Jackson Free Press

Buying Judges: Tell the Whole Story

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals partially overturned the convictions of Mississippi attorney Paul Minor and former judges John Whitfield and Walter "Wes" Teel Friday.

Full Smoking Ban Takes Effect

An expanded version of the city's ban on smoking in restaurants and bars took effect July 1, but compliance with the ban is still spotty.

Growing Pains

<i>Jackson's Music Scene Struggles for Respect, Audience</i>

Here's the thing: Jackson actually has a thriving music scene, filled with phenomenal, under-appreciated musicians and people who are working hard to give them opportunities to play.

Education: A Strong State Economy Starts Here

Research shows that struggling schools and low education levels hurt individuals as well as the state as a whole, bringing economic and social challenges. Fortunately, people outside the educational community …

JSU Advocates React to ‘Jacobs State' Merger

Ivory Phillips, former dean of Jackson State University's College of Education, said he suspected Jackson State University President Ronald Mason Jr.'s proposal to merge three majority-black state universities into Jacobs …

Zero Tolerance for Children

Nsombi Lambright, executive director of ACLU Mississippi, doesn't bother going to her son's school anymore for lunch. She tried it as a way to connect with him, offer support for …

Pope Benedict's Moral Compass

In the Vatican's rush to scapegoat all gay priests for the clergy abuse scandal, it has not just disparaged many innocent men. It has also ignored the many female victims …

McCain Camp Suddenly Upset About Professor He Helped Fund

The absurdity du jour is that the desperate McCain campaign and right-wing media are suddenly demanding the release of a video of a party Obama attending with Palestinian studies expert …

Dems Also to Blame for Playing Language Game

When I blogged about Mississippi Republicans using coded anti-Latino rhetoric to their advantage, my editor offered up a challenge: are Democrats doing the same thing, just less explicitly?

Saints Stumble to 12-0

The Saints lost the coin toss going into overtime against the Washington Redskins, a team that had arguably beat them on everything except voodoo, karma and the "luck of the …

Tsunami Benefit Raises $4,311

The JFP-Collective-Rock 93.9 benefit last night at the Red Room at Hal & Mal's has raised $4,311.50 for disaster relief! Hal & Mal's donated 10 percent of sales for the …

The Hip-Hop Mayor: Detroit's Kwame Kilpatrick?

http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=18826

Apparently Mr. Kilpatrick's gotten himself in quite a quandry. Again something that has nothing to do particularly with his policy but all the same. Since he ran on a platform …

Raised Garden Bed

Growing your own food is back in style. The popularity of books like "The Omnivore's Dilemma" shows that people are more concerned about where their food comes from.

[Hutchinson] Republicans Rip the Voting Rights Act

In 1980, Ronald Reagan told biographer Laurence Barrett that the 1965 Voting Rights Act was "humiliating to the South." The carefully handpicked, emotionally charged words from then GOP Republican presidential …

JUST IN: Melton Set to Declare State of Emergency

The Jackson Free Press got a phone call today at 10:45 telling us that the mayor was gathering reporters at City Hall at 11 a.m. to address his "state of …

Grady Griffin

Grady Griffin is the director of education and training for the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association, but don't let that fancy title fool you.

Hello, and Goodbye

I've never been great at goodbyes. When I meet people I dig, I want them around. But I've learned that a life filled with interesting experiences and people does mean, …

Back To Basics

This week, the Democratic Congress is likely to pass expanded federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research, although President George W. Bush will almost certainly veto the bill. The Republican Congress …

Melton: ‘How Dumb Can You Be?'

Jones County Circuit Court Judge Billy Joe Landrum gave Jackson Mayor Frank Melton the keys to the courtroom at a hearing today, allowing him to belligerently insult the attorney for …

CNN: Palin-the-‘Diva' Is ‘Going Rogue' on McCain

I don't want to say "I told you so," but Sarah Palin had drama queen—or small-town "diva"—written all over her since the day she was appointed. (The tanning bed in …