Breaking the Pipeline
It's graduation season in Jackson, and it's an excellent time to reflect on what it takes to do the best for the future of our state: our kids.
Lawmakers: Stop the Foolishness
The political dramas that are playing out in Washington, D.C., these days are so far removed from reality back here in Mississippi that it's shameful. In particular, the Tea Party's ability to get the Republican Party to (at least pretend to) swing even farther to the right has raised the level of gamesmanship to what is perhaps an all-time high.
Let the Private Sector Work
Jackson developers are pushing for the state government to move the Mississippi Department of Revenue into privately owned property somewhere in Jackson, and we can't blame them.
Waiting on Transparency
The past week was a decent week for transparency in Mississippi, at least compared to most weeks in these parts. For one thing, the city of Jackson launched its 311 service so that residents can both log inquiries and requests and track the progress of the response.
Sure, ‘Rebrand,' But Don't Stop There
A group of city and county leaders got together this week to hear a South Carolina company explain how it is going to spend three days talking to citizens and then present us with a plan to "rebrand" Hinds County.
Attract Creative Class With Art
The city of Jackson took a significant step forward last week when City Human and Cultural Services Director Michael Raff announced a public-art initiative. Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. has committed 1 percent of all eligible capital-improvement funds for public art displays around the city, and the administration is seeking community members to get involved.
Redistricting: Get Moving
The Mississippi House of Representatives did the right thing this week by stapling its Senate-rejected redistricting plan onto the Senate's own redistricting map. Both chambers must approve each other's redistricting map to complete the new districts by the June 1 deadline to qualify for House or Senate elections this year.
Reject the Partisan Posturing
Politics are getting uglier by the day.
Politics are getting uglier by the day.
Improve Jackson for Jacksonians
Jackson shares a perception problem with the rest of the nation, and media are manipulating that perception with the recent Census data. Why is it taking so long for the perception to match reality?
To Stop Flight, Be Consistent
There is a serious disconnect right now in Jackson. Since hysterical media reports of recent weeks about continuing "white flight" out of Jackson caused, well, a degree of hysteria among some city residents, it's been interesting, and encouraging, to watch many scramble to action to try to counter the loss of residents to the suburbs and beyond.
Of Contracts, Broken
Over the past few weeks, the Mississippi Legislature has bandied about a few anemic attempts at strengthening laws protecting victims of domestic violence. Among them is an addition to the state's divorce laws that would allow judges to grant a divorce if a couple has not been cohabiting for at least five years.
On Feb. 15, Vote Ice for Ward 1
The Jackson Free Press' readership is diverse in many ways, and we get criticized from the left and right for editorial stances and endorsements. Our editorial board believes in groups of people with varying opinions getting together to debate and discuss and, thus, find a better solution due to diversity of opinion.
Turn Down the Politics
With nearly two weeks before the Jackson City Council special election to replace former Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill (who left to serve as a Hinds County judge), candidate Quentin Whitwell was just as surprised as we were to find out attorney and activist L. Patricia Ice had jumped into the race.
State Needs Real Transparency
Mississippi, we have a problem. Governmental bodies and agencies from right here in Jackson (city, JPS and JPD) all the way up through state (secretary of state's office) have a really bad habit of trying to hide public information from you the taxpayer, or at least delaying it.
Stand Up to Senate Scheme for Votes
The Mississippi Senate shamed our state Tuesday when it approved an Arizona-style anti-immigrant law that will require law enforcement to profile anyone they think could be an "illegal" immigrant and demand their papers.
Politicians: Tone Down the Rhetoric
The United States changed Saturday morning, Jan. 8, when an apparently mentally disturbed man took out his anti-government venom by trying to assassinate a U.S. congresswoman, and killing a little girl, a judge and other people's loved ones in the process.
Building A Future that Works
Beginning a brand-new clean calendar at the turn of the year provides all of us the perfect opportunity to take stock of the past and make changes for a better future, especially those things we may have been procrastinating about.
End Mindless ‘Tough-on-Crime' Policies
A few weeks ago, the Jackson Free Press published a lengthy cover story exposing the mindless politics behind juvenile-justice policies that treat children as adults and end up turning many children into hardened adult criminals, increasing dangerous crime rather than making society safer.
Preserve JATRAN
Christmas often brings out the best and worst in people. During the holidays, we are so laden with do-lists, events and shopping that we don't always take time to look at the underlying issues in our city.
Stop the War on the Poor
During the winter holiday season, our thoughts frequently turn to those in need: the homeless, the poor, the sick and other needy souls.
You Get What You Pay For
The confluence of two events brought home hard truths about the values that some Mississippians seem to hold dear: The first was Gov. Haley Barbour's budget recommendations for fiscal year 2012. The second was our cover story this week about children being tried as adults and, subsequently, incarcerated in sub-standard facilities, or thrown in with hardened criminals in adult prisons.
Fix the Earmarks Process
Mississippi's U.S. Sens. Cochran and Wicker, whipped to a fury by Republican deficit hawks, have committed themselves to the idea of no longer sending earmark money back to their home state.
The Cost of Not Shopping Local
Jacksonians were bummed to discover last week that the city plans to raise water fees by 13 percent and sewer fees by 6 percent to shore up the city's budget after a drop in sales-tax revenue.
It's About Jobs, Not ‘Obamacare'
Republicans managed to snag a U.S. House of Representatives majority last week, and many consider this a "mandate" to repeal health-care reform meant to hold insurance companies accountable and provide more people with health-care options.
Free the Scott Sisters
Gov. Haley Barbour should pardon Jamie and Gladys Scott—and not because we believe beyond a shadow of doubt that they are innocent. He should pardon them because they have done the time for the crime they are accused of committing.
Bring Early Voting to Mississippi
Elections are already underway for more than 3 million Americans who have access to early voting. What we're wondering at this point is why not us?
GOP: Avoid Tea Party Kool-Aid
That Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant and many Mississippi Republicans are aligning themselves with the tea party comes as little surprise. Bryant told The Clarion-Ledger last week that tea-party beliefs "are much like mine."
Stop the Lakes-v.-Levees Drama
In recent months, the Jackson Free Press was pleased to see the Rankin-Hinds Levee Board seemingly get unlocked from the years-long Lakes-v.-Levees standoff that had prevented any forward movement toward flood control along the Pearl River and, with any luck, some smart and green economic development thrown in, to boot.
Don't Feed the Stalker
Since the JFP launched eight years ago, we have witnessed many disturbing examples of vicious and personal attacks and libelous smears on websites, our own and others, and usually by people who refuse to use their real name on their electronic missives. We've also witnessed how the attacks are usually aimed at women who express opinions or who are in public or office.
Reject FAIR's Immigration Agenda
Mississippi has a golden opportunity to become a nationwide leader, while putting to rest some of its not-too-distant hateful past.