News

'Save Our Children Act' Amendments Appear in More Bills

Sections of Rep. Omeria Scott's failed Mississippi Save Our Children Act have ended up into another education bill as an amendment weeks after it was added to the already-controversial Parent Involvement and Accountability Act.

Secret Execution Team, Firing Squads, Restricted Media Included in House Bill

Death by firing squad could become an option for administering the death penalty if Senate Bill 2237, which passed by the Mississippi House of Representatives on Friday and held on a motion to reconsider, becomes law.

Donald Brooks

Millsaps College's new athletic director, Donald Brooks, is used to working at small colleges and universities. His hiring seems to be the perfect fit for the Majors' athletic program.

Capitol Street Coalition: Police Pursuits Endangering Jacksonians' Lives

West Jackson residents, Clinton residents and public officials met this morning at the intersection of Galvez Street and Capitol Street, near the site of the deadly crash that left Lonnie Blue Jr. dead earlier this week.

Director: Airport in Talks with Low-cost Carrier, 91% Fly Out of Jackson

Minutes after the Mississippi House of Representatives passed the airport "takeover" bill after hours of debate and a Democratic filibuster attempt, Carl Newman traced his fingers across a wall-sized aerial photograph of the airport, speaking with calm confidence about his plans, including continuous, ongoing talks with a new low-cost carrier.

Jim Dollarhide

On Thursday, March 16, Jim Dollarhide's home near Lake Cavalier in Madison went up in flames, and on Wednesday, March 23, Madison County Coroner Alex Breeland confirmed that they found the filmmaker's body in the wreckage.

Airport Bill Passes After Filibuster, Accusations Against House Speaker

Despite a massive filibuster, accusations of a deal gone awry and quoting of Bible verses, the Mississippi House of Representatives today passed the controversial airport “takeover” bill today to give more control of the Jackson airport’s commission to stakeholders outside the city.

Capitol Improvement District Passes, Only 10% of Contractors Must Be Minority

A large chunk of Jackson would become an improvement district under a bill that passed the Mississippi House of Representatives yesterday.

Needed: A More Open Mississippi

Legally, under federal and state law, taxpayers are entitled to full access to what governments employees are doing at pretty much all times, and with few and specific exceptions.

Police Chief Denies JPD Involvement in Deadly Chase, Charges Driver with Second-Degree Murder

Jackson Police Chief Lee Vance is pushing back on the Clinton police’s version of a recent car chase that ended in tragedy.

Water Engineer Blues, An Orange Cone Op

The City of Jackson is still out of compliance with the Mississippi Department of Health requirements for a study of corrosion control as of the March 22 meeting of the City Council, as the Public Works Department explores introducing new chemicals to the water to control corrosion in the pipes.

Mississippi Consumer Finance Association Lobbyist’s Client Reports

In 2015, the association spent more than $13,000 to send nine lawmakers and the state's banking commissioner to the convention.

‘Great State’ Campaign Finance

Rep. Karl Oliver, R-Winona, made waves last week when he told a Mississippi resident that he "could care less" about her concerns about budget cuts, suggesting she leave Mississippi, in a response to an email she sent to all representatives in the House.

Politicians for Sale? State’s Consumer Finance Association PAC Spends Big on State Officials

Payday and small business lenders are not always welcome business development on the municipal level, in no small part because of the cycles of poverty easy-to-obtain, high-interest loans can feed.

Transparency in the City

Several new technology additions to the City of Jackson will hopefully open up the records of a municipality that has of late been plagued by what some city leaders called "hiccups."

Post-Uber, Jackson’s Taxicab Drivers Want Fewer Regs, More Freedom

Jackson City Council President Melvin Priester Jr., of Ward 2, wants to re-evaluate the taxi industry in light of policies Uber forced the city to address head-on.

Gerold Smith

When Jackson native Gerold Smith, also known as Gerold Girbeau, launched classic hip-hop radio station BDay 99.1 FM, the idea was simple: Mississippians need to be schooled on the old school.

Amended Airport Bill Increases Jackson's Representation, Sort Of

The City of Jackson might get more representatives on its airport commission, and that board would not have the authority to sell airport property, but could still lease it, under an amended airport bill the Mississippi House committee passed this morning.

Amanda's Pet Salon Comes to Fondren, Beagle Bagel Consolidates, Changes at The Outlets and The District

When the annual Zippity Doo Dah Parade comes to Jackson on Saturday, April 2, it will coincide with the opening of a new business in Fondren.

Chief Phyliss Anderson

President Barack Obama has appointed Phyliss J. Anderson, the first-ever female tribal chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, to serve on the National Advisory Council on Indian Education.  

Rep. Moore: Plans to Cut Mississippi School Districts from 148 to Less Than 50

Mississippi would be on the road to 50 or fewer school districts, a new public-education funding formula and more charter schools under legislation the House Education Committee members approved Friday before heading home for the weekend.

City to Release Data-Driven Website April 1, Many More Documents Online

The City of Jackson is planning to open the doors to its data vaults, promising a new and deep information-driven vehicle for citizens to explore the municipal records and resources that normally take weeks, or even months, to receive, if at all.

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.

Nabbing Carjackers, Property Crimes Up, Violent Crimes Steady

Jackson Police Officer Brandon Caston was off-duty and sitting at a red light when he saw the stolen 2003 maroon Chevy Tahoe pulling into Burger King in his rearview mirror.

Legislator Funded by Koch Brothers, Big Money Tells Citizen to Leave State

A freshman legislator who won his seat with the help of the banking and real-estate industries, as well as Koch Industries and Empower Mississippi, this week told a concerned citizen that he "could care less" about her concerns about budget cuts and suggested that she should leave Mississippi.

Ellington