississippi—at least not enough to make a significant dent in a bar graph. The latest issue of "Mississippi's Business" says that in 2015, the state's …
LGBT
When a Priest Files a Lawsuit Against HB 1523
Rev. Susan Hrostowski is familiar with fighting for her and her family's rights, even if that means going to court. She was one of the plaintiffs in the case that …
Person of the Day
Fletcher Cox
After being one of the biggest snubs for last year's Pro Bowl, Fletcher Cox made sure the same wouldn't be said by the end of the 2016 season.
Wednesday, June 15
US judge to Hear Arguments Monday Over Mississippi LGBT Law
A federal judge will hear arguments Monday over challenges to a Mississippi law that could restrict access to same-sex marriage.
Planned Parenthood Sues Mississippi Over Defunding Law
Planned Parenthood is suing Mississippi over a new state law that will ban Medicaid from spending money with any abortion provider.
Music
Juneteenth: Celebrating the End of Slavery
Every year, cities around the country recognize Juneteenth, the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
Food
2016 Summer Beer Tasting
We did it again. We tried six more beers in our annual beer tasting. Thanks for LD's BeerRun for supplying us with the drinks and to Craig Hendry and Raise …
Civil Rights
The American Dream?
It is silly to walk around this planet consumed with the idea that you are the only one who matters, but it is equally foolish not to think about your …
Politicizing Tragedy
The nation woke up Sunday to a horrific shock—the worst mass shooting in recent U.S. history—that at least for now appears to be part terror, part hate crime.
Civil Rights
I Come from Mississippi
I come from Mississippi, where the struggle for racial harmony has always been particularly tough and violent.
City & County
‘Landmark’: ‘Coolest, Sexiest Building in Mississippi’?
Ben Allen, president of Downtown Jackson Partners, said that the development of the Landmark building was crucial to downtown, not just for residential space but for its financial independence from …
City & County
Fondren’s TIGER Total Makeover
For Bill Wilson of Fondren, like many others, the memory of city infrastructure projects from years past haunts the current endeavor to rip up and reconstruct sections of North State …
Jacksonian
Jim Taylor
Growing up just near Memphis, Jim Taylor always went to church on Sundays but never truly got involved until he enrolled at the University of Mississippi and attended a campus …
Editor's Note
In Tough Times, Be Grateful
A few things have made me realize that it's important to give thanks every day—not just one day of the year.
Cover
Guys We Love
Each Father's Day, we present the Guys We Love issue, which highlights men who are making a difference in the community. This year's batch is no exception.
Domestic Violence
Reducing Rape, Violence with ‘Engaged Bystanders’
The Mississippi Department of Health is working to bring domestic violence numbers down by implementing Green Dot training across the state to get communities to reconsider their role in preventing …
Food
A New Beer Experience
On June 28, Saltine Oyster Bar is hosting its fourth guest-chef dinner since the restaurant's opening.
Lt. Gov Sides with House Leader in Bill Reading Dispute
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves is siding with a fellow Republican in a dispute over how the Mississippi Legislature conducts business.
Food
A June Celebration
While these crunchy, rich and sweet crabs are wonderful enough to serve with just a squeeze of fresh lemon, the white butter sauce creates another level of decadence and presentation.
Tuesday, June 14
City & County
Jackson Airport Fate Left to Courts After Feds Alter Policy
The Federal Aviation Administration, through policy changes, has side-stepped its role in the battle for the Jackson municipal airport, leaving the decision up to a federal court instead.
Justice
Attorney: Walnut Grove Prison Invested in 'Wrong Things,' State Punishes 'Unjustly'
An attorney for the organization that helped get juveniles out of the Walnut Grove prison is happy that it is closing, and wants the State of Mississippi to invest in …
Biz Roundup
Foundry Mall, Sam's Southern Eatery and Superior Shine
Mike Peters, a Jackson-based realtor who owns Peters Real Estate and the Fondren Corner building, recently opened a new 15,000-square-foot vendor market in Ridgeland called The Foundry Mall, located in …
Person of the Day
Tommie Mabry
Tommie Mabry lives by the words, “I cannot walk in my future with my foot in my past."
Man Held 11 Years Without Trial Will Go to Mental Facility
A Mississippi man who has been jailed nearly 11 years without going to trial will be transferred to a state mental health facility, attorneys said Monday.
Court Upholds 'Net Neutrality' Rules for Internet Access
A federal appeals court has upheld the government's "net neutrality" rules that require internet providers to treat all web traffic equally.
Mississippi Governor: Lower Flags to Honor Orlando Victims
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has ordered flags to fly at half-staff on state property to honor those killed or wounded in the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, …
Monday, June 13
LGBT
Local LGBT Vigil In Orlando's Wake: 'We Shouldn't Have to Be Afraid'
A chorus of more than 100 voices rose outside JC's, one of Jackson's longest-standing gay bars, Sunday night in vigil for victims in the Orlando mass shooting that left 49 …
Civil Rights
Actress Aunjanue Ellis: Mississippi Flag Damages African American Community
Actress and Mississippi native Aunjanue Ellis recently spoke to the Jackson Free Press by phone on heritage, hate and bringing down the flag.
Art
Sam Clark
For the June edition of Museum After Hours at the Mississippi Museum of Art, the theme, "Dreamscapes and Dragons," will focus on the surreal and fantastical forms of self-expression of …
Last of the 49 Bodies Removed from Orlando Nightclub
The last of the bodies were removed from an Orlando gay nightclub overnight as investigators dug into the background of the gunman, who called 911 to profess allegiance to the …
Heavily Armed Man Was Going to Los Angeles Gay Pride Parade
Authorities were trying to figure out why an Indiana man had three assault rifles and chemicals used to make explosives some 2,000 miles from home in Southern California, where he …
Jackson's LGBT Pride Parade: 'It Was Much Love'
The organizer of Jackson's first LGBT pride parade says authorities thought it might be rowdy, but it was, in her words, "much love."
Governor: County Attorney Job Unusual 'for a Young Lady'
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant said Saturday he was expressing pride in his daughter when he said her job as a county board of supervisors' attorney is "usually not a position …
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, June 11
Ole Miss Adding Slavery Info to Plaque by Confederate Statue
The University of Mississippi will revise a plaque beside a Confederate monument on its Oxford campus to add more information about the Civil War and slavery.
Friday, June 10
Civil Rights
Film Star: Mississippi Flag an American, Not State, Problem
Local advocates, civil-rights activists and actress Aunjanue Ellis, a Mississippi native and critic of the state flag, held a community town-hall meeting at the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center …
City & County
Working Together Jackson to Hold Monday Mayor Meeting
Working Together Jackson, a religious and community mega-group comprised of the heads of around 40 Jackson-area organizations, will sit down with Mayor Yarber on Monday to ask him about issues …
Belhaven Dancers Among Top Performers at National Festival
Belhaven University dancers will take the stage at the Kennedy Center on Saturday, in the National College Dance Festival — an achievement the dance department chair says is like making …
Person of the Day
Neddie Winters
Neddie Winters, a Tunica, Miss., native, was named the 100 Black Men of Jackson, Inc. 2016 Mentor of the Year for his dedication to mentoring young people in the Jackson …
Democrats Searching for Unity as Clinton Locks Up Nomination
Nearing the end of a lengthy primary fight, Democrats are coalescing around Hillary Clinton's presidential bid and looking to reunite the party through a carefully orchestrated plan aimed at nudging …
Republicans Defend Display of Confederate Imagery in Capitol
House Republican leaders have blocked a Democratic congressman from Mississippi from offering legislation to ban Confederate imagery from the House side of the Capitol complex.
Thursday, June 9
LGBT
Episcopal Bishop: Priests Can Wed Gay Couples Without My OK
Episcopal priests in Mississippi no longer need to seek the bishop's permission to perform weddings for same-sex couples.
Health Care
State Health Officer: Cuts Mean 'Sending People Home'
The Legislative Black Caucus policy committee held budget hearings on Wednesday to see how cuts to agencies' budgets will affect services and employment at the state's health and mental-health agencies.
Education
Lynch Street C.M.E. Church Hosts Summer Reading Program
For the fourth grade students at Lynch Street C.M.E. Church's "Teach, Read, Learn (TRL)—Summer Reading Program" this morning, synonyms were a breeze.
Person of the Day
Dakota Hudson
Mississippi State University pitcher Dakota Hudson will have a big hand in one of the three games against the University of Arizona. To be more accurate, it will be Hudson's …
Civil Rights
Mississippi: America’s Third World?
I came to the U.S. in my early 20s for college from my village in Middle Belt, Nigeria. Prior to that, I was an international student in neighboring West African …
Official Seeks More Rights Work as Prosecutor Sets Up Unit
The head of the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division says there's more work to be done to guarantee the rights of citizens in Mississippi and nationwide.
Director: Mississippi Health Department Expects More Layoffs
The Mississippi State Department of Health has already laid off some workers in recent months because of state spending constraints and will cut more jobs after the new budget year …
Wednesday, June 8
Hitched
Finding Her Calling
It's late in the afternoon, and Lashanda Brumfield is off work from her job as a recreational therapist at Brentwood Behavioral Healthcare. But instead of going home, Brumfield instead goes …
City Council and Mayor: Get on Same Page
We can see it from both sides—Mayor Tony Yarber, after running on a platform of transparency, has dipped deep in to the rainy day fund and then brought it up …
The Greatest of All Time
During my childhood, Muhammad Ali was the ultimate symbol of blackness, which was a combination of intelligence, socio-political activism and style.
Business
HB 1523: Bad for the Business Sector
Roy Decker felt the financial consequences of House Bill 1523. Decker, a Jackson developer and architect, says a potential investor pulled out of a project earlier this year, largely because …
City & County
Yarber Running into Council Wall on Contracts
During a June 3 gathering at Koinonia Coffee House, Mayor Tony Yarber lamented the lack of progress the City has made on infrastructure issues and blamed it on poor confidence …
Music
'Artistic Depression’ Impresses
I don't often love albums that begin with movie quotes, and I really don't often love albums that begin with quotes from movies I dislike. But there's a first time …
Food
Fondren Garage: A Little Bit of Everything
At Fondren Garage, some people play vintage video games. Some sit outside and watch a movie. Some watch live entertainment, and some eat at the business' two restaurants. Fondren Garage …
Cover
Junior Jail: Surviving Mississippi’s Juvenile Justice System
Many juvenile "offenders" are routinely sent into a separate labyrinth from adult offenders in the justice system, one with its own complex problems, remedies and slowly changing standards.
Education
How Deaf Kids Learn in Mississippi
The Mississippi School for the Deaf is the only school in the state that exists primarily to serve deaf children. To do it well isn't cheap.
Editor's Note
Stand With Victims of Sexual Violence
On the one day a week that I'm allowed to sleep past noon, I woke before dawn to a flurry of Facebook shares of one victim's soul-rattling letter to her …
Jacksonian
Kelsey Kitch
Mississippi may be getting a bad rap right now, but that doesn't stop people like Kelsey Kitch from doing everything they can to promote the state.
Crime
Henley-Young Must Release Kids After 21 Days; Some Disappearing?
Out of three children released under the Henley-Young Juvenile Justice Center's recent policy of not detaining young people after 21 days, one is missing, one is back in custody, and …
Gunn Attorneys: No Need to Understand Speed-Reading of Bills
Attorneys for the Mississippi House speaker say it doesn't matter that bills were read aloud at a superfast pace during a legislative dispute.
Tuesday, June 7
City & County
Council Deals Mayor a Blow, Rejects Proposals to Respond to EPA Mandates
Ward 6 Council Tyrone Hendrix helped block the mayor's effort to give a $2.5 million contract to a Los Angeles-based company yesterday, citing the budget's dire condition.
Biz Roundup
Small Biz Big Deals, Static's Gadgets and Satchel Podcast Player
Jackson entrepreneur Beau York and business partner Briar Bowser first released the beta for the Satchel Podcast Player on Android in August 2015. They officially released the player on Monday, …
Person of the Day
Zac Houston
Mississippi State beat Louisiana Tech 4-0 to win the NCAA Tournament's Starkville Regional title on Sunday night.
No Death Penalty for Ex-Miss. Inmate in 2013 Vegas Slayings
A 32-year-old former Mississippi jail inmate won't face the death penalty in Nevada in a 2013 double slaying case.
Monday, June 6
National
Hillary Clinton Reaches Delegate Threshold for Democratic Nomination
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Striding into history, Hillary Clinton will become the first woman to top the presidential ticket of a major U.S. political party, capturing commitments Monday from the …
Applications Submitted for 5 Charter Schools in Mississippi
Five applications for new charter schools are moving forward in Mississippi after operators initially expressed interest in opening 14 schools. The Charter School Authorizer Board will consider approving a K-8 …
City & County
National Re-entry Month, Officer of the Month, Crime Down Across the City
Mayor Tony Yarber declared that the City of Jackson is participating in National Re-entry Month in support of citizens who have been incarcerated and are now returning to society.
LGBT
'1523 Demonizes People': Pastors, Community Leaders File Third Legal Challenge
Mississippi pastors, community leaders, activists and a Hattiesburg church have filed a federal lawsuit challenging House Bill 1523, the third legal challenge to the "Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government …
Person of the Day
Seneca Wilson
For Pascagoula, Miss., native Seneca Wilson, the draw to poetry was gradual. It began in junior high school, when his friends formed a music group. While his voice wasn't his …
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, June 4
Mississippi District: Merge Schools in Deseg Case by 2017-18
A Mississippi school district proposes combining its nearly all-black high school with a racially mixed school by the fall of 2017 to follow a federal court order in a longstanding …
Friday, June 3
Lawmakers Ban Cash for Superintendents' Group After Election
State lawmakers have made it illegal for school districts to spend any public money on the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents, saying leaders of local school districts personally attacked state …
City & County
Yarber 'Running Hard' Again in 2017, Lee Says He Isn't Running
Mayor Tony Yarber announced his campaign for another term for the first time publicly at the weekly Friday Forum at Koinonia Coffee House, urged on to make the statement from …
Education
Legislator: Mississippi Superintendents 'Crossed the Line' in Support of 42
Mississippi public-school districts can no longer use funds to pay their administrators' fees to the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents without forfeiting their state funds.
Person of the Day
James Banks
The first-ever World University Championship of American Football took place in Uppsala, Sweden, in 2014 and featured five teams, representing Sweden, China, Mexico, Japan and Finland.
Mississippi State Signee Simmons Allowed to Enroll While Facing Charges
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi State will allow highly touted signee Jeffery Simmons to enroll in school and join the football team while facing misdemeanor assault charges for striking a …
Thursday, June 2
State Tax Collections Lag in Final Budget Month
Mississippi tax collections picked up in May but are still lagging as the state enters the final month of its budget year.
No Warp-Speed Computer Voice as State Supreme Court Hears Capitol Dispute
The Mississippi Supreme Court says it doesn't want to hear recordings of a computer voice reading bills at warp speed.
Official Says Prince Died of Opioid Overdose
Tests show that Prince died of an opioid overdose, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday.
LGBT
Gov. Bryant Receives Religious Freedom Award After HB1523
Last week, the Family Research Council awarded Gov. Phil Bryant the first ever "Samuel Adams Religious Freedom Award."
City & County
Mayor, Stamps At Odds Over Sludge Dumping
Disagreements about where to dump sludge byproduct from the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment plant ended in a stalemate between the two branches of the city government during Tuesday's meeting of …
Music
Eraserfase
Los Angeles beat-music producer Eraserfase, born Tony Barkodarian, is on the road for his Dropping Gems Tour, which brings him to Offbeat on Thursday, June 2.
Part of Mississippi Prison Back on Lockdown Amid Problems
Part of the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman is back under lockdown only days after restrictions there had been lifted.
Wednesday, June 1
Music
‘Wired’ & Inspired
Mississippi is the birthplace of America's music—it says so often in our tourism marketing. But when Buffalo, N.Y., native Scott Bradfield came to Jackson for the first time to work …
Style
Little Blue Stems
Beth Foose, an Episcopal priest at Grace Episcopal Church in Canton by day, decided to turn her hobby of gardening into a family-run business.
Wellness
Actively Giving Back
In our summer issue of BOOM Jackson magazine (June, July and August 2016), we pulled together a listing of local 5Ks and races this summer that give back to the …
Food
New Nutrition Labels: What You Need to Know
If you haven't heard yet, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is redesigning and modernizing nutrition labels. Most food manufacturers are required to use the new label by July 2018. …
Wellness
Get Outside
Many Mississippians may go outside quite often, but as a country, easy access to nature doesn't mean that we're actually experiencing the great outdoors as much as we should. And …
Art
Mindfulness Through Art
The idea for the watercolor and mindfulness workshop, Mindful Watercolor Workshop, came about when Dr. Megan Clapton started her solo therapy practice, Mindful Therapy, in October 2015 and felt a …
State
Told You So About #MSLeg
In the poorest, most woe-begotten state in the United States, the Mississippi Troika and their loyal minions have managed to cut even deeper into woefully underfunded state education, health care, …
Art
Art in the Flesh
Art in Flesh is the brainchild of artist Robeka Steam. The Boynton Beach, Fla., native says she started doing special-effects makeup after graduating from the Tom Savini's special-effects makeup program …
Immigration
No Sanctuary: A Rough, Undocumented Road
Melinda Medina was on a family road trip in summer 2014, returning from a Mobile, Ala., flea market near the Alabama and Mississippi state line when a patrol car suddenly …
Trafficking: An Ugly Reality in Mississippi
Human trafficking, a form of slavery, doesn't just happen overseas in prostitution rings or on television. It's a nasty, ugly reality—and it happens right here in Mississippi.
LGBT
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'At Risk'
Saying that women are "at risk" of sexual assault by allowing trans-inclusive bathroom policies is not only an argument for discrimination, but also untrue.
The Hustlers’ Time of Year
Brother Hustle: "Welcome to another Compensatory Investment Request Support Group meeting. To paraphrase the words of my favorite funk group WAR: 'Summer time is here / Yes, it's summer, the …
Crime
Human Trafficking: Unseen and Unaddressed
Victims of human trafficking need a place to go in Mississippi. The Center for Violence Prevention in Pearl has an emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence, and Executive Director …
City & County
JRA Selects EDT Proposal, Nixes Deal with Comer Capital
The Jackson Redevelopment Authority moved forward last Wednesday to develop a deal to build a new hotel downtown near the Jackson Convention Complex by notifying the City of Jackson of …
Education
Trans Children in the Balance in Mississippi
On Tuesday, May 24, the nine-member Mississippi Board of Education decided unanimously to disregard the federal government's Title IX guidelines to protect transgender students from discrimination just days after the …
Crime
Hinds Youth Center Director: Major ‘Gaps’ in Juvenile Justice Feed Cycle of Crime
Johnnie McDaniels, the executive director of the Henley-Young Juvenile Justice Center, spoke softly to the assembled Justice Reform Task Force in Jackson's police headquarters about how in a decade as …
Mississippi Governor: 'Secular' World Angry Over LGBT Law
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant says the "secular, progressive world" vented at him for signing a bill that would let clerks cite religious beliefs to recuse themselves from issuing marriage licenses …
Jacksonian
Mohammad Alefrai
Three years ago, Mohammad Alefrai sat alone on a plane, somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, on a nearly 13-hour flight from Jordan, leaving everything and everyone he knew behind to …
Editor's Note
Women Misrepresented in Media, Business
Recently, I watched the documentary "Miss Representation" by Jennifer Siebel Newsom. The 2011 film focuses on the misrepresentation of women in mainstream society and the pressures we face because of …
Food
Lending a Helping Hand
United Healthcare Community Plan of Mississippi and the Alcorn State University Extension Program collaborated once again this year to offer people in the community farm-fresh produce to show Mississippians the …
