Thursday, January 31
Immigration
Bennie Thompson Calls for Evasive Trump Official to Testify to Congress
In a scathing letter, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., called on Homeland Security Secretary Kristjen Nielsen to appear before the congressional Committee on Homeland Security.
Education
School Safety Bill Advances in Mississippi House
A bill meant to make Mississippi schools safer from mass shootings and other threats is advancing. The House Education Committee on Thursday passed House Bill 1283 , sending it to ...
City & County
EDITORIAL: Mayor Must Repair City's Transparency Related to Policing, Crime
After asking for more than a year, the Jackson Free Press finally received the names and current status of Jackson police officers who shot people in the capital city since ...
Crime
House Seeks Baby Criminal Justice Steps; Senate Seeks Leap
Lawmakers in Mississippi's House are proposing modest steps to ease penalties on some people accused or convicted of crimes, but some senators seek much broader changes.
Person of the Day
Kelsey Jones
USM finally got its first conference win against the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Redshirt freshman Kelsey Jones added nine points, seven rebounds and one steal in the Golden Eagles' ...
Wednesday, January 30
City & County
UPDATED: Sewage Overwhelms Jackson Home as City Rolls Back Assistance
J.T. Newell, a resident of Jackson for the past three years, has consistently had a pool of feces in his yard.
Politics
Gov. Bryant Signs Law Aimed at Expanding Broadband to Rural Areas
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signed the Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act into law Wednesday morning surrounded by a bipartisan group of beaming legislators.
Books
Kiese Laymon
Author Kiese Laymon, whose memoir "Heavy" was one of last year's most acclaimed works, has won the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence.
Politics
New Mississippi Law Lets Electric Co-ops Offer Internet
Mississippi's 25 electric cooperatives now have legal authority to offer high-speed internet service.
Tuesday, January 29
Crime
Mississippi Celebrities Speak Out After Jussie Smollett Attack
Mississippi celebrities are speaking out after a racist, homophobic attack on "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett that Chicago police describe as a "possible hate crime."
State
Mississippi Asks Judge to Throw Out Mental Health Lawsuit
Mississippi officials are asking a federal judge to throw out a lawsuit challenging how the state runs its mental health system, but the U.S. Department of Justice, in papers filed ...
Politics
Sam Britton Announces Secretary of State Run, Pledges Loyalty to Trump
Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Sam Britton promised to "get government out of our lives" on Monday as he launched a bid to become Mississippi's next secretary of state.
Art
Metaphor in the Mississippi River
The Great Flood of 1927 affected many cities in Mississippi, including Greenville, the setting of New Stage Theatre's production of Marcus Gardley's "Hell in High Water."
Biz Roundup
New Hope Black History Month, Mississippi Arboretum Trail, ISH Grill & Bar and Corelle Brands
New Hope Baptist Church will host its eighth annual "Back in the Day" Black History Month celebration every Thursday during February.
Monday, January 28
Get Ready for the ‘Arctic Clipper’: Tips for Safety, Pipes, Food, More
An “arctic clipper,” a severe surge of cold weather from the North Pole, is on its way to Mississippi, and the City of Jackson wants residents to be ready for ...
City & County
Mayor: No ID of Cops in Head Trauma Death; Other JPD Officers in Shootings Finally Revealed
The mayor will not reveal the names of officers accused of killing George Robinson with a head blow, but the City of Jackson finally provided names and details about 12 ...
City & County
Mentoring Vital to Prevent Violence, Mayor Tells City Council
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba proclaimed January as Mentoring Month during a city council meeting on Jan. 22.
Business
Mississippi Agencies: Shutdown Could Spark Worker Furloughs
Mississippi's welfare and child protection agencies could have to begin furloughing state employees without pay because federal welfare money has been interrupted by the federal government shutdown.
Person of the Day
Terry Burton
Republican Sen. Terry Burton of Newton was hospitalized after suffering a stroke Thursday and his family is requesting privacy, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves said in a statement.
City & County
10 Local Stories of the Week
There's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them.
Friday, January 25
Immigration
Trump, Congress Leaders Reach Deal to End Shutdown
Yielding to mounting pressure and growing disruption, President Donald Trump and congressional leaders on Friday reached a short-term deal to reopen the government for three weeks while negotiations continue over ...
City & County
'They Brutalized My Brother': George Robinson's Family Accuse JPD of 'Murder'
"You all are not at a press conference today. You are at a crime scene," attorney Dennis Sweet IV told reporters gathered next to an early 2000s Impala in the ...
Person of the Day
Troymain Crosby
Sophomore guard Troymain Crosby might have turned the season around for the Alcorn State men's basketball team.
Education
Black History Month at MSU, JSU Alum to Direct Stennis Center, and Cookbooks for a Cause at USM
Mississippi State University has announced four events that will be part of its Black History Month celebrations in February.
National
Trump Associate Stone Arrested, Faces Obstruction Charge
Roger Stone, a confidant of President Donald Trump, was arrested in the special counsel's Russia investigation in a pre-dawn raid at his Florida home Friday on charges that he lied ...
Thursday, January 24
City & County
JPD Seeking Two Suspects in Waffle House Shooting Early Friday
The Jackson Police Department is investigating an attempted robbery and shooting that occurred in the 400 block of East McDowell Road at the Waffle House.
National
Sens. Hyde-Smith and Wicker Vote to Continue Shutdown
A splintered Senate swatted down competing Democratic and Republican plans for ending the 34-day partial government shutdown on Thursday.
City & County
Lumumba Added to 'Smart Crime Initiative' Despite Policing Decisions at Home
Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba is joining 15 mayors from cities in the U.S. in a Mayors for Smart Crime Initiative, the Center for American Progress, announced today.
City & County
Jewish Cinema Mississippi 2019
The 17th annual Jewish Cinema Mississippi film festival will take place at the Malco Grandview Theater in Madison on Jan. 24, 26, 27 and 29.
Health Care
Medical Marijuana Gains Momentum in Mississippi, with Majority Support
Medical marijuana in Mississippi is on pace to make it onto the ballot in the state next year, said Jonathan Brown, who is leading the signature drive.
Business
Officials Favor New Operator for Mississippi Zoo
Officials in Mississippi's capital city are choosing a new operator for the Jackson Zoo.
Politics
Former Mississippi State Rep. Bobby Shows Dies at 80
Bobby Shows, a former member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, has died.
Wednesday, January 23
City & County
Ronnie Crudup Jr. Running for Adrienne Wooten's Vacated House Seat
South Jackson and community activist Ronnie Crudup Jr. is running to be the next representative of District 71, the Mississippi House of Representatives seat Adrienne Wooten vacated to join the ...
Best of Jackson
Best of Jackson 2019
We here at the Jackson Free Press like to keep our focus on local: local people, local business, local food—you get the idea. There’s nothing to us more local than ...
Art
Best of Jackson 2019: Urban Living
We here at the Jackson Free Press like to keep our focus on local: local people, local business, local food—you get the idea. There’s nothing to us more local than ...
Best of Jackson
Best of Jackson 2019: Food and Drink
We here at the Jackson Free Press like to keep our focus on local: local people, local business, local food—you get the idea. There’s nothing to us more local than ...
Art
Best of Jackson 2019: Music and Nightlife
We here at the Jackson Free Press like to keep our focus on local: local people, local business, local food—you get the idea. There’s nothing to us more local than ...
Best of Jackson
Best of Jackson 2019: Community and Culture
We here at the Jackson Free Press like to keep our focus on local: local people, local business, local food—you get the idea. There’s nothing to us more local than ...
Best of Jackson
Best of Jackson 2019: People
We here at the Jackson Free Press like to keep our focus on local: local people, local business, local food—you get the idea. There’s nothing to us more local than ...
City & County
OPINION: The Stories We Tell About Jackson
We hear a lot of stories about our city secondhand from people who don't live here. Many of them are unflattering, and most are untrue.
Best of Jackson
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Celebrating the Best
Each year, we use Best of Jackson to highlight the best local businesses, people and organizations in the city.
Jacksonian
Jennifer Bell
Jennifer Bell's goal is to turn great athletes into great men, while allowing them to play the game they love, she says.
Health Care
A Bridge Too Far: ‘No’ to Medicaid Expansion
As the 2019 legislative session heats up, state legislators are again tussling over the Medicaid program and whether or not to accept federal funds that could expand coverage to as ...
City & County
Jackson’s Tripartite Assault on Crime; Cops on Leave After Man's Death from Head Injury
The latest murders in Jackson mean that the capital city could be on track for more homicides than in 2018, which was the highest on record since late in the ...
Tuesday, January 22
Crime
Criminal Reform Shows Strength at Capitol Gathering from Left, Right
After years of tough-on-crime approaches to arrests and filling prison, conservatives have joined the bandwagon for some types of reform to how America incarcerates its people.
LGBT
High Court Lets Military Implement Transgender Restrictions
The Trump administration can go ahead with its plan to restrict military service by transgender men and women while court challenges continue, the Supreme Court said Tuesday.
Education
As Proponents Rally, Mississippi School Choice Outlook Murky
It's unclear whether Mississippi lawmakers will seek to expand charter schools or public subsidies for private schools, even as proponents press for action.
Biz Roundup
Samantha Crain at the Art Museum, A Night on Us from Airbnb and Modern American Miss Mississippi
The Mississippi Museum of Art will host Samantha Crain, a Choctaw folk singer, songwriter and poet from Oklahoma, for a concert to mark the closing of the exhibition "Jeffrey Gibson: ...
Monday, January 21
Education
Mississippi Least Educated Despite Bryant's 'Better Than Ever' Claim
Mississippi claims the top spot as the least educated state in the country in a new study out just two weeks after Gov. Phil Bryant proclaimed that Mississippi's educational system ...
National
Kamala Harris Opens Presidential Bid
Kamala Harris, a first-term senator and former California attorney general known for her rigorous questioning of President Donald Trump's nominees, entered the Democratic presidential race on Monday.
Person of the Day
Kermit Davis
Mississippi's Kermit Davis is getting another crack at a big-time men's basketball coaching job nearly 30 years after the lowest point in his career.
Education
Mississippi Graduation Rate Hits New Record of 84 Percent
Mississippi is graduating a greater share of its students in four years than ever before, with 84 percent of public high school seniors earning their diplomas on time last year, ...
City & County
10 Local Stories of the Week
There's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them.
Friday, January 18
Business
Lucky Town Announces March Closing
On Friday, Jan. 18, Lucky Town Brewing Company announced that it will soon end beer production. The tap room will remain open until March 9.
Civil Rights
Mississippi Leaders Still 'Honoring' Racists, After All These Years
The head of the Mississippi state agency that sent out a tweet this week honoring Confederate General Robert E. Lee once attended a rally of a racist organization that refers ...
Education
UM Student Working with Smithsonian, USM 2019 Cultural Arts Series and "Stand to Stop Hazing" at MSU
University of Mississippi recently announced that junior art history major Grace Moorman will travel to Washington, D.C., to work as a curatorial intern at the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery ...
Thursday, January 17
Politics
Mississippi May Mandate Ten Commandments and Pledges to State, U.S. Flags in Schools
Mississippi law would require schoolchildren to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and see the Ten Commandments be displayed on public-school walls under new bills in the Legislature this session.
Business
Nissan to Cut Up to 700 Contract Workers in Mississippi
Nissan Motor Co. announced Thursday that it's cutting up to 700 contract workers at its Mississippi assembly plant, citing slowing sales for vans and Titan pickup trucks that it makes ...
Person of the Day
Hunter Renfroe
Current San Diego Padres outfielder and former Mississippi State University baseball player Hunter Renfroe might be the biggest draw of the night at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and ...
Wednesday, January 16
City & County
City: Man, 62, May Have Died After Altercation with Jackson Police
The City of Jackson sent out a cryptic and short press statement at 5:12 p.m. today, indicating that an older man may have died from an encounter with Jackson police ...
National
Shutdown Hits Mississippi Harder than 90 Percent of States
The ongoing federal government shutdown is doing more damage in Mississippi than in most states, an analysis finds. Mississippi ranks eighth, according to WalletHub.
Education
Bryant Pushes Teacher Pay, School Safety in State of State
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant used his final State of the State speech Tuesday to look back on his two terms and to offer proposals for his final year in office.
Person of the Day
Meg Weidner
Meg Weidner, a resident of Laguna Beach, Calif., who was born and grew up in Jackson, will debut "Best Mom," a film she wrote and stars in, on Jan. 29.
Tuesday, January 15
City & County
Due to Murder Spike, Lumumba Pledges More Surveillance, Prevention Efforts
Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba navigated between his "radical" criminal-justice reform stances and his decisions to increase policing surveillance in his press conference Monday, Jan. 14.
Politics
Mississippi Governor Giving Final State of the State Speech
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant is outlining policy priorities for his eighth and final year in office in his final State of the State speech Tuesday evening at the state Capitol.
Immigration
Judge Bars Citizenship Question from 2020 Census
A federal judge blocked the Trump administration Tuesday from asking about citizenship status on the 2020 census.
Politics
Lt. Gov. Reeves: No to Medicaid Expansion, Despite Strong Citizen Support
After weeks of speculation that Mississippi's Republican leadership might support expanding Medicaid in the state, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves slammed the door shut on Monday.
Biz Roundup
National Baptist Convention in Jackson, 2019 Dyslexia Symposium, UMMC Donation and Cultivation Food Hall
The National Baptist Convention, the largest organization of African American Baptists in the U.S., is currently holding its annual mid-winter board meeting at the Jackson Convention Complex from Monday, Jan. ...
Monday, January 14
Civil Rights
Columbia, Miss. Celebrates 200 Years
On Jan. 5, 2019, the south Mississippi town of Columbia, Miss., celebrated its bicentennial downtown.
Politics
Mississippi Treasurer Fitch Running for Attorney General
Republican Lynn Fitch of Ridgeland, Mississippi's second-term state treasurer, says she is running for attorney general because she wants to protect gun rights, fight opioid abuse and crack down on ...
Person of the Day
Gray Tollison
Sixth-term Sen. Gray Tollison, a Republican from Oxford, was unanimously elected Mississippi Senate president pro tempore on Friday by colleagues from both parties.
Politics
Juan Cloy Announces His Candidacy for Hinds County Sheriff
Former Canton Assistant Police Chief Juan Cloy has formally declared his candidacy for Hinds County Sheriff.
City & County
Mayor Lumumba on Murders: Police Cannot 'Enter the Minds and Stop These People'
Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba sent out a statement addressing several murders that roiled the capital city over the weekend—from a preacher killed in the Washington Addition to a teenager killed ...
State
Vicksburg National Military Park to Restore Access, Continue Limited Visitor Services
The National Park Service announced today that recently closed areas of Vicksburg National Military Park will once again be accessible to visitors starting January 14 using revenue generated by recreation ...
Friday, January 11
City & County
Jackson Free Press Hiring New Reporter: How to Apply
The Jackson Free Press is hiring a new Mississippi reporter. We offer a high-quality journalism environment, impactful work, supportive team members, good editing and skills development. The right candidate will ...
Health Care
Republican Candidates 'Looking at' Medicaid Expansion, Other States
At least two Republican candidates for statewide office in Mississippi are voicing support for Medicaid expansion—a policy state GOP leadership has long resisted.
Education
Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast at MSU, USM AIM Awards and Tougaloo Scholarship Campaign
Mississippi State University will honor Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and legacy as a minister, humanitarian and civil-rights activist during the school's 25th annual Unity Breakfast and Day of Service ...
Person of the Day
Max Cooper
The Japan Prize Foundation named Max Cooper, a University of Mississippi graduate and professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, as a 2018 ...
Thursday, January 10
Politics
Dem Chosen to Lead Prominent Committee in Mississippi House
The Republican speaker of the Mississippi House is appointing a Democrat to lead one of the top committees.
Politics
Hosemann Should 'Resign' His Office, Democratic Opponent Demands
One of Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann's potential opponents is calling on him to resign his office while he runs for lieutenant governor.
Person of the Day
Breein Tyree
Breein Tyree's career-high 31 points against Vanderbilt helped the Rebels to an 81-17 win over the Commodores. Tyree earned the title of SEC Player of the Week, making him the ...
Wednesday, January 9
Diy Guides
Handmade Lotion
Here is a simple lotion recipe to help get you through this cold, dry season (since I'm told we can't just sleep until March.)
Music
The Magical Music of Harry Potter
For Ron Spigelman, there is just as much magic in a conductor's baton as the wand of any witch or wizard. "Music, in my opinion," he says, "is the true ...
Food
The Nick Wallace Way
Though "farm-to-table" is a popular food and restaurant concept these days, it informed much of Jackson chef Nick Wallace's culinary background.
Politics
Delbert Hosemann Running for Lt. Gov: 'I'm Here to Apply for the Job'
Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann is running for lieutenant governor, he announced Wednesday morning.
Cover
The Most Intriguing of 2018
If you're glad to see 2019 finally here, you're not alone in that sentiment. The last year was a crazy and draining one, to say the least, but crazy often ...
Cover
Election-Year Lawmaking: What Will Happen?
Democratic Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood had stood discussed Mississippi's dismal national rankings in things like health care, poverty and education. Republicans such as Bryant and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, ...
Justice
OPINION: Gratitude and Thanks in a Year of Arrest, Jail, Losing Income, Byline
My employer in Mississippi prodded me in June to leave my job as a journalist in my hometown after police in a nearby city arrested and jailed me for a ...
City & County
City Wants State’s Help Recouping Funds
Jackson City Council Vice President Virgi Lindsay knows that although Jackson desperately needs legislative assistance with recouping uncollected funds, the 2019 session might be fairly stagnant.
Politics
Wise Women: A Mother-Daughter Judicial Legacy Continues
Hinds County Chancery Court Judge Patricia Wise (left) retired after nearly 30 years on the bench, clearing the way for her daughter, newly elected Judge Crystal Wise Martin, to continue ...
Art
Kris Wilson
Kris Wilson, a Canton resident and an art instructor at Holmes Community College's Ridgeland and Goodman campuses, sees his art as a way to get people to slow down and ...
Business
EDITOR'S NOTE: Resolve to Make a Difference, Support Local
Instead of centering my New Year’s resolution on things that just benefit me, I decided to focus on shopping and eating locally as often as possible to help bolster the ...
Tuesday, January 8
Politics
Mississippi Lawmakers Return to Capitol for 3-Month Session
Republican Gov. Phil Bryant is proposing a teacher pay raise as Mississippi legislators begin their three-month session.
Politics
Mississippi Auditor Files Papers to Seek 4-Year Term
The Republican appointed to become Mississippi auditor last year is now running for a full four-year term. Shad White filed his qualifying papers Tuesday at the state Republican Party headquarters.
Health Care
GOP Gov. Candidate Foster Pushes a Type of Medicaid Expansion
First-term state Rep. Robert Foster of Hernando says Tuesday he thinks working people added to Medicaid should be required to pay something for coverage. Mississippi would need federal permission for ...
Business
$1 Million Grant from FTA Will Help City Develop Transportation Corridor
The Federal Transit Administration awarded the City of Jackson $1 million to plan a transportation-focused corridor connecting 20 square miles.
Biz Roundup
The Quarter Lofts, Whimsy Willows Boutique and XplicitJ3 Fitness
Jackson-based real estate development company StateStreet Group recently announced the completion of The Quarter Lofts on Lakeland Drive.
Person of the Day
Lottie Joiner
The Margaret Walker Center at Jackson State University recently announced that Lottie Joiner, editor-in-chief of The Crisis magazine, will be the keynote speaker for its 51st annual Dr. Martin Luther ...
Monday, January 7
City & County
UPDATED: Former JPD Chief Vance Running Against Beleaguered Hinds County Sheriff
Lee Vance, who retired as chief of the Jackson Police Department in December 2017 after 30 years on the force, has filed to run in the 2019 Hinds County sheriff's ...
Immigration
Rep. Thompson Blasts White House's 'Outright Lies,' Calls for Hearings
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., accused the Trump administration of "outright lies" and called for hearings on the deaths of children who were in U.S. custody.
City & County
10 Local Stories of the Week
There's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them.
Friday, January 4
City & County
Verbatim Release: Pearl River Cresting
Due to an increase of water released from the Barnett Reservoir on Friday caused by local rains over the last 24 hours, the City of Jackson expects the Pearl River ...
City & County
With 84 Homicides in 2018, City Hopes to Stem Violence With New Cops, Strategy
The City of Jackson ended the year with 84 total homicides—a 30-percent increase over 2017's year-end count of 64.
State
Rains Prompt Flooding in Central Mississippi
Parts of Mississippi continue to deal with river flooding as rains continue to fall.
Person of the Day
Jackie A. Turner
Gov. Phil Bryant is nominating Jackie A. Turner, a longtime employee of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, to lead the jobs agency.
Politics
Appointed Ag Commissioner Seeks Election in Mississippi
Commissioner Andy Gipson of Braxton, a Republican appointed last year to be Mississippi's agriculture commissioner, is now seeking election to the statewide post.
Politics
GOP State Senator Files to Run for Mississippi Treasurer
Sen. Buck Clarke of Hollandale submitted qualifying papers to run for Mississippi treasurer Thursday at the state Republican Party headquarters in Jackson.
Thursday, January 3
Business
Survey: No Benefits from Almost Half of Mississippi Businesses
Nearly half of Mississippi businesses provide no incentives to their employees at all, a December survey conducted by the Mississippi Secretary of State's Office revealed.
Person of the Day
Crystal Allen
Crystal Allen, who joined the University of Mississippi Rebels this season, is a graduate transfer from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Politics
Tate Reeves Set to File in Mississippi Governor's Race Against Foster
Mississippi's second-term Republican lieutenant governor is on track to enter the race for governor. Tate Reeves is filing qualifying papers Thursday at the state Republican Party headquarters, ending months of ...
Wednesday, January 2
City & County
From Hyde-Smith to Police Shootings, Mississippi's Top News Stories of 2018
During an eventful 2018 in the United States, and Mississippi, the Jackson Free Press news team presented hard-hitting, enterprising and contextual journalism not available from any other news outlet in ...
Immigration
Trump Administration Denies Status to Young Immigrants Due to Age
Some immigrant youth looking to start over in the United States after fleeing abusive homes are seeing their applications for green cards rejected because the Trump administration says they're too ...
Immigration
Shutdown Day 12: Lawmakers to Hear Wall Plea at White House
President Donald Trump said his Homeland Security officials will "make a plea" for the border wall with Mexico during a briefing for congressional leaders Wednesday at the White House as ...
Biz Roundup
The Hungry Goat, Cultivation Food Hall and Crossroads Film Festival
The annual Crossroads Film Festival recently announced that it is accepting submissions from artists located within about a three-hour drive from Jackson for its music-video block.
Person of the Day
Rich Rodriguez
The University of Mississippi has hired veteran coach Rich Rodriguez to be its next offensive coordinator.
