Jackson Free Press

Eating, Drinking and Learning

Eating and drinking are generally a recipe for a good time. But they also present opportunities to learn or to think about things in a larger context. One recent weekend, …

Lit Highlights October 2014

Mississippi's weather is unpredictable. Thankfully, October always has plenty of great literary offerings, whether you're escaping that last bit of summer heat or relaxing indoors on a nippy autumn afternoon.

Trimming the Neo-South

We’re one of the unhealthiest states in the nation so something has to give.

California Becomes First State to Ban Plastic Bags

Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday signed the nation's first statewide ban on single-use plastic bags at grocery and convenience stores, driven to action by pollution in streets and waterways.

Thimblepress, Community Playground and Mississippi Physicians

Local design and letterpress company Thimblepress is a finalist in the 2014 Martha Stewart Living American Made Awards.

Defense Department Proposes Broad Ban on High-Cost Loans to Service Members

The Department of Defense released proposed rules today targeting the practices of a broad range of high-cost lenders and prohibiting them from charging service members interest rates over 36 percent.

Palestinian Leader in New UN Bid to End Occupation

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel on Friday of conducting a "war of genocide" and a "series of absolute war crimes" during the 50-day summer conflict in Gaza, but stopped …

Sierra Leone Cordons Off 3 Areas to Control Ebola

Sierra Leone restricted travel Thursday in three more "hotspots" of Ebola where more than 1 million people live, meaning about a third of the country's population is now under quarantine.

Westward Expansion

West Jackson is full of the kinds of challenges that social-science careers are built on, and the master plan takes all of it into account.

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The Curious Case of Costco, Stadium, Museum, Baseball and Parks

The Jackson Planning Board meeting on Aug. 27 was anything but drab. The widely reported issue of rezoning 50 acres of land that included Smith-Wills Stadium, Jamie Fowler Boyll Park …

The Public Must Have Access to Public Info

Every citizen of Jackson contributes to the funding of city government. Each of us pays for some fractional part of employee and elected official salaries, for their cell phones, iPads …

Building Purpose in Jackson

Jackson has made positive strides over the last few years, and I believe our best years to be in front of it—but there is still a lot of work for …

#BTCJXN: Be the Change Grab Bag

We asked staffers, readers and known change agents in the community for their ideas on being the change we want to see in Jackson (a phrase we've borrowed from Gandhi).

JRA Could Bail Out City on Farish Problems

City of Jackson and the Jackson Redevelopment Authority officials say the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development seems open to granting those bodies an extension to come up with …

Assad Backs Efforts to Fight Terrorism

Syrian President Bashar Assad said Tuesday he supports any international effort against terrorism, apparently trying to position his government on the side of the U.S.-led coalition conducting airstrikes against the …

David Watkins: HUD Sanctions 'Puzzling'

David Watkins, the developer of several high-profile projects in the capital city, says he is baffled about why he's being sanctioned as part of a probe into the use of …

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Backers Seek Expansion of Civil Rights Death Law

Civil rights proponents are laying the groundwork to extend and expand the Emmett Till Act, a law passed with the promise of $135 million for police work and an army …

UK Remains United After Scotland Referendum

The United Kingdom will stay united. Voters in Scotland resoundingly rejected independence in a historic referendum that shook the country to its core.

France Strikes Islamic State Group's Depot in Iraq

Joining U.S. forces acting in Iraqi skies, French fighter jets struck Friday against the militant Islamic State group, destroying a logistics depot, Iraqi and French officials said.

Sierra Leone to Shut Down for 3 Days to Slow Ebola

Shoppers in Sierra Leone rushed to stock up on food Thursday ahead of a three-day nationwide shutdown, during which the country's 6 million people will be confined to their homes …