Jackson Free Press

10 Local Stories of the Week

There's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them.

1 Officer Dead, 3 Wounded in Iuka, Miss. Standoff

IUKA, Mississippi (AP) — One law enforcement officer was killed and three were injured early Saturday after an hourslong standoff in rural north Mississippi ended in gunfire, authorities said.

Bills Would Ban Minors from Mississippi Indoor Tanning Beds

Melanoma was "just a word" to Emily Tandy when she frequented the tanning beds in the Madison, Mississippi, salon where she worked as a teenager.

Cleaning Up Jails, Carjackings on Rise, Escapee Still at Large, Citizen's Police Academy

Hinds County Sheriff Victor Mason held a press conference Tuesday, Feb. 16, to discuss recent developments at the Hinds County jails, including improvements to the Raymond Detention Center and two …

Stuart Kellogg

Earlier this month, the Old Capitol Inn played host to a retirement party for Stuart Kellogg, former president and general manager of news channel WAPT-TV, who held his post for …

Lumumba's Family Alleges St. Dominic's Didn't Check for Heart Attack

The family of former Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba is seeking restitution from two physicians and St. Dominic's Hospital in a wrongful-death suit filed on Tuesday in Hinds County Circuit Court.

The family of former Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba is seeking restitution from two physicians and …

• February 19, 2016

Voucher Bill Moves Forward in Mississippi Legislature

A bill moving forward in the Mississippi House of Representatives would vastly expand a small program to use tax money to pay private school tuition or for home-schooling.

Big Tech Companies Are Joining Apple in Its Encryption Fight

The tech industry is starting to line up with Apple in its fight against the federal government over the encryption it uses to keep iPhones secure.

Oregon Lawmakers Approve Landmark Minimum Wage Increase

Oregon lawmakers have approved landmark legislation that propels the state's minimum wage for all workers to the highest rank in the U.S., and does so through an unparalleled tiered system …

Lawmakers Look to Consolidate at Least 10 School Districts

Mississippi lawmakers want to abolish two school districts and consolidate at least eight others, part of a renewed push to pare down the state's 144 school districts to increase efficiency.

Charter School Expansion Bills Ignite House, Senate

So far, only two charter schools operate in the state, but the Mississippi House and Senate Education Committees met yesterday in hot debate over the establishment of more.

'Separate-But-Equal' State Flags? Lawmaker Suggests Having Two Instead

In Mississippi, the last state to display the Confederate battle emblem on its flag, some lawmakers want the divisive symbol removed, others want to punish public institutions that refuse to …

Stamps Calls for ‘State of Emergency’ Over Lead, Walks Out After It Fails

Ward 4 Councilman De’Keither Stamps walked out of Wednesday night’s special Jackson City Council meeting after failing to get support for a state of emergency over lead pipes in Jackson …

Jackson's New Rental Regs May Target 'Slumlords,' Property Owners Unhappy

The sore subject of inadequate rental housing in Jackson, and how best to regulate, register and inspect it, packed a Jackson City Council public hearing Tuesday evening. Ward 6 Councilman …

Chef Jesse Houston Is a James Beard Award Semifinalist

Sarah Ross, Reintroduced

Sarah Restuccio was only 17 years old when she appeared on Season 12 of Fox's soon-to-end singing show, "American Idol," but she made an impression.

Muzzling Mississippi’s Educators

Going into last November's elections, Mississippi educators were hoping for real leadership. Instead, what they got was more of the same.

Legislators Determined to Tinker with Public Ed

Just three months after Initiative 42 failed in the November election, the Mississippi Legislature has already seen an explosion of controversial education bills—with school consolidation leading the pack.

Expert: Parent-blaming Does Little to Prevent Crime

Overwhelmingly, parent-blaming was the most frequent mantra at a recent crime forum at Wingfield High School, with visible frustration over the need for families to keep their kids out of …