Friday, May 31
Putting Early Learning First
When it comes to Mississippi's future—economically and socially—we have no better way to ensure success than to provide our youngest citizens with early childhood education, beginning at age 3.
Six Facts Lost in the IRS Scandal
In the furious fallout from the revelation that the IRS flaggedapplications from conservative nonprofits for extra review because of their political activity, some points about the big picture and big donors—have fallen through the cracks.
Kimberly Simpson
In teaching, Kimberly Simpson prioritizes student engagement, as well as hands-on and non-traditional learning methods.
Life Sentence in 2011 Shooting Death
A Jackson man has been given a life sentence for a 2011 murder.
Schools Continue to Address Tornado Damage
The lingering effects of the Feb. 10 tornado are still visible at the two local high school campuses that were hit the hardest.
Miss. Supreme Court to Hear Appeal in Shooting
The Mississippi Supreme Court will hear an appeal from Eboni White, who was convicted of manslaughter in the 2009 death of a former friend and Alcorn State University classmate.
Judge Sentences Man for Exploiting 85-Year-Old
A 51-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for exploiting an 85-year-old victim who was suffering from dementia.
Suspect Shot by JPD Named
Jackson police have released the name of the man they say was shot when he tried to run over an officer with a car
Miss. to Give $15M for Biloxi Minor League Stadium
Mississippi plans to use $15 million of BP oil spill recovery money to help build a minor league baseball stadium in downtown Biloxi.
Thursday, May 30
Mississippi Sued Again for Prison Conditions
A rat infestation at Meridian's East Mississippi Correctional Facility has gotten so bad that some of the prisoners have adopted the disease-carrying vermin as pets, sometimes taking them on walks around the prison on leashes fashioned of paper clips and string.
Making Sense of the Moore Tornado in a Climate Context
The devastating tornado that ripped apart Moore, Okla., on Monday now joins the ranks of America's strongest twisters on record, coming almost exactly two years after a similarly extreme and deadly tornado struck Joplin, Mo.
Jackson State Tigers Baseball
The Jackson State University Tigers finished the SWAC baseball regular season as Eastern Division champions, setting up for what could be the "Battle of the Tigers" at the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament this weekend.
Military Furloughs Ahead in Mississippi
Maj. Gen. Augustus L. Collins, the adjutant general of Mississippi, was to release details Thursday of upcoming furloughs among more than 1,000 full-time National Guard employees across Mississippi.
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 the railroad tracks or how dangerous they were.
Xi, Obama Look to Strike Up Relationship at Summit
President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping face weighty issues when they meet at a private estate in California next week, but their most important task may simply be establishing a strong rapport.
AP Sources: Obama to Name Ex-Bush Aide to Head FBI
President Barack Obama is prepared to nominate James Comey, a former Bush administration official with bipartisan credentials, as the next FBI director.
U.S. Economy Growing Slowly
The U.S. economy grew at a modest 2.4 percent annual rate from January through March, slightly slower than initially estimated.
10 Easy and Fun Ways to Help the Chick Ball & Fight Sex Trafficking
Here are 10 easy ways you can help:
It is JFP Chick Ball season in Jackson, and we need your help to fight domestic abuse—this year to start a rape crisis center and raise awareness about sexual assault in our city and state!
Forrest Co. Launching $5M Local Road Project
Forrest County will get started this summer on a $5 million effort to repave about 65 miles of potholes and pitted roads.
Wednesday, May 29
Keeper of the Zoo
"Be prepared for hard work. Try to know what you're getting into. So many people don't know what it is (to really be a zookeeper). It's not just playing with animals."
The Slate
While you were (probably) sleeping Sunday night, someone made sports history. Do you know who? Answer at the bottom of the Slate.
Off to the College World Series
The field for the 2013 College World Series was announced Monday morning. Our state is well represented with three teams in the field. It was almost four teams, but Southern Miss' 10-inning loss to Rice in the C-USA title game ended that dream.
UPDATED: Stealth Whitwell Write-in Campaign: 'You Can't Do It'
Jackson residents waging an underground write-in mayoral campaign for Ward 1 Councilman Quentin Whitwell are wasting their time, individuals familiar with Mississippi election law say.
Roadtrip to Nowhere
Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms reprise their franchise roles in “The Hangover: Part III.”
Ceremony and Celebration
Not many couples can say they had their first fight before they even went out on a date. But then again, most couples aren't lawyers on opposite sides of a case.
The Right Choice
A mother’s primary obligation is to create children who will contribute positively to this world.
Time to Get Real About Unity
What a week. Not only did Chokwe Lumumba come out on top in the Democratic runoff for mayor, but he caused an explosion in racist comments like we haven't seen in these parts in years. Or at least since President Barack Obama was re-elected last fall.
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Jobs'
If a loss of jobs—and a potential subsequent loss of a House or Senate seat—will provide those in need a way to get the adequate medical care they so desperately need, we'll take it.
Downing: The Man With the Answers
Ponto Ronnie Downing, self-proclaimed "Jesus freak," is running for the Ward 3 City Council seat on the Republican ticket.
Mayor Johnson Delivers State of the City
Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. delivered his final State of the City address today, May 29, 2013. The transcript follows.
Coleman: ‘It’s Our Time’
Marcus Coleman is careful to be respectful of his opponent, Margaret Barrett-Simon, but he says its time for a change in Ward 7.
Rising and Falling
Navigating the tricky world of being The Black Person has been my life. I'm a biracial woman who was raised half her life in an almost all-white town and who spent most of her life in majority-white towns.
Walthall Auction Disappoints; JSU’s Madison Campus Opens
With the lack of a convention-center hotel, the downtown area needs all the hotel space it can get. If all goes according to plan, downtown could soon get a new lodging venue in an old, familiar location.
Breaking Down the Democratic Mayoral Runoff Numbers
Jackson may not experience a huge racial divide on a daily basis, but once or twice every four years, one day certainly sets white and black people apart: Election Day.
Lumumba on Unity: ‘Stay; Give it a Shot
Chokwe Lumumba doesn't want any person or business to leave Jackson just because he will probably be the city's next mayor.
Williams: Families and Faith
Independent Jackson mayoral candidate Richard "Chip" Williams wants to focus on the family.
Annie Baker
Annie Baker, 40, has served as the director of community outreach for the Mississippi Institute for Improvement of Geographic Minority Health at the University of Mississippi Medical Center for the past seven years.
Redefining Success
What makes one person successful ... when a person of similar intelligence, experience and means is not?
Out from Under a Famous Shadow
As an internationally known singer-songwriter with two successful EPs in as many years, James McCartney has made a tradition of not being crushed by the weight of his hyper-famous father, Paul McCartney.
Economic Gains Lift U.S. Confidence to a 5-Year High
Home prices are surging. Job growth is strengthening. And stocks are setting record highs. All of which explains why Americans are more hopeful about the economy than at any other point in five years.
Mothers Now Top Earners in 4 in 10 U.S. Households
A record number of American women are now the sole or primary breadwinners in their families, a sign of the rising influence of working mothers, a new study finds.
U.S. Gun Debate Overlooks Daily Violence
Often lost in America's divisive gun control politics are the stories of people whose urban communities suffer the most from shootings every day.
Tax Overhaul: IRS Scandal Could Lead to Changes
The Internal Revenue Service's targeting of conservative political groups has little if anything to do with most everyday taxpayers, but some lawmakers are hoping attention to the budding scandal will swell public and political support for rewriting and simplifying a federal tax code that has undergone some 5,000 changes in the past dozen years.
Feds Investigate Md. Train Derailment, Explosion
Federal investigators planned to spend the coming days piecing together what caused a chemical-carrying CSX train to collide with a garbage truck, derail and explode at a rail crossing in suburban Baltimore.
Rep. Bachmann Won't Seek Fifth Term
Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, said her decision had nothing to do with ongoing investigations.
Miss. Unveils Marker for 1963 Civil Rights Sit-In
Mississippi on Tuesday unveiled a historical marker commemorating the sit-in that took place 50 years earlier at a segregated lunch counter in downtown Jackson.
Tuesday, May 28
Passengers Returning to U.S. After Cruise Ship Fire
For the second time this year, a fire at sea has aborted a cruise ship's voyage. This time, aboard Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas and the ship's 2,200 passengers were expected back in Baltimore on Tuesday after being flown on charter flights from the Bahamas.
Much of Red Cross Fund for Sandy Aid Still Unspent
Seven months after Superstorm Sandy, the Red Cross still hasn't spent more than a third of the $303 million it raised to assist victims of the storm, a strategy the organization says will help address needs that weren't immediately apparent in the disaster's wake.
Suu Kyi Opposes 2-Child :Limit for Myanmar Minority
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Islamic leaders expressed dismay over decisions by authorities in western Myanmar to restore a two-child limit on a Muslim minority group, a policy that does not apply to Buddhists and follows accusations of "ethnic cleansing."
Officials: Gunman in Texas Rampage was Marine
A man suspected in a West Texas shooting rampage that left one woman dead and five others wounded was a Marine who was wanted for questioning in a slaying in North Carolina, officials said Monday.
Japan Mayor Says His Lack of Sensitivity About U.S. Image of Prostitution Caused Outrage
An outspoken Japanese mayor who outraged many with remarks about Japan's wartime and modern sexual services stood by his comments Thursday, but said he may have lacked "international sensitivity."
U.S. Intelligence Embraces Debate in Security Issues
In the months leading up to the killing of Osama bin Laden, veteran intelligence analyst Robert Cardillo was given the nickname "Debbie Downer."
Court to See if Miss. Lawsuit OK on Global Issue
The Supreme Court will consider whether the state of Mississippi can bring a state-level lawsuit in a global LCD screen price-fixing conspiracy.
Groups Work to Bring Internet to Rural Areas
Internet connectivity is spreading through rural Mississippi but there is still work to be done. Internet access needs can vary widely and adoption of this connectivity still remains a hurdle, say groups working on these challenges.
Walthall Still for Sale; JSU Opens in Madison
The Edison Walthall Hotel will have a new owner soon—but who that owner is, when the owner will take control and what they plan to do with the building is still unknown.
Fondren Renaissance, CARA, C Spire and Insurance
On Saturday, June 8th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Community Animal Rescue and Adoption Inc.— a nonprofit "no-kill" animal rescue group that cares for hundreds of abused, unwanted and stray animals—is holding the Putting on the Dog fundraiser, presented by Great Scott at its store at 4400 Old Canton Road.
Holly Powell Lange
At first glance, Holly Powell Lange seems like your average mom. Once you start talking to her, though, you realize she is actually a superwoman.
Colo. Gun-Control Supporters Face Recall Bids
A handful of Democratic state lawmakers in Colorado face recall petition efforts in what looks to be the first wave of fallout over legislative votes to limit gun rights.
Sunday, May 26
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, May 25
Southern Co. Team Weighing Changes from Renewables
The Southern Co. is brainstorming ways it could more widely incorporate renewable energy, particularly solar power, into its traditional business model, CEO Thomas Fanning said this week.
Friday, May 24
Can MTC Fix Woodville Prison?
A Utah-based private-prison firm hopes that it can turn things around at the Wilkinson County Correctional Center in Woodville.
How Will the ‘Unbanked’ Buy Insurance on the Exchanges?
One in five households in the United States, or about 51 million adults have only a tenuous relationship with a traditional bank, relying instead on check-cashing stores and money lenders, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Holden Grimes
For Holden Grimes, 11, eating healthy and staying fit—and encouraging his peers to do the same—is a big part of his life.
Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Openly Gay Boys
After lengthy and wrenching debate, local leaders of the Boy Scouts of America have voted to open their ranks to openly gay boys for the first time, but heated reactions from the left and right made clear that the BSA's controversies are far from over.
Summer Travel Forecast: Better, but No Blowout
Airlines, hotels and campgrounds are commanding higher rates and seeing more customers than a few summers ago, and luxury hotels are selling out. Local businessmen and state officials are optimistic.
Obama Balances Threats Against Americans' Rights
Forecasting the changing nature of threats against the U.S. for years to come, President Barack Obama says "America is at a crossroads." And so, too, is his presidency's counterterrorism policy, which has long struggled to balance protecting the nation from terror attacks while upholding Americans' rights.
Kerry Focuses on Negotiation
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urged Israel's government on Friday to prevent further settlement construction where possible to help revitalize Middle East peace hopes.
Hattiesburg May Cut 20 Teaching Positions
Hattiesburg Public School District Superintendent James Bacchus is proposing to eliminate the majority of a $1.8 million budget shortfall by cutting 20 teacher positions.
Thursday, May 23
Expose the Dirty Tricks
In the waning hours before the polls closed Tuesday, the Jackson Free Press learned that former Melton political operative Bob Hickingbottom was behind Citizens for a Better Jackson, a PAC formed the day after the primary.
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Charter Schools'
In endorsing Lumumba, Rep. Bennie Thompson linked Republican supporters of Jonathan Lee to people who opened their checkbooks to Mitt Romney in 2012 in an effort to defeat President Barack Obama.
Survival of the Poorest
Mo'tel Williams: "Rich folk, corporations and the government want the poor to sacrifice more. For example, some politicians want poor workers to sacrifice their overtime pay."
Question o' the Week: What song or songs pump you up for running and exercise?
What song or songs pump you up for running and exercise?
Easy Inspiration
I love great quotes and am always looking for new ways to keep them around the house for inspiration (in a chicer way than just a trusty Post-It note, of course). This particular project is once again based on something I saw on Pinterest, modified to fit my tastes and the supplies I had on hand. I love the way I can mix and match different fonts, and once all the letters are painted the same color, they still look cohesive.
The Slate
Oxbow won the 138th Preakness Stakes to kill Orb's hopes of a Triple Crown this year. Orb was doomed before the race, drawing the first post and having to run in traffic.
Battle to be the Best Conference
Maybe it is the college football playoff starting in 2014, or maybe it is because the Southeastern Conference raided the Big-12 to add Missouri and Texas A&M. Whatever the reason, football coaches in the Big-12 are taking shots at the SEC.
State Your Song
Jackson has been bountifully blessed with amazing and talented people. One of those remarkable Jacksonians is the quirky, eccentrically funny Josh Hailey.
Unlikely Blues Hero
Growing up as a music fan, I had always heard about the ill-fated Rolling Stones "Rock And Roll Circus" film from 1968. For some unknown reason, The Stones did not want this footage to be released for many years with the only clear explanation being they were unhappy with their performance. Like most unreleased music projects, legend grew around it.
Preschool Benefits
As a high-school teacher, I have heard countless conversations about what a poor job our middle schools do to prepare our students for high school.
The Odd Way UMMC Buys Stuff
The quagmire that ensnared Jackson mayoral candidate Jonathan Lee's family business, Mississippi Products, raises questions about the relationships between government agencies, group purchasing organizations and intermediary distributors such as MPI.
Valley Title Building Has New Owner, No Water
The long-dormant Valley Title Building, located at 315 Tombigbee St., will not have taxpayer-paid utility services—but it does have a new owner. However, officials from Hinds County, which owns the property, are mum on who the owner is or how the deal was struck.
Off to the Races
Relay For Life, dates vary based on location. An event for the American Cancer Society, communities organize overnight fundraising walks.
Defeating Flabbus
When your health hinges on finding a way to enjoy exercise, think outside the box.
Fingers and Toes
In the running world, a seemingly endless debate rages--what shoes will maximize your running potential? One camp swears by minimalist running shoes, characterized by being lightweight and having a super thin sole--Vibram Five Finger shoes with the separated toes are the most recognizable minimalist shoes, although many manufacturers make them with a more traditional enclosed toe box. On the other side of the debate are those that argue that runners need more support from their footwear.
Alien Abduction
Paul Lacoste's training camp gave ShaWanda Jacome the confidence to run in this year's Warrior Dash.
Cooking with OJ
Orange juice oatmeal pancakes are a light, fluffy way to get your daily dose of Vitamin C.
Analysis: Lumumba Won Despite White Voter Spike
This week's Democratic primary runoff saw a huge spike in white voter turnout while black turnout held steady. But the effect on the results seemed negligible: Councilman Chokwe Lumumba defeated businessman and newcomer Jonathan Lee 54 percent to 46 percent.
A Prolonged Stay: The Reasons Behind the Slow Pace of Executions
States that impose the death penalty have been facing a crisis in recent years: They are short on the drugs used in executions.
Millsaps Baseball Team
Millsaps has been on a roll this baseball season. The Majors won the Southern Athletic Association regular season title and earned the number-one seed in the Southern Athletic Association Baseball Tournament.
Real Violence: 50 Years Ago at Woolworth
The Jackson Woolworth sit-in, 50 years ago, forever changed Mississippi's role in the Civil Rights Movement.
An Unmoving Movement
Michael O'Brien spent years putting together various perspectives of the Woolworth sit-in for his book, "We Shall Not Be Moved."
Gatsby: Not So Great
Baz Luhrmann's spectacle overwhelms the story in his adaptation of "The Great Gatsby," starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Kids Being Creative: FIGMENT 2013
FIGMENT 2013 stretched nearly five blocks, much more spread out than it had been in past years, when it was held in the old Coke plant on Highway 80.
Obama to Address Drones, Gitmo in Security Speech
President Barack Obama is set to at least partially lift the veil of secrecy surrounding U.S.-directed drone strikes around the world.
Wednesday, May 22
Was Hinds' Circuit Courthouse Sabotaged?
The elevators in the Hinds County Circuit Court building are hanging on by a thread. For weeks, the elevators have been plagued with issues that appear to be a combination of age, sabotage or both.
Common CORE to Standardize Public Education
Mississippi is consistently behind the eight ball when it comes to public education, but a new plan being implemented right now could change our students' educational outcomes in the future.
Anne Welch
Anne Welch believes Jackson has the potential to be one of the country's great biking cities.
The Future of Jackson Depends on You
The signs showed up overnight around Ward 1 and parts of Ward 7: "Vote Today: The Future of Jackson Depends On It."
What’s the Big Deal With Monsanto?
If you're concerned about the future of organic food and farming, the May 25th March Against Monsanto is a tangible way of expressing your concern.
W.Va.'s Local-Food Movement a Model for Appalachia
With eight in 10 farmers making less than $10,000 a year, West Virginia will never rival big Midwestern factory farms in producing food. But creative collaborations with food entrepreneurs are seeding a new kind of economy that federal officials say could become a model for 12 other Appalachian states.
Senate Panel Approves Immigration Bill
Far-reaching legislation that grants a chance at citizenship to millions of immigrants living illegally in the United States cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on a solid bipartisan vote Tuesday night after supporters somberly sidestepped a controversy over the rights of gay spouses.
First Look: New Xbox Elegant, but Much Unknown
After four years of development, Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One entertainment console and touted it as an all-in-one solution for playing games, watching TV and doing everything in between.
Japan Approves Joining Int'l Child Abduction Pact
Japan's parliament on Wednesday approved joining an international child custody treaty amid foreign pressure for Tokyo to address concerns that Japanese mothers can take children away from foreign fathers without recourse.
GOP Questions IRS Scrutiny of Anti-Abortion Groups
When a small anti-abortion group in Iowa sought nonprofit status, the Internal Revenue Service asked its board to promise not to organize protests outside Planned Parenthood and demanded to know how its prayer meetings and protest signs were educational.
FBI: Man Fatally Shot in Boston Bombing Probe
A man being questioned by authorities in the Boston bombing probe was fatally shot when he initiated a violent confrontation, FBI officials said Wednesday.
Okla. Mayor Wants to Require Tornado Shelters
The mayor of the Oklahoma City suburb battered by a monstrous tornado says he is pushing to require safe-room shelters in all new homes.
Official: Treasury Played No Role in IRS Targeting
The Treasury Department's No. 2 official told Congress on Wednesday that his agency played no role in the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of conservative groups.
Indian Guest Workers Sue Company in Miss., Texas
Dozens of Indian guest workers are suing an Alabama-based marine and fabrication company, claiming it financially exploited them and forced them to live in squalid conditions after bringing them to work at Gulf Coast shipyards after Hurricane Katrina.
Tuesday, May 21
Lumumba Wins Democratic Primary; Presumptive Mayor of Jackson
Chokwe Lumumba never trailed Jonathan Lee in the Democratic runoff.
Judge Denies Death Row Inmate Manning New Trial
A judge has denied death row inmate Willie Jerome Manning's request for a new trial in the 1993 slayings of a 90-year-old woman and her 60-year-old daughter in Starkville.
Obama Pledges Urgent Aid to Oklahoma Town
President Barack Obama pledged urgent government help for Oklahoma Tuesday in the wake of "one of the most destructive" storms in the nation's history.
Syria Opposition Signals Tough Line on Peace Talks
Despite recent rebel setbacks in Syria's civil war, the main opposition bloc signaled a tough line Tuesday on attending possible peace talks with President Bashar Assad's regime.
FBI ID's Benghazi Suspects, But No Arrests Yet
The U.S. has identified five men who might be responsible for the attack on the diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, last year, and has enough evidence to justify seizing them by military force as suspected terrorists.
Fire Chief Says Search Almost Complete in Oklahoma
The search for survivors and the dead is nearly complete in the Oklahoma City suburb that was smashed by a mammoth tornado, the fire chief said Tuesday.
Hickingbottom Behind Anti-Lumumba PAC
In the final hours of the Jackson mayoral election, a group called Citizens for a Better Jackson is making a push to beat back gains made by Ward 7 Councilman Chokwe Lumumba.
Hospital Grant, Miso, Children's Museum Expansion and Mississippi Power Co.
Miso, a new restaurant owned and operated by Grant Nooe, owner of Grant's Kitchen, opened for both lunch and dinner Monday.
Mary Katherine Kerce
Mary Katherine Kerce of Jackson was recently among 59 University of Mississippi students to receive a 2013 Taylor Medal--the university's highest academic award--during the 70th annual Honors Convocation at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts.
Conference Looks at Community Health Care
Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones, a family physician and epidemiologist whose work focuses on health care equity, will speak Wednesday at an annual Mississippi conference on improving community health care programs.
Dr. Arnold Smith Trial Postponed Indefinitely
A trial in the murder-for-hire case against a Greenwood oncologist has been postponed indefinitely.
Woman Charged with Failing to Report to Prison
A woman convicted of being involved in the forgery of a bankruptcy judge's signature has now been charged with failing to report to prison.
Miss. Power CEO Ed Day Out
More than $1 billion in cost overruns at the coal-fired plant have claimed the job of Mississippi Power Co.'s CEO, and parent Southern Co. has sent in a top executive to try to salvage the mess.
Court Won't Get Involved in Miss. Redistricting
The U.S. Supreme Court won't order new legislative elections in Mississippi, despite a lawsuit that said current lawmakers were chosen in outdated districts that diluted black voting strength.
Monday, May 20
Campaign Trickery: Lumumba a 'Race Traitor,' Lee a 'Rankin Republican'?
Supporters of men who are vying to be Jackson's next mayor were busy over the weekend with last-minute election trickery, some anonymous and some not, with much of it targeting church parking lots while people worshipped inside.
Traffic Noise Increases Risk of Diabetes
Noise from honking cars and police sirens can disrupt sleep, but it also may increase the chance of developing diabetes, according to a large study from Denmark.
Hunter Renfroe
Hunter Renfroe, the state's top college baseball player, received the Ferriss Trophy Monday morning at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.
Community Events and Public Meetings
The Mississippi Youth Hip Hop Summit and Parent/Advocate Conference Call for Volunteers is from July 20-21 at Millsaps College.
Sunday, May 19
PPS Hosting Mayoral Forum Sunday Night
Jonathan Lee and Chokwe Lumumba square off in another candidate forum Sunday night, this one about public education.
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, May 18
Miss. High Court Dismisses Hospital Sale Dispute
The Mississippi Supreme Court has granted a motion from St. Dominic Health Systems to dismiss its appeal of a judge's order that it did not have a binding contract to buy an outpatient surgery clinic in Canton.
Friday, May 17
Lumumba Rocks the House at Mayoral Debate
Chokwe Lumumba was a clear winner of Friday's night mayoral debate at Mississippi College School of Law.
Was Jonathan Lee's MPI Collateral Damage in UMMC Deal?
In the case of the legal problems plaguing the family business of Jackson Democratic mayoral candidate Jonathan Lee, Mississippi Products has found itself in legal purgatory between MPI's customers: the University of Mississippi Medical Center and group-purchasing organization (GPO), Dallas-based Novation LLC.
Lee Attempts to Paint Lumumba as 'Other'
With just two days remaining before Jackson voters return to the polls to pick the city's next mayor, businessman Jonathan Lee's campaign is attempting to define rival Councilman Chokwe Lumumba as a non-Christian, anti-American police-hater.
Coverage Problems Could Still Remain For Young Adults
Supporters and critics of the Affordable Care Act seem to agree on at least one thing: Allowing young adults to stay on their parents' health plans until they reach age 26 is a smart move.
Kenny Stokes
At a press conference Friday morning outside the Jackson City Hall, Hinds County District 5 Supervisor Kenny Stokes gave an endorsement on behalf of him and his wife, Ward 3 City Councilwoman LaRita Cooper-Stokes, to mayoral candidate Chokwe Lumumba ahead of next Tuesday's runoff election.
It's the Weekend!
On Saturday, the annual arts festival FIGMENT Jackson is at noon on Wilson Street in the Midtown Arts District.
Miss. Seniors Get Another Shot to Pass Grad Tests
Mississippi officials are trying to retest hundreds of high school seniors who flunked exams that are required for graduation.
Thursday, May 16
'A Righteous Day' to Remember Evers
The story of Medgar Evers' assassination 50 years ago is well-known—particularly to people in Jackson, where the murder took place—but there's something about hearing his widow, Myrlie, recount the night of June 12, 1963.
Medicare Drug Program Fails to Monitor Prescribers, Putting Seniors and Disabled at Risk
Ten years ago, a sharply divided Congress decided to pour billions of dollars into subsidizing the purchase of drugs by elderly and disabled Americans.
Ferriss Trophy Finalists
Mississippi nearly always has an abundance of college baseball talent. Each year the best college baseball player is awarded the C Spire Ferriss Trophy at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
Cambodian Shoe Factory Collapse Kills 2, Injures 7
The ceiling of a Cambodian factory that makes Asics sneakers collapsed on workers early Thursday, killing two people and injuring seven, in the latest accident spotlighting the often lethal safety conditions faced by those toiling in the global garment industry.
At Least 6 Confirmed Dead in Texas Tornadoes
A rash of tornadoes slammed into several small communities in North Texas overnight, leaving at least six people dead, dozens more injured and hundreds homeless. The violent spring storm scattered bodies, flattened homes and threw trailers onto cars.
Suspect Faces 20 Charges in Mother's Day Shooting
The suspect in a Mother's Day parade shooting that wounded 19 people faces 20 charges of attempted second-degree murder, according to jail records.
Afghanistan: Bomb Kills 15, Including 6 Americans
A security firm has confirmed that four civilian contractors killed in a suicide car bombing in Afghanistan were Americans.
Budgeter: Medicaid Growth Hurts Education Funding
Funding for education is falling short because Medicaid is devouring a larger share of state money than it did a few years ago, a top Mississippi budget writer says in a letter to teachers and school administrators.
Wednesday, May 15
Gig: Swell Saleswoman
'As a kid, I wanted to work at Pixar. It was a pretty big dream of mine for a while. That would have to be a pretty awesome job.'
The Slate
Two retirements last week will give their competitors a reason to exhale. Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement from Manchester United should send joy throughout European soccer and Ronde Barber's retirement gives hope to NFC South quarterbacks.
Beating the Heat
While everyone wonders what kind of series the Chicago Bulls could have given the Miami Heat with all healthy players, I wonder if any team left in the playoffs can beat the Heat.
Short and Sweet, No Longer Obsolete
Whether it's coercion from record companies or an imperfectionist's stance on music crafting, bands have a tendency to blend the bad in with the good.
Summer Blockbusters
Although you wouldn't know it from the wild fluctuations in hot-cold flashes of rain-sunshine forecasts, the summer blockbuster movie season has officially begun.
FIGMENT: What Are You Bringing?
This weekend, FIGMENT, an annual, free and participatory art festival in Jackson will give everyone the chance to tap into their inner artist, to create, to participate and to bring their own unique vision and imagination to the streets of Jackson.
The Cruel Mystery
In September 2011, I was diagnosed with lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when your body's immune system attacks your own tissues and organs.
Creating Grownup Time
To be a good parent and a good partner, and to boost health and sanity, it is important to find balance in your life.
On the Issues: Lee vs. Lumumba
Crime: Lee: Would fire JPD Chief Rebecca Coleman and work on changing the culture of the fire and police departments.
Jonathan Lee's Top 10 Donors
Lee cut a check for $140,000 to his own PAC "Friends of Jonathan Lee" on March 29, a day after his campaign paid that same amount out to LUC Media out of Marietta, Ga.
What Is Lumumba’s ‘Jackson Plan’?
For anyone still on the fence over whom to vote for in the Democratic runoff next Tuesday, it's likely that reading through the Jackson Plan will move his or her vote into one column or the other. Clearly, white conservatives may run screaming.
Lumumba's Donors
When it finally arrived a week after state law said it was due, Chokwe Lumumba's campaign-finance form revealed that he raised a fraction--20 percent--of the amount first-place finisher Jonathan Lee raised going into the May 7 Jackson municipal elections.
Profile: Jonathan Lee
Jonathan Lee may not be a business owner, but he rode his business credentials to becoming the top vote-getter in the city's Democratic mayoral primary.
Profile: Chokwe Lumumba
Now, Chokwe Lumumba devotes a good deal of time talking about his family's own diverse racial heritage, the camaraderie he experienced among fellow basketballers of all races and nationalities, the poor whites he has represented vigorously in the courtroom or the relationship he was able to build with former Gov. Haley Barbour.
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Boggling'
The Mississippi Supreme Court granted Willie Jerome Manning a stay of execution after the Federal Bureau of Investigation twice admitted that investigators overstated the scientific significance of evidence during Manning's original trial.
Let's Clean House
As we move forward as a city and a state, it's time we discussed the difference between blame and accountability.
Outlets, Tourism and the Walthall Hotel
Yates Construction, Spectrum Capital and the state of Mississippi officially broke ground last week on the state's most aggressive commercial outlet to date, The Outlets of Mississippi in Pearl, even though construction has been happening for months.
Two Runoffs Highlight City Council Races
Four of Jackson's seven sitting City Council members have, for all intents and purposes, been re-elected, but two seats have yet to be decided headed into the May 21 primary runoff elections.
Let the Sunshine In
Campaign finance reports and their filing schedules have been an indisputable part of Jackson's 2013 municipal election process.
By the Numbers: Mayoral Primary
On Election Day last week, 35 percent of Jackson voters said Jonathan Lee was their top choice for mayor of Jackson. Another 24 percent said Chokwe Lumumba was their choice. Those numbers are almost certain to change some for the May 21 runoff, but how much they will change and why they might change has yet to be determined.
Chatter: from jfp.ms, on Election Analysis
'The election analysis is actually no surprise. Lee is backed by white voters and money. Historically whites in this city have benefitted economically from mayors who have been willing to maintain the status quo.'
Question o' the Week: In three words, how would you describe this year’s city elections?
In three words, how would you describe this year’s city elections?
You & JFP
Favorite quote: "Where your talents and the needs of the world cross; there lies your vocation."—Aristotle
Contract for UMMC and Lee's MPI Comes in Focus
The details of a dispute between Jackson mayoral candidate Jonathan Lee's family company, Mississippi Products Inc., and an MPI customer that Lee has refused to name is becoming more clear.
ADA Compliance Progress Slow But Steady
The intersection of Meadowbrook Road and State Street is generally buzzing with business and traffic. One of the busiest food stores in Jackson is located there, as is a high-traffic service station, a bank and a pharmacy. The average Jacksonian would look at the intersection and remark at how vibrant the intersection is.
The Johnson Legacy
Voters have an interesting choice as they head to polls for the second time May 21 to cast ballots for the Democratic Party runoffs.
Mental Evaluation Ordered Over Hospital Threat
A federal judge has ordered a Tupelo man to undergo a psychiatric evaluation over a threat to shoot people at a local hospital.
USDA Revokes Collins Zoo Exhibitor License
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has revoked the exhibitor license from the Collins Zoo.
Katrina-Recovery Program Adding Eligible Residents
The Mississippi Development Authority has added $40 million to the post-Katrina Neighborhood Home Program to reach eligible residents initially left off the list.
Regina Quinn Endorses Chokwe Lumumba
Mayoral candidate Chokwe Lumumba gets what is perhaps the most coveted endorsement going into the Democratic primary runoff.
Appeals Court Dismisses Climate Suit
A federal appeals panel has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a group of Mississippi coastal landowners who alleged that emissions by energy companies contributed to global warming, which intensified Hurricane Katrina, which, in turn, damaged their property.
Dems Work on Miss. Medicaid Expansion Proposal
Democrats in the Mississippi Legislature say they're working on proposals to keep Medicaid alive and funded in the budget year that starts July 1.
Tuesday, May 14
Is UMMC Mississippi Products' Unnamed Contractor?
Records indicate that the University of Mississippi Medical Center may be the mystery contractor Jonathan Lee won't name.
No Hoopla for Battle of Jackson 150th Anniversary
The Battle of Jackson was a short but important Civil War skirmish, with Union forces easily capturing Mississippi's lightly defended capital city on their way to a victory in Vicksburg and control of the Mississippi River.
Natchez Trace Parkway Celebrates 75 Years
Saturday marks the paradoxical 75th anniversary of one of Natchez's oldest connections with civilization.
Miss. Puts $2M into Effort to Keep Military Bases
Mississippi's officials can tell you that defending the state's military bases from closures can get expensive.
Big Retailers Back Safety Accord in Bangladesh
Some of the world's largest retailers have agreed to a first-of-its-kind pact to improve safety at some of Bangladesh's garment factories following a building collapse that killed more than 1,100 workers in the country last month.
Gov't Probe Obtains Wide Swath of AP Phone Records
The Justice Department secretly obtained two months of telephone records of reporters and editors for The Associated Press in what the news cooperative's top executive called a "massive and unprecedented intrusion" into how news organizations gather the news.
Both Sides Condemn Convicted Pa. Abortion Doctor
Dr. Kermit Gosnell considered himself a pioneering inner-city doctor who helped desperate women get late-term abortions, but a Philadelphia jury called him a murderer who killed three babies after they were born alive.
Angelina Jolie Says She Had Double Mastectomy
Angelina Jolie says that she has had a preventive double mastectomy after learning she carried a gene that made it extremely likely she would get breast cancer.
Top IRS Official Didn't Reveal Tea Party Targeting
Congress was not told tea party groups were being inappropriately targeted by the Internal Revenue Service, even after acting agency Chief Steven Miller had been briefed on the matter.
AP IMPACT: Wind Farms Get Pass on Eagle Deaths
It happens about once a month here, on the barren foothills of one of America's green-energy boomtowns: A soaring golden eagle slams into a wind farm's spinning turbine and falls, mangled and lifeless, to the ground.
Police: Man, 19, Sought in N.O. Parade Shootings
New Orleans police and federal authorities were searching early Tuesday for a young man who is suspected of opening fire at a Mother's Day parade in New Orleans, wounding 19.
The 182 Percent Loan: How Installment Lenders Put Borrowers in a World of Hurt
Installment loans can be deceptively expensive. World Finance and its competitors push customers to renew their loans over and over again, transforming what the industry touts as a safe, responsible way to pay down debt into a kind of credit card with sky-high annual rates, sometimes more than 200 percent.
Jackson is a Playful City; Natron Mill; Small Business Optimism; Disaster Loans
On Monday, May 13, Gov. Phil Bryant visited Natron Wood Products, which announced that it is preparing to build a plywood mill in Louisville that will create more than 200 new jobs.
Jim Hood
The office of Mississippi's Attorney General Jim Hood has long been an advocate for victims of crime in the state. As such, Hood and his team of attorneys write and promote new and stronger laws during every Legislative session.
Minn. Governor to Sign Bill Allowing Gay Marriage
Minnesota is set to become the first state in the Midwest to legalize gay marriage by legislative vote.
Memphis Test Fraud Ringleader Gets 7 Years
A longtime Memphis educator who helped teachers cheat on certification exams over a 15 year period was sentenced Monday to seven years in federal prison.
Monday, May 13
Evers-Williams at Ole Miss: 'Soar, and be Free'
Civil rights leader Myrlie Evers-Williams told graduates at the University of Mississippi on Saturday they have the power "to do what is right, to do what is just" and make the world a better place.
MC, China College Sign Partnership
Mississippi College and Hubei Polytechnic University in China have agreed to faculty and student exchanges between the two institutions.
Review Chairman: Clinton Didn't Make Benghazi Call
The seasoned diplomat who penned a highly critical report on security at a U.S. outpost in Benghazi, Libya, defended his scathing assessment but absolved then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. "We knew where the responsibility rested," Thomas Pickering said Sunday.
Huge Drug Cost Disparities Seen in Health Overhaul
Cancer patients could face high costs for medications under President Barack Obama's health care law, industry analysts and advocates warn.
Monday Last Day for Morning-After Pill Appeal
The government is running out of time to try to halt implementation of a federal judge's ruling that would lift age restrictions for women and girls wanting to buy the morning-after pill.
Pakistan's Sharif Wants Good Relations With U.S.
The Pakistani politician poised to become the country's next prime minister said Monday that Islamabad has "good relations" with the United States, but called the CIA's drone campaign in the country's tribal region a challenge to national sovereignty.
Bangladesh Collapse Search Over; Death Toll 1,127
Nearly three weeks after a Bangladesh garment-factory building collapsed, the search for the dead ended Monday at the site of the worst disaster in the history of the global garment industry. The death toll: 1,127.
Low Turnout, Race Determined Runoff Candidates
Last Tuesday, 35 percent of Jackson voters said Jonathan Lee was their top choice for mayor of Jackson. Another 24 percent named Chokwe Lumumba as their choice. Problem is, only 30.7 percent of all registered voters in Jackson even showed up.
EHN Special Report: 'Chemicals of High Concern' Found in Thousands of Children's Products
An Environmental Health News analysis of thousands of reports from America's largest companies shows that toys and other children's products contain low levels of dozens of industrial chemicals, including some unexpected ingredients that will surprise a public concerned about exposure.
Lynn House
This summer, Lynn House, interim state superintendent of education, is challenging students to keep learning and avoid the "summer slide" in reading achievement.
Community Events and Public Meetings
From May 14 to 17, the remaining candidates in the Jackson Mayoral Debates will face off in a series of debates before the May 21 runoff election.
Report: Detroit's Finances Crumbling; Future Bleak
Detroit is broke and faces a bleak future given the precarious financial path it's on, according to a new report out by the city's state-appointed emergency manager.
Police Vow to Solve Shootings of 19 in New Orleans
Video released early Monday by New Orleans police shows a possible suspect.
Sunday, May 12
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, May 11
Miss. Health Agency to Resume Pregnancy Work
Mississippi Medicaid officials will resume paying state Health Department workers to help women with high-risk pregnancies.
Friday, May 10
The 'Secrecy' of Hinds' Success
Hinds County Board of Supervisors President Robert Graham had good news this morning: the county has sold the Valley Title Building, located at 315 Tombigbee St., in downtown Jackson.
Doctors' Diagnostic Errors Are Often Not Mentioned But Can Take A Serious Toll
Until it happened to him, Itzhak Brook, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Georgetown University School of Medicine, didn't think much about the problem of misdiagnosis.
Duvalier Malone
When Jackson resident Duvalier Malone was 16, he entered and won an essay contest at Jefferson County High School sponsored by the Southwest Mississippi ETA Leadership Institution. The prize was a trip to Washington, D.C.
Canton Alderman Indicted for Bribery
A Canton alderman is facing bribery charges.
Karzai Says U.S. Can Have 9 Afghan Bases After 2014
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who has irked Washington with his frequent criticism of American military operations in his country, said Thursday that his government is now ready to let the U.S. have nine bases across Afghanistan after most foreign troops withdraw in 2014.
Record Profit Signals Healthier Fannie Mae
Fannie Mae said something Thursday that would have been unthinkable a few years ago: It earned a record $58.7 billion profit in the January-March quarter.
Feds in NYC: Hackers Stole $45M in ATM Card Breach
A worldwide gang of criminals stole $45 million in a matter of hours by hacking their way into a database of prepaid debit cards and then draining cash machines around the globe, federal prosecutors said Thursday—and outmoded U.S. card technology may be partly to blame.
Homebuilders Can't Find Enough Qualified Workers
U.S. builders and the subcontractors they depend on are struggling to hire fast enough to meet rising demand for new homes.
Obama Wades Back into the Health Care Debate
President Barack Obama is launching a new effort to rally the public around his hotly disputed health care law, a strategy aimed at shoring up key components of the sweeping federal overhaul and staving off yet another challenge from Republicans.
Ohio Man's Ex-Relatives Say He is a 'Monster'
The man accused of holding three women captive for a decade in his home terrorized the mother of his children, frequently beating her, playing twisted psychological games and locking her indoors in the years before their relationship disintegrated, her relatives say.
Seamstress Survived 17 Days in Bangladesh Collapse
A woman was rescued from the factory building where more than 1,000 died.
Barnes Tapped to Lead Miss. Homeland Security
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety has named a new director for its Office of Homeland Security.
Thursday, May 9
Jonathan Lee's Miss. Products Responds to Lawsuit
Mississippi Products Inc., the company Jackson mayoral hopeful Jonathan Lee's family owns, has responded to one of several pending lawsuits against the west Jackson firm.
Breaking Ground at the Outlet Mall
Yates construction, Spectrum Capital and the state of Mississippi officially broke ground on one of the state's most aggressive commercial developments to date: the Outlets of Mississippi Thursday morning in Pearl.
Everything We Know About What's Happened Under Sequestration
When the annual White House Easter Egg Hunt faced cancellation this year due to the package of mandatory budget cuts known as sequestration, the National Park Service kicked into high gear.
Eduardo Cruz, Victor France and Tom Gavin
On Monday, April 29, the Mississippi Brilla announced they had added three members of the national-championship winning Belhaven Blazers soccer team.
Family Demands Answers in Candidate's Death
Relatives of a slain Mississippi mayoral candidate are renewing their push for a federal investigation amid their complaints that local officials are withholding information about the case.
Louisiana Levee Plan Concerns Mississippi Leaders
Mississippi Republican Sen. Thad Cochran has proposed amendments to a federal water resources bill to protect coastal areas from flooding or storm surge threats that might result from a new flood control proposal for Louisiana.
Several Miss. Cities in Line to Get New Mayors
Several Mississippi cities will inaugurate new mayors this summer after Tuesday's party primaries winnowed the lists of candidates and knocked some incumbents out of contention, including Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr.
Saga of Boston Marathon Suspect's Body Drags On
Nineteen days after Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev died following a gunbattle with police, cemeteries still refused to take his remains and government officials deflected questions about where he could be buried.
Dems: GOP Fails to Show Scandal in Benghazi Deaths
Politicians love few things better than a scandal to trip up their opponents, and Republicans hope last year's fatal attack on U.S. diplomats in Libya will do exactly that to Hillary Rodham Clinton and other Democrats.
Hope Can be Painful for Families of Missing Kids
The miraculous rescue of three missing women has given hope to many families whose loved ones have vanished. Yet hope, when searching for a long-lost child, can be a dangerous thing.
Calif. Exchange Granted Secrecy
A California law that created an agency to oversee national health care reforms granted it sweeping authority to conceal spending on the contractors that will perform most of its functions, creating a barrier from public disclosure that stands out nationwide.
Cleveland Man Arraigned on Rape, Kidnap Charges
A Cleveland man was arraigned Thursday on charges of rape and kidnapping after three women missing for about a decade and one of their young daughters were found alive at his home earlier in the week.
Eight Die in Bangladesh Fire; Collapse Toll Hits 950
The dead in Wednesday night's fire included a ruling-party politician and a top official in the country's powerful clothing manufacturers' trade group.
Miss. Governor Says He Could Run Medicaid Program
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant says he thinks he can run Medicaid even if lawmakers don't reauthorize the program or set its budget by the time the state's new fiscal year starts July 1.
Wednesday, May 8
Upcycled Liquor Cabinet
My fiancée, Claire, and I have started acquiring furniture for when we finally get married in a few months. We both really wanted to put a liquor cart on our registry, but all the ones that we liked were far outside of the budget of any of our guests—or our own for that matter. One day, while browsing through Pinterest, which Claire frequently does, she spotted an armoire that was converted to a liquor cabinet. I started searching Craigslist just for fun and got really lucky. I found a slightly beat-up TV cabinet for $75. We picked it up, as well as the supplies, and before long we had a new liquor cabinet! All in all, this project probably cost around $200.
The Slate
The biggest sports story last week was NBA player Jason Collins' announcement that he is gay in an article in Sports Illustrated article. Collins appeared in 38 NBA games last season with the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards.
Living Up to the Clichés
Overused phrases and cliches run rampant in sports today. For instance, how often is the word "elite" thrown around when discussing quarterbacks?
Music in May
May is one of my favorite months of the year. Spring is in full bloom, summer vacation is mere weeks away, and my excitement level ramps up as dreams of spontaneous adventures with road trips to see awesome bands become more and more real.
Making Worlds
In "The Kings and Queens of Roam," author Daniel Wallace illustrates the power words have to make worlds, both in the tragic whimsy of the world his words create and in the sad, scary world one character builds for another.
Relax on Mother’s Day with Local Restaurants
Mothers make the world go round. They serve and take care of children and family, husbands and sometimes even child-like husbands. They deserve a day to themselves, a day to be pampered. Put down the wooden spoon, moms, and let someone else serve you for a change.
Free and Easy
I am not a good bargain shopper. I have friends who are. They thrill at the hunt of finding a deal. Those stores, you know the ones, that advertise department store brands at discounted prices? They love them.
The Souls of Windsor
Ignorance is bliss for most of the ancestrally indigenous people who live and work at the doorsteps of Windsor Ruins in southwest Claiborne County near Port Gibson, Miss., because plantation life is a part of their history they would just as soon forget.
Antibiotics in Your Organic Apple?
When people think of organics, they think that the food they buy is free from synthetic chemicals of any kind. However, as noted in a recent article in ACRES USA magazine, organic apples and pears may be treated with antibiotics.
Greatest Love
The long walk without a mother can be beautiful in some ways. A motherless daughter that herself becomes a mother truly cherishes every moment with her baby, because she knows how deep that connection runs, while simultaneously experiencing the greatest love that a mother has for her child.
More than Just Mom
When I was in elementary school, my family lived in an apartment complex. My dad was just beginning a career in sales, and Mom stayed home and took care of three or four kids, including me and my kid sister.
In Memory
My mom put me to bed the night she died. I know she tucked me in, not only because others have told me, but because that's what she always did.
A Letter to My Son
Dear Simon, Carrying you and connecting with you and getting to know you and sharing my body with you for nine months was one of the best things I have ever done in my life.
Number-One Fan
This Sunday, we take time to honor our mothers. One day a year can't possibly do justice to the work of a mother, but it does give us one day a year to spend doing what mom wants.
A Daughter's Bond
I took child development courses in high school, which led to a child-care certification upon graduating. Even before high school, I volunteered at the local Head Start.
My Mother, the American Dream
My mother and her family left Lithuania during the last year of World War II. Small but feisty, she carried her potty as the family wound their way through the country into Poland and on to Germany until arriving in a displaced person camp, where she lived until immigrating to the United States in 1950. During those years she did not complain much, except about the giant bows her mom tied in her hair.
Smiling in Heaven
My old friend Ray Smithhart would have loved the irony of union-fighting manufacturer Nissan making a gift of $100,000 to the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute.
Jackson: Stop the Scorched-Earth Politics
Jackson city elections are not our city at its best. Inevitably, one or more candidates wage scorched-earth campaigns that make our city look like a hellhole.
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Dilatory'
An Oktibbeha County jury voted to execute Willie Jerome Manning for the 1992 murders of two Mississippi State University students based mostly on circumstantial evidence.
Inebriated with Knowledge
Big Roscoe: "Customers, staff, Lil' Momma Roscoe and I enjoyed last week's Hot Wing Happy Hour at Clubb Chicken Wing. We had an around-the-bar discussion regarding history, politics, society, entertainment, economics and literature.
White to Developer: ‘Go Away’
Hal & Mal's owner Malcolm White says he wants to keep the restaurant open, but a disagreement over his lease is making it difficult.
A New ‘View’ for Downtown?
Developers of a proposed development and a local church are working on a deal that could bring a new development to downtown.
Manning Execution on Hold
Willie Jerome Manning came within a hair of being put to death Tuesday evening.
City’s Attorney Details Jackson Lawsuits
During the campaign battles leading up to the primaries Tuesday, mayoral candidate Jonathan Lee, whose family business, Mississippi Products, is embroiled in numerous lawsuits, struck out at incumbent Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. Last week, Lee claimed in an interview that Johnson's administration has been the target of a large number of legal challenges, too.
Prayin’ in Rankin
When liquor was illegal in Rankin County, the old saying used to go "No drankin' in Rankin." Now, the county might have to add: "No prayin'."
Election Day Machine Snafus
Tuesday's municipal primary elections began by dealing with the county's new voting machines.
Open Arms
Why is my mom is so special? When I was growing up, my mother always tried to give us the best, and we never went without, even when she did. She did everything for my family. She still calls and brings me soup when I get sick, and is always texting to say she loves me and to have a good day.
Question o' the Week: What makes your mom the best?
What makes your mom the best?
'Hope' and 'Change' Define Mayoral Campaigns
Before Jonathan Lee arrived to his election night party at the Penguin restaurant in west Jackson, local stations were already declaring him the victor in the Democratic primary race for the next mayor of Jackson over second-place runner up Ward 2 Councilman Chokwe Lumumba and three-term incumbent Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr., who finished third.
Are Executions Breaking MDOC’s Bank?
Starting in July, the Mississippi Department of Corrections will have four fewer community work centers, which provide inmate labor to local governments.
Kathleen Varnell
The healing process from the 9-11 tragedy had just begun for ceramist Kathleen Varnell when the "Beltway Sniper" struck, killing 10 and injuring three others in suburban Washington, D.C.
The Hard Stuff
We have an amazing staff. And I don't just say because they work for me at the Jackson Free Press; I say it because of what they have to weather to help our collective mission to help lift Jackson and Mississippi off the bottom.
Celebrating True Craft
This weekend, Jackson is getting another serving of southeastern artistry, courtesy of the second Stray at Home Festival.
Miss. Mayoral Primaries Narrow Candidate Fields
Most Mississippi cities elect mayors this year, and party primaries Tuesday narrowed the fields of candidates.
Police Facing Questions in 3 Women's Ohio Rescue
One neighbor says a naked woman was seen crawling on her hands and knees in the backyard of the house a few years ago. Another heard pounding on the home's doors and noticed plastic bags over the windows.
GOP Benghazi Probe Stokes Political Controversy
House Republicans insist the Obama administration is covering up information about last year's deadly assault on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, rejecting administration assurances to the contrary and stoking a controversy with implications for the 2016 presidential race.
New Insanity Plea May Slow Colorado Shooting Case
The trial of the former grad student charged in the deadly Colorado movie theater shootings will likely be delayed weeks or months because he wants to change his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity.
Most Military Sexual Assault Cases Go Unreported
They are young, often low-ranking service members out on the weekend in the late night and early morning hours. Sometimes they've been drinking. Often those who sexually assault them are in the armed forces, too.
Mark Sanford Redeems Career, Heading to Congress
In a story of political redemption, Mark Sanford is headed back to Congress after his career was derailed by scandal four years ago.
Mississippi Submits Proposal for Drone Test Site
Mississippi is bidding for one of six sites nationwide to test unmanned aerial vehicles.
Tuesday, May 7
Cost of New Lee County Jail Estimated at $19M
A new 600-bed jail probably will cost about $19 million, an architect told supervisors in Lee County.
Miss. Supreme Court Blocks Tuesday Execution
The Mississippi Supreme Court has indefinitely delayed Tuesday evening's planned execution of Willie Jerome Manning, who was scheduled to die for the 1992 slayings of two college students.
New Vote Machines Create Snags
The Jackson Free Press is hearing about a number of Election Day issues that seem to be associated with the use of new voting machines.
Thimblepress, Edison Walthall Auction, Outlets of Mississippi and Small Business Webinars
Kristen Ley opened Thimblepress--a combination letterpress, art, sewing, design and woodworking studio--in Jan. 2012. She named the shop for her collection of thimbles; she has one for each state she has visited.
Melinda Todd
Melinda Todd, coordinator for Crisis Prevention Resource Program at Jackson State University, is dedicated to combating suicide through education and mentorship.
Group Sues 2 Miss. Counties Over Voter Rolls
A nonprofit group has filed a federal lawsuit that claims Jefferson Davis and Walthall counties have more registered voters on the books than residents eligible to vote.
Internet Sales Tax Bill Faces Tough Sell in House
Traditional retailers and cash-strapped states face a tough sell in the House as they lobby Congress to limit tax-free shopping on the Internet.
Bangladesh Garment Accident Death Toll Passes 700
Hundreds of survivors of last month's collapse of a building housing garment factories in Bangladesh protested for compensation Tuesday, as the death toll from the country's worst-ever industrial disaster passed 700.
Israel Airstrikes Loom Over U.S. Diplomacy on Syria
Secretary of State John Kerry is making his case to Russian President Vladimir Putin for Russia to take a tougher stance on Syria at a time when Israel's weekend air strikes against the beleaguered Mideast nation have added an unpredictable factor to the talks.
Frantic 911 Call Leads to 3 Missing Women in Ohio
The woman's voice was frantic and breathless, and she was choking back tears. "Help me. I'm Amanda Berry," she told a 911 dispatcher. "I've been kidnapped and I've been missing for 10 years and I'm, I'm here, I'm free now."
Issues at Jackson Polls
Problems are already showing up in the Jackson primary municipal elections. Check here often for polling and election-day issues.
Jackson Elections Today; Report Poll Problems Here
As you go to the polls, report in about the problems.
Manning Awaits Word on His Execution
Willie Jerome Manning awaited word Tuesday on whether the state will execute him later in the day.
Coastal Governors Call for More Offshore Drilling
Six coastal governors have called on Washington to open up more waters to offshore drilling and to make permitting a quicker, more efficient process.
Monday, May 6
FBI Error Casts New Doubt in Death Case
Willie Jerome Manning's attorneys are desperately trying to get key evidence tested before the state of Mississippi puts their client to death.
Diesel Program Cutting Emissions, but Funding to be Slashed
More than 50,000 high-polluting diesel engines have been cleaned up or removed from U.S. roads in a federal program designed to reduce smog and greenhouse gases, according to a new Environmental Protection Agency report to Congress.
Debra McGee
Debra McGee, senior vice president and director of minority business development at BankPlus, recently received the Small Business Association's Financial Services award as part of the 2013 Small Business Week.
Suit Filed to Preserve Evidence in Death Row Case
An advocacy group and the brother of an inmate scheduled for execution Tuesday have filed a lawsuit to preserve evidence in the case for additional testing, whether the man is put to death or not.
Youth Baseball Facility Seen as Boost for Economy
Brandon Mayor Butch Lee is proposing a 2 percent additional tax on food and beverage sales at local restaurants to pay for a multi-field complex focused on baseball.
Promises, Promises: When Obama's Promises Conflict
Absent a magic potion or explosive economic growth, it was all but inevitable President Barack Obama would have to break some of his campaign promises to keep others.
Obama Dares Graduates to Reject Cynical Voices
A year to the day after kicking off his victorious re-election campaign on this college campus, President Barack Obama returned to Ohio State University and told graduates that only through vigorous participation in their democracy can they right an ill-functioning government and break through relentless cynicism about the nation's future.
A Look at Reasons for Israeli Airstrikes in Syria
A look at the reasons for and possible implications of the escalation of Israel's involvement in Syria's civil war.
Cause of California Wildfire Appears Accidental
Investigators have ruled out arson as the cause of a huge Southern California wildfire that was 75 percent contained Sunday after burning through coastal mountains and threatening thousands of homes.
Senate Bill Lets States Tax Internet Purchases
The Senate is scheduled to vote Monday on a bill that would empower states to collect sales taxes for purchases made over the Internet.
Could Immigration Bill Set Off Another Backlash?
Last time around, in 2007, angry calls overwhelmed the Senate switchboard and lawmakers endured raging town hall meetings and threats from incensed constituents.
Sunday, May 5
Analysis: Court Says Competent PCR Defense Vital
For more than a decade, Robert Ryan has been at the center of debate over perceived inadequacies of the Mississippi Office of Capital Post-Conviction Counsel.
City Attorney Details City Lawsuits, JATRAN Controversy
The Jackson city attorney and a lawyer suing the city on behalf of police officers discuss allegations that the city is facing a mountain of lawsuits.
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, May 4
Autopsy: Man Admits Killing Gay Miss. Candidate
An autopsy report says a man admitted to killing a Mississippi mayoral candidate in February and that the victim died from lack of oxygen, but it doesn't give an exact reason for the death beyond calling it a homicide.
Friday, May 3
Ward 7 Candidate Finance Reports
Following are the finance reports for Ward 7 council candidates who have filed them.
Ward 6 Candidate Finance Reports
Following are the finance reports for Ward 6 council candidates who have filed them.
Ward 5 Candidate Finance Reports
Following are the finance reports for Ward 5 council candidates who have filed them.
Ward 4 Candidate Finance Reports
Following are the finance reports for Ward 4 council candidates who have filed them.
Ward 3 Candidate Finance Reports
Following are the finance reports for Ward 3 council candidates who have filed them.
Ward 2 Candidate Finance Reports
Following are the finance reports for Ward 2 council candidates who have filed them.
UPDATED: Fact Checking Lee
In an email circulated Wednesday night, the Jonathan Lee campaign accused Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson, Jr. of funneling big contracts for legal representation of the city to his campaign contributors.
Health Care's 'Dirty Little Secret': No One May Be Coordinating Care
Advocates for hospital patients and their families say confusion about who is managing a patient's care--and lack of coordination among those caregivers--are endemic, contributing to the estimated 44,000 to 98,000 deaths from medical errors each year.
Hill Harper
Hill Harper is a jack-of-all-trades. As an actor, he is best known for his role on "CSI: New York" as Dr. Sheldon Hawkes, but he is also an activist, author and philanthropist, as well has having a highly publicized friendship with Barack Obama. Harper is coming to speak at Jackson State University's graduation this weekend.
Students Re-Enact 1963 March Against Segregation
Fifty years ago, Birmingham leaders used fire hoses, police dogs and jailings to stop waves of students who marched out of a church and on to downtown streets seeking equal rights for blacks.
Hosemann Announces Cat Island Land Purchase
The state of Mississippi has bought 217 more acres of Cat Island to set aside for public use.
Miss. Revenue Collections Down in April
Mississippi tax collections were $46 million, or 8.2 percent, below the estimate for the month of April.
Oil Drilling Technology Leaps, Clean Energy Lags
Technology created an energy revolution over the past decade—just not the one we expected.
Hagel: U.S. Rethinking Possibly Arming Syrian Rebels
The Obama administration is rethinking its opposition to arming the rebels who have been locked in a civil war with the Syrian regime for more than two years, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday, becoming the first top U.S. official to publicly acknowledge the reassessment.
Miss. Ricin-Letters Case Headed to Grand Jury
A dust mask that tested positive for ricin also contained DNA from a Mississippi man suspected of sending poison-laced letters to President Barack Obama and others, an FBI agent testified Thursday.
Obama OK with Morning-After Pill Sales at Age 15
President Barack Obama said Thursday he was comfortable with his administration's decision to allow over-the-counter purchases of a morning-after pill for anyone 15 and older.
Forest Service to States: Give Subsidies Back
The U.S. Forest Service is in the business of preventing fires, not starting them. Yet the agency set off alarms in Congress and state capitols across the West by citing the automatic spending cuts as the basis for demanding that dozens of states return $17.9 million in federal subsidies.
Bangladesh Official: Disaster Not 'Really Serious'
Bangladesh's finance minister downplayed the impact of last week's factory-building collapse on his country's garment industry, saying he didn't think it was "really serious" Friday, hours after the 500th body was pulled from the debris.
Fresh Off Victory, NRA Holds Convention in Houston
Fresh off a huge victory over President Barack Obama on gun control, the message from the National Rifle Association is clear: The fight has just begun.
Employers Add 165K jobs; Unemployment at 7.5 Pct.
Hiring was much stronger in the previous two months than the government first estimated
Bryant: $69M More from BP for Gulf Restoration
Gov. Phil Bryant says BP PLC has agreed to pay $69 million more for restoration projects for Mississippi Gulf Coast following the Deepwater Horizon Oil spill.
Thursday, May 2
Rating the Streets
If you see a funny-looking white van canvassing the streets of Jackson, don't get too excited. It's not the ghost busters. But it might help Jackson target its worst thoroughfares for repaving.
UPDATED: The Skinny on Mayoral Campaign Finance Reports ... So Far
Democratic mayoral challenger Jonathan Lee has raised $334,560.03 since the start of the new year, according to a campaign finance report filed by his political action committee Friends of Jonathan Lee on Tuesday.
Billions Proposed for New Border Security. Where Would the Money Go?
Federal spending on border security is at an all-time high and it would get even higher under the Gang of Eight's new plan.
RIP, Orley Hood
I went up to the University of Mississippi Medical Center last week to visit my old pal, golf partner, fellow Braves and Saints lover, and much-admired writer, Orley Hood.
Atheist Group Sues Rankin Schools Over Prayer Meet
A Mississippi high school forced students to attend on-campus programs where fellow students urged them to turn to Jesus for hope and eternal life, according to an atheist group that has sued.
Activists End Bus Tour for Voting Rights in Ala.
Montgomery was the final stop Wednesday on a bus tour of Alabama and Mississippi aimed at keeping the 1965 Voting Rights intact.
Fed Keeps Stimulus, Says Taxes and Cuts Have Hurt
The Federal Reserve cautioned America's political leaders Wednesday that their policies are hurting the economy.
Women's Groups Decry Appeal on Morning-After Pill
The Obama administration's decision to appeal a court order lifting age limits on purchasers of the morning-after pill set off a storm of criticism from reproductive rights groups, who denounced it as politically motivated and a step backward for women's health.
Police, Politicians Push Surveillance Post-Boston
Police and politicians across the U.S. are pointing to the example of surveillance video that was used to help identify the Boston Marathon bombing suspects as a reason to get more electronic eyes on their streets.
'Off the Charts': 133k Somalia Famine Child Deaths
A decision by extremists Islamist militants to ban food aid and international donors numb to a series of unfolding disasters made south-central Somalia the most dangerous place in the world to be a child in 2011.
Obama to Pitch Immigration Overhaul in Mexico
President Barack Obama has his domestic ambition at the top of his travel agenda as he travels to Mexico on Thursday.
Friends of Boston Bomb Suspect Charged
Hours before the Boston Marathon suspects allegedly gunned down a police officer, authorities say he exchanged a series of text messages with a friend who'd become suspicious.
USM Receives $400K Check for Gulf Coast Lab
The University of Southern Mississippi has received $432,307 from a settlement agreement reached in 2002 resolving long standing land issues on a piece of property located at Point Cadet in Biloxi.
Wednesday, May 1
Gig: Bonny Bartender
I only found out what I wanted to be about two years ago and that was to be a paramedic. I went to EMT school, and I have plans on going to paramedic school in August.
The Slate
Something you are going to hear a lot over the next few weeks: We haven’t seen a Triple Crown winner in horse racing in 35 years. Another phrase you will hear a bunch is “Lord Stanley’s Cup.”
At Long Last
Finally, there will be a playoff in college football in 2014. No more wanting, wishing or hoping. The BCS is done after the 2013-14 season is completed.
Among Olympians
Recently, I attended an event at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, which showed off renovations and expansion of the Olympic Room at the museum.
High Fidelity
Certain music just slips by you, whether because of indifference, ignorance or initial dislike. I was 12 years old when Damien Rice released his debut album "O."
Meet Erem Dle
If it was possible for Prince and Muddy Waters to conceive a musical prodigy, the end result would be Jeremy Girdle--artistically known as Erem Dle (urm da-lae). Girdle, 34 and a Jackson native, is no stranger to exquisite style or funk; he's been a creative jukebox and beat-making machine since middle school.
The Human Element
The first instinct is usually the correct one. Artist Paul Fayard studied psychology and worked as a mental health counselor for "a lot of years" before rediscovering an instinctive affinity for making art.
Life is a Picnic
Ahhhh, picnics. They are like first love. Exciting, different and unpredictable. Like love, picnics appeal to all the senses. The fresh air, outdoor sights, smells and sounds can produce a lovely mini-vacation.
All Grown Up
The bride was so beautiful! All brides are beautiful, of course, but this one especially so. Her red lipstick set off her white complexion and her full-length veil could not hide her sparkling, laughing eyes. I remember that as a child, she always had on an infectious grin, with a wide mouth and great pearly white teeth.
A Constant Risk
About six months ago, Candace Houston's world went wonky. That's when she learned that her cousin's persistent cough wasn't bronchitis. Instead, the diagnosis was tuberculosis, a highly contagious and potentially lethal lung disease.
The Campaigners
Have you ever wondered who’s behind the mayoral candidates? So did we. Here’s what we found out about four of them.
Steady As He Goes: The JFP Interview with Mayor Harvey Johnson, Jr.
Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. knows the ins and outs of how the city of Jackson works—and doesn't.
Seeing Signs
Keeping an eye and spirit open for universal signs of life has become like taking deep breaths for me. I started recognizing that nothing is by chance, and all things are designed to create the path we follow.
Doing Our Job
In the middle of crazy campaign coverage over the last week, we saw this quote posted on Facebook: "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations."
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Germane'
First, if a person deigns to run for office—putting themselves in the public realm—that person should expect scrutiny in all aspects of their lives.
Do Better, Jackson
When I became a feminist activist and a visible advocate for a woman's right to choose, I knew that I might lose a few friends in the process. Abortion has always been a divisive topic. The debate has layers of morality, gender, religion and race.
Tom Stingley: About the Business
Tom Stingley, 61, is running for city council as a service to his hometown of Jackson.
Williams: Part of the Solution
Patricia Williams' candidacy for Ward 3 comes from deep concern. As a life-long resident of the ward, she says it has gone downhill in recent years along with its young people, particularly young men.
Paige: Skating to Victory?
For James Paige, a husband and father of three daughters, the condition of Jackson's roads along with crime and business development are of paramount concern.
Williams: Stabilize the Neighborhood
If you've seen Zachery Williams canvassing the neighborhoods of Ward 3 looking for votes in his effort to win a city council seat, you've probably met his father J.C., too.
Greer: Young and Accessible
Jackson's slate of candidates for city council could be characterized as a youth movement, and Pam Greer is right in the middle of it.
Trimble: Engage the People
Trimble has been teaching social studies at Lanier High School for years. Now, he wants to apply that knowledge as councilman for Ward 4.
Jones: Living Up to Potential
John H. Jones Jr. is a highly educated and experienced administrator, and he wants to bring those qualities to the Jackson mayor's office.
With Safety History, is Yokohama a Good Deal?
After a day-long special legislative session and an announcement in West Point on Monday, April 29, a deal to bring a Yokohoma Tire Co. manufacturing plant to northwest Mississippi is now official.
Jackson Municipal Elections: The Candidates
With yard signs, flyers and debates galore, you might have lost track of which candidates are running for which offices. Here's a quick reference list.
Mayoral Debate Provides Great Political Theater
The mayoral debate at Mississippi College of Law's Student Assembly Center drew an overflow crowd, and provided some fireworks as Jackson enters the final week of the 2013 municipal races.
Ergon, Homebuilders, Nucor, 20/20 PACs Quietly Helping Candidates
Political action commissions are way to quietly donate to a candidate in Mississippi—if they wait until the last minute.
Lee’s Legal Troubles Multiply
The week before the Democratic primary went from bad to worse for mayoral candidate Jonathan Lee when news emerged Monday that a fifth supplier, Diversey Inc., is suing his family business, Mississippi Products Inc., for non-payment.
Reeves: A Woman with a Vision
Jackson resident and business owner Charlotte Reeves prides herself on being a longtime resident of the capital city.
Re-elect Harvey Johnson Jr.
We liked the idea of new blood in city government in 2013. We are, therefore, both excited and encouraged by the prospect of a number of new, younger city council members this time around.
Groups Support Manning's Efforts to Stop Execution
Two organizations that help exonerate inmates using DNA evidence have asked the state Supreme Court to let them file briefs to support Willie Jerome Manning's effort to avoid execution on May 7.
Clinton School Board Considers Drug Testing
The Clinton School Board may approve random drug testing for 7-12 graders who participate in sports, performing arts and other extracurricular activities.
Brighter View on Jobs and Pay Lifts U.S. Confidence
Americans are more optimistic the job market is healing and will deliver higher pay later this year.
Obama Wants More Certainty on Syrian Chemical Arms
President Barack Obama said he wants more information about chemical weapons use in the Syrian civil war before he decides on escalating U.S. military or diplomatic responses.
FDA Lowers Age for Buyers of Plan B Pill to 15
In a surprise twist to the decade-plus effort to ease access to morning-after pills, the government is lowering the age limit to 15 for one brand—Plan B One-Step—and will let it be sold over the counter.
No Policy Changes are Expected as Fed Ends Meeting
The Federal Reserve is widely expected Wednesday to stick with its aggressive efforts to strengthen a still-subpar economy.
SD Tribe Faces Ultimatum on Sale of Massacre Site
Tribal members say the man who owns a piece of the Wounded Knee National Historic Landmark on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is trying to profit from their suffering.
Tests Link Deadly Ricin to Obama Letter Suspect
An FBI affidavit states that items tested in Dutschke studio have tested positive for ricin.
Higher Prices Could Fix Miss. College Tuition Plan
Mississippi's prepaid college tuition plan may actually be underfunded by more than $100 million, auditors told the board that oversees it Tuesday.