Jackson Free Press

On Creating: Be Daring

"Be daring, be different, be impractical, be

Kerry's ‘Merit Pay' Plan

A while back, I had occasion to talk to a woman named Lillian Lopez about a bold choice she had decided not to make. Lopez, who lives in a barrio …

Women At Risk

For the first time, women might be dying from heart disease at higher rates than men. Preliminary data gathered in 2001 indicates a new trend in heart disease among a …

The Honeymoon, Part II: Melton's Secrets

One month after taking over the mayor's seat, Frank Melton said that the news business hadn't quite worked its way out of his soul.

Action, Take 8: Jackson Filmmakers to Watch

There is no typical Jackson filmmaker. It's easy to see this just by looking at the work, and hairstyles, of our eight featured filmmakers. Rick Moore calls himself "just a …

Tale of Two Downtowns

What step to take next will be a huge question for 2003. We could be going nowhere, or at least a relatively short distance—after all, we're in a recession, Mississippi's …

The Media as Censor

The war in Iraq has also become a war of images. This week, we were troubled by a video of the be-heading of an American. The week before, it was …

Survivors Try to S.N.A.P BACK

Local victims of sexual abuse by priests joined other victims nationwide by forming a Mississippi chapter of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (S.N.A.P.). Johnny Rainer, co-coordinator of the …

Let the Games Begin

A lobbyist has become the second Republican governor since Reconstruction; the lieutenant governor turned Republican in the middle of her last term; the first new speaker of the house has …

[Capitol Buzz] Coolers, Hoopy and Crosses, Oh My

HERE COME THE CROSSES: Right to Life of Jackson has changed its name to Pro-Life Mississippi and is planning a slate of activities to lobby the Legislature, especially to give …

Haley's Choice: Native Son Barbour Comes Home to Run for Governor

The big sign draped between two trees next to the Neshoba County Fair pavilion in August 1982 caused a lot of drama: "Happy Birthday, Senator Stennis."

Moving Pictures

1. "Thelma and Louise" (1991) — Two morals in Ridley Scott's controversial film: rednecks are rednecks, so don't trust one in a parking lot. Second, dump the loser husband before …

The Rest of Us

A recent article in The New York Times Magazine portrayed a group of women who have decided to step away from careers to raise their young children. The title of …

Reality Check: State of the State

Gov. Haley Barbour laid out his agenda and policies, in many ways for the first time, when he gave his State of the State address on Jan. 26. Of course, …

JFP Interview: Ben Allen, Part II

Unabridged version of Ben Allen interview, continued ....

My biggest issue with Chief Moore is that he keeps talking about crime being a perception—so is leadership. Leadership is a perception!

We Got Issues

Here's a riddle: There are 26.9 million of them, and as much as they fight for freedom to make their own decisions and choices, 17 million of them never make …

It's About the Issues, Stupid!

The polls say this, the polls say that. This group is alleging this, this group that. Who cares about voting? The candidates are all alike. At the JFP, we reject …

JPS, Then and Now

The 1957 Murrah High School yearbook is filled with happy white faces, and names like Hederman, Copeland and Mize. One photo shows the yearbook staffers cutting up and having a …

Melton's Honeymoon, Part I: ‘Hurry Up And Wait'

Mayor Frank Melton rode into the mayor's office with an 88 percent margin of victory according to a July 27 press release from the city. Though the margin was lower …

JFP Index: The Jail Generation

In millions, how many black males in U.S. are dis-enfranchised due to felonies: 1.4

In millions, how many Americans are permanently dis-enfranchised from voting due to felonies: 3.9 (1 in 50 adults)