Jackson Free Press

Program Will Help Students Graduate Earlier

A national initiative will allow Greenwood Public Schools students to receive high school diplomas after 10th grade beginning next August.

Analysis: Court Considers Death Penalty and Intent

Death row inmate Bobby Batiste has left the Mississippi Supreme Court in a quandary over intent.

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.

Disparity in Sex Crimes' Sentences Seen

When attorney Rod Ray was defending a client accused of sexual battery, he gave an impassioned speech to members of the jury, asking them to take the facts of the …

Jackson State meets Arkansas-Pine Bluff for 2012 SWAC Football Championship Saturday

Robbery Suspects Still in Custody

Suspects are still in custody after a Wednesday hearing on charges of them with the armed robbery for the Nov. 30 incident at Swell-O-Phonic Skateboard Company at N. State St.

Celia Barrett

Celia Barrett is combining New York style with Mississippi grace, one renovation at a time.

Higher Rates or Fewer Tax Breaks, What's Worse?

In the fiscal cliff wars, a pivotal battle is raging between Democrats demanding to raise revenue by boosting tax rates on the nation's highest earners and Republicans insisting on eliminating …

Miss. Gov. Tells Teens to Avoid Early Parenthood

To fight Mississippi's highest-in-the-nation teen birth rate, is it best to give young people detailed information about contraception or to just tell them to abstain from sex before marriage?

U.S. Economy Adds 146K Jobs, Rate Falls to 7.7 Percent

The Labor Department's report Friday offered a mixed picture of the economy.

For a Mere $1.5 Billion, a New Company Promises to Fly You and a Companion to the Moon

Attention wealthy nations and billionaires: A team of former NASA executives will fly you to the moon in an out-of-this-world commercial venture combining the wizardry of Apollo and the marketing …

"Patron Saint of the Tea Party" Announces Surprise Resignation From U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Jim DeMint, patron saint of the tea party and a would-be Republican kingmaker, announced suddenly Thursday he would resign his South Carolina seat to head Washington's …

JPS Refinancing Costly

The Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees is refinancing millions worth of the district's bond debt.

Toxic Couches?

Flame retardants in U.S. furniture are on the rise, with a new study finding them in nearly all couches tested.

How Far Over the 'Fiscal Cliff' Could They Go?

The dealmakers who warn that a year-end plunge off the "fiscal cliff" would be disastrous don't seem to be rushing to stop it. Why aren't they panicking?

About 350 Die in Philippine Typhoon, 400 Missing

A powerful typhoon that washed away emergency shelters, a military camp and possibly entire families in the southern Philippines has killed almost 350 people with nearly 400 missing, authorities said …

Dave Brubeck, Legend Who Helped Define Jazz, Dies

You don't have to be a jazz aficionado to recognize "Take Five," the smoky instrumental by the Dave Brubeck Quartet that instantly evokes swinging bachelor pads, hi-fi systems and cool …

New Judge Assigned to Case Against BP Supervisors

A new judge was assigned Wednesday to the case against two BP supervisors charged in the deaths of 11 workers aboard the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in 2010, after the …

Two Conferences Address Miss. Teen Pregnancy Rate

Organizers say it's just a coincidence that separate conferences about teenage pregnancy are taking place in the same facility on the same day.

The Slate

I leave for two weeks, and Atlanta Airport workers have more accuracy than Drew Brees lately. But seriously, thank you Dr. S for handling sports so I could spend time …