News

Child Protection, Pro-Women Bills Pass Senate; House Roiled in Race TensionHuman trafficking, domestic-abuse and breastfeeding bills easily passed through the Mississippi Senate last week.
Stayin’ Alive: House, Senate Education Bills to WatchThe webpages for Senate and House Education Committee legislation resemble a text-heavy graveyard of the bodies of bills snuffed out prematurely.
Lead in Water Devastating to Children, Their Development, Their FuturesConcerns about lead poisoning in Jackson increased in recent weeks since the Mississippi Department of Health notified the city in January that it found lead in some of the city's households last summer.
Dear Gov. Bryant: Stop Pandering to RacismLeaders like Gov. Phil Bryant must stop holding white Mississippians down to the bigotry of low expectations for fellow white people.
Lawsuit to Change Mississippi Flag An ‘Uphill Battle,’ But Could WorkA black Mississippi lawyer suing Gov. Phil Bryant for flying the state flag could be successful if he can prove that the state's original intent for putting the Confederate battle emblem on the flag's canton was racist and discriminatory back …
Proposal: Use Part of Oil Spill Money for TransportationPart of Mississippi's oil spill settlement money would be set aside to help pay for transportation improvements statewide, under a proposal that moved through the House but is likely to stall in the Senate.
'Civil Emergency' Fails for Second TimeThe second attempt at declaring a civil state of emergency failed at a special meeting of the city council Tuesday, March 1, with Ward 4 Councilman De'Keither Stamps as the only vote supporting it.
Mississippi Senate Passes Execution Secrecy BillThe names of employees and family members at an execution, as well as the pharmacy providing lethal drugs, would be kept secret under a bill Mississippi lawmakers are considering.
Senate Passes Bill Merging Welfare, Medicaid, Rehab AgenciesMississippi's departments of Human Services and Rehabilitation Services could be combined with its Medicaid agency under a legislative plan.
Mississippi House Back at Work After Partisan RiftThe Mississippi House worked several hours Monday after resolving a partisan fight that halted debate for two days late last week.
City Works to Clarify Water Status: 'Not Deemed Unsafe,' But 'Flush the Tap'Jackson Director of Public Works Kishia Powell spelled out precautionary measures people can and, in some cases, should take regarding the city's water.
Two Men and a Truck, Bully's, Clubstore Outlet, Sassy Classy, BancorpSouthMichael Sham, who has been with Two Men and a Truck since May 2013, won his own location and $10,000 to get it started in the Two Men and a Truck Moving People Forward Scholarship.
Judge: Convicts Must Pay Hit-and-Run Victim's Heirs $840,000Four white men convicted in the 2011 beating and rundown death of a black autoworker in Mississippi have been ordered to pay his heirs $840,000.
Mississippi Governor Sued Over State Flag As Civil Rights Violation, Hate SpeechA black Mississippi lawyer is suing Gov. Phil Bryant for flying the state flag, which he says is unconstitutional and causes racial violence. Carlos Moore, a lawyer based in Grenada, filed the suit that says flying the Mississippi state flag …
'Unborn Child Protection' Bill Passes Mississippi House, 'Dangerous Precedent'?The "Mississippi Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act" passed the Mississippi House of Representatives last week, meaning that legislators are back in the business of pushing anti-abortion legislation.
City to Consider Declaring Civil Emergency Over LeadThe City of Jackson might declare a state of civil emergency tomorrow morning during a special session of the city council.
Justices Won't Disturb Student's Suspension Over Rap SongThe Supreme Court is staying out of an interesting free speech debate about the power of school officials to discipline students for things they write or say away from school.
Durant Public Schools District Continues to Resist ConsolidationDurant Superintendent Edwin M. Robinson says the citizens of Durant are vehemently opposed, and have been since House legislation required pre-consolidation reports from the two school districts last year.
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.
Mississippi House Agrees to Resume Work After Partisan RiftMississippi House members say they've agreed to resume work after partisan tensions stalled business for most of Thursday and Friday.
JPD Earns Accreditation for First Time in History, Most Crime Down Over Last YearIn the 134 years since its formation, the Jackson Police Department has earned its accreditation.
Black Senator: 'Appalled' at Bryant's 'Confederate' Proclamation, Take Down 'Pro-slavery State Flag'Sen. Derrick T. Simmons, D-Greenville, issued a statement today in response to Gov. Phil Bryant's proclamation naming April as Confederate Heritage Month.
Jeff Good: Restaurants 'Adding Filters to Every Single Faucet We Have'Jeff Good, managing partner of the Mangia Bene restaurant group, told a crowd Friday morning that his kitchens were installing filtration systems in response to public reaction to issues surrounding the Jackson city water.
UPDATED: Race Tension Roils Legislature, Majority Votes to End 'Privilege'House members were previously allowed to ask questions about their rights, reputation and the conduct of House members—"personal privilege"—but the House voted in favor of striking those rights from the rules by a vote of 71-50.
Black Caucus Stalls Mississippi House Work Amid TensionsBlack Democrats in the Mississippi House say Republicans are unfairly freezing them out of the legislative process, and they are stalling business to pressure the majority GOP.
JPD Arrest Man for Killing Two Women, One of Them PregnantOn Thursday, February 25, 2016, Rahim Williams was developed and identified as a suspect in this incident. He has been charged with three counts of Murder stemming from the deaths of Stephanie Mejia, Janis Evans and the death of the …
Jackson Schools to Test Water for Lead, Elementary FirstJackson public schools will test the water at area schools, beginning with the elementary schools, and encourage parents to send water with their children if they are concerned about possible lead in the water.
Mississippi Told to Add 1 to Dem Presidential Primary BallotThe Mississippi Supreme Court is ordering that the name of a Chicago businessman be added to the ballot for the March 8 Democratic presidential primary.
Fondren's Hampton Inn Moving Ahead Despite Neighbor ObjectionsA planned Hampton Inn in Fondren moved a step forward Wednesday when the Jackson Planning Commission approved a land-use permit to allow for a north entranceway just south of Pig and Pint.
JPS Elementary Student Hosts Reading for World Read Aloud DayEight-year-old North Jackson Elementary School 3rd grader Josiah Calvert already has plans to attend the University of Mississippi.