Stories for May 2021

Howard Brown Jr.

Jackson State University recently named alumnus Howard Brown Jr. as its new chief financial officer and vice president for business and finance.

Additional COVID-19 Variant Cases Reported In Mississippi

Mississippi saw 10 new cases of COVID-19 variant B.1.351, commonly known as the South African variant, in outbreaks among long-term care facilities this week.

Mississippi Official Won't Challenge Court on Initiatives

Mississippi’s top elections official said Thursday that he will not ask the state Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling that invalidated the state’s initiative process and overturned a medical marijuana initiative that voters approved in November.

City Approves $30 Million Loan for Sewer Repairs; 8,000 Not Getting Water Bills

If approved, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality will disburse a $31,683,000 loan from the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund Loan Program to help the City of Jackson resolve many of its sanitary sewer overflow problems.

MSU Genealogy and History Fair, JSU Fulbright Distinction and USM Scholarship Awards

Mississippi State University Libraries is hosting the E.O. and Betty Templeton Genealogy and History Fair, a virtual event featuring guest speakers specializing in African American genealogy and Southern photography, on Saturday, June 5, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Reed Trimble

USM freshman outfielder Reed Trimble will be one of the key players for the Golden Eagles in this tournament and the NCAA Tournament. In his first full season with Southern Miss, Trimble was named All C-USA First-Team and C-USA All-Freshman Team.

Mississippi City Honors Freedom Rider Legacy 60 Years Later

Mississippi's capital city is honoring the civil rights activism of the late Rev. C.T. Vivian 60 years after he and other Freedom Riders were arrested upon arrival in Jackson as they challenged segregation in interstate buses and bus terminals across the American South.

Jackson State Providing Free Vaccines For Students, Community Members

A Jackson State University program is currently offering Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations to eligible students and Jackson residents.

Mississippi Protesters: Revive Medical Marijuana Proposal

People protested Tuesday near the Mississippi Capitol and the state Supreme Court building to demand that Gov. Tate Reeves call legislators into special session to restore a medical marijuana initiative that voters approved in November and that justices recently overturned.

Neurosurgeon Tapped for Spot on State Health Board

Neurosurgeon Dr. John Daniel Davis IV has been nominated by Gov. Tate Reeves to serve on a board that governs public health in the state, Department of Health officials announced Tuesday.

After Children Hit by Cars for Years, Raymond Road To Get Multi-Use Path

Young people walking more than a mile between Forest Hill High School, at 2607 Raymond Road, and the Boys and Girls Club will soon have a multi-use path to avoid the risk of the high-traffic Raymond Road.

Jackson Firefighter Praised for Battling Blaze at Own Home

Jackson Fire Department Lt. Solomon Forbes was in shock last week when his own home went up in flames, but Forbes didn't hesitate long.

Residents Advised Against Recreation in Jackson Waterways

People are being advised for the third year in a row to avoid swimming, fishing and other recreational activities in the river and creeks in Mississippi's capital city, after a recent evaluation from the state environmental agency.

Mayor Lumumba Issues Update to Safe Recovery Jackson Executive Order

Restaurants, Bars and Retail Establishments Required to Also Coordinate with Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) for Expand Business Services

Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba today updated the Safe Recovery Jackson Executive Order to include a provision that restaurants, bars, and retail establishments seeking to expand business services also contact Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Former Mississippi Sheriff Victor Mason Dies of Cancer

The Hinds County Sheriff's Office acknowledged the passing Friday of former Sheriff Victor Mason, who had been fighting prostate cancer. He was 64.

Coco's Multi-Culti at Cultivation, Ice's Corner Sushi and Poke Bowl Menu and MAC Community Response Grants

Madison resident Cloe Sumrall opened a fusion restaurant called Coco's Multi-Culti in Cultivation Food Hall in Jackson on Monday, May 17.

Low Water Pressure, Boil-Water Notice Remain for Thousands in South Jackson

Thousands of south Jackson and Byram residents remain without safe drinking water today, six days after two well systems in the area suffered failures.

Mississippi's Last Abortion Clinic at Center of U.S. Debate

The only abortion clinic in Mississippi is facing what could be its biggest challenge. The U.S. Supreme Court said Monday that it will hear arguments this fall over a Mississippi law that would limit abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Lobbyist, Lawyer Accused of Role in $85M Lumber Ponzi Scheme

Two men were indicted this week by a federal grand jury in Mississippi, accused of taking part in an $85 million Ponzi scheme involving a fictitious lumber company, a prosecutor says.

Judge: City Didn't Target Dead Lawyer in Mississippi Scandal

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit claiming a Mississippi city was at fault in the death of a lawyer who killed himself in the wake of a political scandal that defined Mississippi's bitter 2014 U.S. Senate race.

‘They Murdered My Brother’: Judge Drops Murder Charges Against JPD Officers

Desmond Barney and Lincoln Lampley, two Jackson police officers indicted for 62-year-old George Robinson's death, walked free on Thursday, May 20, after Hinds County Circuit Judge E. Faye Peterson rendered a directed verdict in the case.

Scott Trout

Scott Trout, chief executive officer and managing partner of the Cordell & Cordell law firm, will travel to Jackson on Monday, June 7, to host a free seminar on divorce and family law.

Shaye’s Picks 5-21-21

Things are starting to pick up again out there, event-wise, so here are a few of this weekend's offerings to give you some ideas.

Medicaid Initiative Suspended As Ballot Initiative Decision Effects Cascade

Healthcare for Mississippi, the nonprofit behind Ballot Initiative 76, has suspended its campaign, Yes on 76, to bring the vote for Medicaid expansion to a vote next year in light of the Mississippi Supreme Court decision to strike down Ballot Initiative 76.

MSU Free Mental Health Services and Veterinary Clinic Expansion, JSU CPRAM Awards

Mississippi State University’s Psychology Clinic recently received a $200,000 grant from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to provide free mental-health services for children in the state.

Tanner Allen

Mississippi State University outfielder Tanner Allen won the fan voting portion of the C-Spire Outstanding Player Awards. Tanner beat out fellow teammate pitcher Landon Sims and three players from the University of Mississippi.

Hinds County Removes Public Works Director; Water Supply Disrupted in Jackson, Byram

The Hinds County Board of Supervisors did not renew Interim Public Works Director Thelman Boyd’s contract, opting to appoint County Engineering Manager Charles Sims in the interim.

Hosemann, Gunn Support Return to Capitol Post Court Decision

The Mississippi Legislature’s two highest-ranking officials have both now said they would support lawmakers coming back to the Capitol outside their normal session this year, but they emphasized different reasons.

Reeves Announces 9 Nominees for Mississippi Education Boards

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves on Tuesday announced nine nominations to three boards that govern public education from kindergarten through college.

Dobbs Warns Of ‘Increasing ICU Numbers’ As Vaccine Now Available To Children

COVID-19 transmission has trended downward over the past several months as vaccination rates steadily increase, but officials from the Mississippi Department of Health say continuing this trend is not a certainty.

Dogmud Tavern: The Photo Tour

Dogmud Tavern, a Ridgeland-based gaming bar and restaurant connected to local game developer Certifiable Studios that opened on April 1, 2021, allows guests to choose from the business’ vast collection of board or video games to play for free while they eat and drink.

Mississippi Lawmakers: Revive Initiatives, Marijuana Program

Some Mississippi lawmakers say they want Gov. Tate Reeves to call them back to the Capitol for a special session to revive the state's initiative process.

Mississippi Pickle Fest, Preserve the Pit and Fertile Ground Documentary

The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum will host its annual Mississippi Pickle Fest on Saturday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mother Died in Madison County Jail After Pot Arrest, Family Sues for Negligence

Attorney Derek Sells of Cochran Firm accused those who run Madison County Detention Center of being in the practice of ignoring "serious medical conditions of inmates and just leaving them to die.”

Supreme Court to Weigh Rollback of Abortion Rights

The Supreme Court agreed Monday to consider a major rollback of abortion rights, saying it will decide whether states can ban abortions before a fetus can survive outside the womb.

'Sins of Our Past': Apologies for 1970 Jackson St. Shootings

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and state Sen. Hillman Frazier both apologized Saturday for shootings 51 years ago by city and state police officers that killed two people and injured 12 others on the campus of a historically Black college.

Mississippi Justices Toss Voter-Backed Marijuana Initiative

The Mississippi Supreme Court on Friday overturned a medical marijuana initiative that voters approved last fall. Six justices ruled that the medical marijuana initiative is void because the state's initiative process is outdated.

Southwest Airlines To Resume Flights in Mississippi on June 6, Masks Required

Construction is underway at the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport in preparation for Southwest Airlines’ return to Mississippi on Sunday, June 6.

Jimmy Harrell, Deepwater Horizon Rig Supervisor, Dies at 65

Jimmy Harrell, a supervisor on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, has died at age 65.

State Health Officer Touts Vaccines for Children 12 to 15

The coronavirus vaccine is now available for children ages 12 to 15 in Mississippi for the first time, a development the state's top health official told residents he hopes will “shake us out of our complacency” in battling COVID-19.

USM Hosting StoryWalk, JSU Class of 1970 Commencement and MSU Film Award

The University of Southern Mississippi's School of Library and Information Science will host a literacy and physical activity-themed event called StoryWalk on Saturday, May 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum.

Sewage Overflows in Jackson: A Lawsuit and an Emergency Cleanup Contract

On April 1, Carroll and Linda Rhodes filed a lawsuit against the City of Jackson seeking $500,000 in damages, saying the City's actions in diverting sewage from a collapsed sewer line in northeast Jackson harmed them.

Mississippi Court Upholds Life Sentence for Pot Possession

The Mississippi Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld a life sentence for a man convicted of a marijuana possession charge because he had previous convictions and those made him a habitual offender.

Walker Powell

Walker Powell shined in game two of the four-game series for the University of Southern Mississippi as he pitched a complete-game no-hitter and set a career-high in strikeouts with 12.

EPA: Jackson Water Safe to Drink, Despite System Problems

Environmental Protection Agency officials said fixing Jackson's water system will take years and cost millions of dollars, but for now, it's OK for people to drink the water.

‘We Do Not Have A Fuel Shortage,’ State Leaders Say as Feds Provide Help

Pipeline Hack Prompts Long Lines, Panic Buying At Jackson Pumps

Some Jackson fuel stations remain on empty this morning, after news of Friday’s cyber attack on the Colonial Fuel Pipeline prompted drivers from Texas to the Eastern Seaboard to fill up not only their vehicle tanks, but extra fuel containers as well.

Petitioning Starts for Plan to Expand Mississippi Medicaid

Health care professionals on Tuesday became the first people to sign petitions to put Medicaid expansion on the November 2022 ballot in Mississippi.

Mississippi Says it Awaits $600K Repayment from Brett Favre

Retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre has yet to pay back $600,000 he received from the state of Mississippi for multiple speaking events where he never showed up, authorities said Tuesday.

Shelley Smith

Belhaven University recently appointed Madison native Shelley Smith, who has served as assistant to the president for coronavirus management since December 2020, to vice president for student development.

COVID-19 Exacerbates Mental Health Challenges, Mayor Says

While proclaiming May as Mental Health Awareness Month in the City of Jackson, Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba said that the COVID-19 pandemic has mental-health implications for the capital city’s population.

Reeves: Mississippi to Drop Federal Unemployment Supplement

Mississippi will stop accepting supplemental unemployment benefits from the federal government next month, Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday.

Mississippi Receiving Virus Relief Money Spread Over 2 Years

Mississippi legislators are not in session now, so it could be months before they start deciding how to spend $1.8 billion in the latest round of pandemic relief from the federal government.

Activists Demand Answers After Black Baby Killed in Shootout

Officials have not yet said who is responsible for the shot that killed a 3-month-old baby when his father died in a shootout with police on a highway last week in Mississippi.

A'HA Donuts & More, Jobs for Jacksonians and Crossroads Film Reviewers

Madison resident Frank Phann held a grand opening for his new donut shop, A'HA Donuts & More in Pearl on Friday, May 7, following a soft opening in January 2021.

Mayor Lifts Business Restrictions As COVID-19 Trends Down, Shots Up

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba lifted restrictions on businesses in the capital city today, via an executive order that removed all restrictions on capacity and operating hours.

Mississippi Marijuana Proposal Hits Snag Over Public Notice

Signature gathering will be delayed for a broad-based marijuana legalization proposal in Mississippi because of an error in notifying the public about the ballot initiative, the secretary of state's office said Friday.

Analysis: Census Will Reshape Political Maps in Mississippi

States are set to receive detailed Census information in September, and Mississippi legislators will use those numbers in a tough political battle—deciding how to redraw the four U.S. House districts and the 174 state legislative districts.

Sadik Khan

The National Science Foundation recently granted Sadik Khan, a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Jackson State University, a CAREER Award of $539,710 to advance the study and use of vetiver grass for preventing slopes from failing.

Mayor Floats Guaranteed Income as Leaders Gather to Find Crime Solutions

A guaranteed income, a youth center, a focus on mental health and better engagement with federal help are some of the ideas that emerged from a recent special Jackson City Council meeting.

Southern Prize and State Fellowships Awards, JSU Commencement Ceremonies and Research Grant

Mississippi State University assistant professor of drawing Ming Ying Hong will represent Mississippi in the 2021 Southern Prize and State Fellowships awards.

8,000 in Hinds County Still Without Power Since Tuesday Tornado, Storms

Hinds County still had 8,000 power outages as of noon, with more than 1,800 in Madison County and 118 in Rankin County as a result of Tuesday’s tornado and storms.

Elijah Moore

It was a no brainer for the New York Jets to take University of Mississippi wide receiver Elijah Moore with the 34th overall and second pick in the second-round.

Best of Jackson: Healthcare 2021

Finding medical professionals we trust gives us the piece of mind to pull through whatever comes our way. The Jackson Free Press eases the process by giving Jacksonians the chance to vote for their favorite physicians and health facilities.

Amazing Teens 2021

This year's Amazing Teens have all accomplished something that not many can claim: They completed the entirety of the last school year in the midst of a pandemic.

Five Things to Know About Marquisha Mathis, Freelance Writer

Here are five things to know about Marquisha Mathis, a freelance writer for the Jackson Free Press.

Top 10: Elizabeth Gibson

Elizabeth Gibson graduated summa cum laude from Mississippi College in 2019 and is presently enrolled at the University of Memphis while maintaining a teaching position at Clinton Junior High School.

The Mustard Seed: 40 Years and Counting

The Mustard Seed in Brandon, a Christian community for adults with developmental disabilities, celebrates its 40th year of operation this year.

Two Sisters, Redemption and Regret: ‘The Gravedigger’s Guild’

Susan Farris' debut novel, cleverly set over a period of three days, allows readers to witness the deaths and subsequent resurrections of the long-diseased relationships in the Matins family, which take center stage in "The Gravedigger's Guild" following the death of its matriarch, Alice Matins.

Tht Kid Ker: Dropping Tapes and Making a Name for Himself

(Parker DeLoach), who goes by Tht Kid Ker, didn't dream of a career in music. At Chicago Heights Bloom Township High School, recruiters approached the standout athlete for both track and football. ... A flyer for his school's drama club auditions, however, changed that trajectory.

Dogmud Tavern: Gaming Bar Fosters Local Nerd Community

Since Ridgeland-based gaming bar Dogmud Tavern opened on April 1, 2021, patrons have come far and wide to immerse themselves in the experience, with some guests traveling hundreds of miles.

OPINION: U.S. Sen. Tim Scott’s Speech—An Intended Target, A Repeated Harm

"(U.S. Sen. Tim Scott's) statement that "America is not a racist country" sent shrapnel flying all over America, but it was intentional and targeted. He was speaking to his party's base and at the same time he was scattering his party's opponents."

Disaster Declaration Issued for Mississippi Winter Storms

President Joe Biden on Tuesday issued a disaster declaration for Mississippi for winter storms that struck in February.

Taylor Dupree

Student-athlete Taylor Dupree has lived on the same street—and in the same house—all her life, so when the University of Tennessee at Martin offered her a chance to play basketball, she jumped at the chance.

All Businesses Prosper in Northpark Mall

TaLyla Cogbill founded her business, All Businesses Prosper Group, in December 2020 in Northpark Mall.

‘Rebel’ Businessman Dumps Suburban Waste into Jackson Sewage System

Andrew Walker, 71, may find himself in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring with others to wrongfully discharge 3 million gallons of industrial waste between December 2016 and October 2017 into the Jackson sewage system, court filings say.

Massive Fires Show Weakness of 911 in Jackson

Ward 1 Councilman Ashby Foote said that the inefficiencies in the running of the 911 system in the city might be due to staffing issues, and decried the "excessive time for the response to get through to the citizens" in some of the cases brought to his attention.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Systemic Racism Created Jackson’s Violence; More Policing Cannot Stop It

"You don't destroy hope and safety of generations of young people with threats of being burned at a stake for flirting, with the state's largest newspaper announcing it in advance to swell the crowds, without the trauma of that violence sinking in generationally until we as a society pivot together to stop it."