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LGBT
UPDATED: ADF to Defend Bryant in HB 1523 Appeal, Emails Reveal Outside Groups' Influence
In a court filing Wednesday, Roberta Kaplan, one of the lawyers representing plaintiffs in the case that made the "Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act" unconstitutional, revealed numerous emails …
Justice
'Discrimination Act' Would Give Clerks 'Kim Davis' Powers
Kim Davis went to jail in Kentucky for not issuing same-sex marriage licenses, but circuit clerks in Mississippi might not have to if the "Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government …
Cover
The Demise of Initiative 42
As soon as the Mississippi Legislature proposed an alternative measure to Initiative 42, a citizens' initiative to fully fund the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, its advocates cried foul, saying the …
Education
Vicksburg, Wingfield, Lanier High Schools Top 'Chronically Absent' List
More than 70,000 students were chronically absent in the 2016-2017 school year, chronic absentee data the Mississippi Department of Education released today show.
LGBT
'1523 Demonizes People': Pastors, Community Leaders File Third Legal Challenge
Mississippi pastors, community leaders, activists and a Hattiesburg church have filed a federal lawsuit challenging House Bill 1523, the third legal challenge to the "Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government …
LGBT
Local LGBT Vigil In Orlando's Wake: 'We Shouldn't Have to Be Afraid'
A chorus of more than 100 voices rose outside JC's, one of Jackson's longest-standing gay bars, Sunday night in vigil for victims in the Orlando mass shooting that left 49 …
LGBT
Gov. Bryant Alone Appeals HB 1523, Wants 'Special Protections and Accommodations'
Gov. Phil Bryant has appealed to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, asking them to reverse U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves' decision to block House Bill 1523 from becoming …
Politics
Mississippi Democrats Clap Back on Tax Policy, Wage Gaps
The Mississippi Democratic Caucus held a meeting Wednesday to discuss key policy issues about the state's economy, tax structure, and how certain policies mostly impact women and African Americans in …
Cover
‘Everybody Matters, Or Nobody Matters’: The JFP Interview with Public Safety Commissioner Marshall Fisher
Department of Public Safety Commissioner Marshall Fisher shared his opinions and ideas about how law enforcement fits into society and government as a whole with the Jackson Free Press recently.
Cover
Reforming Criminal Justice: Is Mississippi Making Progress?
The Mississippi Reentry Council has been working to make it easier for inmates to find jobs and re-acclimate to life free from bars. U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett says the …
Civil Rights
Lawsuit: Inmates Have the Right to Free, Secular Books in Prison
Big House Books, a nonprofit that sends free books by request to inmates, filed a lawsuit against the South Mississippi Correctional Institution this week because inmates there cannot receive books …
LGBT
Pickering: Did Not Have 'Anything to Do With' LGBT Robo-calls
Stacey Pickering, the incumbent Republican candidate for state auditor, said Wednesday that he had nothing to do with the automated calls that called his Democrat challenger, Joce Pritchett, an "LGBT …
Jacksonian
Sameerah Muhammad
Sameerah Muhammad has used her creativity in the kitchen since she was 6 years old.
Civil Rights
Disenfranchised for Life? No Changes, Yet
Stanley Barnes of Claiborne County was convicted of murder in 1990 and received a life sentence, but was paroled in 2000. He is still on unsupervised parole. Sen. Albert Butler, …
Health Care
Keeping Insurance Rates Stable, Despite Congressional Interference
Even with the Affordable Care Act intact, Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney is still concerned for Mississippians with certain plans that would see rate increases in 2018, despite the ACA's …
Crime
State’s Longest-Sitting Death Row Inmate Challenges Death Penalty Drug
The Mississippi Supreme Court has sentenced Richard Jordan to death four times, but with the help of his lawyers, he continues to challenge the state's death penalty method.
Politics
Foster Care Legislation: ‘The Beginning to an End of Madness’
The state's foster-care system, now housed under MDHS as the Division of Family and Children's Services, must comply with a court order in the Olivia Y lawsuit to avoid federal …
LGBT
A Long, Long LGBT Road
Cameron Stewart and Amber Cameron have been together five and a half years. About a year ago, the couple had a backyard wedding ceremony with vows and commitments—but because they …
State
Debate Rages Over Causes of Abortion Declines
Abortion numbers could be down for multiple reasons, including higher distribution of contraceptives and the lowering of teen-pregnancy rates in states like in Colorado.
State
‘I’m So Scared’: Saving Kids from Suicide
In 2016, 385 Mississippians committed suicide, statistics from the Mississippi Department of Health show, which means more than one person per day took his or her own life in the …
