Jackson Free Press

10 Local Stories of the Week

There's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them.

Food Corps Recruiting Service Members; Apply by March 30

For the last year, Mariel Parman, 24, has worked as a service member with Food Corps to help improve the health of Mississippi's young people by linking health disparity with …

Large Turnout Expected for Amnesty Days in Jackson

Jackson police say they are expecting a large turnout for the city's Amnesty Days.

Records Disputes Could Go to Miss. Ethics Group

The Mississippi Ethics Commission could gain power to settle disputes over requests for public records.

Meet The New South

On the front porch of his home in Hattiesburg, Drew Young invites musicians to join him to talk about and play music. His collaborator and former student, Paul West, directs …

Grammy-Worthy Gospel

Although it was Grammy night and Tye Tribbett had been nominated in three categories, he didn't expect to win, especially after being asked to present at the event. But during …

Perspectives on a Tragedy

"The Laramie Project" is based on a community's reaction to the 1998 murder of 21-year-old college student Matthew Shepard.

Getting Schooled in GMOs

GMOs in the form of corn, soy, wheat and rice—the crops most affected by genome modification to make a plant more resistant to insects or poor growing conditions—are at the …

State Takeovers: A Fix for Failing School Districts?

When the state took control of the Hazlehurst City school district in 2008, the small rural district was in chaos and suffering from abysmal academic performance.

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Will Byrom Be Tortured to Death?

Mississippi's pending executions of Michelle Byrom and Charles Crawford—which are not yet scheduled—have mired the state in a controversy over what constitutes "cruel and unusual" in executions.

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Robbie Fisher

Since she left her law career and position as Mississippi Nature Conservancy's state director, Robbie Fisher's main focus has been filmmaking, specifically producing films.

Protect the Innocent: End the Death Penalty

Michelle Byrom is a textbook case of what is wrong with the state executions in Mississippi and the rest of the nation.

For Lou’s Sake

The late New York rocker Lou Reed and his street-wise songs might seem worlds away from music made in Mississippi, but many Jackson musicians cite the musician as an important …

The Wine Guy

Sommelier John Malanchak has a low-stress approach to teaching about wine.

Diaz: Michelle Byrom Did Not Get a Fair Trial

Former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Oliver E. Diaz jr. explains why Michelle Byrom did not get a fair trial and does not deserve to be executed. And he wants to …

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Same-Sex Couples Apply For Marriage Licenses in Hinds County

Same-Sex Couples applied for marriage licenses this morning at the Hinds County courthouse in Jackson.

Soul Wired, Mama Hamil's and Outlets of Mississippi

Soul Wired Cafe offers healthy cuisine with plenty of vegetarian items, geared toward getting people to eat right and is also a cultural venue that provides a mix of music, …

Giacomo Puccini

The Mississippi Opera Guild will perform Giacomo Puccini's "Gianni Schicchi" along with "Pagliacci," written by Italian composer Ruggero Leoncavallo, March 29 at First Baptist Church of Ridgeland.

Secretary of State Kicks Watkins; Watkins Alleges Republican Politics

The secretary of state says David Watkins misused bond money; Watkins says it's all about politics.

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Mississippi Sheriffs to Get Pay Raises July 1

Mississippi sheriffs will get their first pay raise in several years, starting July 1.