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4 p.m., Jackson City Council Work Session. The Jackson City Council holds its regular work session, open to the public. Free; call 601-960-1033.

Best of Jackson 2013: Community & Culture

JFP presents the best Jackson has to offer.

Who Owns ‘Local' Media?

"Did you know this was happening? Have you heard about it in the local or national news?" wrote Federal Communications Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein in the San Francisco Chronicle on April 24. He was talking about the June 2 vote that FCC Chairman Michael Powell—son of Colin—has scheduled to lift restrictions on media ownership in the U.S. It's very likely that you haven't heard about this vote, although it will affect all of us, and is virtually guaranteed to happen based on a party-line 3-2 vote if a grass-roots miracle doesn't happen quickly. The vote, if passed, will do away with the cap on ownership of radio stations, newspapers and television channels, and make it possible for one company to own all media outlets. That means: One company could then own every media outlet in Jackson.

For Whom the Zell Tolls

Admittedly, we have a rough history of treating each other badly sometimes, and we stubbornly act against our best interests too often and—perhaps worst—we are notorious for sending up the wrong people to speak on our behalf. And we might possibly have the lowest self-esteem, especially here in Mississippi, than on any patch of geography on the planet.

Fear And Loathing In The Dirty South

I'm an opinionated chick, but every now and then, an issue comes a long that, no matter how much I ponder it, I can't quite firmly take a side on it. Choosing one side would be denying the reality of the other, when both are very real.

Executives Run Amok

The similarities between Mayor Melton's current woes and President Bush's are striking. George Bush can't boast the kind of mandate Frank Melton had when he was elected. But both men were solidly backed by a largely white, largely far-to-the-right-of-ordinary conservative group of voters. Both groups are increasingly embarrassed about their vote. Both groups are pretty vocal. Both groups are being ignored by their elected officials. We've heard the "I" word regarding both men too.

[Queen] A Light Ahead

Having a friend with depth and the ability to shoot from the hip is always a plus. But having one who has those characteristics and a degree in social work equals a huge win for me.

The First Step

My small group of friends and I spent the majority of last Saturday at Smith Robertson Museum. Our still nameless singing group and band performed at an art opening featuring many budding talents in our city. The exhibit's title: "Trapped Flowers." Jason Thompson, who emceed the show, said that a trapped flower was any woman who was stifled or suffocated, whether by domestic violence or by something more prosaic.

[Balko] Clemency on Trial

Most governors grant clemency for the wrong reasons, including Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. Here's what coverage of the Huckabee/Clemons case is missing.

Kenneth Stokes

The Jackson City Council voted earlier this month to appoint individuals that historically sided with former Mayor Frank Melton to lead them under the new administration. Ward 4 Councilman Frank Bluntson and Ward 5 Councilman Charles Tillman received unanimous votes for council president and vice president, respectively. Bluntson immediately set about making Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes, the third councilman in the Melton "faction," head of the council's planning committee, so that Stokes could immediately go about bringing up all the agenda items that the more level-headed council leaders of the past kept bottled up in committee.

I Lied, But I Didn't Swear

(Update: Download Circuit Judge Robert Bailey's decision in PDF.)

Dumb S*** Rebel Without a Clue

Yes, that's what a troll just called me on another thread before it was deleted.

I feel MUCH better now. Whew!

So, I was really upset about this Harriet Miers business until I read that Jerry Falwell is backing her one hundred percent.

keeping it real

After multi-dozens of radio and TV interviews, magazines stories (ones I've written and ones I've been featured in), I am feeling so disconnected from my trip to Africa. A book publisher contacted me, wanting me to write an essay for a book alongside Barbara Kingsolver and Michael Chabon -- writers I am really pretty gaga over -- and of course I want to do it. But I feel so stuck.

15 Life-changing Albums

After Facebook's viral "25 things" explosion, I thought I'd take a crack at the"15 albums that changed my life." Let me know what you think.

*Jackson Newbie: Myths Debunked

Downtown Jackson is full of crime, right?

Actually, no. Downtown Jackson is one of the safest areas of the city with some of the lowest crime rates. Of course, activity makes any area safer, so the more people who go downtown to enjoy nightlife, and then move into all those spiffy condos and apartments opening up in historic buildings there, will make it even safer. Also, crime in Jackson has dropped steadily for years, and over the last couple years, hit its lowest level in 24 years. (Crime in 2004 was 21 percent down over the year before.) So don't fret the crime hype; get yourself a Club if you want, pay attention to your surroundings, don't leave valuables in your car—that's life in the big city.

God Is Not a Republican or a Democrat

Immigrant Families Jobless in Mississippi After 'Inhumane' ICE Raids

Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance organizer Luis Espinoza told the Jackson Free Press on Thursday that he had spent the past two days working with families after ICE agents raided six worksites across the state on Wednesday.

Seth Power: 'Souvenir'

Growing up, Seth Power found himself locked away in his room for several hours a day, writing songs with his new recording software. The only force that could push Power into emerging from his music lair was sports, as he enjoyed baseball, soccer, football and track.

Tackling Food Insecurity in the Capital City

While we are collectively concerned over what COVID-19 means for the immediate future, locally and globally, Jacksonians with surrounding businesses and organizations are standing together, working hard and endeavoring to make sure no child or family in need goes hungry.

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