We, the Unhealthy
Last year, Mississippi ranked No. 1 overall for the unhealthiest citizens in the U.S. and No. 49 in the number of physicians per capita. A quarter of our 2-year-olds haven't …
Will Senate Allow Stimulus Discussion?
Last week, the Mississippi House passed a resolution to override Gov. Haley Barbour's decision to reject some of the stimulus funds for the state. Barbour has stated that he will …
Resuscitating Voter ID
The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports that Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant wants the voters to decide whether the state should require Voter ID
DNA Preservation Bill Passed
The Mississippi Legislature passed a bill mandating that the state better preserve crime scene DNA evidence and conduct DNA testing on biological evidence.
Hood Warns of Stimulus Scams
[verbatim from the Mississippi Attorney General's office]
Attorney General Jim Hood, along with the Federal Trade Commission, is warning consumers about bogus web sites and emails promising to help them qualify for a payment from President Obama's …
Bill for Pardon and Parole Accountability on Hold
Yesterday, the Mississippi Senate passed a bill that would make the governor's right to pardon convicted felons more accountable to their victims and to the communities where they committed their …
Melton Behind on Taxes, Again
Full JFP Melton Archive/Blog Here
2009 JFP Interview with Melton, Part I
Supreme Court Upholds Drug Lawsuit
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of consumers and against drug makers, upholding a $6.7 million award to a musician who had her arm amputated following an injection.
Arts Preview Correction: Mal's St. Paddy's Parade
Begorra! In this week's Spring Arts Preview, Mal's St. Paddy's Parade was erroneously listed as taking place Friday, March 20, 2009. The correct date is Saturday, March 21, 2009.
State Jobless Rate Tops 9 Percent
The Mississippi unemployment roles swelled in January to 9.2 percent, a rate higher than the national average of 8.5 percent. In December, the state reported a 7.6 percent rate.
'Criminalizing' Kids
Donte Thompson says he hardly learned anything in alternative school. Forbidden to talk from the moment he stepped on the school bus, Donte did what little work he received using …
Democratic Candidates Weigh In
Jackson mayoral candidates agreed during a Saturday forum that the current administration was failing to make Jackson all it could be. The forum, hosted by The Young Democrats of Mississippi, …
Jacksonian
Katie McClendon
If you're a member of the Jackson Progressives, a student at the UMC, or you've seen The Vagina Monologues at Rainbow, you're probably familiar with Katie McClendon.
DOA: Voter ID, Early Voting and Sex Ed
Senate Republicans chose to kill a political effort yesterday that they've been championing for years because they were unwilling to offer early voting to Mississippi residents.
2009 JFP Interview with Frank Melton, Part I: Health
The day after Mayor Frank Melton got a reprieve from prison due to a hung jury, he held a brief press conference in City Hall to talk about his plans …
Nissan to Expand Canton Plant
Despite declining auto sales worldwide, Nissan announced plans today to expand its Canton, Miss. plant to produce a new commercial vehicle, according to a release:
Wicker Seeks to Deny Funding for U.N. Agency
Yesterday, Mississippi Republican Sen. Roger Wicker announced in a release that he has introduced an amendment to bar U.S. funds from the United Nations Population Fund. The Obama administration's $410 …
