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Health Care
Feds Sue Mississippi for 'Repeated, Prolonged and Unnecessary Institutionalization'
The U.S. Department of Justice sued the State of Mississippi last week for unnecessarily institutionalizing adults with mental illness at a higher rate than providing community-based mental health-care services.
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State
AG Hood Using Secret Tapes, Confidential Informants Against DA Smith
Attorney General Jim Hood revealed in court filings Friday that his office is using both confidential informants and secret recordings of the Hinds County district attorney in its quest to …
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Books
Oren Renick
Author Oren Renick, a professor at Texas State University in San Marcos, is an exhibitor at this year's Mississippi Book Festival, which takes place Saturday, Aug. 20, from 9 a.m. …
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One Person Shot in Milwaukee Protest but no Repeat of Riots
One person was shot and wounded during a second night of violent unrest in Milwaukee to protest the fatal shooting of a black man by police, but there was no …
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'Islam for Dummies': IS Recruits Have Poor Grasp of Faith
The jihadi employment form asked the recruits, on a scale of 1 to 3, to rate their knowledge of Islam. And the Islamic State applicants, herded into a hangar somewhere …
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Trump to Call for New Ideological Test for Admission to US
Donald Trump on Monday will call for a new ideological test for admission to the United States, vetting applicants on their stance on issues like religious freedom, gender equality and …
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City & County
10 Local Stories of the Week
There's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them.
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LGBT
Mississippi Gay Marriage Law Remains Blocked During Appeal
Mississippi's law on religious objections to same-sex marriage will remain blocked while the governor appeals a judge's ruling that the law is unconstitutional.
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5th Circuit Denies Gov. Bryant's Motion for Stay in HB1523 Case
By adreherThe U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has denied Gov. Phil Bryant and MDHS Executive Director John Davis' motions to stay the injunction that blocked House Bill 1523 from becoming law. Bryant and Davis asked the court to expedite their appeal, and that application was also denied.
The 5th Circuit did allow the two HB 1523 cases to be consolidated, but the court will not issue a stay on U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves' injunction or expedite the a hearing for the governor's appeal of the bill.
The conservative legal organization, Alliance Defending Freedom, is providing co-counsel for the governor's appeal in the 5th Circuit. HB 1523 was based, at least in part, on language from a model policy that ADF sent to the governor's office before same-sex marriage was legalized nationally in 2015.
Rob McDuff, one of the lawyers for plaintiffs, called the order a great victory.
"Two and a half months after we filed this challenge to HB 1523, the federal courts once again have held that the bill should not take effect. This is a great victory for the thousands of Mississippians who have opposed this bill in the name of tolerance and fairness and dignity for all," he said in a statement to the Jackson Free Press. "Although the Governor apparently will continue with his appeal, this is an important milestone in the battle against this completely misguided piece of legislation."
“We are pleased with the Fifth Circuit’s summary denial of the governor’s motion and look forward to final resolution of this matter in our favor,” said Beth Orlansky, advocacy director of the Mississippi Center for Justice said in a statement.
Read the motion here. Read more about HB 1523 here.
This post has been updated with statement from the MS Center for Justice and Rob McDuff.
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Mississippi State Backup QB Staley Transfers
Mississippi State's quarterback race is down to three candidates. The school announced on Friday that sophomore quarterback Elijah Staley has been granted his release and will transfer.
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National
Pressuring Trump, Clinton Releases 2015 Tax Returns
Hillary and Bill Clinton earned $10.6 million last year, according to a tax filing released by her campaign Friday that sought to pressure presidential rival Donald Trump to disclose his …
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JFP College Football Preview 2016
This could be one of the most unpredictable college-football seasons in recent memory. Questions surround nearly every college team in Mississippi as the season approaches.
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City & County
Most Jackson Crime Down Except Precinct 4; Shooter Arrested; Latinos Targeted?
Overall, total major crimes (property and violent) have fallen 15.3 percent throughout Jackson in 2016 over the same period in 2015, but Precinct 4 has seen a 12.3-percent increase in …
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Judge Blocks Ohio Law to Divert Planned Parenthood Money
A federal judge blocked an Ohio law aimed at keeping public money from going to Planned Parenthood, saying in a Friday ruling that the group stood to suffer "irreparable injury."
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National
Dak Prescott on NFL Debut, Coach Garrett, Poise and That DUI Charge
In a few short months, Dak Prescott went from a hopeful National Football League draft pick to rookie quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys, with a strong possibility of seeing playing …
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Music
Alex Fraser and Victoria Fortenberry
Rather than going the traditional individual-release route, singer-songwriters Alex Fraser and Victoria Fortenberry decided to team up for their debut recording projects, creating "After the Fact," a split EP that …
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Manuel Becomes 1st African American Woman to Win Swim Gold
Simone Manuel leaned her head into her hands and cried when she recognized her historic achievement.
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National
In Reversal, Trump Says IS Claim About Obama Was Sarcastic
After days of alleging repeatedly that President Barack Obama literally founded the Islamic State group, Donald Trump abruptly shifted tone on Friday and insisted his widely debunked claim had been …
