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Justice

Overturned Sentence Spotlights Judge, DA

The case of Quintez Hodges is a rare one. Efforts by the Innocence Project and others have vacated death sentences and exonerated an increasing number of wrongfully convicted men, but …

Education

Without Federal Funds, JPS Needs $2.5M from City

Uncertainty about $187 million in federal aid is forcing Jackson Public Schools into awkward contortions as the district prepares its budget for the upcoming school year. The district will likely …

Development

Businesses Gear Up for Sales-Tax Holiday

For the second year in a row, the Mississippi Department of Revenue is holding a sales tax holiday in time for back-to-school shopping. From 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 30, …

Crime

Jackson Police Battling Burglaries

Jackson police reported 226 crimes last week, up from 177 the previous week, according to crime statistics released at a Jackson Police Department command staff meeting this morning. Officers reported …

Census Director Stresses Cultural Sensitivity

U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Groves met yesterday with representatives from a variety of Mississippi civil rights advocacy organizations to address concerns about low census participation in parts of the …

Frank Melton

Witness Bought Crack at Duplex; Told Melton; Wasn't Arrested

JFP Coverage of Defense Witness Christopher Walker

Candidate

The 2009 JFP Interview With Robert Amos

Robert Amos is the youngest remaining candidate for mayor. At 35, he's already worked in more fields than some do in a lifetime—health care, education, criminal justice and business—and he's …

Justice

Scott Sisters' Clemency Momentum Growing

Support for imprisoned sisters Jamie and Gladys Scott is growing as an anticipated deadline for their clemency petition nears. The sisters, who are in the 17th year of their double …

Downtown Trees on the Chopping Block?

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Person of the Day

Susan Piedmont-Palladino

Susan Piedmont-Palladino believes that new technology can help make cities better.

Business Law, Restaurant Raves

One of the more common obstacles to fledgling entrepreneurs is a lack of adequate legal advice, Michael Harris, program manager of the Jackson Business Accelerator, said today.

Water Emergency in Jackson

Gov. Haley Barbour declared a state of emergency for the city of Jackson today due to water main breaks that have disrupted water service across the city. Speaking at a …

Politics

Hinds Election Feud Heats Up

A spat between Hinds County Election Commissioners spilled over into a county Board of Supervisors meeting today, with suggestions of voting machine tampering and possibly compromised elections. With elections scheduled …

Education

Traversing the Merit-Pay Thicket

Over the next five years, Oak Forest Elementary School will be on the vanguard of a nationwide experiment in school reform. The south Jackson school is one of 10 in …

Frank Melton

Judge Faces Key Decisions In Melton Trial

A federal judge will hear arguments today on whether to hold separate trials for Mayor Frank Melton and his former police bodyguard Michael Recio. Melton and Recio are under federal …

Oil Spill

Oil Expected on State's Beaches

State officials expect oil in the Mississippi Sound to make landfall on beaches within the next few days. Speaking to the Sun-Herald yesterday, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Trudy Fisher …

Tease photo Books

Steven Wells Hicks: Writing For Sock Monkeys

Steven Wells Hicks was a creative advertising director for 35 years before becoming a novelist. Born in Omaha, Neb., Hicks has lived in Jackson since July, 1974 and calls himself …

Tease photo Cover

No Small Feat

The students in John Bennetts' second-grade class are being perfect sponges. Bennetts, a teacher at KIPP Delta Elementary Literacy Academy, a charter school in Helena, Ark., is drilling the class …

Biz Roundup

Solar Panel Plant To Open; New Downtown Cafe

A California solar panel company plans to build a new production facility in Hattiesburg, Gov. Haley Barbour announced today. The company, Stion, produces high-efficiency thin-film solar panels at its headquarters …

Health Care

UMMC Unveils Obesity Center

Visitors to the Jackson Convention Center during last week's Global Obesity Summit could be forgiven for a little mirthless laughter.