Jackson Free Press

Unfriendly Skies: Can Jackson Save Its Airport?

The City of Jackson, which controls the 3,381 acres of land the airport occupies, is bracing for a looming battle for its control with the State of Mississippi.

Phil Bryant: Tea Party Governor

The running joke in Jackson political circles is that Phil Bryant is just three handshakes away from being a Hinds County sheriff's deputy.

State Sues Jackson Over Refusal to Police Fair

The city of Jackson appears to have won the first round in a game of chicken against the Mississippi State Fair Commission over not providing fair security.

Chief Vance: Gov. Barbour Helped Reimburse JPD For Fair

Jackson Police Chief Lee Vance this morning announced the decision of Mayor Tony Yarber's administration to not have JPD patrol the Missisippi State Fair this year.

Whose Job Is It, Anyway?

Mississippi has a weird mish-mash of officials who have some responsibility for making sure clerks follow the state's public-records law and that candidates file their campaign-finance reports, but rarely take …

Justice, Hope and Hurricane Katrina

Re-housing residents along the Mississippi coast became the most daunting problem of the post-Katrina recovery—logistically and politically speaking.

Kitchen-Table Politics: The JFP Interview with Vicki Slater

Vicki Slater spoke with the Jackson Free Press in early July about why she believes she would make a better governor than the incumbent Phil Bryant.

Troubled Water, Part I: Explaining Jackson's $91 Million Siemens Contract

It's almost impossible to turn on the nightly local television news without coming across a story of a Jackson resident who was shocked to open an astronomically high City of …

Are Mississippi Officials Deadbeats?

The situation in Mississippi may be dire, but it's not hopeless. There are opportunities to drastically—not incrementally—improve things in Mississippi, but our leadership seems fixated on solutions looking for problems.

Ward 1: Side-by-Side

Given the mountain of challenges staring at the Jackson City Council, it's hard to imagine two candidates whose resumes make them better equipped to get their hands dirty than Ashby …

Making Mississippi 420 Friendly

The potential of cannabis as an appetite stimulant is among the key arguments from proponents of rolling back legal restrictions for marijuana for its medicinal purposes.

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Two Hinds County Judge Runoffs Today

Today, some Hinds County voters are returning to the polls for two runoffs for two county judge seats.

Democrat Baria Wants Legislative MDOC Hearings

A Democratic lawmaker wants the Legislature to look deeper into the allegations of corruption that have ensnared longtime Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps.

MDOC Scandal Highlights Privatization Problems

With the nation's largest private prison operators earning more than $3 billion in revenue, private-prison and government watchdogs say the opportunity for the brand of corruption alleged against Epps and …

Epps, McCrory Indictment Outlines MDOC Bribery Scheme

Christopher Epps, the long-tenured commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, and former Rankin County School Board President Cecil McCrory will be arraigned later today on a 49-count indictment in …

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Indictment: Rankin County Businessman Bribed MDOC's Epps for Prison Contracts

Christopher Epps, the long-tenured commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, and former Rankin County School Board President Cecil McCrory will be arraigned this later today on a 49-count indictment …

Yarber Gala Raised, Spent $86K

Mayor Tony Yarber's inaugural gala committee spent almost $85,670—raised from a mostly new crew of donors than those who publicly backed his candidacy.

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Whitwell Exits Jackson City Council Early

Jackson Ward 1 Councilman Quentin Whitwell will bow out even sooner than expected.

Ole Miss Probe Magnifies Big Weekend for Rebels, Bulldogs

The Magnolia State was already going to be in the national spotlight this weekend with both Mississippi State and Ole Miss—among college football's elite teams—playing host to national powerhouses.

GOP Power Player Could Beef Up City's Lobbying Firepower

A major Republican power player who helped Mayor Tony Yarber win his current position is in line to be the City of Jackson's next lobbyist.