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City & County

Mayor Yarber, Please Lead on Transparency

We are pleased to report that we are seeing some, at least marginal, improvements in the way the City of Jackson is handling access to information.

Tease photo Editorial

EDITORIAL: The Hoods Are Gravely Wrong About Execution Secrecy, Firing Squads

Both Jim Hood and Joey Hood are wrong on the execution bill that is moving forward in the Mississippi Legislature.

Editorial

Collaborating for a Safer Mississippi

In our polarized state and nation, it is mighty refreshing to hear a conservative of faith stand up against truly odious criminal-justice policies that trap men of color, particularly, into …

Tease photo Editorial

SUNSHINE WEEK: Public Needs Year-Round Access to Documents, Meetings, Donation Information

The JFP has long focused on the serious problem of campaign donation transparency in the state, especially that shielded by political action committees, and more recently the problem with city …

Editorial

Fed Up with Underfunding Education

This week it appears that "level" funding for MAEP is here again for 2016, meaning an overall underfunding of the now essentially toothless formula somewhere on the order of $172 …

Editorial

Mississippi’s ‘Frivolous’ Lawsuit Conundrum

In one of the poorest states in the nation, litigating cases in the name of religious freedom or conservative idealism is costly.

Editorial

Stop Pushing ‘Anti-Human Being’ Laws

Religious moral conviction is a powerful tool in politics. Last week, the Mississippi House of Representatives proved this by passing the "Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act."

Editorial

Lawmakers: Sound Smarter About Education

It is a leap in logic to say that districts in more affluent areas perform better with less public dollars; thus, that's all the funds poorer districts need.

Editorial

Legislature, If You Care About Kids, Prove It

With the large corporate incentive package behind us that will, hopefully, create jobs down the road, it's time for legislators to start working on more pressing issues, including how the …

Editorial

Lead Contamination Debacle Gives Little Faith in State-Managed Airport

Like many people who live in Jackson, we were taken aback when we heard that state Sen. Josh Harkins planned to submit legislation to change the composition of what is …

Editorial

Give Jackson Your Best to Solve Its Problems

It's our view that Jackson's troubles bring out the best in its people. We've seen it firsthand in the 13.5 of this paper.

Editorial

Invest in Meaningful Workforce Training

Mississippi House Seaker Phillip Gunn, an attorney at one of the Jackson's largest law firms, quipped this week that he recently had to call a plumber to his Clinton home. …

Editorial

MAEP Reform: Avoid Fuzzy-Math Logic

Changes to the Mississippi Adequate Education Program are likely to be on the legislative agenda and horizon, but lawmakers must proceed with caution when tampering with certain components of the …

Editorial

Need ‘Good Faith’ Before Regionalization

We are not against smart "regionalization." If done correctly, it would mean more transparency, collaboration and growth for the entire region—whether between businesses or governments in Hinds, Rankin and Madison …

Editorial

Show Leadership, Not ‘Randomness’

Every session, it seems, something President Barack Obama has said or didn't say whips Republicans under our dome into a froth.

City & County

Why Our Bond Rating Is Important

While crime, potholes and boiled-water notices get all the headlines and make for easy punchlines, one of the biggest problems facing the capital city is rarely discussed outside of City …

Civil Rights

Refugees, School Kids Deserve Human Rights

There's a fine line between Gov. Phil Bryant's tacit assent of Donald Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric and Mississippi's complete abdication of its responsibility to educate its children.

City & County

Let’s Get Some Things Done

For Mayor Tony Yarber and the city council, we suggest having a pen and notebook handy to jot some things on their to-do lists and get important deadlines up on …

Editorial

End Dangerous Rhetoric That Threatens Lives

The Nov. 27 shooting at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood is a case study in the anatomy of political rhetoric and the real-life danger of spreading inciteful rhetoric.

City & County

City Must Increase Subcontracting Transparency

Under the City of Jackson's $91-million contract with Siemens for a water-system overhaul and sewer repairs, at least six firms hold subcontracts with Siemens.