Jackson Free Press

Spies In The Sky

Jackson and the metro area have a new set of eyes in the sky, thanks to local helicopter pilot Coyt Bailey, SafeCity Watch, philanthropist Jim Barksdale and other private donors, …

Smoot In Smash-up

Former Provine High/Hinds CC/Mississippi State star Fred Smoot has run into trouble again. Smoot will miss the Minnesota Vikings' final regular-season game after breaking his jaw in an automobile accident …

The Great Divide

The few of us still in the practice of keeping straight the interchangeable Meineke Car Cares and Micron PCs of the ever-inflating college football bowl season—postseason rewards for the game's …

[Music] Donks and Southern Charm

"Inside peanut butter, outside jelly, seven days of the week, seven different Chevys." If you've heard these lyrics, you know Cadillac Don and J Money, the men behind the infectious …

Temp-Gate Rocks City

In a contentious Dec. 21 meeting, City Council voted 4-0 to an amendment refusing to make payments for temp agencies supplying workers to the city of Jackson. On Tuesday, the …

[City Buzz] no. 15 December 27 - Janurary 3, 2007

Grant Writers Suing City

Former city employees LaSeine Hunter Hilliard, Meisha Jones and Stanley Murray are bringing a civil action against the city of Jackson for termination against Civil Service rules and state law.

Most Intriguing Jacksonians 2006

People living in Jackson may always remember 2006 as the year when Melton melted down. It's not all we'll remember about this year, of course. Renovation began on the King …

AG: ‘Sneaky' Insurance Cos. Wrong to Delay Katrina Suits

[Verbatim statement from Jim Hood] "State Farm, Allstate, Nationwide, Farm Bureau, USAA, and Nationwide have caused many people on our Coast to wait a year and three months for a …

Top 10 Days In Sports, 2006

Jan. 17: Mississippi State basketball coach Rick Stansbury kicks Walter Sharpe off the team.

2006: The Year That Was (Nuts)

As we survey the top local news from this past year, we have to take a deep breath and feel a measure of pride. Time after time over the last …

New Year's Eve In The Capital

One of the most exciting things about a new year, other than a chance to wipe the slate clean of all those indiscretions from the previous year, is all the …

Sen. Horhn Announces Historic Pocahontas Rest Stop

[verbatim statement] Dec. 28, 2006—Eight years of effort finally paid off. State Senator John Horhn announced today that the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) has allocated $1.9 Million and begun …

In Hindsight, We Need Oversight

As 2006 comes to a close, it's become achingly clear that Jacksonians are going to need to do something about the way we're governed. The indicators are clear and, oddly …

[Braden] Absolutely Perfect 2006

I've decided to send this yankeefied newsletter as proof that we are not an agoraphobic family—we just don't like spending time with folks who don't really want to spend time …

[Stiggers] Broke, Busted, Can't Be Trusted

Rev. Cletus: "This is your Reverend Cletus Car Sales radio broadcast! Remember: If you need to get from point A to B, see one of my deacons at the car …

Gerald Ford – 1913-2006.

The statement from his family did not list a cause of death. He was 93.

Fraud, Katrina Contracts Could Waste $2 Billion

The Associated Press is reporting on staggering waste and loss of funds due to no-bid and fraudulent contracts, especially to Republican supporters, after Katrina, as well as how few minority-owned …

Nanny Hunt a ‘Slap' for African Americans

The New York Times has an interesting piece about the difficulties well-to-do African Americans can have getting quality child care in the U.S.:

Back To Basics with Kwanzaa, Regardless Of Race

The holiday season can be chaotic. In some cases, it turns into a popularity contest: Who gets the most thoughtful gift? Who gets the stock gifts? Who only gets well …

Soul "Godfather" James Brown Dies at 73

CNN is reporting the following:

"ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- James Brown, the dynamic, pompadoured "Godfather of Soul," whose rasping vocals and revolutionary rhythms made him a founder of rap, funk and disco as well, died …