Jackson Free Press

Council: No to Payroll ... and Bodyguard Raises

The Jackson City Council failed to approve the city payroll by a 3-to-3 vote at a special meeting this afternoon. Council President Leslie McLemore, Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon and …

Attorney Chokwe Lumumba Re-instated

The Associated Press is reporting that the Mississippi Supreme Court has voted 8-1 to re-instate controversial attorney Chokwe Lumumba. Here's a JFP news story with relevant context, and an opinion …

2009 JFP Interview with Frank Melton, Part I: Health

The day after Mayor Frank Melton got a reprieve from prison due to a hung jury, he held a brief press conference in City Hall to talk about his plans …

Who Authorized Palin's $150,000 Makeover?

According to Marc Ambinder at Time, John McCain's campaign folks are squirming and defensive, now that Politico has broken the news (wonder how much that red leather jacket cost?) that …

Of Truth and the Shortest Month

I admit it: I've never been Black History Month's biggest fan. Let me put that another way: I don't like how media tend to treat Black History Month. Too often, …

[Eady] Our Students Deserve Better

Three young boys waited on a wooden bench in a brown-paneled office on the hot May day. Anton stretched his legs out and slouched back, his face blank and eyes …

Ole Miss Students Social Networking Against Klan

The Mississippi White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan plans to protest the University of Mississippi's decision to drop a controversial pep song Saturday before the football game against Louisiana …

Did MSNBC Ad "Hoochify" Michelle Obama?

Yes, I made that word up. Anyway, according to the Huffington Post, a "Hardball with Chris Matthews" ad about an upcoming segment on Michelle Obama's political image makeover was pulled …

Republican Women Defecting to Kerry

Leigh Flayton writes in Salon about Republican women planning to vote for John Kerry this year due to George W. Bush's extremism: "Judith Allen, longtime Arizonan and lifelong Republican, says …

Drudge, FOX News Distorts Obama ‘Redistribution' Comment

Media Matters is warning:

On-screen text on Fox News echoed the Drudge Report in falsely claiming that Sen. Barack Obama said it is a "tragedy" that the Supreme Court has not addressed wealth redistribution. …

Crisis: Medicaid Games Come to a Head Today

Haley Barbour's phone numbers: 359-3150, 359-3150, 720-8733, 359-3150. Call now.

In an editorial today, The Clarion-Ledger writes: "The solution to the current Medicaid funding crisis is to take $200 million from the tobacco trust fund and approve a cigarette tax …

Salter Takes on Taxation Myths; Barbour Responds

Update: Pasted below (in the comments) is a statement from Barbour, in minutes ago, about his take on the state's "budget myths." Enjoy.

[Publisher's Note] Frank Melton's PR Problem

Last week's "Chamber Confidential" e-newsletter from the MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce popped into my inbox, and the headline of Chamber President Duane O'Neill's note caught my eye: "Doing Business Under …

Here's A Full List of Barbour's Pardons; What Do You Think?

Jan. 10, 2011—Click here to read a full list of outgoing Gov. Haley Barbour's pardons, then tell us what you think (and what you know about these folks' crimes!)

Let's Do The Time Warp…Again!

You remember 1973, don't you? Elvis was in concert in Hawaii, Nixon began his second term, the Watergate hearings were in full swing, the Vietnam War ended, the Supreme Court …

Unbelievable: McCain Calls Middle-Class Tax Cuts 'Welfare'

Mr. Keep-Trickling-Down-From-the-Rich McCain is calling middle-class tax cuts "welfare"! Does he truly think that the only real "tax cuts" are those for the very wealthy?!? Dallas Morning News:

C-L To Lay Off 20 Staffers

Editor and Publisher magazine is reporting the contents of a memo circulated by the Clarion-Ledger's current publisher, Larry Whitaker, to his staff. The memo was leaked earlier in the day …

Pro-Life Mississippi: 'A Moderate Will Not Do'

July 1, 2005/verbatim: In light of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's resignation announcement, Terri Herring, president of Pro-Life Mississippi, writes:

Melton Bodyguard is Sheriff's Internal Affairs Chief

The person in charge of rooting out corruption inside the Hinds County Sheriff's Department is Marcus Wright, a former Jackson police officer and bodyguard to late Jackson Mayor Frank Melton.

Stupid Quote o' The Day

Yes, it was uttered by President Bush while trying to defend his plan to ramp up forces in Iraq against bipartisan opposition—and it's a doozy, even for a man known …