Stories for November 2012

Subscribe

Friday, November 30

Winter: Too Little Momentum Now to Help Education

Current leaders are offering only small-scale ideas, not ambitious plans that could strengthen the entire public school system.

Tease photo

JPS Supe Addressing Mental Health

Last school year one Jackson student was suspended from school 19 times, Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Cedrick Gray said this morning at Koinonia Coffee House's Friday Forum.

Tease photo

Dog Bites BPA: Chemicals Leak from Plastic Training Toys

Dogs that chew on plastic training devices and toys may be exposed to hormone-altering chemicals, according to research at Texas Tech University.

Tease photo

Sen. Bennie Turner

Sen. Bennie Turner, D-West Point, died Tuesday at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, at age 64.

Tease photo

It's the Weekend!

Tonight, the preview party for the Chimneyville Crafts Festival kicks off at 7 p.m. at the Mississippi Trade Mart.

10 Things to Know for Friday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today.

Mo. Powerball Winner Verified; Ariz.'s a Mystery

Sometimes it's better to dream, particularly when reality means you're not an instant multimillionaire.

Gay Marriage Before Supreme Court? Cases Weighed

The running fight over gay marriage is shifting from the ballot box to the Supreme Court.

UN vote recognizes state of Palestine; U.S. objects

The United Nations has voted overwhelmingly to recognize a Palestinian state, but the Palestinians still face enormous limitations: They don't control their borders, airspace or trade, they have separate and competing governments in Gaza and the West Bank, and they have no unified army or police.

Federal Prisons Urged to Grant More Early Releases

For humanitarian and economic reasons, the federal Bureau of Prisons should grant more early releases to incapacitated and terminally ill prisoners, two advocacy groups say in a report depicting current policies as sometimes "cruel as well as senseless."

Memphis Music Hall of Fame Inducts 1st Class

The Memphis Music Hall of Fame inducted its first class Thursday with a roster of 25 music greats spanning generations, from rock 'n' roll icon Elvis Presley to Oscar-winning rap group Three 6 Mafia.

Solar Firm that Got $26M in Miss. Loans is Closing

Mississippi taxpayers may have only an empty Senatobia building and solar panel equipment to show for $26 million in loans to Twin Creeks Technologies.

Pressuring GOP, Obama Takes His Fiscal Plan to Pa.

President Barack Obama is employing campaign-style tactics to mobilize public support for his plan.

Thursday, November 29

Bryant: Teens Don't Care About Using Contraception

Gov. Phil Bryant believes most teenagers know how to obtain and use it; they just don't care.

Tease photo

Seven Hospitals Deny Jackson Abortion Clinic

The last clinic where Mississippi women can get an abortion is once again in peril.

Tease photo

Black Leaders Come Together

Black leaders from across the country and nearly all walks of life, including government, education business, community and faith-based organizations and civil rights groups have descended on the capital city.

Tease photo

Renee Rosenfeld

Irene Rosenfeld died Wednesday, Nov. 27, at age 94.

Victor and Vanquished: Obama Has Romney to Lunch

Bitter campaign foes just weeks ago, President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are sharing lunch at the White House with an eye on overlapping interests rather than the sharp differences that defined their presidential contest.

NY Mayor Seeks More Disaster Aid for Sandy Victims

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg appealed to congressional leaders Wednesday for quick action on providing tens of billions of dollars in new federal aid to help his city and state and others recover from Superstorm Sandy but was told it might be some time before it's forthcoming — and it likely won't be all at once.

Bonds, Clemens, Sosa on Hall Ballot for First Time

The most polarizing Hall of Fame debate since Pete Rose will now be decided by the baseball shrine's voters: Do Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa belong in Cooperstown despite drug allegations that tainted their huge numbers?

Fed Survey: U.S. Economy Growing at Steady Pace

A pickup in consumer spending and steady home sales helped lift economic growth from October through early November in most parts of the United States, according to a Federal Reserve survey released Wednesday. The one exception was the Northeast, which was slowed by Superstorm Sandy.

3 BP Employees Arraigned on Gulf Oil Spill Charges

Two BP rig supervisors and a former BP executive pleaded not guilty Wednesday to criminal charges stemming from the deadly Deepwater Horizon rig explosion and the company's response to the massive 2010 spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Body Identified as Missing Oil Platform Worker

A body found in the Gulf of Mexico near Grand Isle has been identified as a Filipino worker missing since a deadly fire broke out on an oil platform earlier this month, a coroner said Wednesday.

Little Evident Progress on 'Fiscal Cliff' Talks

From their public statements, President Barack Obama and Republican House Speaker John Boehner appear to be at an impasse.

Wednesday, November 28

The Culture Wars, 20 Years Later

Whether he knew it or not, Buchanan’s “culture war” speech over the role of women in society, same-sex marriage and abortion foreshadowed a battle that still rages today.

Tease photo

American Idiot

When Davy Rothbart applied for a job at National Public Radio’s “This American Life” radio program, he was honest about his previous job experience: pizza delivery guy, ticket scalper, marijuana salesman.

Doing Right

“There was a fantastic universal sense that whatever we were doing was right, that we were winning. … We had all the momentum; we were riding the crest of a high and beautiful wave.”

Tease photo

A Second Chance in the Showboats

“I thank Grant for calling me,” Slater says. “Not a lot of people get a second chance, and it has driven me to work harder. I am blessed to have this second chance.”

Ole Miss Leaves MSU with Egg on Its Face

Even before Ole Miss’ 41-24 win over Mississippi State last Saturday, Hugh Freeze’s first season as Rebels head coach was a resounding success.

Tease photo

The Slate

Mississippians love football, especially high-school football. Now it’s time for the year’s biggest love-in, a two-day orgy of grid called the MHSAA state championship games.

Stand in Solidarity With the Poor

What most people may not know is that while the poor are getting poorer in Mississippi--in no small part due to the loss of so many manufacturing jobs in recent decades--the rich are getting richer.

Tease photo

Stinker Quote of the Week: "Falsehood"

To date, no evidence has surfaced that Rice either concealed information or distorted it any way (and evidence has surfaced showing that the CIA didn't want to tip its hand).

Tease photo

JFP Top 25: Week 14

Notre Dame, the No. 1 team in the JFP College Football Top 25, prevented a huge mess in the BCS by beating No. 23 USC.

Tease photo

The Worst of Us

We've seen the ugly side of America. We've seen what we can devolve into, and I don't think most of us like it.

Tease photo

Healthy Relationships: The Key Ingredients

It feels like love, but is it just a crush?

Tease photo

Cold Weather, Warm Kitchen

If there’s one thing I love about the temperatures dropping, it’s the fact that it’s time for warm meals.

Tease photo

Project 12

With craft beer popping up all over the country, Budweiser asked 12 of their brewmasters from all over the U.S. to create a new beer that would fit into the Budweiser brand, while taking it into new territory.

Tease photo

Easy Trees

Whether you’re looking for an evergreen alternative or to deck the halls with a homemade twist, here is one idea for a modern, DIY Christmas tree.

Tease photo

A Curfew-to-Prison Pipeline?

High-school student Donovan Barner calls a proposed curfew ordinance "blasphemous" because enforcing the law requires police officers to assume all teenagers are criminals.

Tease photo

For The Athlete

Whether running, biking or hiking is their thing, our local sporting good stores are stocked with great finds for the family's athlete!

Your Turn: Stacking the Deck

For nearly a decade in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the state speaker of the House determined what bills passed and which ones didn't.

Question o' the Week: What's your favorite local business/artist for wonderful gifts? #shoplocaljxn

What's your favorite local business/artist for wonderful gifts?

Tease photo

You & JFP

"If they can't talk, don't trust them."—My momma

Tease photo

The JFP Interview with William Bright

William Bright spent the last 13 years as an officer in the Jackson Police Department. Now he’s left the force and is asking the citizens to promote him ... to mayor.

Miss. Abortion Clinic Again Seeks to Block Law

Attorneys for Mississippi's only abortion clinic are again asking a federal judge to block a state law that threatens to eventually close the facility.

Tease photo

Taxes: Obama vs. Bush Rates

Tax cuts are like power: Once people have some, wresting it out of their hands makes for a battle royale.

Tease photo

George J. Bey III

In junior high while other kids his age were more interested in basketball shoes, Dr. George J. Bey III was studying his teeth.

Tease photo

The Contraception Wars

Most of you have surely heard by now that former presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is blaming his resounding loss on "gifts" that President Obama offered young voters, African Americans and Latinos.

Tease photo

TobyMac Is Bigger Than Ever

Toby McKeehan, aka TobyMac, has sold 11 million albums and won five Grammy Awards, but the 48-year-old father of five has never known the success his latest album, "Eye On It," had in its first week.

10 Things to Know for Wednesday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today.

Senate Dems Rally for Rice Against GOP Opposition

Senate Democrats rallied to U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice's defense as Republicans said they were even more troubled by her account of the deadly attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, and signaled they would try to scuttle her nomination if President Barack Obama tapped her as the next secretary of state.

Record Powerball Result of Changes to Boost Sales

The historic Powerball jackpot boosted to $500 million on Tuesday was all part of a plan lottery officials put in place early this year to build jackpots faster, drive sales and generate more money for states that run the game.

U.S. Economy Gets Lift from Consumers, Businesses

American consumers are growing more confident about the job market, companies are ordering more equipment and home prices are rising in most major cities.

BP Suspended from New U.S. Government Contracts

BP is being temporarily suspended from new contracts with the U.S. government, the Environmental Protection Agency says.

Mississippi's Wallace Wins Conerly Trophy

Bo Wallace was the backup quarterback at Arkansas State two years ago. Now he's been honored as the best college football player in Mississippi.

Senate Dems Divided Over Cuts to Benefit Programs

Deep divisions among Senate Democrats over cuts pose a big obstacle to a deal.

Miss. Economic Growth Predicted to Rise in 2013

Economists say growth and employment should increase in Mississippi next year, led by an improved housing market and an increase in home construction.

Tuesday, November 27

Ole Miss Fined $5,000 for Storming the Field After Egg Bowl Victory

Ole Miss has been fined $5,000 by the Southeastern Conference after fans rushed the field following the football team's 41-24 victory over No. 25 Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl on Saturday.

Tease photo

Forrest County Jail 'Backsliding'

Forrest County is moving backward when it comes to making changes at its youth detention center.

Tease photo

Liqueur, Food, Roads and Hair

Bottle Tree Beverage Co., the Madison-based distillery that brought Cathead vodkas to the marketplace, has released a new chicory liqueur under the brand name Hoodoo.

Tease photo

Skylar Laine

Skylar Laine will perform a "Country Christmas" December 1 at the Jackson Academy Performing Arts Center.

10 Things to Know for Tuesday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today.

Cuomo Likens Katrina, Sandy as Damage Total Soars

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared Superstorm Sandy in some ways worse than 2005's Hurricane Katrina as he said his state would need $42 billion to recover from the damage wreaked in late October and prevent future catastrophe.

Miss. West Nile Cases Up to 244 for Year

The Mississippi State Department of Health is reporting two new human cases of West Nile virus.

Judge to Hear Motion to Dismiss Sex Abuse Charges

Attorneys for John Langworthy, a former school teacher and church music director accused of molesting young boys several years ago in Mississippi and Texas, have asked for charges to be dismissed.

Millions Chase Record $425M Powerball Jackpot

Eight months after a trio of ticket buyers split a $656 million Mega Millions jackpot to set a world lottery record, Powerball is offering up a prize that would be the second highest.

Experts Exhume Remains of Palestinian Leader

Yasser Arafat's political heirs on Tuesday opened his grave and foreign experts took samples of the iconic Palestinian leader's remains as part of a long-shot attempt—eight years after his mysterious death—to determine whether he was poisoned.

AP IMPACT: NYC Flood Protection Won't Be Easy

If metropolitan New York is going to defend itself from surges like the one that overwhelmed the region during Superstorm Sandy, decision makers can start by studying how others have fought the threat of fast-rising water.

Big Bill for Levee Upkeep Comes to New Orleans

At current funding levels, the region will run out of money to properly operate the levee system within a decade.

Miss. Toy Drive to Benefit Sandy Victims

The Hattiesburg Fire Department Firefighters Association will help return the favor to the New York City Firefighters Association this year with a toy drive for those affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Monday, November 26

Tease photo

Education Department Adopts Crucial Reform for Disabled Borrowers

The Education Department enacted a crucial reform on behalf of borrowers who become disabled, issuing new rules earlier this month that make it easier for these borrowers to get their federal student loans forgiven.

Tease photo

Lawrence Guyot

Civil-rights leader and Mississippi native Lawrence Guyot died in his home in Mount Rainier, Md. on Thursday, Nov. 22, at age 73.

Tease photo

Community Events and Public Meetings

The Mississippi Black Leadership Summit is Nov. 28-30 at the Jackson Convention Complex.

10 Things to Know for Monday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today.

Fiscal Cliff Quarrels Keep U.S. Stocks in Check

The stock market edged lower Monday morning, pulled down by old worries about the debt crisis in Europe and a political standoff over taxes and spending in the U.S.

All Items in '12 Days of Christmas' Now Top $107K

Add seven swans, six geese and five golden rings to the list of Christmas gifts that cost more than they did a year ago.

Obama May Get Chance to End Benghazi PR Disaster

The White House could finally have its chance to close the books on its Benghazi public relations disaster, as key Republicans signal they might not stand in the way of U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice to become the next secretary of state.

Analysis: Corrections, Medicaid Deficits Ahead

Mississippi legislators head into the 2013 session knowing they have deficits to address in corrections and Medicaid.

JFK's Last Night Recalled as Key Event for Latinos

President John F. Kennedy was supposed to just stop by and wave hello. Instead a group of eager Latinos persuaded him to come inside and speak to a packed room of Mexican-American civil rights activists.

Tease photo

McCarty’s Pottery Legacy

A piece of McCarty pottery is a traditional wedding gift in the Mississippi Delta, but pieces also have been included in the Smithsonian Institution’s collection.

Cyber Monday Likely to be Busiest Online Sales Day

Bye-bye Black Friday. So long Small Business Saturday. Now, it's Cyber Monday's turn.

Sunday, November 25

Supreme Court Likely To Consider 'Defense of Marriage' Challenges

Like a lot of newlyweds, Karen Golinski was eager to enjoy the financial fruits of marriage. Within weeks of her wedding, she applied to add her spouse to her employer-sponsored health care plan, a move that would save the couple thousands of dollars a year.

10 Things for Sunday: November 25, 2012

When the next Congress cranks up in January, there will be more women, many new faces and fewer tea party-backed House Republicans from the class of 2010.

Friday, November 23

No. 25 Bulldogs, Rebels set for Egg Bowl rivalry

No. 25 Mississippi State (8-3, 4-3 Southeastern Conference) is trying to win four in a row in the rivalry for the first time since the 1940s.

Is 'Black Friday' Shift to Thursday The New Normal?

For decades, stores have opened their doors in wee hours of the morning on the day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday. But this year, that changed when major chains from Target to Toys R Us opened on Thanksgiving itself, turning the traditional busiest shopping day of the year into a two-day affair.

Thursday, November 22

Miss. Jobless Rate Down to 8.9 Percent in October

Mississippi's unemployment rate dropped slightly to 8.9 percent in October, down 0.3 percent from September.

Wednesday, November 21

Tease photo

Be a JAKASS

It had all the pomp and circumstance of a regular season opening of a major professional league but with the tongue-in-cheek feel of a Monty Python skit.

Tease photo

[The Slate] The Best In Sports In 7 Days

Doctor S has often been called a “mother”—especially at the JFP offices.

Tease photo

JFP Top 25: Week 13

One week after being knocked out of the top spot in the JFP College Football Top 25, upsets of Oregon and Kansas State have returned Alabama to No. 2.

Tease photo

The Consummate Politician

It’s an enormous pleasure to see a movie that’s really about something and that doesn’t water down the subject to make it easier to ingest.

Tease photo

Grizzly Bear Sharpens its Claws

The newest album from Brooklyn, N.Y., indie quartet Grizzly Bear, “Shields,” proves that fame doesn’t have to be the end of innovation.

Tease photo

Thankful for Jackson’s Music

So, after a brainstorm session on what I’m thankful for in the Jackson music scene, this is what I came up with (and in no particular order).

Tease photo

Martin’s Moves into a New Era

Martin’s has been on the Jackson scene since 1953, when Martin Lassiter opened it as a breakfast and lunch restaurant at the corner of Silas Brown and State streets.

Tease photo

Fondue: Merry Dish of Yesteryear

For the past five days, I’ve been laid out by the worst head cold I’ve had this century, so the vision of fondue—yellow, viscous cheese bubbling in an avocado-colored pot—feels familiar yet unappetizing.

Tease photo

Ole Miss Prof: Time to Reclaim Mississippi

On Nov. 6, a growing crowd of young white people gathered in the Circle at Ole Miss to protest the re-election of the nation's first black president.

Tease photo

Plant An ‘Edible Forest’ in Your Yard

While Arbor Day in Mississippi is in the spring, many experts contend that the best time for planting trees may actually be in the fall.

Be a Job Creator This Holiday Season

Want to do your part to improve Mississippi's economy and jumpstart job growth in the state? Then grab your wallet this week and Buy Local this holiday season.

Tease photo

GMO Food Battle Not Lost

The Big Ag and Big Food cartel may be chortling now that it “won” Nov. 6 by defeating California’s Proposition 37 that would have mandated labeling of food containing genetically modified organisms (GMO), but that victory may be short-lived.

Tease photo

Stinker Quote of the Week: Haley Barbour on 'Proctology'

The problem is, however, that GOP operatives aren't looking to their policies to understand the loss; they're looking only to strategies and tactics.

Tease photo

Holiday Disco and Fundraiser

I understand that the government seems to be headed toward a financial cliff, but folk who are still jobless are right at the edge. I hope our elected officials will work together to save the economy from free falling into financial despair.

Tease photo

‘Tis the Season

I hadn’t even eaten all of my ghost-shaped marshmallow Peeps from Halloween before a friend posted a picture on Facebook of her fully decorated Christmas tree.

Tease photo

Top it Off

Hats have long been about more than just protecting your head, and nobody knows that more than the women behind the Holiday Top Hat Brunch.

Support Small Business Saturday

Black Friday is a big day for retailers, but I don't think it's nearly as important as Small Business Saturday.

Tease photo

UMMC Working for NCI Designation

Statistics show Mississippi is suffering by not having a National Cancer Institute-designated treatment center, so the University of Mississippi Medical Center is working to change that within the next five years.

Tease photo

Will the U.S. Supreme Court Gut the Voting Rights Act?

Of the 11 states of the former Confederacy, number that passed voting restrictions since the 2010 election that would make it harder for minority citizens to cast ballots: 8

Tease photo

DHS Makes Its Case for Scanners

After weeks of offering up generalities about why it instituted a controversial new program, the Mississippi Department of Human Services finally outlined its rationale for requiring some poor parents to submit to finger scanning when retrieving their children from day care.

Tease photo

A Spread to Savor

It’s that time of the year again—holiday music, sweaters and an endless stream of party invitations.

Tease photo

Question o' the Week: What are you giving thanks for this Thanksgiving?

What are you giving thanks for this Thanksgiving?

Letters

Commissioner Mike Chaney and the members of the health insurance exchange advisory board deserve credit for their work in establishing an online insurance marketplace for Mississippi families.

Tease photo

You & JFP

FAVORITE QUOTATION: "The man who knows nothing of music, literature or art is no better than a beast."—Ancient Hindu Wisdom

Tease photo

Find Your Perfect Party

The holidays are the perfect time to get together with friends and family and just celebrate.

Tease photo

Pro Plans

When starting to plan your holiday event, be it big or small, lavish or subdued, start with taste—and of course, the budget.

Tease photo

A Lost Art

In an age where couples invite guests to their wedding via Facebook events, the physical invitation has just about gone the way of the dinosaur.

Tease photo

Nice ‘Nog

When it comes to eggnog, people don’t tend to straddle the fence.

Tease photo

DECOR: Keep it Real

I have always loved decorating for the holidays, but dread going up and down the stairs with box after box of Christmas decorations and literally hours of unwrapping and sorting.

Tease photo

The Spirit of Giving

The holidays are all about giving and showing appreciation for one another, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to show that you care.

Tease photo

Set The Tone

For the best Christmas party playlist, you must have songs from all generations and genres.

Tease photo

Bryant Budget Steadfast in Health Care Opposition

Sen. Hillman Frazier said the state would miss out on millions of dollars in economic activity if it declines to expand Medicaid under the federal health-care reform law.

Tease photo

Mississippi's 'Lost Decade': Income Equality Grows

Nowhere in the U.S. has the inequality gap grown larger than in Mississippi.

Tease photo

Jayne Jackson

Jayne Jackson calls herself a community organizer: She brings people together with the help of food, wine, and—most recently—radio.

Tease photo

Giving Thanks Where It's Due

You lose when media just tell you what you want to hear.

Tease photo

Chefs Trade Hair for Turkeys

Three local chefs and restaurateurs, two sets of shears and one bet amounted to $800 and a whole lot of turkey over the weekend.

10 Things to Know for Wednesday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today.

San Francisco Sheds Part of Free-Spirited Past

San Francisco shed a vestige of its free-spirited past as local lawmakers narrowly approved a citywide ban on public nudity.

Expert Sees a Gathering Storm for Top Fund Manager

The arrest of a former hedge fund portfolio manager in what prosecutors are calling one of the most lucrative insider trading schemes ever indicates that prosecutors may be setting their sights higher — toward a wealthy business leader the suspect's firm was connected to, an expert says.

OB/GYNs Back Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pills

No prescription or doctor's exam needed: The nation's largest group of obstetricians and gynecologists says birth control pills should be sold over the counter, like condoms.

Panetta Says War on al-Qaida Taking New Direction

America's war on al-Qaida is taking a new direction, moving beyond declared combat zones like Afghanistan while countering the terrorist network's search for new sanctuaries, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Tuesday.

Whittington Asks for Seat Back on Education Panel

State Rep. Linda Whittington has asked House Speaker Philip Gunn to put her back on the Education Committee.

AP Interview: Trethewey a 'Cheerleader' for Poetry

Natasha Trethewey smashes stereotypes about poets. She's not stuffy. Or shy. Or aloof.

Hinds County Privatizing Food Service at Jails

Hinds County is privatizing its jail food service.

New Trial Ordered in 2007 Slaying of JSU Student

A man convicted of the 2007 killing of JSU student Latasha Norman has been awarded a new trial.

Economy Means Sacrifice for Thanksgiving Travelers

Americans face higher air fares, gas prices and rising tolls, making travel a challenge.

Tuesday, November 20

Clinton Woman Arrested for Medicaid Fraud

A Clinton resident faces several charges of identity theft and other crimes, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today.

Tease photo

Stokes Takes Another Bite at Curfew Apple

Ward 3's Larita Cooper-Stokes has been trying to reinstitute a city curfew for young people.

Tease photo

Innovate Mississippi, New Businesses and Safe Shopping Tips

Tony Jeff, president of the Mississippi Technology Alliance, announced at the company's 13th Annual Conference Nov. 14 that the organization has changed its name to Innovate Mississippi.

Tease photo

Dr. Lawrence T. Potter, Jr.

Jackson State University recently hired native Jacksonian Dr. Lawrence T. Potter Jr. as dean of the College of Liberal Arts.

10 Things to Know for Tuesday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today.

Obama Sends Clinton to Mideast Amid Gaza Crisis

President Barack Obama dispatched Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to the Middle East on Tuesday as the U.S. urgently seeks to contain the bloody conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Steady U.S. Housing Recovery is Boosting Economy

From purchases and prices to builder sentiment and construction, the U.S. housing market is making consistent gains.

Study: NJ Beaches 30-40 Feet Narrower After Storm

The average New Jersey beach is 30 to 40 feet narrower after Superstorm Sandy, according to a survey that is sure to intensify a long-running debate on whether federal dollars should be used to replenish stretches of sand that only a fraction of U.S. taxpayers use.

Howard Agrees to Proposed $1.3M Settlement

A federal judge has set an opt-out deadline of Nov. 29 deadline for those eligible for part of a proposed, $1.3 million class-action settlement alleging discriminatory hiring practices at Howard Industries, which was the target of the largest U.S. workplace raid on illegal immigrants.

Inmate Sentenced in Deadly Miss. Prison Riot

A Mexican man was sentenced Monday to 40 months for his role in a prison riot in Mississippi in which one guard was killed and 20 people were injured.

New Push for HIV Testing

Task force proposes making testing for the AIDS virus as common as cholesterol checks.

Monday, November 19

Miss. Lawmakers Won't Have to Run in 2013

Three federal judges say they won't redraw Mississippi's legislative districts or order the state to hold a new round of elections in 2013.

Rep. Kevin McGee Resigns Mississippi House Seat Over Ethics Case

A Mississippi House member has agreed to resign and pay a $10,000 fine to resolve an ethics case the state brought against him over public contracts that went to his family's printing company.

Tease photo

Finger Scanners: 'A Child-Care Beef Plant'?

Angry and disappointed—that's how child-care center operator Petra Kay described how she feels about the way a state agency has handled implementation of a new tracking system for children of low-income families.

Tease photo

U.S. House Subcommittee Sets Hearing on Missing War Records

Missing military records from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan 2014 detailed in a ProPublica-Seattle Times investigation over Veterans Day 2014 will be the subject of a congressional hearing next month, the spokeswoman for a House Veterans' Affairs subcommittee said today.

Tease photo

Jackson Free Clinic Volunteers

Jackson Free Clinic volunteers began a recent expansion with a demolition party.

Tease photo

Community Events and Public Meetings

The Jackson City Council Youth Curfew Public Hearing is Tuesday, Nov. 20 from 5-9 p.m. at Jackson City Hall.

10 Things to Know for Monday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today.

Myanmar Frees Political Prisoners in New Amnesty

Myanmar set free dozens of political prisoners Monday in an amnesty that coincided with the historic visit of President Barack Obama.

Twinkies Likely to Survive Sale of Hostess

Twinkie lovers, relax. The tasty cream-filled golden spongecakes are likely to survive, even though their maker will be sold in bankruptcy court.

Jindal: Liking People is Key to Expanding GOP Tent

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal says the Republican Party needs to go back to basics to attract the broad coalition of voters credited with putting President Barack Obama back in the White House.

Fiscal Cliff Negotiators Are Facing High Hurdles

It's entirely possible that lawmakers and the White House will reach a deal that staves off an avalanche of tax increases and deep cuts in government programs before a Jan. 1 deadline. To do so, however, they'll have to resolve deep political and fiscal disagreements that have stymied them time after time despite repeated promises to overcome them.

Mississippi's Wicker Sees Way Off 'Fiscal Cliff'

Mississippi's junior U.S. senator says Republicans are willing to meet President Barack Obama's call for new revenue to stave off tax increases and deep cuts in government programs — but only if Democrats accept what he calls entitlement reform.

Tenn. Educator to Lead Jackson Special Education

The state Department of Education and Jackson's city school system have chosen a recently retired Tennessee educator to oversee the district's efforts to comply with federal special education requirements.

Analysis: Miss. Civil Rights Museum Hires Manager

The newly hired project manager for the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum says she wants the museum to tell stories of everyday people who helped shatter barriers of segregation.

Obama in Cambodia after Rousing Myanmar Welcome

Making history twice within hours, President Barack Obama on Monday became the first U.S. president to set foot in Cambodia.

Sunday, November 18

Tease photo

10 Local Stories of the Week

There's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them.

Saturday, November 17

15 Senators Urge Action on Mississippi Waterway

Fifteen senators from eight Mississippi River states are urging the Army Corps of Engineers to take steps to keep barges moving on the Mississippi.

Friday, November 16

Petraeus: White House Withheld Benghazi Terrorist Info to Avoid Tip-Off

Ex-CIA Director David Petraeus told Congress Friday that classified intelligence showed the deadly raid on the U.S. Consulate in Libya was a terrorist attack but the administration withheld the suspected role of al-Qaida affiliates to avoid tipping them off.

Tease photo

UMMC Expansion Continues

Travelers on Lakeland Drive west of Interstate 55 will have to deal with delay-causing construction a little longer.

Tease photo

BP Agrees to Plead Guilty to Crimes in Gulf Oil Spill

BP agreed to plead guilty today to charges of manslaughter, environmental crimes, and lying to Congress in connection with the 2010 Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion, which killed 11 workers and sent as much as 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

Tease photo

Animal of the Day: Shelter Cats

The cat's out of the bag at Community Animal Rescue & Adoption--and hopefully going to a new home this weekend.

Tease photo

It's the Weekend!

Today, the Handworks Holiday Market opens at 9 a.m. at the Mississippi Trade Mart; the event continues Nov. 17.

Glance: Implementation of 'Obamacare' by State

An early look at the routes states are taking to implement President Barack Obama's health care law, along with the number of people in each state who don't have health insurance.

Diabetes Rates Rocket in Oklahoma, South

The nation's diabetes problem is getting worse, and the biggest jump over 15 years was in Oklahoma, according to a new federal report issued Thursday.

Protest at Site of New Jackson Animal Shelter

Plans for a new animal shelter in north Jackson have drawn protests from some neighborhood residents.

College Board Extends Bounds' Contract Until 2016

Hank Bounds will get at least four more years as the head of Mississippi's public university system.

Petraeus Believed Terrorists Behind Libya Attack

A congressman says David Petraeus (peh-TRAY'-uhs) is telling lawmakers he believed all along that the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya was a terrorist attack.

Fire Out at Gulf Oil Rig; 4 Hurt, 2 May be Missing

An oil rig explosion off the coast of Louisiana sent four people to hospital Friday and two others were believed to be missing, Coast Guard officials said.

BP Lawyers: Workers are Scapegoats

Attorneys for the highest-ranking BP employees aboard the Deepwater Horizon vowed to fight charges.

MSU Chooses New Developer for Old Cotton Mill

Mississippi State University has chosen a new contractor to preserve a former cotton mill as part of a commercial development.

Thursday, November 15

Hood Applauds DOJ Action Forcing Entergy Action

The U. S. Department of Justice is investigating Entergy for its anti-competitive activities.

GOP-led States Start Warming Up to Health Care Law

From the South to the heartland, the once-solid wall of Republican resistance to President Barack Obama's health care law is cracking.

Tease photo

Center Begins Sexual Assault Crisis Program

When it comes to preventing sexual assault and rape, creating a culture of deterrence may be the most important aspect of addressing the problem.

Tease photo

New Hope, Nissan Helping Sandy Victims

Most Mississippians know what it's like to have a hurricane affect their lives.

Tease photo

Sabrina Morgan

The Milken Foundation awarded Sabrina Morgan of Pearl Lower Elementary School the Milken Educator Award in a surprise ceremony Tuesday morning.

2 BP Workers Indicted on Manslaughter Counts

The federal indictment unsealed Thursday in New Orleans names BP well site leaders Robert Kaluza and Donald Vidrine.

10 Things to Know for Thursday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today.

Feds Allow Entergy to Buy Miss., Ark. Power Plants

Federal officials say Entergy Corp. can buy two power plants from KGen Power Corp., but say the antitrust investigation of Entergy isn't over.

'Celebrate Jackson' Campaign Launched

Hundreds attended the kickoff event Wednesday for a new marketing campaign aimed at promoting the city of Jackson's culture, food and commerce to potential visitors.

Survey: New Grads Can Expect Modest Rise in Hiring

Modest good news for college students: An annual survey predicts employers will increase hiring of new 4-year college graduates about 5 percent in the coming year.

BP Hit With Record Fine in Gulf Oil Disaster

Oil giant BP has agreed to pay the largest criminal penalty in U.S. history, totaling billions of dollars.

Wednesday, November 14

Tease photo

Global Opus

The Mississippi Opera opens its 68th season with “A World of Opera.”

Tease photo

A Tough Week

It was another tough week for college football teams in Mississippi with one exception. Last week was SWACtastic for Mississippi as all three SWAC teams won this past weekend.

So Much for ‘Redskins’ Rule

Last week in the sports world we learned one major thing. President Barack Obama is more powerful than the “Redskins Rule.”

Tease photo

[The Slate] The Best In Sports In 7 Days

I’m taking off the next couple of weeks to enjoy the birth of my first daughter with my lovely wife. I will be back soon and hopefully have this whole parenting thing down quickly.

Tease photo

JFP Top 25: Week 12

The SEC has finally been dethroned from the top of the JFP College Football Top 25 Poll. Alabama’s loss to Texas A&M knocks the Tide off the top of their perch.

Tease photo

Haute (White) House

In terms of Barack Obama’s re-election, “four more years” means different things to different people.

Tease photo

Fresh Ink

I’ve always been fascinated by tattoos and the bold people who use their body as a canvas in order to showcase their life or passions in art.

Tease photo

Bloody Good Show

“Skyfall” is an exquisite film that teams suspense, remorse, and dysfunction in the MI6 family with snappy banter and inventive direction.

Tease photo

'We Can't Be Bought'

Mama was right: Money can't buy everything.

Tease photo

Doing What They Do

“We wanted to incorporate what we thought was good music, and lyrically write the experiences we had,” guitarist Chandler Wood says.

Tease photo

Stinker Quote of the Week: "Suppressing"

Once again, it seems that a conservative is attempting to appropriate words and change history.

GOP Must Help Us Pay for Bush's Promises

Regardless of your opinion on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the undeniable truth is that these wars have cost us a great deal of money.

An Open Letter to Ole Miss

As student leaders of The University of Mississippi, we want to respond to the incidents that occurred on our campus last Tuesday night.

Tease photo

Jackson R&B Crooner Releases New EP

A couple years ago, I wrote about an up-and-coming R&B singer named Kerry Thomas, who also goes by the name KT.

Tease photo

Adverse Effects

Each medication has a most common possible side effect, and a licensed provider knows what necessary tests to perform before prescribing it.

Tease photo

Ole Miss Fracas Weeks in the Making

Around the time Fox News Channel was calling the presidential election in favor of President Barack Obama, black students at the University of Mississippi erupted with joy.

Tease photo

The Icing on the Cake

Like many other aspects of the wedding world, wedding cakes have really taken the spotlight in the past few years in a way they didn’t in the past.

Hear Them Roar ...

Women's issues—and women's votes—were front and center in the Nov. 6 vote.

Tease photo

Two-Way Capitol Street Coming

The city canceled a ground-breaking ceremony Monday to begin the project to turn Capitol Street back into a two-way street. It's still happening, though.

Question o' the Week: What should President Obama's top priority be going forward?

What should President Obama's top priority be going forward?

Tease photo

First Person

Today, I'm hearing rumors about riots at Ole Miss after the official presidential election results came in declaring President Obama the winner.

Tease photo

A Jump to the Left? Mississippi: The 2012 Elections and Beyond

Among the many names folks have called Mississippi—from the Hospitality State to the Cradle of the Confederacy—“political trendsetter” probably doesn’t rank high on many lists.

Tease photo

You & JFP

Why I love cycling: "It's such an awesome sport that challenges you both mentally and physically. I cannot recommend it enough for anyone, regardless of his or her fitness level. It will also whip you into shape pretty quickly."

Tease photo

The Young and the Restless

At first blush, Ghali Haddad sounds like a voter whom Republicans wouldn’t have to invest energy courting.

Tease photo

A Threat to Power

From the beginning, no matter what the clueless pundits said about how close the presidential race would be, there was one huge thing standing in the way of a Republican taking the White House: the Latino vote.

Fuller Picture of Poverty: Calif. No. 1

Taking into account medical costs and work-related expenses finds a higher total than the government's official count.

Tease photo

Mississippi Sends Insurance Plan to Feds

Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney has steadily worked toward the creation of the online marketplace for people to buy insurance despite pressure from Gov. Phil Bryant and others to abandon the plan.

Tease photo

Budget: First the Bad News

Federal budget cuts would be a huge hit to Mississippi's gross domestic product, state economist Darrin Webb told Gov. Phil Bryant and the Legislative Budget Committee at a meeting Monday.

Tease photo

RaSul Hijaz El

RaSul Hijaz El is a talented portrait artist known to a small following in Jackson for bringing his subjects to life with pen, pencil and pastels.

Tease photo

The Southern Strategy's Last Stand?

This entire arc of ugly is good for us all, ultimately.

Tease photo

Let Us Do the Cooking

If you just can't stand the thought of cleaning up 12 different pots, pans and casserole dishes, let local Jackson restaurants take care of you Thanksgiving Day.

10 Things to Know for Wednesday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today.

Lawmakers Probe Widening Generals Scandal

Lawmakers are digging into the tangled tale of emails that exposed an extramarital affair ending David Petraeus' CIA career and led investigators to a questionable relationship between a Florida socialite and the general commanding the war in Afghanistan.

A Cast of Characters in the Petraeus Sex Scandal

One day CIA Director David Petraeus was sending out signals he'd like to stay on for President Barack Obama's second term. The next he was hurrying to the White House to offer his resignation and remorse over an extramarital affair. In rapid succession, other characters have emerged in North Carolina, Florida and Afghanistan with story lines that resemble the latest installment of "Real Housewives."

Obama Pressing Business and Labor on Fiscal Cliff

President Barack Obama is lobbying business and labor groups to support $1.6 trillion in new revenue to avoid an impending fiscal cliff, telling the two sides he remains committed to requiring the wealthy to pay more in taxes.

Tease photo

Pilots Crash While Enroute to Safety Conference

Three pilots flying together to a federal safety conference died when their single-engine plane faltered in midair and crashed into a house that went up in flames.

Official: Pelosi Still Leads House Dems

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi told her party caucus that she will remain as minority leader in the new session of Congress.

Tease photo

SBA Loans Level Out After Jobs Act

After many of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010's incentives expired in 2011, during fiscal year 2012, the U.S. Small Business Administration's Loan Programs settled to its lowest lending total since 2008 in Mississippi.

Tuesday, November 13

Paul Ryan: Would Have Run 'Exactly' Campaign Romney Ran

Had he been at the top of the ticket, Ryan said, he would have run exactly the kind of campaign that Romney oversaw. Ryan said he and Romney "felt very good about the race we ran."

Tampa Socialite, Twin Sister Now Part of Petraeus Sex Scandal

The scandal now involves a Tampa socialite, a jealous rival and a twin sister in a messy custody dispute and flirty emails.

Small Plane Crashes into West Jackson House (UPDATE: PHOTO)

Authorities say a small plane carrying three people crashed Tuesday evening into a residential neighborhood in west Jackson near Hawkins Field Airport.

Tease photo

Committee Shuffle Clears Way for Charters

The first salvo in the coming battle over charter schools in Mississippi came this week when House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, shuffled the pieces of a key legislative committee.

Tease photo

Slow Economic Growth, KiOR Up and Running, West Central Jackson Holds Community Meeting

State economists are predicting a slow, but steady climb in the coming years, led by revitalized housing and automobile markets.

Tease photo

Leon Lowe

Leon Lowe, along with a group of fellow neighbors, started the Bailey Avenue Renewal Coalition 15 years ago, after deciding that if they worked together, they could make their neighborhood a better place.

10 Things to Know for Tuesday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Tuesday.

Oxford Chooses 'Omnishambles' as Word of the Year

Britain's media are in a meltdown and its government is gaffe-prone, so Oxford Dictionaries has chosen an apt Word of the Year: "omnishambles."

Scandal Widens in Probe of Top U.S. General's Emails

The sex scandal that led to CIA Director David Petraeus' downfall widened Tuesday with word the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan is under investigation for thousands of alleged "inappropriate communications" with another woman involved in the case.

Radical Cleric Abu Qatada Released from Jail

A radical Islamist cleric described by prosecutors as a key al-Qaida operative in Europe was freed from prison Tuesday after a court ruled he cannot be deported from Britain to Jordan to face terrorism charges.

Mayor Apologizes for Segregation-Era Cemetery

Mayor George Schloegel (SHLAY' guhl) took the opportunity of the Veterans Day holiday to apologize to families of African-American members of the U.S. military who weren't allowed to be buried in the city cemetery during times of segregation decades ago.

Miss. Leaders Cautious in Setting Revenue Estimate

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and top lawmakers say they've set a conservative estimate that the state can spend about $5 billion in the coming year.

Ellen Douglas Visitation

Josephine Haxton, whose pen name was Ellen Douglas, died this past week after a long illness.

Off the 'Fiscal Cliff' Together

Everyone who pays income tax—and some who don't—will feel it.

Charter Schools Opponent Moved Off House Education

The Republican speaker of the Mississippi House has shuffled committee assignments in a way that makes it easier to pass charter school legislation he supports.

Monday, November 12

Tease photo

City Cancels Capitol Ceremony

The city canceled the groundbreaking ceremony for the Capitol Street two-way project this morning.

Tease photo

Lost to History: Missing War Records Complicate Benefit Claims by Iraq, Afghanistan Veterans

A strange thing happened when Christopher DeLara filed for disability benefits after his tour in Iraq: The U.S. Army said it had no records showing he had ever been overseas.

Tease photo

Kayla Booker

Jackson native Kayla Booker recently received a $10,000 Minority Accounting Doctoral Scholarship from the KPMG Foundation.

Tease photo

Community Events and Public Meetings

The "Stuff the Bus" food drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Nov. 12-16 at local Kroger Stores.

10 Things to Know for Monday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today.

Deficit Cutters Look to Pentagon Budget

One war is done, another is winding down and the calls to cut the deficit are deafening. The military, a beneficiary of robust budgets for more than a decade, is coming to grips with a new reality—fewer dollars.

Former Spokesman Says Petraeus is 'Devastated'

A former spokesman for David Petraeus says the retired general's affair with a female biographer started after Petraeus left the Army.

On Streets of Athens, Racist Attacks Increase

The attack came seemingly out of nowhere. As the 28-year-old Bangladeshi man dug around trash bins one recent afternoon for scrap metal, two women and a man set upon him with a knife. He screamed as he fell. Rushed to the hospital, he was treated for a gash to the back of his thigh.

Hinds Co. Records Now Available Online

It's a new convenience for anyone in Hinds County who has to deal with the court system.

Night Outside Spotlights Homeless Vets' Plight

More than a dozen students and faculty members from a Catholic high school in Bay St. Louis took steps over the weekend to call attention to the plight of homeless veterans.

Man Who Integrated Ole Miss Troubled by Protest

The man who integrated the University of Mississippi says he's troubled and confused by the protest there against President Barack Obama's re-election.

U.S. Colleges Look to Foreign Students

New figures show international enrollment at U.S. colleges and universities grew nearly 6 percent last year, driven by a 23-percent increase from China, even as total enrollment was leveling out.

Sunday, November 11

10 Local Stories of the Week

There's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them.

Friday, November 9

High Court to Take New Look at Voting Rights Law

The Supreme Court said Friday it will consider eliminating the government's most potent weapon against racial discrimination at polling places since the 1960s. The court acted three days after a diverse coalition of voters propelled President Barack Obama to a second term in the White House.

Tease photo

Ole Miss Student Describes Campus Disturbance

Black students taunted white students about the victory of the nation's first black president over Mitt Romney slogans from Young Jeezy's 2008 post-electoral creed "My president is black."

Tease photo

Whole Foods Begins Construction

The nation's largest natural and organic grocery chain has begun building its first location in Mississippi, set to open in the fall of 2013.

Tease photo

Dr. Carolyn Meyers

It's a different world from the one in which Dr. Carolyn Meyers studied alloys as a graduate engineering student at Georgia Tech.

Tease photo

It's the Weekend!

On Sunday, Salsa Mississippi's Dance for Mountain Child is from 5-10 p.m. at Duling Hall.

10 Things to Know for Friday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today.

Pot Votes in CO, WA Raise Specter of Weed Tourism

Marijuana legalization votes this week in Colorado and Washington state don't just set up an epic state-federal showdown on drug law for residents. The measures also open the door for marijuana tourism.

Change Coming to Obama's Team, Just Not Right Away

Big changes are coming to President Barack Obama's administration — just not right away.

Shuttered Restaurant to Auction Off Contents

Actor Morgan Freeman and his business partner are auctioning the contents of their upscale restaurant in the heart of the Mississippi Delta.

KiOR Starts Production at Mississippi Biorefinery

Alternative fuel firm KiOR says it started production in October in Columbus, Miss., and plans to make its first commercial shipments before November's end.

Miss. in Good Shape for Debt Level, Treasury Says

The Mississippi House and Senate will try to agree on a package of long-term borrowing next year, after failing to authorize one this past spring, a top lawmaker said Thursday.

Obama Approaches 'Fiscal Cliff' Days After Victory

Republicans continue to draw a line in the sand.

Bryant Appoints New Parole Board Member

Gov. Phil Bryant has named Steven Pickett of Raymond to the Mississippi Parole Board.

Thursday, November 8

Obama's Big Hispanic Win Worries Republicans

Hispanics were only a large part of a worrisome trend in the electorate, which is increasingly comprised of younger and minority voters who traditionally do not back Republicans.

Tease photo

Abortion Foes Eye Jackson Clinic

Anti-abortion activists from six states are occupying each of the four corners at State Street and Fondren Place as part of a nationwide campaign known as States of Refuge.

Tease photo

The Outlook for 'Obamacare' in Two Maps

It wasn't just President Barack Obama who won Tuesday. His signature health care plan did as well.

Tease photo

Ellen Douglas

Mississippi native and author Ellen Douglas died today at age 91 from an extended illness.

10 Things to Know for Thursday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today.

Storm Brings New Outages for Sandy-Battered States

The nor'easter that stymied recovery efforts from Superstorm Sandy pulled away from New York and New Jersey Thursday, leaving hundreds of thousands of new people in darkness after a blanket of thick, wet snow snapped storm-weakened trees and downed power lines.

Obama, GOP Leaders Lay Down Markers on Budget Deal

Taking little time to celebrate, President Barack Obama is setting out to leverage his re-election into legislative success in an upcoming showdown with congressional Republicans over taxes, deficits and the impending "fiscal cliff." House Speaker John Boehner says Republicans are willing to consider some form of higher tax revenue as part of the solution—but only "under the right conditions."

Gov. Worries $500M for Port in Danger

Gov. Phil Bryant says expansion at the Port of Gulfport needs to move forward to avoid the chance of losing $500 million in federal money.

Less State Funds for Education Impact Locally

The state spending less money on local school districts in recent years could result in a reduction in how much it is legally obligated to provide K-12 education in the coming years.

Mississippi Author Ellen Douglas Dies at 91

Douglas' novel, "Apostles of Light," was a 1973 National Book Award nominee.

Health Care Overhaul's Race to the Finish

In 11 months, millions of uninsured people can start signing up for coverage.

Recipients Picked for BP Tourism, Seafood Grants

More than 100 nonprofit groups and government entities have been picked to get shares of $43.7 million in BP funds to promote the Gulf Coast's tourism and seafood industries following the company's 2010 oil spill.

Wednesday, November 7

Tease photo

Ole Miss Moves Toward Healing

Less than one day national election results sent racial tensions perilously close to boiling over into a much uglier episode, Ole Miss students are quickly moving towards healing and reconciliation.

The Squeaker That Roared

Few called the election a sure thing for President Barack Obama before the polls closed yesterday.

Tease photo

(Mostly) Blowouts and Letdowns

It was a rough week for the three FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) college football teams in Mississippi.

Tease photo

Thick and Proud

As life has become as familiar with me as I have with it, I have learned to accept who I am and love the idea that I am not a stick figure.

Where Is Payton’s Place?

This Sunday, things took an interesting turn in New Orleans when it was announced that the NFL had voided suspended head coach Sean Payton’s 2011 contract extension.

Voting Suppression Must be National Priority

The electorate lost big when it came to how elections were handled right here in Hinds County and beyond.

Tease photo

[The Slate] The Best In Sports In 7 Days

The football season is starting to slowly come to a close. Don’t worry; the NBA season has already started, and college basketball is coming.

Tease photo

JFP Top 25: Week 11

Alabama versus LSU part three was by far the best game between these team teams in the past year.

Stinker Quote of the Week: "Illegal"

We'd love to know how many calls and how many impersonation cases Wilson actually saw. And of those, how many convictions did the SOS get?

Tease photo

World Peace and Rent Money

Miss Doodle Mae: "During this time of uncertainty and anxiety, business activity at Jojo's Discount Dollar Store has been very steady.

Tease photo

Coming Home to Hope

For me, returning home as Esperanza turned 10 evoked past dreams that have been carried into the present in new, exciting forms.

Tease photo

Landing a Miracle

The unspoken question, a bit more tangible as the investigation develops, bobbles up again: Is Whitaker to blame?

Tease photo

GOP Praises Canada, Presents Agenda

Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves plans to reignite the charter school debate in the next legislative session.

Tease photo

Passion Pit’s New Approach

“It’s more in-depth, and there’s a lot going on.”

Tease photo

The Daytripper

This weekend, on a beautiful fall day, I decided at a moment’s notice to get in the car and go for a little road trip.

Tease photo

Like Buttah

Autumn, to me, screams for comfort food and earthy, warm flavors.

Tease photo

HUD Approves City Grants

The city once again saw cuts to the grants it receives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Tease photo

Question o' the Week: Who is the Most Beautiful Person You Know and Why?

The JFP's Question o' the Week: Who is the most beautiful person you know and why?

Tease photo

American Cheese No Longer ‘Cheesy’

Probably most Americans who grew up prior to the millennium consider American cheese to be synonymous with “cheesy,” or of little worth.

Feedback: from jfp.ms/racistdevil

"The Deal With a Racist Devil," Donna Ladd's editor's note last week, called for Republicans to reject the racism of the party's southern strategy to appeal to bigotry.

Tease photo

Fit and Fabulous

Working out helps me feel more confident in my clothes. But my commitment to being fit is more about being healthy than fitting into a certain dress size.

Tease photo

You & JFP

John Ingram, Bar Manager and Assistant Manager at Parlor Market

Tease photo

Mississippi Mantra

"To understand the world you must understand a place like Mississippi"—Faulkner

Tease photo

Natural Success

At her flagship store in Ridgeland, Amy Head provides one-on-one makeup consultations.

Tease photo

Jackson's Stylists' Top Tips

Looking for a quick makeover or to improve your manscape? Check out these style tips from some of Jackson's finest.

Tease photo

A Beautiful Legacy

A’Lelia Bundles truly has a beautiful heritage.

Tease photo

Vivid Digits

Unless you’ve been living under a rock lately, you’ve probably noticed that fingernails garner a lot of attention these days.

Tease photo

Gray Days are Coming

This season, “50 Shades of Grey” isn’t just a terrible fan fic-turned-bestselling novel. It’s also a theme in nail salons all over.

Tease photo

No Excuses, Men

Listen, guys, these days you have no excuse to let yourself—or your face—go.

Tease photo

City Settling Into Metrocenter

The city began the long-awaited move of several departments into Metrocenter Mall last week.

Tease photo

Transforming Jackson From the Kids Up

Patrice Gilbert Alma Powell and Walter Isaacson, both heavyweights of the nonprofit world, will engage Jackson residents on ways to transform our community at a Nov. 12 forum.

Tease photo

Syd Curry

Before 2008, hairstylist Syd Curry had not set foot in the state of Mississippi in decades.

Tease photo

Fighting for Beautiful

Why do so many women find it hard to believe they are beautiful?

Tease photo

Winter is Coming

Learn how coconut oil can keep your skin supple at Rainbow's winterizing workshop this Saturday.

10 Things to Know for Wednesday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today.

The Economy Obama Faces: Slow but Gaining Steadily

Here's the assignment President Barack Obama has won with his re-election: Improve an economy burdened by high unemployment, stagnant pay, a European financial crisis, slowing global growth and U.S. companies still too anxious to expand much.

Given 2nd Term, Obama Now Facing New Urgent Task

President Barack Obama faces a new urgent task now that he has a second term, working with a status-quo Congress to address an impending financial crisis that economists say could send the country back into recession.

Economy on Minds of Most Miss. Voters

Republican Mitt Romney won Mississippi by a wide margin in the presidential race Tuesday, and more than half of voters in the state said the economy was the top issue on their minds, according to an exit poll conducted for The Associated Press and other news organizations. Republican Roger Wicker also won re-election to the U.S. Senate.

Congressional Incumbents and Romney Win in Miss.

Mississippians re-elect all four congressmen and return Roger Wicker to the U.S. Senate.

Democrats Expand Senate Grip but Fail to Win House

President Barack Obama faces the same divided Congress in 2013 that has bedeviled efforts to enact his major legislation.

Pine Belt Job Fair Set for Today

The 2012 Pine Belt Job Fair is set for Wednesday at the Hattiesburg Lake Terrace Convention Center.

Tease photo

Preliminary Exit Poll: Economy Top Issue in Mississippi

Republican Mitt Romney won Mississippi by a wide margin in the presidential race Tuesday, and more than half of voters in the state said the economy was the top issue on their minds.

Tease photo

Waller Leads Supreme Court race as Randolph, Coleman Win

Newcomer Josiah Coleman cruised to a seat on the Mississippi Supreme Court, while Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. held a solid lead over state Rep. Earle Banks, a Jackson Democrat in judicial races Tuesday.

Tease photo

Obama Re-elected Amid Rising Economic Optimism

Voters who feel the economic outlook brightening after years of misery and believe Barack Obama better understands people like themselves propelled the president to a second term, exit polls show.

Tuesday, November 6

In Early Exit Polls, Mississippians Say Economy Tops Concerns

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — More than half of Mississippi voters say the economy was the top issue on their minds as they voted in the presidential race Tuesday, according to a preliminary exit poll conducted for The Associated Press and other news organizations. Here's a look at preliminary results from exit polling in Mississippi:

Exit Polls Say Economy Still Number One Issue

Preliminary results of an exit poll conducted for The Associated Press show that the presidential election hinges once again on the economy.

1000s of Vote Forms Sitting in Circuit Clerk's Office

Five large boxes containing hundreds if not thousands of valid voter registration forms are piled in a corner of the Hinds County Circuit Clerk's office.

Tease photo

Problems Persist in First Half of Election Day

Dozens of gold-shirted volunteers at the NAACP's Protect the Vote headquarters are busily fielding a steady stream of calls from across the state to the organization's voter helpline.

Tease photo

Small Biz Roundtable, Martin's Tax Services and Fresh Shrimp

Small business professionals and entrepreneurs will get a chance later this month to talk with business leaders and give their input on expanding business education and growth in the Jackson area.

Tease photo

Flonzie Brown-Wright

It wasn't so very long ago that voting was a right people fought and died for. Native Mississippian Flonzie Brown-Wright remembers those days clearly.

Tease photo

State Dems Must Do More

Time has proven my old political-science professor right after all.

10 Things to Know for Tuesday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today.

New Congress Likely to Frustrate Obama or Romney

No matter who is elected president, he's likely to find that the next Congress will remain what the current one has been for President Barack Obama—a headache.

Housing, Voting, Power: Problems Abound Post-Sandy

From trying to figure out where people would live to how they would be able to vote and when all the lights will finally come on, government officials are still facing multiple fronts in the efforts to recover from Superstorm Sandy. All that, and there's another storm coming.

Study: Stem Cells from Strangers Can Repair Hearts

Researchers are reporting a key advance in using stem cells to repair hearts damaged by heart attacks. In a study, stem cells donated by strangers proved as safe and effective as patients' own cells for helping restore heart tissue.

Voters Line Up in Mississippi

Polling stations had long lines early Tuesday in Mississippi, and almost all anyone wanted to talk about was the race for president.

5 Election Day Things to Know

Here's a look at five things to watch on election day in Mississippi.

3rd Ex-Jackson Officer to Plead in Bribery Case

Federal court records say the last of three former Jackson police officers charged in a bribery case will plead guilty.

Suspense to the End, Obama, Romney Yield to Voters

The Election Day choices will frame the contours of government and the nation for years to come.

Miss. Economy Predicted to Grow Slowly in 2013

Mississippi's economy is forecast to grow slowly again in 2013, after eking out just barely positive growth in 2012.

Monday, November 5

Nov. 14, 2012 - Wednesday

20121114

Click here for venue addresses and phone numbers. Ole Tavern - Karaoke Pop's Saloon - Karaoke Philip's on the Rez - Karaoke w/ DJ Mike West Restaurant & Lounge, W. Capitol St. - Wild & Out Wednesday Comedy Show 8:45 p.m. $2 Burgers & Blues - Jesse "Guitar" Smith Club Magoo's - Karaoke 8 p.m. Last Call - Karaoke Martin's - Ladies Night

Tease photo

10 Local Stories of the Week

There's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them.

Tease photo

Missing Voter Registrations in Hinds?

The Mississippi NAACP and Hinds County Circuit Clerk's office are pointing fingers at each other over an unknown number of missing voter-registration forms.

Tease photo

Make Sure Your Vote Counts

The NAACP's Protect The Vote program is designed to educate voters and volunteers about voting rights in Mississippi.

Tease photo

Dr. Younus Mirza

Dr. Younus Mirza, a visiting professor at Millsaps College, is giving a free lecture tonight on "al-Qaeda in Today's World," exploring the group's role in the current global state.

Tease photo

Community Events and Public Meetings

Dr. Younus Mirza talks about Al Qaeda and its role in current global issues tonight at 7 p.m. at Millsaps College.

Tease photo

Birth Control Good for Women, Good for Families

A new report in Obstetrics and Gynecology has found that providing birth control at no cost to women and teens can substantially reduce unplanned pregnancies and cut abortion rates by about 70 percent.

10 Things to Know for Monday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today.

Cold Weather and New Storm Add to Victims' Misery

Shivering victims of Superstorm Sandy went to church Sunday to pray for deliverance as cold weather settling in across the New York metropolitan region — and another powerful storm forecast for the middle of the week — added to their misfortunes and deepened the gloom.

A Look at the Most Competitive States in the Race

A look at the race between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney for the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House.

Doctors: Flu Shot Still the Best Medicine

Mississippi doctors still say a flu shot is best medicine to avoid the bug.

Research Funding Takes a Hit at USM

University of Southern Mississippi biology professor Shahid Karim is fascinated by ticks.

Miss. to Vote on U.S. Offices, State Judicial Seats

Mississippi voters are preparing to choose one U.S. senator, four U.S. House members, four state Supreme Court justices and one judge for the state Court of Appeals.

Obama, Romney Pursue Last Votes in Deadlocked Race

With one day left, the president and his challenger storm through a final push.

Analysis: Miss. GOP Renewing Charter School Push

Gov. Phil Bryant and fellow Republicans who lead the Mississippi House and Senate say they have big plans to overhaul public education during the 2013 session.

Sunday, November 4

Tease photo

Barbour: Hurricane Sandy Broke Romney's Momentum

"The hurricane is what broke Romney's momentum. I don't think there's any question about it," former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said on CNN's "State of the Union."

Post-storm Construction Hiring May Aid U.S. Economy

Hiring in the long-depressed U.S. construction industry will get a boost from the rebuilding that will follow Superstorm Sandy. Those jobs, in turn, could raise economic growth, analysts say.

Prison Factories Caught in Private Biz Debate

Factories that employ convicted felons are at the heart of a simmering debate about whether prisons should be siphoning away jobs—and at much lower wages.

Saturday, November 3

Obama's Special Weapon in Swing States: Bill Clinton

Republican Mitt Romney has millionaire backers, a huge staff and years of campaign experience, which may be enough to win the White House. President Barack Obama has one asset Romney can't match, however: Bill Clinton.

Friday, November 2

Tease photo

JFP Endorses Earle Banks, Brad Morris

The JFP endorses Rep. Earle Banks and Brad Morris.

Tease photo

Children's Museum, UMMC Offer Math, Science Program

Children in Mississippi are falling behind most of the nation in nearly every academic area.

Tease photo

Charlie Braxton

Jackson native Charlie Braxton will be at Gallery 1 in One University Place this evening at 5:30 p.m. to promote and sign copies of his new poetry book, "Cinders Rekindled."

Tease photo

It's the Weekend!

Saturday night, the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra presents "Pops I: Simply Swingin'" at 7:30 p.m. at Thalia Mara Hall.

Long Lines, Rising Tempers Seen at Gas Stations

Motorists fumed in long lines at gas stations around the metropolitan area and screamed at each other Friday morning as fuel shortages hindered the region's efforts to recover four days after Superstorm Sandy.

Campaigns Lawyered Up for Election Overtime Chance

Legions of lawyers are ready to enter the fray in case Election Day turns on a legal challenge. One nightmare scenario would be for the results in a battleground state like Florida or Ohio to be too close to call, with thousands of absentee or provisional ballots yet to be counted.

U.S. Officials: No Delays in Rescue Effort in Libya

CIA security officers went to the aid of State Department staff less than 25 minutes after they got the first call for help during the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, U.S. intelligence officials said Thursday, as they laid out a detailed timeline of the CIA's immediate response to the attack from its annex less than a mile from the diplomatic mission.

U.S. Economy Adds 171K Jobs

Solid job growth shows that the economy is strengthening slowly but consistently.

Lawsuit: Jackson Special Education Plan Not Enough

Lawyers for three disabled students say the state's plan to take over special education in Jackson city schools is not good enough.

Thursday, November 1

GOP Hopeful: 'Rape Thing' Not Cause for Abortion

A Republican congressional candidate says abortion should not be legal, even when it involves "the rape thing," according to audio provided Wednesday to The Associated Press.

Tease photo

How Big Business Wants to Shrink the Electorate

Astonishing. Remarkable. Sinister. Those are words that come up again and again when confronting the wave of voter-identification laws that has swept through more than 30 Republican-dominated state legislatures in recent years.

Top Brews

Local brewers brought their best to Jacktoberfest's craft beer competition this year.

Tease photo

North Jackson Pushing Up Murder Rate

The latest crime information from the Jackson Police Department shows a 36.6 percent increase in homicides.

Tease photo

James Meredith

On Tuesday, Oct. 30, ESPN's critically acclaimed series "30 for 30" focuses on Mississippi for a second time.

10 Things to Know for Thursday

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today.

Battered NJ Confronts How to Rebuild its Shore

In its tear of destruction, the megastorm Sandy left parts of New Jersey's beloved shore in tatters, sweeping away beaches, homes, boardwalks and amusement parks.

Obama Making Up for Lost Time After Storm Hiatus

President Barack Obama dives back into campaigning after three days immersed in managing the federal response to the storm that battered the East Coast. The contours of the presidential race remain much the same, with Obama and Republican Mitt Romney locked in a tight contest and both campaigns predicting victory.

Romney Faces Scrutiny on Aid in Storm's Wake

There's nothing like a natural disaster to test the depth of politicians' preference for small government.

Romney Campaign Challenges Criticism by Automakers

Mitt Romney came under withering criticism Wednesday over his depiction of President Barack Obama's auto industry bailout, with Vice President Joe Biden accusing him of perpetuating an "outrageous lie" and newspapers assailing the Republican's advertising campaign on the subject. Chrysler and General Motors also have protested the ads, as the 2009 bailout was pushed to the forefront of the White House campaign in a key battleground just days before Tuesday's election.

Daggett: Schools Must Teach Thinking Skills

The institution entrusted with preparing citizens for a rapidly changing world has been one of the most resistant to innovation, according to a respected education expert.

Stock Market Up After Good Jobs News

A pair of encouraging reports on employment sees stocks opening higher.

Politicos Mix With Business People at MEC Event

Mississippi Republican Roger Wicker says he wants another term in the U.S. Senate to continue fighting bureaucracy and seeking ways to cut budgets and promote American energy.