Jackson Free Press

UPDATED: Absentee Voting Lawsuit Unfolding on Day of Mississippi Run-off Election

Three individuals and the Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP brought a civil-rights suit against the State for absentee-ballot issues ahead of the U.S. Senate run-off election between Cindy Hyde-Smith …

National Baptist Convention in Jackson, 2019 Dyslexia Symposium, UMMC Donation and Cultivation Food Hall

The National Baptist Convention, the largest organization of African American Baptists in the U.S., is currently holding its annual mid-winter board meeting at the Jackson Convention Complex from Monday, Jan. …

‘Stitch Their Name’: Quilt Exhibit at Jackson State Honors Victims of Race Violence

The “Stitch Their Names Memorial Project: A Quilt Exhibition” is currently on display at the Margaret Walker Center on the Jackson State University campus. It honors African Americans whose lives …

Bad Business or Bad Math?

In a column published June 3 ("Payday Lending: Bad Business" by Scott Colom), JFP readers met a man named Mike (an alias for a supposed payday loan customer.) I'd like …

And the Nobel Peace Prize goes to…

...Al Gore, who is sharing it equally with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Is Palin a ‘Reformer'?

Word is that Sarah Palin's speech tonight will focus on being "a reformer." Thoughts?

(No sex-pregnancy-abortion scandal talk on this thread, please. I'm trying to break them up to make conversation talk easier.)

Crime: How to Prevent It?

Last night on Facebook, I saw some folks posting about the awful crimes we've seen in Jackson of late, including the Lanier High School student, may he rest in peace. …

The Real Test of Katrina

John Kerry in a speech at Brown University:

Feds Trying to Block Media from New Orleans?

NBC's Brian Williams write on the site blog:

An interesting dynamic is taking shape in this city, not altogether positive: after days of rampant lawlessness (making for what I think most would agree was an impossible job for …

[Editor's Note] A Romney Runs Through Us

Campaigning in Mississippi last week, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney set off a mini-firestorm in our offices. Sometime between joking about grits and forking up some hay, down-south style, Romney …

My Kind of Tea Party

Recently, I was asked to appear on a local cable talk show to talk about issues of the day. I didn't think much about it; it sounded easy and innocent …

Frank Melton to North Jackson: "It's Over!"

Mayoral hopeful Frank Melton has called his race against Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. before it ever began. "It's over!" he exclaimed to 35 wealthy women gathered at a breakfast meet-and-greet-and-fund-raise …

JPS Board Stalls on ‘Larkin-Gate' Contract

Members of the Jackson Public School board and City Council are delaying crucial votes in connection with a contract dispute over the school board's $150 million bond.

Mysterious ‘Better Jackson PAC' Revealed ... Sort Of

See: the JFP Election Blog for full election coverage + candidate interviews

Melton to Fire Officer for Rolling Eyes at Him?

In an interview with Howard Ballou of WLBT, Mayor Frank Melton said he plans to fire Jackson police officer Mike Braxton, who made public a police report (PDF, 1013 KB) …

Melton Lawyers Attack

Prosecutors and defense lawyers filed motions (PDF, 196 KB) at an accelerating pace as Mayor Frank Melton's felony trial approached.

NPR Listeners Dissect, Unload on Mississippi

NPR's Bryant Park Project did a piece yesterday about segregated school proms in Charleston, Miss. (a piece that was inspired by Kamikaze's column in the Jackson Free Press on the …

‘We Failed Him’: Caught in the Revolving Door of Juvenile Detention

Yvette Mason hopes that telling her son Charles McDonald's story will prevent others from experiencing her pain by highlighting the lack of resources available to families of troubled youth in …

Listen to the Moans

Sunday morning, I was organizing my new writing room at home and turned on the Galloway Methodist broadcast on WAPT to keep me company. I didn't pay much attention until …

Bell Pleads Guilty, Sentenced to Life

For background on this case, read the JFP's investigative feature, "Grant Me Justice."