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Domestic Abuse Bills Near Deadline
With an early deadline for bills bearing down Tuesday at midnight, state legislators have only two days to act on a number of bills that would stiffen the penalties for …
Stopping the Swap
Hinds County's interest-rate swap won't always be the gift that keeps on giving. The fancy financial derivative deal has brought the county $4.4 million over four years thanks to historically …
Business Roundup
The Jackson Police Department is restarting an initiative aimed at preventing crime around the city's hotels and motels and protecting visitors. Called Tourism Oriented Policing Strategies, or TOPS, the program …
Ex-Bodyguards Challenge Ridgeway Restitution
Two former Jackson police officers are disputing the amount that federal prosecutors say they must pay in restitution for the 2006 demolition of a Ridgeway Street duplex. Marcus Wright and …
Caring for Criminals
Inmate medical care is an unpopular business, at least in Hinds County. The Hinds County Board of Supervisors learned that lesson the hard way in January, when it found itself …
Walthall County: Separate and Still Unequal
The two biggest high schools in Walthall County are only 10 miles apart, but for almost 20 years a student transfer policy allowed the two schools to become symbolically separate, …
Bounds Predicts Job Losses, Tuition Hikes
State higher education commissioner Hank Bounds said today that Mississippi's public university system will likely shed 1,000 jobs over the next two years due to budget cuts. Speaking today to …
Edwards To Address Book Controversy
Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Lonnie Edwards is holding a press conference this afternoon to address controversial book purchases at his former school district. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported that several …
Pearl River-Related Bills
Legislators introduced a number of bills during this year's legislative session that would have had some bearing on Pearl River flood control, although a few of the measures are dead.
State Arts School in Jeopardy?
With proposals for the merger of universities and public-school districts attracting substantial public outcry and debate, Gov. Haley Barbour's call for merging two statewide magnet high schools has drawn less …
Levee Board Opposes State Takeover Attempt
The Pearl River Levee Board is angry that the Legislature is trying to end-run their authorityand the Flowood mayor accuses one of the members of ethics violations.
U.S. Supreme Court Asked To Hear Seale Case
A federal appeals court has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case of James Ford Seale, who was convicted in 2007 for kidnapping and conspiracy for his role …
Justice Groups Join Appeal in Death Penalty Lawsuit
A challenge to Mississippi's system for representing those convicted of capital crimes has picked up some high-profile supporters. The Magnolia Bar Association and Mississippi Center for Justice filed a friend-of-the-court …
JFP Freelancer of the Month: Bryan Flynn
A layoff became an opportunity for Bryan Flynn to do what he loves. Two years ago, Flynn, 33, lost his job as a grocery manager for Walmart. With his wife's …
Rachel Hicks
Rachel Hicks will not be ignored. The Belhaven resident is co-founder and executive director of Mississippi First, a fledgling non-profit organization focused on education policy that will move the state …
JPS Facing $9M Budget Hole
The Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees met yesterday to address a possible $9 million budget shortfall for the upcoming school year. With lower tax collections, rising debt-service obligations and …
Former Melton Bodyguards to Pay $20K Restitution
by Ward Schaefer January 21, 2010 Michael Recio and Marcus Wright, the former police bodyguards for the late Mayor Frank Melton, must pay $10,000 each in restitution for their roles …
Mississippi Art Funds Under Knife
State funding for the arts will likely drop next year, but grants to artists will remain largely the same, said Mississippi Arts Commission Executive Director Malcolm White today.
Edwards to Argue for Job In March
Next month, Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Lonnie Edwards will have a chance to win his job back. Edwards has appealed the JPS Board of Trustees Dec. 7 decision not to …
