Jackson Free Press

GOP Mega-Donor Implicated in Russia Probe Gives McDaniel $500,000 Boost

Mississippi State Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville, received a $500,000 donation for his campaign for U.S. Senate thanks to GOP mega-donor Robert Mercer, the investor behind a firm that harvested the …

Birthday Reflections

As the JFP turns 6, Todd Stauffer reflects on the problem of "balance" over accuracy—a media problem McCain's lying spree has brought front and center.

State Medicaid Drops 55,000 Children

A new program requiring face-to-face meetings for Medicaid recipients has contributed to over 55,000 children being dropped from state rolls. At a meeting of the Legislative Budget Committee last Thursday, …

Peace in the MPB Valley?

After being absent from Mississippi Public Broadcasting offices for at least two weeks, Executive Director Judy Lewis resigned Sept. 8. A news release that afternoon announced her decision to leave …

Brownie Slams States; GOP and Dems Slam Him

MSNBC is reporting:

Former FEMA director Michael Brown aggressively defended his role in responding to Hurricane Katrina on Tuesday and blamed most coordination failures on Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco and New Orleans Mayor …

Proclamation by the Governor

[verbatim/including the annoying all-caps]

WHEREAS, by the provisions of Section 121 of the Constitution of the State of Mississippi, the Governor is vested with the power to convene, by public Proclamation, the Legislature in …

Welcome to the Wild, Wild West

So, how many innocent people's lives were endangered in this inter-agency chase and shoot-out in the streets of Jackson? Good to know they recovered a small amount of marijuiana to …

No More Autopsies for Steven Hayne

Radley Balko at Reason Magazine and WLBT are reporting that Mississippi's long-time de facto medical examiner, Steven Hayne, will no longer be doing autopsies in the state. Balko writes:

Cooper-Stokes Making Waves

Newly minted Ward 3 Councilwoman LaRita Cooper-Stokes walked into the City Council chambers at City Hall on Friday ready to make changes. The first thing she noticed was that council …

JFP is Turning 9—What's Your Favorite JFP Memory?

I'll include a couple to get us going:

We need your help, JFP Nation. Our 9th birthday issue publishes this week, and we want to include favorite JFP-related moments (funny or serious) from staffers, readers, freelancers, etc. Please …

Funk Philosophy

If you didn't know better, you might have thought you'd stepped into evening service at an annual church convention rather than a program to hear an American theorist speak at …

Mississippi and the Grammys

On Aug. 8 at Hal and Mal's, I had the chance to attend a meet-and-greet with the Memphis chapter of The Recording Academy, whose members decide who receives Grammy awards …

Legislature Returns; How to Track Bills

As state legislators return to the Capitol tomorrow for the 2011 Legislative session, lawmakers will spend the next 90 days approving diminished funding for state agencies and debating a host …

Conference Addresses State Revenue Solutions

Closing corporate tax loopholes, changing income-tax structures and increasing human capital are a few recommendations policy leaders made this morning to improve Mississippi's economic future.

Suit Against Mental Health Waits on Ruling

Read the complaint.

Support State Watchdog Agencies

Last week, the Mississippi Senate shut down talks with House conferees over the funding of the Mississippi Public Service Commission.

Why Isn't Gene Phillips Mentioned?

Blog post by Donna Ladd:

Jack Mazurack never mentions controversial developer Gene Phillips in this story today about TCI's plans for downtown Jackson, helped along by City Council yesterday. And then there is this:

Civil Rights Museum Planners Collecting Stories

It has been 50 years since James Meredith became the first African American student to attend the University of Mississippi. Until recently, Mississippi had no central location for celebrating this …

Council Wants Tax Bill Amended

Council members voiced complaints Tuesday over a Senate bill allowing Jackson residents to approve a tax increase to fund the police and fire departments, pave streets and repair water and …

Legislature: Subtle Casualities

Deadlines both made and spayed bills last week. Many bills passed in the two chambers of the Mississippi Legislature, but now face conference committee to bang out their differences.