Jackson Free Press

State Law Weak on City Elections

In the waning days of the April 22 special-election runoff for Jackson mayor, third parties, surrogates and political-action committees took control of the political discourse and broadcast airwaves to become …

Mississippi House Remains In Limbo

Republicans are salivating over the prospect of taking over the Mississippi House of Representatives even as votes from Election Day continued to be counted throughout the state today. But Democrats …

A Matter of Time

Jackson's efforts to pay for infrastructure improvements may be stalled in the Mississippi House of Representatives.

Fact-checking Reeves at Neshoba

At this year's fair, Republicans touted the success of the party's legislative agenda, which included passing a charter-school bill, a third-grade reading program and more.

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Controversial Resort Plan Unifies Competing Downtown Bars

After being open for six months, John Tierre says his Johnny T's Bistro & Blues and the adjoining lounge called 540 are holding their own in spite of, literally, being …

Senate 28: Meet the Candidates

Nine people want to fill the Mississippi Senate seat vacated by the recent death of Alice Harden.

‘What the Religion Teaches’: Feeding the Homeless in Smith Park

Bilal Qizilbash has been bringing dinner to homeless people in Smith Park every Friday for almost nine months, but he and his fellow volunteers never ask anyone about their housing …

Is the Payday Soon Over for Payday Lenders?

De'Keither Stamps says that the more money people spend on payday-loan and check-cashing fees, the less they have to help bolster the City's treasury by purchasing goods and services.

Raising and Spending

The way Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker is raising campaign cash, you would think his opponent was former Vice President Al Gore, not retired preacher Albert N. Gore Jr.

Zack Wallace: Ready to Fly

Zack Wallace has never held elected political office, but he has the power of incumbency on his side.

Begley: An ‘Activist Legislator’?

Sam Begley, 55, a well-known player in Democratic Party and political circles who is usually trying to help someone get elected, said he wants to be an "activist legislator," fighting …

Defining Effective School Discipline in JPS

On May 6, Jackson Public Schools seemed to be suffering from a split personality. That morning, at Wingfield High School in south Jackson, education advocates and school officials hailed the …

Stringfellow: Marketing the County’s Assets

Eric Stringfellow's path, from a newspaper reporter in the tiny eastern Illinois town of Danville to candidate for the candidate for Hinds County Board Supervisor, isn't as unlikely as it …

Oswalt: Hinds Jail ‘Correctable and Fixable’

Charlette Oswalt recently met with the Jackson Free Press about why she should be Hinds County's first woman sheriff.

Sheriff: Crime Has No Boundaries

On June 9, Tyrone Lewis invited the Jackson Free Press to his office to respond to Victor Mason, explain his famous holiday-themed billboards and say why he deserves to remain …

The Influencers

Lobbyists remain one of the most formidable forces in Congress and under capitol domes around the nation. Lobbying, which the U.S. Constitution protects as a form of free speech, has …

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.

Stonewall: Life Across the Tracks

There's a saying amongst black folks in Stonewall, that if it has a motor, they—white cops—don't want you on it.

Iron Chief: The JFP Interview with Police Chief Lindsey Horton

The Jackson City Council confirmed 29-year police department veteran Lindsey Horton as the capital city’s new top cop on July 18, 2013.

Ways to Prevent Juvenile Crime

Grown folks with responsibilities don't have time to be running the streets. At least that's the thinking behind programs designed to keep kids out of trouble by putting them to …