News

Public Will Have Input on JPS Superintendent Search, Board Says

The Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees wants the community's input as they work to hire a new superintendent this spring.

Mississippi Bacon Association, Babalu Lunch Specials and Shapley's Moving

The Mississippi Bacon Association, a group of chefs and representatives of restaurants in Jackson and around the state, took home second place overall out of 85 teams that competed in a barbecue-themed fundraising event called "Hogs for the Cause" in New Orleans from March 22 to March 24.

Report: Low-performing Districts Test Students More in State

Mississippi students spend less than 1 percent of a school year on state testing, a new Mississippi First study shows.

JPD Begins Downtown Foot Patrol Unit

The Jackson Police Department will implement a foot-patrol unit in downtown Jackson beginning Monday, April 2, under Interim Chief Anthony Moore's direction.

Rep. Andy Gipson

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant on Thursday appointed a third-term state lawmaker to be the state's new agriculture commissioner.

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.

Lawyer in Flowood Officer-Involved Shooting Wants Video, Answers

On the evening of March 8, a Flowood Police Department officer unloaded his gun into Von McDavid's car somewhere between four and eight times.

New JSU Theater Director, USM Entrepreneur of the Year and Jackson Chamber Teacher Awards

Jackson State University named alumnus Prince Duren as director of the school's theater department this week.

Dead or Alive: What Bills Survived, Or Didn't, in the 2018 Legislative Session

While the budget is intact, many other Republican priorities and proposals died this session. Here is a short list of what survived and what did not.

Only Black People Prosecuted Under Mississippi Gang Law Since 2010

In the lead-up to this year's legislative session in Mississippi, supporters of a tougher gang law in the state talked a lot about the need to arrest white people. But in an ironic twist, the Jackson Free Press has learned that everyone arrested under the existing gang law from 2010 through 2017 were African American.

UPDATED: Mayor Lumumba Planning April 4 Town Hall Event in Jackson with Bernie Sanders

The City of Jackson will be commemorating the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. King through a conversation titled, “Examining Economic Justice 50 Years Later.” This will be a moderated conversation between Senator Bernie Sanders and Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba.

Business+Tech Events

For more business and technology-related events, check out jfpevents.com. For biz and tech news, visit jfp.ms/business.

A Platform for Community

On Thursday, March 22, Cathead Distillery in downtown Jackson was bustling with activity at JXN Gumbo as J.J. Townsend launched his nonprofit community crowd-funding platform, Citizenville.

Tasha Bibb

During Tasha Bibb's sophomore year at Mississippi College, she was not sure what she wanted to do after graduation. That's when she learned about the nonprofit Innovate Mississippi, then called Mississippi Technology Alliance. Today, she is the organization's director of entrepreneurial development.

$6 Billion Budget, But No Roads, Bridges Funds

State revenues are higher than expected, and lawmakers set aside about $112 million, or 2 percent, of the state budget for its rainy day fund, as they worked several late nights at the Mississippi Legislature to pass a roughly $6-billion budget to fund state agencies starting in July.

Youth Take Lead on Guns in Schools

As the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School take the world stage to demand stricter gun laws, many people in the Jackson metro area recall that 20 years ago, Rankin County had its own high-profile school shooting.

Celebrating the Life of a Man JPD Killed

In Jackson, no one has taken to the streets for any of the last seven officer-involved shootings since Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba took office in July 2017 with none of the officers involved identified to date.

Mississippians Sue to Get Voting Rights Restored After Serving Time

Wayne Kuhn completed his sentence for a grand larceny charge in the 1980s more than 25 years ago. He even got his record expunged—and yet he still cannot vote in Mississippi.

Sugar Ray's Sweet Shop, Que Padre and Zeek'z House of Gyros

Local business Sugar Ray's Sweet Shop launched a GoFundMe page on March 26 asking for donations to help keep the store open.

Dante Scott

Athletes from teams that don't win much do not normally receive honors, but MVSU forward Dante Scott earned the votes of head coaches and sports information directors with his play on the court.

UPDATED: City May ID Cops Who Discharge Weapons Within 72 Hours, Establishing Task Force

The City may require that the Jackson Police Department start releasing names of officers who fire on civilians within 72 hours of the incident.

'I Call B.S.': 'March for Our Lives' in Jackson Puts Young Protesters on Display

Nearly 200 people took to the streets of downtown Jackson on Saturday, March 24, 2018, for the March for Our Lives, which calls for school safety and stricter gun laws.

Medicaid Funding in Flux as Lawmakers Work on $6 Billion Budget

Over the weekend, lawmakers worked to pass a roughly $6-billion budget to fund state agencies beginning in July. They have until Monday night to complete passing the state budget, with 10 budget bills left by press time.

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.

‘All That Is Dead’: Roads and Bridges Funding Dies at Legislature

Efforts to provide additional funding for roads and bridges are dead in the 2018 legislative session after Senate and House leaders could not come to an agreement on exactly how to divert more funding to the state’s infrastructure on Friday.

Alcorn State President Named New IHL Commissioner

The Institutions of Higher Learning board named Alfred Rankins Jr. the new commissioner of higher education for Mississippi on Friday, March 23.

Farish Quilt, New MUW President and UMMC/Memorial Collaboration

Jackson State University's Margaret Walker Center and creative-consulting group Significant Developments unveiled an interpretive plaque for the public art installation "Farish Quilt" in Farish Street Park on Thursday, March 22.

Tom Benson

New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson died of the flu on Thursday, March 15, at the age of 90.

Mayor Lumumba on Paternity Leave Until April 3

Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and his wife, Ebony Lumumba, welcomed a baby girl Wednesday, March 21. Nubia Ngozi was born at 8:09 a.m., weighing 8 pounds and 1 ounce.

Governor Defends Choice of Cindy Hyde-Smith to U.S. Senate Seat

Gov. Phil Bryant made history on Wednesday, March 21, when he named Cindy Hyde-Smith to take Sen. Thad Cochran's seat, which he will vacate on April 1. Mississippi has never sent a woman to Congress.

Blogs

Video