Friday, March 30
City & County
Lawyer in Flowood Officer-Involved Shooting Wants Video, Answers
On the evening of March 8, a Flowood Police Department officer unloaded his gun into Von McDavid's car somewhere between four and eight times.
Music
Keeshea Pratt Keeps Going
This year's International Blues Challenge featured many musicians from the Magnolia State, with artists from the Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola and the Vicksburg Blues Society making the semifinals. …
Education
New JSU Theater Director, USM Entrepreneur of the Year and Jackson Chamber Teacher Awards
Jackson State University named alumnus Prince Duren as director of the school's theater department this week.
Thursday, March 29
Politics
Dead or Alive: What Bills Survived, Or Didn't, in the 2018 Legislative Session
While the budget is intact, many other Republican priorities and proposals died this session. Here is a short list of what survived and what did not.
Crime
Only Black People Prosecuted Under Mississippi Gang Law Since 2010
In the lead-up to this year's legislative session in Mississippi, supporters of a tougher gang law in the state talked a lot about the need to arrest white people. But …
Music
Yolanda Singleton
After 26 years in the entertainment business, concert promoter Yolanda Singleton says she feels like she has finally carved out a niche in the male-dominated industry.
Wednesday, March 28
National
Trump Fires Veterans Affairs Secretary Shulkin
President Donald Trump is firing Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin and replacing him with the White House doctor in the wake of a bruising ethics scandal and a mounting rebellion …
City & County
UPDATED: Mayor Lumumba Planning April 4 Town Hall Event in Jackson with Bernie Sanders
The City of Jackson will be commemorating the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. King through a conversation titled, “Examining Economic Justice 50 Years Later.” This will be a …
Personhood
US Judge Extends Temporary Block on 15-Week Abortion Ban
A federal judge in Mississippi has extended his temporary block on the most restrictive abortion law in the United States.
Politics
Senate Candidate Criticizes Group That Complained About Him
A U.S. Senate candidate in Mississippi said Wednesday that he's filing an Internal Revenue Service complaint against a group that complained to the Federal Election Commission about him.
Food
Of Bunnies and Brunch
There's plenty going on in and around Jackson for Easter this year. Here's just a few of them.
Business
Business+Tech Events
For more business and technology-related events, check out jfpevents.com. For biz and tech news, visit jfp.ms/business.
Business
A Platform for Community
On Thursday, March 22, Cathead Distillery in downtown Jackson was bustling with activity at JXN Gumbo as J.J. Townsend launched his nonprofit community crowd-funding platform, Citizenville.
Civil Rights
EDITORIAL: Mayor, JPD, Get on Same Page About Officer Shootings
When it comes to police transparency, Jackson is on a volatile tectonic plate that could cause tremors at any moment. Especially when City officials are the ones off-kilter and inconsistent.
City & County
OPINION: Police-State Violence, the Elephant in the Room
We live in a police state. That is when a government uses organized force to act arbitrarily and violently against the interests of the masses of people, rendering them subjects …
Civil Rights
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Complacency vs. The Permission to Care Deeply
One of the biggest letdowns of the modern era—and the money involved in American politics—is the complacency that sets in once someone gets into office.
Jacksonian
Tasha Bibb
During Tasha Bibb's sophomore year at Mississippi College, she was not sure what she wanted to do after graduation. That's when she learned about the nonprofit Innovate Mississippi, then called …
Education
$6 Billion Budget, But No Roads, Bridges Funds
State revenues are higher than expected, and lawmakers set aside about $112 million, or 2 percent, of the state budget for its rainy day fund, as they worked several late …
City & County
Youth Take Lead on Guns in Schools
As the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School take the world stage to demand stricter gun laws, many people in the Jackson metro area recall that 20 years ago, …
City & County
Celebrating the Life of a Man JPD Killed
In Jackson, no one has taken to the streets for any of the last seven officer-involved shootings since Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba took office in July 2017 with none of …
Tuesday, March 27
Health Care
Mississippi Lawmakers Revise Some Medicaid Services
Mississippi lawmakers are updating the state's Medicaid program, allocating nearly $1 billion in state funds for the program that insures 1 in 4 state residents.
National
Retired Justice Urges Repeal of Second Amendment
Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens is calling for the repeal of the Second Amendment to allow for significant gun control legislation.
National
Two Officers in Black Man's Fatal Shooting Won't Be Charged
Louisiana's attorney general ruled out criminal charges Tuesday against two white Baton Rouge police officers in the fatal shooting of a black man during a struggle outside a convenience store.
Civil Rights
Mississippians Sue to Get Voting Rights Restored After Serving Time
Wayne Kuhn completed his sentence for a grand larceny charge in the 1980s more than 25 years ago. He even got his record expunged—and yet he still cannot vote in …
Biz Roundup
Sugar Ray's Sweet Shop, Que Padre and Zeek'z House of Gyros
Local business Sugar Ray's Sweet Shop launched a GoFundMe page on March 26 asking for donations to help keep the store open.
Person of the Day
Dante Scott
Athletes from teams that don't win much do not normally receive honors, but MVSU forward Dante Scott earned the votes of head coaches and sports information directors with his play …
Politics
Lawmakers Again Fail to Make Oil Spill Money Spending Plan
State lawmakers have again failed to agree on a plan for spending part of Mississippi's compensation from 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Monday, March 26
City & County
UPDATED: City May ID Cops Who Discharge Weapons Within 72 Hours, Establishing Task Force
The City may require that the Jackson Police Department start releasing names of officers who fire on civilians within 72 hours of the incident.
City & County
'I Call B.S.': 'March for Our Lives' in Jackson Puts Young Protesters on Display
Nearly 200 people took to the streets of downtown Jackson on Saturday, March 24, 2018, for the March for Our Lives, which calls for school safety and stricter gun laws.
Politics
Medicaid Funding in Flux as Lawmakers Work on $6 Billion Budget
Over the weekend, lawmakers worked to pass a roughly $6-billion budget to fund state agencies beginning in July. They have until Monday night to complete passing the state budget, with …
Person of the Day
Steve Stricker
Steve Stricker pulled away on the back nine Sunday at Fallen Oak to win the Rapiscan Systems Classic for his second straight PGA Tour Champions victory.
National
Frontier Gun Maker Remington Seeks Bankruptcy Protection
Remington, the storied gun maker that began turning out flintlock rifles when there were only 19 states in the Union, has filed for bankruptcy reorganization amid years of slumping sales …
Politics
Finance Complaint Filed in Mississippi US Senate Campaign
A nonpartisan group says in a complaint to the Federal Election Commission that a super PAC has been improperly organizing and funding activities for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Chris McDaniel.
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, March 24
Capitol
Lawmakers Agree on Nearly $250 Million Bond Package
Top Mississippi lawmakers said Saturday that they have agreed on a bond package of nearly $250 million to finance several projects.
Friday, March 23
State
‘All That Is Dead’: Roads and Bridges Funding Dies at Legislature
Efforts to provide additional funding for roads and bridges are dead in the 2018 legislative session after Senate and House leaders could not come to an agreement on exactly how …
Education
Alcorn State President Named New IHL Commissioner
The Institutions of Higher Learning board named Alfred Rankins Jr. the new commissioner of higher education for Mississippi on Friday, March 23.
Biz Roundup
Farish Quilt, New MUW President and UMMC/Memorial Collaboration
Jackson State University's Margaret Walker Center and creative-consulting group Significant Developments unveiled an interpretive plaque for the public art installation "Farish Quilt" in Farish Street Park on Thursday, March 22.
Person of the Day
Tom Benson
New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson died of the flu on Thursday, March 15, at the age of 90.
Health Care
Mississippi Toughening Up Narcotics Overdose Investigations
The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics announced this week that officials will now respond to the scene of every suspected overdose in the state in order to assist coroners and medical …
Thursday, March 22
City & County
Mayor Lumumba on Paternity Leave Until April 3
Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and his wife, Ebony Lumumba, welcomed a baby girl Wednesday, March 21. Nubia Ngozi was born at 8:09 a.m., weighing 8 pounds and 1 ounce.
Politics
Governor Defends Choice of Cindy Hyde-Smith to U.S. Senate Seat
Gov. Phil Bryant made history on Wednesday, March 21, when he named Cindy Hyde-Smith to take Sen. Thad Cochran's seat, which he will vacate on April 1. Mississippi has never …
Books
Michael Farris Smith
Author Michael Farris Smith's latest thriller, "The Fighter," hit shelves on March 20. He began working on the novel shortly after finishing his critically acclaimed third book, 2017's "Desperation Road."
National
Mueller Examining Cambridge Analytica, Trump Campaign Ties
Special counsel Robert Mueller is scrutinizing the connections between President Donald Trump's campaign and the data mining firm Cambridge Analytica, which has come under fierce criticism over reports that it …
Politics
House Kills Bill That Would Have Let Schools Arm Teachers
Mississippi lawmakers won't pass a plan this year explicitly allowing schools and colleges to let teachers or staff members carry guns after having firearms training.
National
Troopers to Patrol at Florida School Where Massacre Happened
Already heightened security was being bolstered Thursday at the Florida high school that became the scene of a massacre last month, with Gov. Rick Scott ordering eight highway patrol troopers …
Wednesday, March 21
National
Louisiana Governor Says He Would Sign 15-Week Abortion Ban
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said Wednesday that he likely would sign a proposal banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, if his state's lawmakers pass it.
Business
Auditor Says Failed Solar Plant Owes Mississippi $93 Million
Mississippi's state auditor is formally demanding that a failed solar panel maker pay nearly $93 million that he says is owed to state and local governments, a prelude to a …
City & County
EDITORIAL: Public Officials, Get Facts Straight on Project EJECT
There are two sides to the proverbial Project EJECT coin: what the public hears and what actually happens.
Civil Rights
OPINION: White People, Respect Our Struggle
The mere suggestion that not seeing my skin color should somehow make me feel comfortable is ignorant. I am proud of my race and my skin color. You don't see …
Food
Cinnamon Roll Cravings
Michael Harris' business, Your Cravings Gourmet Cinnamon Rolls, sprung from a family tradition.
National
Austin Bombing Suspect Blows Himself Up as SWAT Moves In
The suspect in the deadly bombings that terrorized Austin blew himself up early Wednesday as authorities closed in on him, bringing a grisly end to a three-week manhunt. But police …
City & County
Oh, the Places You'll Go: Project EJECT Expels Gun Offenders to Faraway Prisons
U.S. Attorney Michael Hurst has charged 35 people since he first announced the anti-crime initiative Project EJECT in late 2017.
Editor's Note
EDITOR'S NOTE: All Those Crazy Jackson Ideas
When Mississippi Arts Commission Executive Director Malcolm White first moved to Jackson in 1979, he said it was a fairly straight-laced city where people went to work, church, school and …
Jacksonian
Christopher Lockhart
Christopher Lockhart, owner of Capital City Kayaks, says he has always enjoyed being out on the water.
Politics
Lawmakers Turn to Budgets; Re-Entry Reforms on Governor’s Desk
It's crunch time at the Mississippi Capitol. This week lawmakers will have to finalize the state budget, predominantly behind closed doors, before passing a slim fiscal-year 2019 budget.
Politics
UPDATED: ‘Galactic Trouble’ for Foster Care Ahead?
Jess Dickinson likes to use an ancient maxim he heard in a film, "The Bourne Ultimatum," to illustrate where he sits currently as the commissioner of Mississippi's foster-care system. "Hope …
Tuesday, March 20
Health Care
Judge Blocks Newly Signed 15-Week Abortion Ban for 10 Days
It took less than 24 hours for Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban to become law and then be stopped from taking effect.
Biz Roundup
Uncle Ray's Hookah Lounge, vineyard vines and Two Dog Farms
Jackson resident Ray McCants will hold a grand opening for his new business, Uncle Ray's Hookah Lounge, on Friday, April 20.
Person of the Day
Cindy Hyde-Smith
The state's governor will appoint Mississippi's first female member of Congress to fill the Senate vacancy that will soon be created when veteran Sen. Thad Cochran retires, three state Republicans …
Health Care
Judge Temporarily Blocks Mississippi's 15-Week Abortion Ban
A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked a new Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks' gestation—the most restrictive abortion law in the United States.
Health Care
Supreme Court Takes Up Challenge by Crisis Pregnancy Centers
The Supreme Court is hearing arguments in a free speech fight over California's attempt to regulate anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers.
Monday, March 19
Personhood
Mississippi Imposes 15-Week Abortion Ban; Nation's Toughest
Mississippi's governor signed a law Monday banning most abortions after 15 weeks' gestations, the tightest restrictions in the nation.
National
Trump Calls for Death Penalty to 'Get Tough' on Drug Pushers
President Donald Trump called Monday for stiffer penalties for drug traffickers, including embracing a tactic employed by some of the global strongmen he admires: the death penalty.
Crime
Facebook Data Whistleblower: 'Fake News to the Next Level'
A Trump-affiliated firm under scrutiny for inappropriately obtaining data on tens of millions of Facebook users created profiling algorithms that "took fake news to the next level," a former employee …
City & County
'One Lake' Project Could Go to Public for Comment Next Month
Engineers are pumping water at both Pearl River stations after a weekend of storms. The river reached a crest of 21 feet this weekend but is projected to drop down …
Civil Rights
Indigent Defendants Denied Counsel, Speedy Trials in 10 Counties
Mississippians accused of felonies who cannot afford their own representation have the right to counsel and a speedy trial under the 6th Amendment, but a new report found that access …
Person of the Day
Kermit Davis
Kermit Davis turned Middle Tennessee into one of the best mid-major programs in the country during his 16 seasons at the school. Mississippi believes he can have the same kind …
Politics
Analysis: Foster Care Agency Seeks Money to Meet Mandates
Mississippi legislators are approaching the final phase of patching holes in the current year's state budget and writing a $6 billion spending plan for fiscal 2019, which begins July 1.
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, March 16
National
Report: Abortion is Safe But Barriers Reduce Quality of Care
Abortions in the U.S. are very safe but getting one without facing delays and false medical information depends on where women live, says a broad examination of the nation's abortion …
Civil Rights
Black, Male, Arrested: Madison County Case May Go Class Action
Attorneys argue that Madison County's policing program violates black residents' rights outlined in the Fourth Amendment, the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and Title VI of the Civil …
Education
USM Symphony Orchestra Concert, UNCF HBCU Report and ACHE at Belhaven
The United Negro College Fund recently published a study titled "HBCUs Make America Strong: The Positive Economic Impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities," which showed that Tougaloo College has …
Person of the Day
Saint Patrick
People across the world celebrate St. Patrick's Day on March 17 with parades, festivals and a variety of revelry, but who exactly is Saint Patrick?
Thursday, March 15
National
Trump Owns Up to Making Things Up
For a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Trump was by his own admission unprepared—deficient in the fundamentals of the Canada-U.S. trade relationship that he'd been railing about since …
Politics
Mississippi Governor: National GOP Won't Choose New Senator
Mississippi's Republican governor said Thursday that his decision about appointing a new U.S. senator won't be influenced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell or other GOP leaders in Washington, but …
Immigration
Groups Want Judges to Stop Courthouse Immigration Arrests
Civil rights and indigent defense groups asked Massachusetts' highest court Thursday to stop federal agents from arresting immigrants targeted for deportation at courthouses, saying the practice is scaring victims, witnesses …
Justice
Criminal Justice Reform Law Headed to Governor's Desk
If Gov. Phil Bryant signs House Bill 387 into law, Mississippians will not automatically go to prison or jail if they do not pay fines or court fees.
Person of the Day
Drew Brees
New Orleans entered this offseason, much like many in the past years, with one major question: "What will happen with quarterback Drew Brees?" Fans got their answer on March 13 …
Wednesday, March 14
Business
Op-Ed: Entergy
In an op-ed filed by the CEO of Entergy Mississippi, he claims that the state's Public Service Commission has already approved the charges for electricity purchased by Entergy. That is …
Politics
State Sen. Chris McDaniel Switches Races to Run for Thad Cochran's Seat
A Mississippi state lawmaker who came close to defeating U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran nearly four years ago said Wednesday that he is going to run for the retiring senator's open …
City & County
EDITOR'S NOTE: Right, Left Must Work Together for Criminal Reforms
It is time that criminal-justice reform be on every candidate's agenda in Mississippi, regardless of party. The goal should be to lower mass incarceration, especially for drug and victimless crimes—which …
City & County
St. Paddy’s Celebrates 35 Years
Hal's St. Paddy's Parade (formerly known as the Mal's St. Paddy's Parade) may be a cultural staple of Jackson now, but for residents on their way home from work in …
Music
The Sounds of St. Paddy's
These days, venues across the city make sure there are plenty of options for live music before and after the parade, but Hal's St. Paddy's Festival is still one of …
Art
The Lucky Round-Up
Plenty of local places have plans for this year's Hal's St. Paddy's Parade in Jackson. Here's a list of some of the festivities to be found this weekend.
Jacksonian
V.A. Patterson
As a young child, V.A. Patterson's mother, Mary Alice Bookhart, who was a long-time women's editor for The Clarion-Ledger, would take her to art shows and the theater, where Patterson …
Editorial
EDITORIAL: Stop Hurting Women as a Campaign Strategy
Constituents need to hold lawmakers accountable who are more interested in scoring political points than they are about ensuring women, especially black women, are protected.
City & County
OPINION: Justice for Reggie Harper
For Reginald Harper, Jan. 4, 2018, is a day that will forever live in infamy. On this day Jackson Police Department officers shot at him.
Business
Jackson Airport Soon Offering Flights to Central Florida
A Mississippi airport will begin offering direct flights to an airport near Orlando, Florida, in June.
City & County
Inside JPD’s Use-of-Force Policy: Public Trust vs. Officer Safety
Lately Tetrina Blalock has been reconnecting with family members she has not seen in a while. Losing her cousin brought them together.
Personhood
Reversing 'Roe'; Outside Group Uses Mississippi as 'Bait' to End Abortion
The State of Mississippi's Republican legislative leadership may have just decided to end all abortions after 15 weeks, but they used a template developed outside the state. The legislation is …
Crime
Sabotage, Death, Danger: Private Prison on Trial
The Southern Poverty Law Center, the National Prison Project of the ACLU and two other law firms brought a class-action lawsuit against the Mississippi Department of Corrections back in 2013 …
Politics
UK Expels 23 Russian Diplomats Over Spy Poisoning
Britain announced Wednesday it will expel almost two dozen Russian diplomats, sever high-level bilateral contacts with Moscow and take both open and covert action against Kremlin meddling after the poisoning …
National
Stephen Hawking, Best-Known Physicist of His Time, Has Died
Stephen Hawking, whose brilliant mind ranged across time and space though his body was paralyzed by disease, has died. He was 76.
Civil Rights
Money for Memorial to Honor Activist Killed by KKK Approved
A request to use money for a memorial to honor a Mississippi man killed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1966 has been approved.
Tuesday, March 13
Politics
Mississippi Representative Recognized After Nearly 4 Decades
Colleagues are applauding longtime state Rep. Tyrone Ellis as he returns to Mississippi's House chambers after retiring in June.
Politics
Mississippi Cigarette Tax Increases Nearly Dead
With less than three weeks left in the 2018 regular session, an effort by Mississippi lawmakers to raise tobacco taxes is on its deathbed.
Education
UPDATED: Rankin County Middle Schooler Wins Mississippi State Spelling Bee
Around 50 middle-schoolers ranging from ages nine to 14, along with their parents and supporters, filled the Rose E. McCoy auditorium at Jackson State University today for the 2018 Mississippi …
Person of the Day
Michele Mathis
Michele Mathis, a Raymond, Miss., resident, will host a launch event for her new podcast, "Point of Perception," on Friday, March 16.
Biz Roundup
Swell-O-Phonic Celebrates 20 Years, Spring Market and New Trade Mart
Ron Chane, owner of Swell-O-Phonic, Studio Chane and The Wonder Lab, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Swell's opening with a series of events all week leading up to Saturday, …
National
Trump Fires Tillerson at State, Replacing with CIA's Pompeo
President Donald Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday and said he would nominate CIA Director Mike Pompeo to replace him, ending Tillerson's difficult tenure by tweeting an …
Politics
Mississippi Governor Nixes Stricter Real Estate License Rule
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant is vetoing a bill that would have created stricter requirements for real estate brokers to earn licenses in the state.
Monday, March 12
Politics
Mississippi Secretary of State Hints at Seeking Higher Office
Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann says he's not running for his current office again, but won't say what he's running for next.
National
US Sets New Record for Censoring, Withholding Government Files
The federal government censored, withheld or said it couldn't find records sought by citizens, journalists and others more often last year than at any point in the past decade, according …
National
APNewsBreak: Trump Jr., Donor Have Longtime Undisclosed Ties
Donald Trump Jr. has a previously undisclosed business relationship with a longtime hunting buddy who helped raise millions of dollars for his father's 2016 presidential campaign and has had special …
National
Trump Doesn't Set Age for Guns, Defers on Arming Teachers
President Donald Trump said Monday that he is "watching court cases and rulings" before taking action on raising age limits for purchasing some firearms, arguing that there is "not much …
City & County
Woman Crashes into McDade's in Belhaven, Hits Worker Inside
Just after 9 a.m. today, a woman drove her car into McDade's Market on Fortification Street, crashing through the brick wall outside the cafeteria.
Crime
Not 'Soft on Crime': Clergy Want Prison Reforms to Become Law
The Mississippi Legislature could approve two re-entry and criminal-justice reform measures this session, which are still alive.
Person of the Day
Nick Weatherspoon
Mississippi State guard Nick Weatherspoon was injured and taken off the court on a stretcher after being stepped on with 14:54 remaining in the Bulldogs' 62-59 loss against No. 13 …
Politics
Analysis: Auditor Wants Improved Use of Accounting System
State Auditor Stacy Pickering says an increasing number of accounting problems shows state employees need more training in governmental accounting practices and how to use the $100 million accounting software …
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, March 9
Politics
House Makes Counter-Offer to Senate on Transportation Money
State House members are moving forward with their version of a plan to divert future revenue and borrow money to spend on roads and bridges, but it wouldn't give control …
National
Florida's Governor Signs Compromise School Safety Bill
Flanked by family members of students who were killed during a mass shooting just over three weeks ago, Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Friday signed a $400 million school safety …
Art
Anime Fest Checklist
The Mississippi Anime Festival, which takes place March 10 at the Mississippi Trade Mart, brings together vendors, special guests, artists, cosplayers and more under one roof to celebrate Japanese animation …
City & County
JPS Closing Four Elementary Schools Due to Funding, Costly Repairs
Four elementary schools will close at the end of this school year in Jackson Public Schools.
Education
MUW Alumni Awards and VEX Robotics Competition at USM
The Mississippi University for Women Alumni Association announced the recipients of its four annual alumni awards on Wednesday, March 7.
Immigration
ACLU Accuses US of Broadly Separating Immigrant Families
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a class-action lawsuit Friday accusing the U.S. government of broadly separating immigrant families seeking asylum.
Music
Alexander FRE$CO
Something was not sitting right for James Villes. In 2017, after working on a new recording project for about a year and a half, the hip-hop artist and Jackson native, …
Thursday, March 8
National
Trump Announces Stiff Trade Tariffs, Unswayed by Warnings
Unswayed by Republican warnings of a trade war, President Donald Trump ordered steep new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to the U.S. on Thursday, vowing to fight back against …
Music
The Future of Fleet Foxes
When a band ends a six-year hiatus, there are bound to be high expectations for the new music that breaks the silence. For Robin Pecknold, principal songwriter of Seattle indie-folk …
City & County
City Roundup: New Pot-Hole Machine, School Sidewalk Delays, Historic Midtown
A Jackson elementary school has to wait for new sidewalks because the City of Jackson has to restart a bid process for funding under the federal Safe Routes to School …
Politics
Mississippi Passes Law Banning Abortion After 15 Weeks
Mississippi lawmakers on Thursday passed what is likely to be the nation's most restrictive abortion law, making the procedure illegal after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Education
Senate's 'School Safety Act' Tightens Teacher Gun Training, Carry Laws
Schools, colleges and universities around Mississippi could create school-safety programs, designating certain licensed firearm owners who complete approved training courses to carry a concealed gun for the explicit purpose of …
Politics
Mississippi House Again Seeks Lottery Despite Dim Prospects
A longtime proponent of Mississippi setting up a state lottery is trying to pressure leaders of the Legislature to move in that direction.
National
One Student Dead, Another Hurt by Gun in Alabama High School
Birmingham closed one of its largest schools for a thorough safety sweep Thursday after metal detectors and other security measures failed to keep students from handling a gun in a …
Education
Mississippi State Gets $7M Grant for New 2-Mile Road
Mississippi State University is getting $7 million to build a new two-mile north-south road with sidewalks, bike lanes, and street lighting along the eastern edge of campus.
Wednesday, March 7
Politics
Mississippi Senate Advances Tightened Guns-in-Schools Bill
Schools and colleges could allow teachers or staff members to carry guns after they get firearms training, under legislation advanced Wednesday by Mississippi lawmakers.
Immigration
Trump Administration Escalates California Immigration Feud
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions brought the Trump administration's feud with California to the doorstep of the state Capitol on Wednesday, suing over its so-called sanctuary state law and dramatically …
City & County
Civil Rights Museum Enjoys ‘Trump-less’ Grand Opening
Bryant hit a nerve with his invite last December after the racially tone-deaf president failed to disavow white nationalists during recent neo-Nazi demonstrations.
Editorial
EDITORIAL: Cheers to Senate, But More Ed Attacks Ahead
Bravo to the Mississippi Senate for actually listening to their constituents and killing the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula proposal.
Civil Rights
OPINION: Take Down the Flag
I was born and raised in the South. It's my home. I want it to live up to its potential. I am not a Democrat, nor am I a liberal. …
Best of Jackson
Happiest Hours
Happy hours are always one of the best ways to wind down from a busy week, and luckily, Jackson has some great choices.
Cover
Mutiny at the Senate: Bi-partisan Death of New Ed Formula
Twenty-six senators joined Sen. Hob Bryan, D-Amory, to kill the Republican-driven proposal to scrap MAEP, which would have replaced it with a weights-based student funding formula, which EdBuild developed and …
Jacksonian
Sergio Lugo II
Sergio Lugo II's day job is as a real-time operations supervisor for Comcast, but when he is not managing scheduling or performing other tasks for work, he hosts popular local …
Editor's Note
EDITOR'S NOTE: Parkland Teens Lead by Talking Back, Listening
The Parkland, Fla., teenagers who became activists against gun violence while locked in closets on Valentine's Day are giving many of us life during a dark period in our country.
City & County
Jacksonians Value JPS and Teachers, Poll Finds
The local community supports both Jackson Public Schools and the teachers in a stronger way than in many communities, a poll of 500 local residents in January found.
Crime
Ringing the Bell on Kids Charged as Adults
Johnnie McDaniels' job requires him to repair broken children, especially those who have been charged as adults. Many of them sit in his facility for the better part of a …
City & County
UPDATED:After 7 Shootings, JPD Still Shields Officers
Lee Edward Bonner, 37, died after a Jackson police officer shot him on Feb. 21 in west Jackson. His family says it was "an overkill," while the City released scant …
Tuesday, March 6
LGBT
Starkville Reverses Decision, Gives Permit to Gay Pride Parade
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Leaders in Starkville, home to Mississippi State University, now say they will permit a gay pride parade, reversing a previous denial after a lawsuit was filed.
Politics
Mississippi GOP Governor Won't Appoint Himself to US Senate
Mississippi's Republican governor took himself out of the mix Tuesday for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Thad Cochran, saying he'll find another strong contender to keep the seat …
Personhood
Mississippi Senate Passes 15-Week Abortion Ban, with Changes
Mississippi senators have passed a bill that would ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
City & County
Mayor Refutes Ethics Complaint Claiming JPD Destroys Immigration Records
In one of his more assertive and direct public statements, Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba refuted an ethics complaint from a local conservative think tank accusing the City of Jackson of …
Biz Roundup
Natural Saga Tea, Launch Trampoline Park, Hollywood Feed and Microsoft Rocks
Clinton resident Bradley Bailey opened Natural Saga Tea at The Hatch in midtown on Feb. 1. The business sells Bailey's own blends of sweet, herbal and milk teas, which he …
Person of the Day
Sheena Allen
On Thursday, March 8, at 7 p.m., Fuse will premier the two-hour documentary "She Started It," which follows the lives of five women tech entrepreneurs, including Mississippi-born app developer Sheena …
Monday, March 5
Politics
Sen. Cochran to Resign April 1 Citing Health Concerns, McDaniel May Switch From Wicker Race
Sen. Thad Cochran, a Republican from Mississippi, says he will resign April 1.
Civil Rights
Plaques at Ole Miss Acknowledge Its Historic Ties to Slavery
The University of Mississippi is acknowledging its historical connections to slave labor, slave owners and officials who set policies that stripped African-Americans of voting rights after the Civil War.
National
Trump Says He Won't Back Down on Tariffs Plan
President Donald Trump insisted Monday that he's "not backing down" on his plan to impose stiff tariffs on imported steel and aluminum despite anxious warnings from House Speaker Paul Ryan …
City & County
Best-Selling Author Angie Thomas Receives Key to Jackson
Angie Thomas was 6 years-old when she was caught in the crossfire of a shootout in Georgetown, the Jackson neighborhood where she grew up. Her mother, Julia Thomas, could not …
Civil Rights
Private Prison Trial Starts Today Over Alleged Squalor, Rats, Deaths
Inmates housed at the East Mississippi Correctional Facility alleged squalor conditions, solitary confinement practices, lack of medical and mental health care, and an overall unsafe environment. Five years later, the …
National
Cosby Wants Sexual Assault Case Tossed or Witnesses Limited
A day after Hollywood's first Oscars of the #MeToo era, Bill Cosby went to court Monday in a bid to get his sexual assault case thrown out—or at least stop …
Person of the Day
Matt Insell
Mississippi's Matt Insell is out as women's basketball coach after five seasons with the program.
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, March 2
Education
Bipartisan Vote Kills New Education Funding Formula Proposal
Sen. Gray Tollison, R-Oxford, thought he had the votes to pass the Republican proposal to replace the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, when he stepped up to the speaker well in …
Education
Now: The Call and Look of Freedom, Retool Your School and Rural Voices Radio
The Mississippi Museum of Art and Tougaloo College recently announced the inaugural exhibition of the institutions' Art and Civil Rights Initiative titled "Now: The Call and Look of Freedom."
Person of the Day
Chris McDaniel
Mississippi state lawmaker Chris McDaniel, who lost a bitter Republican primary to the state's senior U.S. senator in 2014, said Wednesday that he is challenging the state's other Republican senator, …
National
World Leaders Push Back Against Trump's Trade War Threat
President Donald Trump on Friday insisted "trade wars are good, and easy to win," a bold claim that prompted threats of retaliation against U.S. exports like blue jeans and motorcycles.
Civil Rights
Several Members of Congress on a 'Civil Rights Pilgrimage'
About a dozen Democrats and Republicans prayed and sang "Amazing Grace" during a solemn ceremony Friday at the site where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated nearly 50 …
Thursday, March 1
Education
Senators Reject Change to Mississippi School Funding Formula
Mississippi lawmakers are rejecting an attempt to rewrite the state's public school funding formula.
National
Pro-Gun Georgia Lawmakers Deny Delta Tax Break for Breaking with NRA
Pro-gun Georgia lawmakers scored a political victory Thursday over Delta Air Lines, making good on Republican threats to deny the company a hefty tax break after it cut ties with …
Education
UPDATED: Senate Takes Up New Ed Funding Formula Proposal Today
The push to re-write the State's education-funding formula, the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, is in the Senate waiting on a full vote.
City & County
Number of JPD Officer-Involved Shootings Keeps Growing
With two deadly officer-involved shootings in the first two months of 2018, public scrutiny has grown over the Jackson Police Department's use-of-force policy and its decision to withhold officers' names …
National
Trump to Impose Tariffs on Imports of Steel and Aluminum
Determined to protect vital American industries, President Donald Trump declared Thursday that he will impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, dramatically raising the possibility of a trade showdown with …
National
Kroger Joins Other Big Retailers, Tightens Gun Restrictions
Kroger will no longer sell guns to anyone under 21 at the stores it owns, becoming the third major retailer this week to put restrictions in place that are stronger …
Person of the Day
Blair Schaefer
Senior guard Blair Schaefer, daughter of MSU head coach Vic Schaefer, is one of the three finalists for the award, which is the top women's basketball player in our state …
Politics
Putin Boasts of New Russian Nuclear Weapons
Russia has tested an array of new strategic nuclear weapons that can't be intercepted, President Vladimir Putin declared Thursday, claiming a technological breakthrough that could dramatically increase Russia's military capability, …
