Jackson Free Press

Meet the Valentines

Chrissy Vessell received the best Valentine ever Feb. 14, 2008, when Billy Valentine became her husband.

[Rob In Stereo] Forgetting the Little Things

Jason Isbell made a name for himself as third guitarist for the preeminent southern rock band of this decade, the Drive-By Truckers. While he was with the band, Isbell established …

Bodyguard: Melton Under Influence ‘Every Other Day'

Feb. 11, 2009 - Day 3 of the Melton Trial

Defense attorneys began cross-examining former mayoral bodyguard Marcus Wright this morning. Yesterday, Wright testified that Jackson Mayor Frank Melton had been drinking the night of the Ridgeway Street duplex destruction, …

Bodyguard Gives Damaging Evidence Against Melton, Recio

On Feb. 10, jurors in the federal civil rights trial of Mayor Frank Melton heard from the government's star witness, former mayoral bodyguard Marcus Wright. Wright, who pled guilty to …

Barbour Not Pleased with Senate Over Eminent Domain Limits

After the Mississippi Senate passed Senate Bill 2230 today to restrict the use of eminent domain to direct public use, Gov. Haley Barbour released this statement tonight: "If the bill …

Scruggs Enters Second Guilty Plea

The Associated Press is reporting that Mississippi attorney Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, who is currently serving a five-year sentence for bribery, has pled to a second charge of mail fraud in …

Thinking Abundantly

To get love, you have to give it.

Nature abhors a vacuum. Start with a hole and sure enough, something comes along to fill it, whether that's water from a storm, leaves from the trees or an enterprising …

Wright: Recio Falsified Documents, Melton ‘Clearly Under the Influence'

'On the Road Again' with Melton and his Bodyguards

Taylor Testimony Creates Firestorm, Brings In Melton Drunkenness

Previous JFP coverage of Michael Taylor

Melton Trial: Jordan Rules to Allow Alcohol Testimony; Taylor Takes the Stand

In a major move, Judge Dan Jordan ruled this morning to allow testimony of Mayor Frank Melton's alleged alcohol consumption the night of the Ridgeway duplex destruction, as well as …

Crematorium Owner Arrested Following Indictment

[Verbatim statement] Jackson, MS-A Jackson crematorium owner has been arrested following a five count indictment by a Hinds County Grand Jury, announced Attorney General Jim Hood. Mark Seepe, owner of …

Melton Trial: Prosecutors Call Duplex Owner Jennifer Sutton as Witness

The U.S. government called Ridgeway Street duplex owner Jennifer Sutton as their second witness in the federal civil-rights trial of Jackson Mayor Frank Melton today. Crying as she looked a …

UPDATED: Judge Finalizes Jury For Melton Trial

After five grueling days of questioning potential jurors, Judge Dan Jordan seated 12 jurors and 3 alternates for the federal civil-rights trial of Jackson Mayor Frank Melton and his former …

McCoy Urges Barbour Against Cold Feet on Stimulus

Mississippi House Speaker Billy McCoy offered a public plea Thursday to Gov. Haley Barbour to accept federal money offered through a proposed congressional stimulus package worth more than $800 billion. …

Smoking On the Way Out

See: Jackson Smoking Ordinance, Defined on Jackpedia

Shoe Bar at Pieces

Cute bag, slinky dress, funky shoes. Girls know we need them, and we know one of the best places to find them is at the Shoe Bar at Pieces. This …

When the Going Gets Tough

No doubt about it, these are scary economic times. Many people are losing jobs, some businesses are closing, consumers are holding tight to their dollars.

Cigarette Tax Debate Rages On

Pragmatism and principle will collide when the Mississippi House considers the Senate version of a proposed cigarette tax increase. The Senate approved increasing the cigarette tax from 18 cents per …

It's OK to Win ... Or Not

Olivia Hardges, 9, a third-grade student at Marshall Elementary arrived at the JSU e-Center before 8 a.m. on Jan. 23. As other kids gathered in the California room, also wearing …

Indecent Proposal?

The Associated Press reported last week that the scandal of jailed former lobbyist Jack Abramoff reaches fairly far into Mississippi. Abramoff's former deputy Todd Boulanger told U.S. District Judge Richard …