Jackson Free Press

Teen Births Have High Cost

Instead of focusing on emotions, the Women's Fund of Mississippi is highlighting the cost of teen births to advocate for comprehensive sex-education in the state's public schools. Last week, the …

Preparing for Battle

Twenty years ago, when Cristen Hemmins was a student at Millsaps College, two teenagers pulled out a gun and abducted her in the campus parking lot. The young men raped …

Sex Education is Not a Partisan issue

For so long, Mississippi's public officials, and its community and school district leaders have shied away from talking about sex to avoid the potential political consequences. Last week however, the …

[Kamikaze] The Green Light

I remember making my transition from doing music full time to more community-oriented exploits. I like to categorize it as maturation. It was about seven or eight years ago, and …

Mississippi's Storm

Ask any Mississippian, and they'll tell you where they were the week of Aug. 29, 2005, the week Hurricane Katrina hit. They'll tell stories of the eerie silence waiting for …

[Rhodes] Hopeful Realism

As a Christian minister and public theologian, my days are spent in prayerful reflection about souls—not just the immaterial part of us, but all of who we are. For me, …

A Long Time Coming

In 1983, Jackson landscape architect Steven Horn presented Jackson city leaders with a detailed plan to revitalize Farish Street. His plan, under the city's guidance, would transform a two-block section …

Anderson Family: No Death Penalty

Read the family's letter.

Beloved Farish

On its Facebook page, the Farish Street/Main Street Project says that it "seeks to stimulate revitalization in the Farish Street Historic District by encouraging cooperation and building leadership in the …

Fire in Carson's Belly

Dorsey Carson, 40, has lived in northeast Jackson most of his life. He calls himself one of the "floodplain kids," youngsters who lived there during the Easter Flood of 1979. …

WAPT's Fondren T-Shirt ‘Controversy'

WAPT aired an interesting piece yesterday, which implied that Swell-O-Phonic's T-shirts are causing controversy. The piece highlights the T-shirt slogans such as "Brandon, We Ain't Pearl Dammit," and "Don't make …

Denny: A Busy Man

State Rep. Bill Denny, R-Jackson, is a hard man to find. He doesn't seem to have a campaign website or someone to send out press releases. When I called the …

Leron Jackson

When people told Leron Jackson he couldn't make it, he never believed them. "Knowing about the things I went through inspires people to go out and do great things," he …

Kosher Gospel

A young, black man dressed in an embroidered jacket sits at the piano. He belts out a gospel tune in layers of emotion. Sweat pours down his face as he …

New Caterer Opens Downtown

The Copper Iris Catering Co. Inc. (115 N. State St.) has been open for less than two weeks, but its owners are already talking about changing, perfecting and adding variety …

Ivan Rider

Ivan Rider returns to Jackson to direct "Driving Miss Daisy," opening tonight at New Stage Theatre.

"It's the theater of my heart," Rider told the Jackson Free Press this morning. "I'm delighted to be back."

Tired of empty strip malls? Me too.

Last week I spent some time learning about the Mississippi Development Authority's new plan to revitalize old, ugly strip malls, called the Retail Center Revitalization Program. (Read more here or …

Advocates Gear up For Personhood Battle

Anti-abortion advocates celebrated a Mississippi Supreme Court ruling last week that OK'd a Nov. 8 ballot initiative asking voters whether the state Constitution should define when life begins, but the …

Upcoming Parkway CEO will Remain in Florida

The incoming CEO of Jackson-based real estate company Parkway Properties plans to remain in Florida after he takes the reins in January.

Community Events and Public Meetings

Fall Community Enrichment Series, at Millsaps College (1701 N. State St.). Most classes start the week of Sept. 19 and fall into the categories of arts and crafts, computer, dance, …