Wyatt WatersThe Mississippi Arts Commission has announced that Clinton artist and area favorite Wyatt Waters, known statewide for his watercolor paintings, will receive a 2010 Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts. The award honors five artists each year in the …
Judges Order Two Off Mississippi Death RowIn separate cases, federal judges have ruled that two Mississippi inmates on death row in Parchman are mentally ill. Both cases stem from 1981 crimes, and the two inmates have each served 27 years.
Consolidation: The Same Old Story?The issue of school consolidation is popping up in anticipation of another cash-strapped legislative session. Calls for merging some of the state's 152 public-school districts aren't new in lean budget years, despite a lack of evidence of its value.
National HIV/AIDS Town Hall Comes to JacksonThe White House Office of National AIDS Policy selected 14 cities for community discussions to develop and implement a national HIV/AIDS strategy. Among the stops is Jackson on Monday, Nov. 16.
Beth PoffBeth Poff laughs her best laugh as she ponders the question, "What do you do in your spare time?"
Why Foreign Businesses Dig MississippiThe state of Mississippi currently has 30,231 businesses that count as foreign-owned, or are owned by corporations, LLCs, unlimited liability partners or other business organizations. The list includes companies such as Calgon Carbon from New Zealand, Rolls-Royce and BP America …
Independent WomanPeggy Calhoun's office in the Hinds County Circuit Court building has a big window overlooking Pascagoula Street and Jackson's City Hall. It's a privileged perch. Most of her fellow Hinds County supervisors have offices across the street in the County …
President Obama's Speech at Fort Hood Memorial (Transcript)Yesterday, President Obama spoke at a memorial for the Americans murdered at Fort Hood last week. In honor of the victims, and all veterans today, here are his comments, verbatim:
Smoking Ban Results in Fewer Heart AttacksWhile many Jackson citizens have yet to see the health benefits of a smoking ban enacted by the city last February, the city of Starkville, which banned smoking in 2006, is seeing a payback for the decision in better health. …
PSC Moving to Next Fight on $2.4B Coal PlantThe Public Service Commission announced a unanimous agreement to continue hearings into the need for a new $2.4 billion coal plant in Kemper County. "The Public Service Commission finds that Mississippi Power Company (MPCO) has demonstrated that public convenience and …
Dem Support for Power Grab Not Likely, Holland SaysJoint Legislative Budget Committee member Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, says House Democrats will not readily agree to hand Gov. Haley Barbour more power to personally cut the state budget. "We're likely to give the governor that kind of authority on the …
Justin VaughnJustin Vaughn, a 26-year-old designer, is the founder of Jackson-area T-shirt screen-printing company, Unik Ink, pronounced "unique" ink. A lifelong resident of Madison, Vaughn graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in art, emphasizing graphic …
Free Flu Meds AvailableThe Mississippi State Department of Health is making antiviral medications available to uninsured and underinsured patients. In an agreement with selected pharmacies, the department is offering Tamiflu and Relenza from state stockpiles to Mississippians who can't afford them.
Levee Board Pushs Corps on Lakes Plans, AgainAt a meeting this morning, the Levee Board again pushed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to justify the $4 million the Corps has said it will cost just to revisit the feasibility and costs of two controversial Lakes plans …
Hood Fights Cyber Crime, Online PredatorsMississippi Attorney General Jim Hood continued his efforts to combat cyber crime today, unveiling an Internet safety video created in collaboration with Comcast Cable. The video, which will be available to Comcast subscribers and on the attorney general's Web site, …
Public Meetings and Community Events This WeekNov. 9 and 10, Southern Hospitality Conference at the Hilton Jackson (1001 E. County Line Rd.). The Mississippi Hotel and Lodging Association hosts this annual conference for the tourism and lodging industries in the state. Call 228-436-0630.
Roy WheatSome of the most honorable and selfless men and women in our country's history have served in the armed services. Mississippian Roy Wheat entered this category with a heroic, selfless act during the Vietnam War.
Ida Weakens to Tropical StormThis morning, the National Hurricane Center downgraded Ida from a hurricane to a tropical storm, with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph. The late season gulf storm was off the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle as …
BREAKING: Health Care Reform Passes U.S. House 220-215One Republican joined 219 Democratic members of the U.S. Congress minutes ago to pass H.R. 3962 to reform health care in America. Rep. Joseph Cao, of the 2nd District of Louisiana joined Democrats to pass the legislation. A cheer went …
Protesters Demand Epps Stop Inmate AbuseMembers of the Southeastern Christian Association, Operation Help Civil Rights Group, and Mothers of Inmates protested outside Mississippi Department of Corrections headquarters on President Street in Jackson today, lobbying for fair treatment of sons and husbands who are inmates in …
JFP People of the Day: Barbara Taylor and Jerry MosleyBarbara Taylor and Jerry Mosley are walking together this weekend. Tomorrow, Taylor will lead a team from the Community Services Department of the Mississippi State Hospital in NAMIWalks, a benefit for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Here's What's Happening this WeekendTwo words for this weekend: Mistletoe Marketplace. If you haven't even begun to think about the upcoming holidays, this annual event presented by the Jackson Junior League will get you so psyched for everything Christmas that you just might sit …
New Look, New Name for Downtown RestaurantSuniora Page bounced back from bad luck to a new career. After being laid off from her job as a manager at the Nissan plant in Canton in October 2008, Page took a job as a cashier at Miller's Grocery …
Attorney General Info Initiative LaunchedIn an effort to have Mississippi residents understand the resources available to them through his office, Attorney General Jim Hood announced a statewide educational initiative yesterday.
GOP Senators Agree to Unemployment ExtensionAfter a days-long stand off, U.S. Senate Republicans agreed to unanimously support extending unemployment and homebuyers' credits yesterday.
Bill ChandlerBill Chandler, executive director and founder of Jackson-based Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance, does not let being 68 stop him from doing good. He is an advocate for immigrant rights throughout the state of Mississippi. For this work, he was named …
Toys for Tots Registration This WeekendThe City of Jackson and the U.S. Marine Corps has announced its annual child signup for the coming holiday season. Registration will be held at the Jackson Medical Mall near the Subway Sandwich Shop (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Drive) on …
JFP INDEX: VIP White JacksonThe November 2009 edition of The Clarion-Ledger's now-shrunken VIP Jackson Magazine is a study in how (not) to publish an extremely white publication in a majority-black metroby a company that supposedly prides itself on media diversity.
Going RogueOn his county-provided laptop, Phil Fisher has replaced the standard mouse icon with a sword. A former Marine and a current brigadier general in the Mississippi Army National Guard, Fisher has a bit of the warrior in him, and his …
One Republican joined 219 Democratic members of the U.S. Congress minutes ago to pass H.R. 3962 to reform health care in America. Rep. Joseph Cao, of the 2nd District of Louisiana joined Democrats to pass the legislation. A cheer went …