Jackson Free Press

AG Fitch Backs Away from Releasing More Pretrial Detainees in Wake of COVID-19

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch is backing away from an effort to release pretrial detainees sooner to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Mississippi jails, where it is virtually impossible …

Mississippi Immigrants: Organize Against ‘Atrocities’

"Get out of our country, you don't belong!" When Melinda Medina hears those words, she feels sad for the person targeting her as a Hispanic woman who descends from a …

Kavanaugh 'Lied Under Oath' About Pickering, Former U.S. Senator Says

As U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh struggles amid allegations of sexual misconduct, newly released emails bolster claims that he misled U.S. senators in 2006 while testifying under oath about …

Candidate Questionnaire: Howard Sherman

Howard Sherman, an investor and husband to actress Sela Ward, is running as a Democrat in the crowded primary for Sen. Roger Wicker’s seat.

OPINION: The More You Know: What’s Really In the Tax Bills Before Congress

This past week, House and Senate action on tax reform added fuel to an already seemingly out-of-control fire.

Local Ho-Ho Holidays

This holiday season, many local restaurants and businesses can help any Jacksonians who are looking for help with preparations.

Teachers to 'Jump Through Hoops' for Pay Raise?

Another marathon debate session in the Mississippi House of Representatives ended with the 86-26 passage of a bill to increase teacher salaries by about $4,250 over four years.

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U.S. Network to Scan Workers with Secret Clearances

U.S. intelligence officials are planning a sweeping system of electronic monitoring that would tap into government, financial and other databases to scan the behavior of many of the 5 million …

Juvenile Crime: Identify the Problem

It may not be your fault, but it is your problem. It's our problem. And so far, solving problems seems to be pretty much our saving grace as a species—which …

Stokes to Circulate Police-chase Petition in Response to DOJ Letter

During a community meeting at Cornerstone Baptist Church Wednesday night, Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes and citizens decided to circulate a petition in response to a letter from the U.S. …

HB 1523: Bad for the Business Sector

Roy Decker felt the financial consequences of House Bill 1523. Decker, a Jackson developer and architect, says a potential investor pulled out of a project earlier this year, largely because …

Let’s Talk About Violence, Then Take Action

It's a problem when all cops are stereotyped, but it's also wrong that more law enforcement won't speak out publicly like that about bad cops and, too often, will defend …

Some Parents Left Behind on Child Care

Deloris Suel knows and works with employed parents who can no longer receive financial support for child care due to clerical reasons like not having the same address on their …

Mayor Yarber, Socrates Garrett Address Contracting Dispute, 'Steering'

Mayor Tony Yarber and his administration recently became defendants in another sexual-harassment lawsuit, this time saddled with charges of steering city contracts to campaign supporters.

Shifting the Power to Regulate Nurses, Barbers, More

Melony Armstrong did not want to cut hair; she wanted to braid hair in her own shop. She believed that the time and money spent on beauty school would be …

The Comeback: Adult Education on the Rise

Former famed attorney Richard "Dickie" Scruggs says he found purpose in prison by helping educate his fellow inmates. In federal prisons, any inmate without a high-school equivalency diploma is required …

How State Agencies Dance with Privatization

Mississippi children living in poverty may be among the neediest in America, but last year the State of Mississippi did not allocate $35 million earmarked to help poor families in …

Buying Justice: ‘Dark Money’ in Judicial Elections

The "dark money" that poured into the state in order to defeat incumbent Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Jim Kitchens did not pay off this election cycle, as he defeated his …

Donald Trump’s Most Vicious Lie, Yet?

It's a tough contest, but Donald Trump just spread his most poisonous lie yet in his race to become the fuehrer of the 21st century.

The Rough Road to Reproductive Health Care

Regardless of the state's appeal of the JWHO case, the fight for reproductive health in Mississippi will continue in the Mississippi Legislature.