Jackson Free Press

Poindexter Elementary Climbs to Level 5

Jackson Public Schools administrators, educators and students gathered in the auditorium of Poindexter Elementary School on Thursday, Sept. 6, for the announcement and celebration of the district's top-rated schools. JPS …

Time for a Full Accounting

As the full truth of the city's considerable budget crisis has emerged, one additional thing about Mayor Frank Melton has come into full relief—he's doesn't know how to run the …

[Stiggers] The Art of Restroom Justice

Cootie McBride: "Recently several public officials, like Senator Craig, have had some misunderstandings with police officers in public restrooms. It seems as if Big Brother has lengthened his arm of …

[Kamikaze] A Call To Arms

For nearly a month I traveled over 4,000 miles, spanning two continents. I made new acquaintances, gained new fans and learned things about myself and the world that I will …

[Hutchinson] Naked And Shameful

President Bush and the three top Democrats that want to replace him couldn't get to New Orleans fast enough last week for the second anniversary of the Katrina debacle. As …

Barbour Touts Tort Reform; Insurance Reformers Answer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today, Gov. Haley Barbour held a press conference to declare a victory for his controversial tort-reform legislation. Barbour's statement is verbatim below; a PDF of a 10-page response by the …

Hurricane Recovery, Barbour - Style

Photos by David Rae Morris,

As residents of Mississippi's Gulf Coast gathered to commemorate the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, they recalled a cataclysmic storm that spared no one, rich or poor, from its destruction. …

Scandal, Fraud And Abuse

Twenty-four months in, the Katrina information firestorm has been dampened down to the size of a birthday candle fl ame in mainstream media, leaving the 60,000 still living in FEMA …

Discussion About Mississippi, and Stereotypes, on Frommers

Someone just sent me this link to a Frommer's thread about Mississippi. There's some intriguing talk over there, revealing that everyone has their own prejudices. Quite compelling to consider. My …

Clarion-Ledger Gets Homicide Facts Wrong

To boot, this is a dramatically wrong statement. (Thanks to golden eagle for catching it.)

In a front-page story today, The Clarion-Ledger reported on the city's rising homicide rate, warning that the 36 to date this year is approaching the "record of 57 in 2004"—incidentally …

Crisler: We Want Temp Worker Details Now

The Jackson City Council Budget Committee asked the Melton administration again Monday to cough up more information on its temporary and contract employees for the 2006-2007 fiscal year (PDF, 592 …

Charleston (S.C.) Facing TDN-Like Scheme; JFP Quoted

Daily Journal to Barbour: Come Clean

The Daily Journal in Tupelo continues to do Mississippians proud by calling on Gov. Haley Barbour to come clean about his financial ties to his (former?) D.C. lobbying firm. In …

I won a prize for my poem!

My poem and profile was also featured in this month's Nappy News, and here it is:

At the A Nappy Hair Affair Web site, anyone can participate in a monthly Napfirmations contest where you can submit a writing that is a positive affirmation about people of …

Melton Doesn't Show, Fails to Deliver on Promise

Amid rumors that he is en route to Las Vegas for a music awards event, Jackson Mayor Frank Melton fell through on his pronouncement to deliver a new budget proposal …

Isbister and Ladd to Host Radio JFP Friday Noon

Listen is as Laurel Isbister and Donna Ladd bring you Radio JFP this week on WLEZ-FM, 103.7. Listen to the live stream at here.

Injustice in Noxubee

There was a story in yesterday's New York Times that reminded me of the Cedric Willis story.

Language of the Absurd

Despite its ungainly headline, AP ran an excellent story about the absurdity of some Mississippi politicians' anti-immigrant rhetoric, delivered just in time for the election cycle.

Fondren ARTMix TONIGHT, 5 to 8 p.m.

Come out to Fondren for one of the coolest nights in Jackson. Shops and galleries will be open from 5 to 8 p.m., with lots of fun entertainment indoors and …

Melton to Devise New Budget

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton told City Council members this morning to toss out the current city budget after some members criticized the discord between the mayor and his own budget. …