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Party Switcher Moves GOP Closer to Supermajority in Legislature
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Republicans are closer to having a three-fifths majority of 74 votes in the Mississippi House because a newly re-elected Democrat is switching parties.
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State Flag Continues to Fly at MSU
OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. (AP) — While he supports removing the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag, Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum said it will continue to fly on …
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The Slate
Drew Brees threw seven touchdowns against the Giants on Sunday, Nov. 1, but it was kicker Kai Forbath who propelled the Saints to a win with a 50-yard field goal. …
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Best of Jackson
Best of Jackson 2016 Nomination Ballet
Best of Jackson voting is divided into two stages—a nominations ballot and a final ballot!
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Food
A Family Tradition
While New Orleans may be nearly three hours away, it's easy to find Cajun dishes reminiscent of the ones you'd find in the Crescent City at Drago's Seafood Restaurant in …
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Hitched
First Comes Love
Lakeisha Marie Stewart (then Lakeisha Marie Alexander) wanted a wedding that would be completely her own.
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Politics
The JFP Quick Take: Election 2015
If you woke up this morning feeling like today was just another day, it's because voters largely voted to preserve the status quo on Election Day.
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City & County
The 1-Percent Tax Spending Snag
Jackson City Council members and citizens are growing impatient with the slow rate of progress and administrative morass as the capital city continues to collect funds for infrastructure improvements.
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Education
Mississippi Schools Show Signs of Improvement Despite Underfunding
Academic progress primarily comes from good instruction, and staffing schools, especially in south Jackson, has presented JPS recruiters with problems.
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LGBT
After Same-Sex Marriage Victory, A Stall on LGBT Divorces in State
Lauren Beth Czekala-Chatham cannot put her past behind her, because a court won't let her.
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Music
The New Class of Classics
Andrew Sauerwein says people often think of classical music as something in history, not realizing that there are thousands of working composers today.
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Books
Remembering ‘Riot’
When James Meredith became University of Mississippi's first African American student, a cub reporter and part-time university employee named Edwin Meek was there, photographing him every step of the way.
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Education
Fixing Schools: Big Blue Skies, Nuts and Bolts
In 2006, when local voters approved a $150 million bond for Jackson Public Schools, a then-Jim Hill High School sophomore named Treshika Melvin thought about how the money would help …
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Person of the Day
Drew Mellon
For Clinton native Drew Mellon, the U.S. director for international nonprofit The Hard Places Community, his connection to Cambodia isn't a question of geography, but of compassion and calling.
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City & County
Jackson Council Again Kills Sludge-Hauling Contract
The Jackson City Council has again shot down a proposal to award a roughly $13.6 million contract to remove years worth of sludge from a wastewater treatment plant.
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Biz Roundup
CC's Coffee House, Get2College and Jackson Zoo Master Plan
South Louisiana-based coffee chain CC's Community Coffee House arrived in Mississippi about six weeks ago.
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State Office Election Campaign Finance Reports
By adreherCandidates running for state office filed their final pre-election campaign finance reports on Oct. 27. Click a candidate's name to view the full report.
Governor
Phil Bryant (Republican)
Amount spent this election: $2.74 million
Amount still on-hand: $1.38 million
Robert Gray (Democrat)
Amount spent on this election: $3,100
Amount still on-hand: $1,700
Lieutenant Governor
Tate Reeves (Republican)
Amount spent on this election: $640,000
Amount still on-hand: $3.6 million
Tim Johnson (Democrat)
Amount spent this election: $213,000
Amount still on-hand: $15,900
Secretary of State
Delbert Hosemann (Republican)
Amount spent this election: $321,000
Amount still on-hand: $1.2 million
Charles Graham (Democrat)
Amount spent this election: $8,500
Amount still on-hand: $150
Attorney General
Jim Hood (Democrat)
Amount spent this election: $1.26 million
Amount still on-hand: $350,000
Mike Hurst (Republican)
Amount spent this election: $861,000
Amount still on-hand: $86,000
State Auditor
Stacey Pickering (Republican)
Amount spent this election: $302,000
Amount still on-hand: $49,000
Jocelyn “Joce” Pritchett (Democrat)
Amount spent this election: $158,000
Amount still on-hand: $4,000
Treasurer
Lynn Fitch (Republican)
Amount spent this election: $395,000
Amount still on-hand: $5,700
Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce
Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican)
Amount spent this election: $111,000
Amount still on-hand: $162,000
Addie Lee Green (Democrat)
Amount spent this election: $765
Amount still on-hand: $5,700
*Numbers rounded for clarity, incumbents listed first; numbers taken from October 27, 2015 Campaign Finance Report Filings with the Secretary of State's office.
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Robert Gray's Mom: I Always Wanted Him to Run for Gov.
By R.L. NaveJudie Gray Livingston, the woman who didn't even know her eldest child was running for statewide office before August, said she always thought he'd make a good governor.
"It was always my desire that he would run for governor," Livingston told the Jackson Free Press. "I think that's every mother's (desire)."
Livingston joined her son and daughter, Angela Gray (who is also her big brother's campaign manager), at a prayer vigil for Democratic candidates this afternoon at Smith Park.
Gray, 56, unexpectedly won the Democratic primary in August to become the party's nominee.
Meanwhile, across town, Republicans held a cook-off and rally today at the Ag Museum to promote their slate of statewide candidates.
Judie Gray said she prayed for the passage of the school funding Initiative 42 as well as for salary increases for teachers and state employees as well as infrastructure upgrades.
"This is a positive thing he's done. There's nothing negative," she told me. "He's all about the people of Mississippi wanting to improve."
http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2015/nov/02/23409/
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Politics
Dems Look to Take Back House, Make Gains in Senate
Although redistricting will make their jobs a bit tougher, Mississippi Democrats see an opportunity on Nov. 3 to win back the House and possibly pick up some key Senate seats.
