State Waits on Personhood RulingA war of semantics filled Judge Malcolm Harrison's courtroom this afternoon, as opposing parties debated the constitutionality of a 2011 ballot initiative asking voters to determine when life begins.
The Art of DenialI was a junior in high school when my mom came into my room visibly shaken. "I can't keep doing this. There is going to come a time when we are going to leave, and I need you to help …
Lake Plan Faces Cost HurdleU.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson said federal funding to study building a lake on the Pearl River will not be easy to obtain, despite the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' renewed interest in the plan.
Schools Lagging on IDEA Stimulus SpendingMississippi school districts have one year left to spend the $72 million remaining in a $116 million chunk of federal stimulus money for special education. Schools received the funds in 2009, and while a few districts have already spent the …
‘Trustworthiness and Integrity'Bridgett Clayton came to the practice of law relatively late, but she has built a varied career in a brief amount of time. The Meridian native studied political science at the University of Mississippi, graduating in 1982.
Don't Feed the StalkerSince the JFP launched eight years ago, we have witnessed many disturbing examples of vicious and personal attacks and libelous smears on websites, our own and others, and usually by people who refuse to use their real name on their …
[Dennis] Mimic RegistersIt's a postcard-perfect October afternoon, and I am outside enjoying it with my young son. Today, we are sitting together beneath a river birch tree enjoying a cool fall breeze. We make motor noises in stereo as we plow the …
Personhood Initiative Heads to CourtThe outcome of a lawsuit over a 2011 ballot initiative asking voters to define when life begins will come down to whether the initiative requires modifications to the state Constitution.
Due Diligence on BiofuelsDespite a strong show of support from state lawmakers last month, Houston-based startup KiOR is still a long way from breaking ground on the three biofuel facilities it has pledged to build in Mississippi. KiOR must secure a purchase agreement …
[Balko] Guilty Before Proven InnocentLast week, USA Today published the results of a six-month investigation into misconduct by America's federal prosecutors. The investigation turned up what Pace University law professor Bennett Gershman called a pattern of "serious, glaring misconduct."
Openings In Fondren, West and South JacksonMayor Harvey Johnson Jr. celebrates the opening tomorrow of Fondren Hall, a new events space and conference center on the site of an old Primo's restaurant. The opening marks the completion of Fondren Plaza, a shopping center redeveloped by Ali …
Hinds Takes Over GPS Monitoring of JuvenilesHinds County has received $80,000 to use GPS technology to track juvenile offenders under house arrest. The county Board of Supervisors voted today to accept a one-year grant from the state Department of Public Safety that will allow it to …
Supreme Court Rejects Minor and Seale AppealsThis morning The U.S. Supreme Court announced it would not hear the case of Mississippi Attorney Paul Minor and former judges Walter "Wes" Teel and John Whitfield convicted of fraud in 2007. The court also will not hear with the …
Study Finds Unequal Punishment of Black StudentsBlack students are twice as likely to get out-of-school suspensions and in some school districts, middle schools are three times more likely to suspend black boys, a new Southern Poverty Law Center study found.
JSU Dreaming of Civil Rights CorridorJohn R. Lynch Street, the history-rich thoroughfare running through Jackson State University, could see new life as a civil-rights corridor. JSU leaders floated a vision of the street as a living museum in a discussion with community members last night.
Farm Bureau Submits Eminent Domain SignaturesMississippians will likely vote on restricting the use of eminent domain to procure private land only for public economic development projects next November. Supporters of a ballot initiative limiting eminent domain submitted more than 119,000 signatures in support of the …
Copy-Cat Immigrant Law CostlyJackson City Attorney Pieter Teeuwissen said he was confident that the city could be exposed to considerable legal liability if legislators pass a bill mimicking a controversial Arizona law, which pushes local police into civil immigration enforcement duty.
Conservative Agenda Fueling Medicaid Numbers?Republican governors in states including Mississippi and Nebraska may be using inflated cost figures for Medicaid in order to help a movement to roll back recent health-care reform.
Madison: Gated City?Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler's recent strategy to keep outsiders from attending a city festival is consistent with the city's history of enforcing strict neighborhood covenants and zoning regulations that restrict rental properties in the city.
Reject FAIR's Immigration AgendaMississippi has a golden opportunity to become a nationwide leader, while putting to rest some of its not-too-distant hateful past.
Bizz News: Grants, Collaboration, New SalonMississippi has received almost $5 million for assessing broadband coverage and planning to increase high-speed Internet access across the state. The grant, from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, will help fund the …
Schools Waiting on $17M ReimbursementsState Medicaid officials are optimistic that a long-delayed program to help school districts with some of their administrative costs could begin reimbursing schools soon. Speaking at a budget hearing last week, representatives for the state Division of Medicaid last week …
State Overestimating Health-Care Costs?The Mississippi Department of Medicaid's high estimates of what the federal health-care legislation will cost the state are overstated, Mississippi Health Advocacy Program Director Roy Mitchell said today.
Money GamesMississippi leaders experienced a rare moment of agreement last month on the frequently rancorous topic of education funding.
‘Ain't Got Justice, Yet'It was tragic when a man raped and killed Eva Gail Patterson in 1979 in Forrest County, says Emily Maw. It was horrific, Maw says, that the real perpetrator let three innocent men sit in jail for three decades for …
Adrienne Klasky knew for years that Michael Graham would kill her. She just didn't know when it would happen.