News

Lynn Fitch

Lynn Fitch, 49, is from Holly Springs, but has lived in Madison for 26 years. She attended the University of Mississippi for her undergraduate degree and for her law degree. She has two daughters and one son.

State Universities to Get Broadband Boost

Mississippi's research universities and other state research centers will be able to communicate much more efficiently, thanks to expanded broadband technology.

Republican Cat Fight for District 25

When it comes to their platforms, there aren't many differences between the Republican candidates for the state senate's district 25. Will Longwitz, a Madison attorney, and Charles Barbour, a businessman and former Hinds County supervisor (and nephew of Gov. Haley Barbour), both preach limited government and fiscal responsibility, and both share conservative values. Perhaps that's why the District 25 race has been an endless political tug-of-war between the candidates as they try to gain votes in this close race. Whoever wins the Republican runoff election Aug. 23 will face Democrat Cecilia Sampayo in the Nov. 8 general election.

Ruthie Taylor

Ruthie Taylor teaches middle-school classes in theater production where she helps students from fifth to eighth grade find themselves through the characters in plays and through the different functions needed to bring a production to the stage. "Middle school is a tough time to grow up," she says. "I want to give the students an outlet for their energy."

Simulation Builds Respect for Poor People

It's getting close to the end of the month, and the "Chen" family is trying to decide which bills they can afford to pay. The utility company tells them their phones and electricity are about to be shut off. They try negotiating.

Ablene Cooper to Appeal ‘Help' Decision

Attorneys for Ablene Cooper claim Kathryn Stockett used their client's name and image without permission in "The Help." Hinds County Circuit Judge Tomie Green threw out her case this morning, however, saying Cooper did not file her complaint against the author within a one-year statute of limitations. Cooper's attorneys say they will appeal Green's decision.

Millsaps Ranks High; Auto Plant Expands

The Environmental Protection Agency has chosen Jackson to be part of the Greening America's Capitols initiative.

Lucio Miele

Dr. Lucio Miele of University of Mississippi Medical Center is the newest member of the American Cancer Society's Mid-South Division Board of Directors.

Ward 3 Community Meeting Tonight

The city of Jackson hosts a community meeting today at Cherry Grove Baptist Church (1296 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive) at 6 p.m.

Community Stands Against Racial Injustice

As more than 500 community leaders, families and public officials held candles and sang "This Little Light of Mine" last night, they walked in unison along Ellis Avenue to honor the life of James Craig Anderson and take a stand against racial injustice.

Simpson Criticizes AG for Not Debating

Steve Simpson, candidate for state attorney general, is criticizing Attorney General Jim Hood for refusing to participate in town-hall style debates before the election.

Amber Thomas

Around 9 or 10 p.m. last Monday, an emotional Twitter conversation was brewing, and student Amber Thomas joined the discussion. Earlier in the day, CNN released the video of the June 26 attack and hit-and-run incident that left 49-year-old James Craig Anderson dead in the middle of the night.

Community Events

Sports League Registrations, at Jackson Medical Mall (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.). The Department of Parks and Recreation is conducting registration for the upcoming season from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays. Call 601-960-0471.

Jackson Teen Killed on Bike

Jim Hill High School student Tommy Wheaton died last night from injuries sustained from a hit-and-run driver.

Crime Perception Hurts Jackson Economy

Jackson misses out on booking conventions because of a false perception that the city has a high crime rate, Rickey Thigpen says. Thigpen, executive vice president of the Jackson Convention and Visitors Bureau, spoke this morning at the Friday Forum gathering at Koinonia Coffee House.

Back to School

Students began arriving at Timberlawn Elementary School before 7:30 a.m.--early for some older children whose brains were still on a summer schedule. Younger children in brand new, oversized backpacks looked apprehensively at the school's doors, but special education teacher April Washington greeted them with a smile. "Hey! Are you ready?" she asked enthusiastically before directing children and parents to the right classrooms.

Derrick Smith

Derrick Smith has always believed that a haircut can yield a completely changed person. For him, a haircut represents a new outlook, a different way of seeing the world. That is why the 36-year-old barber is hosting Cutting for Confidence, a back-to-school event for young boys.

It's the Weekend!

It's Friday, and this afternoon would be a good time to view an art exhibit. Before you head home from work, take a walk through Anne Dennis' "Despair to Destiny" exhibit at Jackson Municipal Art Gallery. To find other local places to browse art, go to the Gallery Listings. For more ideas on how to start your weekend in a variety of ways, see what the JFP Best Bets are for the weekend.

McMillin Concedes Sheriff's Race

Hinds County Sheriff Malcolm McMillin is conceding the Aug. 2 primary election to his challenger, Tyrone Lewis. Read the statement here.

JRA Hires Consultant for Convention Hotel

By the end of this month, city leaders should have an independent study to determine whether the city of Jackson should help finance a long-awaited convention center hotel.

Mary Sterrett

Well-wishers are posting birthday greetings on Facebook for the first baby born at Baptist Health Systems, Mary Ormand Heald Sterrett, who turns 100 today.

Blues Heritage as a Way to Boost the Economy

A new Mississippi Blues Trail marker was unveiled Wednesday to commemorate Jackson's contributions to American culture. The marker is in front of the King Edward Hotel, formerly known as the Edwards Hotel, where blues artists recorded and performed music in the 1930s.

Hinds Candidates to Inspect Ballots

Two Hinds County candidates have confirmed that they will inspect ballots from the Aug. 2 primary.

Andrew McMillin, son of the Sheriff Malcolm McMillin, confirmed that the sheriff filed an inspection notice with election officials yesterday. He said any further comments would come from the sheriff.

Welcome, New Jacksonians

Fact: Jackson is a college town. The metro area is home to eight colleges and universities plus a few technical schools. Despite the popular (and false) saying of "there's nothing to do in Jackson," people flock here for their education, swelling the city's population by 30,000 to 40,000 people. There are plenty of places to go and things to see, some of which are free.

Where the Sewage Ends

For the past year and a half, residents on Edmar Place in east Fondren have heard the continuous rumblings from a generator as it pumps sewage out of the ground and sends it to the city's sewage treatment facility.

Coast Builds Green Grade School

Cities and counties around Mississippi are "going green" with earth-friendly schools. The buildings may not have futuristic solar panels or space-age architecture, but they do have technology that can save money and the environment.

Brent Hendrixson

He may not be able to shoot webs out of his wrists, but Brent Hendrixson is a real-life "spider man." When he was a child, his mother would be hard-pressed to find him inside the house. Hendrixson spent almost his entire childhood neck-deep in the abundant ponds and marshes of his native Thornton, Colo. He loved being outdoors, looking for critters.

Creating a Spectacle

At 7:05 a.m. Aug. 2, Republican Executive Committee Chairman Pete Perry received an urgent call from a poll worker at the Wynndale Precinct in Terry. The poll worker told him that candidates' names for certain races were not appearing on some of the electronic voting machines, and he needed more paper ballots quickly.

Stokes to Resign from City Council

Jackson Ward 3 City Councilman Kenneth Stokes said he plans to resign from City Council in order to serve as Hinds County's new District 5 supervisor.

Downtown Gets More Housing

Adrian Turner, president of the home-building company Major Associates, said last week that her company will renovate its office at 207 West Amite St. to include residential units.

Ellington