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State
State's Foster Care System Awarded Surplus Funding; May Court Date Pushed Back
With surplus funding to comply with a 12-year-old lawsuit, the state's foster care system is on track to avoid federal receivership, and the state will not have to go to …
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Gov. Bryant Signs Airport 'Takeover' into Law
Gov. Phil Bryant has signed into law a bill that gives control of Jackson's two airports to a state-appointed board.
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Lott: Trump 'Sucked All the Oxygen' Out of GOP Opponents
Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott said Wednesday that he will vote for Donald Trump for president, though he acknowledged he didn't expect the New York businessman to win the …
Entry
Governor Signs Jackson Airport 'Takeover' Bill into Law
By adreherGov. Phil Bryant has signed the Jackson airport 'takeover' bill into law. Sen. Josh Harkins, R-Flowood, announced the news on his Facebook page today, with a photo and a message that said:
"Gov Phil Bryant just signed the airport bill, SB 2162. I believe that this will have a great impact on the future of our airport and its economic impact on our state. I am proud to have authored this bill and appreciate my good friend, Rep. Mark Baker, for carrying the bill in the house. I also appreciate the Lt. Gov, Speaker, Senate and House members that supported the bill."
Update 7:35 p.m.: Mayor Tony Yarber issued this statement regarding SB 2162, "The City of Jackson maintains its position that this unconscionable legislation hijacks the City's authority to operate its municipal airports. Gov. Phil Bryant's signing of the bill shows he has sided with the cell of lawmakers and entrepreneurs commissioned to commandeer the City's municipal airports. We will not yield to the legislation, but will challenge its constitutionality. Senate Bill 2162 is unconstitutional and not supported by either state or federal law. Be assured that the officials with the City of Jackson will continue to stand up for its citizenry when it comes to unconstitutional measures."
For coverage of the airport 'takeover' bill visit: jacksonfreepress.com/airport.
Story
US Government: North Carolina LGBT Law Violates Civil Rights
The U.S. Justice Department said Wednesday that a North Carolina law limiting protections to LGBT people violates federal civil rights laws and can't be enforced.
Story
Civil Rights
‘Police vs. Black’: Bridging the ‘Racialized Gulf’
Oressa Napper-Williams' son Andrell was a victim of gun violence twice. The first time was when he was 16 and a student at Martin Luther King Jr. High School in …
Story
Let the Suffering End
Gov. Bryant, I beg you to get rid of this bill. I know many have gone through or are going through what I did. Let the suffering end. Bring hatred …
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Business
A French Government Official Weighs in on Nissan
A top deputy in the French National Assembly is calling on the French government to weigh in on behalf of workers at the giant Nissan plant in Canton who want …
Story
Music
Drew Holcomb Gets Neighborly
Tennessee native, father, husband and Americana musician Drew Holcomb has become an established independent artist, selling more than 100,000 records and performing more than 1,500 lives shows since releasing his …
Story
Food
Celebrating Moms Locally
Mother's Day is May 8 this year. Here's what's going on in local restaurants.
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City & County
Ceasefire in the City? How Police Can (and Cannot) Deter Gunfire
In 2015, Precinct 2 Commander Jarratt Taylor helped execute a massive enforcement effort called Metro Area Crime Elimination, or MACE for short, promised to be a local version of the …
Story
Politics
The Problems with a Supermajority
The 2016 session marked a turning point in the political landscape of the state. After a contested election resulted in the removal of former Rep. Bo Eaton, a Democrat from …
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City & County
City Leaders at a Loss over Water, Sewer Revenue Loss
The water- and sewer-revenue deficit has a few possible sources, but even Jackson City Council members are having a difficult time parsing out the how and why.
Story
Education
Could an After-school Network Solve Mississippi’s Education ‘Crisis’?
Proponents say high-quality after-school programs are one solution to Mississippi's ongoing education problems, including some of the lowest scores on national tests, and Operation Shoestring's data seems to support their …
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Business
Charlotte, Baton Rouge Airports Lessons for Jackson’s ‘Takeover’
The Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport is not the only municipal air-traffic hub looking down the barrel of a state-sanctioned reorganization of its governing board.
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Jacksonian
Makaila Faith Nixon
Every morning, Makaila Faith Nixon and her mom, Dee Bookert Nixon, start with stating their daily affirmations while looking at their reflection in the mirror.
Story
Budget Cuts Slow Handling of Mississippi Income Tax Returns
A second round of midyear budget cuts took place just as the Mississippi Department of Revenue was swamped with thousands of individual income tax filings.
Story
Biz Roundup
Women Doing Business, Bonfire Lodge, Fuse.Cloud, East Village Estates and Pro Bono Service Award
Connie Michael, the owner of Colorful Creations Printing, will host the third annual Power Conference: Women Doing Business, which takes place Saturday, May 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. …
Story
Film
Melanie Addington
When Gov. Phil Bryant signed the controversial "Religious Freedom Bill," HB 1523, into law Tuesday, April 5, many individuals, organizations and businesses made their objections to the bill known. For …
