UPDATED: Rep. Thompson, Speaker Gunn: Remove Confederate Emblems on Mississippi Flag
Today, U.S. Representative Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02) calls for the removal of all confederate monuments and emblems in the United States Capitol and on the Mississippi state flag.
AG Hood Settles $2.5 Million Epps Scandal Claim
Attorney General Jim Hood settled his office's claims against Global Tel*Link Corp. for $2.5 million today. The corporation is one of 12 that Hood has pursued legally in connection to the former Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Corrections Christopher Epps' scandal.
Debra Mays-Jackson
Jackson State University named Debra Mays-Jackson its chief of staff for JSU President William Bynum Jr. on July 24.
Mississippi Photographers at Fischer Galleries, Kendra Scott and Jackson Eye Associates
Fischer Galleries, in conjunction with Lemuria Books, will host opening receptions and book signings for two famous Mississippi photographers on Thursday, Aug. 17, and Friday, Aug. 18.
Mars or Bust: Stennis Center Testing Rockets for Mission to Red Planet
Mississippi is integral in getting NASA spacecrafts—and eventually astronauts—to Mars. NASA engineers and scientists at the Stennis Space Center in Hancock County on the Gulf Coast completed their fourth test of the RS-25 engine, which they plan to use on the Space Launch System deep-space rocket.
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.
Hinds County School Bond Measure Draws Lawmakers' Support
Mississippians who live in the Hinds County School District lines, including Bolton, Byram, Edwards, Raymond, Terry and Utica, will vote to approve or disapprove a bond issue for their public schools on Tuesday, Aug. 15.
Brandi Herrington
Brandi Herrington, who is a science teacher at Armstrong Middle School in Starkville, and her mom, Deborah Duncan, who is a retired high-school science teacher, say they have always been creative and artsy, so they decided to start Dunkington Art & Jewelry in April 2016.
A Sterling Closer, Failed Maury Povich Quip Closed Out Hinds DA Smith's Second Trial
The mostly female and predominately black jury raised their hands Tuesday evening to confirm that they unanimously had decided that Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith was not guilty of any of the three counts the State of Mississippi had brought against him.
Democrats, Republicans Honor Robert Clark's 'Striving and Working' Legacy
In the midst of Mississippi's turbulent reckoning with the Civil Rights Movement, Holmes County residents elected Robert G. Clark to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1967. He was the first African American to serve in the Legislature since Reconstruction.
Sean Payton
Saints head coach Sean Payton came to New Orleans at one of the lowest points in the franchise's history.
The Case Against the Hinds DA: A Long-Running Hinds County Whodunit Ends
Jackson has been enveloped in a seemingly ripe "whodunit" case involving Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith since 2011.
Stuck Behind Bars, Waiting for Mental Care
Judges in Mississippi have few options when sentencing men and women who need mental-health care but have also committed a crime.
Jackson Airport Lawsuit Weakened, But Still On
The legal fight over who controls the Jackson airport continues outside the courtroom for now after U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves dismissed three of the city of Jackson's initial claims this July.
From Opioids to Heroin Addiction, Addressing the Epidemic in Mississippi
Heroin was involved in 24.0 percent (35 cases) of all opioid-related overdose death in 2015, data from the Mississippi Department of Health show. John Dowdy, director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, says the amount of heroin in Mississippi has increased significantly.
Merc B. Williams
Merc B. Williams, a Jackson comedian and event host, has spent the past year co-hosting "The Roundtable" podcast, which connects Jacksonians from all walks of life to talk about local goings-on, sports, politics and a variety of other topics.
Jury Finds Hinds DA 'Not Guilty,' Hood Looks to Smith's Next Trial
A jury found Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith "not guilty" on three counts for hindering the prosecution of Christopher Butler.
Monogram Hut, GJAC Mural, Kellogg Grant to International Museum of Muslim Cultures and Dependable Source Corp.
The Monogram Hut, which is a monogramming and embroidery business, opened at the Outlets of Mississippi on Wednesday, Aug. 2.
Report: Mississippi Moms Need More Workforce Training and Child Care
A new policy report from the Mississippi Low-Income Child Care Initiative shows that single, working mothers in Mississippi make far less than other types of families and still have to pay for child care.
Witness for Hinds DA Helps State’s Case Against Him, Confirms ‘Hindering’
One of the witnesses called to help Smith actually ended up confirming that he probably did what the State is accusing him of doing—hindering the prosecution of Christopher Butler for white-collar mail-fraud charges.
Hinds DA's Motive Doesn't Matter in Conspiracy Case, State Argues in Court
The State of Mississippi rested its case against Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith Friday, bringing the first week of his second trial to a close, even as the jury had to stay sequestered through the weekend at the Eagle Ridge Conference Center in Raymond.
Black Lawmakers Ask U.S. Supreme Court to Hear State Flag Case
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including civil-rights leader Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., and the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Mississippi attorney Carlos Moore's state flag case.
Ronnie the Rhino
On Friday, Aug. 4, the Jackson Zoo announced that its almost-45-year-old rhino, Ronnie, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 2.
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.
Westin Hotel Opens in Downtown Jackson
The Westin Hotel in downtown Jackson officially opened on Thursday, Aug. 3, when city, county and state leaders gathered to cut the ribbon to the entrance of the new 203-room property located on South Congress Street across from the federal court building.
Adding Comedy to the Bill
Tonight, Aug. 4, at The Hideaway, Elton Pope, who is the chief executive officer of event company Carpe Diem Management, LLC, will present the "Made in Mississippi Comedy Tour," which will feature eight comedians from the Magnolia State.
Lydia Mathis
Belhaven University junior Lydia Mathis recently spent five weeks in northern Iraq working to combat some of the lasting effects of terrorism through dance.
Newly Discovered Footage Changing Focus of Hinds DA's Trial
The second trial of Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith for trying to hinder the prosecution of Christopher Butler is different from his first trial earlier this year in at least one significant way. Recently discovered surveillance video footage from the home of Butler weakens one of Smith's primary defenses for his actions to help Butler.
Opioid Task Force Releases Recommendations
The Governor's Opioid and Heroin Study Task Force released its recommendations Wednesday, Aug. 3, to help Mississippi curb the number of overdoses and death that the opioid epidemic is causing.
Donald Driver
Wide receiver Donald Driver is without question one of the greatest athletes in the history of Alcorn State University. Even though he played just three season for the Braves, he still ranks in the top 10 in the school's history in receiving yards and touchdowns.
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