News

The Payday Playbook: How High-Cost Lenders Fight to Stay Legal

Outrage over payday loans, which trap millions of Americans in debt and are the best-known type of high-cost loans, has led to dozens of state laws aimed at stamping out abuses. But the industry has proved extremely resilient.

Slave to the Payday Lender

Although some states are tightening restrictions on quick-loan businesses, Mississippi's lawmakers have had a large hand in helping the industry expand.

Common Core: Is Raising the Bar Enough?

Young Jackson Public Schools scholars returned to classrooms last week. And whether Aug. 8 marked the first time riding a big, yellow bus or the final year of locker assignments, the students will all share one thing this year with every other public-school student in Mississippi: Common Core State Standards.

Fact-checking Reeves at Neshoba

At this year's fair, Republicans touted the success of the party's legislative agenda, which included passing a charter-school bill, a third-grade reading program and more.

Council Approves Hardwick

On Tuesday, the City Council unanimously approved the nomination of attorney June Hardwick to serve as a judge in Jackson's municipal court.

Fortification Street Blues

Jackson City Councilman DeKeither Stamps is catching a lot of flack for voting to stop a change order that would have funneled additional funds into the pockets of Hemphill Construction, the company the city has hired to rebuild Fortification Street. He's also receiving some praise.

Paheadra Robinson

Even with her smooth, tenor-like voice, smart pinstriped suit, and soaring stature of at least 6 feet in heels, Paheadra Robinson is not as intimidating as some attorneys can be.

Study: Half Who Now Buy Health Plans Will Qualify for Tax Credits

About half the people who now buy their own health insurance would qualify for federal tax credits to offset rates under President Barack Obama's health care law.

Health-care Economy Could Be Answer for Jackson

When folks talk about tourism in Mississippi, most of the conversation centers on casinos, golf, the blues, civil-rights freedom trails or family reunions. But the emerging trend of medical tourism may soon join that list.

Belhaven, Beacon and Yoga

The Chronicle of Higher Education has ranked Belhaven University as one of the top colleges to work for in the nation.

Women Build

Lakeshia White, the new owner of a house on Smith Robinson Street, has other women to thank for her new digs—specifically, the volunteering women of Women Build 2013, a collaboration of Habitat for Humanity and Lowe's.

Shipbuilder Again Accused of Human Trafficking

The case against a Mississippi shipbuilder continues to mount with a new round of lawsuits accusing the company of engaging in human trafficking.

The Surveillance Reforms Obama Supported Before He Was President

When the House of Representatives recently considered an amendment that would have dismantled the NSA's bulk phone records collection program, the White House swiftly condemned the measure.

Helen Barnes

Ten years ago, the Women's Fund of Mississippi named Helen Barnes one of its Women of Vision.

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.

White: Telling the Mississippi Story

Mississippi has a rich history, and we need to be the ones telling it. That's the message Mississippi Tourism Director Malcolm White delivered to the crowd Friday morning at Koinonia Coffee House.

Health Insurers Tune in to Twitter for Customer Service

The @aetnahelp Twitter feed is an example of how insurance companies are increasing their social media presence in an effort to amp up their customer service and capitalize on a platform that can serve to mediate, inform and advertise.

Bill Bynum

Bill Bynum, chief executive officer of Hope Enterprise Corporation, is one of four finalists for the sixth annual John P. McNulty Prize from the Aspen Institute.

It's the Weekend!

On Sunday, Bryan Adams performs at 8 p.m. at Thalia Mara Hall.

Abortion Clinic Firestorm

A little after noon Wednesday, an ambulance arrived at the Jackson Women's Health Organization--Mississippi's last remaining abortion clinic.

Opinion: Yes, We Could Change. So Why Don't We?

That hoary fable has it wrong. Frogs have the sense to hop out of heating pots. We Americans don't. Degree by degree over decades, we've been scalded senseless. It is time to snap out of our stupor.

Football!

Sunday, Aug. 4, 10.1 million viewers tuned in to watch the Hall of Fame game between the Miami Dolphins and the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, a game in which most of the Cowboys stars didn't play, NBC reported.

Bringing Disco Back: Storyteller’s Ball

All the glitz and glamour of the '70s New York nightclub scene is coming to Jackson.

Iron Chief: The JFP Interview with Police Chief Lindsey Horton

The Jackson City Council confirmed 29-year police department veteran Lindsey Horton as the capital city’s new top cop on July 18, 2013.

Green Approved as City CAO

The U.S. congressman who helped get Chokwe Lumumba elected now has a direct line to the Jackson mayor's office.

Kemper's Proxy War

Nonprofit groups for the controversial Kemper County power plant, now 80 percent complete, have stepped up public-relations efforts in recent weeks.

Lumumba ‘Inviting’ On Budget

Jackson is about to go on a diet, and not of the South Beach variety.

Bryant's 'Crude' Plan

Gov. Phil Bryant, who last year announced a partnership with the Canadian government, believes Mississippi should follow Canada’s example and develop the state’s oil-sands resources.

Tristan Duplichain

Tristan Duplichain is growing her business, one photo at a time. The 20-year-old discovered her passion for photography at 14 and began her own business three years later.

Police: Multiple Suspects in Virden Killings

Family members of Jason Murphy and A.J. Barber, and residents of the Virden Addition are still looking for answers about the boys' murders on July 21.

Ellington