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Hood: Judge Tate Reeves for 'Rebel Flags,' Not Frat's College Blackface

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood "did all kinds of stupid things in college," but he is "sure" wearing blackface is not one of them, he told a crowd in Jackson on Monday.

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U.S. Colored Troops in Natchez Now Acknowledged, May Soon Have Monument

History and Research Committee Chairwoman Deborah Fountain explained the history of the U.S. Colored Troops at a Nov. 10, 2021, town hall meeting for the U.S. Colored Troops Monument project in Natchez.

'ShopLocal' Blog Declares War on JFP; Says We're 'Misinformed'

In a post that can only be called "jaw-dropping" in its hubris, Gannett's ShopLocal™ blog has taken major umbrage with the JFP's special local-business issue last week, which exposed "local washing" by huge corporations such as Gannett, and especially my piece revealing the ShopLocal™ scam that Jackson's outlet of Gannett, The Clarion Ledger, is pushing. It seems that us dumb-little-LOCAL types are "misinformed" about "local" really means, and ShopLocal™ Senior Director of Product Management Patrick Flanagan decided to take time out of his busy corporate day up in Chicago (where this division of ShopLocal™ hangs out its shingle) to correct us dumb hicks. You see, "local" isn't necessarily "local." You could be talking about "national-local," or "local-local," or "hyper-local," or whatever other phrase the country's largest newspaper company wants to use to whitewash what they're doing.

The (Il)logic of ‘Illegal'

After reading my column this week, "La Nueva Estrategia del Sur," check out Lawrence Downes' hilarious and poignant column in The New York Times: "What Part of 'Illegal' Don't You Understand?"

Why Does The Crawfish Boil Have NO local bands?

Im really just venting here, but Im mad as HELL. As an artist that fights vigorously for the careers of our local and regional artists here (of ALL genres), its CRIMINAL that we continue to allow events like the Crafish Boil to come to town and not support our local talent. From what I can tell from reading the schedule there is NO local band playing this year's event. I believe last year they had ONE.

Clarion-Ledger to Independents: Drop Dead!

May 9, 2006 Want to know how far The Clarion-Ledger/Gannett Corp. is willing to go to control the competition? Keep reading. This past Monday, I sat down in Cups in Fondren with Lee Warmouth, the circulation director of The Clarion-Ledger, so that he could tell me about an "exciting new service" that his company has devised for free-distribution papers like the Jackson Free Press.

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Fighting Back In Klan Nation

When Mary Geraldine Briggs heard a horn blaring outside her small house, under shady oak trees on Highway 84 in Roxie, Miss., she would go get the shotgun and head to the door to protect her family. The horn was the signal from her husband, Rev. Clyde Bennie Briggs, that a carload of Klansmen was on his tail again. His wife was instructed to do anything she needed to do to protect herself and their six kids, and the one on the way. She was armed and ready.

Guns for Safety?

Also see: JFP Crime Blog

It so happens that in the past few weeks, a number of people with ties to the Jackson Free Press—staff and former staff—have encountered the same piece of advice from Jackson Police Department officers. The advice: Buy a gun.

Melton to Fire Officer for Rolling Eyes at Him?

In an interview with Howard Ballou of WLBT, Mayor Frank Melton said he plans to fire Jackson police officer Mike Braxton, who made public a police report (PDF, 1013 KB) he filed after Melton allegedly verbally abused him with profanity last summer.

Other Cards in the Deck

Much has been made about whether Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama played "the race card" in a series of press-filtered exchanges that included an]http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/us/politics/15dems.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=clinton+king&oref=slogin]an analogy to Martin Luther King, Jr. and former President Lyndon B. Johnson. During MSNBC's Las Vegas debate on Tuesday–which, interestingly enough, was supposed to focus on Black and Brown issues–hosts Tim Russert and Brian Williams spent substantial air time pressing Obama and Clinton on a supposed "race war." John Edwards–whose media attention managed to diminish even further as the press salivated over the no-holds-barred]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/17/stewart-blasts-media-cove_n_82021.html]no-holds-barred race bout–was finally invited to weigh in:

A Man Shortage?

No, this isn't some desperate rant about finding a mate. I'm talking about a bonafide, honest-to-God decrease in male births.

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Best of Jackson 2013: People

JFP presents the best Jackson has to offer.

Update: Sheriff McMillin is New Chief

Update: Just came in on text message...Mac is the new chief. Donna and Adam are covering and will be in with the scoop. (Listen to the radio show at noon for more: WLEZ-FM, 103.7FM.)

[Kamikaze] ‘I'm No Token'

I attended the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership annual luncheon last week. It's one of those affairs where the city's power players share a meal and listen to a speaker talk about how to move our city forward.

Downtown Civil Rights Museum Supporters Gathering at 1 p.m.

Council President Leslie McLemore is leading a diverse group of Jacksonians who want to see the new Civil Rights Museum located in downtown Jackson, rather than then the suggested locale of Tougaloo College land north of the city. Join the group at 1 p.m. at the Smith Robertson Museum in downtown Jackson today (Monday, Feb. 25) to show your support.

Myth vs. Reality: Myths Plaguing Public Education In Mississippi and Why They Are Not True

Myth 1: More than 60 percent of the state budget is spent on public education.

The Eye of the Needle

I usually ponder, ruminate, tweet, blog, joke and seethe about some or another issue for a week or more before I write a new editor's note. This week, though, I had trouble locking onto a topic--probably because I'm so sick of divisive politics that my brain feels like just vegging in front of an Ashton Kutcher TV show with the rest of America.

BREAKING: Judge Green Recuses Herself

Judge Tomie Green has recused herself (PDF, 125K) from the upcoming Ridgeway trial, citing "recent improper and inappropriate contact with the trial judge and members of her family which makes the trial judge a potential witness in subsequent proceedings."

Ben Allen Resigns From City Council

City Council President Ben Allen announced his resignation from the City Council today. His resignation will be effective Friday, June 22.

Barbour Criticized for Slavery Insensitivity

Gov. Haley Barbour earned the ire of many when he downplayed a controversy over state proclamations of Confederate History Month--which omitted any mention of slavery--in comments last weekend.