Jackson Free Press

Government Spends Millions to Guard Confederate Cemeteries

After last year's deadly clash between white nationalists and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, the federal government quietly spent millions of dollars to hire private security guards to stand watch over …

Jackson Rising

In November, education nonprofit Operation Shoestring announced that as part of its 50th-anniversary celebration, it would launch the "Rise to the Future" capital campaign to go toward renovations.

Bennie Thompson Blames 'Radical' Trump Border Policies for Child Deaths

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., took aim at the Trump administration on Wednesday after the second child this month died on Christmas Day while in the custody of U.S. Border Patrol …

As Rankin County Schools Ditch Mask Mandates, Jackson Requires Vaccines for Teachers

As Jackson Public Schools become one of the first in the state to mandate COVID-19 vaccines or weekly testing for employees, students in the nearby suburban Rankin County School District …

Marvin Hogan, Early Childhood Education Champion, Leaves Legacy of Systemic Progress

Marvin Hogan was instrumental in securing funding for Head Start centers like this one across the state.

More Than A Woman

Four years ago, I came to Jackson to go to Millsaps excited mostly about one thing: getting away from my mother. My mom had always been pretty lenient—pushing my curfew …

Executives Run Amok

The similarities between Mayor Melton's current woes and President Bush's are striking. George Bush can't boast the kind of mandate Frank Melton had when he was elected. But both men …

[Balko] The System's Epic Fail

When the SWAT team came for Richard Paey in 1997, it battered down the front door of the home in Pasco County, Fla., where he lived with his wife, Linda, …

Grow Old With Me

The longest day of my life started on a tropical island. It was oh-dark-thirty, so early in the morning that it was still night. I had only taken a short …

Haley Barbour Speaks at Neshoba County Fair (Verbatim Speech)

*Remarks as prepared*

Thank you. Today I will give my last speech at this Fair as Governor. Marsha, who has had to sit through all but one of them, is being patient enough …

AG: Hands Off the Judges

Mayor Frank Melton called a March 10 press conference to announce the arrest of two municipal court clerks charged with conspiracy to destroy criminal records. At the same conference, Melton …

Fact-Checking the Speeches

The political speeches at the Neshoba County Fair are a time when politicians and candidates get on the stump to tout their achievements, take a few jabs at their opponents …

Ellis Termination Justified?

This is an expanded web edition of an article that appeared in the Feb. 14 print edition.

Defense Cannot Use Prostitute Allegation Against Bodyguard

See JFP Melton Blog/Archive here.

Federal District Judge Dan Jordan ruled this morning that defense attorneys for Mayor Frank Melton and former bodyguard Michael Recio cannot use allegations of sexual misconduct by former bodyguard Marcus …

Happy New Year! Resolution, Lesson Learned?

Happy new year, all. The JFP office is closed today, which may be the first time ever we've been closed on a business day. (We've often been open on holidays!) …

Silent No More

Early on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day, a group of anti-abortion Mississippians gathered to erect 2,000 crosses on the lawn of the Mississippi State Capitol as a "A Memorial …

Easley Says Fellow Justices ‘Screwed Me'

As reported last Wednesday, Aug. 27, Mississippi Supreme Court Judge Chuck Easley told the Jackson Free Press last week that a pro-business bloc on the court is attempting to strip …

Jackson's Year in Review Timeline

Jan. 2 – State Sen. John Horhn, D-Jackson, announces his candidacy for mayor of Jackson.

Abused Girls Sue State

The top administrator of Columbia Training School directly ordered that girls be shackled at the ankles for as long as a month, in violation of state policy and federal law, …

Defense More Difficult This Time

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton will be back again in court July 16 for the Aug. 26, 2006, destruction of a duplex on Ridgeway Street—an incident first reported by the Jackson …