Jackson Free Press

Reforming Criminal Justice: Is Mississippi Making Progress?

The Mississippi Reentry Council has been working to make it easier for inmates to find jobs and re-acclimate to life free from bars. U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett says the …

[Kamikaze] Relax, And Hire Young

Without thrusting myself into the political fray, I must say that Ward 4 Councilman Frank Bluntson and Ward 5 Councilman Charles Tillman were dead-on last week in response to Mayor …

Don't Let Stokes Stop Progress

Livingston Village rode in on the violent tendrils of Hurricane Katrina. It's one of those once-in-a-century opportunities made possible through astounding tax credits from the federal government, but the federal …

Fighting Crime: What's The Plan?

Also: Darren Schwindaman's editorial cartoon

Clinton: Fight, or Find Something Else to Do

City Ends Precinct-by-Precinct Crime Stats

Not that it made the front page as any story about the previous administration and crime stats used to, but The Clarion-Ledger has a story today about how the new …

Donna Ladd Subpoenaed

Today, Jackson Free Press Editor-in-Chief Donna Ladd was subpoenaed by the attorney general's office to appear in the upcoming criminal trial of Mayor Frank Melton regarding articles she has published …

[Kamikaze] Our Victories Are History

I've never really liked the idea of Black History "Month." There'll be another slew of black history programs (yawn). We'll hear the same speakers speak, and my kids will once …

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.

[Wilkes] Why I'm a Feminist

Feminism. Why is this word considered so foul coming from the mouths of men? It seems like nine times out of 10 when I use this word in a conversation …

Walker on the Run

Christopher Walker told the Jackson Free Press three weeks ago that either someone from his old Wood Street neighborhood would shoot him, or he would shoot one of them. And …

My Kind of Tea Party

Recently, I was asked to appear on a local cable talk show to talk about issues of the day. I didn't think much about it; it sounded easy and innocent …

Itawamba Student Sues District Over Rap

A year ago, the Itawamba County School District made national news for electing to cancel Itawamba Agricultural High School's prom rather than allow lesbian student Constance McMillen to bring her …

A Mayor's Story: Tony Yarber on His Past Mistakes and Evolving Vision

Mayor Tony Yarber is different this time around. During his first run for the job vacated when Mayor Chokwe Lumumba died in 2014, a bunch of urgent business suits surrounded …

How Obamacare Went South In Mississippi

In a state stricken by diabetes, heart disease, obesity and the highest infant mortality rate in the nation, President Barack Obama's landmark health care law has barely registered, leaving the …

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Wait: I've Heard This Before

Recently, someone sent me a link to a site set up about the old white-supremacist Citizen's Council (citizenscouncil.com)--a supposedly upstanding racist group that famed newspaper editor Hodding Carter Jr. called …

BREAKING: Shake-up in City Administration

Jackson Planning and Development Director Carl Allen and Parks and Recreation Director Ramie Ford are leaving city government, the Jackson Free Press learned Thursday.

BREAKING: Melton Appoints Bluntson as Mayor

<i>Photo caption: Acting Mayor Frank Bluntson announces his assumption of duties.

Mayor Frank Melton has appointed Councilman Frank Bluntson as acting mayor by executive order (PDF, 56 KB).

City's Murder Rate Soars

The latest ComStat reports (June and July) show 26 murders for this year versus 15 for the same period last year, an increase of 73.3 percent. In fact, murder now …

Manhunt D.A.‘s ‘Guard' Duty

When Bruce Dunagan heard that Tallahatchie County prosecutor John Whitten III was involved in a vigilante-style manhunt last month, in Sumner, he wasn't surprised. Dunagan, who was Biloxi's police chief …