Jordan Westburg
Jordan Westburg's success at the plate is not the only thing to grab him media attention this season. During a Tallahassee Regional game on June 3, he grabbed a banana in the dugout and began to use it as a radar gun and phone, which the ESPN cameras caught.
'Thinking Out of the Box': The JFP Interview with Howard Sherman
Howard Sherman won the most votes (about 31 percent) on June 5 in the Democratic primary for Sen. Roger Wicker's Senate seat.
'I Don't Mind Long Odds': The JFP Interview with David Baria
David Baria knew he was fighting an uphill battle when he decided to run for U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker's long-held Senate seat. Baria's first challenge, however, is securing the Democratic spot on the November ballot.
Susan Garrard
Jackson native Susan Garrard has spent much of her life volunteering and working with children and the community in her roles as president of Junior League of Jackson, and the president and chief executive officer of the Mississippi Children's Museum.
Run-Off Blues: Inside the Playoff to Challenge Roger Wicker
Democratic U.S. Senate contenders David Baria and Howard Sherman share a common interest in basketball, at least for campaign metaphor purposes.
UPDATED: Public Works Eyeing Private Contractors
In Public Works Director Bob Miller's short time as the highest-paid city official in Jackson, he has had to sway the city council on a growing number of occasions to give him emergency funding. The June 18 work session was no different.
Hiring Ex-offenders: Mixed Statewide Results
Matthew Riley has been on the road a lot lately. As the state re-entry coordinator, Riley visited all 82 counties in Mississippi in the past nine months in search of employment opportunities for returning citizens leaving the state's corrections system.
Whit Hughes: 'Ready to Fight' in Congress
In a recent interview with the Jackson Free Press, Whit Hughes did not veer far from the established Republican line his mentor Haley Barbour made popular—low taxes, scant regulations (including on guns), no abortion rights, and less reliance on federal educational standards.
White Supremacy Protesters Burn Confederate Flag Near Governor's Mansion
The charred remains of a replica Confederate Flag and a Mississippi flag lay on the sidewalk outside the Mississippi Governor's Mansion Monday afternoon in protest of white supremacy.
T-Shirt-Centered Celebrations at Swell-O-Phonic and Mississippi Museum of Art
The Mississippi Museum of Art will host a pop-up exhibition of shirts from local designers and artists during its "Museum After Hours" event in honor of National T-Shirt Day on Thursday, June 21.
Javier Peraza
Mississippi Coding Academies, a joint project between Innovate Mississippi and the Mississippi Development Authority, recently named Belhaven resident Javier Peraza as an instructor for two new coding classes that will launch at the end of June.
UPDATED: Rep. Thompson Returns Sherman Donation; Will Endorse Baria
David Baria and Howard Sherman have both donated to federal election campaigns. Baria has donated to strictly Democratic campaigns, while Sherman has donated to Republicans and recently, Democrats.
IBC Moves Beyond Tutus and Pointe Shoes with Competition Fierce
Tutus and pointe shoes were scarce during round two of the USA International Ballet Competition, as dancers performed contemporary pieces.
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.
International Ballet Competition Announces Round-Two Dancers
A total of 44 dancers from this year's USA International Ballet Competition are moving on to round two. A jury narrowed the field from 92 dancers Thursday night, after the eight sessions from round one at Thalia Mara Hall.
IBC Dance School at Belhaven, JSU Heritage Award and USM Adventure Therapy
This year, Belhaven University is playing a part in the USA International Ballet Competition by hosting the USA IBC Dance School, which runs simultaneously with the competition.
Douglas Panzone
Jackson native Douglas Panzone has built his own business from the ground up through producing large-scale murals on commission. His past projects include a wall mural for the HBO show "Vice Principals" and two floor murals for the courtyard at the George Street Apartments, both in Charleston, S.C.
City's Budget in Hands of Woman Who Overhauled Newark, N.J., Budget
The woman who helped lead a budget turnaround in Newark, N.J., under then-Mayor Cory Booker will manage the City of Jackson's budget overhaul.
Hinds County Criminal Justice Council Gets to Work
A group of Jackson and Hinds County leaders has begun meeting bi-monthly to work on improvements to the adult and juvenile justice systems in the city and county, after Hinds County entered into a 2016 settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Ashley Robinson
Jackson State University is hoping that Ashley Robinson, the school's new vice president and athletic director, will repeat the success he earned while at Prairie View A&M University.
Blake Feldman
When Blake Feldman was in college, he planned on going to medical school. The Newton, Miss., native received a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2011. However, after graduation he decided against the medical field and ended up going to University of Georgia School of Law instead.
City’s 3-1-1 Approach to Road Hazards Changes
The City of Jackson changed how it responds to calls regarding road issues after the fatal crash on May 17—by adding more phone numbers to call to report issues.
How A ‘Brexit Boys’ Project Ended Up in Jackson Court
Kyle Taylor believes Eldon Insurance and Big Data Dolphins Ltd. might be using U.K. citizens' data in their new artificial-intelligence project they have planned to start in Oxford, Miss.
Jackson Even Less Transparent with Officer-Involved Shootings?
Just one month after Mississippi Bureau of Investigations officially began handling officer-involved shootings in Jackson, it has been harder to get information previously available to citizens and reporters following these incidents.
JPS: $65 Million Bond 'The Only Option' for District After State Funding Cuts
The Jackson Public School District is moving forward with a $65-million bond referendum on Aug. 7 for Jacksonians to approve or strike down.
Mantle. Red Balloon Project Launch Party, Same Kind of Different at Alamo Theatre and Mississippi Barber Academy Grand Opening
Mantle. City Club + Inc.ubator, a co-working space in the Duling Hall building, is hosting a members-only event called "Summer Solstice" at Highland Village on Thursday, June 21, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. to celebrate the launch of the Red Balloon Project, Mantle.'s new professional network initiative.
JATRAN Getting New Small Buses and Vans, But Problems Linger
Officials in the City of Jackson are taking steps to revive a crumbling bus system with a series of new purchases and a multi-million-dollar grant application.
Long-awaited 'One Lake' Proposal Should Go Public This Month
The draft proposal of the "One Lake" plan to dredge out parts of the Pearl River adjacent to the Jackson-metro area should go public this month.
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.
UPDATE: JFP Wins 'Best in Division,' 6 'Green Eyeshade' Awards, Most in State
The Jackson Free Press won "Best in Division" and five other "Green Eyeshade" Awards from the southeastern division of the Society of Professional Journalists, including a public-service award, for 2017 journalism.
Blogs
- Boil Water Lifted for Most Jackson ZIPs
- City Responds to Hinds County Emergency Declaration
- ZDD Giveaways and Festival on Mar 25, but No Parade
- Casino-Mogul Trump Going Against the Odds With 'Muslim Ban'
- Millsaps Issues Statement on Trump's Immigration Order
- Court Denies Attempts to Dismiss Election Complaint for "Straw Contest"
- Roll-Off Dumpster Day on February 4
- City: Court Rules Rankin Can Build Own Wastewater Treatment Plant
- LaDarion Ammons Announces Run for Ward 7 Council Seat
- Tornado Warning for Central Hinds, NE Rankin, Madison Counties
Video
- Gov. Reeves Answers Nick Judin's Questions
- Chris McDaniel on Morning Joe
- Word on the street: What would you like to see come to Jackson?
- Trump Rally
- Trump Rally
- More Trump Rally Footage
- Trump Rally
- Kameron Palmer On Saving Our Sons
- Joel D. Swan On Saving Our Sons
- Attorney Martin Perkins Speaks for Inmates