Jackson Free Press

Vouchers May be Ticket Out of Public Schools for Kids with Disabilities—But is that a Good Thing?

Some students with disabilities may get a chance to leave the public school system here—but advocates and parents aren't sure it will improve their education.

Joining in the Passing Parade

As with many musical ensembles, Passing Parade has morphed several times over the years.

Lawmakers Move to Drop Common Core Standards

Lawmakers made moves Thursday to change Mississippi’s academic standards and method of statewide testing.

Andrea Patterson

Andrea Patterson, marketing director of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, knew she wanted to work in sports after she graduated from the University of Mississippi with a …

McDaniel's New PAC: The Next Generation

With hopes of bringing together multiple factions throughout the state in the wake of a divisive Senate race, state Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville, recently announced his new political action committee, …

Wistful, Humorous Romney Looks Back as He Ponders '16

Greeted as a celebrity in the heart of the Republican Deep South, GOP's 2012 nominee Mitt Romney—who still says he's mulling another bid in 2016—talked to Mississippi State University students …

Why Few Mississippi Mothers Nurse Their Babies

As she stared through the nursery window at her four-day-old twins, 22-year-old Francesca Maxwell ticked off her reasons for wanting to breast-feed: Her obstetrician advised it. Her mother thought it …

The Molly Ringwalds: All ‘80s, All the Time

It's strange to call a cover band "original," but the Molly Ringwalds' creative collision of 1980s music and culture—along with the band members' wild personas and stage presence—make for a …

Target: Abortion Rights, Public Ed, LGBT Custody

Women's rights and public education topped the Mississippi legislative agenda as it rolled past the Jan. 19 deadline for filing bills and into the fourth week of the session, while …

Every Single Life Matters

We're living through one of those difficult times in Jackson when fear and distrust of "the other" reach a fevered pitch due to a high-profile crime.

Najee Dorsey

Artist Najee Dorsey uses collage to tell his story of growing up in the South and especially in Arkansas' Mississippi County.

Big Ideas from Ward 3 Hopefuls

Eight people are vying for the vacant seat of Ward 3 representative on the Jackson City Council. The election takes place tomorrow, Jan. 27.

Miss. Senate to Mull Eliminating Vehicle Inspection Sticker

Mississippi lawmakers are driving forward with a plan to wipe out vehicle inspection stickers.

FBI Finishes Ferguson Probe, Justice Not Yet Decided on Civil Rights Charges

The Justice Department has not yet announced whether it will file a federal civil rights charge against former Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. But officials and experts have said such …

While States Introduce More Abortion Legislation, GOP Scraps National Bill When GOP Women Revolt

Buoyed by conservative gains in the November election, foes of abortion are mobilizing on behalf of bills in several state legislatures that would further curtail women's access to the procedure.

Best of Jackson 2015 Winners Announced

The nominations are in, the votes have been cast and the winners selected. New in 2015, we're offering the results "Academy Award" style—everyone is a finalist (determined by write-in nominations), …

Behind the Wall

The Mississippi Legislature voted last week to place an alternative to a citizen-driven initiative on the ballot this fall for the first time in Mississippi history under the state's initiative-process …

HIV Services, Convention Center Award and the State Economy

The publishers and editors of ConventionSouth, a national multimedia resource for planning events in the South, recently presented the Jackson Convention Complex with a 2014 Readers' Choice Award.

In Belhaven, Outrage and Solutions; In South Jackson, Silence

In response to Jackson's first high-profile homicide in Belhaven, neighbors in the historic community turned out in force to a community meeting Thursday night to talk about action.

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A ‘Taste’ of Our Own

Tom Ramsey, the owner of Jackson's La Finestra restaurant, recently appeared on ABC's "The Taste," which is in its third season.