Jackson Free Press

Feds: Melton Jury's Racial Makeup is Not a Factor

Also see: Full JFP Melton Blog/Archive/Trial Documents

Federal prosecutors argued Monday that concerns about racial demographics of the jury pool for Jackson Mayor Frank Melton's upcoming federal re-trial should not factor into the jury selection process.

Senate Removes Pre-K Funding from MAEP Bill

Nancy Loomis from the Parents' Campaign in Jackson reports that the Senate Appropriations Committee passed HB 1677 yesterday, funding Mississippi Adequate Education Program for the coming school year.

Note From A Concerned Citizen

When I arrived at the office one recent morning, an e-mail from a "concerned citizen" was awaiting my eyes in my inbox. In that e-mail, a Jackson resident expressed her …

Melton Faces Cop's Suit

Fresh off an announcement of his re-election campaign, Mayor Frank Melton received two signs last week that his legal woes are not over. Jackson police officer Robert Watts filed a …

Melton Objects To Gulf Coast Jury

Following a federal judge's decision yesterday to hold Mayor Frank Melton's retrial in Jackson, with a jury from the Gulf Coast, Melton has filed a motion to reconsider the ruling. …

MDOC Refusal to Provide Info under Fire

Prison Legal News filed suit in Hinds County Chancery Court yesterday to force the Mississippi Department of Corrections to release a copy of the state's prison telephone contracts, according to …

The 2009 JFP Interview with Frank Melton, Part II: Being Mayor

2009 JFP Interview, Part I

Doris Shavers Killer Pleads Guilty

Henry Lee Phillips pleaded guilty today to murdering his former girlfriend, Doris Shavers, 40, on Sept. 17, 2007, as Shavers combed her 12-year-old daughter's hair before leaving for work. The …

Feds Want Melton Retrial Moved To Gulfport

Federal prosecutors want to move the retrial of Mayor Frank Melton and his bodyguard Michael Recio to the Gulf Coast to avoid intense media scrutiny. In a motion (PDF) filed …

SkyTel Back in the News

The former mayor of Detroit, Kwame Kilpatrick, is demanding $100 million from SkyTel, a company formerly headquartered in Jackson.

Will Senate Allow Stimulus Discussion?

Last week, the Mississippi House passed a resolution to override Gov. Haley Barbour's decision to reject some of the stimulus funds for the state. Barbour has stated that he will …

DNA Preservation Bill Passed

The Mississippi Legislature passed a bill mandating that the state better preserve crime scene DNA evidence and conduct DNA testing on biological evidence.

BREAKING: Faye Peterson: 'I Offer Leadership'

2009 JFP City Election Blog/Archive

Melton Behind on Taxes, Again

Full JFP Melton Archive/Blog Here

2009 JFP Interview with Melton, Part I

Supreme Court Upholds Drug Lawsuit

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of consumers and against drug makers, upholding a $6.7 million award to a musician who had her arm amputated following an injection.

Democratic Candidates Weigh In

Jackson mayoral candidates agreed during a Saturday forum that the current administration was failing to make Jackson all it could be. The forum, hosted by The Young Democrats of Mississippi, …

Deuce McAllister Nissan Files For Bankruptcy

Deuce McAllister Nissan filed for bankruptcy on Tuesday.

Melton Came Within Two Votes of Conviction

Within days of coming within two votes of going to federal prison, Mayor Frank Melton revealed to the Jackson Free Press last Thursday for the first time publicly that he …

Whitlow to Announce Candidacy

Rick Whitlow, former sports director and anchor at WJTV, will formerly announce his intention to run for mayor of Jackson tonight.

Law on Call

Last summer, Jackson attorneys Tim Porter and Rocky Wilkins came up with the idea for "Law Call," a live call-in show that premiered on WLBT Feb. 7.