Story
Stop Justifying Execution of Children, Car Thieves
We live in a culture where many say it is appropriate to march a weapon out of your home and office if you suspect someone is trying to steal your …
Story
Politics
Poop Hitting the Fan
"As we usher in a new year of fake news, computer hackery, twitter rants, racist emails, bigoted trolls, etc., my special guests and I will do our best to combat …
Story
Trump Uses Assange to Cast Doubt on US Intel Case on Hacking
President-elect Donald Trump is using WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to cast doubt on the U.S. intelligence community's case that Russia was behind hacking of the Democratic National Committee ahead of …
Story
Pence, Obama in Dueling Meetings at Capitol on Health Care
Donald Trump's "first order of business" will be to repeal President Barack Obama's health care law and replace it, but Republicans must avoid hurting consumers as they do that, Vice …
Story
Istanbul on Alert as Hunt for Gunman Reaches 4th Day
Police increased security around Istanbul on Wednesday and detained some 20 people with suspected links to the deadly New Year's Eve night club attack as the hunt for the gunman …
Story
Roof to Jurors: 'Nothing Wrong With Me Psychologically'
Convicted Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof spoke to the jury for the first time at his death penalty trial Wednesday, telling them that there's nothing wrong with him psychologically and …
Story
Official Says Charles Manson Alive; Reports Say Hospitalized
Mass murderer Charles Manson was taken from his California prison cell to a hospital, according to several news reports.
Story
Health Care
Mississippi Still Faces Merged Mental-health Lawsuits
Medicaid-eligible children are entitled to services under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Services (called EPSDT) provisions of the Medicaid Act.
Story
Crime
No Dismissal, a Judge and an Inmate in Smith Trial
The exact extent to which a prosecutor can go to prove his claim that a prisoner is innocent is central to the State trial of Hinds County District Attorney Robert …
Entry
State Supe Releases Annual Report
By adreherState superintendent Dr. Carey Wright released her annual report today, which includes how and where school districts spend their state, federal and local dollars. Data included in that report show that school districts use state funds to operate at least half of their budgets on average, while local and federal funding make up the rest of a district's budget.
In total, 67 percent of all funds (federal, state and local) go toward instructional costs, while a little over 10 percent of that funding goes toward general and school administrative costs. School districts also spend a large chunk of their money on support costs for maintenance and building costs, tech support and transportation, the report shows.
The average expenditure per pupil in the 2015-2016 school year was $9,704, Wright's report shows. The average teacher salary was $44,416.
“The report provides evidence that the education reforms and legislative initiatives that have been implemented throughout our state are working,” said Wright said in a press release. “Mississippi students are benefiting from the state’s investment in public education.”
The report also highlights several grants Mississippi received, including a $6.6 million grant for MDE to improve their data system with a focus on evaluation and early learning.
Read the full JFP interview with Carey Wright and see http://www.mdek12.org/MBE/R2017.
Story
Food
Forging a New Path: Foot Print Farms
On a frigid day in December, the slightly warm air inside one of the high tunnels, also known as natural greenhouses, at Foot Print Farms in Jackson contrasts the chilly …
Story
Music
Indie Music Week Ins and Outs
The second annual Jackson Indie Music Week is approaching fast, with many concerts, showcases, panel discussions, and other activities that highlight music from around the state, the region and the …
Story
Personhood
‘Unborn Child Protection’ Law Prohibits Rare Procedure
Mississippi lawmakers' ban on Medicaid reimbursements for the state's only Planned Parenthood clinic stalled in federal court last year, but another anti-abortion bill did become state law last summer despite …
Story
Editor's Note
Change in 2017: Crawling, Then Walking
God willing, 2017 is a year of change for me and hopefully for others, too. As we move forward in the new year with whatever changes we make, we should …
Story
Jacksonian
Meredith McGee
While Meredith McGee was growing up in Jackson, the second-generation writer says her family had a love for reading and the written arts.
Story
Bill Would Let School Boards Fill Superintendent Vacancies
Mississippi lawmakers are considering a measure that would let school boards appoint replacements for elected school superintendents who resign in the next three years.
Document
DA Smith Jury Note About Biased Juror
The jury note that helped DA Robert Smith's end in a mistrial.
Entry
Mississippi Picnic in Central Park Cancelled for Good
By Donna LaddLast year, the organizers of the boisterous and well-attended annual Mississippi Picnic in Central canceled it in the wake of House Bill 1523's passage.
"Any law such as HB 1523 that discriminates against even a single member of our community cannot be tolerated, and therefore we have decided to stand up for all Mississippians by canceling the 2016 picnic in the park," organizers wrote in a statement last year.
Now, the picnic that started in 1980 seems to be gone forever. The New York Mississippi Society, which runs the picnic, posted this today on its website: "The 36 years of the Mississippi Picnics has been wonderful and a positive thing for all those involved but with the competition of funding sources and the rising costs and complexity of putting this event together, The New York Society regrets to announce that there are no plans for any future picnics."
Entry
Blues Marathon Traffic Advisories for Jan. 9
By Todd StaufferThe Mississippi Blues Marathon takes place this Saturday, January 9, 2017, throughout Greater Jackson. As a result, some streets will be closed and some intersections make take time to get across.
Story
Person of the Day
Sen. John Horhn
Mississippi Sen. John Horhn, who has served in the state Senate since 1993, has spent the past 25 years promoting blues music in Mississippi on top of his duties as …
