UPDATED: Frustration Over Violence, Chaos at Forest Hill Community ChatThe auditorium of Forest Hill High School was packed Wednesday night where parents, students and teachers sounded off to Jackson Public Schools' top administration, airing their frustrations about violence and instability at the JPS school.
Canessa SwansonJackson State University's softball season has been mired in struggles. That doesn't mean the Tigers haven't had many bright spots this season, though, and one of those is senior infielder Canessa Swanson.
‘Police vs. Black’: Bridging the ‘Racialized Gulf’Oressa Napper-Williams' son Andrell was a victim of gun violence twice. The first time was when he was 16 and a student at Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Harlem.
Ceasefire in the City? How Police Can (and Cannot) Deter GunfireIn 2015, Precinct 2 Commander Jarratt Taylor helped execute a massive enforcement effort called Metro Area Crime Elimination, or MACE for short, promised to be a local version of the national Operation Ceasefire model.
The Problems with a SupermajorityThe 2016 session marked a turning point in the political landscape of the state. After a contested election resulted in the removal of former Rep. Bo Eaton, a Democrat from Smith County, the GOP gained a supermajority in the House …
City Leaders at a Loss over Water, Sewer Revenue LossThe water- and sewer-revenue deficit has a few possible sources, but even Jackson City Council members are having a difficult time parsing out the how and why.
Could an After-school Network Solve Mississippi’s Education ‘Crisis’?Proponents say high-quality after-school programs are one solution to Mississippi's ongoing education problems, including some of the lowest scores on national tests, and Operation Shoestring's data seems to support their claims.
Makaila Faith NixonEvery morning, Makaila Faith Nixon and her mom, Dee Bookert Nixon, start with stating their daily affirmations while looking at their reflection in the mirror.
Melanie AddingtonWhen Gov. Phil Bryant signed the controversial "Religious Freedom Bill," HB 1523, into law Tuesday, April 5, many individuals, organizations and businesses made their objections to the bill known. For Oxford, Miss., resident Melanie Addington, that meant fighting fire with …
Siemens Rep: Water Billing Glitches Result of Backed-up 'TO-DOs'Siemens representative Frank D. Gagliardi spent most of his presentation to the Jackson City Council's Budget Committee Monday scribbling notes in the margins of the paper on the podium before him as council members and City employees let loose their …
Hundreds Rally to Repeal HB 1523, State Faces Deadline Today Before LawsuitHundreds of protesters, from around Mississippi and even out of the state, marched alongside several state lawmakers from the Capitol to the governor's mansion on Sunday afternoon, waving flags and signs and chanting "No hate in our state!"
10 Local Stories of the WeekThere's never a slow news week in Jackson, Miss., and last week was no exception. Here are the local stories JFP reporters brought you in case you missed them.
Monique DavisGrowing up in Washington, D.C., Monique Davis grew to love art early on. Her mother regularly took her to local art museums since admission was free.
Public-school Tests Glitch Across StateTwelve thousand Mississippi students spent nearly 20 minutes unable to take their Mississippi Assessment Program tests yesterday morning.
Taveze CalhounThe bulk of the picks in the draft have to wait until Saturday to hear their names called during rounds four through seven. It could be then before former Mississippi State University cornerback Taveze Calhoun gets snatched up.
No Lead in Jackson’s TanksFor the first time since January, the levels of lead in water sampled from the City of Jackson distribution system have tested below the EPA-mandated amount.
Amazing Teens 2016A major part of our mission at the Jackson Free Press is to highlight the positives in the metro area. These 14 teens plus this week's Jacksonian are part of how we achieve that.
The Curious Case of What the #MSLeg Passed, What It Didn’tWith their right to spend their campaign donations on mortgages, automobiles, clothing, tuition payments or non-documented loans still firmly in place, state lawmakers closed up shop early and skipped town last week.