Stories for November 2017

First People's Assembly Kicks Off with High Energy, Without Mayor

Jackson's mayoral visioning committee hosted its first people's assembly at the Smith Robertson Museum on Tuesday.

Revamped JPS School Board Gets to Work

If Tuesday night was any indication of how the new Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees will operate, Jacksonians are in good hands.

Joe Moorhead

Mississippi State University Athletic Director John Cohen wasted no time in finding a replacement after Dan Mullen left to become the University of Florida head coach. Cohen tapped Pennsylvania State University offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead to be the next Bulldogs' head coach.

Nancy Pelosi Calls on Conyers to Resign Amid Sex Allegations

The top Democrat in the House on Thursday called on Michigan Rep. John Conyers to resign in the face of multiple accusations of sexual misconduct against the longest-serving member of the House.

Trump Weighs Plan to Replace Tillerson with CIA's Pompeo

The White House is discussing a plan to oust Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and replace him with CIA Director Mike Pompeo in a major shake-up of President Donald Trump's national security team, administration officials said Thursday.

EDITORIAL: We Need Policies for People, Not for Profit

It is time to start talking about how policies affect people on a literal, physical, visceral level.

OPINION: What It Will Take to Reduce Youth Crime

When it comes to tackling youth crime, Jackson is at the intersection of Concern and Encouragement.

Young Perps: The Costs of Sensationalizing Youth Crime

Jackson Police Department spokesman Sgt. Roderick Holmes Holmes told the Jackson Free Press that the police department's protocol for sending out mugshots to media depends on several factors, including public and media demands. But, it can also hinge on "what's going on at the time," he said.

Best of Jackson: Holiday

We're just about into December now, with Thanksgiving over and the holidays just getting started. This is a time to plan for future gatherings.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Media, Cops: Choose Crime Solutions Over Perp Shows

It has never occurred to me to call up the police and ask them to stage a special "perp walk" so I can send someone to photograph someone accused of a crime. And I would certainly never request the depraved privilege of capturing images of a juvenile accused of killing another child.

OPINION: The Trojan Horse of Education

My high school had one, and maybe yours did, too—the toughest teacher in the school.

Exploding the Myth of the ‘Welfare Queen’

High poverty means that Mississippi gets a lot of federal assistance—but the "Becoming Visible" report shows that those in poverty often do not use the programs intended to help them due to the melee of restrictions people encounter to even sign up for programs.

Shaky City Communication, A New Ice Rink, Spanking

It was mostly business as usual at the last Jackson City Council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 21, just before the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Pros and Cons of a State Lottery

On a map of states that have no lottery, the hold-outs stand strong in pairs: Alaska and Hawaii, Nevada and Utah, and Mississippi and Alabama.The Pros and Cons of a State Lottery

LoDoner “L.D.” Hollis

Daytime kitchen manager LoDoner Hollis has been serving up southern favorites at Walker's Drive-In in Fondren since the restaurant opened its doors in 1999. Hollis, also known as "L.D.," says that co-workers call her "master of the plate lunch."

A Jazzy Night in Jackson

The South meets the North for the latest installment of the Mississippi Jazz Foundation's annual "Night of Musical Artistry," an evening of jazz beats and sultry vocals at Duling Hall on Dec. 1.

Mississippi Law Endorses Anti-LGBT Bias, Attorneys Argue

A Mississippi law unconstitutionally endorses specific religious beliefs that could lead to discrimination against people who support same-sex marriage, gay rights advocates said Tuesday in written arguments to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Alabama Senate Race Gives GOP Voters an Uncomfortable Choice

With two weeks to go until the Alabama election for U.S. Senate, Kathie Luckie of Hoover said she is "teetering" with her choice.

Run-Off Elections Today Will Decide Hinds County Attorney, #MSLEG Seats

Hinds County voters will choose a new county attorney today at the polls. After the three-way election earlier this month, Gerald Mumford and Malcolm Harrison face off today in the county attorney election.

MCM Meridian, Myles' Taco Shop and Travel Addict Vegan Foodie Tour

The Mississippi Children's Museum announced plans to construct a satellite location in Meridian on Nov. 7 at the Mississippi State University Riley Center.

Dyshante Bennett

Lifelong Jackson resident Dyshante Bennett is among three Murrah High School seniors who recently became 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists.

State Corrections Agency Replacing Military Strategy to Stop Repeat Offenders

Since learning that its traditional, military-style crime-fighting strategy actually increased repeat offenses, the Mississippi Department of Corrections plans to expand a recidivism-reduction program that focuses on cognitive behavioral change, called Thinking for a Change.

Dan Mullen

Dan Mullen spent the last 13 years in the Southeastern Conference. He cultivated offenses. He developed quarterbacks. He celebrated two national championships. He turned former league laughing stock Mississippi State into a title contender.

Justices Reject Appeal Over Mississippi Confederate Emblem

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from an African-American attorney who called the Confederate battle emblem on the Mississippi flag "an official endorsement of white supremacy."

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.

Mega Ran

Fans may recognize Raheem Jarbo, also known Mega Ran, as a prolific writer of "nerdcore" rap, blending the worlds of hip-hop with video games and other forms of entertainment. However, that combination wasn't always an obvious choice for the Phoenix, Ariz., musician.

USM Students Receive Lessac Kinesensic Training, Welty Statue at Millsaps and Professor Attending Leadership Summit

Millsaps College dedicated a new statue of Mississippi native author Eudora Welty on Monday, Nov. 13.

At Last Hour, Two School Board Members Approved for New JPS Panel

The Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees is now just one member shy from full for the first time in months, but some council members are concerned that the nominations came too late for adequate consideration.

Holiday Side Favorites

Though holiday dinners are often centered around turkey, the side dishes that accompany them are also important. They are often personal and family traditions, and shared recipes.

Jingle Bells and Local Celebration

Mississippi Children's Museum will host Santa Saturdays every week from Nov. 25 to Dec. 23.

OPINION: The More You Know: What’s Really In the Tax Bills Before Congress

This past week, House and Senate action on tax reform added fuel to an already seemingly out-of-control fire.

J.C. Villegas

J.C. Villegas was moving from Mississippi to Texas when she began writing her debut novel, which came to her in a dream—one that she tried to ignore.

OPINION: Justice Against Sexual Violence

My middle daughter has always been one of my most outgoing and ambitious children. She was so proud of her uniform and of getting this job all on her own.

EDITORIAL: No More Secrecy in Mental Health Care

All good research shows that locking people away in hospitals is not how to treat mental illness, and while hospitals are needed in some cases for stabilizing people, by and large, people need treatment in their own communities.

OPINION: A Better World for Harper

Sexual violence in America is as common as apple pie, so when reports of rampant acts of sexual assault and harassment became headline news over the last few months, my initial response was, "No sh*t, Sherlock."

‘Crank It Up’: Taking Action Against Blight

Unsightly at best, a former drug house at its worst, a single-story, boarded up bungalow house sat across from Lake Elementary School in west Jackson.

Fondren Pregnancy Center Denied Sign Request

The Center for Pregnancy Choices takes up the basement of the Kolb's Cleaners building in Fondren, with a waiting room, two counseling rooms, a back office and one medical room.

Changing the Culture of Suspension

Juan Cloy remembers being suspended when he was at Provine High School in the 1980s. He and several friends got in a fight with some kids from the neighborhood at school. Everyone involved got suspended.

EDITOR'S NOTE: 2017 is a Year to Be Thankful ... Really

Look, it's been a tough year. Donald Trump's election last November was the precursor to so much hell breaking loose on the national and international stages.

The ‘Hart’ of Jackson Comedy

Plenty of fans around the country tune in for actor and comedian Kevin Hart's TV series, "Hart of the City," each week. For the latest episode, however, Jacksonians will have just a bit more incentive to watch than most viewers.

Marquise Hunt

Marquise Hunt, president of Tougaloo College's National Association for the Advancement of Colored People chapter, has been involved with the organization since his sophomore year in high school.

'We Don't Need a Liberal:' Trump Discounts Moore Accusations

President Donald Trump on Tuesday discounted allegations of sexual assault against Alabama Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore and said voters should not support Moore's "liberal" rival.

US Readies New Sanctions Against North Korea, Individuals

The Trump administration readied new sanctions Tuesday on North Korea, a day after declaring it a state sponsor of terrorism in a move to put additional pressure on Pyongyang's nuclear program.

CBS News Fires Charlie Rose Following Sex Allegations

CBS News fired morning show host Charlie Rose on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after several women who worked with him on his PBS interview show alleged a pattern of sexual misconduct, including groping and walking naked in front of them.

Task Force Meeting in Secret in Wake of Mental Health Litigation

Under legal pressure from the U.S. Department of Justice to repair Mississippi's system of mental-health care, Attorney General Jim Hood last month announced a mental-health task force of state practitioners who already serve Mississippians with mental illness.

FCC Chairman Sets Out to Repeal 'Net Neutrality' Rules

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai on Tuesday followed through on his pledge to repeal 2015 regulations designed to ensure that internet service providers treat all online content and apps equally.

Jaco's Jackson Closed, Revell Ace Opens, Odom's Celebrates 70 Years

Jaco's Tacos in Jackson, which posted on its Facebook page that it would be closed for remodeling on Oct. 2, has closed permanently.

David Keary

Ballet Mississippi Artistic Director David Keary is the recipient of the Leadership in Performing Arts award for the 2018 Governor's Arts Awards.

UPDATED: Lumumbas Announce First People's Assembly at Smith Robertson

The "people's mayor" is making good on a promise to execute "people's assemblies" in Jackson, using social media over the weekend to announce the first official gathering.

Grant to Help 7,000 Mississippians Finish College Degrees

Mississippians looking to finish their college degrees may receive a $500 one-time tuition assistance grant after the W.K. Kellogg Foundation donated $3.5 million to the Complete 2 Compete initiative.

Roshunda Johnson

Thanks to a career-high 29 points from Roshunda Johnson, the Bulldogs rolled to a 3-0 start with the blowout win in front of 5,321 fans at Humphrey Coliseum.

Mississippi Agencies Sloppy on Vehicle Records, Report Says

Mississippi government agencies are doing a sloppy job of keeping records about vehicles they own.

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.

JPS Commission Pushes Work Forward, Sets Deadline

The "Better Together" commission to analyze the needs of Jackson's public schools held its second meeting in the Lincoln Gardens community center, off Medgar Evers Drive in northwest Jackson, which filled to standing-room only.

Particle Devotion

The formation of indie-rock bands is a pretty common occurrence on any college campus, but things were a little different for Baton Rouge, La., quintet Particle Devotion.

Selective Outrage: Trump Criticizes Franken, Silent on Moore

President Donald Trump is displaying selective outrage over allegations of sexual harassment against prominent men in politics, as his own tortured past lingers over his response.

Defiant Moore Camp Targets Female Accusers, Vows Fight

Ever defiant, Republican Roy Moore's campaign lashed out at the women accusing him of sexual misconduct, declaring "let the battle begin." Women's advocates decried the talk as worn intimidation tactics in a desperate attempt to keep his imperiled Senate bid alive.

Mississippi Newspaper Wins Dispute Over Government Records

The Mississippi Supreme Court is siding with a newspaper in its longstanding effort to get documents from a state agency.

UPDATED: Feds Threaten Jackson Funds Over Immigration 'Sanctuary' Policy

The U.S. Department of Justice does not know the City of Jackson has a new mayor. In a letter addressed to Mayor Tony Yarber but dated Nov. 15, 2017, Acting Assistant Attorney General Alan Hanson asked the City of Jackson to review its "sanctuary city" ordinance in order to receive federal funds from the Office of Justice Programs going forward.

Kathleen Grigsby

Kathleen Grigsby combines a love for swimming and education as the coach of the Murrah High School swim team and the principal of Davis Magnet IB World School.

Governor Calls for Free Community College, New Ed Formula, Reduced Medicaid

Gov. Phil Bryant released his budget recommendations this week, with an emphasis on education funding, particularly as it relates to workforce development.

Mississippi Governor's Budget Has Free Community College

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant is recommending that the state spend $7 million in the coming year to provide free community college for an unspecified number of students.

EDITORIAL: Dangerous Sinkholes Demand Immediate Responses

A dog fell into a sinkhole this weekend, and that could have just as easily been a child.

OPINION: #MeToo: Don’t Shame Me for Being Raped

The hashtag #metoo is trending across the nation, and our attention has been drawn to the larger-than-life stories of Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey. We point our fingers and chat with each other about the latest scandal "over there with those folks"—but what about our folks?

OPINION: Invest in Your Future

Tax season is also right around the corner. A lot of people may go into debt from holiday purchases and then spend all of their tax refunds trying to purchase items that have little value. We see it every year.

How Integration Failed in Jackson’s Public Schools from 1969 to 2017

Jackson's public schools, like the majority in the state, remained solidly separate and unequal in the 1950s and 1960s despite the ruling in the Brown v. Topeka Board of Education decision in 1954, which struck down school segregation by race.

Miller Wants to End Waiting Games in Public Works

Robert "Bob" Miller, the newly appointed director of Jackson's Department of Public Works, makes a lot of car references when he talks about city infrastructure.

Gone But Not Forgotten in Mt. Olive Cemetery

Amid a national discussion on which monuments of old white men should stay or go, Jackson State University unveiled two refurbished ones that day dedicated to Mississippians who achieved benchmarks they would not even have dared to dream of before the South lost the Civil War.

JPS Commission Gets to Work

More than 50 Jacksonians filled the Mississippi Museum of Art lobby on Nov. 8, eager to hear what the newly formed "Better Together" commission would do for Jackson Public Schools.

Your Thanksgiving Guide

This year, celebrate Thanksgiving with family—and through buying locally.

Sara Gatlin

Photographer Sara Gatlin's fascination with being behind a camera began with her in front of one.

Love for the Rebel and the Saint

Kirk Franklin will be a familiar name to many people who grew up in church in the 1990s, but it's a name that is still picking up steam today.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Lies Scientific Racists Told About Jackson’s Children

I did not know a federal judge in the 1960s had codified lies about how black children in Jackson were genetically inferior.

Series of California Shootings Kill 5, Wound Child at School

A gunman killed four people and wounded a number of others at random Tuesday at multiple locations in rural Northern California, including an elementary school, before police shot him dead, authorities said.

Dave's Triple B, Northpark Renovations and Results Physiotherapy

David Raines, a Madison resident and professional chef with more than 15 years of restaurant experience, opened The Flora Butcher on Aug. 1, 2016. Now, Raines is looking to open a new business called Dave's Triple B.

Meeya Thomas

Meeya Thomas stands 5 feet and 2 inches tall—about three inches short of the national average for women. She says that because of her height, she loves to wear heels, and that is where her inspiration for her shoe designs comes from.

Tax Sales Bring $414,265 into Jackson, JPS and Hinds County Coffers

The City of Jackson along with Jackson Public Schools and the other school districts and cities in Hinds County will receive an influx of funds after Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann recovered $414,265 from sales of tax-forfeited properties in the city and county since July 1, 2017.

Trump's AG Considers Special Counsel in Uranium Deal

Attorney General Jeff Sessions is leaving open the possibility that a special counsel could be appointed to look into Clinton Foundation dealings and an Obama-era uranium deal, the Justice Department said, in responding to concerns from Republican lawmakers.

Roy Moore Losing GOP Endorsements After New Accusations

Roy Moore's support from fellow Republicans is hemorrhaging after a second woman accused the Alabaman of groping her when she was a teenager in the late 1970s, the latest setback to his effort to win an open Senate seat that suddenly seems up for grabs.

Trump Jr.'s WikiLeaks Exchange Adds Intrigue to Russia Probe

President Donald Trump's oldest son released a series of private Twitter exchanges between himself and WikiLeaks during and after the 2016 election, including pleas from the website to publicize its leaks.

Group Seeks Landmark Status for Emmett Till's Chicago Home

A preservation group wants the Chicago home where Emmett Till once lived to receive landmark status.

Fellow Inmate Convicted for Murder of Choctaw Activist in Neshoba Jail

On Thursday, more than two years after activist Rexdale Henry of the Choctaw tribe of Native Americans turned up dead in a Neshoba County Jail cell, a jury found Justyn Schlegel, a fellow inmate, guilty of murder.

Analysis: Mississippi Budget Practices Receive Mixed Grades

A nonpartisan group that evaluates state government budget practices is giving mostly midlevel marks to Mississippi.

Ito Smith

Ito Smith ran for 150 yards and scored two touchdowns to propel Southern Mississippi to a 43-34 victory over Rice on Saturday.

US Cities, States Defy Trump, Still Back Paris Climate Deal

A group of U.S. states, cities, businesses and universities said Saturday they are still committed to curbing global warming even as U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is walking away from the Paris climate accord.

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.

Slain Activist's Family Sees Mississippi Civil Rights Museum

The family of a man killed in 1966 by the Ku Klux Klan received a private preview Friday of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum that is opening next month.

Staying Vigilant as Veterans' Scars Heal

Soldiers and military personnel from almost every U.S. conflict in the last 70 years packed into a small auditorium in the G.V. Sonny Montgomery Medical Center on Thursday, Nov. 9, to commemorate Veterans Day, which is on Saturday this year.

USM/MSU Boeing Research, UMMC Translational Research Center and Millsaps Windgate Visual Arts Center

Millsaps College hosted a ground-breaking ceremony for the Windgate Visual Arts Center on the west side of the campus today, Friday, Nov. 10, at 11 a.m.

Cucho Gonzales

Cucho Gonzales, a Puerto Rico-native musician based in Brandon, is a co-organizer for a benefit concert to raise funds for Puerto Rico, which is still recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in September.

David Watkins Arrested for Embezzling More than $500,000 in Bonds

Jackson resident W. David Watkins turned himself in to authorities Wednesday night after being indicted on two counts for embezzling bond money intended for a development project he managed, announced Attorney General Jim Hood.

State Ed Chairwoman Clears Air: 'There is No Fight' over Jackson Schools

Jackson Public Schools was not a part of the Mississippi Board of Education's monthly meeting agenda Thursday morning, but board Chairwoman Rosemary Aultman took a point of personal privilege to address the status of the second-largest school district.

JPD Gets Donated Vests to Keep Wheelchair Users Safe at Night

Scott Crawford, a wheelchair user due to multiple sclerosis, showed up at the Jackson Police Training Academy near Jackson State University on Monday with 80 high-visibility vests to help keep other people safe.

Four New JPS Board Members to Lead Next Chapter for Beleaguered District

The Jackson City Council restored a quorum to the Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees on Wednesday, unanimously confirming four new members who are charged with leading the district through a difficult stage in its history.

Ty Jobe

Luckily for the Choctaws, Mississippi College quarterback Ty Jobe was a double-threat to the Shorter defense last Saturday, with his passing and running game helping MC scrape out a 30-29 victory.

State: Disclosure Could Lead to Inability to Do Executions

Lawyers for the state of Mississippi argued Wednesday that disclosing information could destroy the state's ability to get the drugs needed for executions, urging a federal judge to block death row inmates suing the state from obtaining any more information.

Jackson School Takeover Back on Table Under Separate Law

A state takeover of the Jackson school district is back on the table, less than a month after Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant decided he wanted a more collaborative approach to its problems.

Best of Jackson: Beauty & Style

It's time once again to nominate people for the 2018 Best of Jackson ballot (bestofjackson.com). While in this season, take a look at some of the 2017 winners in categories related to beauty and style.

OPINION: Domestic Violence is the Problem

Domestic abusers all over the country gun down family members they blame for their problems every day. They take children and bystanders with them.

Eat and Play Locally

A good way to get connected to Jackson's foodie scene is to participate in local food events, and luckily, Jackson has a few in the next couple of weeks. Here are some of the ones to check out.

From Ireland to Jackson

Accordion-player Paul Brock has been a professional musician for the past decade, but his pursuit of traditional Irish music has spanned almost his entire life. As for how long that is, he replies with a chuckle, "Well, I'm over 21."

EDITORIAL: State, City Must Not Hinder Access to Public Info

Mississippi legislators are arguing with a straight face that they should not have to turn over documents about a 2016 vote to shift control of Jackson's airports to an outside board because of "legislative privilege."

OPINION: At Home on the Bus

As morning dawns on the capital city, my fellow JATRAN passengers and I begin our day together. On the road, I have formed the kind habit of wishing my fellow passengers well upon their destination. "Take care," I say.

A Midwife’s Tale: Saving the Scott Ford Houses

People sit at a black folding table in a front yard playing cards, while others watch cars pass with an occasional wave. The scene is common throughout much of Jackson, but it is a rare sign of life on Cohea Street in the once-vibrant Farish Street district.

The Fight to Make Taxis Equal

As a wheelchair user, Scott Crawford is tired of not being able to take a cab in Jackson—especially since legally he should be able to.

Pushing for Pre-K in the Midst of Poverty

Public pre-K is a part of the state's push for early learning statewide in order to increase literacy for students in public schools.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Our Journalism Seeks Solutions Over Blame and Partisanship

I'm a journalist to find solutions for issues such as youth crime. And that means seeking the various causes first to get there. That is why the journalism in the Jackson Free Press is different.

Virginia, New Jersey Reject 'Trumpism' as Dems Score Major Victories

Seizing his party's first major Trump-era victory, Democrat Ralph Northam beat back a charge from Republican Ed Gillespie in the race for Virginia governor, a bruising election that tested the power of President Donald Trump's fiery nationalism against the energy of the Trump resistance.

Maine OKs Medicaid Expansion in First-of-its-Kind Referendum

Residents of Maine, a rural state grappling with a heroin epidemic and an aging population, voted Tuesday to deliver a rebuke to Republican Gov. Paul LePage and join 31 other states that have expanded Medicaid under former President Barack Obama's health care law.

'Judicial Kidnapping’ in Pearl Youth Court?

Youth-court judges in Mississippi preside over all matters involving delinquent juveniles in addition to abused, neglected or abandoned children. Youth-court judges have the power to send children to foster care, grant custody to different guardians or give a child to adoptive parents.

Chavakia Porter

Ever since Chavakia Porter was a little girl, she says she dreamed of being a wedding planner. However, when she later realized she wanted to work with a variety of events and clients, she decided to become an event planner.

Polls Open Until 7 p.m. for County Attorney Elections

Voters will go to the polls today in Hinds County to elect a new county attorney, who serves as the chief prosecutor in youth court and is responsible for prosecuting misdemeanors that occur in the unincorporated areas of Hinds County, such as speeding tickets.

Matthew Kajdan

Estelle Wine Bar & Bistro Executive Chef Matthew Kajdan says that his favorite dish to make at the bistro is the grilled redfish.

MCM/Sugar Ray's Pop-up Shop, Winning Smile and Elite Physical Therapy

The Winning Smile Dental Group opened a new clinic at 4505 Interstate 55 N. Frontage Road in Jackson next door to Banner Hall in August of this year.

Lawyer: Legislators Don't Have to Give Up Documents in Suit

Mississippi legislators are telling a federal judge that they shouldn't have to turn over documents about their 2016 vote to shift control of Jackson's airports to a new board mostly appointed by state officials.

OPINION: Mississippi Schools: Celebrate Your Successes and Keep Aiming High

"We teach our children to build upon their past accomplishments and to continually strive for higher goals."

U.S. Supreme Court Could Decide to Hear State Flag Case This Month

The nine U.S. Supreme Court justices could decide the fate of the case against the Mississippi state flag this month when they meet for conference on Nov. 21.

Mayor Lumumba Pledges Transparency on Public Tour of City Hall

In efforts to make operations at City Hall more transparent, Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba hosted an open house and tour of his office and the top floors of City Hall on Friday.

Jordan Ta'amu

With seconds ticking off and just inches to work with in the left corner of the end zone, Mississippi quarterback Jordan Ta'amu put the football just where D.K. Metcalf had to be.

House GOP Weighs Repeal of Health Mandate in Tax Bill

Republicans are weighing a repeal of a key tenet of the Obama-era health care law in their tax overhaul as the House's tax-writing committee begins work on shaping the bill.

Immigrant Girl with Cerebral Palsy Released, Now with Family

U.S. authorities released a 10-year-old immigrant girl with cerebral palsy who had been detained by border agents after surgery because she is in the U.S. without legal permission.

Congressional Leaders Call for Sexual Harassment Training

Leading lawmakers are calling for mandatory training and other steps to prevent sexual harassment in Congress as the national spotlight on gender hostility in the workplace falls on Capitol Hill.

'Defenseless People': Gunman Kills 26 at South Texas Church

A gunman dressed in black tactical-style gear and armed with an assault rifle opened fire inside a small South Texas church, killing 26 people in an attack that claimed tight-knit neighbors and multiple family members ranging in age from 5 to 72 years old.

Mississippi Science Museum Displays Moonshot Command Module

Infinity Science Center is displaying the command module from Apollo 4, an unmanned 1967 mission that successfully demonstrated the full Saturn V rocket and the capsule that would carry men to the moon.

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.

Female Lawmakers Allege Harassment by Colleagues in House

As reports pile up of harassment or worse by men in entertainment, business and the media, one current and three former female lawmakers tell The Associated Press that they, too, have been harassed or subjected to hostile sexual comments—by fellow members of Congress.

Second HB 1523 Petition Filed with U.S. Supreme Court

The Campaign for Southern Equality and Rev. Susan Hrostowski are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case against the "Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act," also known as House Bill 1523.

JSU Tiger Career Closet, Red Sand at Tougaloo and MVSU Halbrook Award

Jackson State University's business-attire-centered clothes closet for students, the Tiger Career Closet, opened with a fashion preview and ribbon-cutting ceremony at Jacob L. Reddix Hall.

Rep. Jeramey Anderson

Mississippi Rep. Jeramey Anderson of Escatawpa announced on Friday, Nov. 3, that he will seek the 2018 Democratic nomination for Mississippi's 4th Congressional District seat in the United States House of Representatives.

Trump Pushes DOJ on Clinton, Won't Rule Out Firing Sessions

President Donald Trump said he is "disappointed" with the Justice Department and won't rule out firing Attorney General Jeff Sessions, if Sessions won't investigate Democrats.

Commissioners Named to Lead Jackson Public Schools Coalition

Gov. Phil Bryant and Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba, in coordination with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, announced who would sit on the 15-member Better Together Commission today.

US Rate for Gun Deaths is Up for the Second Straight Year

The U.S. rate for gun deaths has increased for the second straight year, following 15 years of no real change, a government report shows.

Hinds DA's New Lawyer Pushes Back on State Case

Strapped with a new lead defense attorney, Robert Shuler Smith will face a trial in Rankin County for charges of two counts of domestic violence, and aggravated stalking and robbery.

Hinds County Has Worst Preterm Birth Rate in Mississippi

More babies are born prematurely in Hinds County than anywhere else in the state, a new report from the March of Dimes shows.

Due in Court, Manafort Attacks Russia Probe Indictment

Accused of multiple financial crimes, President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman on Thursday attacked the strength of the evidence against him, saying the case brought by special counsel Robert Mueller is "embellished."

Russia Hackers Had Targets Worldwide, Beyond US Election

The hackers who disrupted the U.S. presidential election had ambitions well beyond Hillary Clinton's campaign, targeting the emails of Ukrainian officers, Russian opposition figures, U.S. defense contractors and thousands of others of interest to the Kremlin, according to a previously unpublished digital hit list obtained by The Associated Press.

Jordan Johnson

Sophomore running back Jordan Johnson, a Byram native, led Jackson State's possibly rejuvenated rushing attack, rushing for 160 yards on 21 carries and scoring all three of JSU's touchdowns.

Trump Calls for Death Penalty for NYC Truck Attack Suspect

President Donald Trump on Thursday backed away from his threat to send the suspect in the New York bike path attack to Guantanamo Bay, acknowledging in an early morning tweet that the military judicial process at the Cuban detention center takes longer than the civilian federal court system.

Mississippi Moves to Tax Internet Sales, After Long Delay

Mississippi's tax collector will require large online sellers to collect taxes on internet sales, more than 10 months after first proposing the rule.

The ‘Radical’ Mayor, 120 Days Later

Hundreds of Jacksonians sat in mostly silence as Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba delivered his "State of the City" address on a late Monday afternoon in Thalia Maria Hall in downtown Jackson.

Hollywood Sex Accusations Now Levied at Ratner, Hoffman

Hollywood's widening sexual harassment crisis has ensnared a prominent film director after six women—including actress Olivia Munn—accused Brett Ratner of sexual assault or misconduct in a Los Angeles Times report on Wednesday.

OPINION: Reflections After the Union Loss

In These Times writer Joe Allen says the Nissan-Canton election loss "is nothing less than a knockout punch ending for the foreseeable future any efforts by the UAW to organize the large, predominantly foreign-owned auto assembly plants in the South."

Stories for November 2017

Thursday, November 30

Wednesday, November 29

Tuesday, November 28

Monday, November 27

Friday, November 24

Wednesday, November 22

Tuesday, November 21

Monday, November 20

Friday, November 17

Thursday, November 16

Wednesday, November 15

Tuesday, November 14

Monday, November 13

Saturday, November 11

Friday, November 10

Thursday, November 9

Wednesday, November 8

Tuesday, November 7

Monday, November 6

Friday, November 3