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Protesting Poverty

As the sun beams above her, Wilma Irving, a resident of Kenner, La., fans herself and begins to tell me the purpose of her journey to Jackson.

Not a Ghost Town

As Betty Lyons rode through neighborhoods in west Jackson during a recent tour, she envisioned the boarded-up homes along Grand Avenue and Rose Street occupied with residents and creating a vibrant community.

Carl Gibson

Carl Gibson has only been in Jackson for nine months, but he has already become a fixture of the city's music and arts scenes. The Kentucky native drums and performs poetry at open-mic nights around the city, so it wasn't a stretch for him to write about karaoke die-hards for the Jackson Free Press in July.

Andre Cooley

Andre Cooley says he lost his job because he is gay. Cooley served as a juvenile corrections officer with the Forrest County Sheriff's Department from November 2009 until June 15 of this year. On Monday, the ACLU filed a lawsuit on Cooley's behalf against the sheriff's department, Sheriff Billy McGee and two other department officials.

Weekend Events

Start your weekend off right with a little back-to-school shopping. The Mississippi Sales Tax Holiday started at 12:01 a.m. today and ends Saturday at midnight. Buy shoes and clothes that retail for less than $100, and you pay no sales tax. Head to the Department of Revenue website for complete information.

This Weekend in Jackson

Take advantage of the cool weather and head to the Jackson Zoological Park this evening for "Feast with the Beasts" at 5:30 p.m. Enjoy food and beverages while zookeepers talk about the animals. You may even get to see some exotic animals up close, and it's all free for zoo members. Afterward head over to the 930 Blues Cafe to see some of the Mississippi's most talented jazz and blues musicians at the first annual Autumn 'n' Blues Festival. Tonight's line up includes Jackie Bell, Bobby Rush, and Michael Burks, and admission is $25. If you can't make it tonight, the festival continues tomorrow. Find more happenings on the JFP Events page.

Community Remembers the Homeless

Candles burned in Galloway United Methodist Church today to commemorate the lives of six homeless men who died in Jackson this year.

Beau Phillips

A former Tupelo police officer, Beau Phillips knows how difficult it can be to support a family. After working a 12-hour night shift, he would often change his uniform and go straight to his second job as school security officer.

[Williamson] 100 Years of Waste

You flip a switch, and the light goes on. It's like magic. It is easy to forget how much impact electricity has, how it allows us to work at night, stay warm, send e-mail around the world and compute our debts. But generating electrical power has other effects. It is still one of the largest sources of air pollution, although—primarily due to emission controls—the levels of most air pollutants are dropping, according to the EPA.

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Vol. 7, No. 5

<b><em>How Much is Enough?</b></em>

How Much is Enough? What is going to help people survive the crisis we are in is prayer and good common sense. I've had to live on the money I had and not use a lot of credit. The financial institutions need to offer high interest rates. Then people will put more into savings. Then they can lend to people who use a lot of credit and pay it back.

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Job Fair, Iron Horse and Senior Care Coming to Jackson

The city is teaming up with several area partners in an attempt to get Jacksonians back to work.

Q&A: Format, Procedures and Tidbits About the Debates

Tired of being deluged with TV commercials telling you that President Barack Obama or challenger Mitt Romney "approved this message?" The candidates will deliver their message for themselves Wednesday night in the first of three head-to-head presidential debates.

Weekend Happenings

News for procrastinators: Only five more days 'til Christmas! If you're still looking for a perfect, one-of-a-kind gift, head to the artists open house at the North Midtown Arts Center (formerly One to One Studio, 121 Millsaps Ave.) tonight starting at 5 p.m. Browse the galleries, talk to the artists, and find the perfect piece for that blank wall. If you're still stumped for a gift, make sure to pick up a paper copy of the JFP, and browse our FLY pages for even more last minute ideas.

Happening's this Weekend

Bundle up this afternoon and head to the historic Farish Street district for an evening of holiday celebration. At 4 p.m., join the Farish Street/Main Street Project for the annual tree-lighting ceremony in the park at the corner of Farish and Hamilton streets. Then, at 7 p.m., head the Alamo Theater (333 N. Farish St.) for "A Night of Music Artistry," when the Mississippi Jazz Foundation presents their sixth annual event. The show features Grammy nominee Kirk Whalum and Mississippi recording artist Michael Burton. Tickets are $35. For more entertainment options, visit the JFP Events Calendar for dozens of options every day.

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Joshua Marks Cooks Up a Storm

With only 19 minutes on the clock, the amateur cooks on "Masterchef" are attempting to turn inexpensive and unconventional ingredients into something gourmet.

Sushi, Tattoos and Redevelopment

The Fondren neighborhood will get a long-awaited sushi restaurant in April, developer Mike Peters says. Peters told the Jackson Free Press that Fatsumo Sushi, an American-style sushi restaurant in Gulfport, will open a location on Duling Avenue April 1. The Fondren location, between Fischer Galleries and the redeveloped Duling School, was originally set to house a different franchise, Fuze Sushi. A number of hiccups, including the death of the restaurant's original chef, delayed the opening indefinitely, however.

It's The Weekend

Start your weekend with a visit to the Downtown Harp & Juke Festival at Underground 119 (119 S. President St.) where you can dance and hear music from artists like Charlie Musselwhite, Bobby Rush and Billy Gibson. The tickets are $25 per day. Call 601-352-2322 or buy tickets online. If you prefer to take it easy, attend the Millsaps Singers' "Our Wesleyan Heritage" concert at Millsaps College, Ford Academic Complex (1701 N. State St.). The performance starts at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free; call 601-974-1422 for more information. Feel free to look at JFP Music Listings for more weekend entertainment.

It's the Weekend: Do it Big

If you didn't get tickets for tonight's BOOM Jackson fashion show, cheer up, because you can still make the after party. The event is a fundraiser for Dress for Success Metro Jackson, includes event ambassador author Jill Conner Browne and "Celebrity Servers" competing for tips. The party starts at 8:15 p.m. at Duling Hall (622 Duling Ave. ); $10 at the door. If you aren't attending tonight's fashion show, join the League of Women Voters for a screening of "One Woman, One Vote," a PBS Documentary celebrating the 90th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote. The screening starts at 6 p.m. at Mississippi Public Broadcasting (3825 Ridgewood Road); free. If late-night entertainment is your style, see Amazing Lazy Boi and Rock perform at F. Jones Corner from 11:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. Admission is $5 until midnight and $10 after. Visit the JFP's Best Bets for more weekend fun.

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Seeking Refuge

It seemed eerie that on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf Coast braced itself for the arrival of another hurricane.

[City Buzz] no. 14 February 7 - 14

Photos by Brian Johnson and Jaro Vacek

The Jackson City Council is considering putting a moratorium on digital signs throughout the city, with the council set to debate the issue more thoroughly at its Feb. 13 meeting.