Story
Russian Ruble Drops 7 Percent as Economy Shrinks
The Russian currency extended its losses on Monday after a report showed the economy has started shrinking in annual terms for the first time since 2009 as the country is …
Story
In Crowded Skies, Lost Plane's Request for New Path Denied
The plane sought permission to climb above threatening clouds. Air traffic control couldn't say yes immediately—there was no room. Six other commercial airliners were crowding the surrounding airspace, forcing AirAsia …
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Shots Fired on Los Angeles Police Car; No One Hurt
A man fired a rifle at two Los Angeles officers in a patrol car, but no one was injured in the attack that comes amid tension nationwide between police and …
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Mississippi Towns Regroup After Deadly Storms
Elizabeth Bordelon planned to go Christmas shopping until nasty weather blowing through southeastern Mississippi convinced her to hold off.
Story
Ole Miss Law School Enrollment Falls
The University of Mississippi School of Law's first-year enrollment has dropped from 199 in 2010, to 156 in 2012 and just 127 students this year.
Story
Theaters Begin Screening 'The Interview'
Critics and early viewers agree that "The Interview" is less than a masterpiece. But thanks to threats from hackers that nearly derailed its release, it has become an event.
Story
Nissan Supplier Efforts Key to Miss. Output
Topre America's robots, tended by 165 employees, are now welding together support frames for trucks inside a Mississippi facility that's a long walk from where Nissan assembles them.
Entry
Second MDOC Prisoner Dies in As Many Weeks
By R.L. NaveJanet Barreto, who once on the U.S. Marshals’ list of most wanted fugitives, died at Central Mississippi Medical Center. She had been incarcerated at Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Rankin County.
The Mississippi Department of Corrections said Barreto, 43, died shortly after 9 a.m. today of natural causes.
Barreto's death follows that of Kenneth Davis, who was on death row at Mississippi State Penitentiary, convicted of killing an off-duty Jackson police officer in 1989.
Davis died Dec. 15.
MDOC information shows Davis was sentenced to death in March 1991 for fatally shooting Bobby Joe Biggert, who walked into a south Jackson pawn shop when Davis was robbing it. The Mississippi Supreme Court denied an ineffective assistance of counsel challenge from Davis in July 2004.
According to MDOC, Barreto pleaded guilty to six counts of child endangerment, three counts of child abuse, and one count of manslaughter and was sentenced to 25 years in prison earlier this year. Barreto had spent five years on the lam with her husband before marshals caught up with the couple in Oregon in August.
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City & County
Ashby Foote Joins Jackson Council
The Jackson City Council has moved closer to returning to full strength with Ashby Foote officially joining the body as Ward 1 councilman.
Story
Person of the Day
Dr. Phyllis Hollenbeck and Dr. Charles Sherwood
It took courage and conscience for physicians Charles Sherwood and Phyllis Hollenbeck to blow the whistle on their employer, the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center in Jackson, officials with …
Story
IS Shoots Down Warplane in Syria, Captures Jordanian Pilot
Islamic State group militants captured a Jordanian pilot after shooting down his warplane while conducting airstrikes over Syria, Jordan said Wednesday, in the extremists' first successful downing of an aircraft …
Story
Officer Kills Armed 18-Year-Old Near Ferguson
Violent protests broke out in suburban St. Louis after another black 18-year-old was fatally shot by a white police officer.
Story
State
Storms Kill 4 in Miss., Emergency Declared
Severe weather slamming the southern U.S. two days before Christmas killed at least four people, flipped cars, knocked out power to thousands and damaged several homes and businesses.
Story
US Moves to End Ban on Blood Donations by Gay Men
Federal health officials are recommending an end to the nation's lifetime ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, a 31-year-old policy that many medical groups and gay activists …
Story
Sony Announces Limited Release for 'The Interview'
"The Interview" has been re-gifted to moviegoers as a limited Christmas Day release, putting back into select theaters the comedy that prompted an international incident with North Korea and outrage …
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Bryan's Rant
Finishing Strong
Bowl games are all about motivation. Sometimes, the best team doesn't win. It's the team that is excited, and both the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University should be …
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The Slate
You know it's been a strange year when Tony Romo is more reliable than Drew Brees. The Saints misses the playoffs for several reasons. Their quarterback is one of them.
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Cover
Wishes for Change in 2015
Gandhi's call for each of us to just go become the change we want to see around us is truly the first step to creating stronger communities and bridging the …
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Cover
What Grew Out of TEDx Jackson
Here is some of what the Jackson Free Press learned at TEDx Jackson and some ideas we gleaned from the day and all the inspiration packed into an old movie …
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LGBT
Marriage Equality and Beyond for LGBTs
Failure to protect LGBT people extends beyond shutting off the marriage, and a sobering new report sheds light on the economic and social effects of denying lesbian, gay, bisexual and …
