John Taylor Jr.
Family is a running theme for the Rev. John Taylor Jr. The 29-year-old candidate for the Ward 3 City Council seat believes a lot of Jackson's problems start with fathers …
Personhood Stalled in Nevada, Arkansas
As Mississippi voters rejected a proposed personhood amendment last November, Personhood USA and other supporters of the measure already had plans underway to promote similar initiatives in other states.
Business Leaders: Education Top Economic Priority
A report on Mississippi's economy lists education, work-force development, and strengthening and expanding the economy at the top of a list of goals for the state's future.
Arkansas AG Tells Personhood to ‘Redesign' Proposed Ballot Initiative
Earlier this week, Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel sent sponsors of a proposed personhood ballot amendment back to the drawing board.
Barbour's Last Speech to Legislature as Gov.
Welcome back, or for you freshman, Welcome!
Outgoing Gov. Haley Barbour gave his final address to a joint session of the Mississippi Legislature yesterday. For your consideration, here are his remarks, as prepared, from the governor's office:
Of Mergers and MAEP
As the Mississippi Legislature writes the 2013 budget, funding for public schools is likely to be up for debate. Specifically, legislators will consider how much funding to put toward the …
JPS to Hold Town Hall Meetings
Correction: The date for the second set of town hall meetings has been corrected below.
Post Offices Safe Until May 15
The U.S. Postal Service is in what one might call a tough spot. Since people learned how to pay bills online, parents learned how to tweet baby pictures and companies …
Council Sets Valentine's Day Election
So far, it looks like three candidates have thrown their hats into the race to replace longtime Ward 3 City Councilman Kenneth Stokes. The council voted today to hold a …
Protesters, Legislators Convene at Capitol
Holding signs above their heads and chanting, "Whose Capitol? Our Capitol!" protesters from several civil rights and union groups marched to "occupy the Capitol" during a rally this morning.
Ten Resolutions to Spend Time Together
It's a new year, and many people are resolving to lose weight, exercise more and spend more time on hobbies. For 2012, one nonprofit is encouraging families to resolve to …
Council Approves Tax Abatements for Companies
It's no secret that Jackson needs businesses inside the city limits to pay taxes and provide jobs and services. But at a City Council meeting earlier this week, council members …
Statewide Pre-K Faces Setback
The results are in, and Mississippi has lost out on its part of a $500 million pot to improve early-childhood education. Now, politicians and education advocates can't quite agree on …
Superintendent Search Update
Jackson Public Schools could have a new superintendent as early as the middle of 2012. Representatives from Ray and Associates, the consulting firm that will lead the search for the …
Decor and Donations
Red Square Clothing Co. (1000 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 9004, Ridgeland, (601) 853-8960) used holiday decorations in the store to raise money for a good cause.
In Race for Pre-K, Mississippi Falls to the Back of the Pack
The U.S. Department of Education announced last week that nine states will divvy up $500 million in federal funding for early childhood education. Politicians and education advocates can't quite agree …
Education
Good Schools=Good Jobs
For a healthy economy that can compete on a national and international level, job training begins early—very early. Children are preparing to find jobs later in life even as they …
Searching, Searching
In November, 5.7 million people in America had been unemployed for at least 27 weeks, or about six months—the official, federal definition of long-term unemployment. The long-term unemployed accounted for …
Defining Sexual Harassment
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits harassing someone because of their sex, which includes making unwanted sexual advances, threatening to demote someone if they don't give …
AT&T Admits Defeat, Newk's Expands
AT&T has agreed to end its bid to acquire T-Mobile after complaints that the merger would take AT&T from one of the largest wireless providers in the nation to a …
Barbour Touts Skills Training
Gov. Haley Barbour is singing the praises of skills training programs at community colleges and high schools while warning of future budget cuts to education. Barbour spoke during his conference …
Barbour Reacts to Race to the Top
The Obama administration announced the recipients of this year's Race to the Top grants, and Mississippi was not on the list.
PERS Commission Recommends Cuts
After a four-month wait and much speculation, a commission studying the Public Employees Retirement System has recommended freezing the cost-of-living adjustment paid to retirees for three years.
How to Win (or Lose) an Election
Johnny DuPree faced an uphill battle in his race for governor this year. As a Democrat running in a state trending more Republican, an African American where people often vote …
PERS Commission Recommends Three-year Freeze on COLA
Verbatim from Gov. Haley Barbour's office:
Verbatim: PERS Study Commission Releases Recommendations for Strengthening Pension Fund
Overtime Kerfluffle Causes Council Detour
City Council members took a detour from the agenda this morning to discuss the millions of dollars the city spends on overtime pay each year.
City Mulls Bond Deal
The City Council and city attorney have thick stacks of documents to review detailing the deal the Jackson Redevelopment Authority worked out to build a convention center hotel.
Creative ‘Coworking' Comes to Jackson
Creative Distillery hasn't quite finished setting up its new office on the third floor of Banner Hall. A few walls are still awaiting paint and an empty corner in the …
Reasons Behind Dropouts
Students drop out of school for many reasons, a panel of high-school students said, but the community can help them stay in school.
"Newt Gingrich is the Kim Kardashian of the GOP"
Evangelical explains why Gingrich doesn't deserve your vote via this YouTube clip.
One Fork at a Time
About 30 students from Chastain Middle School filed into The Penguin Restaurant, dressed in collared shirts and ties or dresses and bows. They politely took their seats at tables arranged …
Jackson Aces Elementary Math
Jackson is focusing more of its financial resources on schools with the neediest students, bucking a national trend, U.S. Department of Education data suggest.
Not Giving Up on Jackson Kids
Jackson struggles with a graduation rate below the national average, but the community is not giving up on its students, an organization started by Colin Powell says.
Eastover Subdivisions Limited
Developers eyeing properties in the Eastover neighborhood will not be able to purchase land and divide it up into smaller parcels. City Council members voted this morning to extend a …
Making Science and Math Exciting
William Johnson III, a third-grader at Casey Elementary School, looked skeptically at the rubbery, gray sheep's brain displayed on a Styrofoam plate. Tentatively, he poked at it, then turned around …
Jim Borsig
Jim Borsig said the "tremendous opportunity" to lead the University of Women humbles him. When the State College Board announced it wanted him to be the school's next president last …
Part-time Occupation
After weeks of debate, the Jackson City Council agreed to a compromise to allow Occupy Jackson protesters to stay at Smith Park later in the evening, although they will not …
UMMC Hosts Children's Health Study
The National Children's Study, a long-term study of children's health, hosted a ribbon cutting Nov. 10 at the Jackson Medical Mall to highlight research that is taking place in the …
Where's Melton's portrait?
Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. appears to be taking his time in hanging a portrait of his predecessor up in City Hall. Part of the delay, however, stems from the fact …
Former Gov. Waller Dies
Former Gov. Bill Waller has died.
Former Gov. Bill Waller has died.
Wingfield's Bounce: A Case Study
Money isn't the only factor in a good education, but $5.2 million doesn't hurt, either.
City Compromises with Occupy Protesters
Occupy Jackson will get to spend more time in Smith Park, although protesters will not get to stay overnight, as they had asked.
The Penguin Takes Flight
The Penguin, a restaurant at One University Place, will have its grand opening this Thursday at 3 p.m. The restaurant (1100 John R. Lynch St., Suite 6A) serves a casual …
Occupy Jackson Permit Under Scrutiny
On the sidewalk outside Smith Park, too-small tarps covered waterlogged books, papers and canisters of food caught in Tuesday's heavy rain. Inside City Hall a few blocks away, the signs' …
What's Next for Voter ID?
With her hand pressed to the side of her face in a sign of frustrated concentration, Valencia Robinson, founder and executive director of Mississippi in Action, sat at a table …
City Can't Afford to Divorce TCI
Plans are in motion to fund a convention center hotel downtown, with developers and city officials hoping to get everything togehter in time to get Gulf Opportunity Zone Bonds for …
Personhood's Next Move
Religious fervor illuminated much of the dialogue at a Yes on 26 event just moments after voters refused to pass a constitutional amendment to declare that people with legal rights …
Shop Local
The Small Business Association encourages Americans to shop at small businesses the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26, is part of an effort to get people to support …
Council Moves Occupy Jackson Permit to Planning Committee
The future of Occupy Jackson is still up in the air. The City Council voted this morning to discuss the group's request for a special-events permit during a Planning Committee …
