City Crime Rankings: ‘Invalid, Damaging and Irresponsible'
We've been warning Jackson for years about the "dangerous" city rankings scam designed to sell books. Leaders in most cities across American cringe and complain when the CQ Press (formerly …
Child Abuse, Bad Diets Lead to Brain Issues Lead to Crime?
It's kind of one of those scientific findings that ought to be obvious, but here it is: Children who are physically and emotionally abused often become violent criminals. In the …
Giving Miss Eudora
If you're a Mississippian, and you love great literature, you love Eudora Welty. So why not spread some Miss Eudora love to those on your holiday list?
Guns: A Public Health Issue?
It's difficult to have a serious conversation about the prevalence of guns in American society because it's one of those issues where so many people are strident one way or …
Repub Govs: Fear Occupy, Divert Attention from Middle Class to Win
At a Republican governors meeting this week, GOP partisans were warned to keep the subject away from the middle class in the upcoming presidential election—or President Obama will win.
Defensible Space Reduces Crime
"Defensible space is a model for residential environments which inhibits crime by creating the physical expression of a social fabric that defends itself." — Oscar Newman, 1972
Here and Now
"We have an appointment with life that takes place in the present moment." — Thich Nhat Nanh
Our Anti-tax Governor Just Endorsed Online Sales Tax
I can't say I disagree with this: The Hill is reporting that Haley Barbour endorsed it in a letter to lawmakers today, urging them to close a loophole that lets …
Ouch: Barbour's Advisers Were Embarrassed to Show Him What They'd Dug Up
Imagine being all set to run for president, and your advisers have dug up so much "opposition" dirt on you that they don't have the courage to present it to …
Please help this family in need
Photographer Christina Cannon send this email around today; please do what you can. Her verbatim email follows:
Living Out Loud
I love color. I don't always wear a lot of it—I learned in New York City that black (and chocolate brown) makes you look skinnier, more chic and shows less …
My Boudoir
With all the talk of man caves these days, it can be easy to forget that it was women who had to fight for the right to have a "Room …
Cover
One Zen Day at a Time
You could call me an armchair decorator. No, I don't mean that I spend my spare time decorating armchairs; I mean I like little more than plopping into a big …
The Day After: Bryant, Hood, Voter ID In; Personhood Out; House May Go GOP
What a night in Mississippi! With national eyes on us, the biggest news of the night is that the state voted about 40-60 against the Personhood Initiative. Predictably, Phil Bryant …
Big Winners/Losers We Know About As of Tonight
Here's a race list of who/what won and lost tonight. It's not exhaustive because we're exhausted. We'll attach numbers tomorrow. JFP endorsements have astericks:
Mississippi Deals Personhood Movement a Resounding Defeat
Nov. 8, 2011 -- Tonight was not a good night for the national Personhood USA movement that tried to push Initiative 26 in Mississippi. The opponents took some 60 percent …
Early Returns on Personhood 45% Yes 55 % NO; Voter ID Winning 62% So Far
Early returns (17 percent or so) indicate that (a) Phil Bryant is winning, (b) Jim Hood is winning, (c) Personhood is LOSING and (d) Voter ID is winning. More when …
Start the Party Right: What Are Your Predictions?
OK, it's that time when you first get to the party and haven't had enough to drink. Or the part of karaoke when Todd Stauffer sings "I Am Woman" to …
Polls Have Closed; JFP Team Ready to Roll
Take a deep breath, all. The polls just closed. Who will be our next governor, attorney general, treasurer, legislators? Will Personhood pass? Voter ID? Eminent Domain? The JFP team—Todd, Ronni, …
My Advice to James ‘Kingfish' Hendrix
I woke up this morning very concerned about a particular race that appears on some area ballots. No, it's not Personhood, voter ID or the governor's race, although I'm very …
Why They Kill
Despite popular belief, violent criminals aren't born with a moral screw loose. They're not even turned into criminals because they grow up in single-parent homes (although having two good parents …
‘Eyes on the Street': A Case Study
'The revival of Jackson is not going to be made on single-family housing.'
What Is It About the French?
What gives? They drink wine, they eat baguette after baguette, they love rich sauces and pasta, they inhale cheese like it's air. Yet, French women tend to look fabulous, and …
Get Smart
Yes, Mississippi is the most obese state. We're too sedate, and our diets suck. No news there.
Feed Your Brain—And Your Kids'
Brain science is exploding with new research showing why it's vital to not only feed your stomach, but to feed your brain. In Doctors Health Press last week, Dr. Victor …
Donna's Power Smoothie
I'm just going to be honest. Once my day starts, I don't always eat enough fruit, and as a vegetarian, I need non-animal forms of protein and other nutrients. I …
Armchair Farming
I grew up swearing I would never step foot in a garden again. My stepdaddy's hobby was growing stuff, and he would produce way more watermelons, tomatoes, potatoes and what …
A Content Veggie Life
When friends quiz me on why I'm a vegetarian, I answer honestly: "for every reason." Todd and I decided to give up meat—all animal flesh; not just red meat—13 years …
Power of Love
Let's just be honest. Science frowns on the idea that certain foods have the power to, you know, increase your libido. (If you don't know what that is, you shouldn't …
Food Porn
OK, it's not really pornography—it's more like high-art erotica—but if you want an aphrodisiac with absolutely no calories, do I have a book suggestion for you. "La Figa: Visions of …
Let There Be Apples
If you want to change the world, you've got to feed people. Seriously, sharing food and drink is a powerful way to build community. Offering hospitality is welcoming to people—even …
Many Kinds of Magic
It's not every day that I pick up a novel that surprises me on every level and sets all my senses on fire. But this happened with "The Night Circus", …
JFP is Turning 9—What's Your Favorite JFP Memory?
I'll include a couple to get us going:
We need your help, JFP Nation. Our 9th birthday issue publishes this week, and we want to include favorite JFP-related moments (funny or serious) from staffers, readers, freelancers, etc. Please …
‘Bullish' Gas ‘Fracking' Could Prove Boon for State
Recent, and controversial, advances in drilling technology have put the state in a unique position to attract new industry and create new energy-related jobs, natural-gas industry leaders yesterday told a …
City Urges Residents to Prepare for Pearl River Flooding
See earlier coverage of the rising Pearl River
James Anderson Family Gets Help from SPLC
Also see: Hundreds March to Heal and Denounce
Pearl River Rising, City in State of Emergency, Shelters Open in Metro
See Weather Service and MEMA warnings about metro here as they come in.
Mayor Declares a State of Emergency, Watching Pearl River
This morning Mayor Harvey Johnson, Jr. declared a State of Emergency for the city of Jackson as a precautionary measure in light of the recent storm. There have been some …
