Jackson Free Press

U.S. Trades Gitmo Detainees to Free American Solider from Taliban After Five Years of Captivity

WASHINGTON (AP) — The only American soldier held prisoner in Afghanistan has been freed by the Taliban in exchange for the release of five Afghan detainees from the U.S. prison …

3 Indicted on Conspiracy Charges in Prison Riot

Three people have been indicted on federal charges of conspiracy to commit murder related to a deadly prison riot in Mississippi.

5th Circuit Could Soon Ban Abortion in State

Any day now the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals could decide the constitutionality of a law that would close the last abortion clinic in Mississippi, effectively banning abortion in …

Mona Nicholas

Mona Nicholas, the newly appointed deputy director of the USA International Ballet Competition—one of the largest international ballet competitions in the world—,fell in love with dance the first time she …

Medicare Coverage Ban on Sex-Change Surgery Lifted

Transgender people receiving Medicare may no longer be automatically denied coverage for sex reassignment surgeries, a U.S. Department of Health and Services review board ruled Friday in a groundbreaking decision …

Elon Musk Unveils Spacecraft to Ferry Astronauts

A company that has flown unmanned capsules to the Space Station unveiled a spacecraft Thursday designed to ferry up to seven astronauts to low-Earth orbit that SpaceX founder Elon Musk …

Obama Plans 'Serious Conversation' With Shinseki

President Barack Obama said Friday he plans to have a "serious conversation" with Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki about whether he can stay in his job as the agency head …

Meal Programs Expand Summer Nutrition for Kids

A federal government-backed nutrition program seeks to provide two million meals to Mississippi schoolchildren this summer.

Archie Manning

If a Mississippian brings up "Archie," they are without a doubt talking about former Ole Miss and New Orleans Saints great Archie Manning, one of the most recognizable sports figures …

Maya Angelou, the Nation's Wise Woman

Maya Angelou walked into a meeting of civil rights leaders discussing affirmative action back in the 1990s, looked around, and put them all in their place with a single, astute …

World Series Repeat?

Last year, we saw a great sports moment in our state: Mississippi State not only reached the College World Series but made it all the way to the championship.

The Slate

May comes to a close this week, and June is ready to bust out a ton of sports events. The Stanley Cup Finals, NBA Finals, World Cup and a shot …

Pam Kinsey’s Light

Pam Kinsey's art studio is on a small lake in Cleary, Miss., nestled between Byram and Florence. The building is quiet and serene, not unlike her vividly real and serene …

The Summer Problem for Kids: In Mississippi, the Hottest Months Put Lower-Income Learners at Risk

Extensive research shows that all children are prone to learning losses when they do not have educational opportunities during the summer.

Lifting Up Black Boys: What the Experts Say

When a critical mass of the nation's foremost experts on educating black boys gathered in Jackson in April to hobnob, commiserate and impart their latest findings on how to get …

• 1 comment

Investigate the Hayne Cases, Gen. Hood

Reading journalist Radley Balko's May 15 piece on Steven Hayne in The Washington Post reminded me, again, of our broken justice system.

• 13 comments

Media: Stop Feeding Bloodthirst Toward Kids

No doubt, research shows that treating even guilty minor suspects as adults increases recidivism and their chances of committing more severe crimes later.

Water Meters Still Worry Council Members

The Siemens deal has made council members and citizens wary since May 2012, when Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. presented a deal for council approval.

Jatran Natural Gas Conversion May Cool ‘Heated’ Bus Riders

Due to ongoing issues with air-conditioning units on several JATRAN buses, passengers might have to find an alternative solution to their traveling needs this summer.

Police, Experts Say Youth Programs Help Cut Crime

With Jackson Public Schools now out for the summer, many people are worried that the students' newly found freedom will lead to kids getting bored or giving in to peer …