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Sheriffs Decry Cutbacks, Private Prison Contracts
Mississippi sheriffs packed into Room 113 at the Capitol Monday to express frustrations after the Mississippi Department of Corrections announced a reduction in inmates housed at the 15 regional facilities in the state even as taxpayer money is going to fund private, corporate-operated prisons.
What Jacksonians Want in a New JPS Supe
Dozens of applicants are interested in being the next leader of the second-largest school district in Mississippi.
Debtors’ Prisons Out, Parole For More People
Criminal-justice reform is and has been a bipartisan issue in the Mississippi Legislature in recent years, and 2018 is no exception.
Corinth Will Settle in Debtors' Prison Case
The City of Corinth will stop locking up men and women who cannot afford to pay their fines or bail after reaching an agreement with the Southern Poverty Law Center and the MacArthur Justice Center.
Lawsuit: Inmates Have the Right to Free, Secular Books in Prison
Big House Books, a nonprofit that sends free books by request to inmates, filed a lawsuit against the South Mississippi Correctional Institution this week because inmates there cannot receive books that are donated, the lawsuit says.
Third Graders Who Failed Reading Test Eligible for Free Eye Exam
Every third grader in Mississippi must pass the third-grade reading exam to be promoted to fourth grade. When a student fails the third-grade reading exam, it could mean they are struggling to read on grade level. It could mean that they are having vision problems, too.
Addiction Treatment Center Moves to Baptist Medical Center in Jackson
Pathway Healthcare, a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center previously located on County Line Road, has moved its Jackson office to the Baptist Medical Center campus.
More Charters Ahead for Jackson?
By August, four of Mississippi's five charter schools will be up and running in the state's capital city.
Private Prison on Trial: Inmates at ‘Bleak’ Facility Tell Harrowing Stories
Merlin Hill was one of 19 inmates who testified during the five-week class-action trial against the Mississippi Department of Corrections for what they describe as appalling conditions at the privately run East Mississippi Correctional Facility near Meridian.
GOP Senators Praise Tax Cuts, Say Immigration Deal Unlikely This Year
Republican U.S. senators are concerned about the makeup of their chamber, which currently gives their party a slight edge in Congress by a one-vote margin. The stakes on Mississippi's Senate races, consequently, are quite high.
JPS to Change School Day Schedule for Middle, High Schools
School-board member Robbie Luckett said he intends to look at the district's makeup day policy because it needs to change.
2019 State Races Shaping Up; Hood Has Edge Over Reeves for Governor
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and Attorney General Jim Hood are the obvious candidates expected to face off in the 2019 gubernatorial election if both make it past the party primaries, although neither one has officially declared his intention to run for the office.
U.S. Senate Candidate Baria: Legalize Medical Marijuana Nationwide
Mississippi Rep. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, wants medical marijuana legalized nationwide. The state minority whip is one of six candidates running to be the Democratic nominee for U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker's seat.
How the Wage Gap Affects Single Moms
Amanda Furdge knows a thing or two about being a mom who fights for her kids. Furdge raises two boys on her own, as a single mother without child support.
Coalition Forms Against ‘One Lake’ Proposal
Several wildlife and environmental groups came together to form a coalition against the proposed "One Lake" flood-control/development project on the Pearl River a few weeks before the report detailing the proposal is published.
Reshaping JPS Needs Transparency, Inclusivity, Accountability, Locals Say
The hall in the Pearl Street AME Church buzzed with chatter as community leaders, students, Jackson Public Schools staff and Better Together commissioners worked to define "community engagement" as the commission begins its outreach efforts in the school district.
Statewide School Testing Task Force Named, Will Meet Next Month
Mississippi public high-school students will have a place on the statewide testing task force, which will begin meeting in June.
‘I’m So Scared’: Saving Kids from Suicide
In 2016, 385 Mississippians committed suicide, statistics from the Mississippi Department of Health show, which means more than one person per day took his or her own life in the state.
Undocumented and Caught in the System
Traditionally, the Federal Bureau of Prisons houses undocumented immigrants charged with federal crimes in "criminal alien requirement" facilities. Private prison corporations run the BOP's 11 contract prisons.
Encouraging Mississippians to 'Think Again' About Mental Illness
It was a blistering morning, but people from state government, nonprofit and advocacy organizations gathered at the Capitol to launch a public-health campaign, encouraging Mississippians to "think again" about their mental health on Tuesday, May 15.