Friday, February 28
Mississippi Receives Grant to Fight High Rates of HIV/AIDS
As Mississippi continues to experience high HIV/AIDS infection rates, a federal grant aims to support the state in fighting the epidemic.
Melony Armstrong: Braiding Pioneer
The transition from being a professional hair braider looking to make a living to suing the State Board of Cosmetology in 2004 and lobbying her own hair bill in 2005 was scary for Melony Armstrong.
Thursday, February 27
'One Lake' Critics Sound Alarms on Bridges, Environment, Industry Effects
Environmentalists are sounding alarms over concerns that the Levee Board is misrepresenting alternative solutions to Jackson's flooding woes in favor of lucrative property-development opportunities.
USM Theater Program, UM Business Program and MSU/ECCC Partnership
The University of Southern Mississippi's theater program will host its 15th annual Midsummer Musical Theatre Experience at the USM campus in Hattiesburg from July 6-17. The program is for children ages 8 to 15.
OPINION: Stop Talking About Corruption: The Nature of Ethnic Patronage Politics
"Corruption implies dishonesty, sleaze and fraud. Historically, such corruption has taken the form of kickbacks and favoritism to supporters of electoral campaigns. ... Is Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba's regime thus 'corrupt?'"
Rickea Jackson
Freshman forward Rickea Jackson was the Gatorade Michigan Player of the Year for 2018 and 2019. She was the Michigan Player of the Year in 2019, 2019 Michigan Miss Basketball, All-Michigan First Team and 2019 USA Today All-USA Second Team.
Mississippi Mulls Checking Tax Info of Welfare Recipients
Mississippi is moving toward more intense scrutiny of low-income people on public assistance, an action that comes as a former state welfare director and five other people have been charged with misusing millions of dollars intended for the poor.
Wednesday, February 26
New Lawsuit: Mississippi Prison Has 'Abhorrent Conditions'
The Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman is a violent, rat-infested place where inmates live in “abhorrent conditions” and their medical needs are routinely ignored, attorneys say in a new lawsuit filed on behalf of 152 prisoners.
House Makes Lynching a Federal Crime, 65 Years After Till
Sixty-five years after 14-year-old Emmett Till was lynched in Mississippi, the House has approved legislation designating lynching as a hate crime under federal law.
Ole Miss Apologizes to Black Protesters Arrested in 1970
The University of Mississippi has apologized to dozens of African Americans who were arrested in 1970 for protesting racial inequality on the mostly white campus where Confederate images were a deeply ingrained part of campus culture.
Jackson's Food Insecurity Focus in April Expo
In a state where one in four children go to bed hungry at night, solutions to the food insecurity that plagues Jackson are the goal of a series of public art installations and workshops to highlight food-access issues in Jackson and across Mississippi.
Tuesday, February 25
OPINION: Reckoning the Right Leader for Jackson State University
"I have no interest in being considered as the next president at Jackson State, but I do have some constructive suggestions and formative recommendations for the Jacksonians who will hopefully be ... actively engaged in selecting the next leader."
Immigrants, Activists Call For Rights at State Capitol
Jeimy Viveros wants those who come after her to have a better shot at their dreams. She came to the Mississippi Capitol to advocate for in-state tuition for all residents living in Mississippi, documented or not.
Patrick Harkins: A Businessman with a Band
"I like to work with the mantra of positivity and doing the best we can every day to give our community the gift of music," says Patrick Harkins, owner of Fondren Guitars.
Monday, February 24
OPINION: Trump Presidency Shows 'Whiteness' Protects 'Whiteness' at All Costs
"What we are witnessing now is the rise and solidification of an authoritarian president in the U.S. who has no respect for the fundamental values that the American Constitution holds dear."
Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty in Landmark #MeToo Moment
Harvey Weinstein was convicted Monday of rape and sexual assault against two women and was immediately handcuffed and led off to jail, sealing his dizzying fall from powerful Hollywood studio boss to archvillain of the #MeToo movement.
Gumbo Girl Moves to Ridgeland, Thrive @ Work Luncheon and Trustmark Brandon
Marilyn and James Kithuka, owners of Gumbo Girl, recently moved their restaurant from Highway 18 in Jackson to a new, larger location at 900 E. County Line Road in Ridgeland, inside what was formerly AJ's Seafood.
Carlis Daniels-Hinton
Born in 1951, Carlis Daniels-Hinton has seen African Americans go from not being allowed to walk on Biloxi beach to thousands hanging out in swimsuits along U.S. 90 during the Coast’s annual Black Spring Break event.
Friday, February 21
Levees Worked Well in Jackson Flood, But ‘One Lake’ Still District’s Choice
"I'm glad we're conducting the meeting today. I'm glad we can dispel some of the rumors and some of the myths about the One Lake project," Hinds County District 1 Supervisor Robert Graham, an enthusiastic supporter of the project, said. "There are two things we can do as it relates to flooding and flooding mitigation. We can do something, or we can do nothing."
Isaac Carter: New Head Coach at Millsaps
Millsaps College named head football coach Aaron Pelch full-time athletic director in January 2020, leaving the school in need of a full-time head football coach. After searching, Millsaps hired Isaac Carter for the role. Carter previously held the position of defensive coordinator and full-time professor of kinesiology at Mt. San Antonio College, a community college in Walnut, Calif.
Five Plead Not Guilty in Welfare Fraud Case in Mississippi
Trial dates have been set for the former head of Mississippi's welfare agency and some of the other people charged with misusing money that was intended to help needy people in the nation's poorest state.
Thursday, February 20
Appeals Court Keeps Block on Mississippi 6-Week Abortion Ban
A federal appeals court is keeping a block on a Mississippi law that would ban most abortions as early as about six weeks—a stage when many women may not even know they are pregnant.
OPINION: Hindsight 2020: Jackson Flooding and 40 years of Failed Solutions
"The flooding of the Pearl River in early 2020 has led to high water moving into neighborhoods and businesses, while many simultaneously want a 'flood control' plan for Jackson. These calls have risen and fallen since the 1979 Easter Flood just like the Pearl."
City of Jackson Reaches $89.8 Million Settlement with Siemens
The City of Jackson has reached a $89.8 million settlement with Siemens Inc., Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba announced yesterday.
MSU Lantern Project, Sonic Boom at CBDNA Conference and USM Military Friendly List
Mississippi State University Libraries is partnering other universities for the Lantern Project, which aims to create Mississippi's first institutionally supported digital database of legal records identifying victims of slavery.
Trump Ally Roger Stone Sentenced to Over 3 Years in Prison
Trump loyalist and ally Roger Stone was sentenced Thursday to more than three years in federal prison, following an extraordinary move by Attorney General William Barr to back off his Justice Department's original sentencing recommendation.
Wednesday, February 19
Mayor Lumumba Announces $89 Million Settlement from Siemens
"Today, I am pleased to announce that we have recovered every penny that was taken from our community by the Siemens Corporation. We have settled with Siemens for the full amount of the contract- $89,800,627."
Five Things to Know About Seyma Bayram, JFP City Reporter
"In my position, I ask people questions, listen, read a lot, file public-records requests, attend public meetings—and try to translate all of this into coherent stories with the goal of sharing information with the public."
Lemon Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
A pitfall of life is to take the important people in our lives for granted, so making an effort to express our appreciation for one another can be critical. One way to do that is to break out a home-cooked meal for a cozy date night.
Laeland, Ryan Warnick Take Center Stage at Jackson Indie Music Week Showcase
Bradley Davis, better known as Laeland, performed for an artist showcase during Jackson Indie Music Week.
NatureFEST 2020
Spring is the season we often remember nature, and the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science provides a celebration of nature each year through its annual event, NatureFEST.
Mississippi ToyCon 2020
Many hobbyists await the day that a convention for their favorite pastime comes to their state. Local toy collectors can now cheer as the first-ever Mississippi ToyCon takes place on Saturday, Feb. 22.
‘The Little Mermaid’
Each year, Power Academic and Performing Arts Complex, or Power APAC, produces a ballet for February featuring an all-student cast. This year, the dance department offers an adaptation of "The Little Mermaid."
OPINION: Exceptional White Men, It’s Time for a Reckoning
Donald J. Trump's impeachment acquittal was a victory for white male mediocrity. The majority of the 69 white men in the U.S. Senate, engaged in a succession of choices that left in place a man, whom few beyond his base would call exceptional.
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Mr. Mayor, Don’t Let ‘One Lake’ Be Your ‘Siemens’
"The mayor is clearly trying to express support for the people who are experiencing flooding this week. But this isn't (just) about sturgeon, Mr. Mayor. And I sincerely encourage you not to make the One Lake project your 'Siemens.'"
Brenda Marie Johnson-Manuel
Brenda Marie Johnson-Manuel, event coordinator and event manager for the Mississippi e-Center at Jackson State University, has served with the organization since Sept. 17, 2007, when she joined the center as a receptionist.
The TANF Players
Since the last issue, a huge corruption scandal hit Mississippi with allegations of theft inside a State agency working with prominent Mississippians, Republican donors and former pro wrestlers. Here are the major accused players.
Reform By Any Other Name
Legislative Black Caucus Chairwoman Sen. Angela Turner-Ford stressed the material realities of the black experience in Mississippi as the group unveiled its agenda for 2020, with health justice and Medicaid expansion at the center.
State Auditor Looking at City Contract; Flooding, Water Quality Plagues Jackson
Chief Administrative Officer Robert Blaine drew a unanimous censure from the Jackson City Council following an administrative error in a City contract with a prominent backer of Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba.
West Jackson Creek Woes Become ‘One Lake’ Pitch
A public meeting in west Jackson to debate solutions to recent flash floods quickly turned into an impromptu pitch for the "One Lake Project" from three Hinds County supervisors and Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba.
Tuesday, February 18
Pearl River Crests and 500 Homes Flood Amid Stew of Chemicals, Tainted Sewage
The Pearl River crested Monday at 36.8 feet, inundating the City of Jackson with quickly creeping floodwaters. The waters reached a lower high-water mark than the worst-case scenario forecast of 38 feet, but roughly 500 homes near the river flooded, including large parts of northeast Jackson.
Another Mississippi Inmate Dies; No Signs of Injuries
A 42-year-old inmate has died in Mississippi, making him at least the 18th prisoner to die in the state's troubled prison system since late December, corrections officials said Sunday.
Native Coffee, Sweetie Pie's Reopens and 1908 Provisions Dinner Service
Matt Flinn, a former North Carolina resident who moved to Jackson with his wife, Anna, will open a new coffee shop in Belhaven called Native Coffee in March 2020, inside the former location of Deep South Pops.
Nikelle Galatas
After dropping the opening game of the 2020 baseball season to Southern Illinois University, Jackson State University gave the ball to its best pitcher. Preseason SWAC Pitcher of the Year Nikelle Galatas took the mound for the Tigers in the second game of the season.
Friday, February 14
GOP Wants to Override Jackson's Abortion Clinic 'Buffer Zone' Law
Jackson's medical facility "buffer zone" law, which minimizes protest activities in the immediate vicinity of the state's only abortion clinic, may be short-lived if a Republicans bill in the Mississippi Legislature becomes law.
The Man Behind the Column: Exploring Eric Stringfellow and His Legacy
Journalist and former Clarion-Ledger columnist Eric Stringfellow has passed away at the age of 59 after a brief battle with cancer.
After Flooding Evacuation Order, City Will Not Send Help to Barricaded Areas
Mayor Chokwe Lumumba ordered Jackson residents living near the Pearl River to evacuate their homes in anticipation of massive flooding this Saturday and beyond, as of noon today.
REVISED: Precautionary Citywide Boil Water Notice for Jackson
The City of Jackson Water/Sewer Utilities Division has issued a city-wide precautionary boil water advisory until proof of compliance for turbidity levels has been submitted and approved by MSDH.
Thursday, February 13
OPINION: Black Mothers Harmed Most by Withheld, Missing TANF Funds
For the past several years, Mississippi has been ground zero for a growing crisis as thousands of its low-income residents, primarily single, black mothers, were being turned away from a government benefit intended to help them make ends meet.
Steve Demetropoulos Wins Special Election to Become Pascagoula Mayor
Dr. Steve Demetropoulos, a family physician, has been elected mayor of Pascagoula on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
UPDATED: City Declares State of Emergency, Orders Flood Evacuation for Northeast Jackson Residents Near Pearl River
The Pearl River is expected to crest at 35.5 feet by Saturday morning, the National Weather Service reports, one foot higher than the river reached during last month's catastrophic flooding.
New JSU Acting President, MSU Ragtime and Jazz Festival and MSU/UM Dual Degree Program
The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning named Thomas Hudson as the university's acting president after former president William Bynum Jr. resigned Monday after being arrested in a prostitution sting in Clinton.
Senate Moves Toward Vote Restraining Trump on Iran
A bipartisan measure limiting President Donald Trump's authority to launch military operations against Iran is moving toward approval in the Senate.
Smollett Case Revives Questions on Laquan McDonald, Justice
When a grand jury revived the criminal case against Jussie Smollett, the indictment for many people called to mind two nights on two different streets in the same big city.
Wednesday, February 12
Hearing: Formerly Incarcerated Seeking Employment Need Solutions, 'Ban the Box'
Formerly incarcerated Mississippians who are entering the workforce continue to face obstacles to employment, advocates testified Tuesday at the Mississippi Capitol during a Senate Labor Committee hearing.
OPINION: Democrats, Leverage Our Blessings, Move Toward Unity and Activism
"Our duty is clear. We must endeavor to leverage the blessings we enjoy into the noblest of all pursuits: we must make a better world together. The Democratic Party is one of the principal means of leveraging the whole of humanity into an ever-brighter future."
Mississippi Could Verify Income of People Getting Public Aid
Mississippi senators clashed Tuesday before passing a bill to let the state auditor see tax returns to verify the income of people enrolled in Medicaid or other public assistance programs.
Tuesday, February 11
Alleged TANF Fraud Follows Years of Individual Recipient Rejections
The State of Mississippi refusing to distribute money allocated to help the poor is not new. The Jackson Free Press reported in 2017 that the State has winnowed down TANF payments directly to needy Mississippians over the last decade.
OPINION: Mississippi Needs Equal Employment Opportunity for All
"If equal employment opportunity for all was the law of the state, Mississippi workers could rest assured they could work to make a living for themselves and their families without facing discrimination and unfair barriers because of who they are."
Kristen Brandt
The Mississippi Arts Commission named Flowood resident Kristen Brandt as arts industry director of Mississippi Poet Laureate, which names the official state poet every four years, in September 2019.
Congressman Lewis to Receive NAACP Honor at Awards Show
The NAACP will honor John Lewis for his Congressional service and long history as a civil rights activist by presenting him the Chairman's Award at its annual arts and entertainment awards show.
Monday, February 10
JSU President Bynum Resigns After Bust in Prostitution Sting
William Bynum Jr., the president of Jackson State University, resigned Monday after he was arrested in a prostitution sting in central Mississippi.
Honey Hush, Mississippi Gem and Mineral Show and BrickUniverse LEGO Convention
Jackson native Chad Segrest, owner of Beagle Bagel Madison and the Atlas Greek Down South food stall at Cultivation Food Hall, opened a second food stall at Cultivation called Honey Hush on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
Friday, February 7
OPINION: The Black Vote Is Not For Sale
"As we approach the 2020 election, we must ensure issues affecting our communities and our livelihoods are brought to the table and that we have a real voice in moving this country forward. Our vote provides the foundational basis for that."
'Sprawling Conspiracy' Ensnares Voucher Beneficiaries, Republican Donors
At least two people who donated significant sums to Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves' campaign allegedly engaged in what the state's top elected official calls a "disgusting abuse of power."
Azaria Howard
Mississippi Valley State University women's basketball junior center Azaria Howard, one of this season's impressive players, earned Co-Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Week after her games against Jackson State University and Grambling State University.
Thursday, February 6
City Council Censures CAO Blaine, Pursues Litigation Against Contractor
The Jackson City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to censure Chief Administrative Officer Robert Blaine following an administrative error in a City contract that resulted in the City of Jackson paying a company $100,000 for work that was supposed to have cost $48,000.
JSU Center for Innovation, Science Night at the Museums and Bower Academic Center
Jackson State University held a grand opening for its new Center for Innovation, located on the second floor of the H.T. Sampson Library, on Thursday, Jan. 30.
Tab Benoit: The Bayou Meets the Blues
How does a Cajun from Little Caillou, Louisiana get the blues? Tab Benoit lets loose a throaty guffaw when asked this question, fully appreciating the incongruity of who he is and how he got to where he is now: one of the premier guitarists in any musical genre.
OPINION: Prison Reform and the State: The Impending Confrontation
The prison-reform rallies held at the Mississippi Capitol on Jan. 24 and Feb. 1, 2020, at the Governor's Mansion are evidence that dubious government-approved rallies don't just happen in "communist" countries.
Trump Unleashes Fury at Impeachment Enemies at Prayer Event
President Donald Trump unleashed his fury against those who tried to remove him from office at a prayer breakfast Thursday, a day after his acquittal by the Senate in his impeachment trial.
Wednesday, February 5
John Davis, Nancy New and Others Arrested in Massive Embezzlement Scheme
Special agents from the office of State Auditor Shad White have arrested John Davis, the former Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services; Nancy New, owner and Director of the Mississippi Community Education Center; and others in connection with a multimillion-dollar embezzlement scheme.
Judge: Mississippi Parole Officers 'Underpaid & Overworked'
As Mississippi lawmakers seek ways to improve a prison system shaken by recent deadly violence, a related problem is looming: A judge said Tuesday that parole officers are “woefully underpaid and overworked."
2020 Power Couples
The Jackson area is proud to claim a number of power couples that use their bonds to accomplish great things or otherwise positively affect the community.
Top 10: Susan Farris
As the marketing manager for Mangia Bene Inc., Susan Farris handles marketing responsibilities for BRAVO!, Broad Street and Sal & Mookie's.
‘Keeping the Blues Alive’ at Hal & Mal’s
Each year, The Blues Foundation, known as the International Blues Foundation, recognizes individuals, businesses, organizations, and festivals from across the globe that have invested years and effort into upholding the musical genre during its annual "Keeping the Blues Alive" Awards in Memphis.
Mac Mitchell: Playwright Takes Flight
College can often be the time when we discover more about ourselves in a way that helps guide us as we choose the trajectories of our lives. Mac Mitchell entered Belhaven University his freshman year as a creative writing major, but felt something was lacking.
Winner, Winner, Valentine’s Dinner
There are plenty of local businesses and restaurants to treat your partner to this Valentine’s Day.
OPINION: Hinds County Mississippi Defies ADA, and Wins
"Instead of complying with ADA and living our motto of being "The Hospitality State," Hinds County fights tooth and nail every step of the way and, by doing so, reinforces the stereotype of Mississippi as openly defiant of human-rights law. Shame on us. "
Teacher Pay, Prison Reform, Horn Lake Dem Tentative Winners So Far
Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann began the process of raising teacher pay on Thursday, Jan. 30. Senate Bill 2001 proposes a $1,000 raise for all public-school teachers in the state. The bill would also bring the bottom bracket for new teachers to $37,000.
EDITOR'S NOTE: In Love, Life and Work, Do the Right Thing and Wait
"The word 'power is often misused. It's not about money or controlling everything. To me, showing unconditional love for a partner, a city, a state or a nation through the toughest times is the most powerful one can be. And I couldn't be prouder than the man on this crazy journey with me."
Casey Spell
Pearl native and resident Casey Spell has never felt too busy to take on another activity or responsibility, as he is presently working his way through medical school while also co-owning and managing H&S Roofing and Home Repair alongside his high-school friend Chris Hare.
Tuesday, February 4
OPINION: The W Pushes Back on Gov. Reeves' Attack on Gender Studies
Mississippi University for Women President Nora Roberts Miller publicly challenged Gov. Tate Reeves’ criticism of gender studies in his State of the State address. "Gender studies and other areas of study that aim to build a more diverse and inclusive society benefit all of us."
Grand Opening for Elvie’s and District Drugs, La Brioche Expands Menu
Hunter Evans, a Jackson chef who previously worked as chef de cuisine at Lou’s Full-Serv in Jackson since 2015, held a grand opening for his own restaurant, Elvie’s, on Monday, Feb. 3.
Monday, February 3
OPINION: I Quit the Republican Party! I Will Now Work Against GOP, Trump
"The Republican Party is now under the complete control of our new national dictator, Donald J. Trump. In the most horrifying display of self-abasement ever seen in the proud history of our country, the United States Senate has proven itself to be spineless cowards."
Disabled Children Losing Medicaid Coverage, Families Desperate for Help
The Mississippi Division of Medicaid announced last June that Alliant Health Solutions would replace eQHealth Solutions as the third-party vendor responsible for assessing applicants' eligibility for Medicaid, starting Aug. 1.
Jackson Holding Active Shooter Drill
The city of Jackson is conducting a major active shooter drill downtown Monday afternoon. The drill will simulate a casualty event and will be designed to appear realistic to test the abilities of first responders.
Juan Barnett: Chairman Says Prisons Should Not be Warehouses
Democratic Sen. Juan Barnett of Heidelberg said in an interview Thursday that prisons need to be more than warehouses. He also said Mississippi needs to do a better job of rehabilitating inmates so they will be ready to work and earn their own living after they are released.