City & County
City Council Votes on 2022 Legislative Agenda, Wants Land Bank, Water-Sewer Debt Forgiveness Extension
On Tuesday, Jan. 11, Jackson City Council President and Ward 7 Councilwoman Virgi Lindsay called a special city council meeting for members to vote on six resolutions on the City's ...
City & County
Who Is the Hinds County Board of Supervisors’ President?
The question regarding who will chair the Hinds County Board of Supervisors meeting next week, Monday, Jan. 17, remains unclear as two supervisors both claim to be the president—District 2 ...
City & County
JPS Starts In-Person Learning Tomorrow, Enhanced COVID-19 Protocol
Students at Jackson Public School will resume in-person learning tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 6, with the district leadership sticking with the resumption plan announced in December amidst an uptick in COVID-19 ...
City & County
City Engineer: Despite Improvements, Severe Winter Storm Could Wreak Havoc
February 2022 will mark Jackson's first anniversary of two back-to-back winter storms, which jeopardized the ability of many among the city’s more than 150,000 residents to get water.
City & County
Mississippi Supreme Court Appoints Senior Status Judge, Justice to Hinds County Cases
The lawsuit alleging slander that New Jerusalem Church Pastor Dwayne Pickett brought against two City of Jackson council members advanced on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, when Mississippi Supreme Court Chief ...
City & County
Pickett v. Banks: Judge Green Asks Supreme Court for Special Judge
Senior Judge Tomie Green of Hinds County Circuit Court asked Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael K. Randolph on Dec. 21 to appoint a special judge to a slander case ...
City & County
City Council Approves $2 Million for Roads, Cemetery Transfer to Jackson State University
"This will take some (pressure) off the City who don't have to do the maintenance, and it will be a part of the plan where Jackson State (University) is improving ...
Politics
Crisler Weighs 'Options' After Circuit Clerk Rejects Election Boxes’ Examination Request
Former Hinds County Interim Sheriff Marshand Crisler requested to examine the election boxes in a letter hand-delivered to the Hinds County Circuit Clerk Zach Wallace on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021.
City & County
Councilman Foote: Why I voted for a Water-Sewer Rate Increase, but not a Garbage Disposal Rate Increase
On Tuesday, Dec. 14, the Jackson City Council, at a special council meeting, voted for a 20% increase in the water bill of residents and businesses but rejected a 70% ...
City & County
'Addressing a Human Need': City Leaders Ask for 'Equitable Share' of EPA Water Infrastructure Revolving Loan
City of Jackson officials have appealed for fairness in distributing the nearly $75 million in water-infrastructure funding that Mississippi is getting in 2022 from the Infrastructure Bill that President Joe ...
City & County
Bicentenary: Community Foundation for Mississippi Donates $1 million to Planetarium
An exuberant round of applause greeted the announcement of $1 million towards the Russell C. Davis Planetarium on Monday, Nov. 29, at the City of Jackson Bicentenary celebration opening event ...
City & County
City Kicks off 13-Month Bicentenary Celebration Today
The City of Jackson is kicking off the celebration of its 200th year of existence at 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29, at Thalia Mara Hall, with the unveiling of the ...
Politics
‘A Dream of Mine’: Tyree Jones Wins Sheriff Election
With 60.34% of the vote going to Hinds County Sheriff's Office Investigation Captain Tyree Jones at the Tuesday, Nov. 23, run-off election, he became the new sheriff, defeating Interim Sheriff ...
City & County
Mayor Plans Contracts For Grass Cutting, Litter Pickup
Conversations veered into the cleanliness and appearance of the City of Jackson during a garbage-contract townhall held on Thursday, Nov. 18, at the New Horizon Church on Ellis Avenue and ...
City & County
Pickett v. Banks, Lindsay: City Garbage Contract Fiasco Breeds a Lawsuit
Dwayne K. Pickett, Sr., New Jerusalem Church's senior pastor, sued Council President and Ward 7 Councilwoman Virgi Lindsay and Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks for slander on Oct. 14.
City & County
‘Another Layer of Objectivity’: City Opts for Blind Evaluation of Garbage Disposal Contract Proposals
The City of Jackson has opted for blind evaluation of garbage-disposal technical proposals to guard against claims of unfairness, City officials said at the town hall held at Fondren Church ...
City & County
County Approves $100,000 for Livingston Park and Others
Five recreational spots in the city of Jackson will get $100,000 in upgrades following the Hinds County Board of Supervisors' approval of the funding given on Monday, Nov. 15.
City & County
Jackson Church Clears $1.4 Million in Medical Debt Across Mississippi
Nine hundred and fifty-five people across Mississippi have benefitted from medical-debt cancellation through the effort of Jackson-based The Word Center Church.
City & County
City Council Approves 'Rules of Ethical Conduct,' $365,674 for Water Treatment Plant Repairs
After introducing the ordinance at a special meeting on Oct. 28, the Jackson City Council adopted a code of ethics on Tuesday, Nov. 9, with violations attracting a $500 fine ...
Politics
Hicks Wins County Judge Special Election; Sheriff, District 5 Constable Elections for Runoff Nov. 23
Carlyn Hicks defeated Greta Harris at the special election on Tuesday, Nov. 2, for Subdistrict 1 Hinds County Court Judge.
State
Six Jail Deaths Recorded in Hinds County this Year
Lack of compliance with court orders and the department of justice’s consent decree led to six deaths at the Hinds County Detention Center in Raymond this year, court-appointed monitor Elizabeth ...
City & County
‘Keeping the Peace’: Eight Candidates Run for Hinds County District 5 Constable
Candidates running for the Hinds County District 5 Constable position at the Nov. 2 special election attended two recent, separate forums to jostle for votes. Bennie C. Buckner resigned from ...
City & County
Harris, Hicks for Hinds County Court Judge Election
After Melvin Priester, Sr. resigned on June 3, 2020, as Subdistrict 1 Hinds County Court Judge, the Mississippi Supreme Court appointed Carlyn Hicks in his place. In the election to ...
Politics
Archie v. Hinds County Board of Supervisors: Mississippi Supreme Court Appoints Dickinson to Case
The Hinds County Board of Supervisors voted to remove District 2 Supervisor David Archie as vice president on Sept. 29.
Politics
Seals, Caston, Mayfield Run for Hinds County Sheriff
Hinds County District 4 Constable Leon Seals, Jackson Police Department Officer Brandon Caston, and former Town of Edwards Police Chief Torrance Mayfield are running for Hinds County sheriff at the ...
City & County
Mayor Shares Personal Story, Proclaims October Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba shared a personal story of domestic violence at a press briefing on Monday, Oct. 11, as he proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the ...
Politics
West, Thompson Running for Hinds County Sheriff
In the field of 13 people who are running in the special election for Hinds County sheriff on Nov. 2 are Ather West and Reginald Thompson, both former Hinds County ...
State
Twenty-One People Admitted to Hinds County Reentry Program
On Oct. 12, the recently launched Hinds County Reentry Program will see 21 applicants start a two-month course, called “Thinking for a Change."
Politics
Crisler, Wall and Jones Running for Hinds County Sheriff
Interim Hinds County Sheriff Marshand Crisler, former Chief Deputy of Operations Eric Wall and former Hinds County Sheriff's Office Information Officer Tyree Jones are running to become the new Hinds ...
Politics
Spooner, Tannehill Running for Hinds County Sheriff
Richard Spooner and Les Tannehill, veterans of the Hinds Sheriff's office, are among the 13 candidates running for Hinds County sheriff.
Politics
Matory, Harris-Williams, and Green Running for Hinds County Sheriff
Cheryl Matory, Beverly Harris-Williams and Colendula Green are among the 13 candidates running for the Hinds County sheriff’s position in a special election on Nov. 2.
City & County
(UPDATED) Jackson City Council Rescinds Mayor's Emergency Order, Nixes Garbage Disposal Contract
A war of words has continued between Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba and Waste Management over a new garbage disposal contract.
City & County
Mayor Declares State of Emergency As Waste Disposal Negotiations Hit Snag
Getting a garbage-collection contract for the City of Jackson is coming down to the wire after Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba declared a state of emergency on Friday, Sept. 17, saying ...
City & County
Illegal Dumping: City-wide Clean-up Planned
It will take a city-wide cleanup effort to move the needle against the menace of illegal dumping in Jackson, Solid Waste Division Manager Lakesha Weathers told the city council at ...
City & County
Jackson Planning Director Confirmed As Two Councilmen Question Her Record
Two Jackson City Council members voted against Director of Planning and Development Jordan Hillman's official confirmation to a new term on Thursday, Sept. 10.
City & County
Interim Hinds County Sheriff Moves to Curtail Violent Crime with Gun Suppression Unit
Interim Hinds County Sheriff Marshand Crisler plans to set up a gun suppression unit to arrest convicted felons caught with guns.
City & County
Jackson Rescinds $1 Million Plan to Rent Misdemeanor Jail Space, Fund Deputies
The Jackson City Council has reversed its controversial 2020 decision to use $500,000 to rent jail spaces in Holmes and Yazoo counties for people charged with low-level misdemeanors in the ...
City & County
City Council Approves $2 Million for Multi-Use Trail, Questions Data Scientist on Deliverables
"While we've been doing walking trails in various parts of the city, we wanted to connect west Jackson, make sure that there were no parts of our city that were ...
Cover
Lost in a Broken System: Why Detainees Spend Years in Hinds Jails Without Trial
Fifty-eight people in Hinds County Detention Centers by July 2, 2021, had spent more than two years there, documents the Jackson Free Press obtained show.
City & County
Group Plans Black Business Expo in Jackson and Gulfport in 2022
The Mississippi Black Business Pages will host two events in Jackson and Gulfport next year, bringing together Black-owned businesses at those locations.
City & County
Hinds County Reentry Program Starts Collecting Applications Sept. 1
Hinds County will take applications from intending participants of its reentry program on Wednesday, Sept. 1, at the Jackson Convention Center from 9:30 a.m to 4 p.m.
City & County
JPS Board Approves Virtual Learning Option for PreK-6th Grade Starting Sept. 2
Jackson Public School District parents have until 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, to fill out a survey indicating if they want the virtual-learning option for their pre-kindergarten to sixth-grade students.
City & County
City Council Rejects Garbage Collection Contract Twice Citing Confusion, Bad Timing
The City of Jackson has until Sept. 30 to get a new garbage-collection contract after the city council voted twice in two weeks—Aug. 9 and 19—against approving the agreements that ...
Education
Indigent Jackson Children Increased Kindergarten Readiness Score Via City Program
Children at the Jackson Early Childhood Development Centers recorded a 40% increase in kindergarten readiness scores in the 2020-2021 session.
State
Marshand Crisler New Interim Hinds Sheriff, As Mayors Honor Lee Vance
Friends, family and associates of Sheriff Lee Vance, along with local leaders, gathered at the Mississippi Coliseum on Saturday, Aug. 14, the Jackson native’s burial ceremony. Vance died Aug. 4 ...
City & County
'Crazy Times': Mayor Lumumba Defends Vaccine Mandate for City Workers
Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba signed an executive order Wednesday requiring all City workers to produce proof by Aug. 31 of receiving at least one vaccine dose or a negative ...
City & County
City Uses $2.95 Million to Remove 117 Blighted Properties in Jackson
The City of Jackson, working with blight-elimination partners, has demolished 117 properties across the city using a $2.95 million grant from the Mississippi Home Corporation, officials announced at a press ...
State
‘It Was Hard For Me to Stop’: Hinds Circuit Drug Intervention Court Graduates 26
Veronica Coleman, 33, graduated from the Hinds Circuit Drug Court on July 28, 2021. The mother of four believes the program was a lifeline.
Civil Rights
60th Anniversary of the Freedom Rides: The ‘Accidental Freedom Rider’ Locked up in Parchman at 13
Hezekiah Watkins was looking for a hero. As a 13-year-old middle schooler in 1961 in Jackson who had lost his father three years earlier, he thought that seeing and possibly ...
Education
Mississippi Teachers’ Union Sues Jackson Chapter President for Embezzlement
American Federation of Teachers Mississippi is suing Jackson Federation of Teachers President Akemi Stout in the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi for alleged embezzlement of ...
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