News

Rankin County Teens' Hate Spree Punished

As people rallied across the nation calling for justice in the racially charged shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida, Jackson was center stage for a landmark hate-crimes hearing.

Fondren Plans Back on the Table

After nearly a year of dormancy, Watkins Development's plans for the Fondren strip on North State Street are back in action. Jason Watkins, a partner in Watkins Development, is negotiating a contract to purchase the Pix/Capri Theatre from owner Logan Young.

Farewell to a Newspaperwoman

When I entered the classroom at Millsaps College, where I teach a continuing education course for writers, there was a bright-eyed student seated at the table, notebook opened and ready. She looked to be about 80.

Promised Land: Are Mississippi's Anti-Immigrant Efforts Bad for Business?

'Reasonable suspicion usually goes to a crime, something you can measure. Reasonable suspicion that you are unlawfully present is not something you can observe.'

Family Rallies: ‘Ryan's Life Mattered'

Around 200 college students dressed in red gathered in front of Alexander Residence Hall at Jackson State University to remember Nolan Ryan Henderson, a freshman shot and killed after attending an off-campus party.

City Watch: Bills, Busses and Closed Doors

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The Legislature, Week 12: Budgets, Taxes and Loopholes

The Mississippi House and Senate started working through spending bills this week as lawmakers face a couple of important deadlines in the coming weeks. By Thursday, March 29, legislators must pass appropriations from the bills' originating in their chamber.

Mahmoud A. Manzoul

Mahmoud A. Manzoul always wanted to be a teacher. "When I came to the U.S., I went for my master's and Ph.D. so I could teach," he says.

JSU Shooting Details Sketchy

Details about the shooting death of 19-year-old Nolan Ryan Henderson at the Palisades apartments over the weekend are slowly emerging, but much still remains unknown.

With Pressure On, JSU Releases Statement About Henderson Shooting

The statement, verbatim:

Amid allegations that JSU football players may have killed Nolan Ryan Henderson last weekend, as I blogged about this morning, Jackson State University just released a statement calling for information about the shooting. No one from JSU is speaking directly to the press about the latest allegations, which have taken social media by storm today (#justiceforryan on Twitter), but they released a statement that did not address the football-player allegations, which Henderson's brother, Damien, is passing around via social media, along with other friends and family, suggesting that JSU has not acted quickly enough to identify the killers. The statement is below, verbatim, and comes after the Henderson family met with JSU administration including Dr. Carolyn Meyers this afternoon at Jackson State. It's also interesting to note that Henderson's mother had agreed to go on JSU's TV-23 tonight with a JSU representative, but then backed out, saying that she plans to sue the university. This information came from Brad "Kamikaze" Franklin, the host of the program who is also a columnist for the Jackson Free Press.

Biz Roundup: JSU Boosts Economy

Jackson State University contributes an estimated $413 million and 8,700 jobs to Mississippi's economy annually, according to a study released Monday by the university.

Arielle Wallace

A Jackson high school student has received a national award for her artwork. Arielle Wallace's printmaking skills have earned her a gold medal in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

Laurel Leader-Call to Close

The Laurel Leader-Call plans to close this week. The paper announced that this Thursday's edition will be the last for the newspaper, which celebrated its 100th birthday last year.

Jackson Rallies for Trayvon Martin

"An injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere." The crowd of protesters cheered as Ward 6 Councilman Tony Yarber gave the tweaked quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a rally cry on the steps of City Hall Sunday.

Space Explorers for a Day

At Walton Elementary School on a Friday afternoon, students in one of the classrooms sat on the floor, rapt attention focused on one of their classmates who was sitting on a replica space toilet. Outside in the parking lot, another student sat in a miniature space shuttle cockpit, which lurched side-to-side as he steered it.

Michael Brown

Michael Brown is coming back from California. A Clinton native and former captain of the Stanford University soccer team, Brown has signed with Mississippi Brilla FC.

JSU to Hold Vigil for Shooting Victim

Jackson State University plans to hold a candlelight vigil this evening in honor of a freshman who was killed in a shooting over the weekend.

State Executes William Mitchell

William Mitchell was already affixed to the metal table with thick, heavy, tan leather straps when prison guards escorted witnesses into the execution viewing rooms at Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. Dressed in a red jumpsuit and surprisingly clean black and white sneakers--MSP's version of Converse's All-Star--Mitchell's bulky 6-foot-1-inch frame filled every available inch of the gurney that was bolted to the floor. Underneath the slab, curiously, sat a small, wooden step stool.

Three Plead Guilty to Felony Hate Crimes

The federal government used the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, passed in Oct., 2009, for the first time Thursday in a case where the defendants actions resulted in a victim's death.

Michael Thomas

Giving minority-owned businesses contracts with large organizations helps the minority-owned businesses find more jobs and grow Jackson's business community, said Michael Thomas, vice president of finance and operations at Jackson State University.

Veterans, Students Remember Civil Rights Movement

Several events this weekend are planned to honor people who participated in the Civil Rights Movement and to remember the struggle for racial equality in Mississippi.

Movie Theater May Return to Jackson

Jackson may once again have a movie theater if Pix/Capri owner Logan Young and developer Jason Watkins finalize a deal for Watkins to purchase the historic theater.

Zach Bird

Murrah High School might not be known for its baseball program, but the Mustangs have a pitcher who is grabbing attention from media and scouts. Senior right-handed pitcher Zach Bird was named one of the top 20 players in Mississippi by ESPN. Perfectgame.org named Bird an Honorable Mention Underclassman High School All-American as a junior.

Ellington