Jackson Free Press

State of Hip-Hop, by Alphonso Mayfield

Label Musical Chairs

The biggest news involves one of the most storied labels in hip-hop. Island Def Jam head Lyor Cohen recently left his position to head Warner Music Group's U. S. Recorded …

A Sweet Little Scene, by James Hughes

It's September 1983, and I'm hanging around the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, regretting that I've shown up six months too late to get into grad school and waiting …

Tort reform raises rally

Byrd of the AP reports :" 'We're saying that we know better than the citizens of this state as to what value a life might be, and that's wrong,' Tollison …

Wyatt Emmerich: Raise Cigarette Taxes

Emmerich writes: "For Pete's sake, let's raise the taxes on cigarettes. Mississippi currently has one of the lowest cigarette tax rates in the nation. Just a quarter-a-pack increase could raise …

Nader Wants to Be 'POTUS'; Barbour Sez Dems 'Nervous'

AP reports: "Nader's decision was greeted with a chorus of condemnation from Democrats, longtime friends and former supporters who blame him for Al Gore's loss four years ago. They suggested …

[Lott] Protecting Gun Rights

I'm co-sponsoring a Senate bill that will protect America's firearms manufacturers and sellers from outrageous lawsuits holding them liable for crimes committed with guns. Like the tactics we're seeing employed …

Escape from Hollywood

Attend "Daddy Cool" Feb. 23, at 7:30 p.m. Millsaps College, Ford Academic Complex, room 215. Free. 974-1299.

Dumb and Dumber

Colorado will probably be looking for a new football coach soon. And a new athletic director and president, too. Coach Gary Barnett said something really stupid in response to a …

Kerry and his ‘Band of Brothers'

Mary Lynn F. Jones writes on Alternet: that Kerry has strong appeal with veterans, who could swing the election. Kerry is finally giving Vietnam veterans a platform. "They're eating it …

The Progressive Populist Moment?

Tom Hayden writes for Alternet: It's been a remarkable shift after the past decade of Democratic catering to corporate interests and conservative voters, Only one year ago, candidates John Kerry, …

The DLC vs. Howard Dean

Naeem Mohaiemen writes for Alternet: "[A] core part of Dean's appeal was his overwhelming support among young people. In 2000, one of the lowest voter turnouts was among young people. …

No Deposit, No Return

If you were the melodramatic type, you might call it a nightmare. Barely a year into the new mandates, and increased (and largely unfunded) costs, of the federal No Child …

[Just In] Barbour Says He Won't ‘Streamline' Education

We just received this from Barbour's office: Contrary to what some have said, the "Operation: Streamline" legislation does not affect funding for education at all. There are no bills dealing …

Barbour Details ‘Streamline' Budget

[verbatim statement] (Jackson, Miss.)-- Governor Haley Barbour was joined today by Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck and scores of legislators as he filed the bill that represents his budget-fixing plan, "Operation: …

Barbour Faces Budget Opposition

... especially on education cuts. The Clarion-Ledger reports today: On Tuesday, dozens of lawmakers — mostly GOP allies — gathered with Barbour to pledge support for the changes. "I'm willing …

[Stiggers] Walking Abreast in the Naked City

Hey Yawl! This is Bone-Qweesha Jones of the Hooked on Phonics Hair and Touch-up Beauty Salon proudly presenting an exclusive literature experience with the poet laureate of the street corner, …

[Buzz] Don't Say ‘Tort Reform'; Collective Forms

DON'T SAY 'TORT REFORM': It's kind of fun to watch lawmakers try NOT to talk about a favorite topic: tort reform. Although legislating against "lawsuit abuse," especially with industry-friendly damage …

High Tech, Free Trade and ‘New Labor'

The blogosphere seems a bit a-flutter over the dawning awareness that an increasing number of "knowledge worker" jobs -- mostly high-tech -- are being outsourced by American corporations to other …

Random Rants

YES it's been sort of a slow sports month, outside of college basketball. However, Uni Watch weighs in with an excellent critique of the uniforms pro sports leagues dress their …

C-L Crime Coverage Improves