Jackson Free Press

Oakdale Elementary Students Raise Funds for Make-A-Wish in Honor of Classmate

Oakdale Elementary students organized a Make-A-Wish fundraiser in honor of Ariel Hurley, a kindergartner at Oakdale and a recipient of the foundation.

Judge Sentences Two Madison County Men to 150-Plus Years in Prison for Drug Offenses

Madison/Rankin County Circuit Court Judge Dewey Arthur sentenced 34-year-old Carlos Dominique Allen and 42-year-old Torrey Powell to 156 years, collectively, for drug offenses on March 28, 2022.

‘Just For Them’: Goodman Native Organizes Inaugural Kids Fest Jackson

Mississippi native Jay Branch has organized the inaugural Kids Fest Jackson event taking place in Jackson, Miss., on Saturday, April 9, 2022.

Mississippi Legislators Work to Approve State Spending Plans

Mississippi legislators on Monday were approving parts of a state budget for the year that begins July 1, and it is substantially larger than the budget for the current year.

'Go, Mississippi': State Could Ditch Song with Racist Roots

Mississippi is on the verge of scuttling a state song with racist roots, two years after it retired a Confederate-themed state flag.

Ukrainian Refugee Benefit Concert, Mississippi Transgender Day of Visibility and ‘The Wizard of Oz’

Mitchell McGinnis and many other Mississippians have raised funds to support Slavik’s family during this time of unrest within Ukraine. To further that goal, McGinnis has helped organize a benefit …

Jessica Broughman (pictured with her daughter, Aubrey) served time in Rankin County Detention Center from …

• March 28, 2022

Sheriff: Rankin County Work-Release Program Is Not ‘Convict Leasing,’ A Vestige of Slavery

ACLU-MS Deputy Director Alicia N. Netterville said that the first iteration of House Bill 747 effectively functioned as convict-leasing by another name.

Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade, Spring Market, JXN Flea and Brian Ballou

After two years’ wait, Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade and Festival returns to downtown Jackson. This year’s slogan, “Go Big and Come Home,” represents both the Jackson metro community getting to …

Mississippi Leaders Spar Over Tax Cuts as Deadlines Approach

Mississippi House leaders offered a revised proposal Wednesday to phase out the state income tax, sending it to Senate leaders as legislators approach big deadlines to set taxes and spending.

JSU Blue Tie Gala and Regions Card, MSU Virtual Reality Grant

Jackson State University’s National Alumni Association will host its fifth annual Blue Tie Gala on Saturday, April 9, at 7 p.m. at the Jackson Convention Complex in downtown Jackson.

Emmett Till Family Again Demands Prosecution of White Woman for Child’s Lynching

The family of Emmett Till is once again calling for justice, nearly 70 years past young Till’s vicious murder, tied to a cotton-gin fan in the Tallahatchie River.

Jacquelynn’s Weekend Picks 3/18-3/20

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend in the metro area, don’t worry. We have you covered. Whether you’re looking for a night out on the town or …

It's a Deal: Mississippi Teacher Pay Plan Awaits Final Votes

Negotiators from the Mississippi House and Senate reached a deal Wednesday to boost some of the lowest teacher salaries in the nation.

Mississippi Pushes Toward Deal to Increase Teacher Salaries

Mississippi lawmakers on Wednesday discussed the latest proposal to boost some of the lowest teacher salaries in the nation, and negotiators said they hope to reach a final deal soon.

JSU Relaunches Institute for Social Justice and Race Relations, Jazz Festival and Camp Kesem at MSU

Jackson State University relaunched its Institute for Social Justice and Race Relations on Thursday, Feb. 24, in the College of Liberal Arts. The original institute opened in 2013, but a …

City of Jackson To Resume Community Cleanup Program

Jackson’s Community Cleanup Program—meant to help support residents in clearing trash from their neighborhoods—is set to resume on the first weekend of March, after city officials put the program on …

USM Economic Outlook Forum, Grants and Online Degree Program at MSU

The University of Southern Mississippi is set to host its annual Economic Outlook Forum on Thursday, March 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Thad Cochran Center Grand …

‘Fear the Virus, Not the Vaccine’: Leadership Urges Vaccinations for Pregnant Women

The current wave of COVID-19 is on the decline in Mississippi, but state health leadership is urging residents—especially vulnerable populations like pregnant women—to get vaccinated, and to keep up with …

Income-Tax Phaseout Up for Debate in Long-Poor Mississippi

Mississippi is accustomed to being first in worsts: It's one of the poorest, unhealthiest states in the nation, with public schools that are chronically underfunded. Some Republican leaders say a …