News

Report: Youth Jail Schools Still Bad

Most states require kids to go to school through the first year or two of high school, but when it comes to juvenile-justice facilities, education is almost an afterthought for state officials.

Will Helm Place Revitalize Farish District?

Helm Place, an 88-townhome, affordable-rental housing project that includes a 4,000-square-foot community center, is set to begin construction in the Farish Street Historic District by mid-to-late April, according to the project's Oxford-based developer, Chartre Consulting Ltd.

Taking a D.A.R.T. Out of Crime

D.A.R.T. works as JPD's "troubleshooting" unit by patrolling areas of the city that may be experiencing a more-than-average amount of crime, typically dealing with property crime or drug reinforcement.

A Hands-On Tony Yarber Administration?

"Tony won!" exclaimed a man to a small, growing crowd outside one of the main ballrooms at the King Edward Hotel on Tuesday night.

Party Switchers Cause Rifts

It might not contain all of the melodrama now playing out between Mississippi Republicans, but the Mississippi Democratic Party is having to deal with its own, smaller, civil war—and all because of a Republican.

Kayla Jones

Dance has always been a major part of Kayla Jones' life. The Callaway High School junior figures that her love for the art form began around age 2.

Magnolia, Miss., Passes Pro-LGBT Resolution; 4th in State to Support Gay Residents

Magnolia, Miss., passed a resolution 3-2 recognizing the dignity and worth of all city residents - including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT).

Following the Money: More Shadowy Mayoral Backers Come to Light

Over the weekend, an unregistered political-action committee, Citizens for Decency, launched an all-out blitz with negative ads against Ward 6 Councilman Tony Yarber.

Blow Dry Bar Hits Jackson, Sal and Mookie's Hits the Coast, Local Dishes Hit the National Scene

Nathan Coughlin, owner of Nathan's Salon and Nathan's at Great Scott, will bring a new hairstyling option to Jackson with the opening of Vamp the Blow Dry Bar in Fondren Plaza at the end of May.

Chris Penczak

While the Mississippi Legislature was polishing its Religious Freedom Restoration Act (which opponents say opens doors to legal discrimination for religious reasons), Christopher Penczak and other believers of a mostly misunderstood and reviled faith—Wicca—planned a workshop.

Yarber Eclipsing Lumumba on Paid Campaign Staff

Ward 6 Councilman Tony Yarber is spending a lot more on campaign payroll than attorney Chokwe Lumumba, including to himself.

Republic Group Booked New Yarber Response Ads, Targets 'Historically Hostile' Districts

A "pro-business" politics firm has confirmed that it has placed all of Tony Yarber's TV ads this election cycle, including a number of ads tonight to respond to negative advertising against its client.

Supes: Jack Up Jail Rates on Jackson

Hinds County officials say it's time for the county to start charging the city of Jackson more to house prisoners in the Raymond Detention Center. It's also time for the county to start formal discussions on building a new jail, they said at this morning's supervisors meeting.

Mayoral Campaigns, PACs Spending Big on Ads, Some Secretly

With two young candidates who are relatively unknown to big parts of Jackson, the airwaves were expected to be a major battleground in the capital city's mayor's race.

Donna Tartt

Before "The Goldfinch" (Little, Brown and Company, 2013, $30), Donna Tartt hadn't published a novel in 11 years. She told USA Today it took so long to finish writing because "it's a long book."

Community Meetings and Events

On Tuesday, April 22, celebrate Earth Day at Highland Village from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

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.

Middleman Addresses Citizens for Decency's 'Duck Lips' Attack Ad on Yarber

The man who placed the "attack ad" on Tony Yarber says Chokwe A. Lumumba had nothing to do with it.

Raff, Lumumba Honored This Weekend

The people—it's a current that ran through the career of late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba and continues in the work of Michael Raff.

Zechariah Brice

Zechariah Brice builds. Zechariah Brice fights. The Latin phrase "construimus, batuimus" (translation: "We build. We fight") is the motto of the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion, otherwise known as the Seabees (CBs), to which Brice is assigned.

David Watkins Appeals Secretary of State Ruling Against Him

David Watkins has appealed a ruling that he violated state law in a bond money transfer from one development to another.

Testy Debate Signals Muddy Finish for Mayor's Race

In last night's battle of the jabs—officially known as the latest Jackson mayoral debate—the gloves came off despite the candidates' earlier pledge that neither would engage in personal attacks.

Jamierra Faulkner

The Chicago Sky selected Southern Miss star Jamierra Faulkner in the WNBA draft with the 10th pick in the third round, the 34th pick overall.

Lumumba Holds Money Edge Over Yarber

Chokwe A. Lumumba's fundraising committee remains in the money lead, the latest information from the Jackson city clerk's office shows.

Top Contributors (Totals Before the April 15 filing deadline; updates at jfp.ms/mayormoney14)

The top contributors for both candidates in the Jackson mayoral runoff.

Jackson Mayoral Runoff: The Issues

A look at where the Jackson mayoral runoff candidates stand on some of the most important issues.

Lumumba: Advocate, Son

While canvassing door to door in south Jackson last week, mayoral hopeful Chokwe Antar Lumumba would take a few moments in between visiting with Ward 6 residents to talk about his vision.

Mayor-elect Tony Yarber: Risk Leads to Reward

Mayoral hopeful Tony Yarber bounces from person to person, hugging matronly women, receiving firm handshakes of support from old men and listening as people talk about their connections to him.

Using the KKK to Fight Abortion Rights

Groups such as the Ashburn, Va.-based Radiance Foundation have used ads to cast abortion as akin to genocide of African American children. Others are crying foul play.

Two Approaches to ‘Human,’ LGBT Rights

Gov. Phil Bryant signed SB 2681, the "Religious Freedom Restoration Act" that many fear is license to discriminate against gays and lesbians, and runoff elections for Jackson mayor are right around the corner.

Ellington