| JFP Mobile | Jackson, Mississippi

Confident Men

I can't decide whether Jeff Sharlet's "C Street: The Fundamentalist Threat to American Democracy" (Little Brown, 2010, $27) is pulp nonfiction about a scholarly topic, or scholarly nonfiction about a pulp topic. It's hard to write a book that hinges so heavily on three extramarital affairs--those of Mark Sanford, Chip Pickering and John Ensign--without a hint of the tabloid, but Sharlet manages to do it by writing with a generous spirit that lets him find the humanity in these insecure and narcissistic men. That is, in fact, the book's main accomplishment: Sharlet looks at Washington fundamentalists' sacred self-image, contrasts it with their profane behavior and meets them at a halfway point of tragicomic human fallibility.

Marathon for the Blues

Mississippi is often characterized as a state fraught with racial turmoil and economic and educational issues. From the pain and strife of the Magnolia State's past, however, has risen some of the most soul-stirring and original music the country can claim: the blues.

Renita Full of Hope

Mississippi native Renita Martin will venture from New York City to Jackson this weekend to perform her one-woman show "Five Bottles in a Six Pack" at New Stage Theatre. Martin graduated from Crystal Springs High School and briefly attended Tougaloo College before moving to Boston, and later to New York.

Believe It to Receive It

In October 2006, Lelon Thompson did a one-day workshop at New Vibrations, Karen Parker's bookstore and just-plain-neat new-age shop in Fondren. The workshop, "You'll See It When You Believe It," struck a chord and started something powerful in Jackson. Earlier this year, I spoke with Parker and Thompson.

Steven Wells Hicks: Writing For Sock Monkeys

Steven Wells Hicks was a creative advertising director for 35 years before becoming a novelist. Born in Omaha, Neb., Hicks has lived in Jackson since July, 1974 and calls himself a "southerner by choice."

A Craftier Shade of Green

Green Girl recently found herself roaming the aisles of the fabric store. She hoped to find eco-friendly options for making a patchwork baby quilt for Junior Green Girl. She was excited to find quilt batting made from bamboo fibers but not much else.

Eco-Friendly Honeymoons

For true honeymoon relaxation, forget passports and plane connections. A Mississippi honeymoon will lighten your carbon footprint and leave more money in your pocket for indulging in gourmet food, luxury accommodations and deluxe spa packages.

Inspirational Books for Graduation and Mother's Day

School graduates and mothers have something in common: They need motivation to brave the challenges that come with the territory. If you're looking for a gift that's both inspirational and practical, consider one of the following books.

Hanging out with Dad

When I was a little girl, I remember taking my bright neon bubble paint and going up to my father's bedroom before one Father's Day, where I took out his favorite red polo shirt. I knew he liked fishing and watching television, so I drew a huge TV on the front of his shirt with a man fishing.

Zen and the Art of Losing My Hard Drive

My road to wellness this summer included a long road trip to the Northeast. It was a remarkable, relaxing almost-two-week budget vacation—that ended with my laptop hard drive crashing on the last day in New York. Oh, and my online backup system failed, too (or we had failed on it by not renewing it when it ran out unbeknownst to me). Talk about a Zen test. Yes, I cried several times. More than that, I felt discombobulated in a way I never really had. Suddenly, it felt like my life was adrift. And it kinda was.

‘Sweet Science' in Pearl

Boxing can help keep kids off the street and give them direction in their lives says former fighter turned boxing coach Bombay Higginbottom. He preaches that boxing teaches discipline and respect but cautions his fighters to keep a balanced attitude.

Finishing First, At Last

One of the rules of modern sports, according to the oft-cited Seinfeldism, is that fans "root for laundry" rather than the ever-changing identities that occupy their team at any given moment. Largely, this is true, but in Mississippi, we still care about blood, too.

2011 NFL Draft Preview

You only need to look back to the 2005 NFL Draft to see how disastrous it can be.

Hinds County Sheriff Swears in SWAT Team; Violence Expert Urges Caution

Sheriff Lee Vance swore in 33 special weapons and tactics team members today at the grounds of Jackson Police Training Academy. Vance pushed for the expanded SWAT unit to respond to special threat situations.

Local Barista Pours Positivity into Every Cup

On Friday, Sept. 25, Leigha Ellis spoke with the Jackson Free Press to discuss her experience as a barista and what Cups offers this fall season.

Azia’s Picks, Valentine’s Day Edition 2-5-21

If you are trying to get out and get involved in some lovey, dovey activities to share with partners or—for us single folks—find creative ways to share love with your friends and family, check out my picks.

OPINION: Bring Mississippi Into the 21st Century—Overturn Its Jim Crow-era Voting Laws

When it comes to voting, there is no denying a simple fact about Mississippi: our state has refused to eliminate antiquated laws that disproportionately silence Black and young voters.

Hinds County Announces Rental Assistance Program

Residents of Hinds County experienced financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic can now benefit from $7 million in federal rental aid, the Board of Supervisors announced Tuesday, April 20.

Dogmud Tavern: Gaming Bar Fosters Local Nerd Community

Since Ridgeland-based gaming bar Dogmud Tavern opened on April 1, 2021, patrons have come far and wide to immerse themselves in the experience, with some guests traveling hundreds of miles.

Mother Died in Madison County Jail After Pot Arrest, Family Sues for Negligence

Attorney Derek Sells of Cochran Firm accused those who run Madison County Detention Center of being in the practice of ignoring "serious medical conditions of inmates and just leaving them to die.”

All results / Stories

Sort By

Date

Authors