News

The Kundi Compound, Curious George at the Children's Museum, Stanton Optical and The Hair Factory

Community activists and Jackson Free Press contributors Funmi "Queen" Franklin and Brad "Kamikaze" Franklin held a grand opening for the Kundi Compound, a small-business incubator in midtown, on Monday, May 1.

Robbie Fisher

Recently, Jackson-area filmmaker Robbie Fisher's film, "A Mississippi Love Story," which follows the journey of couple Eddie and Justin Outlaw, won Best Direction at the New York Premiere Film Festival.

On May Day, Honoring Workers Who Die on the Job, and a Call for Reform

Advocates for workers' rights, including the Mississippi Workers Center for Human Rights and the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance, gathered at the Mississippi Capitol on Friday, April 28, to honor those who died on the job and organize for reforms in the state.

Poll: Lumumba Leads in Mayor's Race; Graham, Horhn Battle for Second Position

A newly released poll conducted by Millsaps College and Chism Strategies reveals a highly competitive mayoral race. Jackson voters head to the polls on Tuesday, May 2 for the Democratic primary election to determine which of the leading candidates advances to the runoff in two weeks.

Gambling in Mississippi: State in Top 5 for Addiction, First for Related Arrests

Mississippi sees the most gambling-related arrests and is in the top five states in the country for gambling addiction, a recent study from WalletHub found.

JFP Q&A: Ward 6 Candidate Ernest E. Slaughter, Sr. (Democrat)

Ernest E. Slaughter, Sr., 50, is running for the open Ward 6 city council seat in 2017.

Working Families Party Endorses Lumumba for Mayor, Calling Him 'Inspiring'

A national group that supports raising the minimum wage, increasing public-school funding and reforming policing practices endorsed Chokwe Antar Lumumba today for Jackson mayor, calling him "inspiring."

Alexis Silkwood

Performing at a high level in college sports is no easy task. It is even harder knowing that, at the same time, your future in the sport is in the balance.

JFP Q&A: Ward 5 candidate Patty Patterson (Democrat)

Patty Patterson, 54, is running for the open Ward 5 city council seat in 2017.

Out of the Shadows: Ronnie Crudup Jr. Brings Youth, Business to Forefront

Many Jacksonians did not know Ronnie Crudup Jr. before he announced as a candidate for mayor.

JFP Q&A: Ward 4 candidate Mary McClendon (Democrat)

Mary McClendon, 59, is running for the Ward 4 city council seat in 2017.

Where the Pearl River Flows

Environmental groups and downstream communities in Louisiana and Mississippi are keeping a sharp eye on any proposed levee or lake project in Jackson, such as the current "One Lake" strategy, due to potential impacts of damming water further south.

Shifting the Power to Regulate Nurses, Barbers, More

Melony Armstrong did not want to cut hair; she wanted to braid hair in her own shop. She believed that the time and money spent on beauty school would be useless for what she wanted to do, she says now.

City of Jackson Primaries: May 2, 2017

On Tuesday, May 2, Jacksonians will cast their votes in mayoral and council primaries.

Gate Debate Rankles City Council, Again

Distressed residents from the Villages of Northpointe in far northeast Jackson gathered at the Jackson City Council meeting on April 18 to address Councilman President Tyrone Hendrix on his lack of support for a gating ordinance that has dawdled for about a year due to concerns ranging from neighborhood unfairness, to safety challenges, to charges of "intentional segregation."

Kira Cummings

Artist Kira Cummings pulls out several wire insects with wings made of colorful beads. To make them, she says she takes a big piece of wire and wraps it around a frame many times, and then adds the beads.

'Jackson': Exploring Reproductive Health in Mississippi

In June 2012, Maisie Crow came across a story on the website Jezebel about Mississippi's House Bill 1390, which newly elected Gov. Phil Bryant had signed into law that April.

JFP Q&A: Ward 6 candidate Lee A. Bernard Jr. (Democrat)

Lee A. Bernard Jr., 66, is running for the open Ward city council seat in 2017 to replace retiring Councilman Tyrone Hendrix.

JFP Q&A: Ward 6 candidate Shabaka K. Harrison (Democrat)

Shabaka K. Harrison, 28, is running for the open Ward 6 city council seat in 2017 to replace retiring Councilman Tyrone Hendrix.

UPDATED: Lumumba Files Campaign Report, Third Behind Horhn, Graham in Donations

On a major campaign filing date, Mississippi Sen. John Horhn leads, so far, in donations with upwards of $200,000 in donations to date, although he has spent much of it.

JFP Q&A: Ward 7 candidate LaDarion Ammons (Democrat)

LaDarion Ammons, 25, is running for the open Ward 7 city council seat in 2017 to replace retiring Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon.

JFP Q&A: Ward 6 candidate Jonathan Cottrell (Democrat)

Jonathan Cottrell, 29, is running for the Ward 6 city council seat in 2017.

JFP Q&A: Ward 2 candidate Melvin Priester Jr. (incumbent, Democrat)

Read Ward 2 Councilman Melvin Priester Jr.'s answer to the 2017 JFP City Council Questionnaire.

Jackson Primary Voter Turnout May Be 'Disappointing,' Secretary of State Says

Jacksonians will go to the polls in a week to vote in the primary mayoral and city council elections, and Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said he's "disappointed" so far with what appears could be a low voter turnout.

Social Hour at BRAVO! and 2017 Spring Webinar Series

On May 2, BRAVO! Italian Restaurant & Bar will launch its Social Hour, which will feature a special food-and-drink menu for customers seated in the restaurant's lounge or on the patio from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and until 9 p.m. on Sundays.

Ellington