Story
Editor's Note
Vote, Shop and Give Thanks ... Locally
Vote with your dollars and your nomination to support local businesses this holiday season.
Story
UPDATED: More Than 100 Dead in Paris Shootings
PARIS (AP) — A series of unprecedented attacks on popular night spots killed more than 100 people in the deadliest violence to strike France since World War II, officials said. …
Entry
Mississippi Earns D- on State Integrity Investigation
By adreherMississippi has earned a D- grade on the Center for Public Integrity's 2015 investigation of state government transparency and accountability issues. The state's overall rank nationally is 33rd out of 50 states.
After this year's election, it should come as no surprise that Mississippi was ranked last in the campaign-finance category.
As early as the primary elections, disputes over personal campaign-finance spending raged. For example, Stacey Pickering, the state's auditor, used campaign-finance money to buy an RV and a garage door. He said at the time that the FBI was not investigating, despite reports to the contrary.
Advocacy organizations played important roles in the campaign-finance game too--especially in DeSoto County where four Republican legislators were ousted for their anti-charter school views when Empower Mississippi, a pro-charter organization, funded their opponents' successful campaigns.
The only regulations in place in Mississippi state law limit corporate donations to candidates or political parties. Individuals, lobbyists, political initiatives or political action committees are not limited in their spending on candidates or campaigns, an important factor in the Initiative 42 public-school funding campaign and the "Vote No" anti-42 campaign this last election. Dark money--donations made through or by organizations with no transparency about motivation or primary sourcing--influenced both sides of the Initiative 42 debate.
Mississippi also received failing grades in the following categories: public information access, electoral oversight, executive accountability and judicial accountability.
The report stated that Mississippi could rise from its last-place rank if legislators would examine and update campaign-finance laws in the state.
Story
City & County
From Jackson to Paris to Fight Climate Change
Six members of Cooperation Jackson lent their voices and efforts to the global fight against climate change at the United Nation's annual climate conference.
Story
LGBT
‘Not No, But Hell No’: Fighting for Same-Sex Adoption
Roberta Kaplan is challenging the provision in Mississippi adoption law that states, "Adoption by couples of the same gender is prohibited."
Story
Moody's Cuts Mississippi Power Credit Rating After Elections
A bond rating agency downgraded Mississippi Power Co.'s debt to the lowest investment-grade level, saying the election of two new members of the state Public Service Commission "increases regulatory uncertainty."
Story
National
University of Missouri President Resigns
The president of the University of Missouri system resigned Monday with the football team and others on campus in open revolt over what they saw as his indifference to racial …
Story
Waggoner Sentencing Delayed in Prison Contract Bribery Case
Sentencing has been indefinitely delayed for a Carthage man who pleaded guilty to bribing former Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps.
Story
Best of Jackson
Best of Jackson 2016 Nomination Ballet
Best of Jackson voting is divided into two stages—a nominations ballot and a final ballot!
Story
Food
A Family Tradition
While New Orleans may be nearly three hours away, it's easy to find Cajun dishes reminiscent of the ones you'd find in the Crescent City at Drago's Seafood Restaurant in …
Story
Best of Jackson
Best of Jackson: Best Nail Technician; Best Place for a Manicure; Best Place for a Pedicure
Victoria Walker has been doing manicures, pedicures, shellac, acrylic and other nail services in the Fondren Village Shopping Center for more than 10 years.
Story
City & County
The 1-Percent Tax Spending Snag
Jackson City Council members and citizens are growing impatient with the slow rate of progress and administrative morass as the capital city continues to collect funds for infrastructure improvements.
Story
GOP Close to Supermajority in House
As election returns are finalized in the next few days, Republicans are within striking distance of a 74-vote supermajority in the state House.
Story
Education
Mississippi Schools Show Signs of Improvement Despite Underfunding
Academic progress primarily comes from good instruction, and staffing schools, especially in south Jackson, has presented JPS recruiters with problems.
Story
LGBT
After Same-Sex Marriage Victory, A Stall on LGBT Divorces in State
Lauren Beth Czekala-Chatham cannot put her past behind her, because a court won't let her.
Story
Editor's Note
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.
Story
Story
Biz Roundup
CC's Coffee House, Get2College and Jackson Zoo Master Plan
South Louisiana-based coffee chain CC's Community Coffee House arrived in Mississippi about six weeks ago.
Story
Ohio Votes on Legalizing Pot for Medical, Recreational Use
The only pot-related question on any state ballot this year is in Ohio, where voters were deciding Tuesday whether to legalize marijuana for recreational and medical use in a single …
Story
Bryan's Rant
Life After the Death of USM Football
For fans of University of Southern Mississippi football, 2012 felt like the death of the program, and 2013 and 2014 felt like the mourning period. But 2015 feels like something …
