Jackson Free Press

BREAKING: Supreme Court Dismisses Melton Appeal

The Mississippi Supreme Court has rejected an appeal filed this morning by Mayor Frank Melton.

The

Unholstered: A Greenwood Family Fights For Its Rights

The bell rang for fifth period at Greenwood High School, and James Marshall walked to class. The 17-year-old wore his throwback Dave Wilcox jersey that his mom had bought him, …

Melton and Bodyguards Arraigned; No Guns or Alcohol

Mayor Frank Melton and his two bodyguards, Michael Recio and Marcus Wright, were arraigned in a packed federal courtroom in downtown Jackson before U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda Anderson today at …

UPDATED: Suspect Arrested in 1992 Murder of Toddler

Updated with new information

[verbatim from AG's office] Jackson, MS-Attorney General Jim Hood today confirmed that an arrest has been made in the 16-year-old murder of a 3-year-old girl in Noxubee County. Albert Johnson …

UPDATED: Melton Denies Former Bodyguard's Allegations

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton addressed reporters Thursday morning condemning the testimony of his former bodyguard Marcus Wright. Melton's statement prompted Judge Daniel Jordan to issue a gag order on the …

Conservative Agenda Fueling Medicaid Numbers?

Republican governors in states including Mississippi and Nebraska may be using inflated cost figures for Medicaid in order to help a movement to roll back recent health-care reform.

Community Events and Public Meetings

5 p.m., America Reads-Mississippi Member Recruitment at Jackson State University (1400 John R. Lynch St.), at the Sally M. Barksdale Educational Resource Center. ARM members tutor full-time during the school …

Photog-in-Residence: Christina Cannon

"I'm not a formal photographer at all,so when people hire me, I let them know that up –front. I'm flexible, and that makes the work fulfilling for me. I like …

Council to Pay $50K in Ridgeway Fees?

Attorneys for Jackson police detectives Michael Recio and Marcus Wright are asking for $50,000 in compensation from the city, according to Councilman Leslie McLemore.

High Court Poised to Upend Civil Rights Policies

Has the nation lived down its history of racism and should the law become colorblind? Addressing two pivotal legal issues, one on affirmative action and a second on voting rights, …

Till Marker Pic Shows 'Little Progress' in State, Lawmaker Says

When a trio of male students from the University of Mississippi posed with rifles next to a bullet-ridden Emmett Till memorial marker, they were representing an unfortunate truth about racism …

Judge: Mississippi Violates Civil Rights of Those With Mental Illness

Mississippi must make sweeping changes to its mental-health system so that people with severe mental illness have access to treatment in their own communities rather than being unnecessarily institutionalized in …

Lumumba on Defense: JPD Rape Claims, Suicide a 'Human Tragedy'

Jackson Police Chief James Davis was four words into answering a press question about whether he had any regrets for his handling of sexual-assault allegations against an officer when Mayor …

Reversing 'Roe'; Outside Group Uses Mississippi as 'Bait' to End Abortion

The State of Mississippi's Republican legislative leadership may have just decided to end all abortions after 15 weeks, but they used a template developed outside the state. The legislation is …

Moving Beyond Suspension: Changing the Discipline Climate in Jackson Schools

JPS administrators recognize that out-of-school suspension is not the way to change school climates district-wide, and Margrit Wallace, the JPS chief academic officer in the student academic and behavioral support …

McDaniel's New PAC: The Next Generation

With hopes of bringing together multiple factions throughout the state in the wake of a divisive Senate race, state Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville, recently announced his new political action committee, …

Wife Says Pickering's Affair Ended Career, Two Marriages

Leisha Jane Pickering, estranged wife of former Republican U.S. Rep. Charles "Chip" Pickering, filed a complaint in Hinds County Circuit Court this morning against Elizabeth Creekmore-Byrd for alienation of affection. …

BREAKING: Wade Files for Melton Removal

WJNT radio host Kim Wade has filed a petition for removal (PDF, 270 KB) against Mayor Frank Melton with the circuit clerk's office, Wade confirmed to the Jackson Free Press …

DISH with Ben Allen

Before the holidays, Council President Ben Allen set out a number of goals he said City Council would pursue in January, with the hope of making substantial progress by February. …

Judge Lays Down Law

Hinds County Circuit Judge Tomie Green threatened attorneys with $2,500 fines in the Ridgeway case involving Mayor Frank Melton and Jackson Police Department detectives Michael Recio and Marcus Wright on …