News

City, Businesses Offer $12,500 Reward for Arrest, Conviction of Jackson Child’s Killer

Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes led the effort for the City of Jackson to offer a $2,500 award for the arrest and conviction of those who killed 5-year-old Qeenyanna Davis on April 15.

Press Sues MSDH for Nursing Home Names As COVID-19 Cases Top 11,000

Mississippi saw 136 official new coronavirus cases and seven deaths as of 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, bringing the total number of statewide cases to 11,432 and deaths to 528, as many Mississippi businesses began reopening over the weekend.

Taylor Hart

Taylor Hart, development director and event coordinator with the Salvation Army of Jackson, bears a passion for missions. Hart has heart.

May 17: Average COVID-19 Cases Down Overall, But Week Ends With High Numbers

The day after Gov. Tate Reeves announced a path for reopening tattoo parlors, Mississippi hit milestones of more than 11,000 cases of COVID-19 and passed 500 deaths.

Governor Reeves Announces Interim Director for Mississippi Development Authority

Today, Governor Tate Reeves announced that John Rounsaville will lead the Mississippi Development Authority as Interim Director to continue growing our state's economy and win business for Mississippi.

Mayor Lumumba Eases Restrictions on Businesses; Urges Continued Vigilance

Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba is slowly re-opening the Capital City following months of lockdown due to COVID-19, while acknowledging that data does not yet reflect that Jackson or the State of Mississippi has experienced a decline in the rate of new COVID-19 cases.

Governor Tate Reeves Amends Safer At Home Order to Safely Reopen Tattoo Parlors

Today, Governor Tate Reeves announced the next step for Mississippi to continue safely reopening the state's economy and getting people back to work while flattening the curve of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Cases Crest Above 10,000 in State, Rare Complications in Children Found

Mississippi reached a grim new milestone in the spread of COVID-19 across the state on Thursday, as the Mississippi State Department of Health announced the total count of detections has topped 10,000 as of late Wednesday.

Azia’s Virtual Picks 5-15-20

If you're staying home like me and still need some interesting events to take part in from home, check out my virtual picks for this coming week.

Hinds County District Five Supervisor to Provide Relief to Elderly Residents

In an effort to provide assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic to one of Hinds County’s vulnerable populations, Hinds County District 5 Supervisor Bobby McGowan will be hosting a series of giveaways this weekend to and for senior citizens who reside in his district.

How to Spend Siemens Settlement Creates Ruckus Between Mayor, Council

How the City of Jackson will spend the $89.8 million recovered in the Siemens settlement has generated a ruckus between the mayor and the Jackson City Council.

Legislature Sends $300 Million in Relief Funds to Mississippi Small Businesses

The Mississippi Legislature passed a $300-million stimulus bill directed at Mississippi’s small businesses on Wednesday night, putting a declarative end to the debate over who would appropriate $1.25 billion in CARES Act funds, and how to administer the money.

USM Virtual EagleTHON, Millsaps Campus Reopening and The Haven Promise

Student organizations at the University of Southern Mississippi recently held their annual dance marathon event, EagleTHON, virtually for the first time due to COVID-19 campus closures.

Jaylyn Willims

We will never know what would have happened in regard to spring college sports. Basketball ended right before national tournaments and college baseball and softball ended shortly after getting started.

State Superintendent of Education Presents Statewide Digital Learning Plan to Mississippi Legislature

Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education, testified before the Mississippi Senate Education Committee outlining the Mississippi Department of Education’s plan to connect all Mississippi children to the internet so schools can deliver high-quality instruction digitally.

‘Stay Safe Jackson’ Order Reopens Capital City Due to Effect of State Order on Businesses

The capital city is headed into the first phase of reopening for two weeks starting Saturday, May 16, when Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba’s “Stay at Home” executive order lapses.

Best of Jackson: Medical 2020

As we as Jacksonians endure this pandemic the best we can, wellness and health care is at the forefront of many of our minds. Here at the Jackson Free Press, we want to ease the process of finding medical professionals who can take care of your needs, however broad or specific.

‘We Have Not Met Our Peak’: Dr. LouAnn Woodward on UMMC’s Battle Against COVID-19

LouAnn Woodward spoke to the Jackson Free Press about the breakthroughs in testing and treatment at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, as well as the state's larger coronavirus strategy.

Mississippi Unites to Combat COVID-19 Crisis

In the wake of COVID-19, many Mississippians and Mississippi-based schools, businesses and organizations have banded together to help residents across the state cope through the crisis, be it through donations of time, money and resources.

Continuing on, Despite Pandemic

Despite setbacks from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Jackson is still moving forward. Here are just some of the latest developments taking place in and around the capital city.

Learning Through Nature, Tinkergarten

Tinkergarten program classes provide children with the opportunity to develop life skills such as empathy, collaboration, creativity, cooperation, persistence and problem-solving through outdoor play experiences.

Road to a Gentleman’s Surrender: Gov. Tate Reeves Strikes Hard, Then Bows to Legislature

To hear it from (Tate) Reeves, the Legislature fiddled while Mississippi burned, gambling with the lives and livelihoods of its people through unnecessary legalistic dissembling.

Joscelyn Allen

Amid a pandemic, Joscelyn Allen, 34, is grateful to work as a nurse. "I feel lucky to have chosen a profession I love," she says, adding that it is rewarding to watch COVID-19 patients get better.

COVID-19 Update: Hospitalizations Down, Almost Half State Deaths in Care Facilities

State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs displayed cautious optimism at yesterday’s coronavirus presser, based on a slackening in hospitalizations statewide.

Gov. Reeves Extends Unemployment Benefits to Help Workers Impacted by COVID-19

Today, Governor Tate Reeves announced efforts to extend the unemployment benefits provided to help Mississippi workers and their families hard-hit by COVID-19.

COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations Slump Today as Mississippi Continues to Reopen

Gov. Tate Reeves’ safer-at-home order continues this week, with notable exceptions, as the Mississippi State Department of Health announces 173 new cases of COVID-19 and five new deaths from Sunday reports.

City Announces Robinson Road Repaving Project; Stay-At-Home Order Still in Effect

Robinson Road will see a three-phase repaving project made possible through a partnership between the City of Jackson and the Hinds County Board of Supervisors, Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba announced last week.

Visit Jackson 2020 Tour Guide, Mississippi Restaurant Promise and Fresh Market Fundraiser

Visit Jackson recently released its 2020 Tour Guide, which includes 82 pages of information and creative content on Jackson's neighborhoods, public art, restaurants and more.

May 9: Daily Average of COVID-19 Cases Keeps Climbing As More Businesses Open

The day after Gov. Tate Reeves once again relaxed his "safer-at-home" order, the Mississippi State Department of Health reported 288 new cases of COVID-19 and 12 more deaths they attribute to the virus. The total number of reported cases since March 11 is now 9,378.

Azia’s Virtual Picks 5/7/2020

"In times like these, it’s easy to give in to hopelessness. I know it’s been hard. I know it’s been painful. I know it's been intense; but don’t give in, don’t give up. I hope you find ways to build yourself up during this time."

Ellington