Candidate Profile: John HorhnMississippi Sen. John Horhn officially announced his candidacy for Jackson mayor at a press conference on the morning of Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at Cade's Courtyard on Mayes Street. Horhn ran for mayor once before in 2009.
Candidate Profile: Chokwe Antar LumumbaA little over a year ago, when then-Councilman Chokwe Lumumba decided to run for mayor of Jackson, he and some of his close advisers floated the idea of Lumumba's son, Chokwe Antar Lumumba, running to succeed him on the council.
Candidate Profile: Margaret Barrett-Simon"I was busy" and "Why not?" are the two top reasons Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon, a 29-year veteran of the council and mother of five, gave the Jackson Free Press for entering the mayor's race for the first time …
Candidates You May Not KnowAs Election Day draws near to replace late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, many of the official mayoral candidates are doing their best to draw in more supporters, but what about the lesser-known candidates?
Big Questions in the Home StretchA Republican-sponsored bill could clear the way for economic-development projects in downtown Jackson, including around Farish Street and for a convention-center hotel.
How The Clarion-Ledger Got It Wrong: The Importance of ContextAs part of its coverage of Mississippi's proposed execution of Michelle Byrom, The Clarion-Ledger's Therese Apel wrote a puff piece that ostensibly explored whether the United States reserves its harshest punishment mostly for men. Does the criminal-justice system suffer from …
How to Save a ZooDe'Keither Stamps picked the zoo over the circus—of the Jackson mayor's race.
Report: Both Black and White Children Lag in MississippiWhen it comes to education, health, and economic opportunity, both white and black children in Mississippi are worse off than their peers in nearly every other state, a report and rankings released Tuesday found
Repayment of HUD Funds Emerges as Election IssueAn agreement between the city of Jackson and a federal housing agency over the apparent mishandling of $2 million in community-development block grant money could hamstring small development in the capital city for the next three years and has emerged …
Crime’s Down—But Do the Candidates Know It?Now that we're in the throes of another city election, it should come as no surprise that Jackson crime has been a major subject of conversation in debates and forums.
High Court Voids Overall Contribution LimitsThe Supreme Court has struck down limits in federal law on the overall campaign contributions the biggest individual donors may make to candidates, political parties and political action committees.
Teacher Pay Plan Calls for 3rd-Year Merit RaisesThe full House and Senate passed House Bill 504, which calls for teachers to get two across-the-board pay raises worth $2,500 and then be eligible for merit payments in 2016-2017, sending it to Gov. Phil Bryant for his consideration.
Michelle Byrom Gets Stunning Sentencing ReversalIn a highly unusual decision, the nine justices of the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled Monday to reverse the conviction of Michelle Byrom, 57, who has been on death row awaiting execution for the past 14 years.
Jackson Could Get $30 Million Boost From LawmakersA lot of the city of Jackson's legislative agenda has died. In fact, none of the 10 proposals that contain the phrase "city of Jackson" in the bill title survived the earliest committee deadlines.
Congressman Bennie Thompson Officially Backs Priester for Jackson MayorA close listen to Melvin Priester Jr.'s radio ads and policy ideas, which echo U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson's oft-repeated frustrations of Jackson's failure to apply for federal money, was enough to guess whom Thompson would support in the mayor's race.
Health Care Website Stumbles on Last DayThe Obama administration's health care website stumbled early Monday , falling out of service for nearly four hours on deadline day for sign-ups. After it was fixed, officials plowed ahead with a nationwide promotional drive, almost like getting out the …
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.
Hopefuls Stick to Talking PointsTen days out from the special election that will determine the next mayor of Jackson, the top candidates are honing in on the key ideas they'll sell to capital city voters casting ballots April 8.
Attorneys Allege Lethal Drugs Violate Michelle Byrom's Constitutional Rights“MDOC’s decision to purchase raw pharmaceutical ingredients and then secretly compound them at an unknown time and location by people with unknown training and credentials, increases the risk that the drugs will be ineffective or contaminated."
Mississippi Sen. John Horhn officially announced his candidacy for Jackson mayor at a press conference on the morning of Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at Cade's Courtyard on Mayes Street. Horhn ran for mayor once before in 2009.
A little over a year ago, when then-Councilman Chokwe Lumumba decided to run for mayor of Jackson, he and some of his close advisers floated the idea of Lumumba's son, Chokwe Antar Lumumba, running to succeed him on the council.
"I was busy" and "Why not?" are the two top reasons Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon, a 29-year veteran of the council and mother of five, gave the Jackson Free Press for entering the mayor's race for the first time …
As Election Day draws near to replace late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, many of the official mayoral candidates are doing their best to draw in more supporters, but what about the lesser-known candidates?
A Republican-sponsored bill could clear the way for economic-development projects in downtown Jackson, including around Farish Street and for a convention-center hotel.
As part of its coverage of Mississippi's proposed execution of Michelle Byrom, The Clarion-Ledger's Therese Apel wrote a puff piece that ostensibly explored whether the United States reserves its harshest punishment mostly for men. Does the criminal-justice system suffer from …
De'Keither Stamps picked the zoo over the circus—of the Jackson mayor's race.
Chokwe Antar Lumumba, Melvin Priester Jr. and John Horhn are leading the money race heading into the last week of the race for mayor.
An agreement between the city of Jackson and a federal housing agency over the apparent mishandling of $2 million in community-development block grant money could hamstring small development in the capital city for the next three years and has emerged …
Now that we're in the throes of another city election, it should come as no surprise that Jackson crime has been a major subject of conversation in debates and forums.
"I don't have to look back very far in my lived experience to recall a time when I was afraid to live openly. I once thought the very best I could hope for was to get a job, fall in …
A surprise announcement today confirmed rumors swirling on social media that Ward 1 councilman Quentin Whitwell is launching a write-in campaign in the race for Jackson mayor.
In a highly unusual decision, the nine justices of the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled Monday to reverse the conviction of Michelle Byrom, 57, who has been on death row awaiting execution for the past 14 years.
Two months ago, Joseph "Stax" Tierre added Norma Ruth's restaurant to his plaza of shops on Ellis Avenue.
The Mississippi Supreme Court today reversed the capital conviction of Michelle Byrom and ordered a new trial with a different circuit judge.
A lot of the city of Jackson's legislative agenda has died. In fact, none of the 10 proposals that contain the phrase "city of Jackson" in the bill title survived the earliest committee deadlines.
A close listen to Melvin Priester Jr.'s radio ads and policy ideas, which echo U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson's oft-repeated frustrations of Jackson's failure to apply for federal money, was enough to guess whom Thompson would support in the mayor's race.
There'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.
Ten days out from the special election that will determine the next mayor of Jackson, the top candidates are honing in on the key ideas they'll sell to capital city voters casting ballots April 8.
Mississippi lawmakers could try to write a final version of a religious-practices bill that has sparked concerns about anti-gay discrimination.
“MDOC’s decision to purchase raw pharmaceutical ingredients and then secretly compound them at an unknown time and location by people with unknown training and credentials, increases the risk that the drugs will be ineffective or contaminated."
In the second forum for the Jackson mayoral race, political rivalry was still holding strong — and may be getting stronger.
Watch videos of the full interviews with the 2014 mayoral candidates.