News

New Law Speeds Up Physician Licensing Across State Lines Out-of-state physicians could get licensed to practice in Mississippi more quickly, under a new law.
GOP Lawyer: Eaton Election Lawsuit Should Be DismissedLawyers for Republican leaders of the Mississippi House of Representatives say a lawsuit seeking to reinstate a Democratic representative should be dismissed.
Bliss Bride, Goodwill in Jackson and Coca-Cola Plant AuctionBliss Gift and Home, a gift and home decor store located inside Banner Hall, is hosting a ribbon-cutting celebration tonight, May 17, to commemorate the opening of Bliss Bride, a new bridal concierge and gift-registry service that will be the …
Protests at City Hall over 'Secrecy and Division' Amid Budget Deficits, Huge Water BillsA small group of concerned citizens gathered in the light rain Tuesday morning on the steps of Jackson City Hall to protest the "secrecy and division" of the city government, even as Jackson City Council gathered for its regular meeting …
Mississippi GOP Reps: Superintendent Should Oppose Transgender Rules or Step Down A group of Mississippi House Republicans emailed a letter today directly to state Superintendent Dr. Carey Wright, asking her to step down unless the Mississippi Department of Education swiftly reverses its decision to follow the president’s guidelines on protecting transgender …
GOP Blocks Provision to Require Women to Register for Draft Buckling under conservative pressure, the Republican-led House Rules Committee pulled a legislative sleight of hand and stripped a provision from the annual defense policy bill that would have required women between the ages of 18 and 25 to sign up …
Mississippi Senate Leader Burton Gets DUI Charge After Wreck The second-ranking leader of the Mississippi Senate has been charged with DUI after a one-vehicle wreck.
Desegregation Ruling Says Cleveland, Miss., Must Merge Schools A federal judge says Mississippi's Cleveland school district must merge its high schools and middle schools to achieve racial desegregation.
JPD Demolishes 200th House, Inmate Dies, Property Crimes Down, Commander AwardedThe Jackson Police Department is celebrating its 200th demolition of abandoned homes this week, including some they say are "high profile."
'We Are In Crisis': Mental Health Staff, Services Reducing Due to Budget CutsOvernight chemical-dependency services for men in Mississippi state hospitals will end as a result of budget cuts in fiscal-year 2017, the Mississippi Department of Mental Health said in a statement last week.
Schools Offer Guidance on Transgender Issues From locker rooms and sex education classes to dress codes and overnight field trips, many U.S. public schools already are balancing the civil rights of transgender students with any concerns that classmates, parents and community members might have.
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.
Bryant Signs Bill to Cut $415M in Business and Income TaxesGov. Phil Bryant has signed what may be the largest tax cut in Mississippi history.
Dems, Former Mental Health Director Call for Special Session to Find Mental-Health Funding Legislative Democrats and the state's formal mental health director sent Gov. Bryant an open letter today calling for a special session of the Legislature to find funding for the state's mental health department to avoid a 'crisis.'
UPDATED: Obama Tells Schools How to Protect Transgender Students' Civil Rights Today the Obama administration issued a directive offering "significant guidance" to school districts on curbing sex-based discrimination in schools, specifically against students who do not identify with the gender commonly linked to their biological sex.
UPDATED: City of Jackson's Fund Reserve Down to $1.3 Million, Core Services Under KnifeThe Jackson City Council finally heard Thursday what some members had already surmised in earlier meetings: The City administration has pulled from the ordinance-mandated fund reserves, leaving a little more than a million dollars for use in case of an …
Larger Share of Mississippi Third Graders Pass Reading Test A larger share of Mississippi third graders passed the state's reading test on the first try this year.
Domestic Violence Coalition: State Needs to Support VictimsMore than a dozen domestic violence activists gathered at the Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence headquarters on May 11 in response to the failure of SB 2418, the 'divorce bill' that would have created legal provisions to make domestic violence …
Governor Signs Bill Prohibiting Medicaid Reimbursements for Planned ParenthoodGov. Phil Bryant signed Senate Bill 2238 on Tuesday, a law that blocks the state's Medicaid division from paying for "costs of care and services" at providers who also offer abortion services—anywhere in the country.
Miss. Bill Aims to Ban State Money to Planned Parenthood Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has signed a bill to ban Medicaid from spending money with any facility that performs elective abortions.
White Ex-Cop to Remain Free on Bail After Federal Indictment A white former South Carolina police officer facing a state murder charge in the shooting death of unarmed black motorist Walter Scott will remain free on bail after his indictment on federal charges that include depriving the victim of his …
‘The Right Leadership’: The JFP Interview with Dr. Carey WrightDr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education, recently sat down with the Jackson Free Press to talk about education legislation, school funding and charter schools.
Having the Space to Try New Ways to Prevent CrimeIt's critical for the City of Jackson to have solid coverage of our efforts to try new approaches at crime reduction. It is equally critical that the citizens of Jackson engage with such reporting.
Using Evidence to Bridge Partisan GapsOf all the things the Legislature did this year, a budgeting strategy that could potentially save the state wasted dollars in the long-term and ensure taxpayer dollars fund successful programs emerged as a priority, albeit a quiet one, of the …
Kishia Powell: ‘I Don’t Steer’ Contracts; City Loan Debate; Guns, Payday OrdinancesDocuments, including emails, released to the Jackson Free Press indicate that despite protestation from Mayor Tony Yarber and his administration, the City has been dipping into the ordinance-protected reserve fund to fill in shortfalls from last year's budget.
Legislative Summer School: All About PerformanceThe Mississippi Department of Corrections is ending a paramilitary inmate program due to a state law and legislative efforts to enforce performance-based budgeting for all state agencies.
Battle for the Airport: The Next StepsMedgar Wiley Evers looked down from the wall of the memorial pavilion in the airport named after him upon the chairwoman of the soon-to-be-replaced governing commission as she lamented the governor's signing of SB 2162 into law.
Infant Mortality Prevention, Social Service Jobs on Budget Chop BlockEfforts to reduce the state's infant mortality rate—the highest in the country—will go on the chopping block if Gov. Phil Bryant signs the Legislature's version of the state budget into law, the state's top health officer told the Jackson Free …
Bill Aims to Bring Out-of-State Physicians to Mississippi A bill on Gov. Phil Bryant's desk could shorten the time it takes physicians licensed in other states to get licensed in Mississippi.
City Reserves Dip, Mayor Dodges Budget InquiriesDocuments, including emails, released to the Jackson Free Press indicate that despite protestation from Mayor Tony Yarber and his administration, the City has been dipping into the ordinance-protected reserve fund to fill in shortfalls from last year's budget.