Stories for January 2020 | Jackson Free Press | Jackson, MS

Stories for January 2020

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Friday, January 31

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Strong Arms of JXN to Hold Non-Violence Event in Grove Park

The Strong Arms of JXN program plans to train community members to canvas neighborhoods with high rates of gun violence in an effort to let them know about resources that …

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OPINION: Gov. Tate Reeves' Willful Ignorance Is Not the Gravest Sin

On Monday, Gov. Tate Reeves gave his first State of the State address on the steps of the Mississippi State Capitol, where he touched upon several topics: educational attainment, teacher …

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Robyn Kennebrew

Robyn Kennebrew helps people who have had charges on their records for years and have lost opportunities for employment or housing get a fresh start as the development coordinator for …

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Take Care of Yourself: A Message to Millennials

When mom tells her millennial "Take care of yourself," eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep and exercise might seem like it's enough. But for true self-care, young adults …

Thursday, January 30

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Hester Jackson-McCray Prevails in Special Election Committee

Rep. Hester Jackson-McCray, a black Democrat, is likely to keep her seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives after a long and contentious committee meeting Monday at the State Capitol.

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Angie Thomas Scholarship, JSU Emmett Till Panel and MSU Legal Conference

Mississippi native Angie Thomas, author of "The Hate U Give" and "On the Come Up," recently partnered with her alma mater, Belhaven University, to launch the Angie Thomas Writers Scholarship …

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OPINION: Healing Communities from Within: How to Survive Tough Times Together

Columnist Kevin Fong argues that emotional wounds are deeper, longer lasting and more toxic today, and they require more intensive work. He calls it Radical Healing.

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Mississippi Teacher Pay Raise Proposal is Moving Forward

A proposal to give most Mississippi teachers at least a $1,000 pay raise is starting to move forward at the state Capitol after the plan won approval Thursday in the …

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Aliyah Matharu

A two-game performance earned Aliyah Matharu recognition from the Southeastern Conference as SEC Freshman of the Week. She is the second MSU freshman this season to earn the honor, joining …

Wednesday, January 29

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Mississippi Former Gov. Phil Bryant Joins Consulting Firm

Former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant is joining a consulting firm founded by an attorney who had been his chief of staff.

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The Good Samaritan Center's Annual Winter Coat Drive

On Jan. 31 at noon, the Good Samaritan Center hosts its annual winter coat and clothing drive to provide appropriate winter attire to donate to low income families struggling to …

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New Republican Legislator Resigns Under Pressure from Speaker Gunn

Mississippi House Rep. Ramona Blackledge, the Republican woman whom Jones County voters sent to Jackson to represent them in the Mississippi House of Representatives, is resigning just weeks into her …

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OPINION: Granting Clemency One Solution to Mississippi Prison Crisis

"Over the last few weeks, news about the conditions of Mississippi's prison system have exposed the need to see the humanity of people in prison."

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Reggie Perry

Reggie Perry's mother and sister were on hand for his game at Florida, about a two-hour drive from his hometown. Perry treated them to one of his best collegiate performances.

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Mississippi Inmate Dies After Collapsing at Regional Prison

An autopsy will be done on an inmate who died after he became ill while talking to a relative on the telephone, the Mississippi Department of Corrections said.

Tuesday, January 28

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Trump Peace Plan Delights Israelis, Enrages Palestinians

President Donald Trump unveiled his long-awaited Middle East plan Tuesday, winning immediate praise from a beaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but a swift rejection from the Palestinians, who called …

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Less Blues, More Gospel In Gov. Tate Reeves' State of the State

New Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves closed his State of the State address Monday night by promising to "sing the gospel" of Mississippi, after rejecting pessimism, pettiness, ivory towers, gender studies …

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OPINION: RIP 8 and 24: Kobe Bryant's Legacy a Blueprint for Overcoming Flaws

"Ultimately, (Kobe) Bryant's death at 41 teaches that people must strive for quality of life and not quantity of life. It is the dash between one's birth and death that …

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Stone Abdullah

Clinton resident Stone Abdullah received a $500 mini-grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission in November 2019 to support advertising, marketing materials and distribution for his book "Journey of the Shadow, …

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New Stage Presents Roald Dahl's 'Matilda the Musical'

This winter season, New Stage Theatre presents Roald Dahl's "Matilda the Musical," directed by Sharon Miles with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.

Monday, January 27

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GOP Defends Trump as Bolton Book Adds Pressure for Witnesses

Pressure increased Monday on senators to call John Bolton to testify at President Donald Trump's impeachment trial even as defense lawyers brushed past extraordinary new allegations from Trump's former national …

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Jackson Boil Water Notice Lifted

The precautionary boil water notice for the following residents on our drinking water system is now lifted.

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'Beaten, Broken, Tired': Prison Protest Draws Families, Activists to Mississippi Capitol

Families mourned the death of their loved ones while in Mississippi Department of Corrections custody and shared their fears for those who are still alive and enduring squalid conditions in …

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Hungry Goat Fondren, Babalu Remodeling and Yakiniku Grill

Flowood residents Jordan and Paul Yamas opened a second location for their restaurant, The Hungry Goat, in Fondren on Monday, Jan. 27.

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UPDATED: City Issues Citywide Boilwater Alert

The City of Jackson Water/Sewer Utilities Division has issued a water conservation advisory until further notice for all customers being served by the City of Jackson Water System.

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Inmate Found Dead at Mississippi Prison

A Mississippi inmate was found dead in his one-man cell, the corrections department said Sunday, the latest fatality in the state's troubled prison system.

Friday, January 24

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Sen. Roger Wicker to Jackson Man: ‘President Trump Will Be Acquitted’

"By impeaching President Trump on a partisan basis and with little evidence, House Democrats have ignored precedent and set a dangerous course. The rules in their process raised serious concerns …

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Poll: Mississippians Back Medicaid Expansion, Hyde-Smith ‘Flailing’

"Given her flailing approval rating, it is no surprise that Senator Hyde-Smith is in an already tightening race with Mike Espy," Espy Campaign Manager Joe O'Hern said. "Whether it is …

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Azia's Picks 1/24/2020

We made it to Friday once again Jacksonians, and we are finally getting to see some sunshine again. The Capital City is popping with a variety of occasions to get …

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William G. "Skipper" Holliman

BancorpSouth Bank's Board of Directors appointed William G. "Skipper" Holliman of Tupelo, Mississippi, as a director of the company effective as of January 22, 2020.

Thursday, January 23

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Furious West Jackson Residents Seek Answers, Solutions After Flooding

The atmosphere was tense at Pearl Street African Methodist Episcopal Church on Tuesday, Jan. 23, as west Jackson residents gathered to call for state officials to address last week's massive …

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Republicans Assigned to Most Top Jobs in Mississippi House

Republicans will continue to hold most leadership positions during this four-year term in the Mississippi House, where the party has more than 60% of the seats.

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Dear Silas Promotes Sonic Boom, DSU Food Pantry and USM Book Festival

Mississippi native rappers Dear Silas and Big K.R.I.T. recently released a collaborative music video for their song "I Got It" that pays homage to great things about Jackson and features …

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Deshaw Andrews

Alcorn State University senior forward Deshawn Andrews is enjoying an incredible stretch of basketball.

Wednesday, January 22

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Best of Jackson 2020

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 …

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Best of Jackson 2020: Food

There's nothing to us more local than Best of Jackson. We're officially in our 18th annual award season. Here is who you voted as the best local people, places, food …

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Best of Jackson 2020: Community and Culture

There's nothing to us more local than Best of Jackson. We're officially in our 18th annual award season. Here is who you voted as the best local people, places, food …

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Best of Jackson 2020: Urban Living

There's nothing to us more local than Best of Jackson. We're officially in our 18th annual award season. Here is who you voted as the best local people, places, food …

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Best of Jackson 2020: Nightlife and Music

There's nothing to us more local than Best of Jackson. We're officially in our 18th annual award season. Here is who you voted as the best local people, places, food …

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Best of Jackson 2020: People

There's nothing to us more local than Best of Jackson. We're officially in our 18th annual award season. Here is who you voted as the best local people, places, food …

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OPINION: Love Letter to Jackson: You Need My Grind, Sweat and Tears

"Jackson, Miss., is the new mecca for innovation and forward progress and will be an example for cities nationwide with similar back stories. I refuse to leave you right when …

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Bipartisanship, Prisons, Gangs, Teacher Pay and Tarnished Lawmakers

Delbert Hosemann's ascent to the lieutenant governor's seat opened the possibility for a more bipartisan Senate than in recent sessions, even as Mississippi faces its most Republican-led state government since …

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Jackson’s Need for a Collaborative ‘Growth Mindset’

"On vexing community issues like violence, we can find and embrace solutions that are evidence-tested in other cities and that make a hell of a lot of sense for Jackson …

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Lorenzo Sutton: A Sports Fan and A Good Man

Lorenzo Sutton worked at Jackson State University's eCenter doing maintenance work until he became the building manager at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in July 2019.

Tuesday, January 21

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Causes, Solutions to Gun Violence in Jackson Emerge at MLK Day Forum

Disinvestment in Jackson communities, lax gun-control laws and a failing mental health system—all under the State's purview—all create conditions for violence. So do gentrification, white flight and black flight.

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OPINION: Ugly Mississippi Prison Conditions Need Humanitarian Reforms

The era of mass incarceration involves both prison overcrowding and the nature of private prisons, a controversy to which the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman has also been linked.

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Catherine Young

Crystal Springs native Catherine Young has served as senior vice president of the Memphis-Mid South Mississippi branch of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, a national breast cancer advocacy organization, since …

Monday, January 20

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Coroner: Inmate Dies, Found Hanging at a Mississippi Prison

An inmate at a Mississippi prison that was a focus of recent deadly unrest was found hanging in his cell by two corrections officers over the weekend and pronounced dead, …

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Join West Central Jackson Community Urgent Conversation To Address Flooding

A community meeting will be held to collect information, concerns, suggestions, solutions, and recommendations to address the flooding in West Central Jackson.

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State's Payments to CoreCivic for Housing Inmates at Private Prison May Exceed Legal Limits

Mississippi's emergency contract with a private prison corporation to house 375 inmates could exceed legal limits even more than previously known.

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OPINION: Pelicia Hall and the Political Emptiness of 'Black Girl Magic'

Many believe "Black Girl Magic" improves on the silences in "black power" and is validly wielded against patriarchy. Columnist Adofo Minka argues that a closer look reveals it is an …

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Roberts Co. Purchasing McDade's, Junior League Jumble and Double Up Mississippi

Hattiesburg-based Roberts Company, Inc., will assume ownership of the four McDade's Market and Froogel's Market locations in Jackson, as well as McDade's Wine and Spirits in Maywood Mart, effective Monday, …

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Kristen Allen: HeARTworks Champion

Kristen Allen finds herself tearing up as she reflects on the connections she's made at HeARTworks. "It truly is heaven on earth," she says. "We have something special, and I …

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Martin Luther King Holiday: Faith, Politics Mix This Holiday

The nation is marking the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with tributes Monday recalling his past struggles for racial equality, observing the federal holiday named for him …

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Pro-gun Rally by Thousands in Virginia Ends Peacefully

Tens of thousands of gun-rights activists from around the country rallied peacefully at the Virginia Capitol on Monday to protest plans by the state's Democratic leadership to pass gun-control legislation.

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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 17

Tease photo Personhood

No Reconsideration for 15-Week Abortion Ban Ruling, 5th Circuit Tells Mississippi

A federal court decision that struck down Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban will stand for now.

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UM Confederate Statue Stays Put for Now as IHL Punts

The Confederate statue on the University of Mississippi's Oxford campus will stay put for now after the Institutions of Higher Learning Board tabled a motion to relocate it yesterday.

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OPINION: Southern Evangelical: Trump 'Fits the Scriptural Definition of a Fool'

"I can find very little in Trump's deeds as president that promote the message of the Gospel. I am afraid this hypocrisy will set the Evangelical movement back by decades."

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12-Year Sentence for Jail Phone is 'Failure,' Justice Says

The Mississippi Supreme Court's confirmation of a 12-year prison sentence for an African American man who carried his mobile phone into a county jail cell is being slammed as a …

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Vic Schaefer

Mississippi State's win over LSU provided a perfect picture of what coach Vic Schaefer is dealing with in a transition year.

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Azia's Picks 1-17-20

What are you in the mood for after a long, productive week? Let's plan a weekend together, starting with my top picks.

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Flooding in Jackson Metro Ongoing Concern, More Rain Expected

Flooding remains a risk in the Jackson metro area three days after Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba declared an emergency, due to pending rainfall and high water levels in the Pearl …

Thursday, January 16

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Mississippi Governor: Prison Violence Was a 'Catastrophe'

Mississippi's new governor said Thursday that the state will conduct a nationwide search for a new commissioner to lead a state prison system that's reckoning with what he called a …

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Putin Fast-Tracks Effort to Extend His Rule in Russia

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday fast-tracked work on constitutional changes that could keep him in power well past the end of his term in 2024 while lawmakers quickly sealed his …

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Trump's Impeachment Trial Underway With Reading of Charges

The U.S. Senate opened the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Thursday, with House Democrats reading the formal charges in the chamber ahead of the swearing in of all …

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Physicians Push Back on Medical Marijuana Opposition in Mississippi

A number of state Mississippi physicians are pushing back after the State Board of Health decried a push to legalize medical marijuana.

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MSU and USM Martin Luther King Day Events and Millsaps Humanities Award

Donald Shaffer, an associate professor of English and director of African American Studies at Mississippi State University, will serve as the keynote speaker at the university's 26th annual Dr. Martin …

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Watchdog: White House Violated Law in Freezing Ukraine Aid

The White House violated federal law in withholding security assistance to Ukraine, an action at the center of President Donald Trump's impeachment, a federal watchdog agency said Thursday.

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Ukraine Opens Probe of Possible Surveillance of Ambassador

Ukrainian police said Thursday they have opened an investigation into the possibility that the U.S. ambassador came under illegal surveillance by an unknown party before she was recalled from her …

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Board Delays Vote on Moving Confederate Monument at Ole Miss

A Confederate monument will remain, for now, in a prominent spot on the University of Mississippi campus, nearly a year after student leaders requested that it be moved to a …

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Second Annual Jackson Book Festival: An Intellectual Revolution

A dedicated group of Jacksonians, fed up with the intellectual disparity within predominantly black communities, decided to form The Community Library Initiative with the vision of increasing literacy and creating …

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Mike Leach

New Mississippi State University head coach Mike Leach will certainly be a fun one to watch during press conferences. Leach has been known to discuss topics such as vikings versus …

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Jackson Police Department Seeking Leads for Murder

Jackson Police still needs assistance from the public with identifying the individual(s) responsible for the murder of, Shadrick Simmons.

Wednesday, January 15

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Gov. Tate Reeves Touts 'Loving Culture,' Need for Unity in Mississippi

Republican Tate Reeves is now the governor of Mississippi, presiding over a deeply red government and a legion of interests looking for pieces of the state government's full coffers.

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OPINION: Probation for Profit; Little More Than a Scam

Profiting off probation has become big business in Mississippi, and it is costing us all in ways we don't even realize.

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Lawsuit Says Mississippi Prisons are 'Plagued by Violence'

More than two dozen Mississippi inmates sued the state Tuesday, saying understaffed prisons are “plagued by violence” and inmates are forced to live in decrepit and dangerous conditions.

Tuesday, January 14

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Jackson Under Flash Flood Emergency: ‘Not Out of the Woods,' Risks Still High

The National Weather Service in Jackson declared a flash-flood emergency on Tuesday, Jan. 14, due to heavy rainfall and already-high water levels in the Pearl River.

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Russians Hacked Company Key to Ukraine Scandal

A U.S. cybersecurity company says Russian military agents have successfully hacked the Ukrainian gas company at the center of the scandal that led to President Donald Trump's impeachment.

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Pelosi Sets Wednesday Votes to Send Impeachment to Senate

After weeks of delay and strategizing, the U.S. House is planning to vote Wednesday to send the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate to start the …

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Mississippi U.S. Reps Face Challenges from the Left and the Right in 2020

A University of Mississippi law professor and self-described "Democratic socialist" is challenging her district's U.S. House representative, Republican Trent Kelly, in this year's election.

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Bobbie Wilson

The Jackson State University National Alumni Association named Bobbie Wilson, a Clinton resident who serves on the JSUNAA's regional board, as its 2019 Alumnus of the Year during the JSU …

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Nick Cave: Feat

Nick Cave, an African American, Chicago-native artist, has produced a cornucopia of works using various mediums to create sculptures, installations, videos and performances.

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The 2020 Inauguration Speech of Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves

Gov. Tate Reeves took the oath of office today at the Mississippi Capitol beneath gloomy skies, surrounded by the state's new leadership. The governor's speech centered around unity, even as …

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Womanist Alliance March

The Womanist Alliance in Jackson has been building political power and cultivating Jackson's growing community of activists for the past three years.

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OPINION: D.J. Durkin as UM Football Coach Reduces Life of Jordan McNair

D.J. Durkin's hiring raises important questions for the sport of college football: Are there any consequences for elite, white men in positions of power? And just how low are we …

Monday, January 13

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Mississippi Officials Set to Rule on Controversial Landfill

Mississippi's Department of Environmental Quality is set to decide on whether a controversial new landfill will be allowed in a county that already has two other trash dumping sites.

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Mayor Lumumba: Violence Prevention Must Take Into Account Poverty and Gun Laws

Addressing reporters last Friday in the wake of high end-of-year homicide rates, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba highlighted his administration's efforts to curb violence in the city through a variety …

Tease photo Biz Roundup

JXN Welcome Center, Iron Horse Patio and Mural and Food Truck Face-off

Visit Jackson opened the JXN Welcome Center, first full-service welcome center in Jackson on Friday, Jan. 10, inside the Electric Building at the corner of East Pearl and West Streets.

Friday, January 10

Tease photo City & County

JPS School Closures and Consolidations Raise Concerns in Jackson

Earlier this week, the Jackson Public Schools' board of trustees voted to close and consolidate several schools as part of the district's ongoing efforts to address decreasing student enrollment, teacher …

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DOSSIER: Shame on WLBT for Dishonoring Past with Empty Crime Rhetoric

WLBT, the NBC affiliate of the Atlanta-based Gray Television, climbed fully on board with U.S. Attorney Hurst's false rhetoric that Jackson leaders and other locals are somehow "denying" gun violence …

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Seth Power: 'Souvenir'

Growing up, Seth Power found himself locked away in his room for several hours a day, writing songs with his new recording software. The only force that could push Power …

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Both Parties in New Mississippi Senate Leadership Roles

Mississippi's new Republican lieutenant governor is putting together a bipartisan leadership team in the state Senate for the new four-year term.

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Mississippi, Lacking Guards, Sends Inmates to Private Prison

Mississippi's prison system signed a 90-day contract to shift 375 inmates from the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman to a nearby private lockup, saying it doesn't have the guards to …

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Azia’s Picks 1-10-20

Mark my words: Jackson is the new mecca for innovation and forward progress and will be an example to follow for cities nation-wide with similar backstories. Let me help you …

Thursday, January 9

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Facebook Again Refuses to Ban Political Ads, Even False Ones

Despite escalating pressure ahead of the 2020 presidential election, Facebook reaffirmed its freewheeling policy on political ads Thursday, saying it won’t ban them, won’t fact-check them and won’t limit how …

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Trump Proposes Sweeping Rollback of Environmental Oversight

In a dramatic rollback of environmental oversight, President Donald Trump took action Thursday to clear the way and speed up development of a wide range of commercial projects by cutting …

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Iran Downed Ukrainian Jetliner, US, Canadian Officials Say

Evidence indicates it is “highly likely” that an Iranian anti-aircraft missile downed a Ukrainian jetliner near Tehran late Tuesday, U.S. and Canadian officials said Thursday.

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Lawmaker Who Called for Lynching of Confederate Statue Foes Elevated

In 2017, Mississippi House Rep. Karl Oliver wrote that Louisiana leaders ought to be "LYNCHED" for removing Confederate monuments. On Jan. 8, House Speaker Philip Gunn made him vice chair …

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JSU MLK Convocation, UM MLK Day of Service and MSU Veterinary Camp

Constance Slaughter-Harvey, former Mississippi assistant secretary of state and general counsel, will deliver the keynote address at Jackson State University's annual Martin Luther King Jr. convocation on Friday, Jan. 17.

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Mike Jones

After 11 years away from coaching, Mike Jones returned to the sideline on Monday, March 18, after Mississippi College renamed him as its head basketball coach.

Wednesday, January 8

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Mississippi Working to Cover Full Cost of Teacher Pay Raise

Mississippi lawmakers are working on funding the final portion of a pay raise that teachers started receiving this school year. The $1,500 raise was approved during the 2019 legislative session, …

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District to Close School, Consolidate Others to Save Money

Trustees over the second-largest school district in Mississippi have voted to close an elementary school and consolidate two middle schools.

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Five Tips for Leading a Healthier Life this New Year

I asked friends of mine who are professional fitness trainers, sports coaches and nutritionists to give me some tips, and now I am sharing an assortment of their recommendations to …

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Thalia Mara Hall: Winter Music(al) Preview

Now that we have entered the winter months of 2020, it's a great time to take a peek at the music-centered performances that Jacksonians can look forward to at Thalia …

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Exploring Alternate Worlds Within a Contemporary Space

There's no greater joy than falling into a piece of metafiction—fiction that is about fiction—with little to no pretense. A consistently rising trend within literary fiction, these works tempt the …

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Willie Williams Jr.: Family-Taught Lessons 2Go

From a clothing store to a nightclub to a car lot, Willie Williams Jr. has owned many businesses, but he ventured into the restaurant industry and now owns and runs …

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Jeffrey Caliedo: Jacksonian High Schooler Accepted into Yale

When colleges open the fall semester, a Jackson native will take his writing skills and experience eastward. Murrah High School senior Jeffrey Caliedo has been accepted to Yale University on …

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EDITOR'S NOTE: A Series of Very Fortunate Events; My First JFP-iversary

"Today marks a year since I began working for the Jackson Free Press. Much has happened since I meekly walked through that door. Before I get into that, though, allow …

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Iran Retaliates with Missiles in 'Slap' at US Bases in Iraq

Iran struck back at the United States early Wednesday for killing its most powerful military commander, firing a barrage of ballistic missiles at two Iraqi military bases that house American …

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Police Task Forces ‘Waste of Time’ for Violence Prevention?

Law-enforcement efforts to combat violent crime in Jackson in recent years have increasingly focused on the creation of multi-agency task forces, which identify high-crime regions or criminal activity, gather intelligence, …

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OPINION: Educator; What About Us? Who Will Help the Helpers?

"I am one of four daughters who descends from a very long line of ancestral educators. They instilled in me that education is the rudiment to a forward-thinking life of …

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MDOC Hits ‘Breaking Point’

Inmate deaths are not a new phenomenon in Mississippi. Some family members and activist organizations, like the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, have pointed to a lack of funding …

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2020 Legislative Preview: GOP In Charge, But Conflict Ahead?

The GOP's newfound dominance in Mississippi does not mean a pacified Legislature, outgoing House Minority Leader Rep. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, says. Baria believes that real political daylight exists …

Tuesday, January 7

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Local United Methodist Churches Face Schism Over LGBTQ Inclusion

The future of Mississippi's United Methodist churches and institutions is in question after a group of influential United Methodist Church leaders announced a preliminary agreement to split the church in …

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OPINION: 'Chaos or Community'? Citizens Co-conspirators in Broken Criminal System

"Mississippi leaders have historically created and encouraged incarceration as an intentional pathway for a segment of Mississippi's society, disproportionately the African American community."

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Mississippi Inaugurates New Legislators for Four-Year Term

Legislators are taking their oath of office Tuesday in Mississippi, and they will set the direction of state government for the next four years.

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Outgoing Governor Bryant Proclaims Jan. 26-Feb. 1 'Mississippi School Choice Week'

Outgoing Gov. Phil Bryant has issued a proclamation declaring Jan. 26-Feb. 1 Mississippi School Choice Week.

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Jeff McCutchen

Capt. Jeff McCutchen will be officially sworn in Monday as the Oxford Police Department's new police chief. McCutchen has been running the 100-person department for the last 11 months as …

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The Dapper Doughnut, The Lost Cajun and La Brioche Renovations

Gabe Jackson, a Liberty, Miss., native and a guard for the Oakland Raiders football team, opened the first Mississippi location of The Dapper Doughnut, a Las Vegas-based donut franchise with …

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Legal Group Seeks Federal Inquiry into Mississippi Prisons

Prisoner advocates are calling on the federal government to investigate Mississippi’s prison system for possible civil rights violations, saying the violence of recent days highlights deliberate violations of inmates’ constitutional …

Monday, January 6

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Weinstein Charged with Sex Crimes in LA on Eve of NY Trial

Los Angeles prosecutors charged Harvey Weinstein on Monday with sexually assaulting two women on successive nights during Oscars week in 2013, bringing the new case against the disgraced Hollywood mogul …

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Hyde-Smith, Wicker 'Gunning to End Roe': Ask High Court to Overturn

Mississippi's two U.S. senators, Republicans Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith, are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to consider overturning its 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which legalized abortion nationwide.

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One of Two Escapees from Troubled Mississippi Prison in Custody

One of two prisoners believed to have escaped from one of several Mississippi prisons recently rocked by violence is back in custody, authorities said early Sunday.

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Stephen Brown

Stephen Brown, a Jackson native who performs as hip-hop artist 5th Child, has worked as assistant director of outreach for Get2College since 2013.

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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 3

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New DA Jody Owens Promises Reform, Alternatives to Incarceration

Earlier this week, civil rights attorney and avowed criminal-justice reformer Jody Owens officially took over as the new Hinds County district attorney, succeeding the controversy-plagued Robert Shuler Smith, who served …

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Azia's Picks 1-3-20

How do you plan on welcoming in the first weekend of the new year? Let's see what's to do in the Capital City 2020 style with my top weekend picks.

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Reggie Perry

One player making early season waves is Mississippi State University sophomore forward Reggie Perry.

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Mississippi Prison Deaths Follow Warnings of Meager Funding, Shortages

Three more Mississippi prisoners have died at the hands of other inmates in the six days since the Mississippi Department of Corrections initiated a statewide prison lockdown last Sunday, bringing …

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US Kills Iran's Most Powerful General in Baghdad Airstrike

The United States killed Iran's top general and the architect of Tehran’s proxy wars in the Middle East in an airstrike at Baghdad's international airport early on Friday, an attack …

Thursday, January 2

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Fourth Death in Mississippi Prisons; Judge Says Other Prison OK

Another Mississippi inmate has died at the hands of a fellow inmate, bringing the death toll to four amid disturbances over the past week in the state prison system.

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Judge Rules 1 Mississippi Prison OK, Among Deaths at Others

A federal judge has rejected claims that conditions in a Mississippi prison are unconstitutionally harsh. His ruling comes amid violence at three other corrections facilities that resulted in the deaths …

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Mississippi Development Authority Director to Step Down

Glenn McCullough said in a statement Thursday that he will step down as head of Mississippi Development Authority at the end of January.

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Statewide Gas Taxes a Bridge Too Far for Lt. Gov.-elect Hosemann

Lt. Gov.-elect Delbert Hosemann will not consider raising gas taxes statewide in 2020, he told the press on Dec. 17. But he is opening the door for county supervisors to …

Tease photo Person of the Day

James Kenyon

Jackson resident James Kenyon says he has a heart for "telling stories that might not otherwise be heard," which he has had the chance to do since co-founding the Hearth …

Tease photo Education

Elizabeth Spencer, UMMC NASA Grant and MSU State of Black Men Symposium

Author and Belhaven University alumna Elizabeth Spencer died on Sunday, Dec. 22, at her home in Chapel Hill, N.C. at age 98.

Tease photo Politics

Mississippi Opens Qualifying Time for Federal Candidates

Candidates for federal offices can start filing qualifying papers on Thursday in Mississippi.