News

Grants for Projects at MSU and USM, JSU to Serve as Polling Place

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, an organization devoted to curing spinal cord injury by advancing research and improving the quality of life for individuals with paralysis, recently awarded a grant to Mississippi State University’s T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability to help clients with paralysis.

Oxford, Starkville Outliers as COVID-19 Trends Positive Despite 3,300 Likely Deaths

Gov. Tate Reeves struck a particularly confident tone at Tuesday’s COVID-19 presser, celebrating the state’s consistent decline in new coronavirus cases, even as schools open across the state.

LaShanda Jordan

The Jackson Workforce Leadership Academy, a leadership fellowship for workforce development professionals, recently accepted LaShanda Jordan, executive director of Jackson State University's Career Services Center, into its inaugural Class of 2020-21, which runs through January 2021.

'Constant' Exhibit by Eli Childers

Collaborating with other local artists, Eli Childers organized the "Contant" exhibit, which protests against racial injustice. The figures featured in the exhibit were installed in downtown Jackson on Aug. 17 and Aug. 18 before being distributed throughout Jackson.

Jackson’s Murder Rate May Break Record, U.S. Attorney Touts ‘Operation Legend’

The spike in homicides in Jackson so far in 2020 is raising concern for leaders and may be on track to break the capital city’s all-time record.

Let’s Talk Jackson: Betsy Bradley 8×05

Betsy Bradley, director of the Mississippi Museum of Art, spoke about the launch of a new exhibition featuring works by Van Gogh, Monet, and Degas, as well as the protocols for visiting the museum and some plans for outdoor events and exhibitions this fall.

Mike Espy Holds Drive-In Rally In Jackson, Emphasizes Health Care, Racism

Mike Espy, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, centered health care and racial justice at his drive-in rally the evening of Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, in Jackson.

City Overhauls Parking Meters, Funds Homeless Center, Art Groups

Downtown Jackson now has 146 new parking meters to reinvigorate revenue generation, the City of Jackson announced Tuesday.

Charles Araujo

Charles Araujo, an adjunct instructor for Jackson State University’s School of Social Work, became president-elect for the Mississippi Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers on July 1.

MSU Receives Grants for Blindness Research and Solar Fuel, USM Online University Forum

The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research recently gave a five-year, $4 million grant to Mississippi State University's National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision to fund seven research projects focused on greater employment outcomes for people with blindness or low vision.

Magnolia Flag Final Choice of Commission; Majority Must Approve in November

The state is one step closer to a new flag today, as the Mississippi Flag Commission settled on the New Magnolia design.

Shower Power, ‘Loving the Homeless Back to Life’

Shower Power founder Teresa Renkenberger came up with the idea of converting a food truck into showers for the homeless while she was having a conversation with a homeless friend.

Businesses Soldier on Amid Pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues on, so does Mississippi. Businesses across the capital city and beyond are adapting, reopening or doing whatever they can to help or become better connected with their communities. Plus, services are cropping up to help.

‘The Kundi Collection,’ Graphic Tees Bearing Bold Statements

Have you ever made a great comment and thought, "I should put that on a T-shirt"? Brad and Funmi Franklin have had those moments many a time and have since decided to do just that through their Jackson business, The Kundi Collective.

Jackson Building and Rebuilding in Equal Force

Even though the pandemic has slowed many things down or brought them to a halt, Jackson continues to work toward growth and change with both new construction and renovation.

Experts Fear The Worst As School Districts Return to Classrooms

Though many RCSD teachers reached out to share their stories, many more from other districts and counties expressed a powerful sense of dread before the return to in-person classes.

Greg Goldman

Greg Goldman has been signing since he was 2 years old. His father is deaf, and his mother is an interpreter, so Goldman is in a rare position within the deaf community—he is fluent in both spoken English and American Sign Language, and can translate between them.

JPS Mulls Lake Hico’s Future, Proposes Advisory Committee

As Entergy's lease of Lake Hico as a cooling pond for its electricity plant located between Northside Drive and Watkins Drive ends Sept. 30, it presents an excellent opportunity for its beneficial re-purposing, Jackson Public School District Superintendent Errick L. Greene said last weekend.

Dave’s Triple B Relocating, Virtual Mississippi Science Fest and Celebrate the Pearl Challenge

Madison resident and professional chef David Raines announced that he is moving his restaurant, Dave’s Triple B, Restaurant from its present location at 970 High St. in Jackson to Main Street in Flora.

State Health Leadership Responds to CDC Guidelines on COVID-19

Mississippi still awaits the full extent of the spread of COVID-19 in its schools and colleges, as middling reports of viral spread continued over the weekend, in line with the roughly 700 rolling average that has become the norm in recent weeks.

Ledarius Woods

One Tougaloo player that was enjoying a great campaign was senior forward Ledarius Woods. He was named First-Team All-GCAC to end the regular season and named to the conference's All-Tournament team.

Hinds County Sheriff Swears in SWAT Team; Violence Expert Urges Caution

Sheriff Lee Vance swore in 33 special weapons and tactics team members today at the grounds of Jackson Police Training Academy. Vance pushed for the expanded SWAT unit to respond to special threat situations.

Tyler Williams

Mississippi State University is less than a month from opening the season against Louisiana State University on Saturday, Sept. 26. That is, of course, assuming the season is played or the start of the season is not pushed back.

COVID-19 Recovery Uncertain: Hospitalizations Low, Deaths High, Signs of Uptick

Mississippi’s COVID-19 recovery is on shaky ground as August ends, with uncertain trends in new cases—neither the clear improvement from previous weeks nor the spiralling growth seen in last month’s peaks.

USM Mask Distribution, JSU/UVM Online Lead Course and Tougaloo #VoteHBCU Competition

The University of Southern Mississippi recently partnered with the Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer Foundation and the Mississippi Network for Cancer Control and Prevention on an effort to distribute thousands of free protective face masks to residents of the Mississippi Delta.

Mayor Issues Sixth Stay Safe Jackson Executive Order

Citing the need to need to address both the pandemic and the economic needs of the city, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba issued the Sixth Stay Safe Jackson Executive Order.

Mississippi Boychoir Recruiting, MS-SBDC and MSU Small Business Videos and Fresh Market Ultimate Dinners

The Mississippi Boychoir is currently recruiting members for both its Jackson and Vicksburg divisions. Recruitment is open for second graders through high school seniors.

Heather Denné

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba appointed Heather Denné, director of community engagement at Jackson State University, to the nine-member board of the Jackson Historic Preservation Commission in late July.

JSU Professor: Focus Police Reform On ‘Community Policing’—But What Is it?

Transitioning from traditional policing to “community policing” will engender more trust and cooperation between the people and the police, Thomas M. Kersen, Jackson State University associate professor of sociology, told the Jackson Free Press in a phone interview Monday.

City of Jackson Provides Storm Preparedness Resources

In preparation for the pending storms, the City of Jackson has sand bags available to residents at 4225 Michael Avalon St. on Tuesday, Aug. 25 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday, Aug. 26 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closing for lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.).

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