News

Thomas Hudson

The United Negro College Fund and the Higher Education Leadership Foundation recently named Jackson State University President Thomas K. Hudson as one of eight historically black college or university presidents taking part in the inaugural Presidential Leadership Institute cohort.

Gov. Supports 'Will of Voters' on Issue of Medical Marijuana

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves says he wants legislators to put a medical marijuana program into state law after the state Supreme Court recently overturned one that voters approved.

WonderBox at the Children's Museum, New Restaurants at the Outlets and Fresh Market Father's Day Meals

The Mississippi Children’s Museum will open a new exhibit titled "WonderBox" on Friday, June 18. WonderBox is a 1,500-square-foot makerspace exhibit that will focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

Dobbs Says Apathy Responsible for Low Vaccination Rate

State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said Friday that lack of access isn’t the reason the state is last in the nation for COVID-19 vaccinations—it’s apathy.

Many Mississipians Opt out of Available Vaccines, State Behind in Vaccinations

A new report by Mississippi's Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review shows that Mississippi spends less per pupil than each of its surrounding states—Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee and Alabama.

Lawmakers Discuss Future of Medical Marijuana in Mississippi

The leader of the organization that sponsored the voter-approved Mississippi medical marijuana initiative that was recently blocked in court says the program should be changed and improved by the state Legislature—but not by too much.

Weekend Picks 6/3/21

It’s looking like we may be in for some rain over the next few days. But after being stuck at home all year, we’re not going to let a little rain keep us from enjoying the weekend, are we? Here are a few ideas for ways to keep dry and enjoy your hard-earned weekend.

MSU, UM and USM Make College Baseball Regional

After being cancelled in 2020, the NCAA College Baseball Tournament returns for 2021. The field features three teams from our state as Mississippi State University, University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi each made a regional.

Jackson Zoo Workers Move From Contract Positions to Become City Employees

The status of workers at the city's zoo will change from contract employees to city employees starting Sunday, June 6.

CDC Investigating Possible Link Between Vaccines, ‘Exceedingly Rare’ Myocarditis

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating whether an uptick in heart inflammation across the United States might be related to COVID-19 vaccinations, after reviewing data from the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System, or VAERS.

MSU Professor Receives DOE Award, JSU Alum Building Youth Golf Course and USM Eagle Direct Textbooks

Kun Wang, an assistant professor with joint Mississippi State University appointments in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Department of Chemistry, recently became one of 51 university-employed scientists nationwide to receive $750,000 in funding from the United States Department of Energy Office of Science Early Career Research Program as part of DOE's early career awards.

Mississippi Teen Fatally Shot Hours After Graduation

Kennedy Hobbs was shot three times at a Texaco gas station in Jackson, hours after her graduation ceremony at Murrah High School. She died at the scene just before 11 p.m., Jackson Police Department spokesman Sam Brown said.

Jackson Teen Completes over 2,000 Volunteer Hours

When he was about 5 years old, Dillan Evan's mother sat him down and talked to him about the importance of community service.

Mississippi College Is ‘Lit’ Over New National Chief Reader

Dr. Steve Price will soon make history by joining an elite group of educators across the world. The College Board has named him as the new national chief reader for the Advanced Placement Literature exam.

Initiative Process Rests in Governor’s Hands

The deadline for Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson to petition the state Supreme Court for a rehearing regarding a popular voter-mandated medical marijuana program has come and gone.

Violence in the City: Victims’ Families Seek Closure, Police Respect

Radio silence from local law enforcement is a common and historic complaint the Jackson Free Press has long heard from family members who lose their loved ones to gun violence in Jackson.

Rob Hill

Rob Hill spent 12 years as a United Methodist minister in Mississippi, passing 10 of those years behind the pulpit at Broadmeadow United Methodist Church at the top of Fondren before choosing to leave the pastoral ministry.

USDA Holds Virtual Job Fair; Water Disruption Continues; Murder Sentencing

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has hundreds of immediate job openings available at a virtual job fair scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2.

Broad Street Honoring Lou Gehrig Day, Sanderson Farms Volunteering and Make More Happen Award

In honor of the inaugural Lou Gehrig Day on Wednesday, June 2, Broad Street Baking Company in Jackson is hosting an event in which speaker Katrina Byrd will hold a conversation on "Lou Gehrig's Disease" with free coffee for visitors.

Mississippi Reckons With Ending Pay Boost for the Unemployed

Katrina Folks says she has tried everything she can think of to find work since losing her job in September because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Analysis: Reviving Initiative Process Could Invite Mischief

Mississippi legislators can do business the easy way or the hard way if they revive the state's initiative process that was recently invalidated by a state Supreme Court decision.

Howard Brown Jr.

Jackson State University recently named alumnus Howard Brown Jr. as its new chief financial officer and vice president for business and finance.

Additional COVID-19 Variant Cases Reported In Mississippi

Mississippi saw 10 new cases of COVID-19 variant B.1.351, commonly known as the South African variant, in outbreaks among long-term care facilities this week.

Mississippi Official Won't Challenge Court on Initiatives

Mississippi’s top elections official said Thursday that he will not ask the state Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling that invalidated the state’s initiative process and overturned a medical marijuana initiative that voters approved in November.

City Approves $30 Million Loan for Sewer Repairs; 8,000 Not Getting Water Bills

If approved, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality will disburse a $31,683,000 loan from the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund Loan Program to help the City of Jackson resolve many of its sanitary sewer overflow problems.

MSU Genealogy and History Fair, JSU Fulbright Distinction and USM Scholarship Awards

Mississippi State University Libraries is hosting the E.O. and Betty Templeton Genealogy and History Fair, a virtual event featuring guest speakers specializing in African American genealogy and Southern photography, on Saturday, June 5, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Reed Trimble

USM freshman outfielder Reed Trimble will be one of the key players for the Golden Eagles in this tournament and the NCAA Tournament. In his first full season with Southern Miss, Trimble was named All C-USA First-Team and C-USA All-Freshman Team.

Mississippi City Honors Freedom Rider Legacy 60 Years Later

Mississippi's capital city is honoring the civil rights activism of the late Rev. C.T. Vivian 60 years after he and other Freedom Riders were arrested upon arrival in Jackson as they challenged segregation in interstate buses and bus terminals across the American South.

Jackson State Providing Free Vaccines For Students, Community Members

A Jackson State University program is currently offering Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations to eligible students and Jackson residents.

Mississippi Protesters: Revive Medical Marijuana Proposal

People protested Tuesday near the Mississippi Capitol and the state Supreme Court building to demand that Gov. Tate Reeves call legislators into special session to restore a medical marijuana initiative that voters approved in November and that justices recently overturned.

Ellington