News

Republican Candidates Part Ways

Three Republican gubernatorial candidates took different views of taxes and education this weekend at a Mississippi Tea Party-sponsored debate at Northwest Rankin High School.

Teachers: No More Social Media

A new Mississippi ethics policy for teachers raises questions about student-teacher relationships in the digital age. The policy prevents teachers from directly communicating with students through social media websites and text messaging.

JPS Admits Handcuffing Kids for Hours

Read the complaint and the JPS response. Also, read our previous story.

City Not Ready To Finalize Hotel Plans

A Mississippi Business Journal article reporting that the city of Jackson is "set to bet" $40 million from its general fund to own half of the long-proposed convention center hotel is misleading, city spokesman Chris Mims says.

Graham: Investigation is Political

Adam Lynch

Sara Murphy

Like David fighting Goliath, Sara Murphy is attempting to slay a monster: Alzheimer's disease. Murphy, 30, is the outreach coordinator for the Alzheimer's Association Mississippi Chapter, an organization working to raise awareness and help victims of the disease.

Council Approves Zoo Debt Restructuring

The Jackson City Council grudgingly approved a loan guarantee for the Jackson Zoo last night, even though some council members called for the city to take ownership of the zoo.

City Plans Major Street Projects

Residents near Fortification Street will see construction crews breaking ground next week in preparation for a dramatic renovation.

Jayne Sargent

Last night, the Jackson Public School Board voted to name Jayne Sargent the district's interim superintendent.

McDade's Remodels Fondren Store; DJP Expands ‘Courtesy'

McDade's Market will begin a major renovation of its Fondren grocery store in July.

JPS Names New Superintendent; Approves Budget

Jackson Public Schools Board members voted to name former superintendent Jayne Sargent as the district's interim superintendent last night. The district also adopted a budget for the 2011-2010 fiscal year.

Candidates Reveal Differences at Debate

Three Republican Party gubernatorial candidates leaned heavy right on social issues, but differed slightly on some money matters at a Flowood debate sponsored by the Mississippi Tea Party.

County Attorney looks to investigate UMMC's pig use

Read our previous stories on the UMMC pig issue from Jan. 24 and Jan. 26.

Commander Jesse Robinson

With help from the community, newly appointed Jackson Police Department Precinct 1 Commander Jesse Robinson hopes to improve the quality of life for residents. Robinson, who served as Precinct 1 commander since 2009, entered his new position June 17. He replaces Donald Gater, who will now serve in the department's operations division.

Science Museum Launches Early Childhood Initiative

The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science will implement a new early child initiative over the next three years, the museum announced last week.

Community Events and Public Meetings

2 p.m., Storytelling with Autumn MorningStar, at Ridgeland Public Library (397 Highway 51, Ridgeland). MorningStar is a Native American magician and storyteller. Free; call 601-856-4536.

A Week of Layoffs

Dozens of Mississippians lost their jobs this week in layers of irony. Mississippi Department of Employment—the agency that helps people who get fired or laid off—said Wednesday that it will lay off 40 employees at the end of July. The day before, Gannett Co. Inc. laid off 10 Clarion-Ledger employees, several media blogs reported, part of the 700-plus job cuts the corporation made this week nationwide.

State Tackles Metro TB Cases

Speaking at a community forum this morning, Mississippi Department of Health nurse Ann Jackson said that the state needs help from community members to address a high number tuberculosis cases in the Jackson metro, adding that African Americans account for two thirds of all TB cases in Hinds County.

Simeyon Butler

"You can be a smart person, but if you're not able to communicate effectively, it's a waste of time," Simeyon Butler says.

It's the Weekend!

For a taste of Broadway, see Leading Ladies: A Night of Nostalgia Friday and Saturday at Brent's Diner and Soda Fountain (655 Duling Ave.) presented by Fondren Theatre Workshop. The dinner theater begins at 7 p.m. each night with a meal by Brent's and a cash bar. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. with tunes from Broadway and movie musicals performed by women who have appeared in past local theater productions. Tickets are $25 with proceeds to benefit CONTACT the Crisis Line. Seating is limited; call 601-982-2217 for information or tickets. For more things to do this weekend, check out the JFP Events Calendar or Best Bets.

JRA Offers Civil-Rights Museum Site; Approves Capitol Green

CORRECTION: Jackson Free Press reporter Adam Lynch wrongfully stated that the Jackson Redevelopment Authority is offering a potential site for the future Mississippi Civil Rights Museum to the Department of Finance for free. While the JRA is definitely offering the property for DFA use, JRA Executive Director Jason Brookins said the quasi-government entity is only offering the property at a "fair" undisclosed price. We regret the misinformation.

Dorothy Triplett

Dorothy Triplett is driven to help people in any way she possibly can. She believes that sometimes the best assistance anyone can give is objectivity and a listening ear.

JSU Gets $30,000 Grant for Computer Recycling

A computer recycling program will continue for another year at Jackson State University with a $30,000 grant.

Opportunities Aplenty

On a recent Friday afternoon at the Opportunity Center at 845 Amite St. in downtown Jackson, most of the clients were in the midst of their afternoon siesta. One gentleman in the corner meticulously folded his khaki pants, taking great pains to get the creases perfectly straight and even. All the while he hummed the tune to Ray Charles' "I've Got a Woman."

Still Waiting

Marriage might be far away from most teenagers' minds, especially as they relish freedom from teachers and textbooks this summer. But waiting until then to engage in sexual activity was the message more than 40 teenagers heard during an abstinence rally earlier this month.

Minor to Appeal Convictions

Attorneys for convicted lawyer Paul Minor are planning their next move now that U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate finally re-sentenced Minor and former judges John Whitfield and Walter "Wes" Teel. Wingate re-sentenced the three June 13, 18 months after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals tossed some convictions in an alleged loan scheme in December 2009.

The Choice to Leave

Guatemalan native Osiel Mendez sought asylum when he entered the United States in 2005, five years before his wife and two sons were able to cross the Mexican-American border to join him. He received asylum in 2008.

Whitwell Alters Gated Proposal

Ward 1 Councilman Quentin Whitwell is scaling back his citywide gated-community proposal to a single neighborhood on County Line Road to increase its chances before the Jackson City Council and the mayor's office.

Are Bonds for Municipal Projects Bad?

Last week, Republican lieutenant governor candidate Tate Reeves (the current state treasurer) refused to pull a campaign ad that his Republican political op-ponent described as misleading.

Eric Wassilak

Eric Wassilak wears all the hats at Fondren Guitars, a business that serves as a hub for local musicians to buy, play, learn and repair their equipment. He's store manager, handles sales and repairs, schedules lessons for 150 guitar students and heads the store's eBay business. Owner Patrick Harkins calls him the "master of shipping," handling all of the store's international business.

Ellington