Monday, November 30
Cody Crotts
When Cody Crotts, 25, painted his first mural of the new Mississippi flag in his hometown of Corinth, he thought it could be a conversation starter.
Mississippi Boychoir Virtual Performance, MAC Minigrants and Richard Kelso at Fischer Galleries
In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Mississippi Boychoir has made changes to its annual "Be the Light" Christmas performance in Jackson, which will be a livestreamed virtual performance …
Jackson COVID-19 Rate Worsening; Flood-Prevention Effort Needed for Creeks
Some parts of Jackson have seen COVID-19 infection rates increase 117% in the past three months, Chief Administrative Officer Robert Blaine told the Jackson City Council last week as cases …
Tubb Wins Mississippi House Runoff Election
Mississippi businessman Joseph “Bubba” Tubb, has won a state House seat after a Tuesday runoff election between him and teacher Matthew Conoly.
Hospitals Using Antibody Therapy to Help Fight Virus
Mississippi hospitals are administering a new antibody therapy to coronavirus patients in hopes that it will improve outcomes and limit hospitalizations as new cases of coronavirus are on the rise.
Wednesday, November 25
Best of Jackson: Business Services
Welcome to the debut of a new pop-up Best of Jackson winners' list: Business Services. This inaugural spread spotlights a number of local businesses in the area that specialize in …
Chicks We Love 2020
This year's Chicks We Love package showcases a number of influential women who do their part to bolster the city that we call home.
Azha Tattoos: Helping Others Tell Their Stories Through Body Art
Azha Sanders has worked as a licensed tattoo artist for 11 years and currently works at Forged True Tattoo in Brookhaven. The Kosciusko, Miss., native moved to Jackson when she …
Garner Music Academy: ‘Make the Music Happen’
In her hometown of Pocahontas, Miss., Latongya Garner developed her affinity for music at Baker's Grove Missionary Baptist Church, where she currently serves as music minister.
Fighting Hunger One Meal at a Time, From a Distance
R U Hungry delivers food to the homeless every week.
Help Your Neighbor: Donate Blood, Save Lives
Fewer people tend to donate blood during holiday seasons each year and even fewer during a pandemic. Thus, MBS welcomes all donors.
When One Business Door Closes, Another One Opens
Jackson has a way of encouraging entrepreneurs to open new businesses and programs to bolster our local economy. Read on to learn of the several additions the metro area has …
Renovations and Other Efforts to Build a Better Jackson
Despite the setbacks that this year's pandemic has wrought, the Jackson metro continues to persevere and move forward, making progress all the while. Renovations and Other Efforts to Build a …
Perrls of Wellness, Empowering Women through Health
In her role as a health and wellness coach, Mary Williams offers a holistic approach to health management. She provides eating strategies and counsels women on how to be more …
Building an Educational Bridge Through ‘Chalkboard Ch@t’
On Friday, Nov. 13, Mississippi Public Broadcasting's education department launched its new podcast, "Chalkboard Ch@t," to bring relevant information and resources to parents, guardians, educators, students, education entities and other …
Public Works Director Williams: City’s Infrastructure Problems Won’t End Soon
In a recent interview with the Jackson Free Press, Jackson public works director Charles Williams explained the department's problems and his plans to move the needle on Jackson's infrastructural challenges.
Not Fear, But Love: Cancelling Holidays in the Year of COVID-19
"How are you going to tell the grandkids?" This was the question that convinced George Long to cancel his Thanksgiving plans. This was the question that convinced him to wear …
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Gov. Reeves, Denial Ain’t a River in Mississippi
"Gov. Tate Reeves has done precisely the wrong things to quell this virus. He could have led his party and supporters in Mississippi instead of sheepishly kowtowing to the extremists."
Gwen Wilks
When Gwen Wilks saw an advertisement for a position at the Mississippi Museum of Art that suggested she would "learn about herbs and fresh vegetables," she assumed the position would …
Tuesday, November 24
Mississippi Troopers to Begin Holiday Patrols Wednesday
The Mississippi Highway Patrol said it will begin the 2020 Thanksgiving holiday travel enforcement period on Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. and end Sunday at midnight.
Tanya Fitts
Tanya Fitts, physician owner of Lafayette Pediatric Clinic in Oxford, Miss., became president-elect of the Mississippi chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics on Oct. 30.
UMMC Health Leaders: COVID-19, Nursing Shortages Threaten Crisis Standard of Care
Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, called on Gov. Tate Reeves to reinstate the …
Storms Possible Across South, Midwest on Eve of Thanksgiving
Severe weather—including tornadoes—will be possible across large parts of the South and Midwest just before Thanksgiving, forecasters say.
Health Care Fraud Trial: Doctor Acquitted on 7 of 8 Counts
Mississippi doctor Gregory Auzenne has been acquitted on seven of eight counts against him in what prosecutors said was about $18 million in health care fraud involving expensive prescription pain …
Monday, November 23
Lawyer: Harvey Hill's Jail Killing Egregious, Expects Criminal Indictments
Harvey Hill's death in Madison County Correctional Detention Center in 2018 is highly disturbing, family attorney Carlos E. Moore said after viewing the video of prison guards brutalizing him and …
Wright's Foundation Car Raffle, Season of Wishes at the Outlets and Children's of Mississippi Toy Drive
Derick Wright, founder and chief executive officer of Jackson-based nonprofit Wright's Foundation for Better Communities, is holding a holiday car raffle until Dec. 23.
Noah Harris
Noah Harris, a 20-year-old from Hattiesburg, Miss., has become the first Black man to be elected student body president at Harvard University.
Special Election Runoff Will Fill Seat in Mississippi House
Two candidates will compete in runoff Tuesday to fill a seat in the Mississippi House.
Griffis Certified as Winner of Mississippi High Court Race
Mississippi election commissioners on Friday certified that Kenny Griffis of Ridgeland won a Supreme Court race in the central part of the state.
Three Chicken Plants Hit in 2019 Raids Agree to Pay Back Wages
Three Mississippi chicken processing plants among those targeted in one of the largest workplace immigration raids in the U.S. in the past decade have agreed to pay back wages after …
Many GOP Lawmakers Shrug Off Statehouse Mask-Wearing Rules
Many Republican lawmakers in states where coronavirus cases and hospitalizations have surged are not only rejecting statewide mask mandates. They're also resisting rules requiring them in their own capitols.
Analysis: Politics Infuse Mississippi Governor's Budget Plan
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves is using his state budget proposal to appeal to a conservative voting base. He's proposing a new $3 million “Patriotic Education Fund” because he says young …
Friday, November 20
Mississippi Hospitals in Crisis Due to COVID-19: ‘We Need The World To See’
COVID-19 has led to the hospitalization of an average of 110 Mississippians per day in the last week, State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs warned yesterday.
OPINION: Black Women Have Shown Us The Way; We Must Keep Feet on The Gas
"With strong progressive Black female political figures such as Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and Stacey Abrams leading the way, Black women are poised to take this new decade by storm."
Azia’s Picks 11-20-20
The weather is expected to be clear, cool and sunny for the entire weekend so take this time to get outside with your loved ones and take in some sun! …
Christopher Mitchell
As both a teacher and an artist, Christopher Mitchell felt the blows wrought by COVID-19, but he has been adapting to the changes as best he can so that he …
Attorney Goes from Interim to President at Jackson State University
Thomas K. Hudson, the attorney who was interim president of Jackson State University the past nine months, has been hired for the permanent job.
Mississippi Mental Health Agency Getting New Leader in 2021
The executive director of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health will retire Jan. 31 as the state continues to face a federal court order to improve community-based services.
Thursday, November 19
As COVID Fills Hospitals, ‘We Are Killing Ourselves,’ State Officials Warn
Mississippi’s third COVID-19 surge has reached its hospital system, where a flood of hundreds of new hospitalizations in a matter of days is definitive proof that the state is returning …
Music Event and Technology Grant at JSU, MDCC Joins Mississippi Library Partnership
The Mississippi Humanities Council recently gave Phyllis Lewis-Hale, assistant professor of music at Jackson State University, a $6,500 grant to host an event called “From Delta Blues to Opera News: …
Tristan Jarrett
It has been a long road for Jackson State guard Tristan Jarrett to get to this point. The former All-West Tennessee Boys Basketball Player of the Year ended his time …
Jackson Repeals Noise Rule on Only Mississippi Abortion Clinic
Mississippi's capital city has repealed a year-old local law that sought to restrict noise levels outside the state's only abortion clinic by limiting amplified sound and banning protesters from approaching …
Meridian Public Schools Move Online Due to COVID-19
Meridian public schools are moving to online learning Wednesday after an increase in cases of COVID-19 in Lauderdale County and in the school system, according to superintendent Amy Carter.
Wednesday, November 18
Lee and Lewis in Ward 2 Runoff; Archie Blasts Broadband Inequity, Homeless Drop-off
The special election to the City of Jackson's Ward 2 council seat will proceed to a runoff after no candidate met the 50% vote majority required to win in the …
Deadlines Set in Lawsuit Over Mississippi Medical Marijuana
The Mississippi Supreme Court is setting deadlines for attorneys to file arguments in a mayor's lawsuit that questions the legitimacy of the medical marijuana initiative that voters approved by a …
Tuesday, November 17
First Woman Confirmed as US Judge for Southern Mississippi
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed the first woman to become a federal judge for the Southern District of Mississippi.
City Launches Online Building Permit Platform, Ward 2 Special Election Today Till 7 p.m.
People seeking building permits in Jackson can now do so online with a new platform Jackson’s Department of Planning and Development developed.
Sandra Parks
Sandra Parks, who served on the Mississippi Department of Mental Health Central Office team for 24 years, passed away from a stroke on Monday, Nov. 9, at age 50.
Mississippi Governor Proposes Phasing Out State Income Tax
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday that the state should phase out its individual income tax by 2030 to attract new residents and businesses that could boost economic growth.
Monday, November 16
Governor Tate Reeves Adds Additional Counties Under Mask Mandate
Governor Tate Reeves announced additional counties that have qualified to be under mask mandates under his “Safe Recovery” executive order that is in effect through Dec. 11.
Matt Corral
Matt Corral accounted for five touchdowns, including a go-ahead 91-yard touchdown strike to Elijah Moore in the fourth quarter, as Mississippi rallied to defeat South Carolina 59-42 on Saturday night.
Free Admission for COVID Fighters at 2 Museums, Holiday Inn Donation Drives and HFHMCA Build
The Two Mississippi Museums will offer free admission to health care workers, teachers, law-enforcement officers, fire fighters, and others on Tuesday, Nov. 17, in honor of their work saving lives …
New Weekend Highs Drive COVID-19 Spike, School Closings Across Mississippi
A wave of COVID-19 infection is driving school districts across Mississippi to transition to virtual learning, disrupting the first semester back to school since the virus arrived in Mississippi in …
Curtis Flowers Defense Team Receives Human Rights Award
The Curtis Flowers defense team, which includes the George C. Cochran Innocence Project at the University of Mississippi, won the 2020 Frederick Douglass Human Rights Award, The Southern Center for …
Coronavirus Outbreak Identified at Mississippi Private Prison
Officials have identified a coronavirus outbreak at a private prison in the Mississippi Delta in which more than 50 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19.
Analysis: Mississippi Pump Proposal Evokes Strong Reactions
Farmers, rural shopkeepers and Mississippi politicians from both major parties are speaking out to support a proposed flood control project that would pump water from parts of the south Delta.
Friday, November 13
Hailing Biden and Harris Win, Jackson City Council Calls for Unity
With Joe Biden and Kamala Harris projected as the winners of the Nov. 3 U.S. presidential election, members of the Jackson City Council Tuesday congratulated them and urged for unity …
US Sues 3 Mississippi Apartments Over Racial Discrimination
The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday sued the owners and manager of three apartment complexes in Mississippi, saying they violated the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against Black potential …
Thursday, November 12
Vaccine May Be Available for Some in Mississippi Next Month
A coronavirus vaccine could be available to health care workers and first responders in Mississippi as soon as next month, the state's top health officials said Thursday.
Gov. Reeves Would Defy Nationwide COVID-19 Lockdown: ‘We Will Certainly Fight’
Gov. Tate Reeves signaled today that he would refuse to participate in a nationwide lockdown if the incoming Joe Biden administration called for such a measure, promising instead defiance and …
Mississippi’s Third Coronavirus Spike Is Here
Mississippi’s brief reprieve from the rest of the nation’s dire wave of COVID-19 is now firmly over, with last week’s early warning signs replaced with blaring sirens out of schools, …
USM Groundbreaking and MSU Ribbon Cutting for New Buildings, UM Oxford Science Cafe
The University of Southern Mississippi's USM Foundation recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor.
Marquiss Spencer
One of MSU's biggest defensive stands came from Marquis Spencer in the fourth quarter. The senior defensive end made back-to-back big plays when the Bulldogs needed it most.
Five Things to Know About Dustin Cardon, Web Editor
Here are five things to know about Jackson Free Press Web Editor Dustin Cardon.
Mississippi Lawmaker Apologizes for Tweet About Secession
Rep. Price Wallace of Mendenhall apologized Wednesday for a social media post advocating secession from the United States after Democrat Joe Biden became president-elect.
Wednesday, November 11
DIY: Pinecone Gobblers
Being creative together can leave lasting memories, and materials for this particular Thanksgiving-themed DIY are fairly cheap to procure from your favorite local arts and crafting store.
“We Shall…” Encourages Mississippians to Unify at the Polls
Artist Sabrina Howard stands proudly by a brightly painted mural. Her thoughts turn to her father who often told her stories of how he faced numerous practices and tests designed …
Thanksgiving Catering and Seasonal Menu Options 2020
Jackson metro restaurants are offering all sorts of food options for the family-focused holidays, including specialty items and take-home meals.
OPINION: A Premature Christmas, What Many of Us Need This Year
Humans have an innate desire to feel good, to feel joy, to feel love, to feel cherished, to feel sheltered. Those are just a few things that the Christmas season …
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Joy and Pain of Fighting for U.S. Democracy
Donald Trump is just one man. The real threat is the terrifying number of Americans who dote on him no matter what he does. His supporters are often described as …
Emily Katherine Dacus
Until Clinton native Emily Katherine Dacus entered college as an art major, she'd hardly taken any formal art classes.
Crossroads 2020 Film Reviews
This year's Crossroads Film Festival allows participants to stream any of the event's 18 films on their own time through the festival's end on Dec. 15. Read our writers' reviews …
Let the People Decide: Hoping for Equality in Voting
In addition to the 18 films being offered during the Crossroads Film Festival, the event will also include a handful of panel discussions.
Crossroads 2020 Film Festival Moves to a Virtual Platform
Despite the lack of people going to movie theaters because of COVID-19, Crossroads Film Society remains determined to put on a successful film festival, but this year it will look …
‘Dear Johnny Reb,’ an Anti-Love Letter to Confederate Memorials in Mississippi
In his recent short film, "Dear Johnny Reb," Jacksonian Philip Scarborough and a group of native Mississippians lament the damage that these statues have wrought through their immobility.
Don’t Lose Hope: State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers on COVID-19
Dr. Paul Byers sat down with the Jackson Free Press on Nov. 4 to discuss the Mississippi State Department of Health's approach to the COVID-19 crisis, now in the early …
Introducing Ward 2 Candidates: Special Election Nov. 17
The special election to fill the Ward 2 Jackson City Council seat of Melvin Priester Jr., who stepped down to focus on his law career, is on Nov. 17, from …
Governor Tate Reeves Extends Executive Order Fighting COVID-19
Today, Governor Tate Reeves announced that he has extended his “Safe Recovery” executive order through December 11. It had been set to expire today.
Mississippi Justices Hear 'Difficult' Dispute Over Budgeting
Mississippi Supreme Court justices heard arguments Tuesday in a dispute between the governor and some top lawmakers over who has certain powers in setting the state budget.
Tuesday, November 10
Lumumba Reacts to Ridgeland Video: Dropping Homeless In Jackson Unacceptable
After a video recording, first reported Saturday by WLBT, emerged of a Ridgeland police officer dropping off a homeless person in Jackson over the weekend, Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba kicked …
Rhett Sapough
Rhett Sapough, who moved to Jackson from Spartanburg, S.C., earlier this year, became the new director of admission for Millsaps College on Oct. 1. In his position, he oversees the …
Attorneys Defend Mississippi Marijuana Initiative Process
Mississippi’s top legal officer says the state Supreme Court should dismiss a mayor’s “woefully untimely” lawsuit questioning the legitimacy of the medical marijuana initiative that state voters approved by a …
Monday, November 9
Sollberger's Going Out of Business Sale, 12 Days of Giving Winners and Molina Marketplace
Sollberger's: Curator of Exceptional Jewelry and Timepieces in Ridgeland is closing its doors after 37 years in business in Madison County. Beginning today, Monday, Nov. 9, the store is hosting …
Disturbing COVID-19 Sign Over Weekend, Pfizer Vaccination Draws Closer
The Mississippi State Department of Health announced 1,320 cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, historically a time of artificially low numbers.
Mississippi Sets Online Meetings About Child Care Services
The Mississippi Department of Human Services is holding online meetings to gather information about improving child care services in the state.
Several Leadership Roles Shuffled in Mississippi Senate
Several members of the Mississippi Senate are receiving new leadership roles, weeks ahead of the next legislative session that begins in January.
Analysis: Lawsuit Pushed Mississippi to Simplify Elections
By a wide margin, Mississippi voters have eliminated a remnant of the state's racist history by repealing a complicated, multistep process for electing statewide officials.
Saturday, November 7
AP: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris Win the White House
Days before he left the White House in 2017, President Barack Obama surprised Joe Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, declaring his septuagenarian, white-haired lieutenant “the best vice president …
Friday, November 6
City Announces South, West Jackson Development Commission; Council Election Ongoing
To boost the economy of south and west Jackson, the City of Jackson announced the formation of a development commission Thursday.
Azia’s Picks 11-6-20
Please take some time to unplug and enjoy your family, friends, or maybe just enjoy some personal me time this weekend. There are some exciting events buzzing around the Capitol …
Gov. Tate Reeves Says He'd Veto Mail-in or Early Voting Expansion
Two days after Mississippi voters stood in long lines at polling places, Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said Thursday that he would veto any efforts to broaden state laws to allow …
Longtime Mississippi Sheriff Dies of COVID-19 in Alabama
Longtime Mississippi sheriff Mike Byrd has of Jackson County died of COVID-19 in the hospital where he was being treated. The Sun Herald reported that Byrd died Thursday on his …
Thursday, November 5
Mississippi Sees 1,612 New Cases of COVID-19, Highest Report Since All-Time Peak
Mississippi’s brief respite from the national coronavirus spike may well be over today, as the State Department of Health announces 1,612 new cases of COVID-19.
JSU Aspire Program, Tougaloo HBCU Endowment and USM Virtual Dance Concert
Jackson State University recently announced that it is partnering with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities to participate in a program called "Aspire: The National Alliance for Inclusive & …
Lindsey Hunter
Current Mississippi Valley State University head coach Lindsey Hunter is set to be inducted into the 2021 calls of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
Mississippi Family Sues School in 'Jesus Loves Me' Mask Ban
A Mississippi couple is suing a school district because they say their 9-year-old daughter was told she could not wear a mask with the phrase “Jesus Loves Me.”
Mississippi's New Magnolia Flag Starting to Fly After Vote
A new Mississippi flag without Confederate images was flying in parts of the state on Wednesday, one day after a majority voters approved the design that has a magnolia encircled …
Wednesday, November 4
Marijuana, New Flag, Popular Vote: Mississippi’s Three Ballot Measures Surge to Victory
A day of overwhelming electoral turnout in Mississippi drove the state’s three ballot measures to convincing wins, a result political figures of both parties heralded as evidence of progress in …
Sen. Hyde-Smith Defeats Mike Espy Handily: “I Will Be a Senator for All Mississippians”
Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith said her reelection indicates that Mississippians approve of her work in the last two years while speaking about her victory over her Democrat opponent, former …
Mississippi Approves Flag With Magnolia, ‘In God We Trust’
Mississippi will fly a new state flag with a magnolia and the phrase “In God We Trust,” with voters approving the design Tuesday. It replaces a Confederate-themed flag state lawmakers …
Mississippi U.S. Reps Keep Seats, Medical Marijuana Passes
Mississippians have voted in favor of legalizing medical marijuana, opting for the less restrictive of two proposals on this year’s ballot.
Tuesday, November 3
Mississippi 2020 Election Lines
Voters across the metro gather to cast their ballots for the Nov. 3, 2020, election.
Arianna Kitchens
Jackson resident Arianna Kitchens has served as archaeology collections manager for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History since December 2019.
Hinds County Administrator Riley-Collins Resigns, New Emergency Director
Hinds County Administrator Jennifer Riley-Collins and the board of supervisors parted ways Monday when she tendered her resignation after less than a year in the office.
Campaign Attire Banned at Mississippi Polls, Masks Suggested
Mississippi's top elections official is reminding people not to wear campaign clothing when they go to vote, because that is banned by state law.
Overall University Enrollment Steady, Delta State Sees Drop
Enrollment in Mississippi's public universities has stayed fairly even in the past year despite the coronavirus pandemic, according to figures released Monday by the universities' board of trustees.
Monday, November 2
Before Today's Election Confusion, Voting Rights Activists Warned of State’s Polling Place Changes
Representatives from several grassroots organizations, including the Mississippi Poor People’s Campaign, held an event on the steps of the state capitol Monday, castigating state officials for sudden polling-place changes. From …
OPINION: Where the Real Blood Money Lies in Fight Against Initiative 65
"The truth is that the real blood money in the marijuana fight comes from political contributions from large pharmaceutical companies, ones that have a vested interest in limiting the ability …
Tonya Ware at ReadyNation Mississippi, Jobs for Jacksonians and Mississippi Health Access Exchange
ReadyNation Mississippi, an organization that advocates for evidence-based policies to build a stronger workforce, recently named Tonya Ware, who previously served as the project manager for Leadership Greater Jackson and …
Mayor Lumumba Name-checks City Partners, Mourns Deaths in 'State of the City'
Many foundations have stepped up to help improve the lives of the people of Jackson in the last year, Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba said at his state of the city …
Incumbents Face Challenges in Mississippi House, Court Races
Three out of four incumbents in Mississippi's U.S. Congressional Districts are facing challenges on Election Day. Two Republicans—Trent Kelly and Michael Guest—and the state federal delegation's sole Democrat, Bennie Thompson.
Mississippi City Won't Lose Lights After Threat Over Debt
Itta Bena, an entire city in Mississippi that was under threat of losing electricity before the end of the year because of unpaid bills, will have more time to find …
Dueling Medical Marijuana Measures on Mississippi Ballot
After years of seeing medical marijuana proposals shot down by the Mississippi Legislature, supporters decided to try something else: adding it to the state constitution.
Analysis: Mississippi Voters Will Say Yes or No to New Flag
An expert says having a statewide election on a flag design is unusual, and Mississippi is having its second one in less than 20 years.
Mississippi Program to Use Door Cameras to Fight Crime
Mississippi’s capital city could begin using residents’ door security cameras in its effort to fight rising crime.
Monument to Civil Rights Leaders Restored After Car Crash
A monument to two iconic Civil Rights activists in Jackson has been repaired after it was destroyed in a car crash earlier this year.
Mississippi Board Says County Can Move Confederate Statue
The Mississippi Department of Archives and History board has unanimously approved a permit for a Confederate monument to be moved from a Lowndes County courthouse to a cemetery.