Jackson Free Press

Justice Ann H. Lamar

Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Ann H. Lamar of Senatobia received the Chief Justice Award on July 16 during the Mississippi Bar Convention in Destin, Fla.

Pointing Fingers Won’t Help Mental Health Crisis

Mississippi's mental-health care problems are not secrets, and yet only when the DOJ sues the state and after speaking with some community advocates does the governor start talking about community-based …

State Rep. Esther Harrison, D-Columbus, Dies at Age 69

Mississippi state Rep. Esther Harrison, D-Columbus, is being remembered as someone who worked for her constituents without seeking the spotlight for herself.

Transcript: Black Lawmakers Accuse Barbour of Racism

AP reports: "Some black lawmakers say they think Gov. Haley Barbour and Senate leaders are trying to bypass House Judiciary A Committee Chairman Ed Blackmon in a debate over limiting …

Indeck Magnolia BioFuel Center Breaks Ground

Indeck Energy Services, Inc. of Buffalo Grove, Ill., and Homan Industries of Fulton, Miss., ("The Partners"), invite you to attend the ground breaking ceremony for Indeck Magnolia BioFuel Center wood …

Celebrating Jerry Clower

My first brush with Jerry Clower was in 1971 when I was in an Army barracks in Baumholder, Germany. Two of my platoon mates (still friends some 40 years later) …

JPD To Buy License Plate Readers

The Jackson Police Department is purchasing an automatic license plate reader for the four major police precincts this year. The Jackson City Council approved the $76,978 purchase Tuesday, after learning …

Columbia Training School Removes Last Girls

After years of documented abuse and consequent lawsuits, Columbia Training School is finally closing its doors to troubled girls.

Senate Kills Public Records Access Bill

The Mississippi Senate shelved a bill designed to make public records more accessible to the public, according to The Greenwood Commonwealth,

Lawmakers Agree on 68 Cent Cigarette Tax

Mississippi legislators have come to a tentative agreement on a new cigarette tax: 68 cents a pack.

Anti-smoking advocates Communities for a Clean Bill of Health called the compromise "a win for Mississippi" in a statement.

Brown: Governor Will Cut School Funding

State Rep. Cecil Brown is warning that Mississippi's children will be the ultimate losers in the current budget battle if the governor gets his way. In an e-mail sent to …

‘We Can No Longer Hide'

On March 23, in the middle of a budget stand-off, House Speaker Billy McCoy, D-Rienzi, warned that the state budget will have some holes that will hurt Mississippians if the …

[City Buzz] no. 13 December 13 - 20

King Edward Still Moving

Jackson Attorney David Watkins, who is a partner in King Edward Revitalization Co., along with Deuce McAllister and other investors, said the King Edward redevelopment is still ongoing, despite the …

Dems: State GOP Lying About House

[verbatim statement]By attacking the integrity of one of the state's longest-serving legislators, the Mississippi Republican Party has once again launched into their far-too-familiar practice of spreading lies and misinformation. GOP …

Mason Gets Mixed Reviews

Jackson State University President Ronald Mason Jr.'s announcement last week that he will be ending his 10-year stint at JSU and taking the reins at Louisiana's Southern University and A&M …

Personhood Mississippi: We Are Listening to Voters

Personhood Mississippi founder Les Riley sent out a statement this morning praising Personhood legislation in the Oklahoma Senate and promising further efforts in Mississippi that will address voters' concerns about …

Bryant Ignores Jackson in Address

Conspicuously absent from the governor’s eight-and-a-half page speech was any mention of the capital city.

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How to Pass a Restitution Bill

Passing a law is rarely an easy process when it comes to a contentious issue that requires a state commitment to more money, especially when that money is essentially an …

First Gubernatorial Candidate Debate Sept. 29 at Belhaven

WHAT: The first of four 2003 gubernatorial candidate debates to be held across the state. The event is being sponsored by WLBT-TV and Belhaven College and will be aired live …

Don’t Screw with MAEP

Since its original adoption in 1997, MAEP been funded only two times in accordance with the law. There are lots of reasons for the State's failure to fund, and no …