News

Mayor Lumumba Backs 'Dreamers,' Calls on Trump to Preserve DACA 

Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba is calling on President Donald Trump to preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, known as DACA. Lumumba signed the "We Are With Dreamers" letter today, which includes governors, state and municipal leaders, and faith leaders throughout the country.

Gate Ordinance Faces Council Vote Next Week

For more than a year, a proposed gating ordinance has sparked controversy from both Jacksonians who are in favor of neighborhood gates for security reasons and those who reject the gates as unneeded and unsightly, each time resulting in the Jackson City Council revising the proposed language.

Secretary of State Launches Voter Registration Status Tool

Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann launched a new part of the Y'all Vote website on Wednesday, Sept. 6, that allows Mississippians to easily see if they are registered to vote—and if so, where they should be voting.

Robert Brazile

When people discuss the greatest outside linebacker in professional football history, former New York Giant Lawrence Taylor is often near the top of the list. However, one could make the argument that linebacker Robert Brazile paved the way for Taylor.

Amid Growing Scrutiny and Pressure, State Flag May Land at Supreme Court

Pressure to change the Mississippi state flag has intensified since shocking images emerged of torch-wielding white supremacists in Charlottesville, Va., marching to protect symbols honoring the Confederacy—a weekend rally that ended with an anti-racist protester dead.

JPS Faces ‘Emergency’ Decision: What’s Next?

The future of Jackson Public Schools is uncertain after a recent audit investigation found the district has hundreds of unfilled and uncertified teacher slots; inconsistent board-to-district policies; and did not teach graduating seniors enough days to qualify for graduation.

UPDATED: Lumumba, City Council Quietly Raise Property Taxes to Fill Budget Holes

Late last week, the Jackson City Council approved a 2-millage tax increase in a close 3-2 vote, with two city council members not attending the last-minute Friday-evening meeting.

Pete Halverson

For Pete Halverson, the phrase "don't judge a book by its cover" holds special meaning because, in a sense, that is part of his job description as a senior book designer at the University Press of Mississippi.

UPDATED: Hinds DA Wants Rankin Charges Quashed, Again Cites AG 'Overreach'

District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith wants a Rankin County judge to quash another set of criminal charges against him—for domestic violence, stalking and robbery charges.

City of Jackson Collecting Harvey Relief Supplies, Where to Donate

The City of Jackson is collecting relief supplies to send to people in Texas and Louisiana affected by the storm damage from Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall last week.

Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson’s Statement on Trump’s Ending of DACA

U.S. Representative Bennie G. Thompson released a statement on President Trump's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Lumumba, Council Raise Property Taxes Tonight, Pledge to Be 'Good Steward' of Funds

In a rare Friday-night meeting, the Jackson City Council increased property taxes on the city's homeowners at a special meeting announced by fax 25 hours earlier at 4:45 p.m. on Thursday.

JPS Threatened, Crime Advice, First Lady at Provine: Last Week's News Not to Miss

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.

Banks: Preventing Crime Needs 'A Man from Every Block,' Teen Outreach

On a rainy Thursday night at Forest Hill High School in south Jackson, Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks hosted what he says is the first of many more of his "Not on My Block" crime-prevention forums, in light of high-profile crime and violence recently throughout the Jackson area.

Changes and Honors at JSU and UMMC

Jackson State University has made a number of changes to its administration for the beginning of the fall term.

City Receives Grant for Senior Low-Income Job Creation

Older low-income adults in the Jackson-metro area looking for jobs will have access to employment opportunities after Senior Service America Inc. awarded the City of Jackson a $553,698 grant.

McDowell Road Bridge Closed Sept. 1 for Repairs

The McDowell Road Bridge East of Robinson Road Extension will be closed Friday September 1, 2017 between the hours of 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm for repairs.

JPS Audit Released: District at Risk for 'Emergency' Declaration

The fate of Jackson Public Schools is in the hands of a few statewide commission and board members.

First Lady Ebony Lumumba Urges Provine Students to Bring 'Serious Change'

Jackson first lady Ebony Lumumba spoke to Provine seniors on Wednesday morning, encouraging them to pursue their further education and prepare to be the change agents in the world.

Fats, Grease Aggravating City's Water, Sewer Cleanup Efforts

Jacksonians and businesses are contributing to the city's water and sewage problems by pouring fats, oil and greases down drainage pipes, consultants from Burns and McDonnell told the Jackson City Council during a work session Monday.

Paula Van Every

Photographer Paula Van Every spent the past 18 months taking pictures of water birds nesting beneath the reservoir dam, and Mississippi Museum of Natural Science visitors will soon have a chance to see behind her lens.

All Hands on Deck: Showing Up for Childhood Literacy in Mississippi

Almost two-thirds of American children cannot read proficiently at the beginning of the fourth grade, the benchmark used in most public schools. That means that those children are unable to interpret and apply what they read.

Making Afterschool Programs Work

Operation Shoestring Program Director Amber May says that an equitable education is a basic right for everyone.

Infrastructure Funding Could Include Tax Increases

Mississippi senators met in Jackson last week to explore ways to raise more money for the state's deteriorating infrastructure, The move seemed to contradict their leader, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, and his insistence that he will not raise taxes.

DJP ‘Whistleblower’ Indicted for Five Felonies for Allegedly Forging Checks

The former Downtown Jackson Partners secretary who blew the proverbial whistle on her boss, Ben Allen, may end up guilty of more felonies than her former employer for "intentionally" methodically forging checks on DJP's account, the indictment says.

Davis IB Program Helps Kindergartners Shine on Exam

Principal Kathleen Grigsby has a reason to be proud: Kindergarteners at Davis IB Elementary in downtown Jackson scored in the top 10 of all schools in the state on the kindergarten readiness assessment for the second year in a row.

Lumumba Administration Growing: Hatcher, Kumar, Williams Join City's Team

The new mayor of the capital city took office on July 3, along with the slightly reconfigured Jackson City Council. Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, 34, announced his first wave of appointees three days later at his first city council meeting as mayor.

Mary Evelyn Brown

Licensed psychologist Mary Evelyn Brown says she was a sophomore in college when she took her first psychology course and realized her deep love of both science and the relationships between people.

Envy Salon & Spa, Mother's Kitchen & Catering, and Yiayia's Greek Kitchen

Tiffany Hathorn, owner of Nail Envy Salon in the Regions Plaza building downtown, held a grand opening for her new business, Envy Life Nutrition Club on Aug. 17.

Candie Simmons

The Ole Miss Alumni Association will present Candie L. Simmons, who is the senior vice president and regional marketing director for Regions Financial Corporation in Jackson, with the Outstanding Young Alumni Award as part of Homecoming 2017.

Ellington