Signs of Creative Life
Recently, Todd and I happened to be driving throughout downtown Jackson on a Saturday afternoon. Suddenly, we drove by one of the new art boxes.
The Partisan Blindfold
Passing a new tax in this political climate is like jumping into a pit of volcanic lava.
Lose the Health-Care Bickering
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to uphold most of the Affordable Care Act last Thursday predicated a firestorm of news and opinions.
Eight Years is Enough
Change is not a word a lot of people are comfortable with, especially in the South. But if you're frustrated with partisan politics, perhaps you should see fit to just send a message to those in power.
Keep the Faith, Baby
"God bless you, listeners! Don't worry about the crap hitting the fan: The Creator has a master plan."
Repeal the Rhetoric
The morning that the U.S. Supreme Court did not strike down "Obamacare" as so many believed it would do was yet another of those crazy busy days in the Jackson Free Press offices.
Get Your Brew On
Gone are the days when choice in beer meant something "exotic" such as an Amstel Light.
The Good Fight
A few months ago, after watching one of the Republican debates, I placed a call to my sweet little momma. She lives in what I call a FOX News bubble: She doesn't have access to the Internet or pay much attention to opposing views.
Beer Me, Mississippi
"Mississippi has the unhealthiest relationship with alcohol of any state I've encountered—and I lived in Utah for 14 years of my life," says Features Editor Kathleen Mitchell
Religion Without Holes
In the center of a dimly lit room in the National Archives sits a small book that Thomas Jefferson made by meticulously cutting out sentences and gluing them onto pages. It's a Bible, but not the whole Bible. Only certain sentences were worthy, in Jefferson's eyes, to be included in his Bible. He included nothing about miracles or the resurrection of Jesus or the Old Testament, resulting in a book of nice, familiar, vaguely religious advice.
Believe Her
Words count. One thing has become clear in reading Managing Editor Ronni Mott's cover story about sexual assault and rape this week.
Slave of Minimum Wage
Customers, get ready for a special 4th of July celebration at Jojo's Discount Dollar Store. Jogo wants to call this upcoming event 'What to the Slave of the Minimum Wage is the 4th of July?' Sale.
Fashion Police in Politics
Lets just get to the bottom line. The "saggy pants" debate is perhaps the most ridiculous, over-talked issue of modern times. It's downright stupid. And might I add ... stupid.
Inherit the Flame
I haven't written much over the years about the man I like to think of as my "real father." Maybe it's too painful.
Employers Shouldn't Dictate Birth Control Choices
Dr. Beverly McMillan is against birth control. Or at least any kind of hormonal birth control, from the regular pill to the morning-after pill, all of which she considers to be a form of abortion. The head of Pro-Life Mississippi, McMillan wants your employer to be able to tell you what kind of birth control your health insurance can pay for. Never mind that you pay for your insurance with your own labor, and often partly with your money.
Students Deserve Better Than a Quick Fix
In an election year where the question of our nation's fiscal future is front and center, we cannot forget that the educational progress of our nation's children is pivotal for renewing U.S. prosperity.
Fathers and Daughters
Fathers will show their daughters how to love and how to be loved in return. They are the first figure of strength daughters will ever know.
Private Prisons Flourish on Desperation
If you drive around Natchez, a sleepy river town of 16,045 people, and talk to folks, everybody has an opinion on whether Adams County Correction Center and its parent company, Corrections Corporation of America, have had a positive impact on the area.
[Stiggers] Hard Times Made Tolerable
Clubb Chicken Wing's goal during the recession is to create jobs for the unemployed. Our daily 'Hot Wing Happy Hour' provides unemployed Djs, emcees, college graduates, teachers with Ph.D.s and other mid-level workers with part-time income. And we are not afraid to host job-search seminars and resume workshops either.
[Kamikaze] Hold the School Board Accountable
I'm a proud product of Jackson Public Schools. I attended Boyd Elementary and Chastain Middle schools up until the 9th grade. I then went to St. Joseph Catholic School because my mother wanted me to attend Murrah High School instead of my neighborhood school, Callaway.
[Strachan] In Praise of Public Servants
Glendora businessman Mike Sturdivant passed away at age 84 on May 1, at his home on his Due West Plantation. It brought to mind many things about one of the Magnolia State's best leaders.
Hopes and Dreams
Last Friday was the first of the weekly Jackson Free Press summer intern workshops. With more than a dozen people stuffed into our classroom around the long stretch of tables, Editor-in-Chief Donna Ladd led a spirited discussion centered around the hopes and dreams of a talented group of young people.
Getting Past the Rhetoric of Hate
Here in Mississippi, our history is filled with people, events and creations that stir pride in us. Sadly, our history also contains wrongs, violations and prejudices that cast a long, shameful shadow over our state.
Why Write for the JFP?
Ugh! He's in my office again, with his holier-than-thou arrogance, his buffed-up hair and skin so alabaster he can't have ever seen the sun! What does he want this time? He's complaining about something. I do that thing where I look the speaker in the eyes and nod like I'm engaged, but my mind is elsewhere (note to self: middle daughter has caught on and extracted quite a bit of money from me last time).
The Pursuit of Excellence
Every now and then, I have to lighten up in this space. Rather than taking on the troubles of the world or trying to pull at your heart strings with serious commentary about something amiss in the state of Mississippi, I feel a calling to talk about the Jackson Free Press and our staff this week.
Back Home
I am not from Mississippi. That is, I was not born here. My momma and 'dem don't live here.
Wright Appointment Raises Concerns
At the Jackson Free Press, we believe strongly in second chances. People make mistakes, get caught up with the wrong crowd and follow the wrong people down the wrong rabbit holes.
[Stiggers] Satirist's Manifesto
I thought this would be a good time to write another reader's guide to my columns published in the Jackson Free Press. Since my last reader's guide, I continue to premiere new satirical characters that provide their opinions on the issues of the day.
[Kamikaze] Rich in Life
My oldest daughter graduated from high school this past Friday. It was a proud moment indeed, as she also finished as her class valedictorian. This fall, she'll be attending Jackson State University on a full academic scholarship.