Jackson Free Press

Issue No. 49

<b><u>Dear Kamikaze,</b></u>

Just to let you know, I enjoyed your somewhat predictable response to my letter ("you're white, so you can't possibly understand," ("The New Racism," July 13, 2005)). What an insult …

[Balko] Death of a Watchdog

In an age when journalism has been inflicted not only by ballyhooed budget woes and challenges from new media, but also a glut of dubious trend stories, horserace political coverage …

[Balko] The Criminalization of Protest

Police and politicians ignore the First Amendment when we need it the most.

Personhood Supporters Shocked, Undeterred

See also Grassroots Mamas: 'We Did It!'

Hungry for Love

If your family is like mine, the economy has caused you to tighten your purse strings. Add a new baby to the mix, and well, going out on Valentine's Day …

Who's Fooling Whom?

No one likes to be fooled.

Barbour: Stop the Lame Games

Gov. Haley Barbour butt-thumped a community organization devoted to poor people this week.

Week 5: ID, Justice, Budgets

Republican Win On Voter ID Senate Republicans succeeded in extending and tightening voter ID requirements for all Mississippians in a bill passed Feb. 4. Senate Bill 2548 originally passed Jan. …

Free HIV Testing Tomorrow

[verbatim] On Tuesday, June 16th, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the nation's largest non-profit AIDS organization, will partner with Building Bridges, Inc. to provide free HIV testing at Hinds Comprehensive Health …

Republicans Kill Law Enforcement Bill

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood berated House Republicans Wednesday for voting down a bill that would have allowed him to ask a judge for permission to wiretap phones for white-collar …

PSC Creates New Hurdles for Coal-Burning Plant

The Mississippi Public Service Commission met last Friday to consider multiple motions submitted by Mississippi Power, the Sierra Club, Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood and others regarding Mississippi Power's proposed …

In The Line of Melton's Fire

For more than a decade, Jackson Mayor Frank Melton spent his career lobbing criticism and condemnation at local political leaders that he felt weren't doing a good job of keeping …

A Decoy Prom for Lesbian Teen?

When Constance McMillen attended her school prom on Friday at Fulton Country Club in Fulton, Miss., only seven students were in attendance. The majority of Itawamba Agricultural High School students …

[Balko] 4.5 SWAT Raids Per Day

During the last six months of 2009, police deployed SWAT teams oyed 804 times in the state of Maryland, or about 4.5 times per day. In Prince George's County alone, …

Beauty, Schmeauty

The Hinds County Board of Supervisors let a $1.2 million beautification grant slip through their fingers this week when they voted against meeting $240,000 in federal matching funds. The grant, …

[Parrish] Memo To The Mainstream

I have a three-word response to the media frenzy that followed revelation of the long-secret identity of Deep Throat: Downing Street Memo.

Salter Bashes Holland on Medicaid

Sid Salter's column today bashes Rep. Steve Holland for originally supporting Haley Barbour's Medicaide bill, accusing him of "crawfishing": "Trouble is, the record shows that Holland was the chief House …

Despite Debt Crisis, EU Wins Nobel Peace Prize

The European Union won the Nobel Peace Prize for fostering peace on a continent ravaged by war, yet the Norwegian prize jury warned Friday that the financial crisis challenging the …

Prison Factories Caught in Private Biz Debate

Factories that employ convicted felons are at the heart of a simmering debate about whether prisons should be siphoning away jobs—and at much lower wages.

GOP PR Firm, Others Under Scrutiny

Sid Salter has an intriguing bit today on his blog about PR firms under scrutiny by the legislative PEER Committee.