Jackson Free Press

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I find myself, every year, getting in a certain mood around the holiday season. Yes, there are fattening goodies in the JFP break room—every single day—which will hopefully also put …

City Denies JPS Budget Increase

The Jackson City Council voted Friday to deny Jackson Public Schools the extra $2.7 million it requested for the upcoming fiscal year.

‘It's You, Sweetie'

An excerpt from "The Sweet Potato Queens' Wedding Planner/Divorce Guide," Random House, 2005

Politics of the Blues

Otis Taylor is one of the few blues artists today who has explicitly addressed lynching; his song "Saint Martha Blues" tells in painful detail the story of his great-grandfather's lynching …

Of Dogs and Tutus

It's not everyday that you can munch on grilled ribs next to European-inspired statues surrounded by dogs in tutus to the strains of a bagpipe. But you can in Starkville …

Gas Ain't Forever

It's clear from the parking lots around the state capitol that the legislative session is a busy time for the building. During the session, those parking lots, empty for most …

two interesting stories

The NYTimes has two really interesting stories today.

In one, Diamonds are for Never , Ophrah/that new movie "Blood Diamonds" are convincing many women into giving up diamonds:

10,000 Protesters Barely Make the News

In 2008 at the St. Paul Republican Convention, police arrested 818 protesters, which was less than half of the number arrested at their 2004 convention. Minneapolis had more than 3,700 …

Man in London shot for wearing Obama shirt

From Evening Standard:

Men of Character

The JFP's Chick Ball's Men of Character live auction gives bidders a chance to compete for Jackson's finest men while supporting a good cause. The men are donating the talents …

Senate Dems, GOP Clash Over Need for New Gun Curbs

The toll of gun violence and the widespread disgust it has generated makes it time for new federal gun curbs that balance public safety with gun rights, Democrats said Tuesday …

Who Cares?

On the morning of September 2nd, FEMA director Michael Brown complained about his schedule.

"Last hurrah was supposed to have been Labor Day," he whined in

The Saints: A Preview

This promises to be an interesting season for the New Orleans Saints.

clear your halls

The election is over. After weeks and months of partisan politics, it seems like a good time for a fresh start. And what better way to clear the decks than …

Bartered Souls and A Crooked Brow - Furrows' Debut Album Review

To Furrow is to, generally in a pained manner, wrinkle one's forehead. This expression is so pronounced that the bunched skin resembles the parallel farming trenches, from which, the verb …

Laws That Need to Change

Mississippi's voting laws make the citizenship harder work than it needs. State law currently allows early, in-person voting only for those voters who will be out of their voting district …

Times-Picayune: Congress ‘Dishonest and Mean-spirited'

Here's part of the Times-Picayune piece:

The Times-Picayune is running a powerful editorial, trying to correct public misconceptions and rumors about the realities on the ground in New Orleans. This desperate plea for truth is similar …

[Drive] Mocked in a Mustang

I have never been in a hardtop Mustang that was made after 1972. But I have seen them around and wondered about them. So, I was determined a few weeks …

Taking Risks

All risks are not unhealthy ones, like having unprotected sex with a stranger. Risk-taking can be a normal, healthy part of life.

A Goodie Is A Goodie

Over the almost eight-year-long span that my family spent on the road, we never had a chimney for Santa. Being well-loved, wide-eyed and innocent of grown-up concerns like how late …