Jackson Free Press

Making of a Landslide: Chokwe A. Lumumba and a Changing Jackson

Primary night wasn't supposed to end that way. Chokwe Antar Lumumba could not possibly beat nine Democratic opponents outright and avoid a run-off. Here's why he did.

13 Good Ideas for Jackson

The JFP has long decided to celebrate our birthday by focusing on both Jackson's progress and new big, hairy ideas (and a few smaller ones).

Local Spirit: Jackson Businesses Struggle, Survive and Thrive

Unlike national and corporate chains, local businesses often do not have the same funds and resources. A relationship with the City of Jackson could be what keeps the lights on …

JFP EXCLUSIVE: Jackson Crime Surges

Read the story that the city is talking about, based on a report the Jackson Free Press unearthed on Monday. You saw it here first.

Day 4: Dr. Ellen Melton in Front Row

Photo: Dr. Ellen Melton leaves the courtroom after closing arguments today with city employee Stephanie Parker-Weaver (left). Melton, the wife of the mayor, lives in Texas. Photo by Jaro Vacek. …

Melton Orders Demolition Blitz

Mayor Frank Melton told department heads he wants a serious re-commitment to house demolition and downtown development in Jackson at a meeting held before members of the press today.

2007 JFP Voter's Guide: Of Primary Importance

Photos by Adam Lynch & Roy Adkins

On Aug. 7, voters will turn out in droves—we hope—to make their voices known in the primary elections.

News Wars: The Rise and Fall of The Clarion-Ledger

Orley Hood and Walter Philbin lugged their laundry bags into the laundromat near the Jitney 14 on Fortification Street. They sorted their clothes, put their coins in the slots and …

D.A. Peterson Concedes, Goes Home

With 98 percent of precincts reporting and Robert Smith leading by 1,183 votes, District Attorney Faye Peterson just conceded defeat in the Red Room at Hal & Mal's, saying that …

Robert And Michele And ... Edna?

District Attorney candidate Robert Shuler Smith has taken an interesting journey to his current spot on the primary ballot. Smith said at a July Jackson 2000 forum at Schimmel's restaurant …

BREAKING: Magnolia Bar Calls for Danks Sanctions

<i>Photo credit: Adam Lynch

Photo caption: Jaribu Hill of the Magnolia Bar Association called for sanctions against Dale Danks Wednesday.

UPDATED: Council, JPS Report Mayoral Threats

This is an updated version of this story that broke Monday on the JFP Web site.

Lobbying Plan A Joke?

For more than two weeks, city lobbyist Marcus Ward effectively ducked council members seeking to question him on his plan to attain $29 million from Washington.

City's Murder Rate Soars

The latest ComStat reports (June and July) show 26 murders for this year versus 15 for the same period last year, an increase of 73.3 percent. In fact, murder now …

UPDATED: Saggy-Pants Ordinance Fails 4-2

The Jackson City Council voted down Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes' proposed Saggy Pants Ordinance on Tuesday with a 4-to-2 vote. Opposition to the ordinance included Councilmen Jeff Weill, Marshand …

Immigrant Group Wants Racial-Profiling Ordinance

Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance legal counsel Patricia Ice will appear before the Jackson City Council Tuesday at 6 p.m., to call for an anti-racial and immigrant-profiling ordinance.

Barbour Misses ACORN Bandwagon

The day after Gov. Haley Barbour announced he was cutting state funds to ACORN, the JFP broke the news that the state gives no money to the group—which no longer …

Byram: ‘Worth Fighting For?'

The city of Jackson sallied forth with plans to creep its southern border a little further south June 13 when city attorneys pled a case for annexation before a Hinds …

Does This Make Sense?

The Clarion-Ledger has a story about D.A.-elect Robert Smith not showing up for a docket call and needing to resolve his pending cases before he takes office in January. The …

Is Danks Unaware or Indifferent to the 1st Amendment?

In Dale Danks' letter telling Kim Wade to retract his petition for removal, Danks calls Wade's petition "Frivolous," harassing" and "vexatious". Danks' letter (PDF, 300KB) further (mis)characterizes Wade's petition as …