Jackson Free Press

Providing Structure

Bill Skinner didn't expect to be a youth court judge. A former Jackson police officer and Hinds County Justice Court judge, Skinner wanted to hear adult criminal cases when he …

‘Always a Coach'

It's not hard to tell that Brent Southern is a coach. Peppering his conversation with phrases like "when the whistle blows" and "read all the angles," the attorney describes the …

Alabama, Apes and Adam Perry

I recently had a chance to sit down with Adam Perry, account and distribution manager for the Jackson Free Press, to talk about his first novel, "Boxing Gorillas." The story …

Could Melton's Health 'Diminish' Case?

Mississippi College law professor Matt Steffey says that Mayor Frank Melton's health problems could diminish the "prosecutorial urgency" of the federal case against him for allegedly ordering the destruction of …

Earmark ‘Kings' Pledge Ban

Mississippi's two U.S. senators signed onto a pledge last week by fellow Republicans to refrain from requesting earmark funds for their home state during the upcoming 112th Congress. Sens. Thad …

Rains Hurt State Fair, Helped Local Restaurants

The weather was unkind to the Mississippi State Fair last week, but the near-constant rain was a boon for one segment of Jackson: downtown restaurant owners. Fair director Billy Orr …

Artist In Residence: Clay's Mixed Core

Most of the surface space in Clay Hardwick's room is covered with an image, be it his own or another's: shots of friends checker one wall, posters for bands and …

White House Downplays Immigration Proposal

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is downplaying its draft immigration proposal as merely a backup plan if lawmakers don't come up with an overhaul of their own. It won't …

Parting The Curtain

Mississippi Values: It sounds innocuous, even noble; yet under the pens of Alex A. Alston Jr. and James L. Dickerson, the phrase takes on an ominous ring. Magnolia State residents …

Democrats Say Their Attacks on Romney Over Taxes - Personal and Policy - Are Working

Democrats are growing increasingly confident that a two-pronged tax attack on Republican Mitt Romney — one part policy, one part personal — will help President Barack Obama lure pivotal support …

Social Issues Still Fire Up GOP Despite 2012 Loss

Republican lawmakers have a message for those who want the party to soften its emphasis on social conservatism in hopes of reaching a wider national audience: Not so fast.

Obama Could Reshape 5th Circuit During 2nd Term

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is widely viewed as one of the nation's most conservative federal appellate courts, but President Barack Obama could get a chance to change …

Nissan, Cafe, Caterpillar, Mississippi Works

To celebrate its 10 successful years in Mississippi, Nissan Motor Company announced that it is moving production of its Murano crossover vehicles from Kyushu, Japan, to the facility in Canton …

Iran Presents Nuclear Proposals at Geneva Talks

Declaring that Iran no longer wants to "walk in the dark" of international isolation, Iranian negotiators put forward what they called a potential breakthrough plan Tuesday at the long-stalled talks …

Peggy Noonan: The Republican Party is ‘Torn'

Lap’s Rocky Road

James "Lap" Baker, who recently retired from the Hinds County Public Works Department, wants to put infrastructure improvements back on track as the county's District 4 supervisor.

Bryant Budget Steadfast in Health Care Opposition

Sen. Hillman Frazier said the state would miss out on millions of dollars in economic activity if it declines to expand Medicaid under the federal health-care reform law.

Miss. Abortion Clinic Again Seeks to Block Law

Attorneys for Mississippi's only abortion clinic are again asking a federal judge to block a state law that threatens to eventually close the facility.

U.S. Bombers Fly Over China Air Defense Zone

Two U.S. B-52 bombers flew over disputed islands in the East China Sea during a training mission Tuesday, defying new territorial claims laid out by Beijing over the weekend, according …

Ole Miss Falls to Miss. State in Egg Bowl

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi's Bo Wallace ran toward the end zone in overtime with what looked like the game-tying touchdown. Instead, Mississippi State's Nickoe Whitley smacked the ball out …