JPS One Step Closer to New Superintendent
Jackson Public Schools has narrowed down the field of possible superintendents to two, and the public will get a chance to meet them next week. From 71 applicants, the board selected Dennis L. Carpenter and Cedrick Gray as finalists for the position.
JSU International Week
This is the 22nd year that Jackson State University will devote five days to celebrating cultural diversity and promoting education about other countries. From April 9 through April 13, the university's Division of International Studies presents International Week with events designed to promote cultural awareness.
JPS' Accreditation Woes
Jackson Public Schools is facing a hearing to determine whether it will lose its accreditation over failure to comply with changes to its special-education program recommended by the state, but district officials seem optimistic about the outcome.
Donna Barksdale
Donna Barksdale has been "everything from a Sweet Potato Queen to a clothing designer." These days, she puts her fashion expertise to work making sure that senior girls at Lanier High School have prom dresses.
Persons of the Day: JPS Superintendent Candidates
Following a search that has lasted almost a year, Jackson Public Schools has narrowed down the field of possible superintendents to two men. From 71 applicants, the board selected Dennis L. Carpenter and Cedrick Gray as finalists for the position.
JPS Selects Superintendent Candidates
The Jackson Public Schools board has narrowed the field in its search for a new superintendent. Two finalists—Dr. Dennis L. Carpenter and Dr. Cedrick Gray—will be in Jackson April 11 for additional interviews and community meetings.
Meredith McGee
When Darlene Collier's memoir landed on Meredith McGee's desk, McGee knew she needed more than just a typing service.
McMillin to Chair Parole Board
Gov. Phil Bryant has appointed former Hinds County Sheriff Malcolm McMillin to be chairman of the state Parole Board. Among other duties, the parole board reads applications for gubernatorial pardons.
Reeves Gives Democrat Immigration, Abortion Bills
The fate of some of the most contentious bills this year rests with Sen. Hob Bryan, a Democrat from Amory.
Thea Faulkner
In Jackson, people perceive public schools as having many problems and challenges, Thea Faulkner said, and rightly so. Sometimes, people focus so much on the negatives, however, that they don't notice the positive changes that many parents are making in their children's schools.
Marchers Protest 'War on Women'
About 50 people gathered this morning to march around the Capitol and oppose state legislators' attempts to pass anti-abortion bills and personhood legislation during the current session.
Reeves: ‘Very Close to Ending Abortion in Miss.'
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves has just released a statement expressing support for any bills designed to end abortion in Mississippi. We've been hearing speculation that the Senate, and Reeves in particular, planned to kill anti-abortion legislation from the House, especially since several Senate anti-abortion bills died in committee.
What's New in the JFP Photo Galleries
See photos from this week's events and newsmakers:
Family and friends
Arielle Wallace
A Jackson high school student has received a national award for her artwork. Arielle Wallace's printmaking skills have earned her a gold medal in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.
Laurel Leader-Call to Close
The Laurel Leader-Call plans to close this week. The paper announced that this Thursday's edition will be the last for the newspaper, which celebrated its 100th birthday last year.
Space Explorers for a Day
At Walton Elementary School on a Friday afternoon, students in one of the classrooms sat on the floor, rapt attention focused on one of their classmates who was sitting on a replica space toilet. Outside in the parking lot, another student sat in a miniature space shuttle cockpit, which lurched side-to-side as he steered it.
JSU to Hold Vigil for Shooting Victim
Jackson State University plans to hold a candlelight vigil this evening in honor of a freshman who was killed in a shooting over the weekend.
Candidate for Second District Releases Campaign Jingle
Cobby Williams, a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, recently released a campaign video, or "jingle."
Michael Thomas
Giving minority-owned businesses contracts with large organizations helps the minority-owned businesses find more jobs and grow Jackson's business community, said Michael Thomas, vice president of finance and operations at Jackson State University.
Veterans, Students Remember Civil Rights Movement
Several events this weekend are planned to honor people who participated in the Civil Rights Movement and to remember the struggle for racial equality in Mississippi.
Hell Hath No Fury ...
Gov. Phil Bryant's Facebook page has probably never been so popular.
Weekly COMstat Report
The Jackson Police Department's weekly major crimes report was just released. The report covers citywide crime for the week of March 12 through March 18.
Fondren's New Neighbors
Although some businesses have been in the historic Fondren district for decades, new stores, offices and restaurants are constantly setting up shop.
Abortion Foes Push New Restrictions
With personhood legislation finally out of the spotlight, lawmakers are taking aim at smaller anti-abortion issues, like placing new restrictions on abortion providers.
Charles Felton
In his first year looking into possible arsons at the Jackson Fire Department, Captain Charles Felton helped investigate more than 200 fires.
Let the Budget Debate Begin
The Joint Legislative Budget Committee is meeting this morning to review the state's revenue collections ahead of budget debates at the Capitol.
Anti-Corruption Laws Strong Overall
Mississippi is sixth in the nation for government transparency and accountability, even as our campaign-finance laws need strengthening, a recent report found.
Dedmon Hearing Set for Wednesday
A hearing for Deryl Dedmon has been set for this Wednesday. Dedmon is charged with the capital murder of James Craig Anderson in what prosecutors say was a racially-motivated hate crime.
Legislators Working Late
Lawmakers worked late into the night yesterday to pass several controversial bills. The end of this week is the deadline for members of the Legislature to vote bills out of the houses where they originated and send them to the other chamber for consideration.
Personhood Wants Another Vote
Personhood may be dead in the Mississippi Legislature, but supporters of last fall's ballot initiative to define embryos as human beings are stepping up their efforts to put another personhood amendment before voters.
Cotton and Churches
In the early part of the 19th century, a group of people traveled to Mississippi to escape some of the ethnic prejudices they faced in other parts of the country. Although fewer in number here than in other places, Irish immigrants contributed to many areas of Mississippi culture, from building grand mansions to founding towns to serving the church.
Senate Passes Sunshine Act
The Senate has just voted to pass the Sunshine Act, SB 2084. If it becomes law, the act would allow state agencies to bypass the attorney general's office and choose their own attorneys.
Cooper-Stokes Wants Weekly Council Meetings
Ward 3 Councilwoman LaRita Cooper-Stokes announced yesterday that she wants the City Council to hold weekly meetings. Right now, the council holds regular meetings every other week on Tuesdays, with special meetings on Mondays during the weeks when no regular meeting is scheduled. Here is the announcement from Cooper-Stokes, verbatim:
Santorum Wins Miss. Primary
Rick Santorum won a close race in yesterday's primary, with the other two Republican presidential candidates falling behind him by only a few thousand votes.
Biz Roundup: Wireless Gets Faster
C Spire Wireless, a Ridgeland-based cell-phone service provider, plans to offer the latest generation of broadband service, dubbed, 4G LTE mobile broadband services, starting in September.
Voter ID: What's All the Fuss About?
The voter identification amendment that Mississippians voted in last fall has been generating some discussion on our site the past couple of days. Specifically the debate has centered around comments from Mississippi NAACP president Derrick Johnson, who said recently that voter ID will disenfranchise college students, seniors and blue-collar workers in rural areas.
Primary Polls Open Today
Both Democratic and Republican candidates are hoping for decisive wins in today's primary elections.
‘They Do Not Speak for Me'
When she was 18 years old, Ashley Sigrest was raped and got an abortion. Now a mother of three, Sigrest volunteers with Personhood Mississippi and hopes to outlaw abortion in Mississippi.
Kendra Preer
Living three states away from Jackson didn't stop Kendra Preer from getting a doctoral degree from a Jackson university. Preer commuted from Ohio to Jackson State University once a month to earn an executive Ph.D. in urban higher education.
AmeriCorps Week Promotes Community Service
This week is AmeriCorps Week, a national effort designed to raise awareness of the AmeriCorps national community service program.
Personhood Mississippi to Push for Amendment Again
Personhood Mississippi president Les Riley announced yesterday that the group will begin another petition drive to put a personhood initiative back on the ballot.
GOP Candidates Make Stops in Jackson
With less than a week left before next Tuesday's primary election, several Republican candidates are making stops in Mississippi while on the campaign trail.
New School Planned for West Jackson
Plans for a new elementary school in west Jackson are nearing completion. The new school, which will be built at 1520 W. Capitol St., will replace Barr and Poindexter elementary schools.
Personhood Resolutions Die in Committee
Four anti-abortion personhood resolutions introduced into the Legislature have died in committee.
S.C. Republicans Want ‘Purity Pledge' from Candidates
In what sounds like a piece of political satire worthy of Steve Holland, a group of Republicans in South Carolina wants to make GOP candidates sign a "purity pledge" to promise marital fidelity. (I'll pause a moment to let you consider how many high-profile politicians of both parties this would disqualify.)
JRA Considering Farish Street Loan
The Jackson Redevelopment Authority is holding a special meeting this morning to consider entering into a memorandum of understanding with Farish Street developers.
Wish List for Charter Schools
The charter school bills currently making their way through both houses of the Legislature are not a done deal, said education advocate Pam Shaw. As the bills pass through committees and floor debates, there is still time for them to change.
JSU to Perform ‘Antigone'
An ancient Greek drama will play out at Jackson State University this weekend as the Department of Speech, Communication and Theatre presents "Antigone."
Jane Everly
Jane Everly says real learning means knowing how to innovate and apply skills across traditional subject lines. Her commitment to bridging the gap between various disciplines is part of the reason why Jackson Public Schools has named Everly, principal of Davis Magnet Elementary School, the district's administrator of the year.
Marchers Seek Equality
A demonstration for gay equality is underway in Jackson this morning. Participants met in the Fondren district and plan to travel to the state Capitol in Fondren's March for Gay Equality.