On Beer, Progress and Summer
Every time we choose a local business, we’re making a choice to help enrich our local area.
Investigate the Hayne Cases, Gen. Hood
Reading journalist Radley Balko's May 15 piece on Steven Hayne in The Washington Post reminded me, again, of our broken justice system.
Media: Stop Feeding Bloodthirst Toward Kids
No doubt, research shows that treating even guilty minor suspects as adults increases recidivism and their chances of committing more severe crimes later.
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Blatant Disregard'
Mayor Yarber is right to be mad about the senseless loss of life in the capital city. Later, WLBT paraphrases Yarber saying the Jackson Police Department, which he oversees, would be making more traffic stops and, therefore, more arrests.
Step Up on LGBT Rights, City of Jackson
I am wondering how it is that Waveland just became the seventh city in Mississippi to pass a diversity resolution acknowledging that LGBT citizens are a valued part of their community, yet Jackson has remained silent.
Silencing Our Fear of Youth
This issue is all about uplifting black boys, but it's hard to empower black boys when we are so invested in constantly tearing them down.
What Chokwe Lumumba Taught Me
A good friend visited earlier this month. She used to live in Jackson, but moved away seven years ago to work as a community organizer in another city. And she, like so many people here, was a protege of Chokwe Lumumba.
Gov. Phil Bryant Must Explain 2681 Support
Either Gov. Phil Bryant has no idea what is happening in his own state—or he isn't being forthright about his motives for signing SB 2681, the so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Timely and Orderly'
A number of recent planned executions have highlighted exactly why the public should know more about the deadly cocktail states use to put people to death.
On Our Side of Town
"In the so-called real world, you will experience malicious attitudes from many corporations, business owners, and talk-radio hosts who believe people like you are just a bunch of inept savages with no culture."
Mrs. Truth, Mr. Humanity
I first visited Battle Creek's monument to Sojourner Truth, an illiterate woman who shed her slave name and chose "Truth," saying "... and truth shall be my abiding name."
When You’re Down and Out
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, who rode into the Governor's Mansion decrying the evils of undocumented migrant workers, says he also doesn't want "unions involved in our businesses or our public sector."
Justice System Should Help, Not Just Punish
Last summer, a SWAT team descended on the home of a man named Cornealious "Mike" Anderson in a quiet suburb of St. Louis, Mo., and took him to jail. The crime the man was accused of had taken place 13 years earlier.
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Representation'
As the county's top prosecutor and an elected official, Smith can do just as much as, if not more than, the public defender to see to it that mentally ill people don't rot in jail.
Teen Pregnancy, Misunderstood
It takes a lot of courage for teens to go to a clinic. Shaming them when they get there doesn't encourage them to come back or tell their friends it's a safe place to go.
AFA Bearing False Witness Against Businesses?
This past week, the American Family Association put out an "action item" that accuses the "We Don't Discriminate" campaign of being ... discriminatory.
What Mothers Do
At some point, parents have to recognize that they've given their children all the tools, and it's then up to the child.
Voter ID Is Here, Like It or Not
On June 4, for the first time in modern history, Mississippi voters will be required to show a government-issued photo-identification card before submitting a ballot. Registration for that election—the Republican and Democratic primaries—ended this past Saturday.
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Appropriate'
As of October 2013, there were 3,088 people on death row in the United States (48 here in Mississippi, which has the second-highest incarceration rate in the nation). A significant number of them were not convicted of mass killings or of killing children.
Talkin’ Softly to Each Other
"After hearing the news about a racist rant from Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team, Jojo called for an emergency meeting with the Jojo Discount Dollar Store staff. He also addressed a recent racial conflict between two senior citizens in isle 5."
No Matter What Happens
Throughout my life, I've had my fair share of heartbreak and heartache. I've had best friends come and go over the years, some just because we got older and others because of some conflict or other.
Random Acts of Love
I’ve long maintained that I don’t care for public displays of affection. I’ve said it countless times to two long-term boyfriends, a few suitors and my husband. By turning my nose up at other couples, I’ve been able to hide my fear of being spotted.
City: Make Smart Decisions on Contracts, Department Heads
From where we sit, mayors put too many people into key city roles, such as Planning and Public Works, for political or personal reasons.
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Light-Hearted'
Regardless of Hosemann's views and opinions, there are plenty of citizens and civil-rights groups that still fear that voter ID will disproportionately affect minorities, poor people, college students and senior citizens.
Whole, Fulfilled, Loved
Standing on the playground that day, it was clear I liked the little blonde girl who was playing in front of me. It wasn't in a "I want to be your bestie, jump rope and have a sleepover way," either. No, indeed, I liked her in the way I knew I was only supposed to like boys. I sat confused. How could this be?
Discrimination Isn’t ‘Religious Freedom’
You do not have religious freedom if every single American doesn't have it, too, including those you believe are heathens and sinners.
I Am A Feminist
We need to remind women of all races, ages and creeds that it is absolutely OK to ask for equality.
Jackson Needs a Transparency Movement
Every time Jackson has a city election, the Jackson Free Press news team spends the last week or so following the money, trying to track down shadowy, unregistered or unreported, groups that are either funding the candidates, paying for last-hour attack ads and, usually, lining up for payback and contracts.
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Retain'
Speaker Gunn's early advocacy for a teacher-pay increase led to legislative dialogue and, ultimately, a spitting match with Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves over who loves teachers more.
The Bill Collector at the Door
BoneQweesha Jones: "You are watching the Ghetto Science Team Public Television spring fund-raising marathon. The federal government's budget cuts are kicking our butts at G.S.T. Public Television."