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Person of the Day
Nancy Smith
On Sept. 30, diabetic Nancy Smith became the first person in the state to receive an isolated pancreas transplant at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
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Biz Roundup
1908 Provisions Renovations, Northpark Holiday Events and Minority Business Grant
Celia Barrett Design, a boutique interior-design firm based in Jackson, recently completed renovations on 1908 Provisions in the historic Fairview Inn.
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Civil Rights
Deadly Force, in Black and White
Young black males in recent years were at a far greater risk of being shot dead by police than their white counterparts—21 times greater, according to a ProPublica analysis of …
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UN Chief in Gaza as Reconstruction Efforts Begin
The U.N. chief visited Gaza on Tuesday to give a push to international reconstruction efforts following a devastating summer war, saying the destruction was "beyond description" as Israel allowed the …
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Police: More than 50 Arrested in Ferguson Protests
Pounding rain and tornado watches didn't deter hundreds of protesters Monday outside Ferguson police headquarters, where they stayed for almost four hours to mark how long 18-year-old Michael Brown's body …
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How the New HealthCare.gov Stacks Up with the Old
HealthCare.gov, the website for health insurance under President Barack Obama's health care law, has been revamped as its second enrollment season approaches.
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Catholic Bishops in 'Seismic' Opening Toward Gays
Gay rights groups hailed a "seismic shift" by the Catholic Church toward gays on Monday after bishops said homosexuals had gifts to offer the church and that their partnerships, while …
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Education
Programs Boost Hope for JPS, Youth
Several area initiatives aimed at Jackson Public Schools could spark improvements for young people in the capital city.
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Person of the Day
Jayce Powell
Jayce Powell, event and promotion coordinator, sales consultant and certified bike fitter at Indian Cycle Fitness and Outdoor (677 S. Pear Orchard Rd., Ridgeland), has been in the business for …
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Liberia Avoids Mass Hospital Strike Amid Ebola
Health workers reported for duty at Liberia's hospitals on Monday, largely defying calls for a strike that could have further hampered the country's ability to respond to the worst Ebola …
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Frenchman Tirole Wins Nobel Economics Prize
French economist Jean Tirole won the Nobel prize for economics Monday for research on market regulation that has helped policymakers understand how to deal with industries dominated by a few …
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Angry Crowd Charges Hong Kong Protest Barricades
A mob of masked men opposed to Hong Kong's pro-democracy demonstrators led an apparently coordinated assault on the protest zone in the heart of the city's financial district Monday, tearing …
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Alaska Will Issue Marriage Licenses to Gay Couples
Alaska will begin accepting marriage applications from same-sex couples Monday after a federal judge struck down the state's ban on gay marriage—one of the first two states to prohibit same-sex …
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Breaking Down the Ballots: Mississippi Teams Could Continue to Dominate
The Mississippi-mania sweeping college football is more than just a temporary condition. It just keeps getting better for the Magnolia state's Southeastern Conference teams.
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College
Mississippi State Bulldogs Take Top Spot In AP College Football Poll
Mississippi State is the new No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll, replacing Florida State and making the fastest rise to the top spot in the history of …
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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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What's At Stake For MSU and Ole Miss This Weekend And Beyond
By bryanflynnAs College Gameday prepares for their second visit in Mississippi for the second week in a row, and the first time at Mississippi State, the stakes keep getting higher for the Rebels and Bulldogs. Both teams are tied for third in the AP Top 25 football poll, and the eyes of the football world are once again on the Magnolia State.
Neither the Rebels nor Bulldogs are out of the playoffs with a loss this weekend. That is, unless the voters decide both we're frauds and dump our teams down the polls.
Texas A&M has more at stake this weekend than Ole Miss. The Aggies are coming off a lose to Mississippi State, and a Rebels victory would put an end to Texas A&M's playoff hopes.
Ole Miss must get past the Aggies to get a break in their schedule. Well, at least as much of a break you can get in the SEC.
The Rebels get Tennessee next Saturday at home before traveling to LSU. The Volunteers are an improved football team, and LSU is young but playing in Tiger Stadium is never an easy win.
A win this weekend means the Rebels could climb all the way to up to No. 2 or take sole possession of third place. It would be a step closer to the playoffs and a SEC West title.
Beating the Aggies would leave just Auburn and Mississippi State as the major tests left on the schedule. Sure, Arkansas is in the mix but, even as improved as the Razorbacks are this season, the Rebels should get a win like against LSU and Tennessee.
After this weekend, the road is wide open for the Rebels. Just about all the major stumbling blocks will be out of the way.
Mississippi State has a chance to move up to No. 2 in the nation with a win over Auburn. Much like Ole Miss, the road for the Bulldogs gets a lot lighter for a while after this weekend.
MSU gets Kentucky and Arkansas in SEC action. The Wildcats are improved like the Razorbacks, but that shouldn't trouble the Bulldogs much.
The road gets harder after that with road trips to Alabama and Ole Miss to finish out the season with a home date against Vanderbilt sandwiched between those two games.
This weekend sets up a nice stretch for both the Rebels and Bulldogs. After this weekend, much of the heavy lifting is over.
Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott has the most at stake this weekend. He can become the Heisman front runner with a solid-to-great game and a win. His counterpart Nick Marshall of Auburn could also take the lead.
Prescott can put a lock on the award with his normal play against Auburn. He can lock up the award with big games against Kentucky, Arkansas, and UT-Martin.
Keys to Rebels and Bulldogs wins
Things are easy for the Rebels. Just use the same …
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MSU Prepares to Host Freedom Summer Conference
Mississippi State University is holding a conference later this month about Freedom Summer, the 1964 effort to expand voting rights and education programs to black citizens in Mississippi.
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Dak Prescott Emerges As Legitimate Heisman Contender
The Heisman Trophy race, much like the playoff chase, took a detour last weekend. The presumptive favorite, Marcus Mariota of Oregon, was unable to prevent his team from being upset. …
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Same-Sex Weddings Can Begin Immediately in North Carolina After Ban Overturned
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A federal judge in North Carolina struck down the state's gay marriage ban Friday, opening the way for the first same-sex weddings in the state to …
