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Defining Effective School Discipline in JPS

On May 6, Jackson Public Schools seemed to be suffering from a split personality. That morning, at Wingfield High School in south Jackson, education advocates and school officials hailed the school for lowering discipline problems by 94 percent between 2013 and 2014 without kicking students out of school.

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McComb Educators: Where Have all the Black Boys Gone?

It's not yet known how many of the black males who entered McComb High School four years ago will cross the stage at graduation and pick up diplomas this month, but the most recent statistics provide a frightening glimpse of failure.

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Getting to Graduation: Mississippi’s Statewide Push to Keep Kids in School

The Legislature's goal to increase the statewide graduation rate to 85 percent by the 2018-2019 school year has, in part, fueled Mississippi to work hard to keep students in school.

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Magnolia MMA, Liquid Light, New Stage and Baptist Health

Jackson martial artist Jeremiah Liddell opened Magnolia Mixed Martial Arts (826 Foley St.) one month ago with the intent of bringing a casual, friendly, diverse and inclusive learning environment for both self-defense and fitness to Jackson.

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28% of 3rd Graders in JPS Might Be Held Back

Results from the so-called third-grade gate test, which requires students to demonstrate reading proficiency before moving on to the fourth grade, show that 28 percent of JPS' third graders may have to be held back.

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Rod Hill

Recently, the U.S. Small Business Administration named Rod L. Hill, co-founder of Integrated Management Services, along with John D. Calhoun, the 8(a) Graduate of the Year for both the state of Mississippi and the SBA Southeastern Region.

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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.

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Mary Hill

International Food Manufacturer’s Association recently awarded her the 2015 Silver Plate Award

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Siemens Water Meter Work Could Resume Within Weeks

Work could soon resume on the Siemens water-meter installation project, a top Jackson public-works official said May 7.

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Kaleb Eulls

Former Yazoo County High School star and Mississippi State University defensive tackle Kaleb Eulls landed in a perfect spot when he signed with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent.

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Commish OKs $13 Million First-Year Sales Tax Plan

The commission in charge of Jackson's special sales tax plan approved spending approximately $13 million.

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Stephanie Burks

When the Jackson Free Press first asked to interview Stephanie Burks, her immediate reaction was, "Are you sure it's me and not my mom?"

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Mr. Zinn and Mr. Whitwell Want to Go to Washington

Walter Howard Zinn and Quentin Whitwell, both former Jackson residents, are two of the 13 men competing in a May 12 special election to replace the late U.S. Rep. Alan Nunnelee, who died in February, as the representative for the state's 1st Congressional District.

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Crunching MDOC’s Budget Numbers

On any given morning anywhere where in Hinds County, you're bound to see them. Clad in green-and-white jumpsuits, they pick up rubbish along the side of the road, unload trucks and even can help extinguish fires.

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Fly, Fight, Win: The JFP Interview with Dr. Valerie Short

In keeping with the spirit of the U.S. Air Force's motto "Aim High" Dr. Valerie Adream Smartt Short has set her sights on the state's highest office.

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Beer Week at Saltine, Taylor Reed's Taco Shop and More

Chef Jesse Houston, owner of Saltine Oyster Bar (622 Duling Ave. Suite 201), will celebrate American Craft Beer Week May 11-17 with seven days of beer-centric events featuring limited-release draft brews and pairing events.

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Gov. Chris Christie

Chris Christie's chances of winning the Mississippi Republican primary are about as good as the chance that a commuter on the George Washington Bridge would make it home in time for dinner in September 2013—very small.

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ACLU Launches Phase II of Police-Watching App

Police brutality? The ACLU of Mississippi has an app for that. Today, the ACLU rolled out the iOS version of its Mobile Justice Mississippi app.

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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.

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MDOC Move Draws Fire from Hinds County

Officials with the Hinds County Sheriff's Office are blasting a decision from the state corrections commissioner to end a program that provides inmate labor to the county.

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Augustus Bennett

In the nine months that Augustus Bennett has been an intern with New Stage Theatre, he has developed his acting abilities. Now, he'll be sharpening his skills off the stage as the director of the Unframed series production of Diana Son's "Stop Kiss."

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Last of James Craig Anderson's Killers Sentenced

Sentencing for the last pair of co-conspirators in one of the nation's largest ever hate-crime investigations is now under way in federal court in Jackson.

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Ontario Harper

It took a long time for Ontario Harper to get his love of basketball back. The former Mississippi State University athlete was one of the top players in the state during his senior year (1997-1998) at Clinton High.

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Charles Graham: Hoping for Balance

The Jackson Free Press talked to Charles E. Graham about his vision for the office of secretary of state on one of his days off the campaign trail.

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Why Does the State Still Want to Kill Willie Jerome Manning?

Willie Jerome Manning has been on death row for more than two decades, facing the possibility of execution for two sets of murders that occurred about one month apart.

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Sunjai Williams

Clinton High School senior Sunjai Williams lives her life beyond the expectations of most 18-year-olds.

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City Starts Long, Slow Process of Seeking Help for Street Repairs

Even without the emergency declaration he sought, Mayor Tony Yarber's administration is moving forward with applying for state and federal money to fix Jackson's crumbling infrastructure.

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Simon Majumdar

If you've ever seen "Iron Chef America" or "Cutthroat Kitchen," you've probably seen Simon Majumdar.

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Dine and Dash, Sal & Phil's, and National Walk @ Lunch Day

The Downtown Business Association is hosting the Capitol Street Dine and Dash, an event celebrating the recent completion of new paving and landscaping work on the street and sidewalks of Capitol Street, Saturday, May 16, from 1 to 5 p.m.

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More Fallout Over MAEP Funding Court Battle

Ironically, the same cadre of Republican leaders who unilaterally pushed through 42A are lambasting Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Winston Kidd for what they say is usurping the Legislature's authority and making a decision with far-reaching consequences for the entire state.