Tuesday, October 31
National
Eight Killed by New York Motorist in 'Cowardly Act of Terror'
A man in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and bicyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Center memorial Tuesday, killing at least eight and injuring …
Person of the Day
David McDowell
David McDowell says that he took up the position of the Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence's policy coordinator in September after his mentor, MCADV interim president and former Mississippi Democratic …
Biz Roundup
T J's Ice Cream Parlour, Waitr Jackson, Eastover Market, and Lenny's Sub Shop
South Jackson native Thomas Jones opened his new business, T J's Ice Cream Parlour, on Oct. 10.
Crime
Hinds DA Replaces Attorney Reeves—Who Still Has the Gun
An "overwhelmed" Rankin County judge has delayed Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith's trial for charges of two counts of domestic violence and aggravated stalking and robbery until Jan. …
Business
Another of Mississippi's Dry Counties Could Legalize Alcohol
Another of Mississippi's dwindling band of entirely dry counties could go wet. Clarke County, which has long prohibited the sale of alcohol, could legalize it in November.
National
Lawmakers to Trump: Leave Mueller Alone
Democrats—and a few Republicans—in Congress have a clear message for President Donald Trump: Don't mess with Robert Mueller.
National
Trump Blasts Former Aide at Center of Russia Probe as 'Liar'
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that a former campaign aide thrust into the center of special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe "has already proven to be a liar."
Monday, October 30
National
US Court Bars Trump from Reversing Transgender Troops Policy
A federal judge in Washington on Monday barred President Donald Trump's administration from excluding transgender people from military service.
Civil Rights
Mississippi Same-Sex Marriage Case Moving Ahead with HB 1523 Now Law
Legal challenges to the anti-LGBT House Bill 1523 will continue, as U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves has lifted the stay on the 2014 lawsuit that sought to force the State …
Civil Rights
Confederate Emblem Causes Unequal Treatment, Attorneys Argue
Attorneys say in written arguments to the U.S. Supreme Court that the Confederate battle emblem on the Mississippi flag is "an official endorsement of white supremacy" and lower courts were …
Person of the Day
Ryan Armour
Ryan Armour's final round at the Sanderson Farms Championship was downright boring, which was exactly the plan.
National
AP Sources: DeVos May Only Partly Forgive Some Student Loans
The Education Department is considering only partially forgiving federal loans for students defrauded by for-profit colleges, according to department officials, abandoning the Obama administration's policy of erasing that debt.
National
Most Texans Kneel During Anthem After Owner's Comments
All but 10 members of the Houston Texans took a knee during the national anthem Sunday, as the vast majority of the team protested the owner's "inmates running the prison" …
National
Trump Comes Ahead with Fresh Criticism of Russia Inquiry
President Donald Trump expressed renewed frustration Sunday over the investigations into alleged ties between his campaign associates and Russian government officials, saying on Twitter that the "facts are pouring out" …
National
Manafort, Gates Indicted in First Charges from Russia Probe
President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and a former Manafort business associate, Rick Gates, were indicted Monday on felony charges of conspiracy against the United States, acting as …
Friday, October 27
Education
Report: Mississippi's Black Children Face More Barriers Than White Kids
Mississippi is one of the worst states for black children, despite having the highest population of them in the country. Black children in Mississippi face health, educational and poverty-related barriers …
Education
Millsaps Global Climate Action Conference, JSU Visually Impaired Program and Education Policy Fellowship
Millsaps College will host a one-day conference called "Global Climate Action: Sustainable investment in Germany and the United States" in partnership with the Atlanta-based German Consulate and the Ecologic Institute …
Person of the Day
Jenni Sivils
Jenni Sivils, a Eufaula, Ala., native, says that she has always been creative and a lover of funky art. During her free time, she pours her passion into her home-based …
Civil Rights
Doctor Noted for Role in Mississippi Beach Desegregation
The National Register of Historic Places now includes the office of an African-American physician who faced arrests and violence as he led a nearly decade-long effort to desegregate beaches on …
Thursday, October 26
Politics
Former Bryant Chief of Staff is New Mississippi GOP Chairman
Gov. Phil Bryant's former chief of staff is the new chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party.
City & County
UPDATED: Lumumba, Bryant Unveil JPS Commission with W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba today confirmed and expounded on the rumor that people and organizations have worked behind the scenes to develop a "third option" for Jackson Public Schools.
National
Fox Gives Heavy Coverage to Weinstein, Little to O'Reilly
Bill O'Reilly and Harvey Weinstein are the celebrity faces of sexual harassment in 2017. But on Fox News Channel, O'Reilly's former home, the Hollywood mogul's fall has gotten far more …
City & County
Jackson Police, Fire and At-Will Employees No Longer Must Live in City
Police officers, firefighters and at-will employees making less than $40,000 a year no longer must live inside the city limits after the Jackson City Council lifted the requirement in its …
Politics
Gov. Bryant Wants Vote on State Flag; Taggart Says It Must Change
New messages about the Mississippi flag flowed out of the annual Hobnob Mississippi event this year with the governor revealing that he wants citizens to vote on it again and …
Person of the Day
Lafayette Stribling
Legendary basketball coach Lafayette Stribling decided on Oct. 31, 2012, that 55 years of coaching basketball was enough and retired.
State
Retired Mississippi Sheriff Faces Evidence Tampering Charge
A retired Mississippi sheriff's deputy faces a federal evidence tampering charge, accused of planting a wooden baton next to the body of a man he shot to death in 2013.
Education
Mississippi to Resume Teaching 'To Kill A Mockingbird'
A Mississippi school district will resume teaching "To Kill A Mockingbird" after the book was pulled from a junior high reading list.
Wednesday, October 25
National
Bannon's War Exposes GOP Donor Divisions
Steve Bannon's war on the GOP establishment has caught the party's most powerful donors in the crossfire.
National
White House Welcomes Senate Vote Killing Consumer Rule
The White House is welcoming a congressional measure killing the ability of millions of Americans to band together to sue bank or credit card companies to resolve financial disputes in …
Immigration
ACLU: Teen at Center of Immigration Case Has Abortion
An immigrant teen in federal custody who was seeking an abortion over the Trump administration's objections had the procedure Wednesday after a U.S. appeals court ruled in her favor, her …
National
Fats Domino Dies at 89; Gave Rock Music a New Orleans Flavor
Fats Domino, the amiable rock 'n' roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music while honoring the traditions of the Crescent City, has died. He …
City & County
Gov. Phil Bryant Confirms Third Option for Jackson Public Schools
Gov. Phil Bryant confirmed this morning that he is working with several organizations as well as the Mississippi Department of Education to find a third option to revitalize the state's …
Art
Popular Costumes
This year, Google News Lab created Freighgeist, which pulls the top 500 Halloween costume searches in the U.S. With location input, it even lets users search for the top costumes …
Music
A Hub for Innovation
Chamber music, in the minds of many, belongs in a stuffy and insular world, where players just rehearse and rehash the same classical pieces within university recital halls. On Friday, …
Art
Spooky and Local
There's plenty of spooky Halloween events going on in the Jackson Metro this year. Here are just a few of them.
Cover
Saved for a Reason: The Fight to End Domestic Violence
The Mississippi Department of Health tracks interpersonal violence in the state, and in fiscal-year 2015, law-enforcement officers responded to 10,411 calls related to domestic violence, the annual report from the …
Domestic Violence
OPINION: The Work of Overcoming Abuse
"Everything that happens to you is a reflection of what you believe about yourself. We cannot outperform our level of self-esteem. We cannot draw to ourselves more than we think …
Domestic Violence
EDITORIAL: State Lawmakers Must Support Abuse Victims
Domestic and interpersonal abuse, especially violence against women, are systemic and national in scope, but some clear policy and program solutions would make Mississippi safer and better for women.
Politics
COMMENTARY: Reinsert Value Back Into Journalism
In 2004, the now-deceased Mississippi journalist Bill Minor gave an assessment of his profession. Among its problems, he said, was that too many of his colleagues would rather play "go …
City & County
Two Ways to Take Over a School District
If Gov. Phil Bryant does not agree to a rumored-but-still-quiet deal with the Jackson mayor and a large philanthropic foundation to provide a third option, Jackson Public Schools will face …
Crime
Hinds DA Facing Different Kind of Trial for Alleged Abuse, Stalking in Rankin County
In the last year, Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith has avoided a conviction in two trials for hindering prosecution in Hinds County that would have forced him from …
Domestic Violence
EDITOR'S NOTE: One Small, Honest Voice After #MeToo
Maybe you weren't bullied, but as a woman, you've probably been told to make yourself smaller and to fit the mold society created for you.
City & County
Gerald Mumford: ‘I’m Running on Integrity’
Candidate Gerald Mumford, 39, is currently a Jackson Municipal Court judge and runs his own law firm offering services in personal injury, premises liability, criminal law, family law and civil …
Jacksonian
Reva Lewis
Odd Humans Art & Apparel creator Reva Lewis' designs draw from a variety of themes, with influences of horror and the macabre, nature and science fiction present in many of …
Tuesday, October 24
City & County
Lumumba's 'Radical' 100 Days: Cooperatives, Crime ... and an NFL Team?
Standing on the sunny side of Jackson City Hall, Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba reflected on his first 100 days in office this morning, focusing on economic development and crime, with …
Biz Roundup
Lily Rain, MDA Ambassador's Program, Cantina Laredo and Pho Huong
Lily Rain, a Houston-based clothing, accessories and home decor retailer, recently held a grand opening for its first Mississippi location in on Oct. 14.
Music
Dawes
Dawes may seem like an instant success story for the millions of supporters who have followed the California folk-rock band since its first release, "North Hills," in 2009. However, for …
National
Tillerson Review to Confirm Rohingya 'Ethnic Cleansing'
U.S. officials are preparing a recommendation for Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to declare that "ethnic cleansing" is occurring against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims. That assessment would raise pressure on the …
Immigration
Trump's Refugee Ban Ends, New Screening Rules Coming
President Donald Trump's four-month worldwide ban on refugees ended Tuesday, officials said, as his administration prepared to unveil tougher new screening procedures.
National
Trump, Corker Engage in War of Words Ahead of Senate Lunch
In a remarkable Republican war of words, President Donald Trump declared Tuesday that Republican Sen. Bob Corker "couldn't get elected dog catcher," and the senator fired back that Trump was …
Education
Mississippi Superintendent Says Purchasing Methods Improve
Mississippi's state superintendent of education says her department is tightening accounting and purchasing procedures, weeks after it was accused of illegally issuing some contracts without taking bids.
Monday, October 23
Education
Mississippi High Court Undercuts MAEP: School Formula Is Not a Mandate
The state's highest court says the Legislature does not have to fully fund the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, ruling against 21 public-school districts that sued the state for underfunding MAEP …
State
NAACP Names New Leader for More Active Future
The NAACP turned to an insider Saturday to help bring the nation's oldest civil rights organization back to prominence.
Food
Hunter Evans
While the competitive atmosphere of the restaurant scene in New York City may intimidate some, Lou's Full-Serv Chef de Cuisine Hunter Evans did not shy away from it.
National
Politics on Display as Letterman Receives Mark Twain Prize
David Letterman was never known as a particularly political comedian, preferring a detached irony-drenched tone that favored the surreal and silly over topical humor. But there was an unmistakable political …
National
Senate Presses Ahead on $36.5B Disaster Relief Package
The Senate is pushing ahead on a $36.5 billion hurricane relief package that would give Puerto Rico a much-needed infusion of cash.
Civil Rights
About Two Dozen NFL Players Protested During Anthems Sunday
Days after the NFL declined to change its rule on the national anthem, about two dozen players protested around the league Sunday.
National
Trump Voting Commission Criticized for Lack of Transparency
President Donald Trump's advisory commission on election integrity has integrity questions of its own—with some of its own members raising concerns about its openness.
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, October 21
Education
House Speaker Puts Toyota Leader on Mississippi School Board
House Speaker Philip Gunn on Friday named Sean Suggs of Saltillo, vice president of manufacturing at the Toyota Motor Co. plant in Blue Springs, to the state Board of Education.
Friday, October 20
Civil Rights
Governor to Court: State Flag Doesn't Violate Rights as Marriage Bans Did
Offending black citizens is not enough to block the Mississippi flag, attorneys for Gov. Phil Bryant argued to the U.S. Supreme Court this week; they must instead show that the …
Biz Roundup
"A Place for All People" at JSU, Tougaloo NASA Research and "Intersections of Gender and Place" at MUW
Mississippi University for Women is hosting "Intersections of Gender and Place," an art exhibition that focuses on women artists in the South whose work relates to gender issues and southern …
Person of the Day
Marquis Haynes
The Vanderbilt University offensive line could not do much against University of Mississippi defensive end Marquis Haynes on Saturday, Oct. 14. The Jacksonville, Fla., native lived in the Commodores' backfield …
Education
Mississippi Supreme Court: School Budget Formula is Not Binding
The Mississippi Legislature does not have an obligation to fully fund a school budget formula that was put into law two decades ago, the state Supreme Court said Thursday in …
Thursday, October 19
City & County
Amid Hotel Flap, Fondren Labeled a Top ‘Endangered Historic Place’ in State
Fondren is now on the list of the “10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi," just as developers of a new hotel anger neighbors for demolishing the house the neighborhood …
National
Bush Condemns Trump-Era America: 'Bigotry Seems Emboldened'
Former President George W. Bush on Thursday denounced bigotry in Trump-era American politics, warning that the rise of "nativism," isolationism and conspiracy theories have clouded the nation's true identity.
Civil Rights
Lawyers: Courts Correctly Rejected Confederate Flag Lawsuit
Attorneys for the Mississippi governor say two levels of federal courts have been correct in blocking a lawsuit that challenges the Confederate battle emblem on the state flag.
City & County
UPDATED: JPS Draws Expected 'F' in MDE District, School Grades Released Today
The Mississippi Department of Education released the 2017 accountability rankings of all schools and districts in the state this morning. Seventy percent of the state's schools are performing at "C" …
Crime
Hinds DA Seeks to Block Abuse, Drug Testimony As Trial Moves Forward
The Mississippi Supreme Court denied Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith's appeal this morning.
Person of the Day
Stephen Johnston
Making movies was not necessarily part of the planned career trajectory for "Same Kind of Different as Me" Executive Producer Stephen Johnston.
National
Under Fire, Trump Defends Call to Soldier's Grieving Family
President Donald Trump emphatically rejected claims Wednesday that he was disrespectful to the grieving family of a slain soldier, as the firestorm he ignited over his assertions of empathy for …
National
Sessions Defends Comey Firing, Dodges Questions on Trump
Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Wednesday strongly defended President Donald Trump's firing of James Comey, linking the FBI director's abrupt dismissal to his handling of the Hillary Clinton email server …
City & County
Gov. Bryant Still Skeptical on Takeover of Jackson Public Schools
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant again on Wednesday voiced skepticism about allowing the state to take over the capital city's public school district.
City & County
Trustees Express Uncertainty About Hospital Borrowing
College Board trustees are considering a plan for the University of Mississippi Medical Center to borrow $132 million to finance a $180 million expansion of its children's hospital.
Wednesday, October 18
City & County
From Jefferson Davis to Barack Obama: Jackson Elementary School Gets a New Name
One of Mississippi's top-performing elementary schools, Davis Magnet IB Elementary School, has changed its name to Barack Obama Magnet IB Elementary School.
Theater
Steamy, Southern Summer Nights
With Mississippi celebrating its 200th birthday this year, New Stage Theatre is paying tribute to one of the state's renowned authors, Tennessee Williams, with its production of "Baby Doll."
Music
Artists to Watch
Arabella Landrum may only be a junior at Sumrall High School in Sumrall, Miss., but she has already achieved something that many other musicians won't in a lifetime: She opened …
Development
OPINION: 'One Lake’ A Triumph of Cronyism?
Flood-control alternatives, including the "One Lake" project for the Pearl River, have been out of the spotlight and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' technical review for nearly four years …
Domestic Violence
Mississippi: Listen to the ‘Me, Too’ Chorus
Women should not have to post on social media to bring awareness to the harassment, assault and abuse that half of the world's population endures daily.
Domestic Violence
Men: Stop the Harassment
The journey from being shamed about a stranger commenting on my ass at 16 to being worried about its continual definition of who I am at 40 is one that …
National
Family of Slain Sergeant Says Trump Showed 'Disrespect'
The mother of an Army sergeant killed in Niger said Wednesday that President Donald Trump, in a call offering condolences, showed "disrespect" to the soldier's loved ones as they drove …
Crime
Attorney General: DA Smith Is 'Mistaken' In Appeal to State Supreme Court
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood's office says Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith is "mistaken" about claims that the attorney general "exceeded the scope of his authority" by prosecuting …
State
A Teenager, a Gun and a Chance for Innocence
The Remington 700 Model is the subject of several class-action lawsuits against the firearms manufacturer due to a faulty trigger, which can discharge on its own.
Editor's Note
The Six-Word Musical Death Sentence
For me personally, I know, like nearly every white man who ever picked up a guitar hath known, that being a singer-songwriter does not make me one in a million. …
Cover
Music Videos, Evolved
The popularity of watching music videos on TV channels such as MTV and CMT has waned over the years, but the format has not lost its impact on consumers and …
City & County
The Edison Walthall Rises Again
The Edison Walthall Hotel is the place of legends, bar fights between powerful men and lots of stories its walls could tell, but it has sat empty now since it …
City & County
A Tipping Point for ‘Threatened’ Jackson Zoo
If the Jackson Zoo were a species, it would be considered "threatened" on the extinction scale.
Politics
Cochran's Illness Shows Risks to GOP Leaders of Aging Senate
WASHINGTON (AP) — Top Republicans coping with a razor-thin majority in the Senate as they try pushing a partisan agenda are running smack into another complication—the sheer age and health …
Politics
Tindell Takes Appeals Court Oath; Senate Election is Set
A former state senator is joining the Mississippi Court of Appeals, and a special election has been set to fill his legislative seat.
Jacksonian
Silas
Rapper Silas Stapleton, whom fans know as just Silas, says he never imagined the amount of attention that would come from his debut solo album, 2016's "The Day I Died."
Tuesday, October 17
Crime
CORRECTED: Supreme Court Has Not Denied DA Smith's Appeal
The Mississippi Supreme Court denied Robert Shuler Smith's appeal to vacate his charges for abusing a former girlfriend before his trial starts in Rankin County later this month.
National
Judge in Hawaii Blocks Latest Version of Trump's Travel Ban
A federal judge in Hawaii blocked the Trump administration Tuesday from enforcing its latest travel ban, just hours before it was set to take effect.
Health Care
Senators Reach Deal on Resuming Payments to Health Insurers
Key senators reached a breakthrough deal Tuesday on resuming federal payments to health insurers that President Donald Trump has blocked. Insurers had warned that unless the money is quickly restored, …
National
Trump Warns 'I Fight Back' After McCain Hits Foreign Policy
President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Sen. John McCain that "I fight back" after McCain questioned "half-baked, spurious nationalism" in America's foreign policy.
City & County
Newly Released Documents Show the Asbestos Trail in Fondren
The day after developers of a new Hilton hotel suddenly started demolishing structures on a two-acre site in the heart of Fondren, asbestos inspector Ryan Galfetti showed up unannounced after …
City & County
JPS Keeps Accreditation for Now as 18 Districts Go on Probation
The Commission on School Accreditation approved the 2017 accountability grades of JPS schools and districts at its meeting Tuesday morning, as well as recommended that 18 school districts in the …
Biz Roundup
'Chopped' Screening, Innovate Mississippi Technology Innovation Conference, Sonny's BBQ and Unique_Kreations
Mississippi Museum of Art's chef and culinary curator Nick Wallace recently competed on Food Network's "Chopped: Alton's Challenge," which will air tonight at 9 p.m.
Person of the Day
D.E. Magee Jr.
Delors Edgar Magee Jr., a Jackson ophthalmologist and former board member and president of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, died Wednesday, Sept. 27, at his family's home in New …
National
Drug Czar Nominee Tom Marino Pulls His Name from Consideration
Rep. Tom Marino, President Donald Trump's nominee to be the nation's drug czar, is withdrawing from consideration following reports that he played a key role in weakening the federal government's …
Sports
Mississippi, Nutt Say They've Reached Lawsuit Settlement
The University of Mississippi and former football coach Houston Nutt say they have reached an agreement to resolve Nutt's lawsuit against the school.
Monday, October 16
Crime
Jury Deadlocks in Trial Over Burning Death in Mississippi
A Mississippi judge declared a mistrial Monday in the burning death of a woman who emerged from a wooded area looking like a "zombie," mortally injured and struggling to tell …
Crime
Hinds DA Smith's Supreme Court Appeal Delays Rankin County Trial
A Rankin County judge today delayed the trial of Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith for aggravated stalking, robbery, and two counts of domestic violence, all involving an ex-girlfriend …
City & County
JPS Faces Big Week as Governor's Takeover Decision Looms
As Jackson Public Schools officials and administrators work to meet deadlines set in their 2016 corrective action plan, Gov. Phil Bryant could decide to take away local control of the …
Person of the Day
Nick Fitzgerald
After a bye week and two straight blowout losses on the road to ranked opponents, Mississippi State retook control of the narrative of its season with 35-10 victory over BYU …
National
GOP Sen. Thad Cochran Grappling With Illness
Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran is continuing to grapple with a urinary tract infection that has delayed a planned return to Washington, his office announced on Monday.
Health Care
Collins: Trump Should Back Effort to Resume Health Subsidy
A key moderate Republican is urging President Donald Trump to support a bipartisan Senate effort to reinstate insurer payments, calling his move to halt the subsidies an immediate threat to …
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, October 13
City & County
JPD's First Woman SWAT Officer: 'I'm Not Intimidated'
The Jackson Police Department made history Thursday by inducting the first female member of to its SWAT team since its inception in 1971.
Education
JSU Photography Exhibit, MSU Entrepreneurship Research Honor and UMMC Telehealth Center of Excellence
Jackson State University is partnering with WJSU and the Mississippi Museum of Art to present "The Beauty of Cancer," a photography exhibit that features 20 breast-cancer survivors in various stages …
Person of the Day
Mike Hurst
Mike Hurst was sworn in Tuesday in Jackson as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi by U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan.
National
Tillerson: Trump Will Scorn but Not Bolt from Iran Nuke Deal
President Donald Trump will say Friday the Iran nuclear deal is no longer in America's national security interests, but he won't withdraw from the landmark 2015 accord or immediately re-impose …
Health Care
Trump to Issue Stop-Payment Order on Health Care Subsidies
In a brash move likely to roil insurance markets, President Donald Trump will "immediately" halt payments to insurers under the Obama-era health care law he has been trying to unravel …
Thursday, October 12
Education
Senator: It's Wrong to Punish High School Players for Anthem Kneeling
A Mississippi lawmaker says he is "appalled" that some high school football players are being punished for kneeling during the national anthem.
State
Black Parents Sue Over White Teacher's Hanging Remark
Parents of a former student are suing a central Mississippi school district, alleging a racially biased comment by a white substitute teacher about their black son being hanged.
City & County
Welty Library Set to Re-open Monday
The Eudora Welty Library in downtown Jackson will reopen on Monday, after state and city officials inspected the building today, determining the first floor is safe for patrons.
National
Ryan Blames High-Tax States as GOP Lawmakers Balk on Plan
House Speaker Paul Ryan on Thursday lambasted high-tax states like California, New York and New Jersey, arguing the rest of the country is "propping up profligate, big-government states" even as …
National
US, Israel to Exit UN Agency Over Alleged Anti-Israel Bias
The United States announced Thursday it is pulling out of the U.N.'s educational, scientific and cultural agency because of what Washington sees as its anti-Israel bias and a need for …
LGBT
HB 1523 Becomes Law Amid Outcry, U.S. Supreme Court Asked to Appeal
The "Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination" Act is state law in Mississippi, after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the request of plaintiffs in the Barber …
Music
Maren Morris
For some in the music industry, there is no clearer evidence that times have changed than country artist Maren Morris.
Development
Transportation Head Calls Out Legislature for Not Funding Roads, Bridges
Central District Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall did not mince words at the Stennis Capitol Press Forum Monday, calling out Mississippi lawmakers' inaction on funding the state's infrastructure.
Health Care
Calling It a Beginning, Trump Signs Health Care Order
President Donald Trump directed his administration Thursday to rewrite federal rules so consumers can have wider access to health insurance plans featuring lower premiums.
National
AP-NORC Poll: Americans Blame Wild Weather on Global Warming
After hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria blitzed the nation, most Americans think weather disasters are getting more severe and see global warming's fingerprints.
National
Trump Lashes Out as Puerto Rico as House Weighs Aid Package
President Donald Trump lashed out at hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico on Thursday, insisting that federal help will be limited and blaming the U.S. territory for its financial struggles.
Wednesday, October 11
National
Republicans Blame Senate GOP for Stalled Washington Agenda
The White House, hard-right conservatives and House GOP lawmakers all directed their ire at the Senate GOP this week amid the escalating feud between President Donald Trump and Republican Sen. …
National
OPINION: Remembering the Lessons of the 1917 Revolution
One hundred years ago, the Bolshevik Revolution, which began in February 1917, reached its apex in October 1917 when the party met and voted to overthrow the inept and floundering …
Health Care
Women's Health Docs Say Trump Ignores Birth Control Science
The Trump administration's new birth control rule is raising questions among some women's health experts, who say it overlooks known benefits of contraception while selectively citing data that raise doubts …
Cover
Where Mississippi's U.S. Lawmakers Stand on Gun Laws, Rights
In the wake of the Las Vegas massacre, the Jackson Free Press assembled details on the gun-related legislation that Mississippi lawmakers in Washington have supported or co-sponsored, as well as …
City & County
JPS Students: ‘Takeover’ Could Empty Schools, Fill Jails
State of Mississippi takeover of Jackson Public Schools could be devastating to young people, a group of JPS students told reporters outside City Hall Monday.
Civil Rights
Beyond Mississippi’s Dark Days of Judicial Injustice
On Sept. 27, Mississippi justices, lawyers and law students celebrated the state judicial branch's 200th birthday, along with U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who visited Jackson for the …
Politics
Fighting for the Right to Vote
Mississippi state law on who gets to vote after serving time in MDOC's custody appears rather arbitrary. Twenty-two disenfranchising crimes are listed in a 2009 attorney general's opinion that clarifies …
Domestic Violence
From Trump to Weinstein: ‘This Way of Treating Women Ends Now’
Hell week for women started with Donald Trump telling employers they can cherry-pick access to birth control out of women employees' health insurance. It ended with a long line of …
Jacksonian
Kristy Johnson
For Kristy Johnson, the current Miss Black Mississippi U.S.A., pageants are an opportunity to inspire change.
Sports
After Brutal Two-Game Stretch, Ole Miss Looking for Answers
Ole Miss, which outscored Auburn 20-9 after halftime, is eager to pounce on even the slightest hint of momentum after three straight losses.
Tuesday, October 10
LGBT
US Supreme Court is Asked to Block Mississippi LGBT Law
Advocates of same-sex marriage are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down a new Mississippi law that lets government workers and business people cite their own religious objections to …
Crime
Waiting for the DA: Smith Seven Hours Late to Face Rankin County Judge
Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith was nearly seven hours late Monday to his pre-trial court date for two domestic-violence charges, an aggravated stalking charge, and a robbery charge …
Biz Roundup
The Place, MCM Arts Competition, Fuse.Cloud, Jackson Comprehensive Treatment Center and Miskelly Expansion
Event venue The Place at Harbour Crossing launched with a ribbon cutting and open house on Sept. 14.
Person of the Day
Elizabeth Carr
Attorney Elizabeth Carr says she didn't think anyone was paying attention to how much time and effort she puts into helping people who come into her firm, Southern Capital Title, …
National
1,000 Leads Later, Authorities Still Stumped by Vegas Gunman
More than a week after the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history investigators are stumped about the key question: What led a 64-year-old high-stakes gambler to kill 58 people …
Monday, October 9
LGBT
HB 1523: Mississippi's Extreme Attack on LGBT Rights
The insidious power of a law like this is that it casts a long shadow over public life, forcing someone to assess whether they will be treated fairly and respectfully …
National
Wind-Whipped Wildfires Sweep into California Wine Country
More than a dozen wildfires whipped by powerful winds swept through California wine country Monday, destroying at least 1,500 homes and businesses and sending an estimated 20,000 people on a …
Health Care
Mental Health Task Force Aims to Improve Services, Including for the Accused
Attorney General Jim Hood is tackling problems in Mississippi's mental-health system to make it easier for people to get treatment and to improve the commitment process, he said last week.
Hurricane
Nate Marches Across US East Coast, Dumping Heavy Rains
Nate slogged its way up the northeastern U.S. on Monday, dumping heavy rains and bringing gusty winds to inland states as a tropical depression less than two days after it …
Person of the Day
Lenorris Footman
Lenorris Footman had a hand in three touchdowns, De'Lance Turner rushed for 169 yards and Alcorn State cruised by Alabama State 24-10 on Thursday night.
Health Care
White House to Order Health Care Alternatives
The White House is finalizing an executive order that would expand health plans offered by associations to allow individuals to pool together and buy insurance outside their states, a unilateral …
Environment
Scott Pruitt to Terminate Obama's Climate Plan
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt said Monday that he will sign a new rule overriding the Clean Power Plan, an Obama-era effort to limit carbon emissions from coal-fired power …
Immigration
Trump Lists Demands on Immigration in Exchange for DACA
President Donald Trump has told congressional leaders that his hard-line immigration priorities must be enacted in exchange for extending protection from deportation to hundreds of thousands of young immigrants, many …
Saturday, October 7
Hurricane Nate Closing in on Mississippi
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Hurricane Nate came ashore on a sparsely populated area at the mouth of the Mississippi River on Saturday and closed in on Mississippi, pelting the central …
Friday, October 6
National
America’s Gun Culture: 'How Many More Must Die?'
Let's send our politicians a message; and if they are not willing to create the change that we demand, then we will create the change at the next ballot box.
National
Mississippi, Louisiana Declare Emergency Ahead of Tropical Storm Nate
Tropical Storm Nate gained force as it sped toward Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula Friday after drenching Central America in rain that was blamed for at least 21 deaths. Forecasters said it …
City & County
Welty Library Building Closure ‘Devastating’
The Eudora Welty Library building is closed off to the public after the state fire marshal closed it Oct. 5 due to several violations of fire and life safety standards …
Education
Awards and Research at UMMC and JSU
The National Science Foundation awarded Jackson State University researchers $350,000 through its Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research fund to support untested, high-risk exploratory research.
Person of the Day
Fannie Lou Hamer
Mississippi-born civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer is being commemorated Friday on what would have been her 100th birthday.
State
Mississippi Now Collecting Lodging Tax from Online Services Such as Airbnb
Mississippi's tax collector is now collecting sales and lodging taxes from people renting rooms or vacation properties online.
National
Birth Control: Trump Expands Opt-Out for Workplace Insurance
President Donald Trump is allowing more employers to opt out of providing no-cost birth control to women by claiming religious or moral objections, issuing new rules Friday that take another …
LGBT
Trump Religious Objection Order Upends LGBT Protections
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is telling federal agencies to do as much as possible to accommodate people who have religious objections to LGBT rights.
National
Trump, During Photo Shoot, Talks of 'Calm Before the Storm'
President Donald Trump delivered a foreboding message Thursday night, telling reporters as he posed for photos with his senior military leaders that this might be "the calm before the storm."
National
Immigration Principles Could Create Problems for DACA Plan
The Trump administration is finalizing the details of a set of immigration principles that could upend efforts to come up with a permanent fix for the status of young immigrants …
Thursday, October 5
City & County
Welty Library Closes Due to Fire Violations
The Eudora Welty Library in downtown Jackson closed this evening after a state fire marshal inspection on Wednesday, Oct. 4, revealed several violations of fire and life safety standards.
Immigration
Rep. Bomgar, Businessmen: DACA Has 'Huge Economic Benefit'
A diverse panel of local business owners, a Republican state legislator and an economics professor at Jackson State University all agreed that immigrants on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals …
Business
Report: Jackson Airport Economic Impact More Than $1 Billion
The Jackson Municipal Airport Authority's total monetary impact in 2016 on the five surrounding counties—Hinds, Rankin, Madison, Simpson and Copiah—is valued at $1.19 billion, a Jackson State University study found.
Person of the Day
Dennis Allen
New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen left London, England, with fonder memories than his last trip in 2014.
Politics
Republican Wins Mississippi House Seat in Special Election
An open seat in the Mississippi House remains in Republican control after a special election to replace a representative who became the mayor of Hattiesburg.
National
Some in GOP Open to Banning Gun Accessory Used in Vegas
Senior congressional Republicans say they are open to considering legislation banning "bump stocks" like the shooter in Las Vegas apparently used to make semi-automatic rifles perform more like fully automatic …
National
House GOP Eyes Budget Passage That is Key to Tax Debate
Republicans are focused on cutting taxes instead of deficits as they look to power a $4.1 billion budget plan through the House on Thursday.
State
Former Court Clerk in Pearl Accused of Stealing $200,000
A former court clerk in Mississippi faces a felony embezzlement charge after being accused by state Auditor Stacey Pickering of stealing nearly $200,000.
Wednesday, October 4
Cover
Warm Up This Fall
If you're looking for a good way to warm up and caffeinate yourself, turn to this year's Best of Jackson winners for Best Place to Get Coffee.
Cover
The District's 'Classy Burger Joint'
When Ray-Scott Miller saw the plans for The District at Eastover, he knew immediately that the space called for a certain type of restaurant: a "classy burger joint."
National
Clockwork Gun Violence
It's like clockwork, at this point. There's a deadly shooting in this country, followed by an ocean of "thoughts and prayers," then a debate over whether more gun control is …
Editorial
Mississippi Lawmakers, Lead on Health Care
Congress let the Children's Health Insurance Program, which insures kids who come from low-income families but are not eligible for Medicaid, expire last week. Now lawmakers are scrambling to renew …
LGBT
HB 1523 Becomes Law Tuesday, Oct. 10, After 5th Circuit Denied Stay
The "Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act" will become state law on Tuesday, Oct. 10, after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied attorneys' request to prevent …
National
AP-NORC Poll: Low Marks for Trump's Puerto Rico Response
Americans are more likely to disapprove than approve of President Donald Trump's handling of the Puerto Rico hurricane relief effort.
National
Tillerson Never Wanted Out, Dodges Trump 'Moron' Report
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson declared Wednesday he never considered abandoning his job as President Donald Trump's top diplomat, disputing what he called "erroneous" reports that he wanted to resign …
LGBT
Love and the Lavender Pen
The shooting at Orlando nightclub Pulse in June 2016 was a shock to Chris Verdugo, as it was to members of the LGBT community and supporters around the country. However, …
City & County
A Voice for the Oppressed
It's distressing yet important to acknowledge that in this country, oppressed people have no voice. Though we yell and scream for attention and assistance, our voices don't travel beyond our …
City & County
JPS: In the Midst of an ‘Unprecedented’ Situation
When the Mississippi Board of Education recommended a takeover of Jackson Public Schools, the district was almost finished implementing a corrective action plan that the department of education approved in …
City & County
New Head: ‘Public Works a Contact Sport’
The City of Jackson has a new director of public works to deal with ongoing infrastructure issues, including always-present potholes.
National
Iran Deal's Future May hinge on Face-Saving Fix for Trump
The future of the Iran nuclear deal may hinge on a face-saving fix for President Donald Trump so he doesn't have to recertify the Islamic republic's compliance every 90 days, …
National
Las Vegas Gunman's Girlfriend Returns to US for Questioning
The Las Vegas gunman's girlfriend returned to the U.S. overnight after a weekslong trip abroad and was met by investigators seeking to question her for clues to what drove Stephen …
City & County
Fighting the Good Fight for Jackson
Jackson is filled with locally owned businesses and restaurants. A lot of people in outer counties want to see the city fail. They want to move the capital away from …
Jacksonian
Sarah Stripp
Stripp knew she wanted to work at Springboard to Opportunities after she heard Chief Executive Officer Dr. Aisha Nyandoro speak about the nonprofit organization's mission to help families who live …
Tuesday, October 3
City & County
Fondren Hotel Demolition Restarted After Asbestos Found, Green Ghost Building Gone
As of today, the long-time building housing Que Sera Sera restaurant, and more recently Green Ghost Tacos, is a pile of rubble, and the State is assuring nervous residents that …
LGBT
HB 1523 Creates a Dark and Dismal Cloud Over Mississippi
I am a proud gay man who will always be a product of Mississippi. Once again, I offer this statement simply to show my support for Mississippi's LGBT community and …
LGBT
Federal Judge Revives Same-Sex Marriage Case After 5th Circuit's HB 1523 Hearing Denial
U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves wasted no time in reviving the original case that sought to legalize same-sex marriage in Mississippi, after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied …
Education
JPS Set to Begin $2.5 Million School Renovations to Wingfield, Brinkley, Murrah, Forest Hill
Students at Wingfield High School and Brinkley Middle School will see renovations and improvements to their facilities in the coming months after both the Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees …
Health Care
CHIP in Limbo: 79,000 Mississippi Kids Could Lose Health Insurance
The U.S. Congress quietly let the Children's Health Insurance Program, initially authorized in 1997, expire last week, leaving more than 79,000 Mississippi children at risk for losing their health insurance.
Biz Roundup
Taste of West Jackson Winners and C Spire Tech Movement
Common Ground Covenant Church hosted its second annual Taste of West Jackson event on Saturday, Sept. 16, at Claiborne Park, where local restaurants and chefs submitted dishes for the event's …
Person of the Day
Jason Gibson
For gospel artist and producer Jason Gibson, music has been a lifelong pursuit. The Jackson native grew up in a musical family, and as a child, he learned to play …
National
Trump in Puerto Rico, Lauds Administration's Relief Effort
On the ground in Puerto Rico nearly two weeks after a hurricane ravaged the island, President Donald Trump heaped praise Tuesday on his administration's relief workers and, more selectively, Puerto …
National
GOP Leader Says NRA-Backed Bill Shelved Indefinitely
House Republican leaders called for unity and prayer after the deadly mass shooting in Las Vegas, but offered no new legislation to tighten gun laws and said a bill to …
National
Einstein Proof: Nobel Winners Find Ripples in the Universe
Three U.S.-based scientists won the Nobel Physics Prize on Tuesday for detecting faint ripples flying through the universe—the gravitational waves predicted a century ago by Albert Einstein that provide a …
National
Tom Petty, Down-to-Earth Rock Superstar, Dies at 66
Tom Petty, an old-fashioned rock superstar and everyman who drew upon the Byrds, the Beatles and other bands he worshipped as a boy and produced new classics such as "Free …
Politics
Mississippi Jurist Should Fill Appellate Seat, Senators Say
Mississippi's two Republican U.S. senators say they are working with President Donald Trump's administration to fill a seat on a federal appeals court with someone from the state.
Monday, October 2
National
Supreme Court Term Begins With Case of Workers' Rights
The Supreme Court opened a high-profile term Monday with a case about employees' rights that could affect an estimated 25 million workers.
Politics
Poll: Mississippi Flag Losing Favor; White Voters Still Oppose Change
A new poll shows that 49 percent of Mississippians favor the current state flag, signaling the first time a majority of state residents does not support the banner.
LGBT
HB 1523 May Become Law This Week; Plaintiffs Asking Supreme Court to Hear Case
House Bill 1523, the law Gov. Phil Bryant signed that can allow Mississippians acting on their religious beliefs to discriminate against LGBT citizens, is set to become state law this …
World
"Yes" Side Wins Catalonia Independence Vote Marred by Chaos
Catalonia's regional government declared a landslide win for the "yes" side in a disputed referendum on independence from Spain that degenerated into mayhem Sunday, with more than 800 people injured …
National
Sniper in High-Rise Hotel Kills at Least 58 in Las Vegas
A gunman perched on the 32nd floor of a Las Vegas hotel-casino unleashed a hail of bullets on an outdoor country music festival below, killing at least 58 people as …
