Jackson Free Press

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.

• 1 comment

Byrom Execution This Week Unlikely

With the Mississippi State Supreme Court considering appeals from death-row prisoner Michelle Byrom, it's unlikely that the state could schedule the woman's execution in time for the date Attorney General …

Black Preschoolers More Likely to Face Suspension

Black students are more likely to be suspended from U.S. public schools—even as tiny preschoolers.

Miss. Legislators OK Final Version of Justice Bill

Legislation to make Mississippi's criminal justice system more efficient and less expensive won final approval Thursday from state lawmakers.

Deep South Dems Mount Comeback with Familiar Names

Democrats in the conservative Deep South are looking to recapture some old political magic in the 2014 elections.

• 1 comment

Hobby Lobby Wages War on Birth Control

The Green family is headed to Washington, D.C., for its day in court—the U.S. Supreme Court.

• 2 comments

War of Words Begins in Mayor’s Contest

When the robots begin calling, you know the race has begun. Before she announced that she had indeed decided to seek the mayor's office, Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon was …

Malaysia: Files Were Deleted from Flight Simulator

Investigators are trying to restore files deleted last month from the home flight simulator of the pilot aboard the missing Malaysian plane to see if they shed any light on …

Miss. House Approves Criminal Justice Changes

A bill that proposes several changes to Mississippi's criminal justice system is moving closer to Gov. Phil Bryant's desk.

Miss. Lawmakers Moving Toward Budget Negotiations

Mississippi lawmakers are moving closer to final negotiations on a $6 billion state budget for the year that begins July 1.

Mayoral Candidates Announce, Campaign Chicanery Follows

In announcing his plans to seek the mayor's office this week, Sen. John Horhn touted two decades worth of his legislative accomplishments.

• 2 comments

Miss. House Keeps Religious Practices Bill Alive

Mississippi House members want to study a much-disputed religious practices bill, keeping it alive for possible further action.

Miss. Senate Passes Amended 20-week Abortion Ban

Mississippi House and Senate members must work out differences on a bill to ban abortion after 20 weeks' gestation.

U.S. Network to Scan Workers with Secret Clearances

U.S. intelligence officials are planning a sweeping system of electronic monitoring that would tap into government, financial and other databases to scan the behavior of many of the 5 million …

We’re Going to the Chapel

Brandon Herd and his new wife, Madelyn, skipped town and went to Memphis to get married.

Jackson Tragedy: The RNA, Revisited

It's hard to have a conversation with just about anyone about Chokwe Lumumba without hearing "RNA" at least once.

• 1 comment

At Youth Jail, a Question of Progress

Two years after a federal consent decree and a lawsuit against the Hinds County Board of Supervisors over abuse that D.I. and other children say they suffered at the Hinds …

Money Ain’t a Thing

After years of underfunding public education in Mississippi, teachers are finally getting some love from the state Legislature.

Ky. to Use Outside Counsel in Gay-Marriage Case

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said Tuesday that the state will hire outside attorneys to appeal a decision granting legal recognition to same-sex couples married in other states and countries after …

County, SPLC Disagree on Youth Jail Fixes

Hinds County officials and attorneys for children detained at the county's Henley-Young Juvenile Justice Center are again at odds over how much improvement has taken place at the youth jail …