Stories for January 2021

Azia’s Picks 1-29-21

Whatever your goals are, be kind and patient with yourself and treat yourself to some fresh air and sun this weekend. If you need some help filling up some free time, check out my picks. Be safe out there!

Two More Legislators Positive for COVID-19, Second Dose Appointments Available

Two more Mississippi lawmakers were diagnosed with COVID-19 this week, raising the tally to four from the two reported last week.

Niketa Pechan

When Niketa Pechan moved to Jackson four years ago as a newlywed, she left behind in Miami a close-knit Caribbean-American community that had shaped her life up until that point.

Mississippi Looks at Penalties for Blocking Roadways

Republican lawmakers in Mississippi are seeking to increase penalties for people who block public roadways during protests. Several Democrats, however, are expressing concerns about legislation that could be seen as criminalizing free speech.

Reeves: Goal is to Up Vaccine Capacity to 100,000 Per Week

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said he wants to increase coronavirus vaccinations rapidly in the month of February, ramping up the state's capacity for weekly inoculations to around 100,000.

District Attorney Owens: Hinds County Diverted 300 From Criminal Justice

Three hundred first-time non-violent offenders went through a diversion program last year in Hinds County in exchange for dropped charges, District Attorney Jody Owens said at a press conference Tuesday.

JSU Retool Your School Grant, MSU Completion Grants and GEER Grant

Jackson State University recently redesigned and renovated the commuter lounge in the university's Student Center through a $50,000 "Retool Your School" campus improvement grant from Home Depot.

Kahia Warmsley

Good news for Southern Miss is that freshman Kahia Warmsley returned to the starting lineup. Warmsley has played in seven games and started four games this season for the 5-5 Golden Eagles.

Plan Would Expand Computer Science Courses in Mississippi

Mississippi schools that don't already offer computer science courses would be required to start phasing them in, under a bill advancing at the Capitol.

Mississippi Proposes Allowing Some Student-Athlete Contracts

College athletes in Mississippi would be able to earn money from their own name, image or likeness, under a bill that cleared a state House committee Wednesday.

Tim Turner

Tim Turner, principal investigator and chair of the Department of Biology at Jackson State University, is currently managing a new program called the JSU Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience, which aims to help underrepresented students enter graduate schools and STEM careers.

‘State of the State’ Reflects on Pandemic, Proposes Elimination of Income Tax

“Our state is unconquerable,” Gov. Tate Reeves’ 2021 State of the State address began. Reeves congratulated Mississippians on their resilience and camaraderie in weathering COVID-19 in the past year. “We have taken every hit that can be thrown,” he said.

Health Dept: Weekly Vaccine Allocation Remains Consistent

Mississippi is expecting to receive around 37,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine this week from the federal government, the same allocation the state has received for the last several weeks, state Department of Health spokesperson Liz Sharlot said Tuesday.

Azha Tattoos

Azha Sanders has worked as a licensed tattoo artist for 11 years and currently works at Forged True Tattoo in Brookhaven.

Mississippi Considers Allowing Home Delivery of Alcohol

A bill being considered in the Mississippi Legislature would allow for home delivery of beer, wine and hard liquor.

John David Baker

Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin has hired John David Baker as passing game coordinator and tight ends coach.

So Far, Six Candidates Running for Jackson Mayor, 12 For City Council Seats

Ten days out from the deadline to qualify for city elections, Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba is standing for primary election against two Democratic Party contenders, Kenneth Wilson and Palvise Patterson.

Mississippi Governor Gives State of the State Speech Tuesday

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves is preparing to give his annual State of the State address.

Legislators Push for More Felony Expungements, Prison Labor Minimum Wage

Sen. Derrick Simmons, D-Greenville, is asking the Legislature to add several felonies to the list of possible expungements from an inmate's permanent record five years after the offender’s sentence was fulfilled.

Fresh Market Valentine's Meals, Mississippi Coding Academies and Madison Primary Care Center

In preparation for Valentine's Day, The Fresh Market in Ridgeland is offering restaurant-style meals with heart-shaped entrees and desserts that couples can enjoy at home this year.

Cora Norman

Former Mississippi Humanities Council director Cora Norman, who worked to promote the state's diversity soon after court-ordered school integration in the early 1970s, has died. She was 94.

Analysis: Transition Turmoil Splits Mississippi Delegation

Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi won a 2018 special election and a 2020 regular election by making a single overarching promise—to support President Donald Trump.

Azia’s Picks 1-22-21

If you’re undecided like me about what to do this weekend, check out my picks. Whatever you decide, do it safely, responsibly and joyously!

Legislature Struggles With COVID-19 Outbreak, Jackson Drive-Through Finally Opens

The Mississippi Legislature is grappling with yet another outbreak among its members, only a few short weeks into the 2021 session. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann announced on Thursday that two members of the Senate have tested positive for COVID-19.

Brexit Leader to Head Mississippi Public Policy Center

Douglas Carswell, a leader of the Brexit movement and newly appointed government trade adviser in the United Kingdom, is now the head of a conservative think tank in the American South.

Mississippi Eases Some Education Mandates Amid Pandemic

Because of disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Mississippi third graders and high school students will still take state-mandated exams this semester but will not be penalized for poor performance.

Mayor Lumumba Extends Executive Order Closing City Hall, Non-Essential Offices

Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba again signed an executive order extending the closure of city hall and non-essential city offices to the public through February 12.

Sarah Thomas

This week the NFL announced the seven-person crew that will work the field on Sunday, Feb. 7, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. Mississippi native Sarah Thomas will be the down judge and thus become the first woman to work a Super Bowl in NFL history.

Millsaps Race in America Conference, USM STEM on Demand Program and Crafted Identities Exhibit at MSU

Millsaps College is partnering with the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting, the Mississippi Book Festival and Lemuria Books to host "Race in America," a live conversation between journalists Jelani Cobb and Calvin Trillin—who have both reported on civil rights for The New Yorker—tonight at 5:30 p.m.

Bridging Digital Divide for JPS Students Goal of Collaboration with City of Jackson

Students in Jackson Public Schools may start having access to free internet access as early as February, Chief Administrative Officer Robert Blaine told the city council Tuesday.

Jackson Mayor: City Will Not Tolerate Street Racing

Jackson’s mayor says the city will not tolerate drag racing and other types of reckless driving that draws crowds to watch.

Mayor Lumumba Plans Public COVID-19 Vaccination to Encourage Participation

More City of Jackson leaders taking the COVID-19 vaccine when available may increase African Americans' participation percentage from a low of about 18%, Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba said at the Tuesday city council meeting.

Mississippi Could Renew Debate on Revising Tight Parole Laws

Mississippi legislators should try again to revise some of the strictest parole laws in the nation as a way of reducing the state's “dangerously” large prison population, a nonprofit group said Tuesday.

Mississippi County to Put Up Marker for Lynching Victims

A Mississippi county will put up a marker to remember Black men who were lynched by white mobs between 1885 and 1935. It will be near a statue that honors Confederate soldiers.

Mississippi Development Authority Chief Gets Job Permanently

The Mississippi Development Authority is giving its interim director the job permanently. John Rounsaville earned his promotion by buoying Mississippi’s economy during the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Tate Reeves said Tuesday.

Teacher Pay Raise Plan Awaits Mississippi Senate Debate

A proposal to increase Mississippi teachers' pay is advancing at the state Capitol. Senate Bill 2001 passed the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, six days after it cleared the Education Committee.

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Big Changes for Jackson Free Press in January 2021

Along with changes on the national level, I've got several changes to report on the local JFP front, effective with this issue.

OPINION: Making Government Surveillance Great Again in America’s ‘Radical City’

"Virtual policing means that 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, an all-seeing eye will be fixed on Jackson's majority poor and working-class residents."

Hayden Boyd

During his preteen days attending live-music shows with his father and older brother, Hayden Boyd decided he wanted to be a musician himself. Nowadays, Boyd comprises one half of the local indie pop band Newscast.

Vaccinations Underway As State Grapples With Logistics

For many of the most vulnerable Mississippians, the COVID-19 vaccine has arrived. There are a number of ways you can schedule your vaccine, but the process may take time.

Jackson Students Return to Classroom After Semester Virtual

Some Jackson Public Schools students will be returning to the classroom on Tuesday for the first time in months. The entire district was learning from home last semester because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lydia Didia

Jackson State University named Lydia Didia as an assistant professor of accounting in its College of Business in fall 2020.

Sal and Mookie's Moving, Hops and Habanas Closing and Winter Institute Virtual Events

Sal and Mookie's New York Pizza and Ice Cream Joint, which opened in Jackson's Fondren neighborhood in April 2007, is moving to The District at Eastover after 14 years in business.

Jackson State Band to Perform in Biden Inauguration Event

Jackson State University’s Sonic Boom of the South marching band is set to participate in an official event celebrating diversity ahead of the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

Governor Tate Reeves Extends Executive Order

Today, Gov. Tate Reeves announced the decision to extend Executive Order 1535 until Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 5 p.m.

City Partners with Mobile Lab for COVID-19 Testing as State Faces Vaccine Shortage

Only 18% of those who have been vaccinated in Mississippi are African Americans, though they account for about 40% of the population, Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba said at a media briefing Thursday.

Azia’s Picks 1-15-21

If you’re looking to get out and mingle responsibly in the city this weekend, check out my picks. I hope you find something you can forge new sun-lit memories with those you love.

Sharon Simmons

Jackson State University named Sharon Simmons as a new associate professor in its College of Business in August 2020. Since assuming her position, Simmons has been teaching both entrepreneurship courses and accounting, with a focus on venture creation and commercializing new ideas and technologies.

Mississippi National Guard Sent to D.C. for Inauguration

The Mississippi National Guard is sending troops to Washington D. C. in preparation for the presidential inauguration next week.

US Surgeon General Acknowledges Black Skepticism of Vaccines

The U.S. surgeon general on Thursday urged Black leaders in Mississippi to get COVID-19 vaccinations and to ask others in their communities to do the same.

Museum Trail Complete from Downtown Jackson to Lakeview Drive

Residents and visitors to Jackson can now enjoy a 2.5-mile Museum trail, for walking, jogging and cycling after a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday signaled the project's completion.

MSU Day of Service and Donation Drive and USM #WhatsYourPurpose2021 Campaign

Former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Reuben Anderson will serve as the keynote speaker for Mississippi State University’s 27th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast and Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 18.

Iverson Molinar

One could argue that few players have enjoyed a jump from one season to the next like Mississippi State University guard Iverson Molinar. The sophomore basketball player is enjoying a great start to the 2020-2021 season.

Mississippi Vaccine Appointments Fill Up as Demand Surges

The Mississippi Health Department said Wednesday that the state cannot take any more appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations because of a “monumental surge” in demand after Gov. Tate Reeves announced that more people were eligible.

Mississippi Legislature Again Mulling Teacher Pay Increases

Senate Bill 2001, which unanimously passed the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, would give certified teachers with three or more years of experience a $1,000 pay increase.

Mississippi Lottery Leader: Don't Fall Victim to Scams

The president of the Mississippi Lottery Corporation is warning people not to fall victim to scams. Tom Shaheen said in a news release Wednesday that fake communications about lottery winnings are common.

Delays Hinder COVID Vaccinations As Requirements, Access Loosen

More Mississippians than ever now qualify for COVID-19 vaccinations, but only one-quarter of the total doses in the state so far have been administered—62,744 out of 249,100.

Meredith Anding Jr., Member of the 'Tougaloo Nine,' Dies

Meredith C. Anding Jr., a member of the “Tougaloo Nine," who famously participated in a library “read-in” in segregated Mississippi 60 years ago, has died. He was 79.

Ex-Crimestoppers Board Member Accused of Embezzlement

Michelle McBride, a former board member of a Mississippi Crimestoppers' group, has been arrested following her indictment for embezzlement.

EDITORIAL: Elected Leaders of the Mississippi 'Sedition Caucus' Must Recant or Resign

Mississippi and the nation must hold U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Reps. Trent Kelly, Steven Palazzo and Michael Guest accountable for their complicity in the lies that Donald Trump has used to foment fear, doubt and, ultimately, insurrection.

Governor Tate Reeves Announces New COVID-19 Measures

Gov. Tate Reeves announced those who are 65 years and older or have a pre-existing medical condition are now eligible to make an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

OPINION: Mississippi’s Republican Cats Up Trump’s Authoritarian Tree

One of Mississippi’s senators and three of its congressmen chose to jump on the Trump bandwagon, objecting last week to final certification of the Biden-Harris presidential victory.

Brandon Pettis

Brandon Pettis, an 18-year-old Mississippi man from Oxford, says he plans to run for mayor in his home city.

City Prepares Shelter for Homeless as Temperature Dips Below Freezing

The dip in temperature creates the need to provide shelters for the homeless population in Jackson. The City is prepared to open Champion Gymnasium at 1355 Hattiesburg St. as an emergency center for them.

Murder Charge Dismissed After Debunked Bite-Mark Testimony

A Mississippi judge has dismissed a murder charge against Eddie Lee Howard, a Black man who spent more than a quarter-century on death row in the 1992 killing of a white woman.

Black Doctors Work to Reduce Skepticism of COVID-19 Vaccine

As many Black residents in Mississippi remain doubtful about the benefits of taking a COVID-19 vaccine when available, more Black doctors are pushing for them to reconsider by getting immunized themselves.

Black Axes Northpark, City Limits Cafe and Friends of Children’s Hospital Donation

Northpark in Ridgeland recently announced that a new location for Black Axes Throwing Club will soon open at the complex.

Vaccinations Available for Elderly, Health Workers as COVID Surges in Mississippi

Mississippi’s COVID-19 vaccination surge is underway, but public-health officials say not all available appointments are being filled, and are calling for eligible Missisippians to take the opportunity to protect themselves from the virus.

Analysis: Health Care, Education, Incentives on 2021 Agendas

With the Mississippi legislative session just beginning, officials are starting to reveal their public policy wish lists, including proposals to increase teacher pay and improve the availability of health care services.

Mississippi Award Honors Book on Jackson State Shooting

The Mississippi Historical Society is giving its annual award for the best state history book to an author who wrote about the shooting deaths of two Black man 50 years ago at Jackson State University.

Mississippi Governor to Sign Law Monday for New State Flag

Republican Gov. Tate Reeves will sign a bill Monday to update state law with a description of the flag, his spokeswoman said Friday. Immediately after the signing, officials are scheduled to have a ceremony to raise the new flag at the state Capitol.

Governor Tate Reeves Makes Statement on COVID-19 Vaccine

Today, Governor Tate Reeves made a statement in regards to the COVID-19 vaccine plan.

JPD Arrests Second Person In New Year’s Day Interstate 55 Obstruction

The Jackson Police Department made a second arrest six days after a group of people blocked Interstate 55 and had vehicles racing and doing donuts on the highway.

'Zombie Law' Cited in Court Fight Over Mississippi Marijuana

Attorneys trying to block a Mississippi medical marijuana program say the state is using a “zombie law” about old congressional districts to defend how an initiative landed on the ballot.

Azia’s Picks 1-8-2021

If you’re looking for a way to escape in the city, check out my upcoming picks. Remember to socialize responsibly, mask up and laugh more this weekend. You deserve it.

Ameshya Williams

Ameshya Williams is delivering on the lofty preseason awards she received as the senior began her final season at Jackson State University. Jackson was named SWAC Preseason Play of the Year and SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Group Commits $1M for Mississippi Computer Science Education

An organization announced Thursday that it is committing $1 million to help Mississippi school districts start computer science classes.

Angie Thomas Writers Scholarship to be Awarded for 2nd Time

A private university in Mississippi is preparing to award a second scholarship to an incoming freshman who will major in creative writing.

Mississippi Begins Vaccination of 75+ Population, Peaks With 3,255 New Cases of COVID-19

Mississippi has rapidly accelerated its vaccination availability schedule, with members of the general public aged 75 and up already receiving their first shots at Mississippi State Department of Health drive-thru sites.

MLK Day During COVID-19; West Capitol Work Ahead; New Focus on Illegal Dumping

The City of Jackson is replacing its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade with a motorcade this year due to COVID-19 safety concerns. The city has officially designated Jan. 15-18 to celebrate the civil rights icon.

Virtual Marching Band Event and Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation, Delta Leadership Institute Executive Academy

Four members of the Mississippi State University Famous Maroon Band will take part in a virtual intercollegiate marching band event for the College Football Playoff National Championship game on Monday, Jan. 11.

Mississippi Schools Chief: Ease Mandates on Some Tests

Mississippi high school students will take end-of-course exams and third graders will take mandated reading assessments this spring, state Superintendent of Education Carey Wright told lawmakers Wednesday.

Top 10: Aron Johnson

As someone who enjoys sampling unique food establishments and attending art-centric events, Aron Johnson is happy to see that Jackson has no shortages of either option and that those areas seem to be continually growing in the city through the years.

Viola Dacus: Vocalist, Instructor, Mother

Dr. Viola Dacus vividly recalls one of the teaching moments that affirm her career choice of helping others develop their vocal performance.

Local Chef Nurtures a New Generation of Cooks

The old saying "if you want something done right, do it yourself" rings true for McKinley Pierce—the idea helped him define and develop his passion for food.

Privilege and the High Cost of Being a ‘Fortunate One’

In a narrative that smacks of privilege while also reckoning with its insidiousness, Ed Tarkington spins a southern yarn about manhood, family and desire in his latest book, "The Fortunate Ones."

Black-Owned Jackson Businesses See Million-Dollar Boost

COVID-19 has hit Black-owned businesses in Jackson hard, but Otis Rolley III, senior vice president of The Rockefeller Foundation's U.S. Equity and Economic Opportunity Initiative, is eager to work with them for the long haul.

Emily Pote

When Emily Pote opened "Coffee Prose," a coffee shop that doubles as a used bookstore, she wanted to participate in the local movement to portray Jackson as a place that is revered for all its many wonderful qualities, as opposed to the sometimes negative perceptions others have of the capital city.

Stories for January 2021

Friday, January 29

Thursday, January 28

Wednesday, January 27

Tuesday, January 26

Monday, January 25

Friday, January 22

Thursday, January 21

Wednesday, January 20

Tuesday, January 19

Friday, January 15

Thursday, January 14

Wednesday, January 13

Tuesday, January 12

Monday, January 11

Friday, January 8

Thursday, January 7

Wednesday, January 6

Tuesday, January 5

Monday, January 4