Jackson Free Press

GOP Power Player Could Beef Up City's Lobbying Firepower

A major Republican power player who helped Mayor Tony Yarber win his current position is in line to be the City of Jackson's next lobbyist.

Following the DHS Scanner Money

In order for low-income child-care centers to get reimbursed by the state, parents and guardians must scan his or her finger when picking up or dropping off their child.

Dumping Siemens Could Be Lengthy, Costly Process

Kenneth Stokes, in his first week back as Ward 3 councilman, said he plans to offer a proposal to get the city out from underneath its $90 million contract with …

The Business of Beer

Last year, after several failed attempts, Mississippi lawmakers made it legal to produce and sell beer containing as much as 8 percent alcohol.

Hinds County Supervisor's Battle: Round 2

The fields have narrowed—somewhat—and only a few contenders remain for two seats on the Hinds County Board of Supervisors.

Bryant Budget Steadfast in Health Care Opposition

Sen. Hillman Frazier said the state would miss out on millions of dollars in economic activity if it declines to expand Medicaid under the federal health-care reform law.

Jackson: New Rankin County Wastewater Plant is Unlawful

Although City of Jackson officials are doing their best to appear collegial to entities they fear are attempting to force Jackson into a new regional wastewater authority, the city seems …

Brown: Learning from Kemper’s Mistakes

Since losing his seat in redistricting, Rep. Cecil Brown, D-Jackson, decided to run for the Public Service Commission.

Reeves Flexes at Budget Hearings

Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann plans to have the state's voter-identification law in place by spring or summer of 2014.

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Powerhouse

Mississippi Republicans in the Legislature have said they want to ram charter-school legislation through as quickly as possible, and so far they’re on track to accomplish just that.

Shorting MAEP Basically a Tax Hike

Dr. Cedrick Gray, the superintendent of Jackson Public Schools, seems to be proving tight-fisted Mississippi lawmakers right when they say it doesn't necessarily take throwing money at schools to improve …

Jackson: Rankin Wastewater Plan ‘Disingenuous’

With Jackson and its citizens burdened with a $400 million consent decree to fix its sewer system, it was already going to be a tough hill to climb.

Troubled Water, Part I: Explaining Jackson's $91 Million Siemens Contract

It's almost impossible to turn on the nightly local television news without coming across a story of a Jackson resident who was shocked to open an astronomically high City of …

Senate 28: Meet the Candidates

Nine people want to fill the Mississippi Senate seat vacated by the recent death of Alice Harden.

‘What the Religion Teaches’: Feeding the Homeless in Smith Park

Bilal Qizilbash has been bringing dinner to homeless people in Smith Park every Friday for almost nine months, but he and his fellow volunteers never ask anyone about their housing …

Archie: Balancing Act

After coming up a bit short in the last countywide election, David Archie is hoping the people of District 2 give him a supervisor's job in the upcoming special election.

Are Mississippi Officials Deadbeats?

The situation in Mississippi may be dire, but it's not hopeless. There are opportunities to drastically—not incrementally—improve things in Mississippi, but our leadership seems fixated on solutions looking for problems.

If They Gunned Me Down

To the best of my knowledge, I never met Michael Brown, but I know him well.

Unfriendly Skies: Can Jackson Save Its Airport?

The City of Jackson, which controls the 3,381 acres of land the airport occupies, is bracing for a looming battle for its control with the State of Mississippi.

The Changing Faces of Jackson

When Shawna Davie came to the capital city from St. Louis to attend Jackson State University, like many college students, she didn't know what she'd do with her life.

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