Jackson Free Press

Left Behind: The Reality Bites

First, the good news. Jackson Public Schools announced last week that three schools—George Elementary, Murrah High School and Power APAC Elementary—all reached Level 5 for the 2003-04 school year, which …

WMD Still Embedded in Times Newsroom

Day of Reckoning

The thrice-delayed federal civil-rights trial of Mayor Frank Melton and bodyguard Michael Recio began this week, ending a long process of pre-trial maneuvering.

Alleged Victims

Jackson Family Wants Closure From the Church

The year was 1970, and 11-year-old Francis Morrison lay in his bed in the big house at 771 Belhaven St., listening for heavy footsteps, the covers pulled all the way …

Haley's Shadow Money

Barbour's confidence going into his re-election campaign is formidable. But the former Washington lobbyist and former chairman of the Republican National Committee may not be such a "former" lobbyist after …

Community Events and Public Meetings

Sports League Registrations, at Jackson Medical Mall (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.). The Department of Parks and Recreation is conducting registration for the upcoming season from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays. …

Power APAC Student Exhibit

Public-school systems across the nation are making budget cuts that, in some cases, completely eliminate arts programs, be they large or small. Fortunately, Jackson Public Schools and its Academic and …

Changing the Lobbying Game

Cities will have a more difficult time pulling down federal money in Congress' continuing war on earmarks.

JPS Board Moves Toward New Superintendent

In a special meeting Sunday, the Jackson Public Schools board agreed to employ the Mississippi School Board Association to help in the district's hunt for its next superintendent.

Supreme Court Justice Graves Named to 5th Circuit

President Barack Obama named Mississippi Supreme Court Justice James Graves to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals today.

JFP Registration Announcement

If you have registered for the JFP site recently, please go try your user name and password to see if you've been approved (you may not get an e-mail back …

Church vs. Cars

Belhaven residents are speaking out against First Presbyterian Church's proposed plan to close Pinehurst and Belhaven streets for 30 minutes twice a day to decrease traffic in its part of …

Ryan Adams — "Cold Roses"

Finally, Ryan Adams is back to making good music. Years ago, he was producing albums like "Stranger's Almanac" with Whiskeytown and "Heartbreak" solo, and he was breaking the hearts of …

Gay Speaker Turned Away at Millions More March

Melton Retrial Scheduled For May 11

2009 JFP Interview with Melton, Part I

City Approves Convention Hotel Financing

See the presentation to city council members (PDF, 1.5 MB)

Mississippi's First Embassy Suites Design Option III Opens in Jackson

[Verbatim from Embassy Suites] Memphis, TENN, January 5, 2009- Embassy Suites Hotels today announced the highly anticipated opening of the brand's first Design Option III property, the 145-suite Embassy Suites …

Herman's Picks

This week quality and quantity have got their proverbial jam on in high gear. On Thursday Rufus McKay, R&B/Blues lead vocalist for The Red Tops will perform with the Ben …

OPINION: In 50 Years from Gibbs-Green Deaths to Ahmaud Arbery Killing, White Supremacy Still Lives

Informed by the modern civil rights and Black Power movements, Jackson State University students organized in the 1960s to protest persistent white supremacy in the state and on their campus. …

OPINION: A Pearl of Great Price: The Value of a Flowing Pearl River in Jackson

For fish and turtle species in flowing river habitats, if something happens to their environment—like a dam turning a flowing river into a stagnant lake—they will likely be lost over …