News

UPDATED: City Declares State of Emergency, Orders Flood Evacuation for Northeast Jackson Residents Near Pearl River

The Pearl River is expected to crest at 35.5 feet by Saturday morning, the National Weather Service reports, one foot higher than the river reached during last month's catastrophic flooding.

New JSU Acting President, MSU Ragtime and Jazz Festival and MSU/UM Dual Degree Program

The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning named Thomas Hudson as the university's acting president after former president William Bynum Jr. resigned Monday after being arrested in a prostitution sting in Clinton.

Hearing: Formerly Incarcerated Seeking Employment Need Solutions, 'Ban the Box'

Formerly incarcerated Mississippians who are entering the workforce continue to face obstacles to employment, advocates testified Tuesday at the Mississippi Capitol during a Senate Labor Committee hearing.

Alleged TANF Fraud Follows Years of Individual Recipient Rejections

The State of Mississippi refusing to distribute money allocated to help the poor is not new. The Jackson Free Press reported in 2017 that the State has winnowed down TANF payments directly to needy Mississippians over the last decade.

Kristen Brandt

The Mississippi Arts Commission named Flowood resident Kristen Brandt as arts industry director of Mississippi Poet Laureate, which names the official state poet every four years, in September 2019.

Honey Hush, Mississippi Gem and Mineral Show and BrickUniverse LEGO Convention

Jackson native Chad Segrest, owner of Beagle Bagel Madison and the Atlas Greek Down South food stall at Cultivation Food Hall, opened a second food stall at Cultivation called Honey Hush on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

'Sprawling Conspiracy' Ensnares Voucher Beneficiaries, Republican Donors

At least two people who donated significant sums to Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves' campaign allegedly engaged in what the state's top elected official calls a "disgusting abuse of power."

Azaria Howard

Mississippi Valley State University women's basketball junior center Azaria Howard, one of this season's impressive players, earned Co-Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Week after her games against Jackson State University and Grambling State University.

City Council Censures CAO Blaine, Pursues Litigation Against Contractor

The Jackson City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to censure Chief Administrative Officer Robert Blaine following an administrative error in a City contract that resulted in the City of Jackson paying a company $100,000 for work that was supposed to have cost $48,000.

JSU Center for Innovation, Science Night at the Museums and Bower Academic Center

Jackson State University held a grand opening for its new Center for Innovation, located on the second floor of the H.T. Sampson Library, on Thursday, Jan. 30.

John Davis, Nancy New and Others Arrested in Massive Embezzlement Scheme

Special agents from the office of State Auditor Shad White have arrested John Davis, the former Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services; Nancy New, owner and Director of the Mississippi Community Education Center; and others in connection with a multimillion-dollar embezzlement scheme.

Teacher Pay, Prison Reform, Horn Lake Dem Tentative Winners So Far

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann began the process of raising teacher pay on Thursday, Jan. 30. Senate Bill 2001 proposes a $1,000 raise for all public-school teachers in the state. The bill would also bring the bottom bracket for new teachers to $37,000.

Casey Spell

Pearl native and resident Casey Spell has never felt too busy to take on another activity or responsibility, as he is presently working his way through medical school while also co-owning and managing H&S Roofing and Home Repair alongside his high-school friend Chris Hare.

Grand Opening for Elvie’s and District Drugs, La Brioche Expands Menu

Hunter Evans, a Jackson chef who previously worked as chef de cuisine at Lou’s Full-Serv in Jackson since 2015, held a grand opening for his own restaurant, Elvie’s, on Monday, Feb. 3.

Disabled Children Losing Medicaid Coverage, Families Desperate for Help

The Mississippi Division of Medicaid announced last June that Alliant Health Solutions would replace eQHealth Solutions as the third-party vendor responsible for assessing applicants' eligibility for Medicaid, starting Aug. 1.

Jackson Holding Active Shooter Drill

The city of Jackson is conducting a major active shooter drill downtown Monday afternoon. The drill will simulate a casualty event and will be designed to appear realistic to test the abilities of first responders.

Strong Arms of JXN to Hold Non-Violence Event in Grove Park

The Strong Arms of JXN program plans to train community members to canvas neighborhoods with high rates of gun violence in an effort to let them know about resources that exist and that there is a whole community that cares.

Robyn Kennebrew

Robyn Kennebrew helps people who have had charges on their records for years and have lost opportunities for employment or housing get a fresh start as the development coordinator for the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project.

Take Care of Yourself: A Message to Millennials

When mom tells her millennial "Take care of yourself," eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep and exercise might seem like it's enough. But for true self-care, young adults in the millennial age group of about 23-38 must also take care of their mental and emotional health.

Hester Jackson-McCray Prevails in Special Election Committee

Rep. Hester Jackson-McCray, a black Democrat, is likely to keep her seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives after a long and contentious committee meeting Monday at the State Capitol.

Angie Thomas Scholarship, JSU Emmett Till Panel and MSU Legal Conference

Mississippi native Angie Thomas, author of "The Hate U Give" and "On the Come Up," recently partnered with her alma mater, Belhaven University, to launch the Angie Thomas Writers Scholarship program.

Aliyah Matharu

A two-game performance earned Aliyah Matharu recognition from the Southeastern Conference as SEC Freshman of the Week. She is the second MSU freshman this season to earn the honor, joining forward Rickea Jackson.

The Good Samaritan Center's Annual Winter Coat Drive

On Jan. 31 at noon, the Good Samaritan Center hosts its annual winter coat and clothing drive to provide appropriate winter attire to donate to low income families struggling to stay warm this season.

New Republican Legislator Resigns Under Pressure from Speaker Gunn

Mississippi House Rep. Ramona Blackledge, the Republican woman whom Jones County voters sent to Jackson to represent them in the Mississippi House of Representatives, is resigning just weeks into her term.

Reggie Perry

Reggie Perry's mother and sister were on hand for his game at Florida, about a two-hour drive from his hometown. Perry treated them to one of his best collegiate performances.

Less Blues, More Gospel In Gov. Tate Reeves' State of the State

New Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves closed his State of the State address Monday night by promising to "sing the gospel" of Mississippi, after rejecting pessimism, pettiness, ivory towers, gender studies and the "arrogance" of "metropolitan narcissists," not necessarily in that order.

Stone Abdullah

Clinton resident Stone Abdullah received a $500 mini-grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission in November 2019 to support advertising, marketing materials and distribution for his book "Journey of the Shadow, Volume 1," which Abdullah self-published in August 2017.

New Stage Presents Roald Dahl's 'Matilda the Musical'

This winter season, New Stage Theatre presents Roald Dahl's "Matilda the Musical," directed by Sharon Miles with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.

Jackson Boil Water Notice Lifted

The precautionary boil water notice for the following residents on our drinking water system is now lifted.

'Beaten, Broken, Tired': Prison Protest Draws Families, Activists to Mississippi Capitol

Families mourned the death of their loved ones while in Mississippi Department of Corrections custody and shared their fears for those who are still alive and enduring squalid conditions in a protest outside the State Capitol in downtown Jackson Friday.

Ellington