Jackson Free Press

Day 4: Dr. Ellen Melton in Front Row

Photo: Dr. Ellen Melton leaves the courtroom after closing arguments today with city employee Stephanie Parker-Weaver (left). Melton, the wife of the mayor, lives in Texas. Photo by Jaro Vacek. …

EDITORIAL: ‘Borrow and Spend' Misguided

Those two approaches would be:

There are two major common-sense approaches that could be taken in the short-term to help the United States come out of its current recession, while paying for a looming Iraqi …

No Minors Allowed

I had only eaten half of my French fries at Fenian's one night when they asked me to leave. I was in the back watching Fatman Squeeze with some friends. …

Will the Next Josh Hailey Stand Up?

I remember the first time I saw Josh Hailey. I was covering the City of Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce banquet for the Madison County Journal in 2009. At this suburban …

[Hammond] It's a Dry Hate

At the end of July, I traveled to Arizona to join with other members of the Unitarian Universalist faith to protest the enactment of SB 1070, the infamous anti-immigration law, …

[Balko] How Many More Are Innocent?

Calculating the percentage of innocents now in prison is a tricky and controversial process. In hundreds of cases, courts have overturned convictions due to lack of evidence, recantation of eyewitness …

Day 3: No to ‘Confidential Informant'; Only Pot Found

Reporting by Brian Johnson

This morning, without the jury present, attorneys for the Melton defense team called a "confidential informant," who used the name Russell Smith (not his real name). Under direct examination, he …

Deep as My Bones

Mama froze. She was holding something, a towel I think it was, and her hand stopped in mid air. Her incessant motion on pause for a moment, she looked at …

Favre Watch

I believe he's finished playing, but you know, we're just starting to play these (preseason) games," Childress said. "If somebody gets nicked, someone may have a need, and somebody may …

JPS Hearing Reveals Edwards' Failure to Communicate

Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Lonnie Edwards has consistently failed to communicate about major issues facing the district, JPS Board President Kisiah Nolan testified today. Nolan was the board's first witness …

Not Without A Fight

Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Lonnie Edwards won't go quietly. Edwards announced Feb. 5 that he would appeal the JPS Board of Trustees' decision to let his three-year contract expire with …

Health Reform Moves Ahead

The Mississippi Legislature is debating laws that conform to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, even as legal challenges to the act continue.

And the Oscar Goes To ...

Hollywood rolls out the red carpet Sunday, Feb. 27, to celebrate the achievements of the motion picture industry during the past year. Despite promises of something new and better, devoted …

JRA Questions Old Capitol Green Garage Plan

Jackson Redevelopment Authority board members are questioning the first phase of the Old Capitol Green development while they wait on the developers to submit a proposal for JRA to help …

Large Number of FBI Files Alarming

The New York Times reports Monday:

Southern Republicans Hold Up Bailout

The Jackson NAACP, the Mississippi AFL-CIO and supporting organizations protested Mississippi Republican senators' opposition to a bailout bill for General Motors and Chrysler at the State Capitol Tuesday. U.S. Senate …

Mayoral Candidate Announces First "Jackson Speaks"

Jackson mayoral candidate and Democratic state Sen. John Horhn has announced the first of seven town-hall style meetings called "Jackson Speaks." The purpose of the forums is to give Jacksonians …

Ward 6: How to Win Votes And Influence People

In a pair of forums last week, contenders for the Ward 6 City Council seat struggled to distinguish themselves from the pack with 1-minute answers. Ward 6 has a whopping …

Barbour: ‘I Expect There to Be a Debate'

At a press conference that just concluded at the University of Mississippi, Gov. Haley Barbour said that the debate is happening Friday night, as far as he is concerned: "It's …

JackBlog Goes Live

After a weekend of database spelunking, we've gotten JackBlog up and running...old hands around here will note that the names and faces of the innocent haven't been changed...this is simply …