Jackson Free Press

What Jackson (and Mississippi) Really Needs

Recently, a group of social scientists has produced the American Human Development Index illustrating graphically how states in the US stack up against each other in relation to a variety …

An Open Letter to Jackson: The Old, Next, and Now Generations

I'm torn. I wrote in my column this week that it is indeed a great time to be alive. These days will be recorded for posterity, and stories will be …

ARTICLE: The VTI Tragedy: Distinguishing Mental Illness from Violence

According to NAMI Medical Director Dr. Ken Duckworth, having a mental illness does not automatically make you a violent person. Read the release from NAMI below.

ALERT: There will be TWO mayoral debates and the 2nd will be TELEVISED…here's why

Today, the sponsoring organizations for the April 23rd mayoral debate received a Press Release from the Harvey Johnson camp. The release stated his campaign's concerns with accessibility for the first …

Emmerich Weighs Pros and Cons of Johnson and Melton

As a newspaperman and an American, I don't think there's anything more exciting and fulfilling than having a front-row seat to a no-holds-barred, tough, vigorous political race. The Jackson mayoral …

Men We Love

The thing we like most about Jackson's men is that they've got so much soul. You kind of need it when you live in the city with soul.

Crossroads 2020 Film Reviews

This year's Crossroads Film Festival allows participants to stream any of the event's 18 films on their own time through the festival's end on Dec. 15. Read our writers' reviews …

JFP 2014 College Basketball Preview

As the college game becomes more micromanaged, especially at the end of game, a good coach becomes even more important. Our state might be starting to amass a nice collection …

Bill Skinner

"/> William Louis "Bill" Skinner, II, a Mississippi native, was born into a family of Mississippi Law Enforcement, and has continued that legacy to this day. Bill, the oldest son …

Jackson’s First Couple: How the Lumumbas Met and Why They Love Jackson

Jackson's first couple's story begins in a kindergarten classroom at North Jackson Elementary School. They both remember walking to school together with other kids in the neighborhood and playing together …

Local Jails, Prisons a Petri Dish for COVID-19?

Prisoner advocates describe the COVID-19 situation as a ticking time bomb in Mississippi, where 19,000 people are serving sentences behind state prison bars and 5,200 people languish for months or …

DA Files: ‘Too Sweet’ Reverend, Old Faces Back in News

Names of men who were involved in the late and controversial Mayor Frank Melton's universe keep popping up in the convoluted accusations encircling Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith.

Woman Sues City of Jackson, Alleges Pay-to-Play Scheme, Sexual Harassment

Mayor Tony Yarber and the City of Jackson are facing another lawsuit alleging sexual harassment from a former employee, except this time the former Equal Business Opportunity manager asserts that …

Tough Questions for David Banner

"God I know that we pimp, God I know that we wrong, God I know I should talk about more in all of my songs, I know these kids are …

Harvey Johnson Leads in New Mayoral Phone Survey

Verbatim from Brad Chism:

Friends, Below is a topline from the survey yesterday. Further below is a repeat of the explanations and qualifiers-these are important. From the blog traffic it appears that some don't …

R. Kelly Trial - who's to blame?

So many of you are probably familiar with the case of statutory rape that singer R. Kelly is facing. So word is that Kelly and the underaged female are denying …

[Sawyer] Man At His Worst

I have been away from the writing world for a while, away from the whirling dervishes that are American politics. But I must admit, it's hard to shake off a …

Runnin' with the Big Dawgs

We were sitting in the office around 7 p.m. last Friday anticipating another "press weekend." Stephen and I were in a heated discussion about some aspect of the upcoming issue …

Freedom Rides Again

Their Story, 50 Years Later

Hank Thomas walked up the steps of the Greyhound bus on a sunny day May 4, 1961. As he calmly surveyed its drab, blue-gray interior, the lanky 19-year-old black student …

Students: We Want Our Black History

A clash between Murrah High School students and school administrators was diffused recently when the principal agreed to dedicate some school afternoon time and the school auditorium to the celebration …