| JFP Mobile | Jackson, Mississippi

University Mergers Loom?

Rumors of university consolidation gave way to outright threats Monday when Gov. Haley Barbour released his executive budget recommendations for the 2011 fiscal year. Painting a dismal picture of the state's finances for the next three years, Barbour called for consolidating the state's eight public universities into five institutions.

Legislators Scramble to Fill $25 Million Budget Hole

In the wake of the cigarette tax hike death, Mississippi lawmakers face a bankrupt fund designed to give drivers a car tag discount. Legislators were counting on revenue from part of the increased cigarette tax—$25 million—to shore up that fund, reports Forbes.com.

Bush Doesn't Mention Katrina Recovery

AP is reporting tonight that Bush did not mention Katrina recovery a single time in his "State of the Union" address. Maybe he just forgot. AP:

Mississippi Ranks No. 1 in Teen Pregnancies, New Report Says

Mississippi's first againin term of the state with the highest teen birthrate. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the state's birthrate was more than 60 percent higher than the national average in 2006. Runner-ups include Texas and New Mexico, which logged in slightly more than 50 percent higher. A preliminary CDC report, based on a review of all the birth certificates in 2006 (see below), revealed that the U.S. teen birth rate had risen nationwide for the first time in about 15 years, though the new report details a state-by-state calculation on the increase.

Agency in Jeopardy Over Ad Oversight

House Democrats and Gov. Haley Barbour are squaring off against one another regarding how the state spends advertising dollars. The House and Senate were unable to come to terms with a Mississippi Department of Employment Security reauthorization bill on the last day of the regular session, and the department now verges on the point of evaporation.

BREAKING: Melton Hasn't Reported Home Addition

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton has not been paying taxes on a large home addition to his northeast Jackson house for several years, according to a Hinds County Tax appraiser. "We had suspicions about (Melton's unreported) home addition," said Hinds County Tax Appraiser Benny Keys on Friday. "We're working on that right now, or at least we had been."

The Girl Wants Her Turn

When is it my turn to plant my views all over the grounds of the state capitol? A group called Silent No More, a national anti-abortion organization, in conjunction with Gov. Ronnie Musgrove's declaring this past week a week of "prayer and remembrance of women and unborn children," was allowed to erect hundreds and hundreds of tiny white wooden crosses on the front of the capitol lawn.

High Noon in Jacktown

City Chief of Staff Marcus Ward is among 20 class members scheduled to graduate the 10th basic reserve law enforcement class on March 21.

A Spendin' They Will Go

On Feb. 28, four Jackson City Council members voted 4-3 to allow the city of Jackson to pay for the relocation of about 21 families left in the near squalor of the apartments formerly known as Maplewood Apartments.

Weill Lone Vote Against New Chiefs

The Jackson City Council confirmed Police Chief Rebecca Coleman and Fire Chief Raymond McNulty after a brief hearing yesterday. Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes was not available for the hearing, and could not be reached to explain his absence. The remaining members confirmed both leaders with a 5-to-1 vote.

Salter to Hood ... Drop Dead

Why did C-L Perspectives Editor Sid Salter react to AG Jim Hood's criticism with a personal attack instead of discussing the role of corporate media in our politics?

Jubilee! Jam Goes Street

Design by Jakob Clark

Make no mistake: The 2005 Jubilee!JAM will be markedly different from those in years past. Music coordinator Charles Abraham says the 19th JAM will be "more of a street party with really good music" than just "a big concert that happened to be on the street."

Gulf Oil Spill: the Ugly Truth

Officials at the Environmental Protection Agency are considering whether to bar BP from receiving government contracts, a move that would ultimately cost the company billions in revenue and could end its drilling in federally controlled oil fields.

Influencing Sex-Ed Policies

School advocacy groups and parents are beginning to talk about how they can influence Jackson Public Schools' sex-education policy next year.

"Policing Jackson: Problems & Solutions" – Questions?

Post your questions for the panel or specific panelists below.

The Jackson Police Officers Association and the Jackson Free Press are presenting a town-hall meeting with police officers and other concerned citizens for real talk on fighting crime in Jackson. JFP Editor Donna Ladd will moderate the discussion in the Department of Education auditorium (the old Central High School) at 359 North West Street in Downtown Jackson (print map here) on Thursday, March 27, at 6:30 p.m. A reception and fellowship will follow.

Bowl of Red

When the weatherman started talking about snow in Jackson, my wife got busy gathering up blankets and throws. Nine-year-old Zak sat by the window keeping a keen eye on the night sky, straining not to blink and miss catching a glimpse of the first flakes, back-lit by the streetlight. Our teenage boys furiously worked the keyboards on their iPhones making plans with girls to drink coco and flirt (as if they need an excuse like snow for flirting).

"Wake Up Jackson" Campaign

Go here and help us let our local government know that no one is above the law.

Just The Facts II: A Reader's Guide to JFP Melton Interviews

The interviews with Frank Melton touch on several issues, names and events that are not explained fully in the text. Here are factual summaries about some of those issues.

Faith and Taco Bell

What does Taco Bell have to do with faith? It seems the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA finds a connection, as well as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.; 3.5 million members), the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ; 805,000 members) and the United Church of Christ (1.4 million members)—along with the American Friends Service Committee. It has been 15 years since the NCC endorsed a boycott, which makes our current boycott of Taco Bell significant.

2007 JFP Voter's Guide: Supes Candidates Line Up

Photos by Matt Saldaña

This year, the Jackson Free Press interviewed Hinds County Board of Supervisors primary candidates by asking them identical questions. Of the 12 candidates, only Silas Bolden, Jr., the Democratic primary challenger for District 3, refused to participate.

All results / Stories

Sort By

Date

Authors