News

EPA: Jackson Water Safe to Drink, Despite System Problems

Environmental Protection Agency officials said fixing Jackson's water system will take years and cost millions of dollars, but for now, it's OK for people to drink the water.

‘We Do Not Have A Fuel Shortage,’ State Leaders Say as Feds Provide Help

Pipeline Hack Prompts Long Lines, Panic Buying At Jackson Pumps

Some Jackson fuel stations remain on empty this morning, after news of Friday’s cyber attack on the Colonial Fuel Pipeline prompted drivers from Texas to the Eastern Seaboard to fill up not only their vehicle tanks, but extra fuel containers as well.

Petitioning Starts for Plan to Expand Mississippi Medicaid

Health care professionals on Tuesday became the first people to sign petitions to put Medicaid expansion on the November 2022 ballot in Mississippi.

Mississippi Says it Awaits $600K Repayment from Brett Favre

Retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre has yet to pay back $600,000 he received from the state of Mississippi for multiple speaking events where he never showed up, authorities said Tuesday.

Shelley Smith

Belhaven University recently appointed Madison native Shelley Smith, who has served as assistant to the president for coronavirus management since December 2020, to vice president for student development.

COVID-19 Exacerbates Mental Health Challenges, Mayor Says

While proclaiming May as Mental Health Awareness Month in the City of Jackson, Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba said that the COVID-19 pandemic has mental-health implications for the capital city’s population.

Reeves: Mississippi to Drop Federal Unemployment Supplement

Mississippi will stop accepting supplemental unemployment benefits from the federal government next month, Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday.

Mississippi Receiving Virus Relief Money Spread Over 2 Years

Mississippi legislators are not in session now, so it could be months before they start deciding how to spend $1.8 billion in the latest round of pandemic relief from the federal government.

Activists Demand Answers After Black Baby Killed in Shootout

Officials have not yet said who is responsible for the shot that killed a 3-month-old baby when his father died in a shootout with police on a highway last week in Mississippi.

A'HA Donuts & More, Jobs for Jacksonians and Crossroads Film Reviewers

Madison resident Frank Phann held a grand opening for his new donut shop, A'HA Donuts & More in Pearl on Friday, May 7, following a soft opening in January 2021.

Mayor Lifts Business Restrictions As COVID-19 Trends Down, Shots Up

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba lifted restrictions on businesses in the capital city today, via an executive order that removed all restrictions on capacity and operating hours.

Mississippi Marijuana Proposal Hits Snag Over Public Notice

Signature gathering will be delayed for a broad-based marijuana legalization proposal in Mississippi because of an error in notifying the public about the ballot initiative, the secretary of state's office said Friday.

Analysis: Census Will Reshape Political Maps in Mississippi

States are set to receive detailed Census information in September, and Mississippi legislators will use those numbers in a tough political battle—deciding how to redraw the four U.S. House districts and the 174 state legislative districts.

Sadik Khan

The National Science Foundation recently granted Sadik Khan, a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Jackson State University, a CAREER Award of $539,710 to advance the study and use of vetiver grass for preventing slopes from failing.

Mayor Floats Guaranteed Income as Leaders Gather to Find Crime Solutions

A guaranteed income, a youth center, a focus on mental health and better engagement with federal help are some of the ideas that emerged from a recent special Jackson City Council meeting.

Southern Prize and State Fellowships Awards, JSU Commencement Ceremonies and Research Grant

Mississippi State University assistant professor of drawing Ming Ying Hong will represent Mississippi in the 2021 Southern Prize and State Fellowships awards.

8,000 in Hinds County Still Without Power Since Tuesday Tornado, Storms

Hinds County still had 8,000 power outages as of noon, with more than 1,800 in Madison County and 118 in Rankin County as a result of Tuesday’s tornado and storms.

Elijah Moore

It was a no brainer for the New York Jets to take University of Mississippi wide receiver Elijah Moore with the 34th overall and second pick in the second-round.

Best of Jackson: Healthcare 2021

Finding medical professionals we trust gives us the piece of mind to pull through whatever comes our way. The Jackson Free Press eases the process by giving Jacksonians the chance to vote for their favorite physicians and health facilities.

Amazing Teens 2021

This year's Amazing Teens have all accomplished something that not many can claim: They completed the entirety of the last school year in the midst of a pandemic.

Taylor Dupree

Student-athlete Taylor Dupree has lived on the same street—and in the same house—all her life, so when the University of Tennessee at Martin offered her a chance to play basketball, she jumped at the chance.

All Businesses Prosper in Northpark Mall

TaLyla Cogbill founded her business, All Businesses Prosper Group, in December 2020 in Northpark Mall.

‘Rebel’ Businessman Dumps Suburban Waste into Jackson Sewage System

Andrew Walker, 71, may find himself in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring with others to wrongfully discharge 3 million gallons of industrial waste between December 2016 and October 2017 into the Jackson sewage system, court filings say.

Massive Fires Show Weakness of 911 in Jackson

Ward 1 Councilman Ashby Foote said that the inefficiencies in the running of the 911 system in the city might be due to staffing issues, and decried the "excessive time for the response to get through to the citizens" in some of the cases brought to his attention.

Ellington