News

Duane O'Neill

Duane O'Neill, who has served as president and chief executive officer of the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership for 25 years, stepped down from his position on Nov. 2.

'One Lake' Could Mean 'Catastrophic Failure' of State-Owned Bridges

One day before public comment closed on the "One Lake" flood-control and development project proposed along the Pearl River, the Mississippi Department of Transportation sent a letter to the Rankin-Hinds Flood Control District attorney Keith Turner.

Jeffery Simmons

People had high expectations for Jeffery Simmons as a five-star recruit out of Noxubee County High School.

Michelle Obama's Name Added to JPS Early College Program

The Jackson Public School District named its Early College High School Program after former first lady Michelle Obama at its Dec. 4 board meeting.

After Mississippi Stops, 2020 Presidential Candidates Emerge, Patrick Out

Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick was among potential Democratic presidential candidates who recently campaigned for Mike Espy in Mississippi, but now says he will not run, even as others who visited seem to be moving toward a candidacy.

'Between the Pines' Tackles Mississippi Sports History

When brothers Jon and Henry Wiener founded Bash Brothers Media, it seemed like a no-brainer to produce feature sports documentaries, Jon says.

Black Women Weigh Hyde-Smith's Win, Say Not 'Senator for All'

While Cindy Hyde-Smith made history as the first woman from Mississippi elected to Congress, it is hard for some black women to celebrate strictly on the basis of gender.

EasyKale, Canopy Center of Excellence and Shrimp Basket Ridgeland

Foodboro, an online community for food and beverage startups and entrepreneurs, recently named Jackson-based EasyKale as Mississippi's representative on a list of must-watch startup companies in all 50 states.

Jackson Woman Joins Dem Race for Governor; State Rep Exploring GOP Race

Next week, Velesha P. Williams plans to officially join the race to become the Democratic Party's gubernatorial nominee, she announced in a Nov. 29 press release.

Jackson Boil Water Notice Lifted in Several Areas

The precautionary boil water advisory in Jackson has been lifted in several zip codes, while other areas remain under the water notice.

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.

Mike Espy Files to Run Against Hyde-Smith in 2020 Rematch

On his 65th birthday, Democrat Mike Espy filed Friday morning to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith when it is up again in 2020.

Water Main Break Causing Citywide Water Issues, Need to Boil Water

Over 60,000 Jackson residents are under a precautionary boil water advisory until further notice, the City of Jackson said today.

Bloomberg Gives $1 Million for Jackson Art; Talks 2020 Plans, Stop-and-Frisk

The small-statured, thick-accented former billionaire mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, descended upon Jackson on Nov. 29 to announce a $1-million public-art grant, while perhaps putting out feelers for a 2020 presidential bid.

New Endowment Scholarship at JSU, Belhaven Commencements and USM Service Learning Seminar

Jackson State University alumna Annie Rene Harris Slaughter recently established a $100,000 endowment at the university in honor of her late mother, who was also a JSU alum.

Blair E. Batson

Blair Everett Batson, namesake and first chairman of pediatrics at University of Mississippi Medical Center's Batson Children's Hospital, died on Nov. 26 at age 98.

Mike Espy Came Closer to Senate Seat Than Any Dem Since 1982

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Espy did not win his bid for U.S. Senate in Tuesday night's special election, but he came closer than any Mississippi Democrat has in 36 years.

Noah Johnson

Noah Johnson, a redshirt junior quarterback from Tampa, Fla., led the ASU squad down the field at the start of the third quarter with a touchdown.

Judicial Run-off: Black Women Lead Hinds Circuit; Bryant Choices Bomb

Hinds County voters had a harder decision to make than most on Nov. 27, with six judicial seats up for grabs alongside the hotly contested, historic U.S. Senate race that resulted in Mississippians electing the first woman to Congress in Cindy Hyde-Smith.

Daisy Carter

Daisy Carter, executive director of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of the Central Mississippi Area, says that when her family was dealing with an addiction when she was young, she wishes they knew there was an agency to call on to help with treatment.

End Near for Racist Politics in Mississippi?

Wearing a long coat, she stood in front of a statue of Elvis Presley when she told the crowd that if her friend Colin Hutchinson "invited me to a public hanging, I would be on the front row."

‘They Want a Roe Test Case’: 15-Week Abortion Ban Moving Forward

For eight months, the nation's toughest abortion bill hung in limbo. The 2018 Mississippi Legislature sent the Gestational Age Act, called HB 1510, to Gov. Phil Bryant, who signed it into law on March 19.

Frances Fortner’s Family Seeks to Teach Lesson to City, Businesses of Jackson

Almost six months to the day, Frances Fortner's mother and father have filed a wrongful-death suit against the City of Jackson, Superior Asphalt, Sigma Corporation, IMS Engineers Inc., and Integrated Management Services Inc., their agents, contractors and employees on Nov. 16.

Ellington