News

Teachers College and Women's History Month at USM and MSU Alumni Association Awards Banquet

Mississippi State University will recognize Ridgeland native Richard A. Rula as its National Alumnus of the Year during the MSU Alumni Association awards banquet.

Water Customers Still Getting No Bills as City Scrambles for Payments

The City of Jackson over-billed David Thompson several times in 2018, with his most recent water bill coming in at $937, even though he lived alone in his home in north Jackson near Ridgewood Road.

Sherry Overby

Belhaven University named Sherry Overby, an adjunct professor of human resources, leadership and business communications, the new director of human resources in January 2019. She replaced former director Virginia Henderson, who recently retired.

GOP Kills Tort Reform Amendment Requiring 'Reasonable' Safety Efforts

Businesses no longer would have to "take reasonable steps" to prevent violence on their premises after Republicans defeated a proposed amendment to a "tort-reform" bill working through the Mississippi Legislature, also called the Landowners Protection Act.

Youth Courts, Detention May See Reforms from Mississippi Legislature

A record 459 children were in custody in 2015 in Hancock County on Mississippi's Gulf Coast—the highest number of children in detention facilities per capita in the state.

Richard Sun, Mississippi Coding Academies

While Richard Sun spent most of his working life maximizing shareholder value, he says Mississippi Coding Academies, of which he is a co-founder, is about maximizing human capital.

Bryant: GOP Would've 'Hollered' If Obama Pushed Criminal Reform

"You're the only president that can do this," Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant says he privately told President Trump last year, as he urged the fellow Republican to support criminal-justice reform.

Walker Powell

The University of Southern Mississippi was able to take game one of a three-game series against Mississippi State University in Starkville on Friday, Feb. 22, with help from right-handed pitcher Walker Powell.

Hosemann Talks River Floods, Jackson Water, Yearly Teacher Pay Raises

Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann expounded Monday on a lawsuit against the federal government over flooding along the Mississippi River, but said his office would not "wade into" issues concerning Jackson's water quality.

Holy Crab Coming to Jackson, Arts Day at the Capitol and "Visual Voices"

The Mississippi Museum of Art will host a traveling exhibition called "Visual Voices: Contemporary Chickasaw Art" from March 2 to June 2, 2019, in the Gertrude C. Ford and Donna and Jim Barksdale Galleries.

Mike Espy Boosts Young House Candidate With Endorsement, Data

Brandon Rue, president of a student organization at the University of Southern Mississippi called Common Causeto, plans to run as a Democrat for Mississippi House District 102, the state legislative seat that represents much of Hattiesburg, including Southern Miss.

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.

After Death in Madison Jail, Family Files Lawsuit Against County

What exactly happened in the last 24 hours of Harvey Hill's life is uncertain, but his family is charging that he died due to excessive force in the Madison County Detention Center.

"Unframed Images" at MSU, Millsaps College Players at the Arts Center and Edible Book Festival at USM

Mississippi State University Libraries is partnering with Tuskegee University in Alabama and the Southern Literary Trail to host "Unframed Images," an art exhibition honoring the work of African American photographer P.H. Polk.

Voucher Program Helping Seg Schools Should Go, Education Advocates Say

On Valentine's Day, a voucher program that subsidizes private schools for special- needs children got the gift of four more years from the Mississippi Senate—even though many private schools in the state do not offer services for those students.

McKinely West

Senior sprinter McKinely West of the University of Southern Mississippi showed up and showed out at the Conference USA Indoor Track and Field Championship when he dominated at the 60-meter and 200-meter events.

Mississippi: The Battleground for Roe v. Wade’s Future?

Red states, emboldened by the Trump regime, are passing hardline anti-abortion laws aimed at triggering a reconsideration of Roe at the nation's highest court—laws like the fetal heartbeat bills the Mississippi House and Senate passed on Feb. 13.

Legislative Update: Tort Reform, Heartbeat Bills, Teacher Pay Moves Forward

On Feb. 13, the House and Senate passed "fetal heartbeat" bills, which ban abortions after a heartbeat is detected. Doctors can detect heartbeats as early as six weeks, making it a de facto ban on almost all abortions.

A Waiting Game: What’s Next with ‘One Lake,’ Flood Control?

Despite multiple roadblocks and open questions, the controversial plan to create a large lake along the Pearl River for flood control and potential development in the Jackson area continues to move ahead as project sponsors respond to thousands of comments that poured in last fall.

Spencer Thomas

Jackson native Spencer Thomas, singer and drummer for local band Young Valley, says that his upcoming solo record, "Hangin' Tough," is built around the theme of perseverance in the face of issues such as depression and troubled relationships.

Senate Passes $1,000 Teacher Pay Raise, Seeking To Address Teacher Shortage Crisis

Mississippi teachers would get a $1,000 pay raise over the next two years if a bill the state Senate passed last week becomes law.

New Restaurant at The District, Startup Weekend Jackson and Heavenly Sweetz

Brandon native Regina Wallace opened Heavenly Sweetz Bakery inside The Hatch in midtown in October 2018. The bakery offers cupcakes, tiered cakes, pies, cookies, sheet cakes and standard cakes in flavors such as caramel, Italian cream, lemon, strawberry and carrot.

Duvalier Malone at Tougaloo, International Percussion Festival and Margaret Tullos Field Symposium

Community activist, motivational speaker and author Duvalier Malone spoke at Tougaloo College on Wednesday, Feb. 13, as part of its "Real Talk" spring semester series.

Dem Lt. Gov. Hopeful Voted for Abortion Ban So White Dems Don't Go Extinct

Hit with a wave of anger from his own party after he voted for a bill that essentially bans abortions after six weeks, Mississippi House Rep. Jay Hughes offered a defense: He did it so white Democrats like himself don't go the way of the dinosaur.

Chelsea Causey

Senior forward Chelsea Causey kept Jackson State University's winning streak going over the weekend with her play against Alcorn State and Southern universities.

Tate Reeves Spoke at Event Where 'Yankees' Were Compared to 'Nazis'

Surrounded by cotton and Confederate flags, Mississippi Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves praised the Sons of Confederate Veterans at their national reunion in Vicksburg in July 2013.

State May Block Naming Jackson Officers Involved in Shootings

The public-transparency efforts of the City of Jackson in the last year may be for naught if legislation working through the Mississippi Legislature to protect identities of officers who shoot people becomes law.

Delinquent Water Customers Seeing Turn-offs As City Copes With Deficits

This week the City of Jackson started making good on recent warnings with water shut-offs for approximately 20,000 customers who are late paying their water bills, many resulting from problems with the Siemens contract to improve billing for customers.

Anne Moody

The Mississippi legislature passed a bill to name a stretch of highway in Wilkinson County after Anne Moody, a civil-rights activist who wrote a memoir titled "Coming of Age in Mississippi," in 2018.

Mississippi Gem and Mineral Society Show, Mississippi Scholastic Art Awards and Reunion Golf & Country Club

The Mississippi Gem and Mineral Society will hold its 60th annual show at the Mississippi Trade Mart Feb. 23-24.

Ellington