Jackson Free Press

UPDATED: Obama Counter-Offers on Fiscal Cliff: Raise Taxes on Earnings over $400k

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has proposed a deficit-reduction package to House Speaker John Boehner that would increase the top tax rates on taxpayers earning more than $400,000, cut …

Obit: Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, Dead at Age 88

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, the influential Democrat who broke racial barriers on Capitol Hill and played key roles in congressional investigations of the Watergate and Iran-Contra …

Community Events and Public Meetings

The Scholastic Writing Awards Call for Submissions is all through today at Eudora Welty House at the Eudora Welty Education and Visitors Center.

Movement Seen in 'Fiscal Cliff' Talks

The White House and congressional Republicans are a long way from agreeing on a plan to deal with the "fiscal cliff." But it seems like some progress is being made.

Big Price for Inaugural Pomp; Much Private Money

The pomp surrounding the inauguration of the president of the United States can carry a hefty price tag, from the glitzy galas to all those inaugural balls.

Gun-Control Debate Simmering After Massacre

Democrats say meaningful action must include a ban on military-style assault weapons and a look at how the nation deals with mental illness.

Saturday Update: Newtown Mourns Deaths, Celebrates Heroism as Police Look for Answers

NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — Investigators tried to figure out what led a bright but painfully awkward 20-year-old to slaughter 26 children and adults at a Connecticut elementary school, while townspeople …

Gas Prices Headed to Lowest This Year; Predicted to Stay Low in 2014

Gas prices will soon drop to their lowest level of the year.

UPDATED: International Leaders Express Sympathy in Connecticut Shooting, Question Gun Access in U.S.

LONDON (AP) — As the world joined Americans in mourning the school massacre in Connecticut, many urged U.S. politicians to honor the 28 victims, especially the children, by pushing for …

Pentagon to Send Missiles, 400 Troops to Turkey

The U.S. will send two batteries of Patriot missiles and 400 troops to Turkey as part of a NATO force meant to protect Turkish territory from potential Syrian missile attack, …

Senate Takes Step Toward Banning Stalking Software

A loophole that permits software companies to sell cyberstalking apps that operate secretly on cellphones could soon be closed by Congress. The software is popular among jealous wives or husbands …

Senate Legislation Targets Cyberstalking Software

For around $50, a jealous wife or husband can download software that can continuously track the whereabouts of a spouse better than any private detective.

Elevator Muzak

“Playing for Keeps” is a blasé work spiked with trifling comic bits and smoothed out with a mellow dilemma that works to limp the film to a predestined conclusion of …

Library Lounge

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of the library. As soon as I was old enough, I got my library card, and trips to check out books became a …

Blurry Memories

“Stand behind the keg and catch my legs,” she said

Rebel On The Exchange

Mississippi's insurance commissioner has no qualms about bucking his party.

Breaking: A Serious Discussion in D.C.

Donna Ladd and I had the good fortune to attend a meeting a few weeks ago at the White House as part of their initiative to reach out to small …

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It's All About the Book

The real caretakers of the literary ecology are independent bookstores, and two of the country's most respected are in Mississippi: Lemuria Books in Jackson and Square Books in Oxford.

Obama's Fiscal Cliff Strategy is Tricky Balance

Playing both sides, President Barack Obama is trying to balance his public pressure campaign on Republicans over the looming "fiscal cliff" with his private negotiations with GOP leaders.

Unions Flip to Support Kemper in Exchange for Jobs

Mississippi Power Co.'s contractors have agreed to hire about 1,000 labor union members to build its Kemper County power plant, and a group of unions says it now supports the …