Friday, January 31
Strong Arms of JXN to Hold Non-Violence Event in Grove Park
The Strong Arms of JXN program plans to train community members to canvas neighborhoods with high rates of gun violence in an effort to let them know about resources that exist and that there is a whole community that cares.
OPINION: Gov. Tate Reeves' Willful Ignorance Is Not the Gravest Sin
On Monday, Gov. Tate Reeves gave his first State of the State address on the steps of the Mississippi State Capitol, where he touched upon several topics: educational attainment, teacher pay, and workforce training. Reeves also took a clear shot at higher education:
Robyn Kennebrew
Robyn Kennebrew helps people who have had charges on their records for years and have lost opportunities for employment or housing get a fresh start as the development coordinator for the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project.
Take Care of Yourself: A Message to Millennials
When mom tells her millennial "Take care of yourself," eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep and exercise might seem like it's enough. But for true self-care, young adults in the millennial age group of about 23-38 must also take care of their mental and emotional health.
Thursday, January 30
Hester Jackson-McCray Prevails in Special Election Committee
Rep. Hester Jackson-McCray, a black Democrat, is likely to keep her seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives after a long and contentious committee meeting Monday at the State Capitol.
Angie Thomas Scholarship, JSU Emmett Till Panel and MSU Legal Conference
Mississippi native Angie Thomas, author of "The Hate U Give" and "On the Come Up," recently partnered with her alma mater, Belhaven University, to launch the Angie Thomas Writers Scholarship program.
OPINION: Healing Communities from Within: How to Survive Tough Times Together
Columnist Kevin Fong argues that emotional wounds are deeper, longer lasting and more toxic today, and they require more intensive work. He calls it Radical Healing.
Mississippi Teacher Pay Raise Proposal is Moving Forward
A proposal to give most Mississippi teachers at least a $1,000 pay raise is starting to move forward at the state Capitol after the plan won approval Thursday in the Senate Education Committee.
Aliyah Matharu
A two-game performance earned Aliyah Matharu recognition from the Southeastern Conference as SEC Freshman of the Week. She is the second MSU freshman this season to earn the honor, joining forward Rickea Jackson.
Wednesday, January 29
Mississippi Former Gov. Phil Bryant Joins Consulting Firm
Former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant is joining a consulting firm founded by an attorney who had been his chief of staff.
The Good Samaritan Center's Annual Winter Coat Drive
On Jan. 31 at noon, the Good Samaritan Center hosts its annual winter coat and clothing drive to provide appropriate winter attire to donate to low income families struggling to stay warm this season.
New Republican Legislator Resigns Under Pressure from Speaker Gunn
Mississippi House Rep. Ramona Blackledge, the Republican woman whom Jones County voters sent to Jackson to represent them in the Mississippi House of Representatives, is resigning just weeks into her term.
OPINION: Granting Clemency One Solution to Mississippi Prison Crisis
"Over the last few weeks, news about the conditions of Mississippi's prison system have exposed the need to see the humanity of people in prison."
Reggie Perry
Reggie Perry's mother and sister were on hand for his game at Florida, about a two-hour drive from his hometown. Perry treated them to one of his best collegiate performances.
Mississippi Inmate Dies After Collapsing at Regional Prison
An autopsy will be done on an inmate who died after he became ill while talking to a relative on the telephone, the Mississippi Department of Corrections said.
Tuesday, January 28
Trump Peace Plan Delights Israelis, Enrages Palestinians
President Donald Trump unveiled his long-awaited Middle East plan Tuesday, winning immediate praise from a beaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but a swift rejection from the Palestinians, who called it “nonsense.”
Less Blues, More Gospel In Gov. Tate Reeves' State of the State
New Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves closed his State of the State address Monday night by promising to "sing the gospel" of Mississippi, after rejecting pessimism, pettiness, ivory towers, gender studies and the "arrogance" of "metropolitan narcissists," not necessarily in that order.
OPINION: RIP 8 and 24: Kobe Bryant's Legacy a Blueprint for Overcoming Flaws
"Ultimately, (Kobe) Bryant's death at 41 teaches that people must strive for quality of life and not quantity of life. It is the dash between one's birth and death that signifies who one is and what one means to others."
Stone Abdullah
Clinton resident Stone Abdullah received a $500 mini-grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission in November 2019 to support advertising, marketing materials and distribution for his book "Journey of the Shadow, Volume 1," which Abdullah self-published in August 2017.
New Stage Presents Roald Dahl's 'Matilda the Musical'
This winter season, New Stage Theatre presents Roald Dahl's "Matilda the Musical," directed by Sharon Miles with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.
Monday, January 27
GOP Defends Trump as Bolton Book Adds Pressure for Witnesses
Pressure increased Monday on senators to call John Bolton to testify at President Donald Trump's impeachment trial even as defense lawyers brushed past extraordinary new allegations from Trump's former national security adviser and made legal and historical arguments for acquittal.
Jackson Boil Water Notice Lifted
The precautionary boil water notice for the following residents on our drinking water system is now lifted.
'Beaten, Broken, Tired': Prison Protest Draws Families, Activists to Mississippi Capitol
Families mourned the death of their loved ones while in Mississippi Department of Corrections custody and shared their fears for those who are still alive and enduring squalid conditions in a protest outside the State Capitol in downtown Jackson Friday.
Hungry Goat Fondren, Babalu Remodeling and Yakiniku Grill
Flowood residents Jordan and Paul Yamas opened a second location for their restaurant, The Hungry Goat, in Fondren on Monday, Jan. 27.
UPDATED: City Issues Citywide Boilwater Alert
The City of Jackson Water/Sewer Utilities Division has issued a water conservation advisory until further notice for all customers being served by the City of Jackson Water System.
Inmate Found Dead at Mississippi Prison
A Mississippi inmate was found dead in his one-man cell, the corrections department said Sunday, the latest fatality in the state's troubled prison system.
Friday, January 24
Sen. Roger Wicker to Jackson Man: ‘President Trump Will Be Acquitted’
"By impeaching President Trump on a partisan basis and with little evidence, House Democrats have ignored precedent and set a dangerous course. The rules in their process raised serious concerns because they did not provide the president with the same constitutional protections given to past presidents. My Republican colleagues in the House were also excluded from much of the process, raising basic issues of fairness." -Sen. Roger Wicker
Poll: Mississippians Back Medicaid Expansion, Hyde-Smith ‘Flailing’
"Given her flailing approval rating, it is no surprise that Senator Hyde-Smith is in an already tightening race with Mike Espy," Espy Campaign Manager Joe O'Hern said. "Whether it is Senator Hyde-Smith's disturbing comments about public hangings, her open support for voter suppression at the 'other' universities, her clear track record of hyper-partisanship in the Senate or her D.C. insider ambitions, these approval numbers are a clear sign that Mississippians are looking for change and are unhappy with Cindy Hyde-Smith as their senator."
Azia's Picks 1/24/2020
We made it to Friday once again Jacksonians, and we are finally getting to see some sunshine again. The Capital City is popping with a variety of occasions to get involved in, including the well-known annual Best of Jackson Party.
William G. "Skipper" Holliman
BancorpSouth Bank's Board of Directors appointed William G. "Skipper" Holliman of Tupelo, Mississippi, as a director of the company effective as of January 22, 2020.
Thursday, January 23
Furious West Jackson Residents Seek Answers, Solutions After Flooding
The atmosphere was tense at Pearl Street African Methodist Episcopal Church on Tuesday, Jan. 23, as west Jackson residents gathered to call for state officials to address last week's massive flooding in their community.
Republicans Assigned to Most Top Jobs in Mississippi House
Republicans will continue to hold most leadership positions during this four-year term in the Mississippi House, where the party has more than 60% of the seats.
Dear Silas Promotes Sonic Boom, DSU Food Pantry and USM Book Festival
Mississippi native rappers Dear Silas and Big K.R.I.T. recently released a collaborative music video for their song "I Got It" that pays homage to great things about Jackson and features Jackson State University's own Sonic Boom of the South marching band.
Deshaw Andrews
Alcorn State University senior forward Deshawn Andrews is enjoying an incredible stretch of basketball.
Wednesday, January 22
Best of Jackson 2020
We here at the Jackson Free Press like to keep our focus on local: local people, local business, local food—you get the idea. There's nothing to us more local than Best of Jackson.
Best of Jackson 2020: Food
There's nothing to us more local than Best of Jackson. We're officially in our 18th annual award season. Here is who you voted as the best local people, places, food and more.
Best of Jackson 2020: Community and Culture
There's nothing to us more local than Best of Jackson. We're officially in our 18th annual award season. Here is who you voted as the best local people, places, food and more.
Best of Jackson 2020: Urban Living
There's nothing to us more local than Best of Jackson. We're officially in our 18th annual award season. Here is who you voted as the best local people, places, food and more.
Best of Jackson 2020: Nightlife and Music
There's nothing to us more local than Best of Jackson. We're officially in our 18th annual award season. Here is who you voted as the best local people, places, food and more.
Best of Jackson 2020: People
There's nothing to us more local than Best of Jackson. We're officially in our 18th annual award season. Here is who you voted as the best local people, places, food and more.
OPINION: Love Letter to Jackson: You Need My Grind, Sweat and Tears
"Jackson, Miss., is the new mecca for innovation and forward progress and will be an example for cities nationwide with similar back stories. I refuse to leave you right when you need my grind, sweat and tears to help set you on a hill where your light can shine."
Bipartisanship, Prisons, Gangs, Teacher Pay and Tarnished Lawmakers
Delbert Hosemann's ascent to the lieutenant governor's seat opened the possibility for a more bipartisan Senate than in recent sessions, even as Mississippi faces its most Republican-led state government since Reconstruction—when the Republican Party was quite different.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Jackson’s Need for a Collaborative ‘Growth Mindset’
"On vexing community issues like violence, we can find and embrace solutions that are evidence-tested in other cities and that make a hell of a lot of sense for Jackson if we bother to get off the mental treadmill."
Lorenzo Sutton: A Sports Fan and A Good Man
Lorenzo Sutton worked at Jackson State University's eCenter doing maintenance work until he became the building manager at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in July 2019.
Tuesday, January 21
Causes, Solutions to Gun Violence in Jackson Emerge at MLK Day Forum
Disinvestment in Jackson communities, lax gun-control laws and a failing mental health system—all under the State's purview—all create conditions for violence. So do gentrification, white flight and black flight.
OPINION: Ugly Mississippi Prison Conditions Need Humanitarian Reforms
The era of mass incarceration involves both prison overcrowding and the nature of private prisons, a controversy to which the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman has also been linked.
Catherine Young
Crystal Springs native Catherine Young has served as senior vice president of the Memphis-Mid South Mississippi branch of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, a national breast cancer advocacy organization, since 2018.
Monday, January 20
Coroner: Inmate Dies, Found Hanging at a Mississippi Prison
An inmate at a Mississippi prison that was a focus of recent deadly unrest was found hanging in his cell by two corrections officers over the weekend and pronounced dead, a coroner said Sunday.
Join West Central Jackson Community Urgent Conversation To Address Flooding
A community meeting will be held to collect information, concerns, suggestions, solutions, and recommendations to address the flooding in West Central Jackson.
State's Payments to CoreCivic for Housing Inmates at Private Prison May Exceed Legal Limits
Mississippi's emergency contract with a private prison corporation to house 375 inmates could exceed legal limits even more than previously known.
OPINION: Pelicia Hall and the Political Emptiness of 'Black Girl Magic'
Many believe "Black Girl Magic" improves on the silences in "black power" and is validly wielded against patriarchy. Columnist Adofo Minka argues that a closer look reveals it is an idea that serves those who seek to rule above society.
Roberts Co. Purchasing McDade's, Junior League Jumble and Double Up Mississippi
Hattiesburg-based Roberts Company, Inc., will assume ownership of the four McDade's Market and Froogel's Market locations in Jackson, as well as McDade's Wine and Spirits in Maywood Mart, effective Monday, Jan. 27.
Kristen Allen: HeARTworks Champion
Kristen Allen finds herself tearing up as she reflects on the connections she's made at HeARTworks. "It truly is heaven on earth," she says. "We have something special, and I want everybody to experience it."
Martin Luther King Holiday: Faith, Politics Mix This Holiday
The nation is marking the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with tributes Monday recalling his past struggles for racial equality, observing the federal holiday named for him against the backdrop of a presidential election year.
Pro-gun Rally by Thousands in Virginia Ends Peacefully
Tens of thousands of gun-rights activists from around the country rallied peacefully at the Virginia Capitol on Monday to protest plans by the state's Democratic leadership to pass gun-control legislation.
10 Local Stories of the Week
There's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them.
Friday, January 17
No Reconsideration for 15-Week Abortion Ban Ruling, 5th Circuit Tells Mississippi
A federal court decision that struck down Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban will stand for now.
UM Confederate Statue Stays Put for Now as IHL Punts
The Confederate statue on the University of Mississippi's Oxford campus will stay put for now after the Institutions of Higher Learning Board tabled a motion to relocate it yesterday.
OPINION: Southern Evangelical: Trump 'Fits the Scriptural Definition of a Fool'
"I can find very little in Trump's deeds as president that promote the message of the Gospel. I am afraid this hypocrisy will set the Evangelical movement back by decades."
12-Year Sentence for Jail Phone is 'Failure,' Justice Says
The Mississippi Supreme Court's confirmation of a 12-year prison sentence for an African American man who carried his mobile phone into a county jail cell is being slammed as a brutal example of racial injustice.
Vic Schaefer
Mississippi State's win over LSU provided a perfect picture of what coach Vic Schaefer is dealing with in a transition year.
Azia's Picks 1-17-20
What are you in the mood for after a long, productive week? Let's plan a weekend together, starting with my top picks.
Flooding in Jackson Metro Ongoing Concern, More Rain Expected
Flooding remains a risk in the Jackson metro area three days after Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba declared an emergency, due to pending rainfall and high water levels in the Pearl River.
Thursday, January 16
Mississippi Governor: Prison Violence Was a 'Catastrophe'
Mississippi's new governor said Thursday that the state will conduct a nationwide search for a new commissioner to lead a state prison system that's reckoning with what he called a “catastrophe” — a recent outburst of deadly violence and longstanding problems with vacant jobs and damaged facilities.
Putin Fast-Tracks Effort to Extend His Rule in Russia
President Vladimir Putin on Thursday fast-tracked work on constitutional changes that could keep him in power well past the end of his term in 2024 while lawmakers quickly sealed his choice for new prime minister.
Trump's Impeachment Trial Underway With Reading of Charges
The U.S. Senate opened the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Thursday, with House Democrats reading the formal charges in the chamber ahead of the swearing in of all 100 senators as jurors for only the third trial to remove a president in U.S. history.
Physicians Push Back on Medical Marijuana Opposition in Mississippi
A number of state Mississippi physicians are pushing back after the State Board of Health decried a push to legalize medical marijuana.
MSU and USM Martin Luther King Day Events and Millsaps Humanities Award
Donald Shaffer, an associate professor of English and director of African American Studies at Mississippi State University, will serve as the keynote speaker at the university's 26th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast and Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 20.
Watchdog: White House Violated Law in Freezing Ukraine Aid
The White House violated federal law in withholding security assistance to Ukraine, an action at the center of President Donald Trump's impeachment, a federal watchdog agency said Thursday.
Ukraine Opens Probe of Possible Surveillance of Ambassador
Ukrainian police said Thursday they have opened an investigation into the possibility that the U.S. ambassador came under illegal surveillance by an unknown party before she was recalled from her post in May.
Board Delays Vote on Moving Confederate Monument at Ole Miss
A Confederate monument will remain, for now, in a prominent spot on the University of Mississippi campus, nearly a year after student leaders requested that it be moved to a Civil War cemetery.
Second Annual Jackson Book Festival: An Intellectual Revolution
A dedicated group of Jacksonians, fed up with the intellectual disparity within predominantly black communities, decided to form The Community Library Initiative with the vision of increasing literacy and creating more opportunities for younger generations to fall in love with reading.
Mike Leach
New Mississippi State University head coach Mike Leach will certainly be a fun one to watch during press conferences. Leach has been known to discuss topics such as vikings versus pirates, his hope that there is a bigfoot, and his thoughts on if we are alone in the universe.
Jackson Police Department Seeking Leads for Murder
Jackson Police still needs assistance from the public with identifying the individual(s) responsible for the murder of, Shadrick Simmons.
Wednesday, January 15
Gov. Tate Reeves Touts 'Loving Culture,' Need for Unity in Mississippi
Republican Tate Reeves is now the governor of Mississippi, presiding over a deeply red government and a legion of interests looking for pieces of the state government's full coffers.
OPINION: Probation for Profit; Little More Than a Scam
Profiting off probation has become big business in Mississippi, and it is costing us all in ways we don't even realize.
Lawsuit Says Mississippi Prisons are 'Plagued by Violence'
More than two dozen Mississippi inmates sued the state Tuesday, saying understaffed prisons are “plagued by violence” and inmates are forced to live in decrepit and dangerous conditions.
Tuesday, January 14
Jackson Under Flash Flood Emergency: ‘Not Out of the Woods,' Risks Still High
The National Weather Service in Jackson declared a flash-flood emergency on Tuesday, Jan. 14, due to heavy rainfall and already-high water levels in the Pearl River.
Russians Hacked Company Key to Ukraine Scandal
A U.S. cybersecurity company says Russian military agents have successfully hacked the Ukrainian gas company at the center of the scandal that led to President Donald Trump's impeachment.
Pelosi Sets Wednesday Votes to Send Impeachment to Senate
After weeks of delay and strategizing, the U.S. House is planning to vote Wednesday to send the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate to start the trial on removing him from office.
Mississippi U.S. Reps Face Challenges from the Left and the Right in 2020
A University of Mississippi law professor and self-described "Democratic socialist" is challenging her district's U.S. House representative, Republican Trent Kelly, in this year's election.
Bobbie Wilson
The Jackson State University National Alumni Association named Bobbie Wilson, a Clinton resident who serves on the JSUNAA's regional board, as its 2019 Alumnus of the Year during the JSU Homecoming celebration on Oct. 13, 2019.
Nick Cave: Feat
Nick Cave, an African American, Chicago-native artist, has produced a cornucopia of works using various mediums to create sculptures, installations, videos and performances.
The 2020 Inauguration Speech of Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves
Gov. Tate Reeves took the oath of office today at the Mississippi Capitol beneath gloomy skies, surrounded by the state's new leadership. The governor's speech centered around unity, even as he called for the protection of the state's special "culture of love and kinship" against the force of "erosion that frays societies."
Womanist Alliance March
The Womanist Alliance in Jackson has been building political power and cultivating Jackson's growing community of activists for the past three years.
OPINION: D.J. Durkin as UM Football Coach Reduces Life of Jordan McNair
D.J. Durkin's hiring raises important questions for the sport of college football: Are there any consequences for elite, white men in positions of power? And just how low are we willing to stoop to help them redeem themselves?
Monday, January 13
Mississippi Officials Set to Rule on Controversial Landfill
Mississippi's Department of Environmental Quality is set to decide on whether a controversial new landfill will be allowed in a county that already has two other trash dumping sites.
Mayor Lumumba: Violence Prevention Must Take Into Account Poverty and Gun Laws
Addressing reporters last Friday in the wake of high end-of-year homicide rates, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba highlighted his administration's efforts to curb violence in the city through a variety of mechanisms.
JXN Welcome Center, Iron Horse Patio and Mural and Food Truck Face-off
Visit Jackson opened the JXN Welcome Center, first full-service welcome center in Jackson on Friday, Jan. 10, inside the Electric Building at the corner of East Pearl and West Streets.
Friday, January 10
JPS School Closures and Consolidations Raise Concerns in Jackson
Earlier this week, the Jackson Public Schools' board of trustees voted to close and consolidate several schools as part of the district's ongoing efforts to address decreasing student enrollment, teacher shortages and funding woes.
DOSSIER: Shame on WLBT for Dishonoring Past with Empty Crime Rhetoric
WLBT, the NBC affiliate of the Atlanta-based Gray Television, climbed fully on board with U.S. Attorney Hurst's false rhetoric that Jackson leaders and other locals are somehow "denying" gun violence in the capital city.
Seth Power: 'Souvenir'
Growing up, Seth Power found himself locked away in his room for several hours a day, writing songs with his new recording software. The only force that could push Power into emerging from his music lair was sports, as he enjoyed baseball, soccer, football and track.
Both Parties in New Mississippi Senate Leadership Roles
Mississippi's new Republican lieutenant governor is putting together a bipartisan leadership team in the state Senate for the new four-year term.
Mississippi, Lacking Guards, Sends Inmates to Private Prison
Mississippi's prison system signed a 90-day contract to shift 375 inmates from the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman to a nearby private lockup, saying it doesn't have the guards to safely keep the inmates in state custody in the wake of recent violence.
Azia’s Picks 1-10-20
Mark my words: Jackson is the new mecca for innovation and forward progress and will be an example to follow for cities nation-wide with similar backstories. Let me help you be a loyal fan of our Capital City by sharing my weekend picks.
Thursday, January 9
Facebook Again Refuses to Ban Political Ads, Even False Ones
Despite escalating pressure ahead of the 2020 presidential election, Facebook reaffirmed its freewheeling policy on political ads Thursday, saying it won’t ban them, won’t fact-check them and won’t limit how they can be targeted to specific groups of people.
Trump Proposes Sweeping Rollback of Environmental Oversight
In a dramatic rollback of environmental oversight, President Donald Trump took action Thursday to clear the way and speed up development of a wide range of commercial projects by cutting back federal review of their impact on the environment.
Iran Downed Ukrainian Jetliner, US, Canadian Officials Say
Evidence indicates it is “highly likely” that an Iranian anti-aircraft missile downed a Ukrainian jetliner near Tehran late Tuesday, U.S. and Canadian officials said Thursday.
Lawmaker Who Called for Lynching of Confederate Statue Foes Elevated
In 2017, Mississippi House Rep. Karl Oliver wrote that Louisiana leaders ought to be "LYNCHED" for removing Confederate monuments. On Jan. 8, House Speaker Philip Gunn made him vice chair of the powerful appropriations committee.
JSU MLK Convocation, UM MLK Day of Service and MSU Veterinary Camp
Constance Slaughter-Harvey, former Mississippi assistant secretary of state and general counsel, will deliver the keynote address at Jackson State University's annual Martin Luther King Jr. convocation on Friday, Jan. 17.
Mike Jones
After 11 years away from coaching, Mike Jones returned to the sideline on Monday, March 18, after Mississippi College renamed him as its head basketball coach.
Wednesday, January 8
Mississippi Working to Cover Full Cost of Teacher Pay Raise
Mississippi lawmakers are working on funding the final portion of a pay raise that teachers started receiving this school year. The $1,500 raise was approved during the 2019 legislative session, but officials later discovered a bureaucratic error.
District to Close School, Consolidate Others to Save Money
Trustees over the second-largest school district in Mississippi have voted to close an elementary school and consolidate two middle schools.
Five Tips for Leading a Healthier Life this New Year
I asked friends of mine who are professional fitness trainers, sports coaches and nutritionists to give me some tips, and now I am sharing an assortment of their recommendations to you.
Thalia Mara Hall: Winter Music(al) Preview
Now that we have entered the winter months of 2020, it's a great time to take a peek at the music-centered performances that Jacksonians can look forward to at Thalia Mara Hall before spring.
Exploring Alternate Worlds Within a Contemporary Space
There's no greater joy than falling into a piece of metafiction—fiction that is about fiction—with little to no pretense. A consistently rising trend within literary fiction, these works tempt the veil of reality, testing the boundary of allegorical allusion.
Willie Williams Jr.: Family-Taught Lessons 2Go
From a clothing store to a nightclub to a car lot, Willie Williams Jr. has owned many businesses, but he ventured into the restaurant industry and now owns and runs Sherria's Chicken Coop 2Go.
Jeffrey Caliedo: Jacksonian High Schooler Accepted into Yale
When colleges open the fall semester, a Jackson native will take his writing skills and experience eastward. Murrah High School senior Jeffrey Caliedo has been accepted to Yale University on a full scholarship.
EDITOR'S NOTE: A Series of Very Fortunate Events; My First JFP-iversary
"Today marks a year since I began working for the Jackson Free Press. Much has happened since I meekly walked through that door. Before I get into that, though, allow me to tell you my 'JFP story.'"
Iran Retaliates with Missiles in 'Slap' at US Bases in Iraq
Iran struck back at the United States early Wednesday for killing its most powerful military commander, firing a barrage of ballistic missiles at two Iraqi military bases that house American troops in what the Iranian supreme leader said was a “slap” against the U.S. military presence in the region.
2020 Legislative Preview: GOP In Charge, But Conflict Ahead?
The GOP's newfound dominance in Mississippi does not mean a pacified Legislature, outgoing House Minority Leader Rep. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, says. Baria believes that real political daylight exists between the two men now inheriting the most powerful positions in the state.
MDOC Hits ‘Breaking Point’
Inmate deaths are not a new phenomenon in Mississippi. Some family members and activist organizations, like the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, have pointed to a lack of funding to explain rising prison violence.
OPINION: Educator; What About Us? Who Will Help the Helpers?
"I am one of four daughters who descends from a very long line of ancestral educators. They instilled in me that education is the rudiment to a forward-thinking life of exploration, self-discovery and financial stability."
Police Task Forces ‘Waste of Time’ for Violence Prevention?
Law-enforcement efforts to combat violent crime in Jackson in recent years have increasingly focused on the creation of multi-agency task forces, which identify high-crime regions or criminal activity, gather intelligence, and serve subpoenas, warrants and indictments related to those crimes.
Tuesday, January 7
Local United Methodist Churches Face Schism Over LGBTQ Inclusion
The future of Mississippi's United Methodist churches and institutions is in question after a group of influential United Methodist Church leaders announced a preliminary agreement to split the church in two on Jan. 3, due to irreconcilable disagreements over LGBTQ rights.
OPINION: 'Chaos or Community'? Citizens Co-conspirators in Broken Criminal System
"Mississippi leaders have historically created and encouraged incarceration as an intentional pathway for a segment of Mississippi's society, disproportionately the African American community."
Mississippi Inaugurates New Legislators for Four-Year Term
Legislators are taking their oath of office Tuesday in Mississippi, and they will set the direction of state government for the next four years.
Outgoing Governor Bryant Proclaims Jan. 26-Feb. 1 'Mississippi School Choice Week'
Outgoing Gov. Phil Bryant has issued a proclamation declaring Jan. 26-Feb. 1 Mississippi School Choice Week.
Jeff McCutchen
Capt. Jeff McCutchen will be officially sworn in Monday as the Oxford Police Department's new police chief. McCutchen has been running the 100-person department for the last 11 months as interim chief when former chief Joey East took leave to run for Lafayette County sheriff.
The Dapper Doughnut, The Lost Cajun and La Brioche Renovations
Gabe Jackson, a Liberty, Miss., native and a guard for the Oakland Raiders football team, opened the first Mississippi location of The Dapper Doughnut, a Las Vegas-based donut franchise with 21 locations, together with his wife Eryn Jackson in Flowood on Thursday, Jan. 2.
Legal Group Seeks Federal Inquiry into Mississippi Prisons
Prisoner advocates are calling on the federal government to investigate Mississippi’s prison system for possible civil rights violations, saying the violence of recent days highlights deliberate violations of inmates’ constitutional right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.
Monday, January 6
Weinstein Charged with Sex Crimes in LA on Eve of NY Trial
Los Angeles prosecutors charged Harvey Weinstein on Monday with sexually assaulting two women on successive nights during Oscars week in 2013, bringing the new case against the disgraced Hollywood mogul on the eve of jury selection for his New York trial.
Hyde-Smith, Wicker 'Gunning to End Roe': Ask High Court to Overturn
Mississippi's two U.S. senators, Republicans Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith, are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to consider overturning its 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which legalized abortion nationwide.
One of Two Escapees from Troubled Mississippi Prison in Custody
One of two prisoners believed to have escaped from one of several Mississippi prisons recently rocked by violence is back in custody, authorities said early Sunday.
Stephen Brown
Stephen Brown, a Jackson native who performs as hip-hop artist 5th Child, has worked as assistant director of outreach for Get2College since 2013.
10 Local Stories of the Week
There's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them.
Friday, January 3
New DA Jody Owens Promises Reform, Alternatives to Incarceration
Earlier this week, civil rights attorney and avowed criminal-justice reformer Jody Owens officially took over as the new Hinds County district attorney, succeeding the controversy-plagued Robert Shuler Smith, who served eight years.
Azia's Picks 1-3-20
How do you plan on welcoming in the first weekend of the new year? Let's see what's to do in the Capital City 2020 style with my top weekend picks.
Reggie Perry
One player making early season waves is Mississippi State University sophomore forward Reggie Perry.
Mississippi Prison Deaths Follow Warnings of Meager Funding, Shortages
Three more Mississippi prisoners have died at the hands of other inmates in the six days since the Mississippi Department of Corrections initiated a statewide prison lockdown last Sunday, bringing the week's death toll to four.
US Kills Iran's Most Powerful General in Baghdad Airstrike
The United States killed Iran's top general and the architect of Tehran’s proxy wars in the Middle East in an airstrike at Baghdad's international airport early on Friday, an attack that threatens to dramatically ratchet up tensions in the region.
Thursday, January 2
Fourth Death in Mississippi Prisons; Judge Says Other Prison OK
Another Mississippi inmate has died at the hands of a fellow inmate, bringing the death toll to four amid disturbances over the past week in the state prison system.
Judge Rules 1 Mississippi Prison OK, Among Deaths at Others
A federal judge has rejected claims that conditions in a Mississippi prison are unconstitutionally harsh. His ruling comes amid violence at three other corrections facilities that resulted in the deaths of three inmates this week.
Mississippi Development Authority Director to Step Down
Glenn McCullough said in a statement Thursday that he will step down as head of Mississippi Development Authority at the end of January.
Statewide Gas Taxes a Bridge Too Far for Lt. Gov.-elect Hosemann
Lt. Gov.-elect Delbert Hosemann will not consider raising gas taxes statewide in 2020, he told the press on Dec. 17. But he is opening the door for county supervisors to pass their own local tax raises.
James Kenyon
Jackson resident James Kenyon says he has a heart for "telling stories that might not otherwise be heard," which he has had the chance to do since co-founding the Hearth and Mantel Theatre in 2017.
Elizabeth Spencer, UMMC NASA Grant and MSU State of Black Men Symposium
Author and Belhaven University alumna Elizabeth Spencer died on Sunday, Dec. 22, at her home in Chapel Hill, N.C. at age 98.
Mississippi Opens Qualifying Time for Federal Candidates
Candidates for federal offices can start filing qualifying papers on Thursday in Mississippi.