Nobody Minding the StoreThe Jackson City Council grudgingly approved about $45,000 of payments to the U.S. Treasury Department Tuesday after the city failed to manage two federal law-enforcement grants. The council voted 6-0, with Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes absent, approving a $40,394 …
Melissa DiFattaI first met my wife at Hal & Mal's after an art opening. I asked for her phone number. She replied: "I'm Melissa Baria. If you want to call me, you can remember my name and look it up in …
BREAKING: Supreme Court Rules Against BerryUpdate: Today, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the appeal of doomed prisoner Earl Berry. His attorney, Jim Craig, released the following statement:
‘Wishy-Washy Approach To Public Policy'Jackson Mayor Frank Melton dismissed rumors at a Monday press conference that he had forced a local contractor into subcontracting a Louisiana company he originally favored to remove debris from an April 4 storm in North Jackson.
Big Fix Rig Needs Cats to Spay This WeekIf you have a cat that needs to be fixed—you know who you are—the Big Rig Fix is doing low-cost spays and neuters in Jackson five days a month, and are in town this week (May 1-3) with not enough …
Agency in Jeopardy Over Ad OversightHouse Democrats and Gov. Haley Barbour are squaring off against one another regarding how the state spends advertising dollars. The House and Senate were unable to come to terms with a Mississippi Department of Employment Security reauthorization bill on the …
Quincy JacksonThe life of Quincy Jackson, Rainbow Co-Op's gregarious new outreach coordinator, contains the kinds of surprise twists and dramatic turns more befitting a character in a television sitcom or convoluted novel.
Barbour Toots Own Horn, Rags MusgroveGov. Haley Barbour released a statement today about, well, himself. Here it is, verbatim: <i>When Haley Barbour became Governor of Mississippi in January 2004, Mississippi was in its worst financial shape since the Great Depression. The State was in a …
Gov to Allow Public Comment on Tax Study – May 19[Verbatim statement] Mississippi citizens and interest groups will have the opportunity to speak to members of the Governor's Tax Study Commission, Chairman Leland Speed announced today. The opportunity for public comment will take place on Monday, May 19, 2008 from …
U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Voter ID RegulationsA U.S. Supreme Court known for its anti-regulatory bent today voted 6-3 to uphold Indiana's voter-identification regulations, making Republicans happy and clearing the way for voter-ID laws in other states, including Mississippi. Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, a Republican, …
JPS Board Moves Toward New SuperintendentIn a special meeting Sunday, the Jackson Public Schools board agreed to employ the Mississippi School Board Association to help in the district's hunt for its next superintendent.
JSU's Jaymar Johnson Goes In Sixth Round of DraftThe Associated Press is reporting that the Minnesota Vikings chose Jackson State University receiver Jaymar Johnson in the sixth round of the NFL draft today. The No. 198rd pick overall, Johnson is the first player from a Mississippi college to …
Melton Hires ‘Rogue' Debris Removers?Two council members say Jackson Mayor Frank Melton has enlisted a Louisiana company to do rogue debris removal work in the city. "These guys were on the street all over the city this morning," said Council President Leslie McLemore. "They …
Radio Free JacksonJoin Todd Stauffer and Kamikaze at noon on WLEZ (107.3 FM) as they talk about race and the media with Rebecca Miller and Queen, the JFP's newest columnist.
Lott Uses Old Campaign Cash to Help Lobbying ClientsThe Associated Press is reporting that former Sen. Trent Lott is redirecting leftover campaign millions to lawmakers who can help his new high-profile lobbying clients—and it's legal:
Berry Killed on His Birthday?As Earl Berry's attorneys continue their protests that the state's method for killing inmates is flawed, Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood filed a motion this week to reset the execution of Earl Berry for the 1987 murder of Mary Bounds …
Ridin' the Wave: The JFP Interview with Ronnie MusgroveFormer Gov. Ronnie Musgrove has his eye on Sen. Trent Lott's old seat. He's running on a "throw the bums out" platform against his opponent, and the Republican Party.
Bill Minor: ‘I Hate to Be So Blunt'Mississippi journalist and columnist Bill Minor spoke with Adam Lynch of the Jackson Free Press yesterday about his views on the prosecution of his son, Paul Minor, and discussed the newly disclosed information that his son's prosecutor, Robert Coughlin, is …
Forthcoming U.S. Chamber ‘Lawsuit Climate' Report a ‘Phony'?The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's "Institute for Legal Reform" plans to release a report Wednesday ranking Mississippi as the 48th worst "legal climate" in the country. In response to "Lawsuit Climate 2008: Ranking the States,", the Mississippi trial-attorney group, the …
JFP Launches 'JFP 3.0' BetaApril 14, 2008–We've switched things over to the new content management system, imported everything over from the databases and -- hopefully -- we've even gotten your user account transferred over correctly. (See the "login" link at the top-right of the …
Come Fly With Us on Earth DayHappy Earth Day, Jackson! Last week's print edition of the JFP was devoted to all things green—and positive actions you can take to give back to this great planet we've been loaned—from urban farming to holding clothes swap parties. For …
WAPT: Former JSU Student Shot, RecoveringWAPT is reporting that former Jackson State student Lamar Smith, 24, of Lithonia, Ga., was shot once last night. He was treated and released from St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Former Planned Parenthood Head Faye Wattleton Honored Tonight Downtown[verbatim invitation) In the Spirit of Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) We seek to support minority businesses and downtown Jackson revitalization, Women For Progress of Mississippi, Inc.and Southern Rural Black Women's Initiative Cordially invite you to attend a reception honoring Ms. Faye …
Update: State Wants Berry Executed on May 5 ... His BirthdayAs Earl Berry's attorneys continue their protests that the state's method for killing inmates is flawed, Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood filed a motion yesterday to reset the execution of Earl Berry for the 1987 murder of Mary Bounds to …
Fed Dollars for New Sirens?Hinds County supervisors are applying for up to $1.6 million in federal grant money to replace the county's 67 emergency sirens. Supervisors Robert Graham, Peggy Calhoun, and George Smith visited U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson last week to discuss funding new …
More Pay for JPD Awaits Barbour ApprovalMississippi Sen. David Blount, D-Jackson, said legislation he sponsored to pay the Jackson police department $16,000 survived a conference committee and is now waiting for Gov. Haley Barbour's signature. "The chief and I talked about this months ago. I've been …
Karl Rove Called to Testify About Probes, Including Minor and DiazThe House Judiciary Committee today requested that presidential adviser Karl Rove appear to testify "concerning the troubling issue of the politicization of the Department of Justice during this Administration." It also released a report (PDF/323kb), "Allegations of Selective Prosecution in …
The Agony of AppropriationsAs the 2008 session of Mississippi Legislature session draws to an end, some bills will likely wither and die.
Mississippi Beats Louisiana; Now Most Unhealthy StateCQ Press has released its annual list of unhealthiest states—and Mississippi comes out the winner, taking out last year's winner, Louisiana. And the reasons couldn't be more direct:
Scruggs Takes the Fifth 19 TimesThe Sun-Herald is reporting that attorney Dickie Scruggs is refusing to incriminate himself in a bribery trial in Oxford: