Jackson Free Press

BREAKING: Judge Green Recuses Herself

Judge Tomie Green has recused herself (PDF, 125K) from the upcoming Ridgeway trial, citing "recent improper and inappropriate contact with the trial judge and members of her family which makes …

Cities Compete in Hipness to Attract Young

The New York Times has a story about cities trying to attract and keep the vital "creative class." Be sure to read Todd's story about Jackson's "Creative Class Rising" back …

Have a Happy, Safe and LOCAL ‘Black Friday'

The Jackson Free Press wishes everyone a safe and loving Thanksgiving. And if you are one of the brave souls who actually shops on "black Friday," please remember that our …

[City Buzz] no. 10 November 22 - 29

A Hasty Decision Reconsidered?

The Jackson City Council will vote this week on whether or not to rescind approval of the construction of a parkway running to the international airport in Pearl.

Tarring and Feathering Faye Peterson

I was sitting in the student center at Belhaven College Friday afternoon, participating in a media-ethics forum with several other media leaders from around town. The conversation was compelling, and …

[Kamikaze] Don't Blow It

After I signed my first recording contract, an old industry mentor asked me: "You've bought the album. Now what are you going to do with it?" In other words, now …

[Stiggers] A Dose of Holiday Reality

Boneqweesha Jones: "It's 'Late, Late, Late Night Conversations,' the television show for insomniacs who are tired of looking at those food-processing and real-estate infomercials. My special guest is Sis. Judy …

[Parks] Mississippi: America's Africa

Before New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof and I left on our trip to Africa in September, WNYC's Brian Lehrer interviewed us on his radio show. A caller asked us …

JFP Exclusive: Meet Witness Stephen Stamboulieh

See an archive of JFP stories and blogging on Frank Melton

"Live in New York?" I'd Recommend It

I surfed over to the C-L's website this morning on the off chance that there was a correction or re-statement of last Saturday's editorial. Didn't find one, which I guess …

Random Musings

Maybe it's the lack of sunlight this time of year, but my mind is going a million different directions and I can't focus worth squat. Anyone else feeling like this? …

Secret Pentagon Study Gives 3 Iraq Options

And none of them are pretty: "injecting more troops into Iraq, shrinking the force but staying longer or pulling out, The Washington Post reported Monday. The newspaper quoted senior defense …

How Would You Reform Public Education in Mississippi?

The Clarion-Ledger is making a lot of hay out of recent statistics indicating that only 50.6% of JPS students graduate, rather than the previously estimated 67%. The trouble is that …

See the Casey Parks Lesson Plan

I was just talking to Ayana Taylor, JFP-reporter-turned-teacher, and she told me that she had run into a NYT lesson plan for teachers—using our very own Casey Parks and her …

Should Dems Write Off the South?

The lefty blogosphere is "atwitter" (with apologies to the Mississippi Press Association) over the notion that the 2006 mid-term elections were not only a repudiation of various Bush Administration policies …

This Has to Be Satire

There is no way that Wyatt Emmerich wrote the following without his tongue firmly implanted in his right cheek:

City Buzz no. 9 November 15 - 22

The Return of John

Mayor Frank Melton is looking to correct a mistake he made about a year ago when he refused to renew the contract of lobbying firm Winston & Strawn LLP. Months …

Council Calls For Independent Attorney

Members of City Council say they are still stinging from being duped by their own attorney into paying her thousands of extra dollars.

Bond Proposal Triumphs

To the astonishment of naysayers (and some supporters), an overwhelming majority of Jackson voters approved the recent $150 million Jackson Public Schools bond issue. Like the Convention Center bond proposal …

Gadget of The Week [11.15.06]

How can your life be truly full and rich when you don't have a personal digital projector? (I ask myself this kind of stuff all the time.) Two different companies—LumenLabs …