News

It's the Weekend!

You can experience many different things tonight in Jackson. Watch Natalie Long and Clinton Kirby perform at Soulshine Pizza from 7-10 p.m. If you feel like singing, Philip's on the Rez has karaoke with DJ Mike, but if you feel like dancing Dreamz JXN is hosting Can't Feel My Face. Looking for more local music? Go to the JFP

Zoo Plans Dream Night

On June 4, the Jackson Zoo will host a special event in collaboration with St. Dominic Hospital called Dream Night at the Zoo. This exclusive event allows children with special needs and their families the opportunity to tour the zoo outside of the busy daytime hours. The children also enjoy a number of events customized for them in addition to touring the zoo.

Family Planning Funds are Essential

If you're an average woman, you want two children, according to various surveys. That means you'll spend about five years of your life trying to become pregnant, being pregnant or recovering from pregnancy, and 30 years trying to avoid it.

Justice Advocates Sue Hinds Detention Center

Youth detained at Hinds County's Henley-Young Juvenile Justice Center may be confined to their cells for 23 hours a day, endure verbal abuse, and many are not provided with educational and counseling services, according to juvenile justice advocates.

Jackson Jewel Thief Nabbed in Portland

Last January, a $255,000 ring disappeared from Juniker Jewelry Co. with the help of a thief who had a car waiting outside. This morning, Jackson Police Department Sgt. Ralph Lundstrom said police now have a suspect.

K. Parish Harvey

Artist K. Parish Harvey's bubbly attitude and sweet face hides well the pain she's had to deal lately, a pain that her love and passion for art has helped her cope with.

Barbour Testifies at Oil Spill Hearing

While testifying before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform this morning, Gov. Haley Barbour said that despite the impact of the 2010 oil disaster on Mississippi's beaches and economy, he opposes the federal government's moratorium on off-shore drilling.

To Gate Or Not to Gate?

Jackson residents could vote to gate their neighborhoods around city-maintained streets under an ordinance Ward 1 Councilman Quentin Whitwell proposed this week.

Property Owners to Vote on Biz District

Now that property owners approved an expansion plan for Jackson's Businesses Improvement District May 26, Downtown Jackson Partners must obtain 70 percent majority vote from property owners to prevent the district from dissolving.

Court Stops Simon Execution

Robert Simon Jr., 47, gets to live a little bit longer on death row. The state of Mississippi planned to kill him May 24, but the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stopped the execution just hours before the scheduled time.

After The Flood

Waiting To Recover

News that a flood was headed toward Vicksburg didn't come as a surprise to most residents. In late April, the Mississippi River and its tributaries began to overflow and reach record crests in Missouri. Kentucky, Illinois and Tennessee. What did surprise residents, however, was the historic crest that surged into neighborhoods.

Crisler Would Expand Highway 61

Former Jackson City Councilman Marshand Crisler thinks he will have an advantage as a Mississippi Department of Transportation Commissioner for the Central District. Crisler, who is a district director for Hinds Community College's adult education program, said the priorities of the commission become obvious when viewed from the vantage point of a city leader.

Cathy Funches

Cathy Funches is driven to aid the less fortunate to find their way to a better quality of life. Funches has participated in many mission trips to developing countries. Just last year, she traveled to Bolivia to provide assistance to an orphanage. She realized, however, that her passion for helping the oppressed could be fulfilled at home.

State Revenues Down for May

Read the state's revenue report

Yes on Budget Shift, Electric Cars

The Jackson City Council approved a $3.5 million budget revision this week, funneling budget savings into new shortfalls found halfway into the budget year.

Council Considers Gate Ordinance

Under a new city ordinance Ward 1 Councilman Quentin Whitwell proposed today, 75 percent of a Jackson neighborhood's residents could vote to gate their community even though the city would continue funding its infrastructure. "This is a traffic-calming measure," Whitwell said at the Jackson City Council meeting this morning.

Midtown Market Opens; Biz Support Group

A national nonprofit designed to educate entrepreneurs and support small businesses needs volunteers to help establish a chapter in Jackson.

Anna Kline

Within the past two weeks, Anna Kline saw the devastation of the Mississippi River flooding, wrote a song about it and played it during practice with her band. In the next few days, Anna Kline and the Grits & Soul Band sang the song on WLBT-TV, then recorded and produced the song, "Flood Waters."

Flood Recovery Volunteers Needed

Several community and faith-based organizations are seeking volunteers to help 14 counties in Mississippi recovered from flooding.

Biz District Plan Moves Forward

With little dissent, downtown Jackson property owners approved a plan last night that would expand the Downtown Jackson Partners' Business Improvement District and maintain assessment rates at 10 cents per square foot.

Sales Tax Commission Authority Still Unclear

The city of Jackson and one of its state senators still disagree over the mechanics behind a localized 1-percent sales tax increase.

Chicken of the Day: Jane Hen

The people at PETA are no chickens. Members of the Norfolk, Va.-based organization escorted their "crippled chicken"--another PETA member clad in a chicken suit and toting a cane--across the street to and from the McDonald's at 1010 N. State St. yesterday in a bold attempt to garner attention to the restaurant chain's alleged use of animal cruelty.

TGIF: The Weekend's Here!

Let's make this a Memorial Day weekend to remember, shall we? Start it off tonight with Latin flair. Eat, dance and try out your conversational Spanish at Fiesta Latina, the free party at Lingofest Language Center (7048 Old Canton Road, Ridgeland). It begins at 7 p.m. Later, head over to Afrika Book Cafe (404 Mitchell Ave.) to hear music from Tawanna Shaunte of Eclectik Soul, Kolectiv Rhythm and Lonne George beginning at 8:30 p.m. Don't stop there. What's the best place to begin looking for things to do in Jackson? The JFP Best Bets page, of course.

Farish Street, Capitol Green Moving Forward

B.B. King Blues Club has signed a lease deal with Farish Street developer Watkins Development, LLC. John Reeves, a member of the Jackson Redevelopment Authority, confirmed the deal this morning that aims to put a Beale Street mainstay in Jackson.

Freedom Riders Call on Governor for Action

Several civil-rights activists and Freedom Riders gathered this morning, and called on Gov. Haley Barbour to put his apology into action and issue a full pardon for the Scott sisters.

Billy McCoy

Mississippi House Speaker Billy McCoy, 68, a Delta farmer from Rienzi, announced yesterday that he would not run again for his seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives.

Mayor Harvey Johnson on ‘JFP on WLEZ' Today

At noon today on WLEZ-FM 100.1, Mayor Harvey Johnson will join JFP editor Donna Ladd and publisher Todd Stauffer for a wide-ranging discussion covering issues currently facing Jackson and its citizens. Topics will likely include questions about "rebranding" Jackson, re-working the budget, issues facing JATRAN and other public services, and some of the development in Jackson that's pushing into the Hwy 80 corridor and midtown. You can listen over the air or live at www.wlezfm.com, or watch for the podcast later in the day at www.jfpradio.com.

Council Recalculating Budget

The Jackson City Council is willing to approve a budget revision next week filling a $4 million budget shortfall, Ward 2 Councilman Chokwe Lumumba believes.

Tax Commission Battles Continue

City and state leaders are debating whether a 10-member commission will have to oversee a proposed 1-cent sales-tax increase in Jackson. The city's roads, water, sewer and other infrastructure are in need of approximately $76 million in upgrades and major repairs, and the increase would fund that work.

Downtown Biz District May Expand; Disaster Jobs Available

The Downtown Business Improvement District may expand up to the second block of the Farish Street Entertainment District, which includes Peaches Restaurant and the Alamo Theater.

Ellington