News

Yarber Wants Council to Hear Costco Appeal

After losing a fight at the city planning board on Aug. 27 to rezone 50 acres of land near Lakeland Drive and Interstate 55, Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber plans to appeal the decision.

Greg Livingston

Senior wide receiver Greg Livingston was the star of Belhaven University's offensive fireworks, scoring four touchdowns. The Houston native scored on three receptions and a punt return.

State Sued for Underfundng Schools

Angered by the state's failure to fully fund the state's public schools, several Mississippi districts filed a lawsuit in Hinds County Chancery Court on Aug. 28.

MDOC Wants New Private Prison Contracts

The Mississippi Department of Corrections is ending its contracts with a Utah-based private prison firm to operate four state penitentiaries and rebidding the work.

Overhydrating Uncommon But Dangerous

A football freak accident puzzled Jackson's community when doctors attributed a Jackson Prep student's death to a sodium imbalance, one that can occur due to over-hydration.

Lakeland Costco Site Non-Negotiable

Mayor Tony Yarber simultaneously caused excitement about jobs in Jackson and consternation from some who question its location when he made public plans for the big-box retailer to locate on Lakeland Avenue near Interstate 55.

Will JRA Dump Farish Property?

As the Farish Street revitalization project remains stalled amid legal wrangling and in need of costly temporary repairs, some members of the Jackson Redevelopment Authority are tossing around a new approach to the problem.

Michelle Alexander

Michelle Alexander is as versatile as the program she coaches. A fitness enthusiast, Alexander, 39, is a retired Marine Corps sergeant and a CrossFit coach.

Brian Tolley Departing as Clarion-Ledger Editor

Brian Tolley, the executive editor of the Clarion-Ledger, announced his departure this afternoon on the newspaper's website.

Reports: Body of Missing Teen Katelyn Beard Found

After a long search this morning, law enforcement officials discovered the body of 17-year-old Katelyn Beard, who went missing over the weekend.

Fondren Boutique Hotel, Educare Senior Day Center, Millsaps Beer Garden and JSU Downtown

Plans call for a 100-room, four-story urban boutique-style Hampton Inn with an underground parking garage to be built at the corner of Duling Avenue and Old Canton Road, which is now a vacant grassy lot near Babalu Tacos & Tapas.

Katy Simpson Smith

All her life, Katy Simpson Smith has been a storyteller. She recalls telling her parents—both Millsaps professors—imaginative and silly stories as a child, while they sat and listened attentively.

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.

Plans for Fondren 'Boutique' Hotel Unveiled

Construction on a hotel in Fondren needs approval from state officials, but could commence before the end of the year, according to the developer.

Jeremy Gordon

When Jeremy Gordon, now 35, moved to Jackson to attend college at Jackson State University, he brought martial arts with him.

Lawsuit Challenges State's Failure to Fund MAEP

Angered by the state's failure to fully fund the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, 14 Mississippi school districts filed legal claims in Hinds County on Aug. 28.

Democrats Blast Child Support Privatization

The Mississippi Department of Human Services is rolling out a pilot program in 17 southwest Mississippi counties to privatize its child-support enforcement program.

Antar Lumumba: Costco Detractors 'Holding the City Hostage'

Former Mayor Chokwe Lumumba quietly worked with Costco to agree on its proposed location on Lakeland Drive.

LaMontiez Ivy

Harold Jackson's first season at Jackson State will be successful or unsuccessful based on a number of factors, the biggest being that the Tigers' season outcome will be on the shoulders of sophomore quarterback LaMontiez Ivy.

Crudup Ousted as JRA Chairman; Jones Walker Out as Board Attorney

The Jackson Redevelopment Authority this morning elected Jennifer Johnson as board president, replacing Bishop Ronnie Crudup. Commissioners selected Mat Thomas, an insurance-sales business owner, as JRA vice chairman even though Thomas' term has expired.

Updated: Yarber Responds to Failed Costco Rezoning Vote

The Jackson City Planning Board voted against the city’s comprehensive zoning proposal for 50 acres of land surrounding Lakeland Dr. at the I-55 intersection on August 27. The proposal would have changed the land from special-use zoning to either community mixed use or C-3 commercial use zoning.

With Open Arms

With the fight for LGBT equality and a lack of Medicaid expansion at the forefront of the Mississippi politics, Open Arms Healthcare Center could not have been created at a better time.

Left to Fend: The State’s Mental Health Failure

In 2013, MSH decided, with help from the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, to close their community-based services and prioritize their acute inpatient care at Whitfield.

Lessons from Ferguson

Understanding the historical significance of the Ferguson uprising is what drove a handful of activists from Jackson to go to Ferguson in support of protesters and observe organizing strategies being used on the ground to adopt in Mississippi if necessary.

Ellington