Jackson Free Press

Day 3: Police Officers Testify

Two police officers testified for the defense this morning. First was Sharon Gray, a 27 year veteran of the force who has spent the last five years as a records …

Day 3: Defense Down to 2 Witnesses, If That

Reporting by Brian Johnson

After examining their witness list, based on the judge's limitations on discussion of past drug activity on Ridgeway Street, defense attorneys' acceptable list of witnesses has dropped to only two …

Day 3: No to ‘Confidential Informant'; Only Pot Found

Reporting by Brian Johnson

This morning, without the jury present, attorneys for the Melton defense team called a "confidential informant," who used the name Russell Smith (not his real name). Under direct examination, he …

Day 2: Many Objections, Eye Witnesses at Melton Trial

After Senior Assistant District Attorney Stanley Alexander finished redirect of Lawrence Cooper Jr. in the felony trial of Mayor Frank Melton Tuesday morning, Judge Joe Webster called a brief recess. …

Day 2: Welch Watching ‘Walking Tall' Before Attack

In the opening statements and first testimony in the Mississippi v. Melton et al. trial, prosecutor Stanley Alexander came out of the gate with a focus on the events of …

UPDATED: Council, JPS Report Mayoral Threats

This is an updated version of this story that broke Monday on the JFP Web site.

Day 1: Melton Jury Selected; Opening Statements Begin Tuesday

This story was substantially updated at 8:30 p.m. For further updates, see the comments below or scroll down in the story.

Could You Go Without Your Car for a Month?

My weekly sprint to WLEZ to do the radio show would need to be better planned.

Over at the Louisville Eccentric Observer, an alt-weekly in Kentucky, staff writer Stephen George is blogging about his attempts to go a month without his car in Louisville, relying on …

Wine Drinkers Unite

This Saturday evening will provide the connoisseur and novice alike the opportunity to strut their wine legs—both the ones that slide down the sides of the glass, giving some indication …

[Green Day] Turning Green From Fear

I have one recurring nightmare that makes the film "Soylent Green" look like a kid's show: I'm in a nursing home, and the care-givers hate me. They torture me with …

Comics, Black And White

The history of comic books in America is proof that you can't kill an art form. When Dr. Fredric Wertham's "Seduction of the Innocents" came out in 1958, on the …

Judge Denies Melton Defense Motions

Friday the 13th was a dark day for Mayor Frank Melton and his two police bodyguards Michael Recio and Marcus Wright. This was their first real day in court regarding …

The Big Lie

The felony trial of Mayor Frank Melton and police detectives Michael Recio and Marcus Wright begins Monday. Although we cannot yet know what defense their lawyers will mount, it seems …

Frank's Boy

At the center of the maelstrom around Mayor Frank Melton's actions the night of Aug. 26, 2006, sits a young man named Michael Taylor. Because Taylor—already accused of a felony …

[Gregory] Sweet Bird Of Nokia

My office downtown is close to Smith Park. Often, during my 15 minutes of government-mandated break time in the afternoon, I walk to the park and sit on a bench …

Supes Approve Garage's ‘Design Phase'

On Monday, the Hinds County Board of Supervisors voted to authorize the design development phase of a $12.97 million parking garage proposed by Supervisor Doug Anderson and designed by his …

'Daily Show' Viewers More Informed than Fox, Local Viewers

Interesting piece in the New York Times (thanks, Kate!), notes that the most informed news consumers also have the highest tendency to watch fake news shows.

Jackpedia Discussion

Y'all...I just finished a few hours of messing around with Jackpedia and wanted to use it as a launching point for criticism, discussion, suggestions, etc. Here' the page I just …

Anderson Letter Implies Foundation Purge

Jackson Police Chief Shirlene Anderson wants to give the boot to all sitting members of the Jackson Police Foundation, something that foundation members say she does not have the authority …

The $176 Million Dollar Hymen

"WASHINGTON - Students who participated in sexual abstinence programs were just as likely to have sex a few years later as those who did not, according to a long-awaited study …