Jackson Free Press

For Critics of DeVos, Sale of DeVry Chain Raises Red Flags

A little-known venture capitalist is on the verge of acquiring one of the biggest for-profit colleges in the country, a transaction that would put him in control of a troubled …

Mississippi Civil Rights Sites Vie to Become National Park

It is hard to choose which site of civil-rights trauma in Mississippi should be a national park, but the effort is under way and controversial, even among some family members …

UPDATED: Teens Quiz Mayor Hopefuls on Crime, Sidewalks and Myths About Youth

Five teenagers of the Mississippi Youth Media Project challenged seven mayoral candidates during Jackson's first Youth Mayoral Forum held at Provine High School Monday evening.

Madison, Jackson Districts Skeptical of MAEP Changes

Tate Reeves' ideas for MAEP range from changing how the "base student cost" is calculated to changing the overall standard, which could have adverse effects on lower-graded and lower-performing school …

Lumumba Added to 'Smart Crime Initiative' Despite Policing Decisions at Home

Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba is joining 15 mayors from cities in the U.S. in a Mayors for Smart Crime Initiative, the Center for American Progress, announced today.

Dirty Tricks Against Obama ... Already

Per Joe Conason over at Salon, the right-wing machine is pulling some old dirty tricks out of its archive:

Gulf Coast Syndrome

One year after the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion and ensuing BP oil disaster, Gulf Coast communities blame oil exposure and dispersants for health problems they say threaten their lives.

A.G. Hood: Any Deal Includes Melton's Resignation

In a press conference this afternoon, Attorney General Jim Hood confirmed that his office will offer a plea bargain to Frank Melton, telling reporters that it is the policy of …

File under 'WTF'

Federally run "big gorilla" mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will pay out $210 million in retention bonuses over the next 18 months, reports Times Online. Between them, the …

Community Events and Public Meetings

Crisis Prevention Community Informational meets this evening from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Eudora Welty Library. Topics include domestic violence and victimization.

Noose Found on Door of Black Columbia Professor

Well, if anything, the Jena 6 situation is going to expose the racism and bigotry in our midst—all of our midst. And that is a damn good thing. We've got …

Let's Talk Domestic Violence

Let's talk, Mississippi.

In honor of Heather Spencer, who was beaten to death by her boyfriend who almost beat her to death a couple months back with nothing done about it by the …

[Sawyer] The Patriotism Problem

It's hard to remain calm in war. It evokes something within each of us that pulls at our very core. Crying mothers of soldiers, the piles of body bags in …

[Balko] Draconian Gun Laws

Sue Aitken called the police because she was worried about her son, Brian. She now lives with the guilt of knowing that her phone call is the reason Brian spent …

[Gregory] Sweet Bird Of Nokia

My office downtown is close to Smith Park. Often, during my 15 minutes of government-mandated break time in the afternoon, I walk to the park and sit on a bench …

[Kamikaze] Show Up, Jackson

"Those that succeed are the ones that show up" is a mantra that I live by and practice. It is the simple premise that one's mere presence can be a …

[Editor's Note] Grow Old With Me

The longest day of my life started on a tropical island. It was oh-dark-thirty, so early in the morning that it was still night. I had only taken a short …

Deterrence: Not What You Think

Once a person has committed a crime and is in the prison system, what works and what doesn't to deter ongoing criminality?

Horne LLP Under Fire Again

Jackson accounting firm Horne LLP faces criticism for the second time in two months after a Feb. 18 audit by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General reported …

Where the 'Southern Strategy' Belongs

You have to watch closely, or you might not pay any mind to earth-shattering statements heard these days in Mississippi. For instance: "Mississippi will not take a back seat to …