News

Resident, City Celebrate Rehabbed 'Gateway' Home in West Jackson

Mayor Tony Yarber explained that the Gateway project, with a $4.1-million total budget, was an effort between the City of Jackson Department of Housing and Community Development, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the local nonprofit Green and Healthier Homes Initiative, and the Mississippi Housing Partnership. Yarber is joined by Chief Administrative Officer for the City Gus McCoy, Bobbie Clay, Ward 5 Councilman Charles Tillman, and Catherine Lee from Green and Healthy Homes Initiative.

Jackie Sherrill

In the history of Mississippi State University football, one coach has coached, won and lost the most games: Jackie Sherrill, who led the Bulldogs from 1991 to 2003.

Local Gulen-Inspired 'Dialogue Institute' Addresses 'Ongoing Situation in Turkey,' Denounces Coup

The Dialogue Institute SW is a part of a larger network of organizations inspired by the teachings of Fethullah Gülen, who is accused of being connected to the attempted coup today in Turkey. Mississippi Representative Fatih Ozcan released a statement condemning the coup tonight.

Town Hall: Reduce Youth Crime with Less Incarceration, More Engagement

The room was nearly packed on July 14 at Millsaps College as concerned members of the community gathered for a town-hall meeting on preventing violence, gang interruption, and alternatives to juvenile detention and juvenile justice presented by the Jackson Free Press and the Solutions Journalism Network.

Trump Supporter Announces Republican Jackson Mayoral Candidacy

Jason Wells has a history of running for office, and now sets his sights on the Jackson mayoral office as a staunch Republican in a field dominated by Democrats.

Merrill McKewen

Merrill McKewen, the newly appointed executive director of Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area, finds a special joy in being able to help people build and enhance their lives.

No 'Failing' Districts, but Two Jackson Middle Schools Get 'F' in State Scoring

Just over a third of Mississippi's public-school districts scored a "C" than any other grade on the Mississippi Department of Education district accountability scores released this week.

Civil Rights, History Museums Worth $17 Million to Capital City's Economy

The Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum could bring $17 million a year into the city and state's economy, a spokeswoman for the museums said Wednesday.

Joseph "Piko" Ewoodzie

As a professor of sociology and Africana studies at Davidson College in North Carolina, Joseph "Piko" Ewoodzie wants to uncover what's under the hood of society and discover how the world works.

UPDATED: City of Jackson Seeks to Close Doors on Fondren Garage

The City of Jackson has issued a warrant for the arrest of the owner of Fondren Garage, and more likely than not, the establishment will soon be shut down.

The Mystery of a $56-million Mistake

Mississippi's fiscal-year 2017 budget could be $120 million short if Attorney General Jim Hood's calculations are correct, and that budget just took effect on July 1.

Working to ‘Do Something Different’

Mississippi was ranked 50th in overall child welfare this year, and while that rank could be linked to several systemic issues, poverty is an underlying factor, state experts say.

Weston Lindemann

Weston Lindemann, a 19-year-old Jackson resident and a sophomore at Millsaps College, is one of the youngest delegates who will attend the Democratic National Convention this year. He is a delegate for Bernie Sanders.

‘Pay or Stay’: Bonding Agents v. Poor Defendants

The settlement between the City of Jackson and a number of poor citizens recently dismantled not just the "pay or stay" policy of the Municipal Court but also the practice of requiring bail bonding for misdemeanor offenses.

Kids, Cops and Community Policing

In a nation that is noticing the high incidents of police killing, particularly of black men, public outcry from groups like #BlackLivesMatter and others insist upon police transparency and accountability due to generations of shattered trust between law enforcement and minority communities.

Lawsuit: Charter School Law 'Heralds a Financial Cataclysm' in Mississippi

On July 11, the Southern Poverty Law Center filed a lawsuit on behalf of some Jackson parents against Gov. Phil Bryant, the Mississippi Department of Education and Jackson Public Schools, challenging a funding provision of the Mississippi Charter Schools Act.

Wiseacre Brewery, Lake Harbour Massage Therapy, Dog Days of Summer and Penguin Renovations

The Penguin Restaurant & Bar closed Friday, July 8, at 3 p.m. for the start of summer renovations.

Michael Farris Smith Talks at Coalesce in Jackson Tonight

Both growing up in rural Mississippi and living abroad among whimsical Paris cafes and witnessing classic Spaniard bull fights made novelist Michael Farris Smith a literary character within his own world.

Gov. Bryant Claims Immunity to Dodge Testifying in Airport 'Takeover' Case

Gov. Phil Bryant has filed a motion to quash a subpoena for his appearance in the airport takeover lawsuit, claiming "legislative immunity."

Guilty Pleas, and a Hunt for Prostitutes, Johns and Child Predators

It's been a relatively steady summer of lower crime across the city, with major crimes coming in 17.6 percent lower than 2015 with violent crimes 15.4 percent lower than 2015 and property crime 18.2 percent lower than 2015, year-to-date.

Gov. Bryant Alone Appeals HB 1523, Wants 'Special Protections and Accommodations'

Gov. Phil Bryant has appealed to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, asking them to reverse U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves' decision to block House Bill 1523 from becoming law last week.

Furloughs for City Employees Here to Stay

The City of Jackson must cut all across the board to balance the budget for the next fiscal year, which means that the furloughs for City employees are here to stay.

Water Main Replacement Project on Eastover Begins

Over the last year, the Eastover Drive water main has busted more than 20 times, leading to water loss, boil-water notices and repeated trips by city crews to mend the 60-year-old pipe.

Mississippi to Receive 'Help Me Grow' Hotline

Mississippi Families for Kids, a community service organization that works with adoptive and foster-care families as well as children with mental-health challenges, received an $850,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to start a Help Me Grow program in Mississippi, a hotline to help connect families to services in their area for children.

Bob Braddy

One JSU celebrity worth noting is Robert "Bob" Braddy, who came from humble roots in Florence, Miss., and built the Tigers' baseball program into a SWAC powerhouse.

Hispanic Influx: One School Struggles to Meet Children’s Needs

It's Cinco de Mayo in Christy Crotwell's class, and Luis Antonio Hernandez is reading the first-graders a story about the holiday's origins. He reads each page twice—once in English, once in Spanish—and the students give him their full attention. One kid wears a large sombrero in honor of the occasion.

Ellington