Jackson Free Press

Lawsuit: Mental Health Facility Negligent

A woman has filed a federal lawsuit claiming a central Mississippi mental health facility failed to protect her 11-year-old son from being sexually abused by a nurse while he was …

Relative: Mandela Signer in Group that Burned Men

The bogus sign language interpreter at last week's Nelson Mandela memorial service was among a group of people who accosted two men found with a stolen television and burned them …

28-Year Sentence in Ohio in $100M Charity Scam

A judge handed down a 28-year prison sentence Monday to a man convicted of masterminding a $100 million, cross-country Navy veterans charity fraud.

Gray to Bus Drivers: Wait 'Til Next Year

More than a hundred Jackson Public Schools bus drivers met with District Superintendent Cedrick Gray Friday morning at Powell Middle School.

Huge Crowds Gather in Hopes of Seeing Mandela Body

It was easy to see the thousands of people who had been turned away Friday in their bid to say farewell to Nelson Mandela—they were the ones fighting back tears …

DA Smith Should Recuse from Thomas Killing

Both the DA and Jackson police seem to be assuming that the killing would fall under the state's Castle Doctrine, but it is entirely unclear whether a grand jury would …

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Health Care Signups Pick Up Pace in November

Playing catch-up with a long way to go, President Barack Obama's new health insurance markets last month picked up the dismal pace of signups, the administration reported Wednesday.

Mandela Ceremony Interpreter Called a 'Fake'

A man who appeared to provide sign language interpretation on stage for Nelson Mandela's memorial service, attended by scores of heads of state, was a "fake," the national director of …

Bipartisan Negotiators Seek Modest Budget Pact

Republican and Democratic negotiators reached out for a budget agreement Tuesday to reduce automatic spending cuts aimed at programs ranging from parks to the Pentagon, risking a backlash from liberals …

Voter ID First Tested in GOP Primary

Despite opposition from Democratic-leaning groups who say laws requiring voter ID could keep minorities, young people and college students away from polls, Mississippi's voter ID law will first be tested …

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Miss. Trying to Educate People About Voter ID Law

Mississippi's top elections official is launching a publicity blitz to bring attention to the state's voter identification law that's scheduled to be used for the first time in June.

HUD Finally Stirs on Housing Discrimination

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has accused Dallas, one of the nation's largest cities, of violating civil rights law through housing practices that discriminated against black, Latino …

10 Local Stories of the Week

There's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them.

With Three Weeks Left, Consumers Fear They May End Up Without Health Coverage on New Year’s Day

The next three weeks are critical for consumers keen on getting health coverage as soon as the health law allows it on Jan. 1.

Rethink ‘Family Values’

A Mississippi judge won't let Hernando resident Lauren Beth Czekala-Chatham get a divorce from the woman she married in San Francisco in 2008, nor is she getting any help from …

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No Fingerprinting for City Program?

The 4-2 vote the city took last week to enact fingerprint scanning for the city's child-care programs might have been a little premature, following revelations that a previously filed injunction …

Strain Over Security Zone Evident in Biden Talks

In a sharp rebuff, China accused Washington on Wednesday of taking Japan's side in a tense clash over disputed islands in the East China Sea, underscoring rising regional friction as …

A Look at the Next Steps in Detroit's Bankruptcy

A judge's decision to allow Detroit to fix its finances in bankruptcy court raises a flurry of questions about what happens next.

U.S. Voices Solidarity with Japan on China Air Spat

Seeking to soothe an anxious ally, the U.S. voiced solidarity with Japan on Tuesday against China's claim to airspace over disputed islands, vowing not to tolerate the aggressive move as …

Thai Protests Ease as Police Lift Key Barricades

The political crisis that has engulfed Thailand's capital for more than a week eased suddenly Tuesday after the prime minister ordered police to stop battling anti-government protesters.