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EPA Proposes Tougher Mileage Standards for Trucks
The Obama administration on Friday proposed tougher mileage standards for medium and heavy-duty trucks, the latest move by President Barack Obama in his second-term drive to reduce pollution blamed for …
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World Shocked at Enduring Racism, Gun Violence in US
Often the target of U.S. human rights accusations, China wasted little time returning such charges following the shooting at a historic black church in South Carolina that left nine people …
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A Partial List of Attacks on Black Churches in the US
Churches have long played a key role in black communities in the United States. Once, in parts of the nation, church buildings were the only places blacks could gather without …
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Person of the Day
Calvin Smith
Only a few men can lay claim to being the fastest human in the world. One of those men is Calvin Smith.
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Hong Kong Lawmakers Reject Beijing-Backed Election Plan
Hong Kong lawmakers defeated the government's Beijing-backed election plan Thursday, vindicating pro-democracy activists who flooded the streets last year in protest but leaving the city's long-term political future up in …
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US Wonders: Why Stolen Data on Federal Workers Not for Sale?
The Obama administration is increasingly confident that China's government, not criminal hackers, was responsible for the extraordinary theft of personal information about as many as 14 million current and former …
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Israel Church Set Ablaze in Possible Jewish Extremist Attack
A fire ripped through one of the most famous Catholic churches in the Holy Land on Thursday, damaging the roof and burning prayer books in what authorities believe is an …
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White Man Sought in Killing of 9 People in Black Church
An intense manhunt was underway Thursday for a young white man who joined a prayer meeting and then opened fire inside a historic black church in downtown Charleston, killing nine …
Document
Hinds County Campaign Finance Reports, June 2015
Hinds County Periodic Campaign-Finance Reports, June 2015. Part One (A-L).
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Home Cookin’ Capsule
Mississippi State University has a national champion runner. Rhianwedd Price won a national title in the 1500-meter at the NCAA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, June 13.
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Bryan's Rant
SmackDowns and Tiaras
Father's Day is this Sunday, and I would be remiss if I didn't take some time to discuss my role as a stay-at-home dad. It has been the biggest challenge …
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Books
Lessons from Getting ‘Caught’
Even those, like Janice Singleton, who commit white-collar crimes struggle to find gainful employment after they're released, which is one reason that prisons have so many repeat offenders, she says.
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Cover
Guys We Love
Each Father's Day, we present the Guys We Love issue, which highlights men who are making a difference in the community. This year's batch is no exception.
Entry
City Council Recap: Uber, Bongs and Food Trucks
By R.L. NaveThe absence of three council members and Mayor Tony Yarber made last night's meeting of the Jackson City Council, unnervingly efficient.
Before going into executive session to discuss personnel issues and litigation around 8 p.m. -- a recent best for the ordinarily long-winded body -- the council adopted a new ordinance to regulate food trucks. Previously, food-truck vendors had to pay the city $500 per location, but under the new ordinance, operators pay a yearly license fee of $500 and can go anywhere in the city, but cannot set up within 300 feet from a brick-and-mortar restaurant.
The council also adopted an ordinance regulating the sale and display of tobacco paraphernalia, a move in response to complaints from community groups and citizens about local stores selling bongs, clips and pipes that can also be used to smoke marijuana.
(Apparently the city council doesn't realize you can make a bong out of just about anything, including, um, sources say, apples (see photo below); no word on whether this new ordinance means Granny Smiths will be disappearing from supermarket shelves).
An ordinance to lower the number of vehicles needed to be considered a cab company was held to allow for more discussion. Council President De'Keither Stamps or Ward 4 said his motivation was to lower the barriers of entry so that a person with one cab could start their own company. In Stamps' mind, the move would somewhat level the playing field with services like Uber, an Internet-based sort-of ride-sharing company similar to a taxi service.
Uber, often a cheaper option for getting from Point A to Point B, has been giving cabbies fits all over the world. Jackson is no exception, and representatives from local taxi companies showed up a city hall to state their case. Tyra Dean, with Deluxe Cab Co. in Jackson, cited "safety concerns" with Uber.
Since the company's rise in popularity and profile, a number of allegations of sexual assault have risen against Uber drivers in several American cities and abroad, according numerous media accounts.
Ward 2 Council Melvin Priester Jr., an attorney, said it would be hard for the council to regulate Uber because the company is a web service.
"We don't regulate the Internet as the city council," Priester told the taxi drivers present at the meeting.
With the absence of the mayor and so many members -- including Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes, who was in Houston attending to his brother, who is ill, Ward 1 Councilman Ashby Foote, Ward 5 Councilman Charles Tillman -- a number of interesting items were either pulled or held.
These included the city's lobbying contracts in Washington D.C. and Jackson and an item from Stokes to discuss the need for a downtown mall. In the coming weeks, the council will also consider an ordinance requiring Jackson police to report hate crimes to help make hate-crime reporting more uniform. In addition the council will consider renaming the basketball courts at Tougaloo Community Center in honor of Jesse …
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Time to Rethink Local Policing Strategies
The B.R.A.V.E. program, adopted from Baton Rouge, started in a section of west Jackson from West Capitol Street to Interstate 20.
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My Coming Out Story
The LGBT community grows every year during National Coming Out Day. During this day of courage, "hidden" members of the LGBT community have a chance to reveal their true selves …
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JFP Interviews
Sheriff: Crime Has No Boundaries
On June 9, Tyrone Lewis invited the Jackson Free Press to his office to respond to Victor Mason, explain his famous holiday-themed billboards and say why he deserves to remain …
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Education
Special Ed Groups on the Fence about Initiative 42
Initiative 42, the citizen-supported ballot measure to fully fund Mississippi's public-school system, boasts of having a broad coalition of support. However, a vocal and influential bloc aren't fully convinced that …
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Editor's Note
Givers We Love
I appreciate the presents my dad has bought me in the past, of course, but when it comes down to it, I'd rather hang out with him. I'd rather thank …
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Food
The Boon of Fondren and Craft Beer
In many ways, craft beer's boon mirrors Fondren. Both emphasize local support. As with craft breweries, the vast majority of businesses in the neighborhood are small and local.
