News

Field Hearing Sheds Light on Mississippi ICE Raids

The (ICE) field hearing touched on the impact of the raids on local economies, the cost of carrying them out, and back wages owed to workers, but it did not discuss the role of for-profit prison companies in immigration detention.

Seeking Alta Woods’ Former Glory

The Alta Woods community was predominantly white when Stephany and Herbert Brown became the first black family to move there in 1996. "When we moved over here 20 years ago, none of this looked like this," she said as the car passed another dilapidated house.

God Save the Governor: Phil Bryant, Brexit Soldier

Republican Phil Bryant is certainly not the first Mississippi governor to support a state's plan to secede from a multi-state union. ... But Bryant seems to be the first to entangle himself in a foreign U.S. ally's own secession effort.

Mike Espy Vows to 'Correct Our Mistakes' in New U.S. Senate Campaign

Democrat Mike Espy has a plan to win in Mississippi, he told the Jackson Free Press Tuesday morning, soon after officially launching his 2020 campaign for U.S. Senate.

KaBOOM! Funds Playground in West Jackson

The Boys and Girls Club of Central Mississippi recently won a grant from national nonprofit KaBOOM! for the installation of a new playground at the Boys and Girls Club of Central Mississippi Capital Unit in Jackson.

Rocket Fizz at the Outlets, Beanfruit and Thunderhead Merge and Gallery Garden

Shreveport, La., native Richard Morris brought Rocket Fizz, a California-based specialty soda and candy franchise, to Mississippi with the opening of a new store at the Outlets of Mississippi on Wednesday, Nov. 6.

Art Space 86: Unframed @Unwrapped

Art Space 86 will host a free, pop-up art gallery event, Unframed @Unwrapped, on Thursday, Nov. 14, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., located at The Flamingo JXN.

White Supremacists Help Emmett Till Center Raise More Than $30,000

A small clan of white supremacists unintentionally helped a Mississippi anti-racism organization raise more than $30,000 in just six days after filming a propaganda video around the memorial of Emmett Till, the 14-year-old victim of a 1955 civil-rights murder.

Azia's Picks 11-8-19

We finally made it to Friday, Jackson! I know it's been a long, tiresome work week full of deadlines, unwelcomed nuances, awkward office small talk, missed lunches and divisive conversations regarding the ballot. I definitely feel you and fully understand the need to unwind, let loose and enjoy the short and sweet weekend that comes to you quickly and ends even more quickly. Let's not think about the bittersweet end of that much-needed reboot right now, though.

Democratic Women Win House Seats, Oust GOP Incumbents in Mississippi

Shanda Yates, a millennial Democrat, could still oust Bill Denny, a top Republican in the Mississippi House, if her current lead in the House District 64 vote count holds once election officials add provisional ballots. With just the Election Day totals counted, the Associated Press reported that Yates led Denny, a 32-year incumbent, by about 51% to 49%, or 136 votes, in House District 64, which includes parts of Madison and Hinds counties.

Black Democrat Wins in Redrawn District After Racial Gerrymander Case

Even as Republicans swept statewide offices in Mississippi on Tuesday night, Joseph Thomas, an African American Democrat in a district that stretches across six counties, narrowly ousted a Republican incumbent. Earlier this year, a federal court forced the GOP-led Legislature to redraw the boundaries for that district, Senate District 22, after finding that they had drawn it in a way that was intended to dilute black voting power.

MSU Veterans Day, USM University Forum and JSU/SBA Summit

As part of its annual Veterans Day celebration, Mississippi State University plans to host several events to honor the U.S. Armed Forces during the week of Veterans Day. MSU's Veterans Day ceremony will take place on Monday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m. on the campus' Drill Field.

Democrats Secure Victories in Hinds County Elections

As the Mississippi Republican Party swept up all state-wide offices yesterday's general election, Democrats won several seats in Hinds County.

GOP Runs Mississippi Gamut, But Signs of Hope for Dems, Medicaid Expansion

With his Southern Baptist pastor standing beside him at the King Edward Hotel in Jackson, Democrat Jim Hood conceded defeat in the race for Mississippi governor, reiterating his religiously inspired campaign theme of fighting for “the least of these” in policy areas like health care and education.

Republican Lt. Gov. Reeves wins Mississippi governor's race

"I want to be the governor for all Mississippians and I'm going to work hard every day to do that," Reeves told The Associated Press after his victory.

Sal the Cat

The Eudora Welty House and Garden has a scavenger hunt for kids (and the young at heart) who visit the museum. While some of the items on the list are easy to find, one in particular may give visitors some trouble, depending on how this item is feeling: the resident cat, Sal.

City Roundup: Water Bill Solution for Now, Zoo Still Closed, Robberies Down

As the City of Jackson continues to devise ways to fix its water-billing system, customers who currently do not receive bills will pay a monthly "minimum-service charge" of $63.27 for water service, officials said.

Election Day Hijinks, Obama Robocalls, Who's on Ballot, Election Watch Parties

Mississippi voters headed to the polls starting at 7 a.m. Tuesday to vote for top State and regional offices, including the election for governor. Polls will remain open until 7 p.m., when election workers will begin tallying up the vote.

Charlyne and Chris Brown

Charlyne and Chris Brown own and operate All 4 Children Consignment, a bi-annual consignment sale. The next sale will be from March 26-28, 2020, and the Browns have already begun to prepare for the event.

Faith Young

Faith Young, owner of Door 2 Door Recycling, opened her self-described mom and pop recycling company with her husband, Marquette Young, in 2013 to help fill a need in her Rankin County community.

Meet the Candidates

Meet the candidates for the 2020 Mississippi elections, both statewide and local.

Voter ID Stays Under Both Secretary of State Hopefuls, But One Wants Citizenship Check

Voting rights take center stage in tomorrow's election for secretary of state between Mississippi Sen. Michael Watson, R-Pascagoula, and former Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree, the Democratic nominee.

Stewpot Food Pantry, MAC Arts Awards and William Winter Institute Donation

Stewpot Community Services will host a grand opening and dedication ceremony for its newly relocated and expanded food pantry, named in honor of former Stewpot Executive Director Rev. Frank Spencer, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 2 p.m.

10 Local Stories of the Week

There's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them.

UPDATED: White Supremacists Caught at Emmett Till Memorial Making Propaganda Film

A small group of white supremacists gathered around the Emmett Till memorial in Tallahatchie County, Miss., on Saturday morning, carrying a Mississippi flag and a League of the South flag.

Azia's Picks 11-1-19

You know what really grinds my gears? Constantly hearing from fellow Jacksonians, "There is nothing to do in Jackson." As soon as those words leave condescending lips and meet my Capital City loving ears, it's an immediate trigger for eye-rolling.

DOSSIER: GOP's Red-baiting Mailer Template, Campaign Lies, Bryant Miffed

Republicans are already sending out glossy mailers warming up the crowd in Mississippi and other southern states to the necessity of electing Trump apologists and enablers—that is pretty much what Reeves' whole campaign is about at this point.

Nominees Share History of Slavery, Plantations, Seg Academies in Natchez Senate Race

Republican Melanie Sojourner told the Jackson Free Press on Oct. 24 that she did not know as a young girl that the school she attended had been organized as a segregation academy at a time when white parents pulled their children out of public schools in response to court-ordered integration.

Q&A: Brittney Morris on 'Slay' and Celebrating Blackness

Brittney Morris, a Corvallis, Ore., native, visited Jackson on Sept. 24 as part of a book tour celebrating her first published book, "Slay," which released the same day.

Honda Battle of the Bands, JSU Selling Properties and MSU Walking Path

More than 1,800 student musicians and dancers from eight college marching bands across the United States will compete in the 17th-annual Honda Battle of the Bands on Jan. 25, 2020, in Atlanta, Ga.

Ellington