Jackson Free Press

EDITOR'S NOTE: Celebrating, Not Submitting to Mississippi Food

Mississippi has so much great, healthy food already, and I'd love for the rest of the world to realize that we're not just cupcakes, sugar water, grits and danger.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Lessons in Humility and Kindness

Cats and kids have to be dependent on other people. But as children get older, they can begin to take care of themselves, though there are still certain things they …

Philip Seymour Hoffman Fans Mourn, Tout His Talent

There were no dissenters about the gifts and achievements of Philip Seymour Hoffman, whose death Sunday in New York brought a stunning halt to his extraordinary and unpredictable career.

NSA Surveillance Exposes Political Party Divisions

The debate about whether to continue the dragnet surveillance of Americans' phone records is highlighting divisions within the Democratic and Republican parties that could transform the politics of national security.

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 …

Video Shows Gruesome Aftermath of Minnesota Police Shooting

A woman who watched as a police officer fatally shot her boyfriend during a traffic stop streamed the gruesome aftermath of the slaying live on Facebook, telling a worldwide audience …

Our True Mental States

So 18.1 percent of the total U.S. population has a mental illness, and 50 percent of adults are likely to experience some type of mental illness in their lifetime. And …

How Trump’s Health Reform Could Affect Mississippi

Lower- and middle-class Mississippians could have the most to lose from Trump's proposed health-care reforms, including those who benefit from insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act marketplace as well …

‘What the Religion Teaches’: Feeding the Homeless in Smith Park

Bilal Qizilbash has been bringing dinner to homeless people in Smith Park every Friday for almost nine months, but he and his fellow volunteers never ask anyone about their housing …

A Nation ‘Intoxicated with Bad Policing’

Nowadays, everyone is an amateur videographer, and police actions are under more scrutiny than ever. It doesn't mean, though, that there are more incidents of police brutality or over-policing; it …

When State Agencies Lose Their People

The Mississippi Department of Health can have a hard time keeping nurses because they can earn more if they go to work for other hospitals, an attrition problem that afflicts …

Execution Teams, Uber Access and Planned Parenthood

The Mississippi Legislature is one step closer to defunding Planned Parenthood services for Medicaid recipients, allowing Uber free rein in the state and guarding the identities of the state's execution …

Merle Haggard

Country giant Merle Haggard, who rose from poverty and prison to international fame though his songs about outlaws, underdogs and an abiding sense of national pride in such hits as …

HB 1523: Half ‘Redundant,’ Half ‘Unconstitutional’

The controversial House Bill 1523, with its long list of protections for people who discriminate against LGBT people and others, will become law in July unless one of two things …

For Jackson, ‘Progress in the Face of Adversity’

In December 2013, with a new city council and a once-controversial mayor who was starting to win the hearts and minds of his detractors, things were looking up for the …

It’s Time to Change ‘The Game’

In most every election, we just move around the chess pieces but no one ever really wins, certainly not the voters.

Mayoral Hopefuls Respond to Mural Flap, Plus Four Questions for #JxnMayor Special Election

Ever since the removal of a mural painted in tribute to late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba last Thursday, wide speculation has swirled about who pulled the trigger to have the painting …

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SCOTUS Ruled on Marriage—Not Discrimination

While the U.S. Supreme Court's same-sex marriage ruling was monumental in American legal history and a cause for celebration by LGBT citizens, the reality is that the court ruled on …

Don’t Act Normal

I'd rather be "not normal" than stick with the status quo. I'd rather judge people based on the quality of their character, not by the way they look.

Imperfect Parenting: Good Enough is Just Fine

Mother's Day is a great time to explore and unwind some of the myths and expectations that put moms under pressure. Not all of them come from the finger-waggers on …