Jackson Free Press

Jackson’s Legislative Agenda

What Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. wants to see from the state Legislature hasn’t changed much in the past year.

APNewsBreak: Miss. Settles with Solar Firm

The state of Mississippi settled a lawsuit Tuesday with Twin Creeks, a California solar panel company that went out of business after the state spent $27.7 million to construct a …

Unions Flip to Support Kemper in Exchange for Jobs

Mississippi Power Co.'s contractors have agreed to hire about 1,000 labor union members to build its Kemper County power plant, and a group of unions says it now supports the …

Amid Positive Polls, Jim Hood to Announce Run for Mississippi Governor

Mississippi State Attorney General Jim Hood will kick off a campaign for governor on Wednesday, Oct. 3, he announced in a statement on Monday, Oct. 1.

State Panel Exploring 'Shotgun' Taxes, the 'Amazon' Problem

State leaders' efforts to reform the Mississippi's tax code set sail on Monday as lawmakers came back to Jackson to kick off the tax policy panel and state agency budget …

Analysis: New Democrat Johnson Has Tough Campaign Ahead

Former state Sen. Tim Johnson jumped from Republican to Democrat last week to launch his campaign for Mississippi lieutenant governor, and he faces a difficult path in a state where …

10 Local Stories of the Week

There's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them.

Making Mississippi 420 Friendly

The potential of cannabis as an appetite stimulant is among the key arguments from proponents of rolling back legal restrictions for marijuana for its medicinal purposes.

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Analysis: Community College Fight Attracts Little Attention

Mississippi's Community College Board should be thankful that the state's College Board got crossways with University of Mississippi Chancellor Dan Jones.

Analysis: Bryant Lets Suffrage Bills Stand Without Signature

In his first term, Gov. Phil Bryant has allowed eight bills to become law without his signature. All have been suffrage bills.

City Money Out of Jackson's Hands?

Senate Bill 3268, which Gov. Haley Barbour signed into law March 11, authorizes the city of Jackson to hold a referendum vote on whether or not to approve an additional …

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 …

LOTT: FEMA should be a "freestanding agency…"

AP reports:

Lott didn't want to blame anyone for the government's response to the disaster, saying he doesn't want to "bite the hand" that's trying to save him. His own home in …

Supes Mull Prisoner Health

During Monday's regular board meeting, Hinds County supervisors discussed a potential change in medical service for inmates, which the county currently handles on its own. The meeting was open to …

How to Help Haiti; List of Supplies Needed; Where to Donate

Please support the people of Haiti through your generous medical supply donations. It is with great sadness and responsibility that we reach out to you. As you may well know …

State GOP Twists Kerry Out of Context

Linked to the top of the conservative Magnolia Report right now is a press release the Mississippi GOP put out April 15 to explain "why John Kerry is wrong for …

Private Prison on Trial: Inmates at ‘Bleak’ Facility Tell Harrowing Stories

Merlin Hill was one of 19 inmates who testified during the five-week class-action trial against the Mississippi Department of Corrections for what they describe as appalling conditions at the privately …

Senate Race Heats Up In Hinds

Belhaven Democrat David Blount threw his hat into the race for the Hinds County District 29 Senate seat last Wednesday. Blount told the JFP that he wants to present a …

Working to ‘Do Something Different’

Mississippi was ranked 50th in overall child welfare this year, and while that rank could be linked to several systemic issues, poverty is an underlying factor, state experts say.

Barbour Last-Minute Robocall for Votes

Regardless of the outcome today, it looks like Haley Barbour is worried. Just got this e-mail from a source: