News

Governor Tate Reeves Signs New Executive Order

Today, Governor Tate Reeves signed Executive Order 1551. This order will go into effect at 5 p.m. on April 30, 2021. This new executive order repeals all prior orders.

Ward 7 Gets $22 Million, with $2 Million to Ward 2 in Four Years from 1% Tax

One out of every three dollars that the City of Jackson spent from the 1% sales-tax revenue from 2017 to 2020 went to Ward 7, a Jackson Free Press analysis of information obtained via records request shows.

UPDATED: Water, Electricity Restored After O.B. Curtis Plant Fire

An electrical fire broke out at OB Curtis Water Treatment Plant this morning, shutting down two high service pumps and the entire plant. The loss of pressure in the system requires the City of Jackson to issue a boil water notice for all surface water connections.

CDC-Backed Jackson State Town Hall Counters Vaccine Apathy, Distrust with Facts

Jackson State University hosted a virtual town hall to clarify COVID-19 vaccine concerns of the capital city’s younger citizens on Tuesday, featuring a panel of experts to dispel rumors and speak to safety concerns students and local residents may have.

JSU Free Summer Courses, USM Project START Partnership and 2021 Retool Your School Awards

Jackson State University is offering free summer courses to assist students and families who faced academic or economic impact during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ty Hill

JSU has a rising star in sophomore utility man Ty Hill. He has been on a tear this April as he and the rest of the Tigers dominate the conference.

Most of Mississippi's 65 and Older Population is Vaccinated

Almost two-thirds of Mississippi residents 65 and older have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, state health officials said Wednesday.

Kylie Hogue

Kylie Hogue, a lifelong Brandon resident, has been working as a horse trainer at Strong River Equine in Brandon since 2020. The facility offers consignment horse sales and horse boarding in addition to training.

Grizzell, Hartley Win Ward Runoffs; SWAC Game in Jackson; Parks and Rec. Is Hiring

Brian C. Grizzell and Vernon Hartley emerged unofficial winners of Wards 4 and 5 Democratic Party run-off on Tuesday, April 27.

CDC Lifts Pause On Johnson & Johnson Vaccine, But Mississippi Yet To Resume

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifted a pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on April 23, paving the way for states to resume the one-shot vaccinations.

Jeffrey Altman

As of April 1, Jeffrey Altman has taken on the role of interim executive director for the Mississippi Department of Transportation, or MDOT, following the retirement of Melinda McGrath after 36 years of state service.

Group Links Parole Reforms To Economic Development

Expanding parole eligibility in Mississippi comes with economic benefits, Rounds Consulting Group Inc. said in a March 2021 report. Currently, those incarcerated in Mississippi cost the state $14,600 per year in prison, the report pointed out.

Run Foster Run, On the Road with Felder Rushing and Jackson Zoo Reopening

Catholic Charities, Inc. will host its fourth annual "Run Foster Run" fundraiser event on Thursday, May 6, at The Township at Colony Park.

Michael Beattie

Michael Beattie, president and executive director of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, will retire after serving the organization for almost 17 years Sept. 1, 2021.

Analysis: Watchdog Gives Bleak Report on Mississippi Prisons

Bloody clashes that brought Mississippi's prison system under federal scrutiny last year were part of a dramatic increase in reported cases of violence behind bars.

Parole Reform Law Brings New Chance For Thousands, But Not Habitual Offenders

Thousands of incarcerated Mississippians will soon become eligible for a parole hearing after Gov. Tate Reeves signed the “Mississippi Earned Parole Eligibility Act” into law this Thursday.

Azia’s Picks 4-23-21

What are we eating this weekend and furthermore, where is the entertainment? If you’re needing to be pointed in the right direction, take a moment to look over my picks.

Casey Collier Rogers

When Casey Collier Rogers was 4 years old, she watched with rapt attention as her mother and her best friend taught students to dance at a studio in Clinton, Miss.

US Drop in Vaccine Demand Has Some Places Turning Down Doses

As the supply of coronavirus vaccine doses in the U.S. outpaces demand, some places around the country are finding there's such little interest in the shots, they need to turn down shipments.

Hinds County Announces Rental Assistance Program

Residents of Hinds County experienced financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic can now benefit from $7 million in federal rental aid, the Board of Supervisors announced Tuesday, April 20.

JSU Legislative Session Funding, MSU Sorority House Dedication and Angie Thomas Writers Scholarship Winner

Jackson State University received $500,000 during the recent Mississippi legislative session toward the preplanning for construction, furnishing and equipping a new dining facility.

Landon Sims

In game one with the Bulldogs clinging to a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth inning. MSU brought in right handed pitcher Landon Sims. He didn’t have much trouble in the inning.

High Court Moves Away from Leniency for Minors Who Murder

After more than a decade in which the Supreme Court moved gradually toward more leniency for minors convicted of murder, the justices on Thursday moved the other way.

Mississippi Governor to Decide on Expanding Possibility of Parole

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves faces a Thursday deadline to act on a bill that could make more inmates eligible for the possibility of parole in a state with one of the highest incarceration rates in the nation.

Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Benefit Still Positive Despite ‘Rare Side Effects,’ EU Reports

After investigating reports of a rare but serious side effect in Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, the European Medicines Agency concluded yesterday that the vaccine’s label should include information about possible blood clotting, listed as a “very rare side effect.”

Mississippi Taps Adviser to Oversee Funds in Poor District

The state of Mississippi is stepping in to oversee finances in a school district in one of the nation's poorest counties, which has been adjusting in recent years to consolidation.

Ex-Cop Guilty of Murder and Manslaughter in Floyd Case

Former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted Tuesday of murder and manslaughter for pinning George Floyd to the pavement with his knee on the Black man’s neck in a case that touched off worldwide protests.

‘It’s Like a Little Landfill’: Fix Up Neighborhoods to Deter Dumping, Official Says

City of Jackson Solid Waste Division workers cleared illegal dumping on Glen Erin Street on Friday, April 16. City Council President and Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks said this is not the first time the crew has cleaned the street lined with six abandoned buildings.

Groups Plan Effort for Mississippi Voting Rights Restoration

Three groups will sponsor an initiative to try to simplify the way Mississippi restores voting rights to people convicted of some felonies, a person involved with the effort said Monday.

Fresh Market Mother's Day, MPB "Your Vote, Your Voice" and USAIBC Kentucky Derby Party

The Fresh Market is offering all-in-one, ready-to-cook brunch and dinner meals for Mother's Day. Customers can place their orders online and pick them up in the store.

Ellington