Jackson Free Press

Walnut Grove Prison is Officially Closed

The Walnut Grove Correctional Facility in Leake County closed today after years of allegations of sexual abuse, illicit drugs and physical abuse of inmates by correctional officers, which eventually led …

Hazel Brannon Smith, Crusading Journalist and 'Scalawag'

Durant native and author Jeff Howell recalls his 13-year-old self discovering African American basketball player Walt Frazier in his library's red, white and blue 1976 edition of the "World Book."

City to Consider Declaring Civil Emergency Over Lead

The City of Jackson might declare a state of civil emergency tomorrow morning during a special session of the city council.

Rep. Moore: Plans to Cut Mississippi School Districts from 148 to Less Than 50

Mississippi would be on the road to 50 or fewer school districts, a new public-education funding formula and more charter schools under legislation the House Education Committee members approved Friday …

EasyKale, Canopy Center of Excellence and Shrimp Basket Ridgeland

Foodboro, an online community for food and beverage startups and entrepreneurs, recently named Jackson-based EasyKale as Mississippi's representative on a list of must-watch startup companies in all 50 states.

Mississippi COVID-19 Death Rates Highest In U.S.; Booster Shots Available for Many

Even as Mississippi’s COVID-19 infection rates are beginning to slightly decrease from the midsummer high, the state now leads not only the country but almost the entire world in deaths …

MSDH Reports First Pediatric Flu Death of the Season

Mississippi saw its first seasonal pediatric death to influenza this week, ahead of what may hold to be a harsher flu season than 2020.

Secretary of State Kicks Watkins; Watkins Alleges Republican Politics

The secretary of state says David Watkins misused bond money; Watkins says it's all about politics.

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Saturday, March 28: COVID-19 Cases in 71 Mississippi Counties, Total 663 with 13 Deaths

Today’s coronavirus numbers are in for Mississippi, leaving very few counties on the map in white, denoting which of our 82 counties do not yet have an official confirmed case. …

Summer Fun

No summer is complete without weekends full of grilling with family, lounging by the pool, playing games with friends and lots of margarita-induced laughing.

College World Series: Polk Comes Out Swinging

On the eve of Mississippi State's first College World Series game since 1998, Bulldogs coach Ron Polk traded verbal jabs with the NCAA over new academic rules. The Bulldogs play …

Go, Rush, Go

The Associated Press reports: "New ESPN commentator Rush Limbaugh said on the network's pregame show that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was overrated because the media wanted to see a …

Patsies and Parcells

The NFL playoffs resume on Saturday which makes this a perfect time to read Charles P. Pierce's essay on the myth of the tough Boston sports fans and Mike Shropshire's …

Kicked To The Curb

Folks, when Dr. S says you're going to lose your job, you had better start packing the boxes. So long, JSU football coach Robert Hughes, not that you will be …

Scooby-Do, How Do You Do It, Dog?

Doctor S wants to take a moment out from the pressing issues of the sports world to ask: How the hell did Scooby-Do become the most popular TV cartoon in …

Get Your Tickets Early

Warm up for this fall's Women's World Cup (moved from China to the USA due to the SARS epidemic in Asia) by watching the American women play Brazil in a …

NFL Says Gay OK

Good news, the NFL will now allow the word "gay" to put on the back of personalized jerseys sold by the league's online shop, the New York Daily News reports. …

SWAC Tournament: JSU teams advance

Freshman Grant Maxey scores 22 points to lead Jackson State to a 74-65 victory in the SWAC Tournament. The second-seeded Tigers advance to Friday's semifinals.

Former NFLer Killed In Afghanistan

Pat Tillman, who left the NFL in the prime of his career (and gave up $3.6 million) to become an Army Ranger, was killed in a firefight in Afghanistan. He …

Mississippi ToyCon 2021

Classic toy vendors from across Mississippi and beyond gathered for the second annual Mississippi Toycon, which took place on Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Pearl Community Center.