Jackson Free Press

Ben Allen Resigns From City Council

City Council President Ben Allen announced his resignation from the City Council today. His resignation will be effective Friday, June 22.

The NAMIWalks Fundraiser is back! Help me "Stomp Out The Stigma of Mental Illness"!

I am writing you today to tell you about an upcoming event that I am participating in that is both very important and very exciting to me. It is NAMIWalks …

UPDATED: James Ford Seale Guilty On All Counts

After approximately two hours of deliberation, the jury in the federal kidnapping and conspiracy trial of James Ford Seale returned a unanimous verdict of guilty on all counts. The jury …

Inside the Journey for Justice

I find myself sitting at the end of a pew, tape recorder in hand, admiring how the light shone through the stained glass windows on a sweltering day in Mississippi. …

Jimmy Robinson

There are few faces in his community that Virden Addition Association President Jimmy Robinson does not recognize. He is the epitome of what draws a neighborhood together: a talkative nature …

Councilwoman Robbed

Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon was robbed at gunpoint over the weekend. An assailant, armed with "a sawed-off shotgun" came up to her and her husband on Saturday and demanded …

A Fire Chief At Last?

The city of Jackson may be getting a fire department chief after about two years of stalling. Jackson Mayor Frank Melton said he will be bringing Assistant Chief Vernon Hughes …

Men We Love

With Father's Day just around the corner, the Jackson Free Press has renewed its annual tradition of honoring the men we love. They are activists, news men, politicians, espresso Dadaists …

‘Stand Up' Acts

This Friday and Saturday, Jubilee!JAM returns to Capitol Street in downtown Jackson. National juggernauts Ludacris and The Black Crowes headline, but hometown heroes Jesse Robinson, Jonezetta, Kamikaze, Storage 24, Owen …

Crime Plan: More of the Same

Mayor Frank Melton said he is responsible for the remarkable rise in violent crime in the city last Friday. "I am accountable for that, and the buck stops with me," …

Melton Plan: Cameras and Night Court

Mayor Frank Melton addressed the city's remarkable increase in violent crime with a tour of dazzling technology at the new Technical Operations Center.

Steve Rozman

Steve Rozman, 66, is leading the charge for civic engagement and social responsibility at Tougaloo College, around the state and across the nation.

[Stiggers] Dig Deep

Ernest "Monday Night Football Head" Walker: "It looks like U.S. troops will be overseas a little while longer. Meanwhile, questions that reflect uncertainty loom in the thoughts of wondering poor …

Summer Arts Preview

A sweltering Mississippi summer is the perfect time to find something creative to do to get your mind off the heat and humidity–preferably, something indoors, at least until the sun …

Our Broken (Mental) Health System

This is a first in a series of columns and comments on mental health in Mississippi.

Embrace the Pale

I don't think skin cancer would flatter me. I'm using sunscreen.

My grandmother died of skin cancer before I was old enough to remember her. She was absolutely gorgeous. She had smooth milky skin, green eyes, and beautiful curly black hair. …

Parking Battle in Fondren

Businesses in Fondren are skirmishing over limited parking space in the area. Managers and owners of businesses in Fondren Corner say the owners of Lenny's Sub Shop, on the other …

Lou Dobbs: American Bigot

A few comments on my last blog about immigration made my heart pound with indignation in a way that felt oddly familiar. Was it the Jackson 2020-- a group dedicated …

This Won't Stay in Vegas

My honey and I flew off to Sin City to tie the connubial knot last week. Maybe I have had too much sun (a six-hour golf lesson in the desert …

[Viewpoint] Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia

In the days since Rev. Jerry Falwell died, much has been written about his influence on politics, but relatively little has been written about his hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia—that is, his "fear of …