Jackson Free Press

Legislative Update—Week 5: Medicaid, Jobs, Land

Legislative committees worked furiously this week during the run-up to the Feb. 19 deadline for House and Senate committees to act on general bills and constitutional amendments originating in their …

Free, Green Money

Entergy Mississippi is offering free money for community development and environmental projects in the state.

Riding the Needle

"I think I will go out and beat an old lady to death tonight. I don't have anything to worry about if I get caught. I won't even have to …

Power APAC Builds

Every year, Power Academic and Performing Arts Complex, or APAC, and its staff and students partner with their adopters, the law firm of Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, for a …

[Kamikaze] Grammy Rehab

Amy Winehouse is a train wreck. She is rumored to use a variety of illegal substances. However, I've found that the music industry's tolerance level of addicts is directly proportionate …

[Schaefer] Get 'Em (Voting) While They're Young

As the buzz of eighth-graders swarming down the hall reached my classroom, I felt my stomach sink. I was definitely going to bore them. To start our lesson on persuasive …

Jayur Mehta

After leading me through the maze of bookshelves and cataloguing drawers and into his office in the downtown Charlotte Capers building, archeologist Jayur Mehta motioned me to sit down and …

Living in the Shadow of AIDS

Photos by Ronni Mott

The two-story wood house, white with red trim, sits squarely on a corner lot in Jackson. The grass on the lawn is January brown, the same as in the other …

Senate Votes for Telco Immunity in Wiretapping

Cochran and Wicker both voted "yea."

The Senate caved to the White House on immunity for telecommunications companies while overturning amendments that would have provided greater checks in the interest of civil liberties. Senator McCain voted …

[Release] Performa Gets ‘Phase One' Loan for Farish St.

[Verbatim Release] Funding Complete for Phase One of the Farish Street Entertainment District; Focus Turns to Phase II -- BB King's Blues Club and Stimley Performing Arts Park

Can You Get More Irrelevant Than This Guy?

Headline over at MSNBC: "Bush condemns noose displays President says displays 'have no place in America today.'" Thank you, Dubya Bush. Nice to see you go out on a limb …

Obama & McCain Win Virginia, Maryland

This about says it all, I guess, from The New York Times:

To Booze or Not to Booze

Police Chief Malcolm McMillin submitted an ordinance proposal to the Jackson City Council this week that would restrict alcohol retailers from doing business after 2 a.m. The ordinance specifically makes …

Hood Renews Call for Campaign Finance Reform

[verbatim statement] JACKSON, Miss. - Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood—as he has done since 2004—is again calling on state lawmakers to reform campaign finance laws.

Nebraska Suspends Executions

The New York Times is reporting that the electric chair is "cruel and unusual punishment," suspending executions there until the state can find a more humane way to kill prisoners:

Why the Republican Party Is Tanking

You have to read this Orwellian speech by Veep Dick Cheney this week in which he proclaims that his borrow-and-spend government does not torture, respects the Constitution and "treats tax …

Prayers for Adam Lynch's Family

Folks, the JFP was saddened to learn that Adam Lynch's mother died this week after a long illness. Please send your prayers to Adam and his family.

Poll: Obama Would Beat McCain; Hillary Would Tie

A Time magazine poll finds that, thanks to the independent vote, Barack Obama would beat John McCain head-to-head; Hillary Clinton would tie him. Per Time:

Preventing Identity Theft

[verbatim from AG's office] Attorney General Jim Hood, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann and Better Business Bureau President Bill Moak are joining together with a host of private partners to …

Man opens fire at city council meeting in Missouri

Six people, including the shooter, are now dead: