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JPD Announces Drop In Crime

Crime stats released through city communications director Chris Mims Wednesday afternoon showed that overall crime in Jackson has decreased 16.2 percent year-to-date. According to JPD numbers, total property crime has dropped by 17.6 percent and violent crime is down 9 percent from last year. "In property crime, the most significant …

Jackblog

Hello? Is it Me(dicaid) You're Looking for?

Health-justice advocates are still calling on state lawmakers to expand Medicaid, and state lawmakers still aren't answering. The latest rally-cum-presser was this morning when hundreds of representatives of non-profits and social service agencies gathered at the Capitol to call on legislators to consider expanding the state health program for the …

Jackblog

Miss. Governor Nominates Anti-Abortion Lobbyist to Health Board

Gov. Phil Bryant has nominated staunch pro-life activist Terri Herring for the Mississippi Board of Public Health.

Politics Blog

Mayoral Candidate Chokwe Lumumba's Campaign Finance Report

The Committee to Elect Chokwe Lumumba, Jackson mayoral candidate Chokwe Lumumba's political action committee, shared its first campaign finance report with the Jackson Free Press this morning. The report, which you can see here, was filed almost two full months late. But it is just the fourth report filed by …

Jackblog

Bryant Ed-Reform Bill Pwned by House

Gov. Phil Bryant's Education Works bill is going to a conference committee after all. Yesterday, the House delivered a crushing defeat to Gov. Phil Bryant's Education Works agenda, the governor's everything-but-the-kitchen sink education-reform bill that includes charter schools, a third-grade reading improvement program, teacher merit pay and many other provisions. …

Jackblog

City Praying for Hal White

As you can see from this story by R.L. Nave, Hal White is an institution in the Jackson area. He is half the team that created Hal & Mal's three decades ago—the site of so many good times, so many new and old connections, and so much activism for great …

Jackblog

Attorney General Requests April Execution Date for Manning

The Attorney General is requesting that the Mississippi State Supreme Court set an execution date for Willie Jerome Manning on or before April 24.

Politics Blog

DOR Not Coming to Downtown Jackson

The Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration, which oversees the operation of state buildings, has recommended the former Worldcom Building in Clinton as the permanent home for the Department of Revenue, now housed in what's practically a shed, also in Clinton. Downtown Jackson had been a front-runner for agency HQ, …

Jackblog

10 Years Ago This Week, the JFP Opposed the Iraq War

During this 10th anniversary of the Bush invasion of Iraq, I remember well the week that the war started. The JFP was only a few months old and still making a name for ourselves. When we realized that Bush was actualy pushing ahead with the threatened Iraq campaign, we postponed …

Politics Blog

Jackson City Council Passes $12 Million Bond For Repaving Roads

In what could be seen as a win for Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr., the Jackson City Council voted this afternoon to approve his proposed $12 million bond to repave major thoroughfares throughout the city. The city council voted 3-1 in favor of the measure, with Ward 2 Councilman and …

Food Blog

Hungry? Jackson foodies share dozens of favorite local dishes

Just in time for the spring food issue of the Jackson Free Press next week, we asked on Facebook: What is your favorite dish at a locally owned restaurant in the Jackson area? What and where? We've gotten dozens of responses so far—and some great suggestions! Here they are: Nicholas …

Politics Blog

Women For Progress: Why Women Should Run

The progressive group Women For Progress held their bi-annual meeting at the Old Capitol Inn Friday, and the guest list looked like a who's who of women running for municipal office in Jackson. Most notably, mayoral candidate Regina Quinn and city council candidates June Hardwick (Ward 7) and Fran Bridges …

Politics Blog

Update: Secretary of State Validates Quinn Campaign's Incorporation

The office of Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann's office has responded to a request by the JFP to clarify the legal status of a campaign for municipal office being incorporated as a non-profit organization. In response to the question "Can a campaign set up as a unincorporated nonprofit corporation?" the …

Politics Blog

Musgrove Declares Himself a LGBT Ally

First there was Bill Clinton. Then there was Barack Obama. Then came Ohio Sen. Rob Portman and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Now there's former Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove. OK, maybe not in that exact order, but all of these elected officials eventually evolved to become–for lack of a …

Jackblog

City United Behind JSU's Stadium Proposal

In a move that should surprise absolutely no one, the leadership of the city of Jackson is united behind Jackson State University's proposal for a 50,000-seat domed stadium. The proposed project, expected to cost approximately $250 million, got votes of confidence from the city council Tuesday night and from Mayor …

Jackblog

State Government Over-reaching to Protect Concealed Weapon Carriers

The current Mississippi Legislature, under the watchful eye of a radical-right governor, Phil Bryant, is attempting a number of disturbing pieces of legislation this session. But few, if any, are more disturbing in a heart-of-being-an-American way than their recent legislation to protect the identifies of the residents who apply for …

Politics Blog

My First Encounter with Chokwe Lumumba

Ha. I was just doing research on mayoral candidates and found this piece I wrote about now-mayoral candidate Chokwe Lumumba when the JFP was all of about two weeks old. My (white) photographer Jaro Vacek and I showed up to cover this meeting and were not treated very well. It …

Jackblog

Hail Damage Insurance Inspectors at the Fairgrounds

The Mississippi Insurance Department has arranged for insurance companies to use the Mississippi State Fairgrounds as damage inspection stations.

Politics Blog

Regina Quinn's 2012 campaign finance report

The campaign to elect Regina Quinn mayor of Jackson has sent over a copy of the campaign finance report it plans to file for 2012. You can read it here. Quinn's biggest supporter is her husband John May Jr., who gave $25,966 over a six month period. The report does …

Jackblog

City might have to explore legal options on JATRAN hub

Mayor Harvey Johnson, Jr. and Department of Public Works Dan Gaillet gave an update on the status of construction on the JATRAN facility at Highway 80 and Valley Street at Tuesday night's city council meeting. The status: there has been no change in status. Gaillet laid out the timeline for …