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.

Hundreds of Fishermen Rescued Amid Indonesian Slavery Probe

Hundreds of fishermen raced to be rescued Friday from the isolated Indonesian island where an Associated Press investigation found that many were enslaved to catch seafood that could end up …

Commitments Made, Iran and 6 Powers Face Tough Nuke Talks

With one phase of nuclear talks over, Iran and six world powers now have an ambitious to-do list that—if implemented—will cut significantly into Iran's bomb-capable technology while giving Tehran quick …

How One Mom Beat the Legislature on Schools Funding

A Mississippi mother of two took on the state Legislature Thursday in a battle over school funding. She won.

John Rocker

It was John Rocker's mouth, not his arm, that was most memorable about his time with the Atlanta Braves. His quotes to Sports Illustrated in December 1999 caused a backlash …

Advocates Seek Prison Changes as State Seeks Case Dismissal

Attorneys for the state of Mississippi argued in federal court Wednesday that steps have been taken to end inmate-on-inmate violence at a prison in Leake County.

Airbnb Offers Cuba Lodgings in Major US Business Expansion

The popular online home-rental service Airbnb is allowing American travelers to book lodging in Cuba starting Thursday in the most significant U.S. business expansion on the island since the declaration …

Troubled Water, Part II: The Origins of Jackson's $91 Million Siemens Contract

Nearly two months have passed since City of Jackson Department of Public Works Director Kishia Powell brought the water-meter installation project, the centerpiece of the City's $91 million contract with …

Citing problems with a similar project in McComb, Ward 5 Councilman Charles Tillman is one …

• April 1, 2015

Chasing Perfection

Just two games separate the 2014-2015 University of Kentucky Wildcats from immortality, and just three teams stand in the Wildcats' way from joining eight others who had a perfect season.

Diving Into Love

Two years ago, Brad Regan considered himself to be a player. No one could have told him that he would fall in love with Hannah Acey, whom he met in …

Bringing Art to Life

On April 10, attendees at the Mississippi Museum of Art's 2015 spring benefit may experience a sense of deja vu as they take in the sights and sounds.

Back to Stevie J Blues

Jackson-native blues and soul artist Stephen Johnson decided to clear his name—or at least to clarify it—about two years ago.

An Open Letter to Our Teachers

I don't doubt for a second that there are bad teachers who just show up to collect a paycheck, but I can't recall ever having a teacher who I didn't …

Mississippi’s Money Dance

Mississippi lawmakers voted Monday to borrow $450 million for a range of needs. As usual, there's very little for the city of Jackson's legislative agenda, which included funding for public-safety, …

Obamacare: Five Years and Counting

With Bryant's vow to undermine the ACA, the feds concluded that a state-run exchange was untenable. In January 2013, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius turned down Mississippi's …

Black Folk Do ... Make Films

This year, I am returning to launch the Independent Black Film Collective, an organization that aims to bring more diversity within the film-festival community.

A Look Back at Mississippi’s Basketball Season

The Final Four is here, and the book on Mississippi's current basketball season has closed. It felt like a particularly mad March for Mississippi basketball fans, but it was a …

Tangle Salon's Reincarnation, Donations for Students and Charities, New Electric Car Charge Stations

Fairview Inn (734 Fairview St.) has teamed up with electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors to provide Tesla Destination Charging, a service that provides free connectors that charge Tesla Model S …

U.S. to Pledge Up to 28 Percent Emission Cut in Global Treaty

The United States pledged Tuesday to cut its greenhouse gas emissions up to 28 percent as part of a global treaty aimed at preventing the worst effects of climate change, …