Jackson Free Press

Council Mulling Budget Consultant

The Jackson City Council is looking into the idea of hiring a year-round budget inspector to act as a liaison between the city council and the administrative branch.

City Approves Financial Contract, Drug House Demolitions

Atlanta-based Malachi Financial Products Inc. will be the city's new contracted financial adviser to guide it through financing of its general fund debt in hopes of saving $27 million over …

Johnson's Chief Appointees Get Mixed Reviews

One day after Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. announced his nominees for Jackson Police Chief and Fire Chief, many city officials and employees are waiting to form their opinions. Johnson's appointees …

A Loose Cannon?

Cliff Cargill is a licensed, certified NRA instructor who teaches rifle, pistol, shotgun, home safety and personal protection. He was with the Hinds County Sheriff's Department from 1993-95, where he …

JFP Staffers Finalists for Four ‘Green Eyeshade' Awards

We learned today that the JFP editorial staff will be receiving awards in four different categories this summer in the 60th Annual Green Eyeshade Awards. This was our first year …

More Ledger Illiteracy

OK, folks, check out The Clarion-Ledger's editorial about Melton today—for the way it is written. Here are some money quotes:

[Shakespeare] Hot Air And Cold Cash

They can be found at the grocery store, in bars and at your local eatery. If you miss them in those places, you're sure to find one in your Sunday …

Jackson Police, Fire and At-Will Employees No Longer Must Live in City

Police officers, firefighters and at-will employees making less than $40,000 a year no longer must live inside the city limits after the Jackson City Council lifted the requirement in its …

Fight or Fight

It's an odd world where Councilman Kenny Stokes is standing with FOX News celebrities who care more about profiling young blacks than protecting citizens' rights. But in the aftermath of …

Melton Attempts to Remove JPS Superintendent

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton's efforts to remove Superintendent Earl Watkins before his contract completion date could cost Jackson Public Schools big money, according to some board members.

Firefighters Reinstated, Controversy Remains

A battle between Mayor Frank Melton and five members of the Jackson Fire Department ended in a handshake last Friday. Local 87 union President Brandon Falcon announced that he, along …

Taylor Testimony Creates Firestorm, Brings In Melton Drunkenness

Previous JFP coverage of Michael Taylor

McMillin to Bring Back Crime Prevention Unit

Jackson's new police chief said the city is facing big bills this year thanks to overtime and unpaid debt—and is bringing back the Crime Prevention Unit that the mayor disbanded …

Desperation Descends

The Jackson City Council enters the month of November under a cloud of desperation. The city racked up its first $266,000 monthly deficit in October as a result of Jackson …

Melton's Mile-High Gun Club

"I do not carry guns on planes, I carry two guns," Melton told WLBT reporters on May 28, admitting that he had carried a weapon on almost every commercial flight …

Tearin' Up Virden: The Melton Trial

It began while they were watching the newest version of "Walking Tall" starring the Rock, witness Lawrence Cooper Jr. said during the first day of testimony in the felony trial …

Ramsey Cartoon Shades of Schwindaman

We appreciate the compliment, Marshall, but a note of appreciation would have sufficed.

Well, I guess this is a compliment to the JFP's editorial cartoonist, Darren Schwindaman. Today's Marshall Ramsey cartoon copies Darren's cartoon of two weeks ago almost directly, except using Joe …

Destruction and Hot Tempers

"They said I needed to get out, and that's what I did," said Tony Porter, who says he owned a photo and camera repair shop not too far off the …

Taxpayers Covering Recio and Wright Attorney's Fees?

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton's assurance that he would be covering court costs in his April 2007 felony trial did not apply to his co-defendants, judging by a Nov. 30 letter …

[BREAKING]: Melton Jury to be Sequestered

While Mayor Frank Melton sat in City Council, his cheeks sunken and his face haggard, Judge Tomie Green issued some unwelcome news to the jurors who will decide the mayor's …