News

Andrew Stankevich

Andrew Stankevich tried to start a group for gay students at Mississippi College School of Law, but administrators told him they were morally opposed to the idea. Stankevich said he has the letter that they sent him.

It's the Weekend!

This weekend is a great time to catch an art show. Starting Friday, Diane M. Jordan's quilt exhibit at the Mississippi Craft Center (950 Rice Road, Ridgeland) hangs through Sept. 30. The event is free; call 601-856-7546. At Historic Canton Square, Arts on the Square is from 4-8 p.m. today and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 17. Free; call 601-859-5816. Dreamz JXN hosts Can't Feel My Face Friday. The Brick Street Trio puts on a free show at 7 p.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church (205 W. Main St., Raymond) and Zeebo is at Ole Tavern. Later, you can enjoy soulful house music during Deep Friday at 10 p.m. at Salsa Mississippi Studio and Club (605 Duling Ave.). The show is $5; email [e-mail missing]. Finally, Jacob Lipking is at Fatsumo Sushi (3100 N. State St.). Need more options? See our Best Bets

Hinds Adopts Budget

The Hinds County Board of Supervisors passed the county's budget yesterday just hours before a midnight deadline.

JPS Has More Star Schools

Jackson's public school performance for 2011 is a mixed bag of successes and failures, according to new data from Mississippi Department of Education. While five Jackson public schools rate as star schools, the district's graduation rate fell to 63.6 percent from 68.6 percent in 2010.

Thompson to Co-Sponsor Autism Act

At least 8,139 children in Mississippi have autism, according to a July 1 report from the Mississippi Autism Advisory Committee. The Legislature established the committee earlier this year to suggest strategies to combat a rise in autism rates.

Spike Lee

It wasn't enough for filmmaker Spike Lee to make one documentary about the anger and outrage of Gulf Coast residents in the months after Hurricane Katrina. His new documentary, "If God is Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise," revisits the Gulf Coast as residents continue to rebuild their lives from the storm and BP oil crisis.

[Column] A Jobs Crisis We Can Solve

President Obama is proposing important steps toward doing what Americans have been asking for since the financial collapse of 2008--putting a focus on families and jobs.

From Vacant to Vibrant

Many people in Mississippi put significant effort into successfully reviving downtown areas and making them welcoming places. But to get downtown, people often have to drive past worn-out, unoccupied strip malls overgrown with weeds.

Preparing for Battle

Twenty years ago, when Cristen Hemmins was a student at Millsaps College, two teenagers pulled out a gun and abducted her in the campus parking lot. The young men raped her and shot her twice as she fled to a gas station for safety.

A Long Time Coming

In 1983, Jackson landscape architect Steven Horn presented Jackson city leaders with a detailed plan to revitalize Farish Street. His plan, under the city's guidance, would transform a two-block section of Farish Street into an entertainment district that would include a B.B. King Blues Club and resemble New Orleans' Bourbon Street—only classier.

Longtime Standards

Cowboy boots, straw hats, a couple of purses and a pair of high-heeled shoes fill the front window at Dennis Brothers Shoe Repair (325 N. Farish St., 601-354-9125). Men's boots sit on top of the glass counter inside. On the side, rows of men's and women's shoes are for sale.

Anderson Family: No Death Penalty

Read the family's letter.

The Past Lives On

The heart of the historic Farish Street district follows North Farish Street from Amite to Fortification streets. The street is named for Walter Farish, a former slave who lived on the northeast corner of Davis and what is now Farish Street. The district is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Beloved Farish

On its Facebook page, the Farish Street/Main Street Project says that it "seeks to stimulate revitalization in the Farish Street Historic District by encouraging cooperation and building leadership in the business, residential, church, city, state and community partners of the District."

Fire in Carson's Belly

Dorsey Carson, 40, has lived in northeast Jackson most of his life. He calls himself one of the "floodplain kids," youngsters who lived there during the Easter Flood of 1979. Carson graduated from Mississippi State University in 1993 and got his law degree from the University of Georgia in 1996. He has spent time in Atlanta and London, but returned in 2002 to Jackson where he lives with his wife, Susan Hays Carson, and 15-month-old daughter, Hays Elizabeth Carson. He is a Democrat challenging Republican incumbent Bill Denny in the Nov. 8 election for the District 64 House seat.

Denny: A Busy Man

State Rep. Bill Denny, R-Jackson, is a hard man to find. He doesn't seem to have a campaign website or someone to send out press releases. When I called the number listed on his official page at the Mississippi House's website, his wife was apologetic, but said he was a busy man and not interested in an interview. When a coworker gave me his cell phone number, he reiterated that he was busy and said he did not have time for an interview as he was in the middle of door-to-door campaigning.

Leron Jackson

When people told Leron Jackson he couldn't make it, he never believed them. "Knowing about the things I went through inspires people to go out and do great things," he says, "The work grew on me and made me the person I am today. I'm happy my mother got me out there."

Census Data Show Increase in Poverty

New U.S. Census data released yesterday reveals that the poverty rate in Mississippi rose from 15.6 percent to 22.9 percent in 2009, The Mississippi Economy Policy Center reports.

Hinds Election Sparring Continues

Read Dennery's announcement

New Caterer Opens Downtown

The Copper Iris Catering Co. Inc. (115 N. State St.) has been open for less than two weeks, but its owners are already talking about changing, perfecting and adding variety to the menu.

Ivan Rider

Ivan Rider returns to Jackson to direct "Driving Miss Daisy," opening tonight at New Stage Theatre.

"It's the theater of my heart," Rider told the Jackson Free Press this morning. "I'm delighted to be back."

Conference for Advocacy Groups Scheduled

The William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation at the University of Mississippi is hosting a conference for progressive service and advocacy groups Sept 22.

Advocates Gear up For Personhood Battle

Anti-abortion advocates celebrated a Mississippi Supreme Court ruling last week that OK'd a Nov. 8 ballot initiative asking voters whether the state Constitution should define when life begins, but the battles over the proposed amendment are far from over.

Upcoming Parkway CEO will Remain in Florida

The incoming CEO of Jackson-based real estate company Parkway Properties plans to remain in Florida after he takes the reins in January.

Jennifer S. Love

Jennifer S. Love, a Mississippi native and Jackson State University graduate, is the new assistant director of the FBI's Security Division. Love most recently served as acting assistant director of the FBI's Inspection Division.

Community Events and Public Meetings

Fall Community Enrichment Series, at Millsaps College (1701 N. State St.). Most classes start the week of Sept. 19 and fall into the categories of arts and crafts, computer, dance, health and fitness, heritage and history, home and garden, language and literature, money and business, music, personal development and special offerings. Contact the Continuing Education office for a list of classes. Fees vary; call 601-974-1130.

Barbour to Raise Funds for Republican PAC

Gov. Haley Barbour has joined American Crossroads, a well-funded conservative Political Action Committee that heavily influenced the 2010 elections, The Washington Post reported last week.

‘Bullish' Gas ‘Fracking' Could Prove Boon for State

Recent, and controversial, advances in drilling technology have put the state in a unique position to attract new industry and create new energy-related jobs, natural-gas industry leaders yesterday told a packed forum at the Jackson Convention Center. The state is prime to benefit from the recent natural-gas boom due to our extensive pipeline system, our potential to store natural gas in underground "salt" domes and even possibly from our own deposits of shale—the drilling industry's new favorite place to find untapped reserves of both natural gas and oil.

Capt. Ken Chapman

Capt. Ken Chapman claims he taught Aretha Franklin how to do the Bankhead bounce for a performance at the opening ceremony for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. She was going to sing "Respect," and he thought the move would work great when she got to the "sock-it-me, sock-it-me, sock-it-me" part.

Davis Drops Out of Supervisor's Race

Republican candidate Roger C. Davis confirmed this week that he is dropping out of the race for Hinds County District 1 supervisor against incumbent Robert Graham.

Ellington