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Civil Rights
Judge: Is Court Proper Place for Mississippi Flag Debate?
A federal judge is ordering attorneys to file arguments over whether courts have standing to decide if Mississippi should remove the Confederate battle emblem that has been on the state …
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Obama Administration Loosens Rules on Cuba Travel, Dollar
The Obama administration on Tuesday loosened rules on travel to Cuba and the Cuban government's use of the dollar, removing obstacles to closer ties between the two countries five days …
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SUNSHINE WEEK: Even as Political Spending Explodes, Disclosure Remains Hazy
Politicians in Mississippi have used campaign money to pay for such things as a BMW, an RV and $800 cowboy boots.
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Editorial
SUNSHINE WEEK: Public Needs Year-Round Access to Documents, Meetings, Donation Information
The JFP has long focused on the serious problem of campaign donation transparency in the state, especially that shielded by political action committees, and more recently the problem with city …
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City & County
City Lifts Boil Notice, Some Streets Still Under Watch
The City of Jackson has lifted the boil notice for most of the city as they receive results from water tests, while one area still remains under watch.
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Business
State Begins Lead Testing of Children, Awaits City's Corrosion Compliance Plan
The City of Jackson has extended a "precautionary boil notice" from last week's treatment-plant shutdown.
Story
Ole Miss Adding Plaque with Context for Confederate Statue
A Confederate soldier statue that has stood for generations in a prominent spot on the University of Mississippi's Oxford campus will soon be accompanied by a plaque giving it historical …
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National
SUNSHINE WEEK: Top Mississippi Leaders Fail to Disclose Schedules, Emails
Lawmakers in every state have adopted laws requiring most government meetings and records to be open to the public. But in some states, lawmakers have exempted themselves from complying.
Story
Officer Dead in Shooting Near Police Station; Answers Sought
Police and the public were seeking answers Monday after a gunman opened fire outside a police station in a Maryland suburb of the nation's capital, killing an officer in what …
Story
Water Ebbing in North Louisiana, Rising at Mississippi Line
floodwaters began receding Monday in northwest Louisiana, emergency officials along Louisiana's southeastern border with Mississippi were watching the rise of the Pearl River amid widespread flooding that has damaged thousands …
Entry
Motion City Soundtrack Is No More
By micah_smithAfter 18 years in the international alternative music scene, Motion City Soundtrack has announced that the band will enter an indefinite hiatus following its upcoming 29-date United States tour.
The tour will begin May 5 in Portland and end June 24 in Minneapolis, the city where vocalist Justin Pierre and guitarist Joshua Cain, the two remaining founding members, first began playing together as Motion City Soundtrack in 1997. Over the course of the band's career, Pierre and his cohorts released six studio albums, the most notable being 2007's "Even If It Kills Me," which reached No. 16 on the Billboard Charts, and 2010's "My Dinosaur Life," which debuted at No. 15. The group released its final album, "Panic Stations," on Sept. 18, 2015.
"It has been a quiet winter for us," the band said in a press release. "We've had some time at home after a very busy 2015. With this time, we've been able to think about the past, present and future of Motion City Soundtrack.
"All of this thinking has led to several conversations, and these conversations have led us to a very bittersweet realization: We have no idea what the future holds, but for now we are done. Needless to say, we're feeling all the feels - you may be, as well. If so, or if you've ever been touched by our music, we ask you to come out and sing along with us one last time in 2016."
For more information, visit motioncitysoundtrack.com.
http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2016/mar/14/24930/
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Person of the Day
John David Pennebaker
Former state Rep. John David Pennebaker, who helped create Mississippi's comprehensive four-lane highway construction program in 1987, has died at 72.
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City & County
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.
Story
Profiting From Probation: 'You Don't Criminalize Poverty'
MURFREESBORO, Tennessee (AP) — When Steven Gibbs couldn't afford the fees demanded by the company supervising his probation, he wound up in jail. When Gibbs — who had been arrested …
Story
9 Operators Propose 14 New Charter Schools in Mississippi
Nine charter school operators say they're interested in opening 14 new charter schools in Mississippi.
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City & County
Suspects Still At Large, Crimes Against Persons on the Rise, Seeking Solutions
After a relatively low crime season, this past weekend began a very tense week for the city of Jackson.
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City & County
Mayor Yarber Voices Frustration Over Potholes, Airport, Water, More on Facebook
Mayor Yarber on Facebook: "It took me at least 15 minutes to begin this post. It took so long because I actually didn't know where to start. In the City …
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City & County
Ditto: Capitol District to Free Up Local Repair Funds, Get State to Pay Fair Share
The goal behind the proposed "Capitol Complex Improvement District" is to free up City of Jackson funds to work on more neglected neighborhoods, one of the original architects of the …
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Education
Amendment Hijacks Parent Involvement Bill: 'Not About Teachers'
Rep. Gregory Holloway, Sr., D-Hazlehurst, helped mold the Parent Involvement and Accountability Act, which would "grade" parents in C, D or F districts on their involvement in their children's education.
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Person of the Day
DJ Young Venom: I Was Kicked Out of Trump Rally for Marvel's Black Panther Shirt, X Cap
Phillip Rollins was sitting in the bleachers at Madison Central High School's auditorium, looking at his phone, when suddenly he noticed people pointing and shouting: "Get him out!"
