Jackson Free Press

The Progressive Morality

Professor George Lakoff writes in The Nation:

Beth Kander

In response to the news that state Sen. Lydia Chassaniol was the "surprise speaker" at the recent Council of Conservative Citizens meeting in Jackson in June, Jackson playwright Beth Kander …

Crossroads Film Festival: Mississippi Filmmakers On Screen

We all know that Mississippi is the "crossroads" where the blues were born. But, of late, the state is coming into its creative own in many artistic areas. Film is …

Birthday Reflections

As the JFP turns 6, Todd Stauffer reflects on the problem of "balance" over accuracy—a media problem McCain's lying spree has brought front and center.

How Mississippi Voted

Pollsters predicated all along that Mississippi would not break its 32-year Republican voting streak on Election Day, but hours after the polls closed, pundits would not (or could not) accurately …

[Gregory] Beyond the Palin

Last week I drove out to Rankin County to get my nails done. I don't normally spend a lot of time in Rankin County and only went this time because …

[Hutchinson] Apologize, Mr. Murdoch

Mr. Rupert Murdoch, it's certainly no surprise to you that New York Post editor-in-chief Col Allan would hotly defend the racist Post cartoon comparing President Obama to a chimp.

Feliz Cumpleaños

Parties are nice, but a themed party will have your guests talking for a long time coming, if you do it right.

Live Blogging from Peterson Party at Hal & Mal's

Donna Ladd and Ronni Mott are blogging live from D.A. Faye Peterson's post-election gathering at Hal & Mal's.

Artists To Watch 2003

Matthew Magee and Allison Jenkins formed their band, Wooden Finger in September of 2004. "We are a melting pot of influences," Jenkins says. "Our influences come from bluegrass, ambient and …

The Little Weekly That Could

We celebrate a milestone with the issue of the Jackson Free Press that you hold in your hand, as it's the first issue of our fifth year of publishing. We're …

Arizona-Style Immigration Bill Advances, In A Hurry

The Mississippi Senate passed a bill modeled after Arizona's anti-immigrant law SB 1070 today, despite protests by some Democrats that the measure was rife with errors carried over from the …

Former DA Peters ‘Will Be Barred from Practicing Law'

Former Hinds County District Attorney Ed Peters has turned in his law license to the Mississippi Bar Association. The Bar received Peters' resignation last week, but had to wait until …

Barbour's Medicaid Letter a Half-Truth?

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour pinched a nerve in September that's still causing pain for some health-insurance reform advocates. Barbour sent a Sept. 8 letter to Mississippi Republican Sens. Thad Cochran …

State Ranks High for Happiness, Religion

In separate nationwide reports, Mississippi gets high scores in happiness and religion. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta released a report ranking the states for happiness. The …

Weill Challenges Mayor Over Bond Money

The Jackson City Council and Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. got off on the wrong foot at the Monday work session after Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill inquired whether the city …

Let's Give The Children More Drugs

As a social worker working with mentally ill children, I am no stranger to the medicating of them. But, this NYT piece regarding the side effects of stimulant medication really …

I Call Him 'Mr. Melton'

Well, it's kinda good to finally see a mea culpa column of sorts from David Hampton on his paper's endorsement of Frank Melton, or "Frank" as he and others over …

Jackpedia: People To Watch

<em><b>John McKellar</b></em>

John McKellar, a 21-year-old sophomore at the Raymond campus of Hinds Community College, is a busy man. Between taking classes in landscape management at Hinds, working as a landscaper, taking …

Barbour Touts Tort Reform; Insurance Reformers Answer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today, Gov. Haley Barbour held a press conference to declare a victory for his controversial tort-reform legislation. Barbour's statement is verbatim below; a PDF of a 10-page response by the …