Jackson Free Press

Alice Walker

Long before Alice Walker wrote "The Color Purple," she made her mark on Jackson as a civil rights and women's activist.

Mini-Grants Available to Abused Women

Heather Spencer's legacy lives on to protect Mississippi women who are the victims of domestic violence. Spencer's family and friends organized the non-profit Heather's T.R.E.E. shortly after George Bell III …

Community Events and Public Meetings

Monday, April 19

2 p.m., "Global Warming: Attribution, Who is to Blame?" at Jackson State University (1400 John R. Lynch St.) in Just Science Hall, room 209. Dr. Anthony Lupo of the University …

A Different Kind of Road Trip

An elderly woman drags her walker behind her as she trudges through a field, occasionally glancing at an unassuming building behind her while Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" …

Barbour Criticized for Slavery Insensitivity

Gov. Haley Barbour earned the ire of many when he downplayed a controversy over state proclamations of Confederate History Month--which omitted any mention of slavery--in comments last weekend.

Community Events and Public Meetings

7 p.m., No Fuss Lawn Care at Millsaps College (1701 N. State St.). Felder Rushing will cover selecting the right kind of grass, mowing, fertilizing, weed control, and designing with …

Barbour: Slavery Omission ‘Doesn't Matter for Diddly'

Speaking Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union," Gov. Haley Barbour defended fellow Republican Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's recent proclamation of Confederate History Month that did not reference slavery. While …

The Siren Song of Food

The world first met the vivacious Mandisa, with her powerful voice and mega-watt smile, during the fifth season of "American Idol" in 2006. Unfortunately, she also became known for Simon …

[Collier] Rearing Ain't for Everybody

Picture it: A woman is rolled into Choose-a-Patron-Saint's-Name Hospital, writhing in pain, cursing men and pleading with God for mercy. The contractions are coming closer together and are more difficult …

Daniel McMullen

Daniel McMullen would be difficult to pick out of a police line-up. It's hard to determine McMullen's age and race, and although he's the special agent in charge of the …

Do Good, and Do Better

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. – Hebrews 10:24

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. – Hebrews 10:24

House Votes to Expand Unemployment Benefits

More Mississippians could qualify for unemployment insurance under a bill the Mississippi House of Representatives passed Saturday. The Senate adjourned hours before the vote, meaning the Legislature will not bring …

JFP Person the Day: Diana Howell

When more than 40 women showed up to try out for "The Vagina Monologues" last year, director Diana Howell knew Jackson was ready for a production of strong women sharing …

Haley Barbour: Heath Reform ‘Crammed' Down Americans' Throats

Also see: Immediate Effect of Health-Reform Bill

Shortly after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the historic health-reform bill, Gov. Haley Barbour released the following statement, verbatim:

Bill Adds Teeth to Stalking Law

Sitting on Gov. Haley Barbour's desk this morning awaiting his signature is a bill designed to give Mississippi's stalking laws some bite. House bill 1309 revises and strengthens the definition …

Keisha Varnell

When Keisha Varnell walks down the hallways of Lanier High School, she remembers what it was like to face peer pressure but admits today's students have it a lot harder. …

The Beerin' O' the Green

This March 17, as Americans once again celebrate a foreign holiday with more gusto than the originating country, Jackson will run amok with green clothing, green food, green clovers, green …

Strangulation, Security and Suffrage

Both chambers of the state Legislature spent the past week considering bills from the opposite chamber. The House amended Senate Bill 2923—a bill that expands domestic assault to include strangulation …

[Pass The Mic] Auto-Tune: A Rant

There once was a local television commercial with cute children singing "This Little Light of Mine." One of the cutest things about children singing is the fact that they are …

Luckett Touts Bio-Fuels, Education at Jackson Forum

Investments in early childhood education and alternative energy can spur Mississippi's economy, Clarksdale attorney and 2011 candidate for governor Bill Luckett said during a speech at Koinonia Coffee House in …