Jackson Free Press

In the Battle for Twenty-First Century Fox, Comcast Blinks

In a battle among media giants for control of Twenty-First Century Fox's entertainment business, Comcast has blinked. The cable and media company said Thursday that it is dropping its bid, …

Mississippi House Pushes for a State Lottery, Senate Passage Not Likely

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi House voted twice Tuesday to establish a state lottery, but the effort is likely to be squashed in the Senate.

Health Policy Cancellations: New Blow for Admin.

Move over, website woes. Lawmakers confronted the Obama administration Tuesday with a difficult new health care problem—a wave of cancellation notices hitting individuals and small business who buy their own …

It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad GOP Race for U.S. Senate

The clock is ticking for Sen. Chris McDaniel's senatorial campaign to file a challenge to the U.S. Senate race run-off election results after the Mississippi Republican Party certified Thad Cochran's …

City Council: Jackson Will Not Collapse

In a press conference at 4:30 p.m. today, City Council members each offered statements in response to grand jury indictments against Mayor Frank Melton and JPD Detectives Michael Recio and …

Why Buy Jackson?

Once again, an abundance of commentary has surfaced regarding the decline of Jackson, along with the local pundits' sometimes eccentric explanations of the Capitol City's current afflictions.

New Charter School Law Brings New Costs

Former Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Earl Watkins said a new charter school law that both the House and Senate approved last month will carry additional costs to the local public-school …

Group Forms to Save Fondren Strip

An online petition asking developer David Watkins to preserve a 1938 strip of Fondren businesses on North State Street has gained the support of 189 people. Watkins proposes to tear …

Terror Fears Keep Toxic Plants Hidden from Public

Until the local fertilizer company in West, Texas, blew up last month and demolished scores of homes, many in that town of 2,800 didn't know what chemicals were stored alongside …

[Furr] The Gold Standard

I want tamales served up Mississippi-style, smaller and spicier and crafted from cornmeal and Delta blues.

Omar Morris

When Omar Morris walked into the Boys and Girls Club on West Capitol Street yesterday, he came to give the kids a treat. Morris and his business partner, Vinson Jackson, …

‘Nature's Ritalin'

On a recent Friday afternoon at the Poindexter Park After-School Club, a third grader named Andrea fell in love with caterpillars.

Hinds Drops Regional Jail

The Hinds County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 last Tuesday to end its efforts to build a regional jail, after spending more than $400,000 on acquiring land and designing the …

Great Overlooked Games

"Breakdown" for the X-Box

Oleta's Gifts, Greeks and Baskets

In a gray two-story building off Highway 51 in Ridgeland just below a comic book store sits a shop that celebrates the history of African American fraternities and sororities.

Charter Schools: The Devil's in the Details

Charter schools offer benefits, but the state must be cautious in using them. That mixed message emerged during a joint meeting of the Senate and House education committees yesterday morning …

He Said, She Said

Wedding planning isn’t just a process, it is an experience.

Why Healthcare.gov Broke: Two Competing Story Lines

This weekend brought more than a modicum of clarity to what happened behind the scenes in the run-up to the Oct. 1 launch of Healthcare.gov.

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Syria Peace Talks: Hyped as Crucial, Downplayed

In nearly the same breath, the world's most powerful diplomats have talked about the importance of this week's peace conference on Syria and downplayed expectations for a breakthrough.

Keeping Things Simple

When Sarah Gayden Hammond (then Harris), met Andy Hammond at Sneaky Fest at Sneaky Beans in Fondren in August 2011, she was wearing a Raggedy Ann and Andy shirt.