Jackson Free Press

Keep Up the Reform Momentum

Former Gov. Haley Barbour's unprecedented spate of last-minute pardons brought numerous issues regarding some of Mississippi's antiquated customs into the glaring light of national media attention.

[Stiggers] Numbed by Nonsense

Boneqweesha Jones: "Welcome to this special 2012 edition of 'Qweesha Live and Direct' on Ghetto Science Public Television. It's a new year of promise, potential and hope for the Ghetto …

[Kamikaze] Politics, as Usual

We are a nation of extremes. And as we've been inundated with debate after debate in this Republican primary season, it has been even more prevalent. I watched as Republicans …

Ward 3 Election Update

A week away from the Jan. 25 deadline to qualify for the election to fill the Ward 3 City Council seat, it looks like eight candidates intend to run. Here …

[Barkley] Act on Your Beliefs, Guv

Forgiveness and second chances should be the cornerstones of our criminal-justice and correctional systems in Mississippi.

Pushing Kids Out

Feeding the 'Cradle-to-Prison' Pipeline

Drodriquez Williams watched the news that night about the twin towers at the World Trade Center collapsing Sept. 11, 2001. It shocked the 9-year-old boy. Every time he saw the …

‘It Can Be in Ward 3'

Jackson needs more investment in businesses and needs it quick. That's how Albert Wilson, who is running for the Ward 3 City Council seat, thinks the city can boost both …

Jewish Film Fest: Best of the Best

Michael Steiner screened about three dozen films for the upcoming Jewish Cinema Mississippi 2012 film festival. As co-chairman of the January event, he and the other screening committee members narrowed …

Walking the Thin Purple Line

"Carnage," based on the Tony award-winning play "God of Carnage" ("Le Dieu du Carnage") by French dramatist Yasmina Rez, explores civility, savagery and vomiting on art books. The movie opens …

Welcome to the Terrordome

Just before the Senate convened on Monday, a young lawmaker tried to jam a fistful of blue and white pieces of paper into an already overstuffed bill box.

deborah Rae Wright

deborah Rae Wright, who doesn't capitalize her first name, has lived in an early 20th-century home on west Jackson's Grand Avenue for 11 years. The 59-year-old lives with her current …

Stuart Irby Found Dead

Jackson businessman Stuart M. Irby, 58, died last night of an apparent suicide.

WLBT reports that Irby's caretaker found him hanging in his home at about 8 p.m. Police do not suspect foul play.

MDOC Handbook: No Killers in Guv's Mansion

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood will ask a circuit court judge on Jan. 23 to invalidate the pardons of at least 10 felons whom ex-Gov. Haley Barbour granted clemency before …

Elections Flap Results in New Voting Machines

Jimmie Lewis got fired today. About 20 minutes later, the Hinds County emergency operations director got his job back.

Lowest Tax Burden

Mississippi residents have the lowest tax burden in the nation. Mississippi Development Authority was quick to spread this news.

Shirley Williams

Shirley Williams, executive director of the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project, is preparing her organization to face a 31 percent funding reduction in 2012 after Congress recently voted to reduce funding …

Criminalizing Kids for Being Kids

Just as I'm finishing a story on the harm zero-tolerance policies have done to school children, I hear that Sen. Sampson Jackson II has introduced a bill in the Legislature …

Dems React to Pardongate

Haley Barbour's granting clemency to more than 200 people precipitated so much fallout that there's now fallout to the fallout.

Growing MLK's Community

In an empty lot next to a BP gas station on Northside Drive, Erika Roberts pointed to a few tall twigs poking out of the muddy ground, almost indistinguishable from …

John W. Franklin

For 24 years, John W. Franklin has worked to preserve African American history at the Smithsonian Institution. Last week, Jackson State University's Margaret Walker Center honored John W. Franklin with …