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Music
Divas Take Jackson
With its focus on local food, fashion and entertainment, the City's "We Are Jackson" weekend, which runs from Thursday, Oct. 8, to Sunday, Oct. 11, aims to combat an age-old …
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Civil Rights
Kids Who Die in the Swamps
The notion of being seen and not heard has put our young people in a position that leaves them far behind, swimming beneath deep waves meant to contain, not to …
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Jacksonian
Shon Simmons
Shonda McCarthy Simmons, who goes by Shon, believes that it is important for her students at Hazelhurst High School to understand that art, literature, math and history are all related.
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Crime
Under Siege in America
Sadly, I feel physically safer in France, with its baguette-eating, cigarette-smoking, non-church-going, slightly rude and less social population than with gun-toting, Bible-thumping Americans.
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Breaking: Jackson State Fires Head Coach Harold Jackson
By bryanflynnAfter last Saturday's 59-27 loss to Grambling Stat, Jackson State made the decision to fire head coach Harold Jackson during the team's bye week. The firing was first reported by the Clarion-Ledger.
Jackson's tenure ended after just 17 games and a 1-4 start this season and a 1-2 record in SWAC play. In just a season and just over a quarter of a second season, Jackson had a 6-11 overall record and 3-8 record in SWAC play.
Jackson State has given up 30 or more points every game this season and has given up 50 plus points in three of four losses. The Tigers offense had only scored over 30 points twice this season. JSU's one win was by four points (34-30 to Texas Southern) and 10 points is the closest loss (35-25 to Tennessee State).
Last season, Jackson State lost to Mississippi Valley State for the first time in over twenty years but rallied to beat Alcorn State (2014-15 SWAC Football Champions) to end the season.
At the time of the Jackson's firing no interim head coach was named. Jackson State doesn't take the field again until October 17, when the Tigers hit the road to face Alabama A&M (who currently also has one win going into a game against Grambling State this weekend).
Update:
Jackson State has announced that former Tigers quarterback Derrick McCall will take over as head coach for the last six games of the 2015-16 season. McCall has is in his eighth season as a coach at JSU.
During his time with Jackson State McCall was wide receivers coach, quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. He was a standout quarterback for the Tigers from 1979-82 were he helped lead the program to two SWAC Championships and two berths in the Division I-AA playoffs.
McCall's first home game as head coach will come on October 24 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
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Biz Roundup
Area Restaurants Win Awards, Open, Close, Renovate
Ciara Brown calls her restaurant, Ciara's Bakery and Cafe, "a one-stop shop where you can taste the difference."
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Music
Lake Street Dive
After more than a decade performing together, the musicians of Boston soul-pop act Lake Street Dive are starting to see their hard work pay off in a big way.
Place
Julep Restaurant and Bar
After a hard day, sometimes you just need a good, stiff drink. Nestled in Highland Village, the bar at Julep greets patrons seeking solace in an after-work martini or glass of wine. Whether you choose a bar stool or meet …
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Person of the Day
Tadaharu Yamamoto
Tadaharu Yamamoto, president of Yokohama Rubber Co.'s Mississippi branch, says it will take up to two years to reach yearly capacity of 1 million truck and bus tires.
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Proposal Would Erase Confederate Sign from Mississippi Flag
A new proposal seeks a statewide election on removing the Confederate battle emblem from the Mississippi flag. But it could be years before the issue gets on the ballot, and …
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Politics
Tim Johnson Challenges Tate Reeves to Debate(s)
Tim Johnson, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, wants to debate Tate Reeves, the Republican incumbent.
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Art
Peter Friedrich
As the assistant professor and chair of the theater department at Millsaps College, Peter Friedrich is working to bring change that goes beyond the college to the national theater culture.
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Health Care
How Some Alabama Hospitals Quietly Drug Test New Mothers—Without Their Consent
In Alabama, a positive drug test can have dire repercussions for pregnant women and new mothers.
Story
'We Began to Run': Students Describe Horror of Shooting
Armed with multiple guns, a 26-year-old man walked into a morning writing class at a community college in this rural Oregon town and opened fire, hitting some students with multiple …
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Petition Drive to Remove Confederate Emblem from State Flag OK'd
By R.L. NaveJackson resident Sharon Brown has received approval to start collecting signatures on a ballot initiative to remove a Confederate emblem from the state's flag.
“Today we received our official ballot title and summary from the state and are excited that we are one important step closer to giving the citizens of Mississippi the opportunity to have their voice heard on this important issue. I appreciate the Secretary of State and the Attorney General for working expeditiously to get our initiative ready for circulation. It is exciting to know that we are one step closer to addressing this issue once and for all. We will be holding a press conference on October 9th to announce our next steps. Additional information will be forthcoming," she said in a release.
The ballot summary states:
Initiative Measure No. 55 proposes to add the following language to the Mississippi Constitution: “The flag of the State of Mississippi shall not contain or include any reference to the Confederate army’s battle flag or to the Confederacy.” As an enforcement mechanism, a Mississippi citizen may petition the Mississippi Supreme Court for a write of mandamus requiring the State, its political subdivisions, their agents, officers, or employees to comply with the amendment."
Read our coverage of the state flag debate at www.jfp.ms/confeds.
http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2015/oct/01/23125/
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Politics
BP Spill Settlement Gives Jackson $1 Million to Play With
Jackson leaders are considering how to spend $958,000 from a BP oil spill settlement.
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Person of the Day
Deatrich Wise
Deatrich Wendell Wise Sr. will be honored as part of the 2015 Hall of Fame Class for Jackson State University Friday, Oct. 2, during the 2015 Hall of Fame Banquet.
Story
Oregon Marijuana Shops Begin Sales to Recreational Users
Oregon marijuana shops began selling marijuana Thursday for the first time to recreational users, marking a big day for the budding pot industry.
Story
House to Vote on Defense Bill that Obama Threatens to Veto
The defense policy bill is one of the few bipartisan measures in Congress that has readily become law for more than a half-century. Not so fast this year, as President …
