Jackson Free Press

Private Prison on Trial: Inmates at ‘Bleak’ Facility Tell Harrowing Stories

Merlin Hill was one of 19 inmates who testified during the five-week class-action trial against the Mississippi Department of Corrections for what they describe as appalling conditions at the privately …

All Time Favorite Melton Moment

Its the one where Melton pulls over four school buses so he can touch the children.

Okay, this piece in the Clarion Ledger is now officially my "all time favorite Melton moment".

Frank Melton is No Barack Obama

It's déjà vu all over again. Four years ago this week, I was writing a column calling for—no, begging—Jacksonians not to vote for Frank Melton as mayor in the Democratic …

Melton Mismanagement Hits the 'Bottom Line

This week, city officials finally handed in their budget revisions to the City Council, detailing cuts that will be made to city departments in order to reconcile a nearly $4 …

Chief Alleges, Then Backpedals

After the Jackson Free Press broke news about an April 17 ComStat report last Tuesday, May 9, Police Chief Shirlene Anderson and Mayor Frank Melton went into damage-control mode.

Look At All These Rumors

As the JFP goes to press, the city is awash in rumors about what is going to happen next to Mayor Frank Melton and friends. Some are more credible than …

Of Melton's Health and 'Failures'

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton called his administration's work on lowering the crime rate in the city a "failure" twice during a Dec. 30 press conference, but followed up each confession …

Best of Jackson: Household 2019

When you have a house, sometimes things break or malfunction. That's where this year's 2019 Best of Jackson Household pop-up ballot winners come in. No matter what the repair is, …

A ‘Gang,’ By Any Other Name

The word "gang" means different things to different people—and the realities of organized gangs in U.S. cities have shifted over the years. One result is that many of them are …

No Wine-ing: 2016 Wine Tasting

It's spring time, so that means it's time for the Jackson Free Press' second annual wine tasting.

Hood: Judge Tate Reeves for 'Rebel Flags,' Not Frat's College Blackface

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood "did all kinds of stupid things in college," but he is "sure" wearing blackface is not one of them, he told a crowd in Jackson …

Melton's First Year: Sex, Lies and Videotape

Visit the JFP's MeltonBlog/Archive here.

Day 3: Police Officers Testify

Two police officers testified for the defense this morning. First was Sharon Gray, a 27 year veteran of the force who has spent the last five years as a records …

[Balko] SWAT Gone Wild

In pushing back against the abuse he suffered at the hands of the Prince George's County police department, Berwyn Heights, Md. Mayor Cheye Calvo is helping expose a more widespread …

Lose the Residency Requirements

Jackson's City Council is considering extending the residency requirements of fire and police employees to an area 30 miles beyond the city of Jackson. City ordinance currently demands that city …

Community Events and Public Meetings

Free Tax Counseling and Filing. Bring all necessary documents. Joint filers must come together. Free.

Jimmy ‘Kingfish' Hendrix Running for Judge, After All

It looks like James "Jimmy" Hendrix aka Kingfish aka Jackson Jambalaya is in the race for Hinds County Justice Court Judge for District 1, after all. Hendrix, a Republican who …

He Fired a 9mm and They Didn't Check His Background?!?

What!?! Just because a man is a "homeowner" firing at apparent "thugs" with his semiautomatic, the JPD doesn't check his background? Good Lord. There goes another Clarion-Ledger front-page hero.

Louisiana 'Heartbeat Bill' Relies on Mississippi Taxpayers' Legal Defense

The Louisiana Senate passed a six-week abortion ban modeled after the one Mississippi passed in March, but with one caveat: If the Louisiana one becomes law, it will not go …

Amid Hotel Flap, Fondren Labeled a Top ‘Endangered Historic Place’ in State

Fondren is now on the list of the “10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi," just as developers of a new hotel anger neighbors for demolishing the house the neighborhood …