Jackson Free Press

'Significant' Oil Spill Closes U.S. Ship Channel

No timetable has been set to reopen a major U.S. shipping channel after nearly 170,000 gallons of tar-like oil spilled into the Texas waterway, but more help was being called …

Youth, Turnout Beat Expectations in Mayor Election

Last night's special election for Jackson mayor was about beating expectations.

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Boston Police Safely Blow Up Suspicious Backpacks

Survivors, first responders and relatives of those killed in the Boston Marathon bombing marked the anniversary Tuesday with tributes that combined sorrow over the loss of innocent victims with pride …

Two Approaches to ‘Human,’ LGBT Rights

Gov. Phil Bryant signed SB 2681, the "Religious Freedom Restoration Act" that many fear is license to discriminate against gays and lesbians, and runoff elections for Jackson mayor are right …

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Chris Penczak

While the Mississippi Legislature was polishing its Religious Freedom Restoration Act (which opponents say opens doors to legal discrimination for religious reasons), Christopher Penczak and other believers of a mostly …

Injuries Confirmed in Multiple Mississippi Tornadoes, Storms Headed East

The state health department says injuries have been confirmed from Monday's tornadoes in the Tupelo area and in Winston County farther south.

Justices Wary of Unlimited Cellphone Searches

The Supreme Court seemed wary Tuesday of allowing police unbridled freedom to search through cellphones of people they arrest, taking on a new issue of privacy in the face of …

Federal Judge Stalls Obama's Executive Action on Immigration

The White House promised an appeal Tuesday after a federal judge in Texas temporarily blocked President Barack Obama's executive action on immigration and gave a coalition of 26 states time …

Alaska Becomes 3rd State with Legal Marijuana

Alaska on Tuesday became the third U.S. state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, but organizers don't expect any public celebrations since it remains illegal to smoke marijuana in …

Dumping Siemens Could Be Lengthy, Costly Process

Kenneth Stokes, in his first week back as Ward 3 councilman, said he plans to offer a proposal to get the city out from underneath its $90 million contract with …

Gov. Bryant Gets GOP Foe as Filing Deadline Nears

First-term Gov. Phil Bryant picked up a Republican primary challenger Thursday, the day before candidates' deadline to qualify for statewide, regional and legislative races.

Mines, Bombs Slow Iraqi Advance on Islamic State-Held Tikrit

Iraqi troops and Shiite militias battled the Islamic State group Tuesday on the outskirts of militant-held Tikrit, unable to advance further on Saddam Hussein's hometown as roadside mines and suicide …

A Look Back at Mississippi’s Basketball Season

The Final Four is here, and the book on Mississippi's current basketball season has closed. It felt like a particularly mad March for Mississippi basketball fans, but it was a …

Rand Paul and 2016: A Message of Change, Delivered Deadpan

Ready to enter the chase for the Republican presidential nomination Tuesday, first-term Kentucky senator Rand Paul has designs on changing how members of his party go about getting elected to …

Lou’s Full Serv: Energizing Southern Staples

Since its inception in March 2014, Lou's Full-Serv Neighborhood Kitchen has made itself into an eclectic hideaway tucked in a quiet corner of a district where faces are familiar and …

David Rae Morris

In the time I've known him, David Rae Morris has turned himself into an accomplished filmmaker who makes places and people in our state come alive in a way I …

Nigeria: 1 Year After Kidnap of Girl Students, Hope Dwindles

They have been gone a year now, the hundreds of girls abducted by Islamic militants from their school in northeastern Nigeria. And while the cry to "Bring Back Our Girls" …

Eyes on Bill Minor

If we measured marathons in years instead of miles, journalist Wilson "Bill" Minor would be 10 years away from completing his third reporting marathon in Mississippi.

UNHCR: Weekend Shipwreck Deadliest Ever in Mediterranean

The United Nations refugee agency said Tuesday that it believes more than 800 people drowned when a boat packed with migrants trying to reach Europe sank on Saturday, making it …

Kerry at House Hearing: Nothing in Iran Deal Built on Trust

Secretary of State John Kerry pitched the administration's controversial nuclear deal with Iran before a skeptical House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, pushing back against the allegation it would ease …