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

Stories for June 2020

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Tuesday, June 30

Tease photo Health Care

Senate Rule Committee Clears Way for Senate to Consider a Medical Marijuana Bill

The Mississippi Senate's rules committee has approved Senate Concurrent Resolution 586, which, if passed by the full Senate, will allow it to suspend the rules for the purpose of introducing …

Tease photo City & County

Second Amended Stay Safe Jackson Executive Order

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba released a second amended executive order concerning the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Tease photo City & County

Gov. Reeves Vetoes Jackson Water Bill, More Paving, Mask Requirement Ahead

Gov. Tate Reeves has vetoed the “Jackson Water Bill,” a piece of proposed legislation that passed in both the Mississippi Senate and House of Representatives with no opposing vote.

Tease photo coronavirus

COVID-19 Hits New Mississippi Highs, Municipalities Issuing Own Mask Orders

Mississippi’s rising coronavirus curve is prompting dire warnings from state health officials—and some municipalities are beginning to issue mask orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in public spaces.

Tease photo Person of the Day

Emma D. Sanders

Emma D. Sanders, a Mississippi Civil Rights Movement veteran and a founding member of the modern Mississippi Democratic Party, recently passed away in her Jackson home at age 91.

Tease photo coronavirus

Mississippi Mayor: ANTIFA Not Coming, COVID-19 Not a Hoax

In the Mississippi city where Elvis Presley was born, the mayor announced last week that masks would be required in public buildings and businesses starting Monday because of the COVID-19 …

Monday, June 29

Tease photo State

Mississippi Family Says Reform Bill Should be Retroactive

Mississippi lawmakers are considering a change to a law to reduce long prison sentences given to habitual offenders whose past crimes were either nonviolent or committed many years earlier.

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‘Today I Feel Like a Mississippian’: State Flag Consigned to History in Bipartisan Vote

The contentious Mississippi state flag is officially no more today, consigned to history after a legislative supermajority voted Sunday to retire it for good.

Tease photo Biz Roundup

Russell C. Davis Planetarium Remodel, 2021 Governor’s Arts Awards and Dumbo's on Duling

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, Deputy Director of Cultural Services David Lewis and Russell C. Davis Planetarium manager Mike Williams announced updates on the progress of the planned restoration of …

Tease photo Person of the Day

Debi Lane

This week, potter Debi Lane attempted to create a phoenix, but the glaze ran, and the Mendenhall resident was forced to scrap the project.

Tease photo National

Supreme Court Strikes Down Louisiana Abortion Clinic Law

The Supreme Court on Monday struck down a Louisiana law regulating abortion clinics, reasserting a commitment to abortion rights over fierce opposition from dissenting conservative justices in the first big …

Sunday, June 28

Tease photo State

Mississippi Changing State Flag As Legislature Passes HB 1796 to Replace It

House Bill 1796 has passed both chambers of the Mississippi Legislature and is headed to Gov. Tate Reeves for signature, which he signaled early Saturday will happen.

Tease photo State

AP Analysis: Debate Shifts on Rebel-themed Mississippi Flag

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Confederate battle emblem on the Mississippi flag evokes strong emotions, and for decades it has been a volatile issue that many state legislators wanted to …

Saturday, June 27

Tease photo coronavirus

COVID-19 Cases Average 557 Per Day, Highest So Far

This past week, the average number of daily new cases of COVID-19 rose to 557 in Mississippi.

Tease photo State

UPDATED: House, Senate Pass Concurrent Resolution 79: Redesign Flag, Vote By Referendum in November

The Mississippi Legislature passed House Concurrent Resolution No. 79 today, paving the way for a new Mississippi state flag.

Tease photo State

Reeves Says He'll Sign a Bill to Change Mississippi's Flag

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi lawmakers could vote soon to remove the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag, a symbol that has come under intensifying criticism in recent weeks …

Friday, June 26

Tease photo Fly

Azia’s Virtual Picks 6-26-20

"I hope you can share an event from this list and maybe use it to spark a conversation, learn more about one another or maybe even set the foundation for …

Tease photo Person of the Day

Marianna Stone

For Marianna Stone, her daughter’s early arrival was fortuitous, as the family narrowly avoided having to bring Esther into this world in the midst of a pandemic.

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Hinds Leaders: Mississippi Flag Stands for ‘Hate, Torture, Murder, Rape’

Hinds County leaders issued a passionate plea yesterday, joining the growing call to change the Mississippi flag because of the Confederate emblem in its canton.

Tease photo coronavirus

Mississippi’s Healthcare System In Imminent Danger, Stressed MSDH Officials Warn

Mississippi’s health-care system is rapidly approaching catastrophe, State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs warned Thursday—not in a matter of months, but in a matter of weeks.

Tease photo Politics

Lobbying Grows Against Mississippi's Rebel-Themed Flag

University coaches and Christian ministers filled the Mississippi Capitol on Thursday, urging legislators to seize the moment and remove the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag while Americans are …

Thursday, June 25

Tease photo City & County

Lumumba Threatens To Shut Down Businesses If COVID-19 Infection Rate Spikes

Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba is expressing frustration at people not following social-distancing guidelines to counter the spread of COVID-19, saying he may need to tighten restrictions he earlier loosened if …

Tease photo coronavirus

BREAKING: Mississippi Adds 1,092 New COVID-19 Cases In Single Day

The day after State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs warned of a looming catastrophe facing Mississippi in the fall, the state’s hospitals reported the highest incidence of confirmed and suspected …

Tease photo coronavirus

USM Student Organizing COVID-19 Food Relief, MSU Travel Awards and Racial Reconciliation Event

Gulfport, Miss., native James Skinner is identifying food resources and distribution points across the southern half of the state to help get immediate relief to residents in need, as part …

Tease photo Person of the Day

MSU Running Back Kylin Hill May Sit Out on Fall Season over Mississippi Flag

One player might not play this season, and it has nothing to do with the ongoing pandemic. Current Mississippi State running back Kylin Hill took to Twitter to voice his …

Tease photo Politics

Mississippi Governor Might Not Block Change to Rebel-Themed Flag

Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said Wednesday, for the first time, that he probably would not stand in the way if legislators muster a large enough majority to remove the …

Tease photo Crime

Indictment: Threat to Kill Mississippi's Only Black US Rep.

A federal indictment accuses a Mississippi man of threatening to kill the state's only Black U.S. representative and his staffers.

Wednesday, June 24

Tease photo Politics

‘About Healing and Reconciliation’: Legislative Fight For New State Flag Continues

A raft of Democratic legislators joined House Democratic Leader Rep. Robert Johnson III in calling for a new state flag yesterday.

Tease photo Best of Jackson

Best of Jackson 2020 Household and Home Improvement Finalist Ballot Open

The Best of Jackson 2020 finalists ballot for Household and Home Improvement in Metro Jackson is open now through July 5 at 11:59 p.m.

Tease photo National

Senate Approves 200th Federal Judge Nominated by Trump

The Senate has approved the nomination of a Mississippi judge to a federal appeals court, the 200th federal judge named by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Republican-controlled chamber. …

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Brian Flowers Wins GOP Congressional Primary Runoff

Brian Flowers, a military veteran who works at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Tuesday won a congressional Republican primary runoff. He will face Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson in November.

Tease photo Education

Rally for Education Equity in Mississippi

On Wednesday, June 24 at 4 p.m. Central, the Institute for Democratic Education in America is hosting a rally in downtown Jackson, Mississippi with the support of national organizations Journey …

Tease photo Fly

Five Things to Know about Carlton McGrone, Freelance Writer

"Although I was a natural storyteller, I never knew I wanted to write until I applied for Southern Miss' student-run newspaper, The Student Printz. Since then, I've wanted my life …

Tease photo Art

Soap-Maker Cleans Up with Nerd Appeal

Memories of her grandmother, Maxine Towner, first nudged Anisa "Max" Martin into soap-making. But, a question from her daughter set the hobby in a playful direction that dabbles into nerd …

Tease photo Music

John Uzodinma II, Breaking Barriers Four Strings at a Time

When the pandemic cancelled most of his scheduled events, violinist John Uzodinma II sought a way to stay connected to the public.

Tease photo Food

The Garden Farmacy: Local Eco-Farmers Offer Seasonal Staples and Medicinal Herbs

Three days a week, the farmers of The Garden Farmacy climb out of bed early in the morning and step through the fields, knives in hand, to harvest the produce …

Tease photo Cover

Losing Queenyanna: Could Quicker Response Have Saved Her Life?

Queenyanna Davis would have been 6 years old on June 23, but she was murdered. She attended Watkins Elementary School in Jackson.

Tease photo City & County

Smelling Sewage on Sage Street

Jesse and Sarah Pittman have had to live with the smell of sewer for a long time. They call it racist that the City of Jackson hasn’t stepped up to …

Tease photo Politics

Legislature In Overtime, Criminal Justice Reform Top Priority

Efforts to change the Mississippi flag first appeared stalled out: Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann condemned the effort to a committee, which showed no intention of calling it up.

Tease photo Jacksonian

Ariss King: Telling Stories, Realizing Goals

When Ariss King was a little girl, her parents took her to art museums and enrolled her in art camps to encourage her creativity.

Tease photo Editor's Note

EDITOR'S NOTE: Stop Glamorizing the Cruelty of Racist Ancestors

"The Legislature put up this flag as a stated symbol of white supremacy in 1894 as all those hideous soldier statues were popping up with their sappy remembrances, and it …

Tuesday, June 23

Tease photo coronavirus

State Health Officer Warns in Interview: Prepare For Overwhelmed Hospitals by Fall

State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs has led Mississippi’s response to COVID-19 since the first days of the crisis. Now, facing spiking metrics in all of the state’s key indicators …

Tease photo City & County

Jackson Water Bills May Decrease Under Pending State Law; Sewer Woes Mount

The City of Jackson could lower residents’ water-bill debts if Gov. Tate Reeves signs Senate Bill 2856, which both houses of the Legislature passed unanimously, 51-0 in the Senate and …

Tease photo Politics

OPINION: What Side Are You On? Racism Is Dividing Nation Along Line of Morality

"This election year will force America to choose between two very different ideas. What side are you on? Yes, America, there are two sides. We have arrived at the inevitable …

Tease photo Person of the Day

Frances Patterson Croft

Frances Patterson Croft has been director of strategic initiatives for the Women's Foundation of Mississippi, a statewide, Jackson-based nonprofit that works to ensure economic security for women and girls in …

Tease photo Politics

Mississippi Public Safety Commissioner is Confirmed to Job

The Mississippi Senate has confirmed a former judge, Sean Tindell, as the state's new public safety commissioner.

Tease photo Politics

Mississippi Governor Rejects 'Separate but Equal' 2-Flag Plan

Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday that he’s against having two state flags--the current banner with the Confederate battle emblem that critics see as racist, and a yet-to-be-determined design …

Tease photo Politics

GOP Runoff Winner to Face Dem Chairman of Homeland Security

Two Republicans with low-budget campaigns are in a congressional primary runoff Tuesday in Mississippi. The winner advances to the November ballot to face Democratic U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, chairman of …

Monday, June 22

Tease photo City & County

Juneteenth: Stokes Declares June 19, 2020, Sheriff Lee Vance Day and Jackson Advocate Day

Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes honored Hinds County Sheriff Lee Vance and the Jackson Advocate newspaper on Friday as part of a Jackson Juneteenth celebration.

Tease photo coronavirus

UPDATE: 1646 New Cases of COVID-19 Since Jun 17

The Mississippi State Department of Health is reporting a severe “data processing” issue preventing the release of new COVID-19 information that has persisted since the middle of last week, meaning …

Tease photo Education

Audit: State Office Changed Dropout Records to Improve Stats

Mississippi's Department of Education failed to maintain an Office of Dropout Prevention for the last 10 years as required by state law and overstated its progress toward increasing graduation rates, …

Tease photo Biz Roundup

Connection City ePLEX at the Outlets, Mississippi Museum of Art and Children’s Museum Reopening

A new tenant at the Outlets of Mississippi, Connection City ePLEX, will open in July. The facility is an esports arena that will include gaming and virtual reality machines as …

Tease photo Politics

Hinds County Democratic Executive Committee Calls on Leaders to Repeal and Replace Mississippi State Flag

The Hinds County Democratic Executive Committee is calling upon Gov. Tate Reeves, Lieutenant Gov. Delbert Hosemann, and the Mississippi Legislature to immediately halt the use of white supremacist, Confederate symbolism …

Tease photo coronavirus

Analysis: Doctor Calls Parchman Conditions 'Deplorable'

Living conditions in the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman are “are sub-human and deplorable in a civilized society,” according to a physician who has evaluated the prison on behalf of …

Friday, June 19

Tease photo City & County

Mayor Lumumba Bans Police Chokeholds, Restricts Firing at Moving Vehicles, More

Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba, in an executive order today, prohibits the Jackson Police Department from using choke-holds, knee-on-neck or any other tactic that restricts breathing in an amendment of its …

Tease photo City & County

Mayoral Executive Order Amending the City of Jackson Police Department's Use of Force Policy

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba signed an executive order amending Jackson Police Department's use of force policy.

Tease photo City & County

Azia’s Virtual Picks: Juneteenth Edition

I pray that we all take time to remember our collective history and learn more from it and each other despite our background, race, religion, or creed. This is how …

Tease photo City & County

Mayor Announces Local TSA PreCheck Service for Travelers, Warns COVID-19 Still Serious Danger

Citizens of Jackson who previously had to travel 30 miles to Vicksburg for Transportation Security Administration PreCheck Services can now obtain the same with the city.

Tease photo coronavirus

Oxford Sees COVID-19 Crisis as ER Visits Up Statewide; State Blames Fraternities

Mississippians are not doing enough to prevent the spread of COVID-19, State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs warned at yesterday’s press event.

Tease photo Person of the Day

Brianna Caldwell

For law student Brianna Caldwell, softball served as the passion that set the trajectory for her life, eventually bringing her from Athens, Ala., to Clinton, Miss., which she says reminded …

Tease photo National

Southeastern Conference Pushing Mississippi to Change Flag

The Southeastern Conference is considering barring league championship events in Mississippi unless the state changes its Confederate-based flag.

Tease photo coronavirus

Mississippi Governor Says He Should Have Worn Mask at Funeral

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Thursday that because of the coronavirus pandemic, he should have worn a mask during a funeral a day earlier where hundreds of law enforcement officers …

Tease photo Politics

Senators Block Ex-Lawmaker's Nomination to Education Board

A Republican-controlled Mississippi Senate committee on Thursday blocked Republican Gov. Tate Reeves's nomination of a former lawmaker to serve on the state Board of Education, drawing criticism from the governor.

Thursday, June 18

Tease photo Civil Rights

OPINION: Mississippi Flag Representing Chattel Slavery Must Go Now

"We are currently in a season of change; the winds of change are blowing away old ways of thinking and old symbols of white supremacy."

Tease photo City & County

CITY: ‘Deeper Than Racism’: Jackson Declares ‘Classism’ a Public Health Crisis

To attract more funds to counter the impact of socioeconomic factors on health disparity, the Jackson City Council unanimously declared classism as a public-health crisis on June 9, saying it …

Tease photo City & County

Council Overturns Mayor's Veto of Transfer of $1.6 Million of Siemens Fund

The Jackson City Council recently overturned Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba's veto of its resolution to take $1.6 million from the $89.8 million Siemens settlement with the City and separating it …

Tease photo Education

UM Confederate Statue to Move to Cemetery; Some Fear IHL Building New ‘Shrine’

The Confederate monument at the heart of the University of Mississippi campus will move to the Confederate graveyard elsewhere on campus, 114 years after its construction.

Tease photo Person of the Day

Justin Foscue

In the first round, the Texas Rangers made Mississippi State University second baseman Justin Foscue the 14th pick overall. Foscue is the 15th MSU player to be drafted in the …

Tease photo coronavirus

New Music Building and COVID-19 Business Assistance at MSU and JSU Grants

Mississippi State University held a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, June 15, for construction on a new music building north of the university’s current band and choral rehearsal hall on Hardy …

Tease photo Personhood

White Lawmaker Likens Abortion Limits to Civil Rights Issue

A white Republican lawmaker invoked the name of a black civil rights leader Wednesday as the Mississippi Senate advanced a bill to ban abortion based on the race, sex or …

Tease photo City & County

Judge Rules Mississippi City Can't Put Ban on Open Carry Law

A federal judge ruled Mississippi's capital city cannot restrict the state's open carry law as it did following the shooting deaths of two children during the coronavirus pandemic.

Tease photo State

Confederate Statue to be Moved from Central Spot at Ole Miss

A Confederate monument will be moved from a prominent spot at the University of Mississippi to a Civil War cemetery in a secluded part of the Oxford campus.

Wednesday, June 17

Tease photo coronavirus

Mississippi Saw 489 COVID-19 Infections Tuesday, State May Not Be Reporting All Cases

Mississippi saw 489 new cases of COVID-19 as of the end of Tuesday, June 16, one of the highest single-day counts on the records since the crisis started in the …

Tease photo coronavirus

12 Detainees, 7 Staffers Test Positive for COVID-19 at Hinds Detention Facilities

Twelve inmates and seven employees across Hinds County detention facilities have tested positive for COVID-19, Sheriff Lee Vance told the press last night.

Tease photo Politics

OPINION: I’m Out of the Political Closet After 30 Years of Hiding My Beliefs

"I'm a white senior woman living in the Deep South. I’m also a Democrat. My closest family members and a few friends are aware of this, and a few of …

Tease photo Person of the Day

Lois Winn

Lois Winn is a California girl who discovered the direction she wanted to take her life in the Jackson metro.

Tease photo State

Mississippi Awarded Over $71M Grant for Greenville Bypass

A Mississippi road project that's been considered for more than two decades is one step closer to completion in the state's Delta region.

Tease photo Politics

Mississippi Official: Black People 'Dependent' Since Slavery

After rejecting a proposal to move a Confederate monument, a white elected official in Mississippi said this week that African Americans “became dependent” during slavery.

Tuesday, June 16

Tease photo Politics

UPDATE: Senate Confirms Burl Cain To Lead State Prisons

A lightning-quick committee hearing placed ex-Angola warden Burl Cain on track to command the Mississippi Department of Corrections on June 16. The next day, the full Senate confirmed him for …

Tease photo Crime

Criminal Justice Reform Alive at Capitol, But Gang Bill, Teacher Pay Raises Dead for Now

Mississippi legislators’ ambitious plans for funding initiatives like state employee and teacher pay raises have taken a backseat to dealing with the coronavirus crisis, which is obliterating both state revenues …

Tease photo coronavirus

COVID-19 Cases Top 20,000 in Mississippi, Mental Health Services Available

Mississippi has now officially seen more than 20,000 cases of COVID-19 with 353 new COVID-19 cases as of yesterday, along with 20 deaths.

Tease photo Person of the Day

Jordan Gray

Jordan Gray, a senior journalism major at Mississippi College, launched his own Youtube channel, Baller Brains, in November 2019.

Tease photo Politics

Mississippi Revises Outlook for Budget Year Starting July 1

Top lawmakers said Monday that Mississippi state government can avoid spending cuts during the final two weeks of the current budget year by tapping into the rainy day fund.

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Mississippi Seeing Rising Cases of Unemployment Fraud

The Mississippi Department of Employment Security is seeing an influx of fraudulent unemployment claims, mirroring a concerning trend across the country, Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday.

Tease photo Politics

Some Mississippi Counties Could Move Confederate Monuments

Some Mississippi counties are debating whether to move Confederate monuments that have stood for more than a century outside courthouses or in other prominent spots on public property.

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Mississippi DA Releases Case Files in Fatal Police Shooting

A Mississippi district attorney has released evidence files in the case of a white officer who fatally shot a black man during a 2015 traffic stop.

Monday, June 15

Tease photo Politics

Hinds Election Commission Moving Precincts for Runoff, Adding Voting Machines for November

The onset of the coronavirus pandemic led to the postponement of the runoff between Brian Flowers and Carey Thomas earlier scheduled for March 31.

Tease photo Biz Roundup

Habitat Broadmoor Build, Malco Reopenings and Women’s Foundation COVID-19 Grants

Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area recently finished its latest home as part of the five-year Broadmoor neighborhood revitalization initiative it launched in 2019, despite setbacks and obstacles to construction …

Tease photo City & County

City Repaves Belvedere Drive, Rebrands Transit System

In another effort to reverse the degrading of road infrastructure in Jackson, Miss., Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba announced the repaving of Belvedere Drive at a press briefing last week at …

Tease photo Politics

OPINION: Mississippi Community Leaders Support Removal of the Mississippi State Flag

"In Mississippi, the state flag is the most visible symbol of white supremacy. For many black Mississippians, the flag is traumatizing because it is a constant reminder of oppression."

Tease photo Politics

Analysis: Mississippi Could Erase Multistep Election System

Mississippi voters might get a chance to purge a Jim Crow-era provision from the state constitution and simplify the process of electing the governor and other statewide officials.

Tease photo Education

Mississippi Voucher Program Could Get 4-Year Extension

Mississippi legislators have voted to keep a school voucher program alive for another four years, sending a bill to Republican Gov. Tate Reeves.

Saturday, June 13

Tease photo coronavirus

June 13: Mississippi Averaging 330 COVID-19 Cases Per Day, a New High

Mississippi this past week reached a new high in the COVID-19 pandemic, averaging 330 new people per day identified as infected with the virus.

Friday, June 12

Tease photo Politics

‘Back to Business Mississippi’ Grant Website Live, Money Earmarked for Women, Minorities

Thursday marked the opening of the state’s Back to Business Mississippi Grant Program. Created via Senate Bill 2772, the program provides a grant of up to $25,000 to small businesses …

Tease photo Crime

Three Charged in $180 Million Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

An indictment against three individuals for their alleged involvement in various schemes to defraud Medicare, TRICARE, and private insurance companies, and their conspiracy to launder the proceeds has been unsealed …

Tease photo coronavirus

Dobbs: Younger People Infecting Older Ones with COVID-19 As Bar Curfew Lifted

The “herculean” task of testing all long-term-care and nursing-home facility staff and residents has concluded, showing 676 positive cases, State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs said Thursday.

Tease photo Politics

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The Stennis Flag Is the Best Choice Now for Mississippi

This spring and early summer have been heavy and filled with circumstances that one could not imagine only six months ago. COVID-19 is decimating our communities, and we endured another …

Tease photo Person of the Day

Ryder Anderson

In Oxford, football players took part in a unity walk at the University of Mississippi. The walk started at the track and ended at the football practice fields. After the …

Tease photo State

Mississippi Lawmakers Honor Pastor Who Won 'The Voice'

Todd Tilghman, a Mississippi pastor who won “The Voice” has serenaded state lawmakers with “Amazing Grace.” Tilghman appeared Thursday at the state Capitol, where he was honored with resolutions in …

Tease photo National

Senate Panel Advances Mississippi Appeals Court Nominee

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday advanced a federal appeals court nominee from Mississippi, despite Democratic objections over derisive comments he made about former President Barack Obama and his signature …

Thursday, June 11

Tease photo Politics

Resolution Drops to Change Mississippi Flag, Interfaith Leaders Call For Change

Mississippi legislators began a formal process to change the state flag today with an ambitious attempt to revive Senate Bill 2446, which would put an end to the Confederate symbolism …

Tease photo Person of the Day

Justin Cummins

Justin Cummins, a biology teacher at Richland High School, developed his appreciation for teaching his chosen field through a combination of his own educational background and his work with animals …

Tease photo coronavirus

MSU Digital COVID-19 Library, JSU Virtual Army Commissioning and Community Colleges Reopening

Mississippi State University Libraries recently began collecting submissions for a new COVID-19 digital archive to document the pandemic’s impact on MSU students, faculty, staff and community members.

Tease photo City & County

OPINION: No ‘Free Kills’ Unless We Are Black in Jackson

"The mayor claims to be against police murder. The “no free kills” banner Lumumba surrogates recently rallied under obfuscates that no real costs are meted out when the Jackson police …

Tease photo coronavirus

Mississippi Governor to Lift Curfew on Bars, Restaurants

Mississippi bars and restaurants that serve alcohol will soon be able to stay open later as Gov. Tate Reeves prepares to lift a curfew he set because of the coronavirus …

Wednesday, June 10

Tease photo coronavirus

Mississippi Opens Grants for Businesses Hurt by Pandemic

Mississippi is opening a grant program for small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Tease photo Education

Mississippi Teacher Pay Raise Plan Dies Amid Budget Concerns

A proposed teacher pay raise has died at the Mississippi Capitol because of budget concerns during the coronavirus pandemic.

Tease photo City & County

Families Accuse JPD Of Police Brutality, Demand Justice

Four Jackson families whose loved ones were victims of local police violence, three of them fatally, spoke out yesterday, publicly calling for justice in the wake of national awareness over …

Tease photo Food

The Cat’s Out of the Bag

While Jon Lansdale never had formal culinary training, his appreciation for cooking provided the drive he needed to make his restaurant, Crazy Cat Eat Up, a staple in the Jackson …

Tease photo Fly

Five Things to Know about Ken Steere, Lead Driver

"For the JFP, I manage the lists of where we distribute the papers and the routes they are assigned to."

Tease photo Art

Home is Where the Robot Is: Kaz-Magic Studios

For Ridgeland resident Frederick Roseman, a freelance artist and local comic creator who uses the name Kaz-Magic Studios, the concept of family has been a driving force in both his …

Tease photo Music

A Musical Inheritance, Trumpeter Builds Band Program

Kimble Funchess, a member of the Jackson Horns, began the school's music program in 2014 with a group of sixth graders who had never before held an instrument.

Tease photo City & County

Guys We Love 2020

June is the month we all show appreciation to the fathers in our lives who have shown us support and love over the years. In celebration of Father's Day, the …

Tease photo Civil Rights

OPINION: What Is Wrong with America Is Us White People

This word is for white people. I will start with my own identity: I am a white, heterosexual, 43-year-old man from Mississippi. There is a crisis of belief among what …

Tease photo Crime

Byram Police: A Model for Domestic-Abuse Response?

Byram Police Chief Luke Thompson acknowledges that the typical method of responding to a domestic call fails both the victims and the community at large.

Tease photo Politics

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Safety Net ‘Designed to Fail’ in Good Times Failing Big Now

It's telling that, as part of his executive orders during this crisis, Gov. Tate Reeves suspended several rules regarding application for and receipt of unemployment benefits. Why did they exist?

Tease photo Jacksonian

Travis Ryder Unifies Local Nerd Community, Van's CCG

For Travis Ryder of Van's Comics, Cards & Games, building the local nerd community remains one of his foremost goals in running the store.

Tuesday, June 9

Tease photo Civil Rights

OPINION: Mississippians Can’t Breathe if Gov. Tate Reeves Keeps Validating Symbols of Hate

Columnist Duvalier Malone writes that Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves news to immediately take down all symbols of hate, including the state flag, so Mississippi can begin the process of racial …

Tease photo City & County

Mayor Lumumba Tests Negative for COVID-19, Urges Continued Vigilance

Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba tested negative for COVID-19, Communications Director Candace Cole told the Jackson Free Press yesterday. Lumumba had a mouth swab on May 26 at a mobile testing …

Tease photo City & County

Hinds Supervisor Archie Wants Police Reform; County Studying Homelessness

Hinds County District 2 Supervisor David L. Archie has called for police reforms in the wake of the death of 46-year-old George Floyd in Minnesota, which led to protests around …

Tease photo Person of the Day

Rabbi Matt Dreffin

Rabbi Matt Dreffin has served as director of education for the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life in Jackson since 2018.

Tease photo coronavirus

Mississippi Governor Says Mask-Shaming During Virus is 'Wrong'

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday that the state still faces danger from the coronavirus pandemic, and people should not harass or make fun of those who follow public health …

Monday, June 8

Tease photo Biz Roundup

MDAH Reopening Museums, WAMA Art Moves Us Campaign and MAC Cares Emergency Grant

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History announced that it will reopen the Eudora Welty House & Garden, the Museum of Mississippi History, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the …

Tease photo coronavirus

With 498 Cases, Mississippi’s Sees Largest COVID-19 Day as Storm Threatens

Today sets a new record for COVID-19 as a Mississippi State Department of Health report shows 498 new confirmed cases and 20 new deaths for Sunday as of 6 p.m. …

Tease photo Civil Rights

Historic Protests For Black Lives Sweep Mississippi Over Weekend

Thousands of protesters took to the streets across the state of Mississippi this weekend, calling for freedom from racial injustice and an end to police brutality.

Tease photo State

Mississippi Inmates Die at Jackson Hospital Days Apart

Two prisoners died in Mississippi over the weekend, bringing the number of inmate deaths in the state's troubled prisons to 46 since late December.

Tease photo State

Cristobal Now a Depression Drenching Mississippi River Basin

Tropical Storm Cristobal weakened into a depression early Monday after inundating coastal Louisiana and ginning up dangerous weather along most of the U.S. Gulf Coast, sending waves crashing over Mississippi …

Friday, June 5

Tease photo City & County

Governor Sends National Guard to D.C., Unclear Whether Will Patrol Jackson Protests

The State of Mississippi has sent members of the Mississippi National Guard to Washington, D.C., amid the heavy protest actions taking place around the White House and the nation.

Tease photo City & County

Azia’s Virtual Picks 6-5-20

The world is slowly opening back up, the streets are bustling with people back on the grind, trying to maintain some sense of normalcy; but the reality is, we have …

Tease photo Person of the Day

Cedrick Wilder

Cedrick Wilder, 46, teaches students both in the classroom and on the football and baseball fields.

Tease photo coronavirus

$90M Program to Support Low-Income Families in Mississippi

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a new $90 million program to reimburse families of Mississippi children who usually receive subsidized meals at school but missed out on the …

Tease photo Civil Rights

Dropping Case of White Ex-Cop a 'Knife' to Trust, Rep Says

A Mississippi lawmaker on Thursday criticized the state attorney general's decision to drop the prosecution of a white former police officer who was indicted in the 2015 shooting death of …

Tease photo coronavirus

Mississippi's 2020 Neshoba Fair Canceled Because of Virus

The 2020 edition of “Mississippi's Giant Houseparty,” the Neshoba County Fair, is being canceled because of concern about the coronavirus pandemic.

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Mayor Lumumba Issues Statement in Support of George Floyd Demonstration and Black Lives Matter Movement

“Today, as we all pause to commemorate the life of George Floyd, I extend my heartfelt sympathies to his family and loved ones. I stand in solidarity with the Black …

Thursday, June 4

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MSDH Releases Delayed Long Term Care Facility COVID-19 Data

After weeks of refusing, Mississippi State Department of Health last night released the names and counties of long-term care facilities with COVID-19 outbreaks.

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Mayor: All Jackson Businesses Can Open; Employees Must Wear Masks

Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba, in an amended ‘Stay Safe Jackson’ executive order taking effect today, loosened restrictions on gatherings and social activities, signaling that the capital city is following the …

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USM Condensed Fall Semester, JSU Annie Willie Scholarship and MSU Telehealth Psychology

The University of Southern Mississippi recently announced plans to condense its fall 2020 semester calendar to limit incoming and outgoing student travel and help prevent the potential spread of COVID-19.

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Ron Polk

If the college baseball season had not been cut short due to the novel coronavirus, this weekend would feature the Super Regionals in the world of baseball.

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Mississippi License Offices to Reopen with Virus Precautions

Mississippi driver’s license offices will reopen Monday after being closed for about two months because of the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Tate Reeves announced Wednesday.

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Mississippi Elections Chief Opposes More Mail-in Voting

Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson said Wednesday that he opposes widespread use of mail-in voting, even during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Mississippi Sends Guard Troops to Washington Amid Unrest

About 400 members of the Mississippi National Guard have been deployed to Washington, D.C., amid mass protests over the killing of an African American man in police custody in Minneapolis.

Wednesday, June 3

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Jackson Protest to Honor George Floyd, Call for End to Systemic Racism

Calvert White, vice president of Alcorn State University’s chapter of the NAACP, says George Floyd is a “martyr,” killed by an oppressive power complex that affects everyone in the country.

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OPINION: Enough. Remove Symbol of Confederacy from the Mississippi Flag Now.

The state flag of Mississippi needs to have the symbol of the Confederacy removed today. Not after a vote, not after three months of deliberation, not after a committee does …

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Mississippi to Pay $5M to Settle Food Stamp Data Claims

The Mississippi Department of Human Services will pay $5 million to the federal government to settle claims that it manipulated reporting within a food assistance program and received undeserved performance …

Tuesday, June 2

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Health Officials to Release Names of Long-term Care Facilities With COVID-19 Outbreaks

After reviewing the recent Hinds County Chancery Court ruling regarding the release of possible protected patient information, the Mississippi Attorney General’s office has recommended that the Mississippi State Department of …

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Raymond Detention Center Detainee First to Test Positive for COVID-19

A detainee at Hinds County Raymond Detention Center in Raymond has tested positive for COVID-19 after falling ill on Thursday, becoming the first among 371 others detained in the three …

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Mackenzie Williams: Theater and Writing Key to Recent Murrah Graduate’s Success

When many people reflect on their high school experiences, they remember the times as difficult ones. Try attending two high schools at the same time, like Mackenzie Williams did.

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Report: Half-Billion Gallons of Raw Sewage Leaked into Pearl River

Nearly half a billion gallons of raw sewage leaked into the Pearl River in the first three months of 2020, according to a quarterly report the City of Jackson released.

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Mississippi State Senator Stepping Down at End of June

Republican Sen. Gary Jackson of French Camp said Monday that he will resign June 30.

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Mississippi Governor: Protests Good, But No Place for 'Agitators'

Protesters marched in Mississippi's capital city on Monday, with some stopping to lie on the ground outside Jackson's main police station to remember George Floyd, a black man who died …

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Luther Munford

Luther Munford, an attorney with Butler Snow in Jackson, received a 2020 Law360 Distinguished Legal Writing Award from the Burton Awards on May 28.

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Sesame Street Donates Books to Jackson Children Facing Digital Divide

Sesame Street has provided learning supplies for children across the Jackson Public School District who do not have internet access at home, Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba announced at a press …

Monday, June 1

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Sesame Workshop in Jackson, Babalu Reopens and Fresh Market Father's Day Meals

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, has provided 1,500 distance learning kits to the City to provide JPS students with continuous learning opportunities amid COVID-19-related school closures.

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Mississippi Fully Reopens Today After Biggest Week of COVID-19 Cases, Yet

Today marks the “final stage” in Gov. Tate Reeves’ order to reopen the state. All businesses may now open, and the state’s schools may proceed with summer programs.

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Mississippi to Restart Inmate Transfers, with Virus Caution

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Department of Corrections says it will soon restart the transfer of inmates from county jails into state prisons and from one prison to another—a …

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Mississippi Emergency Leaders: Add Masks to Hurricane Prep

Emergency management officials in Mississippi say that as coastal states face a double threat from hurricane season and the new coronavirus, people need to add masks and other personal protective …

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Protesters in Some Cities Target Confederate Monuments

Protesters demonstrating against the death of George Floyd, a black man who pleaded for air as a white police officer pressed his knee on his neck, targeted Confederate monuments in …

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Analysis: Budget Writing Complicated by Pandemic Revenue Dip

Mississippi tax collections were robust for the first several months of the budget year that started last July 1. Then the coronavirus pandemic struck, businesses were hobbled by government shutdown …

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Mississippi Mayor Apologizes for Tweets on George Floyd

A white Mississippi mayor who caused an outrage with his tweets about the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis has apologized but says he won’t resign, prompting protesters to return …