Thursday, November 30
City & County
First People's Assembly Kicks Off with High Energy, Without Mayor
Jackson's mayoral visioning committee hosted its first people's assembly at the Smith Robertson Museum on Tuesday.
City & County
Revamped JPS School Board Gets to Work
If Tuesday night was any indication of how the new Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees will operate, Jacksonians are in good hands.
Person of the Day
Joe Moorhead
Mississippi State University Athletic Director John Cohen wasted no time in finding a replacement after Dan Mullen left to become the University of Florida head coach. Cohen tapped Pennsylvania State …
National
Nancy Pelosi Calls on Conyers to Resign Amid Sex Allegations
The top Democrat in the House on Thursday called on Michigan Rep. John Conyers to resign in the face of multiple accusations of sexual misconduct against the longest-serving member of …
National
Trump Weighs Plan to Replace Tillerson with CIA's Pompeo
The White House is discussing a plan to oust Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and replace him with CIA Director Mike Pompeo in a major shake-up of President Donald Trump's …
Wednesday, November 29
Editorial
EDITORIAL: We Need Policies for People, Not for Profit
It is time to start talking about how policies affect people on a literal, physical, visceral level.
City & County
OPINION: What It Will Take to Reduce Youth Crime
When it comes to tackling youth crime, Jackson is at the intersection of Concern and Encouragement.
Cover
Young Perps: The Costs of Sensationalizing Youth Crime
Jackson Police Department spokesman Sgt. Roderick Holmes Holmes told the Jackson Free Press that the police department's protocol for sending out mugshots to media depends on several factors, including public …
Best of Jackson
Best of Jackson: Holiday
We're just about into December now, with Thanksgiving over and the holidays just getting started. This is a time to plan for future gatherings.
Crime
EDITOR'S NOTE: Media, Cops: Choose Crime Solutions Over Perp Shows
It has never occurred to me to call up the police and ask them to stage a special "perp walk" so I can send someone to photograph someone accused of …
Education
OPINION: The Trojan Horse of Education
My high school had one, and maybe yours did, too—the toughest teacher in the school.
State
Exploding the Myth of the ‘Welfare Queen’
High poverty means that Mississippi gets a lot of federal assistance—but the "Becoming Visible" report shows that those in poverty often do not use the programs intended to help them …
City & County
Shaky City Communication, A New Ice Rink, Spanking
It was mostly business as usual at the last Jackson City Council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 21, just before the Thanksgiving holiday.
Politics
The Pros and Cons of a State Lottery
On a map of states that have no lottery, the hold-outs stand strong in pairs: Alaska and Hawaii, Nevada and Utah, and Mississippi and Alabama.The Pros and Cons of a …
Jacksonian
LoDoner “L.D.” Hollis
Daytime kitchen manager LoDoner Hollis has been serving up southern favorites at Walker's Drive-In in Fondren since the restaurant opened its doors in 1999. Hollis, also known as "L.D.," says …
Music
A Jazzy Night in Jackson
The South meets the North for the latest installment of the Mississippi Jazz Foundation's annual "Night of Musical Artistry," an evening of jazz beats and sultry vocals at Duling Hall …
LGBT
Mississippi Law Endorses Anti-LGBT Bias, Attorneys Argue
A Mississippi law unconstitutionally endorses specific religious beliefs that could lead to discrimination against people who support same-sex marriage, gay rights advocates said Tuesday in written arguments to the U.S. …
Tuesday, November 28
National
Alabama Senate Race Gives GOP Voters an Uncomfortable Choice
With two weeks to go until the Alabama election for U.S. Senate, Kathie Luckie of Hoover said she is "teetering" with her choice.
Politics
Run-Off Elections Today Will Decide Hinds County Attorney, #MSLEG Seats
Hinds County voters will choose a new county attorney today at the polls. After the three-way election earlier this month, Gerald Mumford and Malcolm Harrison face off today in the …
Biz Roundup
MCM Meridian, Myles' Taco Shop and Travel Addict Vegan Foodie Tour
The Mississippi Children's Museum announced plans to construct a satellite location in Meridian on Nov. 7 at the Mississippi State University Riley Center.
Person of the Day
Dyshante Bennett
Lifelong Jackson resident Dyshante Bennett is among three Murrah High School seniors who recently became 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists.
Monday, November 27
Crime
State Corrections Agency Replacing Military Strategy to Stop Repeat Offenders
Since learning that its traditional, military-style crime-fighting strategy actually increased repeat offenses, the Mississippi Department of Corrections plans to expand a recidivism-reduction program that focuses on cognitive behavioral change, called …
Person of the Day
Dan Mullen
Dan Mullen spent the last 13 years in the Southeastern Conference. He cultivated offenses. He developed quarterbacks. He celebrated two national championships. He turned former league laughing stock Mississippi State …
Civil Rights
Justices Reject Appeal Over Mississippi Confederate Emblem
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from an African-American attorney who called the Confederate battle emblem on the Mississippi flag "an official endorsement of white supremacy."
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, November 24
Music
Mega Ran
Fans may recognize Raheem Jarbo, also known Mega Ran, as a prolific writer of "nerdcore" rap, blending the worlds of hip-hop with video games and other forms of entertainment. However, …
Education
USM Students Receive Lessac Kinesensic Training, Welty Statue at Millsaps and Professor Attending Leadership Summit
Millsaps College dedicated a new statue of Mississippi native author Eudora Welty on Monday, Nov. 13.
City & County
At Last Hour, Two School Board Members Approved for New JPS Panel
The Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees is now just one member shy from full for the first time in months, but some council members are concerned that the nominations …
Wednesday, November 22
Holiday Side Favorites
Though holiday dinners are often centered around turkey, the side dishes that accompany them are also important. They are often personal and family traditions, and shared recipes.
Art
Jingle Bells and Local Celebration
Mississippi Children's Museum will host Santa Saturdays every week from Nov. 25 to Dec. 23.
Business
OPINION: The More You Know: What’s Really In the Tax Bills Before Congress
This past week, House and Senate action on tax reform added fuel to an already seemingly out-of-control fire.
Books
J.C. Villegas
J.C. Villegas was moving from Mississippi to Texas when she began writing her debut novel, which came to her in a dream—one that she tried to ignore.
Civil Rights
OPINION: Justice Against Sexual Violence
My middle daughter has always been one of my most outgoing and ambitious children. She was so proud of her uniform and of getting this job all on her own.
Editorial
EDITORIAL: No More Secrecy in Mental Health Care
All good research shows that locking people away in hospitals is not how to treat mental illness, and while hospitals are needed in some cases for stabilizing people, by and …
Civil Rights
OPINION: A Better World for Harper
Sexual violence in America is as common as apple pie, so when reports of rampant acts of sexual assault and harassment became headline news over the last few months, my …
City & County
‘Crank It Up’: Taking Action Against Blight
Unsightly at best, a former drug house at its worst, a single-story, boarded up bungalow house sat across from Lake Elementary School in west Jackson.
Health Care
Fondren Pregnancy Center Denied Sign Request
The Center for Pregnancy Choices takes up the basement of the Kolb's Cleaners building in Fondren, with a waiting room, two counseling rooms, a back office and one medical room.
Education
Changing the Culture of Suspension
Juan Cloy remembers being suspended when he was at Provine High School in the 1980s. He and several friends got in a fight with some kids from the neighborhood at …
Editor's Note
EDITOR'S NOTE: 2017 is a Year to Be Thankful ... Really
Look, it's been a tough year. Donald Trump's election last November was the precursor to so much hell breaking loose on the national and international stages.
Art
The ‘Hart’ of Jackson Comedy
Plenty of fans around the country tune in for actor and comedian Kevin Hart's TV series, "Hart of the City," each week. For the latest episode, however, Jacksonians will have …
Civil Rights
Marquise Hunt
Marquise Hunt, president of Tougaloo College's National Association for the Advancement of Colored People chapter, has been involved with the organization since his sophomore year in high school.
Tuesday, November 21
National
'We Don't Need a Liberal:' Trump Discounts Moore Accusations
President Donald Trump on Tuesday discounted allegations of sexual assault against Alabama Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore and said voters should not support Moore's "liberal" rival.
National
US Readies New Sanctions Against North Korea, Individuals
The Trump administration readied new sanctions Tuesday on North Korea, a day after declaring it a state sponsor of terrorism in a move to put additional pressure on Pyongyang's nuclear …
National
CBS News Fires Charlie Rose Following Sex Allegations
CBS News fired morning show host Charlie Rose on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after several women who worked with him on his PBS interview show alleged a pattern of …
Health Care
Task Force Meeting in Secret in Wake of Mental Health Litigation
Under legal pressure from the U.S. Department of Justice to repair Mississippi's system of mental-health care, Attorney General Jim Hood last month announced a mental-health task force of state practitioners …
Business
FCC Chairman Sets Out to Repeal 'Net Neutrality' Rules
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai on Tuesday followed through on his pledge to repeal 2015 regulations designed to ensure that internet service providers treat all online content and apps …
Biz Roundup
Jaco's Jackson Closed, Revell Ace Opens, Odom's Celebrates 70 Years
Jaco's Tacos in Jackson, which posted on its Facebook page that it would be closed for remodeling on Oct. 2, has closed permanently.
Person of the Day
David Keary
Ballet Mississippi Artistic Director David Keary is the recipient of the Leadership in Performing Arts award for the 2018 Governor's Arts Awards.
Monday, November 20
City & County
UPDATED: Lumumbas Announce First People's Assembly at Smith Robertson
The "people's mayor" is making good on a promise to execute "people's assemblies" in Jackson, using social media over the weekend to announce the first official gathering.
Education
Grant to Help 7,000 Mississippians Finish College Degrees
Mississippians looking to finish their college degrees may receive a $500 one-time tuition assistance grant after the W.K. Kellogg Foundation donated $3.5 million to the Complete 2 Compete initiative.
Person of the Day
Roshunda Johnson
Thanks to a career-high 29 points from Roshunda Johnson, the Bulldogs rolled to a 3-0 start with the blowout win in front of 5,321 fans at Humphrey Coliseum.
Politics
Mississippi Agencies Sloppy on Vehicle Records, Report Says
Mississippi government agencies are doing a sloppy job of keeping records about vehicles they own.
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, November 17
City & County
JPS Commission Pushes Work Forward, Sets Deadline
The "Better Together" commission to analyze the needs of Jackson's public schools held its second meeting in the Lincoln Gardens community center, off Medgar Evers Drive in northwest Jackson, which …
Music
Particle Devotion
The formation of indie-rock bands is a pretty common occurrence on any college campus, but things were a little different for Baton Rouge, La., quintet Particle Devotion.
National
Selective Outrage: Trump Criticizes Franken, Silent on Moore
President Donald Trump is displaying selective outrage over allegations of sexual harassment against prominent men in politics, as his own tortured past lingers over his response.
National
Defiant Moore Camp Targets Female Accusers, Vows Fight
Ever defiant, Republican Roy Moore's campaign lashed out at the women accusing him of sexual misconduct, declaring "let the battle begin." Women's advocates decried the talk as worn intimidation tactics …
State
Mississippi Newspaper Wins Dispute Over Government Records
The Mississippi Supreme Court is siding with a newspaper in its longstanding effort to get documents from a state agency.
Thursday, November 16
City & County
UPDATED: Feds Threaten Jackson Funds Over Immigration 'Sanctuary' Policy
The U.S. Department of Justice does not know the City of Jackson has a new mayor. In a letter addressed to Mayor Tony Yarber but dated Nov. 15, 2017, Acting …
Person of the Day
Kathleen Grigsby
Kathleen Grigsby combines a love for swimming and education as the coach of the Murrah High School swim team and the principal of Davis Magnet IB World School.
Education
Governor Calls for Free Community College, New Ed Formula, Reduced Medicaid
Gov. Phil Bryant released his budget recommendations this week, with an emphasis on education funding, particularly as it relates to workforce development.
Education
Mississippi Governor's Budget Has Free Community College
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant is recommending that the state spend $7 million in the coming year to provide free community college for an unspecified number of students.
Wednesday, November 15
City & County
EDITORIAL: Dangerous Sinkholes Demand Immediate Responses
A dog fell into a sinkhole this weekend, and that could have just as easily been a child.
OPINION: #MeToo: Don’t Shame Me for Being Raped
The hashtag #metoo is trending across the nation, and our attention has been drawn to the larger-than-life stories of Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey. We point our fingers and chat …
Economy
OPINION: Invest in Your Future
Tax season is also right around the corner. A lot of people may go into debt from holiday purchases and then spend all of their tax refunds trying to purchase …
Civil Rights
How Integration Failed in Jackson’s Public Schools from 1969 to 2017
Jackson's public schools, like the majority in the state, remained solidly separate and unequal in the 1950s and 1960s despite the ruling in the Brown v. Topeka Board of Education …
City & County
Miller Wants to End Waiting Games in Public Works
Robert "Bob" Miller, the newly appointed director of Jackson's Department of Public Works, makes a lot of car references when he talks about city infrastructure.
State
Gone But Not Forgotten in Mt. Olive Cemetery
Amid a national discussion on which monuments of old white men should stay or go, Jackson State University unveiled two refurbished ones that day dedicated to Mississippians who achieved benchmarks …
City & County
JPS Commission Gets to Work
More than 50 Jacksonians filled the Mississippi Museum of Art lobby on Nov. 8, eager to hear what the newly formed "Better Together" commission would do for Jackson Public Schools.
Food
Your Thanksgiving Guide
This year, celebrate Thanksgiving with family—and through buying locally.
Jacksonian
Sara Gatlin
Photographer Sara Gatlin's fascination with being behind a camera began with her in front of one.
Music
Love for the Rebel and the Saint
Kirk Franklin will be a familiar name to many people who grew up in church in the 1990s, but it's a name that is still picking up steam today.
Tuesday, November 14
Education
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Lies Scientific Racists Told About Jackson’s Children
I did not know a federal judge in the 1960s had codified lies about how black children in Jackson were genetically inferior.
National
Series of California Shootings Kill 5, Wound Child at School
A gunman killed four people and wounded a number of others at random Tuesday at multiple locations in rural Northern California, including an elementary school, before police shot him dead, …
Biz Roundup
Dave's Triple B, Northpark Renovations and Results Physiotherapy
David Raines, a Madison resident and professional chef with more than 15 years of restaurant experience, opened The Flora Butcher on Aug. 1, 2016. Now, Raines is looking to open …
Cover
Meeya Thomas
Meeya Thomas stands 5 feet and 2 inches tall—about three inches short of the national average for women. She says that because of her height, she loves to wear heels, …
City & County
Tax Sales Bring $414,265 into Jackson, JPS and Hinds County Coffers
The City of Jackson along with Jackson Public Schools and the other school districts and cities in Hinds County will receive an influx of funds after Secretary of State Delbert …
National
Trump's AG Considers Special Counsel in Uranium Deal
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is leaving open the possibility that a special counsel could be appointed to look into Clinton Foundation dealings and an Obama-era uranium deal, the Justice Department …
National
Roy Moore Losing GOP Endorsements After New Accusations
Roy Moore's support from fellow Republicans is hemorrhaging after a second woman accused the Alabaman of groping her when she was a teenager in the late 1970s, the latest setback …
National
Trump Jr.'s WikiLeaks Exchange Adds Intrigue to Russia Probe
President Donald Trump's oldest son released a series of private Twitter exchanges between himself and WikiLeaks during and after the 2016 election, including pleas from the website to publicize its …
Civil Rights
Group Seeks Landmark Status for Emmett Till's Chicago Home
A preservation group wants the Chicago home where Emmett Till once lived to receive landmark status.
Monday, November 13
Crime
Fellow Inmate Convicted for Murder of Choctaw Activist in Neshoba Jail
On Thursday, more than two years after activist Rexdale Henry of the Choctaw tribe of Native Americans turned up dead in a Neshoba County Jail cell, a jury found Justyn …
Economy
Analysis: Mississippi Budget Practices Receive Mixed Grades
A nonpartisan group that evaluates state government budget practices is giving mostly midlevel marks to Mississippi.
Person of the Day
Ito Smith
Ito Smith ran for 150 yards and scored two touchdowns to propel Southern Mississippi to a 43-34 victory over Rice on Saturday.
Environment
US Cities, States Defy Trump, Still Back Paris Climate Deal
A group of U.S. states, cities, businesses and universities said Saturday they are still committed to curbing global warming even as U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is walking away from …
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, November 11
City & County
Slain Activist's Family Sees Mississippi Civil Rights Museum
The family of a man killed in 1966 by the Ku Klux Klan received a private preview Friday of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum that is opening next month.
Friday, November 10
Politics
Staying Vigilant as Veterans' Scars Heal
Soldiers and military personnel from almost every U.S. conflict in the last 70 years packed into a small auditorium in the G.V. Sonny Montgomery Medical Center on Thursday, Nov. 9, …
Education
USM/MSU Boeing Research, UMMC Translational Research Center and Millsaps Windgate Visual Arts Center
Millsaps College hosted a ground-breaking ceremony for the Windgate Visual Arts Center on the west side of the campus today, Friday, Nov. 10, at 11 a.m.
Person of the Day
Cucho Gonzales
Cucho Gonzales, a Puerto Rico-native musician based in Brandon, is a co-organizer for a benefit concert to raise funds for Puerto Rico, which is still recovering from the aftermath of …
Thursday, November 9
Business
David Watkins Arrested for Embezzling More than $500,000 in Bonds
Jackson resident W. David Watkins turned himself in to authorities Wednesday night after being indicted on two counts for embezzling bond money intended for a development project he managed, announced …
City & County
State Ed Chairwoman Clears Air: 'There is No Fight' over Jackson Schools
Jackson Public Schools was not a part of the Mississippi Board of Education's monthly meeting agenda Thursday morning, but board Chairwoman Rosemary Aultman took a point of personal privilege to …
City & County
JPD Gets Donated Vests to Keep Wheelchair Users Safe at Night
Scott Crawford, a wheelchair user due to multiple sclerosis, showed up at the Jackson Police Training Academy near Jackson State University on Monday with 80 high-visibility vests to help keep …
City & County
Four New JPS Board Members to Lead Next Chapter for Beleaguered District
The Jackson City Council restored a quorum to the Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees on Wednesday, unanimously confirming four new members who are charged with leading the district through …
Person of the Day
Ty Jobe
Luckily for the Choctaws, Mississippi College quarterback Ty Jobe was a double-threat to the Shorter defense last Saturday, with his passing and running game helping MC scrape out a 30-29 …
State
State: Disclosure Could Lead to Inability to Do Executions
Lawyers for the state of Mississippi argued Wednesday that disclosing information could destroy the state's ability to get the drugs needed for executions, urging a federal judge to block death …
Wednesday, November 8
City & County
Jackson School Takeover Back on Table Under Separate Law
A state takeover of the Jackson school district is back on the table, less than a month after Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant decided he wanted a more collaborative approach to …
Best of Jackson
Best of Jackson: Beauty & Style
It's time once again to nominate people for the 2018 Best of Jackson ballot (bestofjackson.com). While in this season, take a look at some of the 2017 winners in categories …
Domestic Violence
OPINION: Domestic Violence is the Problem
Domestic abusers all over the country gun down family members they blame for their problems every day. They take children and bystanders with them.
Food
Eat and Play Locally
A good way to get connected to Jackson's foodie scene is to participate in local food events, and luckily, Jackson has a few in the next couple of weeks. Here …
Music
From Ireland to Jackson
Accordion-player Paul Brock has been a professional musician for the past decade, but his pursuit of traditional Irish music has spanned almost his entire life. As for how long that …
Editorial
EDITORIAL: State, City Must Not Hinder Access to Public Info
Mississippi legislators are arguing with a straight face that they should not have to turn over documents about a 2016 vote to shift control of Jackson's airports to an outside …
City & County
OPINION: At Home on the Bus
As morning dawns on the capital city, my fellow JATRAN passengers and I begin our day together. On the road, I have formed the kind habit of wishing my fellow …
City & County
A Midwife’s Tale: Saving the Scott Ford Houses
People sit at a black folding table in a front yard playing cards, while others watch cars pass with an occasional wave. The scene is common throughout much of Jackson, …
City & County
The Fight to Make Taxis Equal
As a wheelchair user, Scott Crawford is tired of not being able to take a cab in Jackson—especially since legally he should be able to.
Education
Pushing for Pre-K in the Midst of Poverty
Public pre-K is a part of the state's push for early learning statewide in order to increase literacy for students in public schools.
City & County
EDITOR'S NOTE: Our Journalism Seeks Solutions Over Blame and Partisanship
I'm a journalist to find solutions for issues such as youth crime. And that means seeking the various causes first to get there. That is why the journalism in the …
National
Virginia, New Jersey Reject 'Trumpism' as Dems Score Major Victories
Seizing his party's first major Trump-era victory, Democrat Ralph Northam beat back a charge from Republican Ed Gillespie in the race for Virginia governor, a bruising election that tested the …
Health Care
Maine OKs Medicaid Expansion in First-of-its-Kind Referendum
Residents of Maine, a rural state grappling with a heroin epidemic and an aging population, voted Tuesday to deliver a rebuke to Republican Gov. Paul LePage and join 31 other …
Crime
'Judicial Kidnapping’ in Pearl Youth Court?
Youth-court judges in Mississippi preside over all matters involving delinquent juveniles in addition to abused, neglected or abandoned children. Youth-court judges have the power to send children to foster care, …
Jacksonian
Chavakia Porter
Ever since Chavakia Porter was a little girl, she says she dreamed of being a wedding planner. However, when she later realized she wanted to work with a variety of …
Tuesday, November 7
Politics
Polls Open Until 7 p.m. for County Attorney Elections
Voters will go to the polls today in Hinds County to elect a new county attorney, who serves as the chief prosecutor in youth court and is responsible for prosecuting …
Cover
Matthew Kajdan
Estelle Wine Bar & Bistro Executive Chef Matthew Kajdan says that his favorite dish to make at the bistro is the grilled redfish.
Biz Roundup
MCM/Sugar Ray's Pop-up Shop, Winning Smile and Elite Physical Therapy
The Winning Smile Dental Group opened a new clinic at 4505 Interstate 55 N. Frontage Road in Jackson next door to Banner Hall in August of this year.
Business
Lawyer: Legislators Don't Have to Give Up Documents in Suit
Mississippi legislators are telling a federal judge that they shouldn't have to turn over documents about their 2016 vote to shift control of Jackson's airports to a new board mostly …
Monday, November 6
Education
OPINION: Mississippi Schools: Celebrate Your Successes and Keep Aiming High
"We teach our children to build upon their past accomplishments and to continually strive for higher goals."
Civil Rights
U.S. Supreme Court Could Decide to Hear State Flag Case This Month
The nine U.S. Supreme Court justices could decide the fate of the case against the Mississippi state flag this month when they meet for conference on Nov. 21.
City & County
Mayor Lumumba Pledges Transparency on Public Tour of City Hall
In efforts to make operations at City Hall more transparent, Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba hosted an open house and tour of his office and the top floors of City Hall …
Person of the Day
Jordan Ta'amu
With seconds ticking off and just inches to work with in the left corner of the end zone, Mississippi quarterback Jordan Ta'amu put the football just where D.K. Metcalf had …
National
House GOP Weighs Repeal of Health Mandate in Tax Bill
Republicans are weighing a repeal of a key tenet of the Obama-era health care law in their tax overhaul as the House's tax-writing committee begins work on shaping the bill.
Immigration
Immigrant Girl with Cerebral Palsy Released, Now with Family
U.S. authorities released a 10-year-old immigrant girl with cerebral palsy who had been detained by border agents after surgery because she is in the U.S. without legal permission.
National
Congressional Leaders Call for Sexual Harassment Training
Leading lawmakers are calling for mandatory training and other steps to prevent sexual harassment in Congress as the national spotlight on gender hostility in the workplace falls on Capitol Hill.
National
'Defenseless People': Gunman Kills 26 at South Texas Church
A gunman dressed in black tactical-style gear and armed with an assault rifle opened fire inside a small South Texas church, killing 26 people in an attack that claimed tight-knit …
State
Mississippi Science Museum Displays Moonshot Command Module
Infinity Science Center is displaying the command module from Apollo 4, an unmanned 1967 mission that successfully demonstrated the full Saturn V rocket and the capsule that would carry men …
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, November 3
Domestic Violence
Female Lawmakers Allege Harassment by Colleagues in House
As reports pile up of harassment or worse by men in entertainment, business and the media, one current and three former female lawmakers tell The Associated Press that they, too, …
LGBT
Second HB 1523 Petition Filed with U.S. Supreme Court
The Campaign for Southern Equality and Rev. Susan Hrostowski are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case against the "Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act," also …
Education
JSU Tiger Career Closet, Red Sand at Tougaloo and MVSU Halbrook Award
Jackson State University's business-attire-centered clothes closet for students, the Tiger Career Closet, opened with a fashion preview and ribbon-cutting ceremony at Jacob L. Reddix Hall.
Person of the Day
Rep. Jeramey Anderson
Mississippi Rep. Jeramey Anderson of Escatawpa announced on Friday, Nov. 3, that he will seek the 2018 Democratic nomination for Mississippi's 4th Congressional District seat in the United States House …
National
Trump Pushes DOJ on Clinton, Won't Rule Out Firing Sessions
President Donald Trump said he is "disappointed" with the Justice Department and won't rule out firing Attorney General Jeff Sessions, if Sessions won't investigate Democrats.
City & County
Commissioners Named to Lead Jackson Public Schools Coalition
Gov. Phil Bryant and Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba, in coordination with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, announced who would sit on the 15-member Better Together Commission today.
National
US Rate for Gun Deaths is Up for the Second Straight Year
The U.S. rate for gun deaths has increased for the second straight year, following 15 years of no real change, a government report shows.
Thursday, November 2
Crime
Hinds DA's New Lawyer Pushes Back on State Case
Strapped with a new lead defense attorney, Robert Shuler Smith will face a trial in Rankin County for charges of two counts of domestic violence, and aggravated stalking and robbery.
Health Care
Hinds County Has Worst Preterm Birth Rate in Mississippi
More babies are born prematurely in Hinds County than anywhere else in the state, a new report from the March of Dimes shows.
National
Due in Court, Manafort Attacks Russia Probe Indictment
Accused of multiple financial crimes, President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman on Thursday attacked the strength of the evidence against him, saying the case brought by special counsel Robert Mueller …
National
Russia Hackers Had Targets Worldwide, Beyond US Election
The hackers who disrupted the U.S. presidential election had ambitions well beyond Hillary Clinton's campaign, targeting the emails of Ukrainian officers, Russian opposition figures, U.S. defense contractors and thousands of …
Person of the Day
Jordan Johnson
Sophomore running back Jordan Johnson, a Byram native, led Jackson State's possibly rejuvenated rushing attack, rushing for 160 yards on 21 carries and scoring all three of JSU's touchdowns.
National
Trump Calls for Death Penalty for NYC Truck Attack Suspect
President Donald Trump on Thursday backed away from his threat to send the suspect in the New York bike path attack to Guantanamo Bay, acknowledging in an early morning tweet …
Politics
Mississippi Moves to Tax Internet Sales, After Long Delay
Mississippi's tax collector will require large online sellers to collect taxes on internet sales, more than 10 months after first proposing the rule.
Wednesday, November 1
City & County
The ‘Radical’ Mayor, 120 Days Later
Hundreds of Jacksonians sat in mostly silence as Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba delivered his "State of the City" address on a late Monday afternoon in Thalia Maria Hall in downtown …
Crime
Hollywood Sex Accusations Now Levied at Ratner, Hoffman
Hollywood's widening sexual harassment crisis has ensnared a prominent film director after six women—including actress Olivia Munn—accused Brett Ratner of sexual assault or misconduct in a Los Angeles Times report …
Business
OPINION: Reflections After the Union Loss
In These Times writer Joe Allen says the Nissan-Canton election loss "is nothing less than a knockout punch ending for the foreseeable future any efforts by the UAW to organize …
City & County
EDITORIAL: 120 Days In, Let’s Focus on Good Communications
While the new administration's leadership on JPS has been noteworthy, communication on other changes in the city has been slow to take root.
Politics
Looking Ahead to 2018 in #MSLeg
With an American flag backdrop the size of a mid-sized swimming pool, Mississippi's top lawmakers took turns running through their track records and outlining where state policy is headed at …
National
OPINION: The War on Drugs Isn’t Working
The drug war is not working. Countless lives—including law enforcement officers—are being lost or ruined.
City & County
Malcolm Harrison: ‘Experience Matters’
Malcolm Harrison is running for the Hinds County attorney position left empty by his long-time law partner, Sherri Flowers-Billups, who passed away from cancer last October.
Crime
Sex Workers Caught in Trafficking Crackdown
Amid widespread efforts to crack down on sex trafficking, particularly of children, those who participate in adult sex work—often called prostitution—are getting caught in the sweeps. Many consider this a …
City & County
A Different Kind of Takeover for JPS
The Jackson Public School District is now in the hands of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Gov. Phil Bryant's office and the City of Jackson.
Jacksonian
Igor Iwanek
Composer and performer Igor Iwanek has spent the past two years teaching music-based yoga classes in the Jackson metro area as part of his "Mindful Sound Experience" program, which was …
National
Trump Pressing for Tougher Immigration Based on 'Merit'
Vowing to "stop this craziness," President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged tougher immigration measures based on "merit" after the deadly truck attack in New York City.
Editor's Note
EDITOR'S NOTE: Lessons in Humility and Kindness
Cats and kids have to be dependent on other people. But as children get older, they can begin to take care of themselves, though there are still certain things they …
Music
Keeping a Blues Legacy Alive
Tera Johnson-Collins, the paternal niece of blues icon Tommy Johnson, says that she has always felt a spiritual connection to her famous family member, who died on Nov. 1, 1956—three …
City & County
Ex-Mayor 'Whoops Tail' of Accused Burglar with Paddle
The former mayor of Mississippi's largest city subdued and paddled a man who police say was burglarizing his vehicle.
