Jackson Free Press

MAEP Gets Slight Boost in Draft Budget

Mississippi legislators are working on early proposals to fund state government during the year that begins July 1.

When Art Meets Food

Food trucks are an up-and-coming trend in Jackson, but local food-truck owners Deandrea and Omario Moore of 2 for 7 Kitchen want to change more than just the cuisine scene. …

JSU Scrambles for Housing with High Enrollment Numbers

Jackson State University's growth is taking place so rapidly that the school was caught off guard this year by the number of students wanting to study there.

Water Utilities Sue Over Domestic Violence Rule

The Mississippi Rural Water Association has sued the state Public Service Commission in federal court, claiming the commission overstepped its authority and conflicted with federal law when it required a …

Jody E. Owens II

Jody E. Owens II, who has worked with the SPLC since January 2011, seems like a natural if not overdue choice to receive the Beth Arnovits Gutsy Advocate for Youth …

Detroit's Historic Bankruptcy Trial Begins

Opening statements in Detroit's historic bankruptcy trial began Tuesday afternoon in federal court, where lawyers for the city will attempt to convince a judge that its plans to wipe out …

William Waller Jr.

Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice William Waller Jr. announced Friday that he will retire from the bench Jan. 31.

US Court Won't Reopen Lawsuit About Confederate-Themed Flag

A federal appeals court is not reviving a lawsuit that tried to block a Mississippi city from flying the state flag that includes the Confederate battle emblem.

Eminent Domain: ‘Taking' Too Much?

In 2001, Nissan was preparing to come to Canton, and Lonzo Archie's home stood in the way of a new factory. The state, eager to bring in the factory's jobs …

More to Graham Investigation?

Charles Carter, president of the National Emergency Communications Institute, says that there is more to state Auditor Stacey Pickering's investigation of Hinds County Supervisor Robert Graham than the state has …

[Public Eye] Sunshine in the 2010 Forecast?

Although we're still mired in winter, the new year has brought a couple rays of sunshine: some promising developments in government transparency.

Committee Says Melton ‘Boldly Lied'

Jackson Attorney Dorsey Carson, who represents the Jackson Democratic Executive Committee, is arguing in a March 24, position statement in Hinds County Circuit Court that the committee had the right …

Oral arguments in City of Jackson v. Byram Incorporators Today

[Verbatim announcement] At 10 a.m. on Monday, January 12, 2009, the Mississippi Supreme Court will sit en banc to hear oral arguments in the case of the City of Jackson …

Officer Sues Melton, City for Retaliation

Jackson Police Officer Robert Watts filed a notice of intent to sue (PDF) the city Monday. Watts claims Jackson Mayor Frank Melton arranged to have him transferred to a different …

News Bits: The Jackson Mayor's Race

Harper Withdraws, Leaving 11 Democrats for the Primary

Joyce Harper, one of 12 Democratic candidates who filed for the mayor's job in Jackson, has withdrawn from the race, lending her endorsement to incumbent Mayor Frank Melton, according to …

The Lawyers and the Statistician

Day three of the Michael Ellis termination hearing resumed on Wednesday, Feb. 14, with Ellis' attorney Lisa Ross concluding her cross-examination of Charlie Bonds, Jackson Public Schools executive director of …

Unemployment Nears 24 Percent in Some Counties

Five Mississippi counties reported jobless rates exceeding 20 percent in February, with Noxubee and Holmes counties edging toward a quarter of their populations collecting unemployment benefits; the counties reported rates …

Mayor Hypes Restarted Housing Project

Tucked into Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr.'s July 7 State of the City address was the news that a 26.7-acre housing development previously held up by a lawsuit is now back …

No 'Oversight' Costing City

The Jackson City Council learned during a Tuesday budget meeting that the city has very little oversight on numerous municipal transactions, which is costing the city revenue and could ultimately …

snark >:-(

As if having charges dropped against the woman who allegedly stayed in the house with their beaten-to-death young relative wasn't bad enough, the family of Heather Spencer was hit with …