Jackson Free Press

JUST IN MONDAY: Key Witness Turns Self in to Melton

Monday, 9:30 p.m.: According to Mayor Frank Melton tonight, Christopher "Smiley" Walker turned himself into the mayor tonight and is now in custody. Melton refuses to publicly disclose Walker's whereabouts, …

UPDATED: ‘Batman' and Gang Acquitted

Alleged Wood Street Players gang members Albert "Batman" Donelson, Terrell Donelson and James Benton were acquitted on charges that Albert Donelson ordered the murder of Aaron Crockett on May 10, …

Is Tom Delay relevant to the ‘06 election?

Batman and Melton Return

A showdown of sorts between District Attorney Faye Peterson and Mayor Frank Melton occurred on Monday in Circuit Court Judge Bobby DeLaughter's courtroom, during motions in the trial of alleged …

Training Schools Flunk

Students are prescribed anti-psychotic medication at 16 times the number of diagnoses, and mental health evaluation and counseling remain "grossly inadequate." These are but a few of the many ongoing …

Mississippi: Stop Honoring White Supremacists

There's an ongoing debate over whether to recommission the Jackson-Evers International Airport as the Medgar Evers International Airport, but I'm more worried about the names that we're already commemorating.

Now Online—The JFP Interview with Frank Melton

The wait is over. Almost. Frank Melton's JFP Interview. Part I.

Melton: Please Stop Lawsuit

This Tuesday, Mayor Frank Melton filed an emergency petition to appeal a ruling by Lauderdale County Circuit Court Judge Robert Bailey in striking his defense in a defamation lawsuit filed …

Titties On Trial

Attorneys for a topless bar argued in federal court this week that the city of Jackson illegally closed Babes in early March. Local attorney Chris Ganner and Tampa, Fla., attorney …

Another Nod To Big Tobacco

Former tobacco lobbyist Gov. Haley Barbour announced March 27 that he was vetoing a bill to provide $20 million a year to The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi, an anti-smoking …

Clarion-Ledger Whining About ‘Tort Reform' ... Again

Gov. Haley Barbour's media partner in "tort reform" is now whining about Mississippi's position on the U.S. Chamber's state legal climate ranking, now asking the question they should have asked …

Abortion Ban Attempt Dies in Conference

More details as they develop ...

Tonight, the 8 p.m. bill deadline came and went at the Mississippi Legislature without an agreement out of conference. Thus, the abortion ban bill died.

Barbour Vetoes ‘Partnership' Bill

GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE FOR HOUSE BILL 1115 -March 27, 2006-

I am returning House Bill 1115: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-13-403, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS IN THE HEALTH CARE TRUST FUND LAW; TO AMEND SECTION …

The King Gets Another Reprieve

In the nick of time, the Mississippi Senate approved an amendment this week that would provide a $2 million interest-free loan to the Jackson Redevelopment Authority to fund environmental cleanup …

It's Just That Serious

Fontaine, self-proclaimed "narrator for the streets," lays down all of his vocals to tracks produced by E (also his manager) and Benz of the Queen Boyz, in a studio inside …

Link Lost in 'Illegal' Limbo

The Mississippi Link is suing Jackson Mayor Frank Melton and City Council members who voted against a recent veto override. Last month, the council failed to override a veto from …

Diocese Settles with 'Alleged Victims'

After many years of pain, suffering and litigation, 19 victims of priest sexual abuse are seeing some degree of closure in their fight with the Catholic Diocese of Jackson.

Are we getting the boot camp thing yet?

I found this article concerning the death of a Florida boy at one of the state's boot camps. Surveillance cameras show the boy was beaten to death by staff at …

Plight Worsens for Black Men

The New York Times is reporting:

Mary Johnson: Where's My House?

The Clarion-Ledger had a good story yesterday about Mary Johnson, to whom Frank Melton promised a new house if she would tear down her old one. The problem, of course, …