Don’t Politicize Special-Needs EducationRecent legislative deliberations, which come in the context of a larger debate over Mississippi's education crisis, have a whiff of election-year pandering in the same way politicians try to churn fears about terrorism with soccer moms in presidential election years.
Like A Tree Without RootsMiss Doodle Mae: "Jojo's Discount Dollar Store is ready to educate the Ghetto Science Community during Black History Month with the 'From Here to Timbuktu Sale.'
No Legislation Is Dead Until It’s DeadIt's election year in Mississippi, and that means that state legislators will go for the controversial jugular if it might translate into votes back in the home district.
Farish Street Still in the BalanceDuring the day, little is happening on Farish Street. As most people know, plans to redevelop the historic street, which once stood as the central-business-district for Jackson's African American community, lagged for years only before new hope met a legal …
Despite Henley-Young Report, Frank Bluntson Says ‘I’m Calling the Shots’On Oct. 18, 2014, a teenage boy was booked into the Henley-Young Juvenile Justice Center. The boy has bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and the facility's medical staff did not believe he should be admitted because the jail lacked the resources …
Special Ed: ‘It’s Been a Rollercoaster’Many educators, disability advocate Mandy Rogers said, don't know the procedures regarding students with special needs, such as what kinds of disabilities, like dyslexia, are covered under disability law.
Why I Fight for Education FundingOnly about 30 percent of student achievement comes from in-school factors such as teachers, principals and class size; almost 70 percent comes from outside factors such as poverty, parents and access to resources.
Superheroes in Jackson?I always want to imagine what it would be like if Jackson had superheroes. It's got the right atmosphere for a comic book world—varied types of architecture, slums, an overwhelming sense of hope in the air (yes, I believe in …
South Jackson Kroger Closure Causes AlarmResidents in south Jackson are working feverishly to make sure their neighborhood doesn't become a food desert when the Kroger on Terry Road closes later this month.
State Might Sell Hal & Mal's PropertyA legislative proposal would allow for the sale or lease of state-owned property that now houses Hal & Mal's, a restaurant and music venue.
Ben Allen: Downtown Faces Setbacks, HopeBriefing a small community gathering about downtown Jackson, including the Capitol Street two-way project, Ben Allen talked about regret.
McDaniel's New PAC: The Next GenerationWith hopes of bringing together multiple factions throughout the state in the wake of a divisive Senate race, state Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville, recently announced his new political action committee, the United Conservatives Fund.
Wistful, Humorous Romney Looks Back as He Ponders '16Greeted as a celebrity in the heart of the Republican Deep South, GOP's 2012 nominee Mitt Romney—who still says he's mulling another bid in 2016—talked to Mississippi State University students like a commencement speaker.
Why Few Mississippi Mothers Nurse Their BabiesAs she stared through the nursery window at her four-day-old twins, 22-year-old Francesca Maxwell ticked off her reasons for wanting to breast-feed: Her obstetrician advised it. Her mother thought it a good idea. Even the babies’ father was all for …
A Union PresenceEven the unofficial presence of a union and its supporters help workers long before an election is held and can force a company to act right.
On Life and Crime in South JacksonI don't like the term "black-on-black crime." Crime is crime, and it happens in all communities, some more than others. The difference is in how we organize as a community to deal with it.
Target: Abortion Rights, Public Ed, LGBT CustodyWomen's rights and public education topped the Mississippi legislative agenda as it rolled past the Jan. 19 deadline for filing bills and into the fourth week of the session, while a move by a Democratic lawmaker to limit LGBT custody …
Ain’t Grand Juries Grand? Not Always.Every person who is acquitted by a jury was indicted by a grand jury. Let that sink in, Dennis Sweet III, a prominent Jackson attorney, told an audience recently when talking about the effectiveness of the grand-jury process in Mississippi.
Battlefield Park Fights for Its ReputationWilla Womack, the Battlefield Park president, told the Jackson Free Press that she believes it's unfair that their neighborhood is painted negatively when violence occurs anywhere in west Jackson, particularly given that Battlefield Field park residents are particularly active in …
Special Ed Bills Duke It OutTwo bills aimed at improving the educational experience for students with special needs—from opposite ends of the political spectrum—are making the rounds this Legislative session.
It's election year in Mississippi, and that means that state legislators will go for the controversial jugular if it might translate into votes back in the home district.
During the day, little is happening on Farish Street. As most people know, plans to redevelop the historic street, which once stood as the central-business-district for Jackson's African American community, lagged for years only before new hope met a legal …
On Oct. 18, 2014, a teenage boy was booked into the Henley-Young Juvenile Justice Center. The boy has bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and the facility's medical staff did not believe he should be admitted because the jail lacked the resources …
Many educators, disability advocate Mandy Rogers said, don't know the procedures regarding students with special needs, such as what kinds of disabilities, like dyslexia, are covered under disability law.
Residents in south Jackson are working feverishly to make sure their neighborhood doesn't become a food desert when the Kroger on Terry Road closes later this month.
A legislative proposal would allow for the sale or lease of state-owned property that now houses Hal & Mal's, a restaurant and music venue.
Doctors have found a new tumor in U.S. Rep. Alan Nunnelee and told him no further medical treatment is possible, a spokesman for the Mississippi congressman said Friday.
Briefing a small community gathering about downtown Jackson, including the Capitol Street two-way project, Ben Allen talked about regret.
Some students with disabilities may get a chance to leave the public school system here—but advocates and parents aren't sure it will improve their education.
With hopes of bringing together multiple factions throughout the state in the wake of a divisive Senate race, state Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville, recently announced his new political action committee, the United Conservatives Fund.
Greeted as a celebrity in the heart of the Republican Deep South, GOP's 2012 nominee Mitt Romney—who still says he's mulling another bid in 2016—talked to Mississippi State University students like a commencement speaker.
As she stared through the nursery window at her four-day-old twins, 22-year-old Francesca Maxwell ticked off her reasons for wanting to breast-feed: Her obstetrician advised it. Her mother thought it a good idea. Even the babies’ father was all for …
I don't like the term "black-on-black crime." Crime is crime, and it happens in all communities, some more than others. The difference is in how we organize as a community to deal with it.
Women's rights and public education topped the Mississippi legislative agenda as it rolled past the Jan. 19 deadline for filing bills and into the fourth week of the session, while a move by a Democratic lawmaker to limit LGBT custody …
Every person who is acquitted by a jury was indicted by a grand jury. Let that sink in, Dennis Sweet III, a prominent Jackson attorney, told an audience recently when talking about the effectiveness of the grand-jury process in Mississippi.
Willa Womack, the Battlefield Park president, told the Jackson Free Press that she believes it's unfair that their neighborhood is painted negatively when violence occurs anywhere in west Jackson, particularly given that Battlefield Field park residents are particularly active in …
As far as Jackson elections go, it's unusual for one candidate to walk away with a landslide victory in an eight-way race.
Two bills aimed at improving the educational experience for students with special needs—from opposite ends of the political spectrum—are making the rounds this Legislative session.