Jackson Free Press

Lawmakers Idle Waiting for Budget

The Mississippi Legislature is spending about $19,000 a day with little or nothing to do, for the most part. Lawmakers have finished all of their business for the current session, …

Confusion, Chaos Increasing in Jackson

*Web Exclusive*

Car lines at the gas pumps can easily stretch for miles in the city of Jackson today. Stations regain their electricity, only to drain their pumps within a few hours …

Lott Announces Retirement

Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., stood before a room of reporters, colleagues and friends at the Edison Walthall Hotel in Jackson to announce his retirement on Monday. Lott, 66, has served …

Hinds Pushes Bonds for Sleep Inn, Valley Title

Hinds County Supervisors approved using federal stimulus bonds for two private development projects today. Supervisors approved a motion to provide $2 million in Recovery Zone Facility Bonds to the Jackson-based …

Soda Tax Will Fizzle Out

Sweetened drinks add to the problem of childhood obesity, according to Andrew Hysall, associate vice president of advocacy and public policy for the Washington, D.C.-based Campaign for Healthy Kids. A …

Ward 1 Candidates Seek Weill's Seat

Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill's election to a Hinds County Circuit Court judge seat means a second mid-term vacancy for Jackson's Ward 1 council seat. Former Councilman Ben Allen abandoned …

College Board Loosens Firing Rules

Facing steep budget cuts this year and a bleak outlook for the next two years, the state College Board gave initial approval yesterday to a policy change that would allow …

Coast Clear of Oil, But Barbour's Comments Misleading

Although oil spouting from the April 20 destruction of a British Petroleum deepwater oil well is devastating Louisiana wetlands, state officials say Mississippi Gulf waters are still clear and open …

Cheryl Keeton Shelton

One wouldn't necessarily connect a sixth grade teacher with the FBI, but Daniel McMullen, special agent in charge of the FBI's Jackson division, selected just such a teacher for the …

Bizz News: Grants, Collaboration, New Salon

Mississippi has received almost $5 million for assessing broadband coverage and planning to increase high-speed Internet access across the state. The grant, from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, part …

Gingrich to Speak at Millsaps

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will carry his jobs summit to Millsaps College today at 4 p.m. Gingrich's Web site describes the event as "a real jobs summit," to rival …

Feds: Mete Out Equal Justice

As the dust from a very ugly election settles, one thing is clear: There is a new, disturbing kind of well-funded machine politics that has rolled through the state in …

Feinberg: Emergency Payments a Priority

Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press" yesterday, Kenneth Feinberg, appointed by President Barack Obama to administer BP's $20 billion escrow account for claims against the oil giant, said his immediate …

Barbour to DV Victims: ‘You Can't Trust Us'

Also see: JFP Domestic Abuse Archive and 2008 investigation of Barbour's domestic pardons.

HHS Denies Mississippi's Plan for Exchange

Commissioner Mike Chaney said he feels the Obama administration has betrayed him for denying the state's application.

Jim Barksdale to Head MDA

Verbatim Statement from the Phil Bryant Transition team:

Governor-elect Phil Bryant appointed Jim Barksdale Interim Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority at a 2 p.m. press conference on Jan. 4 in Jackson. Barksdale, former President and CEO …

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.

Report: Close 1 Ag School, Convert 1 and Keep 1

One of Mississippi's independent agricultural high schools would be closed under a recommendation by the state Board of Education, while another could see its mission reworked or be given to …

Lumumba, Barbour: Strong Capital City Helps Miss.

Mississippi's capital city faces a shrinking population, aging infrastructure, financially struggling schools and other challenges, but the mayor and a former governor said Thursday that they believe Jackson's best days …

Taggart Intends 'Crusade' Against Drugs as Attorney General

Republican Andy Taggart of Madison says he's running for Mississippi attorney general to wage a "crusade" against illegal drugs.