Jackson Free Press

Celebrating Small-Town Sports

From March 18 through April 30, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum will help visitors discover what those players really mean to Mississippi when it hosts the traveling …

Speaker Gunn: Mostly Silent on Mississippi Flag Since Call Last Year to Change It

Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn, who became the first prominent Republican last summer to call for Mississippi to remove the Confederate battle emblem from its flag, said Monday that if …

Lawmakers Look to Consolidate at Least 10 School Districts

Mississippi lawmakers want to abolish two school districts and consolidate at least eight others, part of a renewed push to pare down the state's 144 school districts to increase efficiency.

'Separate-But-Equal' State Flags? Lawmaker Suggests Having Two Instead

In Mississippi, the last state to display the Confederate battle emblem on its flag, some lawmakers want the divisive symbol removed, others want to punish public institutions that refuse to …

S.C. Primary: Cruz Tells Trump to Sue Him, Rubio Gets Gubernatorial Endorsement

CHAPIN, S.C. (AP) — A three-way feud among the GOP's leading White House contenders escalated Wednesday, with Republican Ted Cruz daring Donald Trump to sue him and dismissing Marco Rubio's …

Legislators Determined to Tinker with Public Ed

Just three months after Initiative 42 failed in the November election, the Mississippi Legislature has already seen an explosion of controversial education bills—with school consolidation leading the pack.

Off to the Races ... and the Chopping Block

Money was front of mind over the last week in the Mississippi Legislature as Senate and House appropriations committees began budget hearings for state agencies last week.

Unfriendly Skies: Can Jackson Save Its Airport?

The City of Jackson, which controls the 3,381 acres of land the airport occupies, is bracing for a looming battle for its control with the State of Mississippi.

Mississippi Journalist Bert Case Dies After Extended Illness

Bert Case, whose booming voice and aggressive reporting defined television news in Mississippi from its infancy until last year, has died.

Miss. Governor Makes Midyear Budget Cuts to Most Agencies

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant is making 1.5 percent budget cuts for many state agencies because tax collections are falling short of expectations.

Invest in Meaningful Workforce Training

Mississippi House Seaker Phillip Gunn, an attorney at one of the Jackson's largest law firms, quipped this week that he recently had to call a plumber to his Clinton home. …

Entergy Eyes 'Capital Green,' Airport May Lease Land, JSU's Big Data

Entergy Mississippi is preparing to construct a new distribution operations center on the Capital Green Plaza complex between Tombigbee and South streets off Jefferson Street in Jackson.

Gov. Phil Bryant Promises 'More of the Same' in Next Term

Phil Bryant was at the front of the room Thursday before the Mississippi Economic Council, relishing being governor again.

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.

Civil Rights, History Museums Still Need $4 Million

With two years left before opening day, planners are stepping up fundraising efforts for two museums under construction in Jackson.

Today, Haley Fisackerly, president and CEO of Entergy Mississippi, announced a campaign to raise $4 …

• January 7, 2016

Negotiations Over in Troupe v. Barbour

Mississippi's short-term inpatient care and special-treatment facilities served about 542 adolescents in fiscal-year 2015, Mississippi Department of Mental Health data show.

Former Gov. Haley Barbour (left) and current Gov. Phil Bryant (right) are defendants in the …

• January 6, 2016

Bryant Names New Chief of Staff as Current Chief Leaves

Joey Songy will be Gov. Phil Bryant's new chief of staff as the Republican begins his second term.

Least Intriguing 2015

In the cover package of this issue, you'll find a number of the "most intriguing" individuals who've made big waves in Jackson over the past year. Since those were taken, …