Jackson Free Press

Planned Parenthood Saved My Life

As Congress debates whether or not Planned Parenthood should continue receiving funding for providing health care to women, do me a favor and think of that young woman who may …

Rep. Lester 'Bubba' Carpenter: 'Deeply Sorry' for Racial Comments

State Rep. Lester "Bubba" Carpenter, a Burnsville Republican, this morning walked back racially charged statements made public over the weekend about the Initiative 42 schools-funding referendum.

Planned Parenthood to Forgo Payment in Fetal Tissue Programs

Responding to a furor over undercover videos, Planned Parenthood says it will maintain programs at some of its clinics that make fetal tissue available for research, but will no longer …

Mississippi AG’s Race: What’s at Stake?

Since announcing his candidacy for the state AG's office, Mike Hurst has made fighting public corruption the centerpiece of his campaign as well as attacks against Jim Hood, whom Hurst …

Democrats Poised to Filibuster Stopgap Funding Measure

The Senate was poised to vote on legislation that would keep the government open beyond next Wednesday's deadline, but at a price Democrats are certain to reject: stripping taxpayer money …

Embrace Immigrants, Pope Francis Urges Congress

Standing before a rapt Congress, Pope Francis issued a ringing call to action on behalf of immigrants Thursday, urging lawmakers to embrace "the stranger in our midst" as he became …

House Bills Hit Planned Parenthood, Some Abortion Doctors

Republicans pushed bills targeting Planned Parenthood and curbing some abortion procedures toward House passage Friday, with party leaders hoping the legislation will help mollify fractious conservatives demanding a face-off with …

Another GOOD Idea: Improving Pregnancy Care

In a state with so many restrictions on sexual education and abortion, ostensibly to protect the health of women, the conventional wisdom should hold that Mississippi's pregnancy statistics should be …

Kentucky Clerk Won't Interfere with Gay Marriage Licenses

Clerk Kim Davis returned to work Monday for the first time since being jailed for disobeying a federal judge and said she was faced with a "seemingly impossible choice" between …

White House Rolling Out Red Carpet for Pope Francis

When Pope Francis arrives on his first-ever visit to the United States, he will be welcomed in a way that few world leaders have: with President Barack Obama waiting at …

Pope Speeds Up, Simplifies Process for Marriage Annulments

Pope Francis radically reformed the Catholic Church's process for annulling marriages Tuesday, allowing for fast-track decisions and removing automatic appeals in a bid to speed up and simplify the procedure.

Minnesota Dentist Who Killed Beloved Lion Returns to Work

The Minnesota dentist who killed Cecil the lion returned to work Tuesday after weeks away, walking silently past a swarm of media and a handful of protesters outside his small …

Ted Cruz Cozies Up to Donald Trump, Aims for His Supporters

On Wednesday, at Ted Cruz's invitation, Donald Trump is to appear with him at a Capitol Hill rally protesting the proposed nuclear agreement with Iran.

Judge Jails Kentucky Clerk for Refusing Marriage Licenses

A federal judge ordered a defiant county clerk to jail for contempt Thursday after she insisted that it would violate her conscience to follow court orders to issue marriage licenses …

Texas Abortion Clinics Appeal to Supreme Court

Texas abortion clinics are asking the Supreme Court to take up a major case about abortion rights in the midst of the 2016 presidential campaign.

Pope: Priests in Holy Year Can Absolve 'Sin of Abortion'

Pope Francis declared on Tuesday he is allowing all priests in the church's upcoming Year of Mercy to absolve women of the "sin of abortion" if they repent with a …

Activists Pursue Private Abortion Details Using Public Records Laws

Increasingly, abortion opponents are pursuing personal and medical information on women undergoing abortions and the doctors who perform them.

Those who support abortion rights say the ultimate aim of anti-abortion activists is to reduce …

• August 28, 2015

Rival Koreas Masters at Pulling Back from the Brink

Once again, the Koreas are trying to disentangle themselves from violence and threats of war — this time in tense talks that have dragged out in two marathon sessions over …

Dee Smith-Smathers

Although Dee Smith-Smathers did not get to celebrate her 74th birthday, she did live to see her marriage to her partner of 29 years, Charlene Smith-Smathers, recognized in her home …