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Jackson to Host Amnesty Days

The city of Jackson's Municipal Court Services is giving citizens an opportunity to pay tickets, court imposed fines and court costs while waiving warrant and administration fees for each violation.

JFP Wins 3 First-Place Reporting Awards, Second for ‘Two Lakes' Work

At its 60th annual Green Eyeshade banquet near Atlanta, Ga., Saturday night, the Society of Professional Journalists awarded the Jackson Free Press three first-place reporting awards and second-place public service honors for in-depth coverage of the late Mayor Frank Melton; domestic abuse and the murder of Heather Spencer; and the controversial "Two Lakes" development proposal along the Pearl River.

Health Exchanges Could Help Small Businesses

The state will have to make several key decision regarding health-insurance exchanges in the next few years, Joy Johnson Wilson, health policy coordinator for the National Conference of State Legislatures, told a joint meeting of Senate and House committee members this morning.

Community Events and Public Meetings

at Baptist Medical Center (1225 N. State St.), in the Hederman Cancer Center. In this support group for men with prostate cancer, you and your loved ones can gain encouragement and ideas from others who are sharing your experiences. Genetic testing for prostate cancer will be part of the discussion. Registration is required. Free; call 601-948-6262 or 800-948-6262.

David Rae Morris

When photojournalist David Rae Morris began to document the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he thought he could emotionally detach himself from the destruction, but instead his photographs captured his personal reaction to the storm. "The scope of the destruction was such in a way that you couldn't help but be affected," he says.

JPS Receives Accountability Results

Three Jackson public elementary schools earned the Mississippi Department of Education's "Star School" status—the state's highest rating for school performance—in accountability results MDE released Friday.

Standoff Ends: State to Release $6 million to City for Water Repairs

Also see: Reeves Defends State Bond Allocations

City Finds Funds for Library System

When Jackson-Hinds Library System Executive Director Carolyn McCallum received the news this morning that the city had come up with an additional $150,000 in funds for the library system in the fiscal year 2011 budget, she celebrated with her staff.

Hinds DA: Castle Doctrine Has Gray Areas

Mississippi's "castle doctrine" law, which allows for the use of deadly force in certain self-defense situations, has some gray areas, Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith acknowledged in a community meeting yesterday.

TGIF

Start your weekend with a little culture during your lunch break today with a stop at the Arts Center of Mississippi (201 E. Pascagoula St.) for a peek at the WellsFest Art Show, and exhibits by Ginger Williams and Daniel MacGregor, all of which are free. After work, head to the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum for the 19th annual CelticFest, with gates opening at 7 p.m. Tonight, the ever-popular whiskey tasting is sold out, but the festival still has plenty to offer, with a dozen performances on three stages. The festival continues with full days Saturday and Sunday. Head to the CelticFest website for complete information. A weekend pass is $12 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 ages 5 to 18, and $1 for kids 4 and younger. Where's the best place to begin your weekend planning? The JFP Best Bets page, of course.

Éamonn de Cógáin

Éamonn de Cógáin has just one piece of advice for anyone timid about dancing in this weekend's CelticFest Céilí Mór: If you can walk, you can dance.

Jackson Events Honor 9-11 Victims

Former Mississippi Gov. William Winter honors victims and emergency responders of the Sept. 11, 2001, al-Qaeda terrorist attacks at noon today during St. Andrew's Episcopal Cathedral's 9-11 memorial service.

Library System Predicts Shortfall

The Jackson Zoo and the Jackson Public School District will not request an increase in funding for fiscal year 2011 from the city; however, the Jackson-Hinds County Library System is likely to come up short without the city's financial support.

Leslee Foukal

Leslee Foukal has high hopes for the section of Fondren west of State Street.

Neighborhood Patrol Collaborates With JPD

Read JPD's weekly crime report (PDF, 564 KB)

MPB Director Resigns

Mississippi Public Broadcasting Executive Director Judy Lewis has resigned, Mississippi Authority for Educational Television Chairman Bob Sawyer said today in a press statement.

Will JATRAN Sustain Budget Reduction?

Jackson residents had the opportunity to weigh in on the city's proposed fiscal year 2011 budget during a Sept. 7 public hearing. While the city will not increase property taxes or lay off employees, the city's public transportation system, JATRAN, faces a reduction in routes, and open driver positions will remain vacant.

Years to Go on BP Suit, Hood Says

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood said it could take years to assess the extent of harm the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico caused.

Senator Warns of Hinds District Loss

Jackson Sen. Hillman Frazier called upon city residents to crowd the halls of Hinds County Circuit Court this month to voice their concerns about redistricting.

Hospitals Feud Over Equipment

As the state's only teaching hospital, the University of Mississippi Medical Center occupies an awkward position. Its reputation as central Mississippi's charity hospital is sometimes at odds with its new image as a high-quality medical research center. And while its place under the authority of the state board for Institutions of Higher Learning insulates it from some of the rough-and-tumble economics of the health-care industry, it still competes with the Jackson area's three other hospitals for patients and, by extension, money.

Lorenzo Miller

Lorenzo Miller sports a beard and a broad, engaging smile as he stands in front of his artwork inside the Eudora Welty Library. The walls of this otherwise dull white room pop with the brilliant colors and exquisite details in his paintings.

Controversial Ordinances Back in Committee

The Jackson City Council failed to approve two controversial ordinance changes this morning, despite overall favorability for the ordinances among a majority of the council.

Hinds Hires New Administrator; Debates Voting Machines

The Hinds County Board of Supervisors voted today to hire Carmen Davis as its new county administrator. Davis replaces interim Administrator Ray Bryant, who had held the position since March.

Business Round Up

Rainbow Whole Foods Inc., which has operated as an agricultural association since opening in 1980, became a consumer cooperative Sept. 1. The new designation allows members to obtain shares of the cooperative's stock. The new shareholder membership requires a one-time purchase of $200 for a stock certificate.

Colendula Green

If you've been downtown in the last few years, chances are you've seen Jackson Police Department Officer Colendula Green riding her segway with a smile while keeping a watchful eye on the city. Though she had to part with her segway last month, Green is now the department's first female public information officer.

Community Events and Public Meetings

5:30 p.m., Town Hall Meeting at Jackson Medical Mall (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.). The meeting at center stage is sponsored by the Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities. Call 601-982-8467.

Mississippi Roadways Improve

Mississippi ranks 16th overall in the nation for highway performance and cost effectiveness, the libertarian think tank Reason Foundation reported in a study released Sept. 1.

Jackson Maintains Staff and Taxes Despite Smaller Budget

Despite a $10 million smaller budget for the city's proposed 2011 fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, the city will not increase property taxes or lay off employees, but instead reduce some services and leave unfilled positions open.

Watkins Pushes for JPS Diversity

Former Jackson Public School Superintendent Earl Watkins said today that Jackson Public Schools' success begins with destroying misconceptions about races and ethic cultures.

Eddie Cotton

Bluesman Eddie Cotton Jr. grew up with gospel music in his daddy's Clinton church, Christ Chapel True Gospel Church of God In Christ, where he's known to sit at the Hammond B-3 organ as the church's music minister. Cotton was 4 when he picked up his first guitar.

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