Jackson Free Press

Gov. Reeves Extends Unemployment Benefits to Help Workers Impacted by COVID-19

Today, Governor Tate Reeves announced efforts to extend the unemployment benefits provided to help Mississippi workers and their families hard-hit by COVID-19.

COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations Slump Today as Mississippi Continues to Reopen

Gov. Tate Reeves’ safer-at-home order continues this week, with notable exceptions, as the Mississippi State Department of Health announces 173 new cases of COVID-19 and five new deaths from Sunday …

Ron Harrist

Ron Harrist, who covered Elvis Presley, black separatists, white supremacists and college football legends during his 41 years as a reporter and editor in Mississippi for The Associated Press, died …

Analysis: Reeves Tries to Balance Concerns of Health, Jobs

Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves is having to balance his libertarian-leaning instincts with public health concerns during the coronavirus pandemic.

OPINION: In 50 Years from Gibbs-Green Deaths to Ahmaud Arbery Killing, White Supremacy Still Lives

Informed by the modern civil rights and Black Power movements, Jackson State University students organized in the 1960s to protest persistent white supremacy in the state and on their campus. …

Governor Reeves Extends 'Safer At Home,' Reopens Barbershops and Salons

Today, Governor Tate Reeves announced the next stage for Mississippi to continue safely reopening the state's economy while protecting public health.

As COVID-19 Cases Hit New High, Legislature Prevails Over Governor In CARES Act Battle

The same day the fight over control of $1.25 billion in CARES Act relief funds for Mississippi appeared to end, giving the legislative branch a win, Mississippi suffered its greatest …

Christopher Kochtitzky: A Good Agent, A Good Man

Jackson lost a favored son on Sunday May 3 in the death of Christopher “Chris” Kochtitzky in Atlanta. “Chris was always interested in—and promoting—Jackson. He was our ‘ambassador’ so-to-speak at …

Mississippi Governor and Lawmakers Claim Unity on Virus Spending

Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves did a dramatic about-face Thursday, saying that state legislators will have a role in deciding how to spend $1.25 billion the state is receiving from …

Two Days of Record COVID-19 Deaths Precede Mississippi Reopening

Mississippi is on track to reopen its parks and restaurants today, as what Gov. Tate Reeves calls the COVID-19 “plateau” continues. This morning, MSDH reported 262 new cases of coronavirus …

Darryl Williams

Former Mississippi State University center Darryl Williams must have been highly sought after by teams after the draft, as he landed a major undrafted free agent contract with the Kansas …

Mississippi Governor Says Pandemic No 'Excuse' to Release Inmates

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Wednesday that the state will not consider early release for prisoners during the coronavirus pandemic, even with inmates living in conditions that make social distancing …

Favre Repaying $1.1 M for No-Show Speeches, Auditor Says

Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre is repaying $1.1 million in welfare money that he received for multiple speeches where he did not show up, the Mississippi state auditor said Wednesday.

Imani Skipwith

Belhaven University is awarding its first Angie Thomas Writers Scholarship to Imani Skipwith of Jackson, the university announced Tuesday.

The Second Virus Wave: How Bad Will It Be as Lockdowns Ease?

Health authorities are increasingly warning that the question isn’t whether a second wave of coronavirus infections and deaths will hit, but when — and how badly.

One day after saying that the COVID-19 task force would be winding down, President Donald …

• May 6, 2020

Trump: COVID-19 Task Force Not Dismantling, Just Refocusing

One day after saying that the COVID-19 task force would be winding down, President Donald Trump said Wednesday that it would continue indefinitely, but focus more on rebooting the economy.

UPDATE: 32 Deaths From COVID-19 Reported In One Day As State Reopens

Thirty-two more Mississippians have died as a result of COVID-19, 18 of those from yesterday alone: the largest single-day death toll in the crisis so far.

Valerie Linn

Valerie Linn, executive director of Magnolia Speech School in Jackson, has held her current position since August 2014.

Auditor: Brett Favre Received Mississippi Welfare Money for No-Show Speeches

A nonprofit group caught up in an embezzlement scheme in Mississippi used federal welfare money to pay former NFL quarterback Brett Favre $1.1 million for multiple speaking engagements but Favre …