Jackson Free Press

EDITORIAL: Legislature Budgets for Critical Needs, Neglects Others

The 2018 legislative session's story largely revolves around Republicans' inability to get a lot done due to failed negotiations between the House and the Senate.

EDITORIAL: Stop Hurting Women as a Campaign Strategy

Constituents need to hold lawmakers accountable who are more interested in scoring political points than they are about ensuring women, especially black women, are protected.

Do Not Appeal Frivolous Planned Parenthood Law

A federal judge struck down Mississippi's political Medicaid reimbursement law for "nontherapeutic abortion providers" last week in an attempt to block Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funding.

Wasting Resources on Lies

The state's leaders prioritize their conservative politicking above all else despite costs to the taxpayer that a federal lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood after Senate Bill 2238 took effect July …

For the Love of Women, Kids, Everyone Else

The Legislature is already in a financial bind—calling a special session with two days left in the fiscal year clearly means things are bad. So quit making them worse by …

Mississippi’s ‘Frivolous’ Lawsuit Conundrum

In one of the poorest states in the nation, litigating cases in the name of religious freedom or conservative idealism is costly.

Show Leadership, Not ‘Randomness’

Every session, it seems, something President Barack Obama has said or didn't say whips Republicans under our dome into a froth.

End Dangerous Rhetoric That Threatens Lives

The Nov. 27 shooting at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood is a case study in the anatomy of political rhetoric and the real-life danger of spreading inciteful rhetoric.

Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Blame'

For Sen. Ted Cruz to deny that the anti-abortion rhetoric is spurred on by the right wing and members of his own party is not only disingenuous; it is extremely …

Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Agree'

Isn't it interesting that Bryant chose to follow this law even though he disagrees with it, while he and other GOP leaders wantonly flout other state laws they don't like?

Women Must Have Health, Reproductive Choices

Perhaps Roe v. Wade was ahead of its time, or late in coming. Regardless, abortion has been legal in the U.S. for decades and to reverse it would mean reversing …

State Should End Costly, Embarrassing Legal Challenges

Last week, the state—via the Democratic-led Mississippi attorney general's office—again stood on the wrong side of a federal judge in an individual-rights case.

Find an Issue Worth Your Vote

Being registered to vote is meaningless unless you wield your power as a citizen and actually head to a polling place.

Another GOOD Idea: Improving Pregnancy Care

In a state with so many restrictions on sexual education and abortion, ostensibly to protect the health of women, the conventional wisdom should hold that Mississippi's pregnancy statistics should be …

Learn from History: Change the State Flag

Now, our elected leaders should get on the right side of history, listen to the will of the people and embrace progress. Change the flag.

Time to Rethink Third-Grade Tests

As predicted, a sizable chunk of Mississippi's third-grade students failed the so-called third-grade reading gate test and may have to repeat the whole school year.

Dads Are Great, But Don’t Ignore Moms

Most problematic—and indeed dangerous—is the underlying implication that the mere presence of adult testosterone is some kind of magic wand that can solve all problems.

Men: Don’t Wait on Women to Act

Mississippi is only as strong as our women. And right now, by most economic and social indicators, Mississippi is not very strong.

Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Without'

Rev. Mychal Massie seems to suggest that the racism and lack of opportunity that African Americans face on a daily basis is nothing compared to the issue of abortion, and …

MPB: Don’t Treat Us Like Children

Once again, Mississippi Public Broadcasting—which receives public dollars—has initiated a form of censorship to keep certain controversial content away from a Mississippi audience.

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