Jackson Free Press

Critics Blast ‘Third-Grade Gate’ Tests

Two years ago, at the urging of Gov. Phil Bryant, the Legislature passed the Literacy Based Promotion Act, but to the consternation of Democrats and other education advocates, minimal funding …

9/11 Victims Worldwide

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, 19 members of the international terrorist organization al-Qaeda hijacked four U.S. airliners.

Utilities Prep for Isaac Blackouts

Electric utilities around the state say they're ready for power outages related to Hurricane Isaac, upgraded about 11:30 a.m. to a full-scale hurricane.

Barbour Pardonee Involved in Fatal Shooting

A man who received a pardon from former Gov. Haley Barbour is a suspect in a shooting in Calhoun County.

Hinds Board Meets Privately on Jail

Amid ongoing turmoil at the Raymond Detention Center, the Hinds County Board of Supervisors held a special meeting this morning to hammer out a plan for the beleaguered jail.

Yarber Budget Slashes Spending 20 Percent

Mayor Tony Yarber said his first budget proposal, presented Wednesday to the city council, "mixes aspiration with reality, hope with hard truth and inspiration with intractable assessments of yet another …

JPS Progress Report Good, Still Low Marks for MAEP Funding

Despite legislative budget writers shortchanging them, along with every other school district in the state, Jackson Public Schools are showing improvement in several areas.

State Sues Jackson Over Refusal to Police Fair

The city of Jackson appears to have won the first round in a game of chicken against the Mississippi State Fair Commission over not providing fair security.

A Quiet Push for ‘Kush’

Chokwe Lumumba espouses a view of regionalism that is quite different from the Hinds-Madison-Rankin model, one that aligns with the Jackson-Kush plan.

• 1 comment

Battlefield Park Fights for Its Reputation

Willa Womack, the Battlefield Park president, told the Jackson Free Press that she believes it's unfair that their neighborhood is painted negatively when violence occurs anywhere in west Jackson, particularly …

Clarion-Ledger Parent Co. Gannett Slashing News Staffs

Jim Romenesko is reporting about a Gannett plan that would involve staff cuts and require current newsroom employees to reapply for new jobs.

Whistleblower Faces Eviction

Annie L. Figures, who shined a light on ongoing problems at her apartment complex to the Jackson City Council and the Jackson Free Press, says she is facing eviction.

Hosemann: Miss. Voter ID a Go as SCOTUS Guts Voting Rights Act

It wasn't terribly surprising given the composition of the U.S. Supreme Court, but the nation's high court officially gutted the most important provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act in …

• 7 comments

Stokes Knocks Byram-Clinton Parkway

The Byram-Clinton Parkway is a proposed multi-lane route between Byram at Interstate 55 South, extending northwest to the Norrell Road interchange at Interstate 20 in Clinton.

• 8 comments

Yarber: JPD Arrests 2 City Employees for Water Theft

Two men have been charged with embezzlement for water theft.

BP Spill Settlement Gives Jackson $1 Million to Play With

Jackson leaders are considering how to spend $958,000 from a BP oil spill settlement.

Lumumba: Regionalism of Another Kind

During this spring and summer, when the Jackson mayoral campaign season hit its peak, a fierce debate took place about regionalism.

• 9 comments

Uber Safety, Fairness Back Before City Council

When it comes to regulating Uber—and other transportation network companies that might follow—the Jackson City Council is walking a fine line.

Potential Farish Street Developer Leroy Smith Makes Pitch to JRA

Leroy C. Smith, a Denver-based developer, made his pitch today for why he is the person who should take on redevelopment of Farish Street.

Enabling Employers to Help Disabled People

A Mississippi advocacy group wants some state agencies to give closer consideration to people with disabilities when it comes to hiring decisions.