News

DA Files: ‘Too Sweet’ Reverend, Old Faces Back in News

Names of men who were involved in the late and controversial Mayor Frank Melton's universe keep popping up in the convoluted accusations encircling Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith.

State Agency Budget Groups: ‘Not a Witch Hunt,’ Yet

State leaders are continuing their march toward "fiscal responsibility," including the elimination of government spending of one-time money and implementing performance-based budgeting, as well as a serious look at state agency spending.

Debra Gibbs: ‘I’ve Been a Leader’

The oldest of five, Debra Gibbs says she has always been an independent woman. She was born and raised in Gulfport but moved to Jackson on her own after graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi with her bachelor's degree in accounting. Gibbs says she was good with numbers even in high school.

JPS Superintendent Defends District, Award

Serving nearly 4,000 employees and more than 28,000 students, 78 percent of whom receive free or reduced lunch in the state's largest city, Jackson Public Schools often faces loud internal and external criticism from those who lament the district's perceived failures on behalf of its students.

JPS Dads Make the Million Father March

Early this morning, a handful of bright-faced elementary-school students and their tired but happy-looking dads participated in the Million Father March from Jackson Public Schools' Enoch building to Poindexter Elementary School.

Alex Eaton Wins Seafood Cook-Off, Boccado's International Cuisine and New Sombra

Alex Eaton, executive chef at The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen, won the Great American Seafood Cook-Off, held in New Orleans on Aug. 6.

Donte Moncrief

Former Indianapolis Colts running back Zurlon Tipton and current wide receiver Donte Moncrief were more than just teammates. The two players were good friends who often spent time off the field bowling and playing pool together.

Stokes to Propose Siemens Lawsuit, 1-Percent Appointees Head to Council

Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes has placed an order "authorizing legal action against Siemens Industry Inc. (Building Technologies Division) for violations of its performance contractual agreement with the City of Jackson" into the council agenda for tomorrow's 6 p.m. meeting.

State Auditor Recovers $1.9 Million, But Not Epps Scandal Cash

State Auditor Stacey Pickering and his office has recovered $1.93 million in fiscal-year 2016, a higher number than the State recouped in fiscal-years 2014 and 2015. The new exceptions report shows, however, that the State has not recovered more than $4 million allegedly lost in the recent Department of Corrections bribery scandal.

FBI Agent: Police Abuse, Modern Slavery, Corruption Still Priorities

Jeffery Artis, special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, spoke to a small gathering at the former Koinonia Coffee House today about the role the department played in the Tupelo, Miss., protests over the police shooting of Antwun Shumpert on June 18.

Lawmakers Recognized for Passing Juvenile Licensing Act

Rep. Deborah Dixon, D-Raymond, was named a "Most Distinguished Legislator for Juvenile Justice Causes" on Thursday at the 40th Justice for all Youth symposium in Biloxi.

State Panel Exploring 'Shotgun' Taxes, the 'Amazon' Problem

State leaders' efforts to reform the Mississippi's tax code set sail on Monday as lawmakers came back to Jackson to kick off the tax policy panel and state agency budget working groups.

Cedrick Gray of JPS Named Superintendent of the Year

The National Association of School Superintendents named Cedrick Gray, who has been JPS superintendent for four years, as one of two 2016 Superintendents of the Year, along with Timothy Purnell, superintendent of Somerville Public Schools in New Jersey.

Derek Horne

Alcorn State University added stability to its athletic program by giving a three-year extension to athletic director Derek Horne. Since the school hired him in August 2014, Horne has overseen the growing success of the Braves' athletic program.

Ways to Save for College Students

When it comes to your college life anywhere, the most important thing is being able to start it off right. Ryan Lytle of U.S. News Education says that one of the 10 most important tips for entering college students is learning how to maintain a college budget.

Mississippi’s Mid-Term Exam: Grading the Neshoba County Fair

The Neshoba County Fair is a lot like a mid-term exam: a time for students, or in our case politicians, to show how much they learned about the content of the course of the legislative session or fiscal-year 2016 and prove it in a kind of oral exam or test.

Zyria Thomas

Zyria Thomas, a recent graduate of Callaway High School, believes that being scholarly is not something that happens overnight and takes "a great deal of time, patience, motivation and dedication."

Buchanon-Williams: 'Plan, Prioritize and Execute'

A woman of many trades A. Shae Buchanon-William is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, mother and business owner. Buchanon-Williams works with communities in Jackson and around the state through her multiple business ventures including tax, reinvestment and construction businesses.

Cops, Community Separation Still Tangible

Members of the community, including law-enforcement leaders, met July 28 at Murrah High School to participate in Mayor Tony Yarber's "Us and Them" forum focusing on the relationship between the public and police.

Josalyn Filkins, Principal at Midtown Public Charter School

When Josalyn Filkins sat down with the Jackson Free Press, she talked about her plans for the future of the school and for engaging with the community as Midtown tries to move forward amid potential litigation against the charter law, and as legislation opens the doors of the charter school to kids who don't live in Jackson.

No Permits Yet Under Church-Carry Law in Hinds County

In the spring, the Mississippi Legislature passed a bill allowing registered church-going folk to form security teams of permitted individuals with concealed weapons, including immunity for the teams' use of lethal force.

Food Truck Friday at the Mustard Seed, Flora Butcher and New Residence Inn

The Mustard Seed, a community for adults with developmental disabilities, is hosting its own Food Truck Friday event on Aug. 19, with the goal of bringing people to the campus to see what the organization does and meet its clients.

New Water-Bill Portal Launches Today

The City of Jackson launched a new water-bill payment portal today, which reads directly from the automatic meters installed as a part of the Siemens contract.

Bryant on State Flag: 'I'm Sorry We Don't Have It on the Ballot'

Talk of changing the Mississippi flag was non-existent on the Neshoba County Fair stage last week, but speaking to reporters afterward, Gov. Phil Bryant said Mississippians missed "a really good opportunity" to vote on changing the state flag this November.

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.

Sen. Wicker at Neshoba: Trump Will De-fund Planned Parenthood, Repeal Obamacare

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who spoke at the Neshoba County Fair on Thursday, called on fair-goers to elect Republicans back to the Senate, and to support Donald Trump in November.

Mayoral Hopeful Graham: Continental Tire Plant Saving Grace of Jackson

Hinds County Supervisor Robert Graham holds up the Continental Tire plant as the saving grace of Jackson. "We are at the forefront of something very big," Graham said this morning.

Joshua Mannery and Maisie Brown

Joshua Mannery, a 17-year-old Jackson resident and senior at Murrah High School, was attending a rally to change the state flag at the state capitol in March 2016 when he met Maisie Brown, a 14-year-old freshman at Jim Hill High School.

Bar Files Complaint Against DA, Includes Letter About His Mother

The air of secrecy continues around the case against Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith Wednesday, as Hinds County Judge Larita Cooper-Stokes recused herself during a closed meeting with attorneys, and the Mississippi Bar Association filed a complaint, including judicial complaints about "odd and improper" attempts by Smith and his mother to communicate with Judge Tomie Green.

Neshoba Day 1: 'Social Issues' Front and Center as Reeves, Hood Square Off

The state of Mississippi's political climate and economy are either staggering under the weight of lawsuits or having a really positive year, depending on whom you ask. Attorney General Jim Hood and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves proved that Wednesday at the Neshoba County Fair.

Ellington