Jackson Free Press

Loving America, and Americans

The continuing national debate over taxation and federal budget policy in this country is good--as is the boldness with which both liberal and conservative elements are stating their positions.

Going Rogue

On his county-provided laptop, Phil Fisher has replaced the standard mouse icon with a sword. A former Marine and a current brigadier general in the Mississippi Army National Guard, Fisher …

Melton Pulls Reeves' Nomination

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton pulled his nomination Monday of former Rep. John Reeves, a Jackson Republican, for a Municipal Court position. Melton instead asked the council to consider putting Reeves …

Reconstructing Bay St. Louis: Answers, Please

Along the beach in Bay St. Louis, houses are nothing more than piles of rubble, and many streets remain impassable. Plumes of black smoke from brush fires burning on the …

As the Capitol Turns

This year, the lawmakers at Mississippi's Capitol have had time to do great things such as reforming the juvenile-justice system and settling some Medicaid issues. They have also spent many …

The War on Math, Part 2: Is the GOP Out of Step with America?

In the continuing GOP/Tea Party "War On Math," the insistence on balancing the budget by cutting spending may be doing serious damage to the Republican Party's credibility -- so says …

Immigration Reform for Dummies

If passed in its present form, Mississippi SB 2032--charitably titled the "Immigration Reform Act of 2010"--would: Force undocumented immigrants to remain in Mississippi for up to 10 years against their …

Analysis: Passion Ruled In Melton Trial

Photos by Jaro Vacek

On April 26, a Hinds County jury acquitted Mayor Frank Melton and Dets. Michael Recio and Marcus Wright of all 11 charges they collectively faced for demolishing a duplex at …

Gun Sales, NRA Thrive Under Obama Administration

President Barack Obama has presided over a heyday for the gun industry despite predictions by the National Rifle Association four years ago that he would be the "most anti-gun president …

Gun Industry Thrives During Obama's Term in Office

President Barack Obama has presided over a heyday for the gun industry despite predictions by the National Rifle Association four years ago that he would be the "most anti-gun president …

Beta of JFP "Community Blog" Debuts

And that means, in a nutshell, it's tougher for a user-generated forum entry to "be seen."

Long time JFP visitors will know that we went through a major upgrade to the site's plumbing a year ago, and that while there are many strengths to the new …

Crossroads

It's three days until the election. (In my need to get it over with, I don't count the current day or Election Day. That makes it come sooner.) It is …

Newest Addition to the MS' Best Awards activities will put the state on "pins and needles"

Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to announce that KARA SAUN from

And now we have come to the BIG announcement for this week. One of the first guests we contacted about the Mississippi's Best Awards has confirmed TODAY.

AP Finds Falsehoods in Ryan, GOP Speeches

A closer look at some of the words spoken at the GOP convention in Tampa, Fla.:

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Child Abuse, Bad Diets Lead to Brain Issues Lead to Crime?

It's kind of one of those scientific findings that ought to be obvious, but here it is: Children who are physically and emotionally abused often become violent criminals. In the …

New Katrina Reports Rips Bush ... Again

Don't we know it. AP is reporting:

Overwhelmed Locals, Hesitant Feds

A New York Times analysis dissects what went wrong last week in Louisiana:

Singing Without Shame

Jill Conner Browne, The Sweet Potato Queen, and I are pulling thick wires out of glittered sweet potatoes on a farm in Clinton. Inside a barn, two Sweet Potato Queens, …

Bethany Boteler and Josh Sabins

In January 2005, when Bethany Boteler was 17 and a senior in high school, she went with a friend to meet a boy at McAlister's Deli in Richland.

Saturday Night Lights

"Yaw bee baw," then-Ole Miss football coach Ed Orgeron told offensive tackle Michael Oher when he was recruiting him.