Jackson Free Press

Money and Marriage

The biggest fight in the Mississippi Legislature still centered on money in week 3 of the 2010 session. The House refused to consider a Senate bill giving Gov. Haley Barbour …

Fewer Profs, High Tuition

If current state budget cuts stand, Mississippi's eight public universities will have to shed 1,000 jobs and raise tuition over the next two years.

New Farish Businesses Open by September

The first block of Jackson's Farish Street Entertainment District will be ready for new occupants by September of this year, Brad "Kamikaze" Franklin announced Tuesday. Franklin, a local musician and …

Politics Not as Usual

As my second pro-Jackson piece was published this week in the JFP, more of my "friends" called me out for not staying true to who I am. Huh? I believe …

Charter Schools Advance In Mississippi Senate

The Senate Education Committee just approved a bill that would allow privately operated charter schools to open in Mississippi starting in 2011. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Michael Watson, …

Dribble Drive Motion

Starting this Thursday, Ole Miss begins a 12-game run that will determine its seeding in the SEC Tournament. After playing Auburn and Arkansas, a highly anticipated matchup against John Calipari's …

A ‘Local' Business Plan

The annual Best of Jackson reader's choice awards began in the very first issue of the Jackson Free Press.

Obama's Jobs Focus Meets Resistance

President Barack Obama pushed for more job creation during his State of the Union address last night. Facing the loss of two governor's races and the Massachusetts Senate seat formally …

JPD Battles Church Burglaries

Major crimes in Jackson dropped a whopping 9 percent last week, but Jackson Police officers are concerned about a rash of burglaries at churches across the city. Since mid-December, the …

Israel Martinez

Israel Martinez, 24, wants to make a difference in his community. Martinez, owner of Oasis Spanish Learning Center in Ridgeland, believes that a Latin American Chamber of Commerce will help …

Sundance: There Is Always A Mississippi Connection!

You know how this goes. Mark talks to our friend Diana Shows about going to Sundance and Diana mentions that her niece Elizabeth Mims has a short film in the …

Super Bowl Update No. 1: Saints Plan To Pound Peyton

Saints defenders aim to bring the pain against the Colts.

Transcript of President Obama's State of the Union Address

This is the text released to media just before the speech began. Verbatim:

2010: Beyond Jackson

<b>Best Casino for Gaming and Best Casino for Restaurants</b>

The chiming of slot machines welcomed me with their happy mantra: "Win money. Win money." No, I wasn't in Las Vegas, but at the Ameri star Casino Hotel in Vicksburg. …

2010; Nightlife

6111 Ridgewood Road, 601-978-3502

Best Beer Selection (draft), Best Beer Selection (bottled) and Best College Hangout:

2010; Community

<b>Best Local Visionary</b>

Visionaries are dreamers, but when a dreamer actually makes his dreams reality, watch out. We are beyond lucky to have that kind of a leader in our midst: developer David …

2010: Urban Living

<b>Best Locally Owned Business</b>

Jeff Good and his business partner, Dan Blumenthal, know the secret to success in the restaurant business, and it's not rocket science: Provide top-notch service and delicious quality food every …

Best of Jackson 2010: Food & Drink

<b>Best Restaurant and Best Place to Impress a Date:</b>

If this were a question on the SAT, it might read: "Andre Previn is to the orchestra pit as Derek Emerson is to the (a) kitchen, (b) dining room, (c) …

JSU Advocates React to ‘Jacobs State' Merger

Ivory Phillips, former dean of Jackson State University's College of Education, said he suspected Jackson State University President Ronald Mason Jr.'s proposal to merge three majority-black state universities into Jacobs …

A Federal Grant to Save Education?

In a year when Mississippi's K-12 educational system faces potentially crippling budget cuts, a federal grant program promising up to $175 million has offered a bit of hope to state …