Friday, August 31
Music
Presidents, Pop Stars Join in Epic Farewell to Queen of Soul
Former presidents and preachers joined a parade of pop stars Friday in a singing, hip-swaying, piano-pounding farewell to Aretha Franklin, remembering the Queen of Soul as a powerful force for …
National
Thousands Line Up to Say Goodbye to John McCain
Thousands of people lined up for blocks outside the U.S. Capitol Friday to say goodbye to John McCain as officials, relatives and friends paid their tributes inside to the Vietnam …
Politics
McDaniel Embraces Trump's Trade Agenda, Criticizes 'Free Trade' 'Capitalists'
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Chris McDaniel endorsed President Donald Trump's trade agenda Wednesday, taking aim at opponent Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and "the capitalists who've been championing so-called 'free …
City & County
Black Mississippi Mayors Endorse Espy at Civil Rights Museum
Nearly a dozen black mayors from cities and towns throughout Mississippi took the stage Thursday afternoon at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum to endorse Mike Espy in his campaign for …
Education
JSU Alums Unveil Obama Mural, New MSU Metal Detector Policy, and USM Faculty Art and Design Show
Jackson State University alumni Charles and Talamieka Brice unveiled a mural depicting former President Barack Obama, which the husband-and-wife design team painted along the south wall of Barack Obama Magnet …
Thursday, August 30
Civil Rights
ACLU Files Brief Supporting Harvard University in Admissions Lawsuit
The American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Massachusetts filed a friend-of-court brief supporting Harvard University’s right to consider race as one of many factors in a whole-person admissions process.
National
Government Accuses Harvard of 'Outright Racial Balancing'
In its latest push to end the use of race in college admissions, the Trump administration on Thursday accused Harvard University of "engaging in outright racial balancing" and sided with …
Crime
Mississippi Prison Inmate Dies in Pascagoula Hospital
A 13th inmate has died in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections this month. The state prison system says 75-year-old Tony Springer died Monday at a Pascagoula hospital.
Politics
'Run, Jim, Run': AG Hood on Race for Governor, Women Empowerment
Women for Progress of Mississippi hosted a women's issues forum called "She is Running," where Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood offered remarks about the role of women in his prosecutorial …
Development
U.S. Senate Hopefuls McDaniel, Baria Explain Votes Against Lottery
Mississippi House of Representatives Minority Leader Rep. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, and State Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville, both voted against a state lottery bill lawmakers sent to the governor's …
Person of the Day
Keytaon Thompson
The pressure of starting the season for Mississippi State University will fall to sophomore quarterback Keytaon Thompson.
National
Trump Stands by Warning of 'Violence' if Dems Win Midterms
President Donald Trump urged evangelical leaders this week to get out the vote ahead of the upcoming midterm elections and warned of "violence" by opponents if they fail.
Wednesday, August 29
City & County
Activists Delay Officer-Involved-Shooting Task Force's Final Report
Members of Jackson's officer-involved-shooting task force started showing up at the Porter Building across from City Hall on Monday, Aug. 27, prepared for what was supposed to be their final …
Politics
Mary Currier to Retire as Leader of Mississippi Health Department
The head of the Mississippi State Department of Health is planning to retire, saying she wants to spend more time with her family after a 34-year career in state government.
Person of the Day
Crystal Spurlin
Crystal Spurlin, a resident of Pontotoc, Miss., is representing Mississippi in a campaign that cosmetics company Avon launched on Aug. 21.
National
Racism Quickly Become an Issue in Florida Governor's Race
Racism immediately became an issue in the Florida governor's race on Wednesday as both nominees made predictions: The Democrat said voters aren't looking for a misogynist, racist or bigot, while …
National
Final Farewells to Sen. John McCain Begin at Arizona Capitol
Family, friends and constituents will gather Wednesday at Arizona's Capitol to pay their respects to Sen. John McCain, the first of two days of services here before he departs the …
Politics
Senate Approves Bill Dividing $700M in Oil Spill Damages
Mississippi senators late Tuesday approved a bill to divide up $700 million in oil spill damages, setting aside more than $100 million overall for special projects.
Tuesday, August 28
Politics
Aiming for Alabama-like Victory, Espy Opens ‘Modern’ Campaign Headquarters
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Espy announced what he called “the most modern headquarters that I think any Democrat has had in Mississippi’s history” at a ceremony for the opening …
Biz Roundup
Soggy Sweat Craft Beer & BBQ Festival, Mississippi Craft Center Renaming and Trustmark 'Topping Off' Ceremony
The Mississippi Craft Center will be renamed the William Lowe (Bill) Waller Sr. Craft Center in honor of the late Mississippi governor during a dedication ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 23, …
Politics
UPDATED: House Passes Lottery Bill, Sends to Governor’s Desk
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant cast blame on Democrats in the Mississippi House of Representatives on Monday night, Aug. 27, as his bill to create a state lottery appeared on the …
Politics
Lottery Bill Passes Mississippi Senate but Falters in House
Mississippi legislators split late Monday on whether to create a state lottery, leaving uncertainty about what will happen. Senators voted 31-17 to pass a lottery bill , moments after the …
Monday, August 27
Politics
Louisiana Congressman Helps Raise Money for Mississippi GOP
U.S. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana is helping fellow Republicans in neighboring Mississippi raise money for this November's elections.
National
US and Mexico Tentatively Set to Replace NAFTA With New Deal
The Trump administration and Mexico have reached a preliminary accord to end the North American Free Trade Agreement and replace it with a deal that the administration wants to be …
City & County
JPD Seeks Body Cams from Axon on 30-Day Free Trial
The Jackson Police Department will seek Jackson City Council's approval for body cameras through a month-long trial with Axon, the company formerly known as TASER International.
Politics
Transport Funding Bill Going to Governor; Lottery Unfinished
Mississippi lawmakers have agreed on a transportation funding plan that would give cities and counties some of the sales tax money the state collects from people shopping online.
Person of the Day
Shea Patterson
Mississippi transfer Shea Patterson will be under center when the 14th-ranked Wolverines open the season on the night of Sept. 1 at No. 12 Notre Dame. Patterson said Harbaugh has …
Health Care
Abortion Clinics and Crisis Pregnancy Centers Differ
In Mississippi, there are more than 30 organizations that identify along the lines of a crisis pregnancy center. The state has one abortion clinic.
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.
Sunday, August 26
State
John McCain's Evolution on Confederate Flag, Family’s Slavery Legacy
Arizona U.S. Sen. John McCain, who died Saturday, Aug. 25, of brain cancer at age 81, once apologized for lying to voters about his position on the Confederate flag. He …
Saturday, August 25
State
More Transparent Lottery Bill Passes Mississippi House, Session Resumes Monday
Two days into a special legislative session, the Mississippi House of Representatives voted 70-43 on Friday to pass a state lottery bill that included significant changes to the version the …
Friday, August 24
City & County
Protesters Interrupt Piper Kerman's Talk on Incarceration, Education
Piper Kerman spent several hours in the Old Capitol Inn Thursday first talking her life and her bestselling memoir about her year in a federal women's prison, "Orange is the …
Education
'Suit Up Event' at USM, 'Famous Types' at MSU and Jackson Heart Study at Tougaloo
The University of Southern Mississippi's Office of Career Services is partnering with clothing retailer JCPenney to offer USM students discounts on professional-business and business-casual attire during the "Suit Up Event" …
National
McCain's Family Says He's Stopping Medical Treatment
Sen. John McCain has chosen to discontinue medical treatment for brain cancer, the Arizona senator's family said.
Politics
Lottery Bill Passes Mississippi Senate with Public-Records Exemption
Mississippi senators passed a bill that would establish a state lottery at a special session of the Legislature Thursday evening.
Business
Mississippi's Senators Say Award to Help City Buy Airport
Mississippi's senators say the City of Olive Branch has received a $14.9 million federal grant to help with the purchase of the Olive Branch Airport.
Thursday, August 23
National
McDaniel Rages Against the GOP After Trump Endorses Hyde-Smith
JACKSON — Republican Mississippi State Sen. Chris McDaniel raged at his own party on Thursday after President Donald Trump endorsed his opponent, incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, in the …
Business
In Session, Gov. Bryant Pushes Mississippi Lottery to Pay for Infrastructure
Mississippi lawmakers have debated whether or not to establish a state lottery for decades, but Gov. Phil Bryant called it a necessary move to fix Mississippi’s crumbling roads and bridges.
Civil Rights
Improved LGBT Health Access in the South Goal of New Survey
The Campaign for Southern Equality launched a survey on Wednesday, Aug. 22, that aims to help improve health-care access for LGBT southerners.
Person of the Day
A.J. Brown
University of Mississippi wide receiver A.J. Brown is getting love from nearly everywhere this offseason. It should be expected after he put up one of the best single-season receiver performances …
Wednesday, August 22
Politics
Karl Rove Helps Sen. Wicker Raise $5,000 Per Couple at Private Jackson Dinner
Karl Rove, the political strategist and senior adviser to President George W. Bush, helped raise campaign funds for Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker at the home of Cissye and Billy …
Politics
Mississippi Governor Calls Special Session on Transportation
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant on Tuesday issued the official document to call lawmakers into special session Thursday to discuss more money for roads and bridges.
City & County
JPS Board of Trustees Announce Selection of New Superintendent
The Jackson Public School Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Dr. Errick Greene to the position of Superintendent of Schools on Tuesday, August 21.
Development
Mississippi Reservoir Plans Generating Louisiana Concerns
Louisiana officials are worried Mississippi's plans for a new reservoir on the Pearl River could harm Louisiana's ecology.
Sports
College Football Preview 2018: The Smalls
Alcorn State should have a reload season instead of a rebuild. The Braves have 11 Preseason All-SWAC players. Only Grambling State University had more selections.
Sports
College Football Preview 2018
Whether you are routing for the Mississippi State University Bulldogs to come out as top dog or for the Millsaps College Majors to score a major victory this season, this …
Music
Liza Anne: Moving Forward to ‘Fine’
When singer-songwriter Liza Odachowski, whom fans know as Liza Anne, selected a studio for her third album, "Fine But Dying," her choice revolved around atmosphere rather than equipment.
Art
A Galaxy in a Jar
I love to browse through images from the Hubble telescope. It gives such a cool view of space and all that happens in it. Those photos often inspire my work …
Food
Tropical Vibes
Though Sal & Mookie's New York Pizza & Ice Cream Joint was closed to the public on Monday, Aug. 6, it was filled with people and food all the same …
Cover
Vetting the ‘One Lake’ Project
The Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District, often called the Levee Board, is supporting the "One Lake" plan, the latest version of a years-long strategy to create a …
City & County
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: ‘One Lake’ Backers Have a Transparency Problem
Proponents of the "One Lake" project on the Pearl River have a high bar to clear, and I don't think they're doing it yet. Their problem is simple: lack of …
Jacksonian
Reuben Antvelink
Reuben Antvelink's love of community and bringing people together that led him to work as a youth director at First Presbyterian Church of Madison and the tour manager at Lucky …
JFP Interviews
Johnnie McDaniels: ‘I Pray, I Plant, and I Plow’
Johnnie McDaniels and his sons spent three days taping 1,411 bumper stickers all across his pickup truck. They have not yet thought about how they will get them off in …
Politics
Busting Chris McDaniel’s Confederate Myths
Mississippi State Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville, spent the early months of his 2014 Republican primary bid for U.S. Senate downplaying his ties to neo-Confederate groups.
Tuesday, August 21
National
Ex-Trump Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort Guilty of 8 Charges
Paul Manafort, the longtime political operative who for months led Donald Trump's winning presidential campaign, was found guilty of eight financial crimes Tuesday in the first trial victory of the …
National
Ex-Trump Lawyer Cohen Pleads Guilty in Hush-Money Scheme
Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, could be charged before the end of the month with bank fraud in his dealings with the taxi industry and with committing …
City & County
EDITORIAL: City Needs to Name Officers Who Shot Citizens Without Delay
We can understand the need to protect officers and their families, but it is not acceptable to allow it based on a reason shrouded in secrecy.
Biz Roundup
From My Hand to Your Kitchen, Kimmiesweett and Merit Health Madison
Jackson chef Nick Wallace announced on Wednesday, Aug. 8, a new service from his business, Nick Wallace Culinary, called "From My Hand to Your Kitchen."
Books
Jesmyn Ward
National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward told a home-state audience in Mississippi on Saturday that she's working on two books.
National
Confederate Statue on UNC Campus Toppled by Protesters
A Confederate statue in the heart of North Carolina's flagship university was toppled Monday night during a rally by hundreds of protesters who decried the memorial known as "Silent Sam" …
National
Trump Plan Scales Back Obama's Coal Emissions Standards
The Trump administration on Tuesday came out with new rules scaling back Obama-era constraints on coal-fired power plants, striking at one of the former administration's legacy programs to rein in …
Monday, August 20
Politics
Sen. Chris McDaniel Blasts 'Snowflake Stalkers' After Lee Poll Backfires
Mississippi State Sen. Chris McDaniel derided critics as "snowflake stalkers" Sunday after his tweet about Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and a follow-up poll went awry.
Politics
Mississippi Senate Leader Signals Deal Likely on Road Money
Mississippi's lieutenant governor said Monday that he's ready to accept most of the transportation funding proposals championed by leaders of the state House. That makes an agreement more likely during …
Person of the Day
Charles McClelland
On Aug. 13, 2018, the SWAC Council of Presidents announced that it had selected the conference's new leader, Charles McClelland. The Jackson, Miss., native and Callaway High School graduate is …
Politics
Bryant Sets Transport Session, Specifics Expected This Week
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant confirms he will call legislators into special session this week to deal with transportation funding.
LGBT
Project Uncovering South's Hidden LGBTQ History
A new project is documenting the history of LGBTQ people in the Deep South, a region that once all but forced gays, lesbians and others to live in hiding.
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, August 17
Civil Rights
Mississippi Flag Foes Want Court Arguments on Rebel Symbol
Some Mississippi residents are asking a federal court of appeals to fully consider their arguments that the state flag with the Confederate battle emblem represents white supremacy and sends a …
City & County
JPD to 'Saturate' Streets Following Two Armed Business Robberies
Following two armed business robberies in the City of Jackson on Aug. 13, Interim Police Chief James Davis announced that members of the Jackson Police Department and the Jackson-Hinds S.W.A.T. …
Education
Scianna Challenge at USM, UM Medgar Evers Scholarship and Millsaps Arts & Lecture Series
Kenny and Vicki Scianna, Madison residents who attended the University of Southern Mississippi, recently established an endowment for the university's Children's Center for Communication and Development.
Music
Rock Eupora
Clayton Waller says he knew that he wanted to be in the music industry but was on the fence as to whether that would be on the artist side or …
National
Trump Nixes $92M Military Parade, Blames DC for High Cost
President Donald Trump said Friday he had canceled plans for a Veterans Day military parade, citing the "ridiculously high" price tag—a day after U.S. officials said the November event could …
Thursday, August 16
City & County
OPINION: Jacksonians Should Reject EJECT
it is clear that Hurst’s strategy to combat violence and criminality in the capital city is misguided, flawed and is a failed strategy on arrival. Jacksonians need to reject EJECT.
City & County
City Enters Interlocal Agreement With Hinds County for Street Repairs
At a press conference in July, the mayor defended himself and his administration against claims that he had a stack of interlocal agreements on his desk he had been refusing …
City & County
EDITORIAL: Free Press Is Not Here to Comfort the Powerful; We're Here for Truth
The Jackson Free Press, and its editors and journalists, have come under fire many times since we launched 16 years ago in Mississippi's capital city.
Art
Frances "Franny" Fortner: Reaching a Higher Truth
Eighteen-year-old Frances "Franny" Fortner, a Jackson Academy senior who passed away in May after her car hit an unsecured manhole cover, often wore a necklace that said "higher truth."
JFP Interviews
Lyle Lovett
Singer-songwriter Lyle Lovett has been a constant presence in the international music scene since his second single, "Cowboy Man," made its way into the top 10 on the country charts …
Music
AP Newsbreak: 'Queen of Soul' Aretha Franklin Dies at 76
Aretha Franklin, the undisputed "Queen of Soul" who sang with matchless style on such classics as "Think," ''I Say a Little Prayer" and her signature song, "Respect," and stood as …
Wednesday, August 15
Civil Rights
'Mississippi's Exiled Daughter' Recalls Civil Rights Push
Brenda Travis was a high school student when she was arrested and expelled for participating in a sit-in in 1961— a punishment that led to the Burglund High School walkout …
Politics
Signs of Danger for GOP in Polls of Mississippi's U.S. Senate Race
The race in Mississippi for the seat that U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran vacated in April is functionally tied between Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Mike Espy, a leaked …
City & County
Developer Secures More Farish Properties; Area Blight Worries Council
After over an hour of deliberation, the Jackson City Council voted to hand over seven of eight parcels Oxford-based developer Clarence Chapman after years of hold-up.
Person of the Day
Josh Abrams
Josh Abrams, a former Jackson resident who has been living in California since 2008, is returning to Jackson for the premiere of his animated movie, "Josh's Journal."
Development
Interstate 55 Expansion Wrapping Up Soon South of Jackson
The state Department of Transportation says all six lanes of Interstate 55 are opening Wednesday between south Jackson to the southern suburb of Byram.
Tuesday, August 14
Business
Metrocenter Mall Closing
16 WAPT News reported today that Metrocenter Mall owner and chief investor Paul Oliver announced the mall will close Wednesday, Aug. 15.
Business
Lumumba 'Eager' for New Zoo Management Company to Take Over
Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba hinted that the Jackson Zoological Society's time as the managing entity of the Jackson Zoo could be coming to a close.
Business
Mississippi Court Says Suit Against Google Can Continue
Mississippi's Supreme Court says a state lawsuit against Google alleging violations of student privacy should stay in a northeast Mississippi court.
Monday, August 13
City & County
Developer Seeks More Farish Street Properties Pending Council Vote
Farish Street, the once vibrant African American neighborhood in Jackson, has since become a barrage of empty lots, fallen-in homes and abandoned storefronts, with a few active businesses mixed in.
Civil Rights
Baria: 'My Son Will Feel Pain' When He Looks At Mississippi's Flag
The people of Mississippi have "a duty to acknowledge that hatred and racism remain alive and well in America today," Mississippi State Rep. David Baria, the Democratic nominee for U.S. …
Person of the Day
Italiana Anderson
Italiana Anderson spent three days in Orange County, Texas, in September 2017, working with four other students and two assistant professors from the University of Mississippi to produce a multimedia …
Politics
Analysis: Road Money Session Waits on Lieutenant Governor
A special session to seek more money for Mississippi's roads and bridges could be drawing near. But nothing is likely to happen without Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves' agreement, and many …
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, August 10
Civil Rights
OPINION: I Grew Up in the Segregated South. For Me, Supreme Court Rulings Are Personal.
"I fear a return to a time when our rights were considered secondary, if at all."
Music
Robert Randolph & the Family Band
The City with Soul will once again welcome the man behind "Got Soul" this month. New Jersey outfit Robert Randolph & the Family Band will return to Jackson on Aug. …
Business
Jackson Zoo's Future: A Bailout, A Resignation and Closed Doors?
The Jackson Zoo's future is the latest victim of Murphy's Law: Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. And in the last week, it has.
City & County
People on the Streets
The Jackson Free Press asked people on the streets the question, "What does Jackson need?"
Education
Eudora Welty Chair at Millsaps, Free National Guard Tuition at MSU and USM Foundation Milestone
Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum and National Guard Commander Maj. Gen. Janson "Durr" Boyles signed an agreement on Tuesday, Aug. 7, that says MSU will guarantee free tuition for …
National
NFL Players Protest During Anthem, Drawing Rebuke from Trump
NFL players demonstrated during the national anthem at several preseason games Thursday night, protests that again drew a rebuke from President Donald Trump.
City & County
US Courthouse in Mississippi Named for Former Sen. Cochran
A federal courthouse in Mississippi has been named for Thad Cochran, a longtime Republican U.S. senator who resigned this year.
Thursday, August 9
Crime
Pharmacy Owner Pleads Guilty as Part of Largest Health Care Fraud Case Ever in Mississippi
Thomas Edward Spell, Jr., 50, of Ridgeland, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to a Criminal Information outlining his role in a more than $240 million dollar …
National
'Don't Let Anybody Take Our Flag From Us,' Kamala Harris Tells Netroots
"Don't let anybody take our flag from us," Democratic U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris urged an audience in New Orleans on Friday, Aug. 3. The California senator was pushing back against …
City & County
Jackson to Hire 'Returning Citizens' to Develop City's 100GB Broadband
The City of Jackson will employ "returning citizens" re-entering the community after serving time to establish the Jackson's forthcoming 100GB high-speed broadband network.
Health Care
Mississippi Officials Seek Return of Medicaid Overpayments
Mississippi officials are trying to get two insurance companies that manage care for patients to repay Medicaid funds.
National
Pence Outlines Plan for New Space Force by 2020
Vice President Mike Pence told a Pentagon audience that the plan fulfills President Donald Trump's vow to ensure America's dominance in space—a domain that was once peaceful and uncontested that …
Person of the Day
Cam Akers
One of the biggest bright spots for the Seminoles season came from Clinton, Miss., in the form of Cam Akers. The highly recruited freshman running back came out of Clinton …
Wednesday, August 8
Civil Rights
OPINION: Do You Give a Damn?
This is a life that never allows you to truly rest, because there is so much injustice in the world that we need to address.
Crime
Mississippi Man Appeals Judge's Ruling Clearing Prosecutor
A man accused of killing a Mississippi woman by setting her on fire is appealing a judge's ruling clearing a prosecutor of misconduct, saying the judge used the wrong legal …
National
Charlottesville Gave Momentum to Confederate Monument Foes
Pressure to take down America's monuments honoring slain Confederate soldiers and the generals who led them didn't start with Charlottesville. But the deadly violence that rocked the Virginia college town …
Art
Local List: David Lewis
If you've been out and about around Jackson, chances are you may have seen David Lewis, who recently became manager of the Arts Center of Mississippi. Here are his top …
City & County
$65 Million Bond for JPS Passes in Landslide
The crowd of Jackson Public Schools Board members, students and parents was joyous when they received news that the bond referendum passed on Tuesday night.
Food
Six Easy Ways to Support Your Local Farmers
Supporting our small farmers strengthens the local economy, is better for the environment and leads to better public-health outcomes.
Art
Around the World in Jackson
Through Kidi-Zen Multicultural Art Camp at Jax-Zen, children in the Jackson metro area learned about the culture, art, food and more of different places around the world, including Japan and …
City & County
Museum Quirks
Museums are rich with knowledge, culture and history, and the city of Jackson is lucky to be home to so many of these great establishments. Here is a list of …
City & County
Living the Natural Life
Fair Trade Green, which recently reopened in Fondren, carries products such as incense made in Japan, tumbled stones from around the world and items such as herbal bath and body …
City & County
Cups Espresso Cafe Features New Mocktails
While Cups Espresso Cafe in Fondren has been supplying us with needed caffeine, it's got something new now: a mocktail menu. The four new drinks are $5 each. Barist Lauren …
City & County
Eat Your Greens
If you're vegan or vegetarian, eating at restaurants can be difficult. Luckily, Jackson has a decent amount of good options. Here are a few.
City & County
From Mississippi with Love
The Moscow mule is a simple, yet delicious drink made with vodka, ginger beer and lime juice. So why reinvent the wheel? Well, because sometimes the wheel tastes better with …
City & County
A’Walkin’ We Will Go
The Jackson metro is filled with great places to go for a walk. Here are just a few of them.
Best of Jackson
Newcomers: Need to Know
If you are a newcomer to Jackson, you may not know things like how to get your water turned on or where the DMV locations are. Luckily, we're here to …
City & County
Jackson's Historical Landmarks
Jackson has a rich and storied past, and today, a few landmarks help remind us of where we've been. Here are a few you can find.
JFP Interviews
Black, White and Orange: Piper Kerman on Prison Reform
The Jackson Free Press recently got on the phone with Piper Kerman, who will be the guest speaker for the Greater Jackson Arts Council's 2018 Creative Impact Luncheon on Aug. …
Civil Rights
OPINION: A Heroine of the Civil Rights Movement
Real change only comes to those who are open to new people and new ideas. A 6-year-old is a delightful open book, which is why segregated schools, churches and neighborhoods …
City & County
EDITOR'S NOTE: Finding Community in a Calendar
It is next to impossible to spread the word about every single interesting activity going on in Jackson in any given week, but we are sure trying to put a …
Jacksonian
Tina Brooks
Between her full-time job at Ross & Yerger Insurance and assisting her husband, Will Brooks, with his business, JellyDonut Studio, Tina Brooks has her hands full, but she says she …
City & County
Virgi Lindsay’s Rookie Year and Cautious Optimism
During an interview in her living room on July 2, Virgi Lindsay reflected on her first year as councilwoman for Ward 7, and what she hopes for the City in …
City & County
Plugging Kids into Mental Health
NFusion Metro is a community-based mental-health-care program primarily for ages 11 to 18 years old in the Jackson area. During the summer, counselors are doing themed weeks for their lesson …
Tuesday, August 7
Business
Tesla CEO Drops Latest Bombshell With $72B Buyout Proposal
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is considering leading a buyout of the electric car maker in a stunning move that would end the maverick company's eight-year history trading on the stock …
Politics
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith Draws Key Manufacturers Association Endorsement
The Mississippi Manufacturers Association endorsed United States Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith for election to the U.S. Senate seat she is holds temporarily.
Biz Roundup
Table 100 Wins Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, Aplos at Highland Village and Fuse.Cloud at Landmark Center
Table 100 received a 2018 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in July. Wine Spectator is a food and drink culture magazine that recognizes restaurants worldwide for their wine programs each …
Person of the Day
Blondean Davis
Tougaloo College named Blondean Davis, chief executive officer of Southland College Prep Charter High School in Chicago, to its board of trustees in June.
Monday, August 6
National
Trump Reimposes Sanctions to Levy Economic Pressure on Iran
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday reimposing many sanctions on Iran, three months after pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal, saying the U.S. policy is to levy …
Business
Aerospace Firm to Put Headquarters in Mississippi, Hiring 70
Vertex Aerospace, an aerospace company spun off from a larger conglomerate, will make its headquarters in central Mississippi.
City & County
JPS Bond Vote: 'It's So Integral to the Success of Every One of Us Students'
Jackson Public Schools officials and supporters of Tuesday's bond referendum held a press conference Monday, Aug. 6.
Civil Rights
Medgar Evers
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has added the Mississippi home of Medgar and Myrlie Evers to the African-American Civil Rights Network, which was created by federal law this year.
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, August 4
Justice
OPINION: Emmett Till's Legacy Vandalized, Brutalized Again: It's Time for a Change
Mississippi is not what it used to be. And yet here we are again, facing the news that the Emmett Till sign that marks the place of his death has …
Friday, August 3
Politics
Intra-GOP Squabbling Dominates Senate Speeches at Neshoba Fair
"Tough crowd," Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant muttered to himself, just before taking the stage at the Neshoba County Fair in Philadelphia, Miss., on Thursday.
City & County
Parkland Teens in Jackson: 'We Can't Turn Away from These States'
The "March For Our Lives: Road to Change" students held a town hall in Thalia Mara Hall on Aug. 2. It featured students from Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School and …
Education
JPS and Tougaloo Early College Program, MSU YMCA Renovation and USM Optoelectronic Center
Jackson Public Schools recently partnered with Tougaloo College to establish an Early College High School program. ECHS is an independent high-school program that will operate on Tougaloo's campus in the …
Person of the Day
Price Wallace
Republican Price Wallace of Mendenhall has won a special election runoff for a seat in the Mississippi House. He defeated Hayes Patrick of Puckett on Tuesday in House District 77, …
Business
Mississippi Zoo Faces Money Woes, Idea of Temporary Closure
The city council in Mississippi's capital city has approved $200,000 to cover the Jackson Zoo's "depleted" budget.
Thursday, August 2
City & County
City Manager, Not the Mayor, Would Run Jackson Under Proposal
A city manager, rather than the mayor, would run Jackson under a new proposal presented this week. Ward 4 Councilman De'Keither Stamps proposed changing the form of local government in …
City & County
JPS Sets Up Bond Oversight Committee for $65 Million on Ballot Aug. 7
If the $65-million bond passes on Aug. 7, the Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees have framework in place to create a bond oversight committee.
Person of the Day
Robert Brazile
Linebacker Robert "Dr. Doom" Brazile's football career has earned him honors in quite a few halls of fame.
National
Mueller Offers Trump Team New Proposal for Interview
In negotiations over a possible interview by prosecutors, special counsel Robert Mueller's team has offered the White House format changes, perhaps willing to limit some questions asked of President Donald …
Wednesday, August 1
City & County
UPDATED: March For Our Lives Students to Stop in Jackson Aug. 2, Host Town Hall
On Feb. 18, a gunman killed 17 students and staff, and injured 17 more at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. The students who survived, and then formed …
Immigration
US Appeals Court: Trump 'Sanctuary Cities' Order is Illegal
President Donald Trump's executive order threatening to withhold funding from "sanctuary cities" that limit cooperation with immigration authorities is unconstitutional, but a judge went too far when he blocked its …
Politics
Delbert Hosemann Will Seek Higher Office; Not Running for Re-election
Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann drew boos from a crowd of supporters on Wednesday at the Neshoba County Fair in Philadelphia, Miss., when he announced he would not run …
City & County
Jail Time for Dilapidated Property in Jackson?
Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks wants to create a safer 1-mile radius around schools in the City of Jackson by making it a crime to own unkempt abandoned properties.
Politics
ABC News: Race to Replace Sen. Thad Cochran 'Could Reshape Washington'
The race to decide who will win Mississippi's U.S. Senate seat that Thad Cochran vacated is one of the "races that could reshape Washington and the country," ABC News said …
National
Trump Calls on Sessions to End Mueller's Russia Probe
President Donald Trump called Wednesday for his attorney general, Jeff Sessions, to end special counsel Robert Mueller's probe of Russia's election intervention, a day after Trump's former campaign chairman went …
Person of the Day
Glenda Glover
Glenda Glover became the 30th international president of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority on Thursday, July 12, at the organization's international conference in Houston, Texas.
Health Care
Amid Dispute, Health System Will Accept Insurance Coverage
Mississippi's largest hospital system says it will continue accepting policies from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi patients, despite the lack of agreement on a new contract.
Politics
Britton: High-Speed Internet Service Should be Statewide
Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Sam Britton is calling for high-speed internet to reach residents in all parts of the state.
Education
Slashed Funding Ends Southern Miss Health Care Help Program
A University of Southern Mississippi program that helped residents navigate the federal health insurance marketplace will end because of budget cuts.
Education
Pro-School Bond Ruling Appealed to Mississippi Supreme Court
Opponents of a Mississippi school district's effort to secure bonds to build a new high school have appealed to the state Supreme Court.
National
Promoting Voter ID, Trump says ID Needed to Buy Groceries
President Donald Trump wrongly claimed that shoppers need to show photo identification to buy groceries and accused Democrats of obstructing his agenda and his Supreme Court nominee during a raucous …
