Jackson Free Press

Barbour Calls May 21 Special Session for Medicaid and MDES

Read background on ad oversight controversy here.

Ad Oversight Jeopardizing MDES

Mississippi Department of Employment Security Executive Director Tommye Favre said she wished legislators had not endangered her agency over a battle to force more oversight on state advertising.

New Film Incentives for Mississippi

[verbatim] Jackson, Miss. (May 13, 2008) – Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has signed HB 1351, creating new incentives for the motion picture and television industry. The rebate program applies to …

Greenwood Councilman Lambasted for Racial Slur

The Associated Press is reporting that Greenwood Councilman John Lee sent an e-mail last week to a group of whites criticizing black Council President David Jordan, and calling him a …

Quick and Sloppy

A spokesman for U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson's office said a more thorough preliminary damage assessment might have prevented the Federal Emergency Management Agency's initial rejection of Gov. Haley Barbour's petition …

Agency in Jeopardy Over Ad Oversight

House Democrats and Gov. Haley Barbour are squaring off against one another regarding how the state spends advertising dollars. The House and Senate were unable to come to terms with …

'Tort Reform' Not Working?

There's just no pleasing some people. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's tort-reform lobbying arm, the "Institute for Legal Reform," released a report last Wednesday ranking Mississippi as the 48th worst …

Bringing Up the Rear

The number of binge drinkers in Misssissippi is significantly lower than the national average, state residents are pretty good about wearing seatbelts, and we are third in the nation for …

State Advertising Needs Oversight

Gov. Haley Barbour was crying his eyes out Monday over poor, starving, unemployed Mississippians, according to a statement from his office. The Legislature's failure to reauthorize the Mississippi Department of …

Holding On: One Artist's Leap Of Faith

Artist H.C. Porter sits down with Terri Cowart and talks about her inspirations.

Barbour Toots Own Horn, Rags Musgrove

Gov. Haley Barbour released a statement today about, well, himself. Here it is, verbatim: When Haley Barbour became Governor of Mississippi in January 2004, Mississippi was in its worst financial …

Gov to Allow Public Comment on Tax Study – May 19

[Verbatim statement] Mississippi citizens and interest groups will have the opportunity to speak to members of the Governor's Tax Study Commission, Chairman Leland Speed announced today. The opportunity for public …

Greg Davis…Logician for Congress

So look at this, er, classic slippery slope argument by Southaven's mayor:

Check out Davis' attack ad on his opponent, Democrat Travis Childers. These two are vying for the seat in District 1 that Roger Wicker gave up after his appointment to …

Gettin' Pumped?

The $220 million Yazoo Backwater Area Project, which involves installing a huge pumping station to drain 66,945 acres of Delta wetlands, horrifies many environmentalists, who say the 60-year-old endeavor is …

Legislative Update: The End — But Not Really

The legislative session ended with less fighting than expected, though a few battles didn't quite get finished—meaning that Gov. Haley Barbour is likely to call one of his pricey special …

Ridin' the Wave: The JFP Interview with Ronnie Musgrove

Former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove has his eye on Sen. Trent Lott's old seat. He's running on a "throw the bums out" platform against his opponent, and the Republican Party.

Bill Minor: ‘I Hate to Be So Blunt'

Mississippi journalist and columnist Bill Minor spoke with Adam Lynch of the Jackson Free Press yesterday about his views on the prosecution of his son, Paul Minor, and discussed the …

Forthcoming U.S. Chamber ‘Lawsuit Climate' Report a ‘Phony'?

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's "Institute for Legal Reform" plans to release a report Wednesday ranking Mississippi as the 48th worst "legal climate" in the country. In response to "Lawsuit …

More Pay for JPD Awaits Barbour Approval

Mississippi Sen. David Blount, D-Jackson, said legislation he sponsored to pay the Jackson police department $16,000 survived a conference committee and is now waiting for Gov. Haley Barbour's signature. "The …

AP Poll: Obama ‘Best Hope'

A new Associated Press poll finds that, despite petty controversies like the dust-up over his preacher, Barack Obama has become the candidate that most Democrats believe has the best chance …