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Death Penalty Doesn't Deliver

This month marks 30 years since the death penalty was reinstated in the United States. In the past 30 years, we as Americans have executed 1,031 people. Are we better off?

Abstinence-only-until-marriage programs—the kind the federal government backs with millions in tax dollars—don't reduce teen pregnancies or STDs, according to "Emerging Answers 2007: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases," a report from the non-partisan National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

An Inspirational Easter Message from the Pope

Every Easter, His Holiness blesses us with profound and insightful words of hope. And despite the outcome of the recent Italian elections, which witnessed conservative prime minister Silvio Berlusconi--the Vatican's preferred candidate and the richest man in Italy--fall to the liberal, pro-gay, pro-feminist prime minister-elect Romano Prodi, we can know that the See of St. Peter will continue to roll ahead, as it has for millennia, transcending the ephemera of worldly politics.

Sunshine Week, Part II: How to Demand More Open Gov't

1. Government workers who ask "why do you want to see THAT?" (It's none of their business.)

This is the week when media love to talk about "sunshine" and openness in government. (See my earlier blog post about how The Clarion-Ledger mangled their sunshine story earlier this week, a point we've been trying to make to The Ledger for a while now.) But all that talk does little good if citizens don't have the information you need to help us fight these battles on your behalf. I urge you all to spend some time with the Society of Professional Journalists' Freedom of Information section of this site. This is one of the resources we journalists use to stay on top on both rights, and potential pitfalls, in open government. I've fought these battles for years, and when the public isn't paying attention, we see the same problems in state after state:

Webster: No Patience For ‘Fluff'

Retired Coahoma County Judge Joe Webster, who is presiding over Mayor Frank Melton's trial next week, is a personality with little patience for "dilly-dally," say lawyers who have worked with him.

Repeal the Rhetoric

The morning that the U.S. Supreme Court did not strike down "Obamacare" as so many believed it would do was yet another of those crazy busy days in the Jackson Free Press offices.

In God He Trusts: The JFP Interview With Jim Wallis

Jim Wallis isn't your typical evangelical. Imagine Jimmy Carter, but scratch the accent. Thirty years ago, he founded Sojourners magazine, which covers issues on faith, politics and culture. In his time as editor, he has become a Christian force for activism, peace, and justice throughout our country and across the globe. Rev. Wallis has, according to his biography, "led more than 250 town meetings, bringing together pastors, civic and business leaders, and elected officials in the cause of social justice and moral politics."

The Surging General

There's no doubt that Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean, a medical doctor and former governor of Vermont, has excited young voters. With his upturned fists and shrill, outspoken dislike for the policies of George W. Bush, he echoes the disenfranchisement of many young (and not-so-young) Democrats. His hot-tempered "anger" and populist posturing has motivated voters like few candidates before him in recent memory, causing him to be compared to everyone from Harry Truman (a comparison he makes himself) to George McGovern and to both Presidents Roosevelt. And, for the past few months, his national poll numbers have enjoyed a lot of empty space between them and the rest of the nine Democratic presidential candidates up against Bush this year—at least until now.

And It Don't Stop

Lyrics tell a story, teach a lesson, influence your life for three minutes. Hip-hop comes down to just that, at the bare bones, some solid beats and words, lyrics.

Jackson Eateries Win Awards; Night Spot to Close

Broad Street Baking Company & Café and Sal & Mookie's New York Pizza and Ice Cream Joint have received awards in this year's "Best of Mississippi" issue of Mississippi magazine. Broad Street was named Mississippi's Best Bakery, and Sal & Mookie's was named Mississippi's Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant.

Protecting God's Green Acre

I didn't go to church Sunday, but I did recycle. It wasn't until after dark when Todd and I made our twice-weekly (thrice lately as we've been moving into a new place) foray to the alley behind the Rainbow Coop. We love doing this. We started and recycling years ago in Colorado Springs, where we would stop off at the microbrewery next to the recycle plant and get a refill of our "growler" of amber beer.

Put Jackson First

When the Jackson Free Press editorial board met with mayoral candidates last week, we asked each candidate roughly the same questions based on a list we had compiled beforehand. But when one candidate brought up John McGowan's Two Lakes project and pledged his whole-hearted support, we added the question to our arsenal and called those we were still considering for a comment.

[Mott] It Starts At Home

Sometimes the universe just comes along and slaps you up side the head. I was the recipient of one of those slaps a few years ago, when the company I worked for (and moved to Mississippi for) laid me off after nine years. In the time it takes for you to read this sentence, my entire world was inside out and upside down.

2010 Capital City Classic Preview and Prediction

This Saturday, Jackson State and Alcorn State will battle for yearly bragging rights in the 2010 Capital City Classic. As usual the game will be played at 1PM in Veterans Memorial Stadium.

No New Stadium in Jackson

The Clarion Ledger has a story about the recommendations from a recent study of the Veterans Memorial Stadium which suggests that we should build a new stadium.

NYT: Mississippi Ruling a ‘Racial Split'?

The New York Times has a piece today called "In Mississippi, Ruling Is Seen as a Racial Split" (photograted by none other than one of the JFP's star photogs, Kate Medley):

Editorial Takes Dim View of Katrina Recovery Fund Diversions

An editorial in yesterday's New York Times looked askance at the way the federal government has allowed Mississippi to divert funds from disaster aid meant to assist moderate and low-income people on the coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina more than four years ago. In Mississippi's Failure the Times writes about a report from the Steps Coalition, "Hurricane Katrina: Has Mississippi Fallen Further Behind?" which JFP Assistant Editor Lacey McLaughlin mentioned in a story we published Sept. 2.

Charles Tisdale: RIP

From WAPT:

JACKSON, Miss. -- Jackson civil rights leader Charles Tisdale is in critical condition and on life support at a local hospital, officials confirmed Monday.

Area's First Batterer's Intervention Program Coming to Jackson

Domestic violence. It's such a bland, vanilla euphemism for some of the most brutal and damaging pain that people inflict on one another. Brutal, of course, because peoplemostly women and childrenget their faces punched, their bones broken and sometimes die. Damaging, because the same people who profess love are those doing the punching and breaking, permanently scarring their victims, physically and psychologically. And for women, dying at the hands of an abuser is a real threat: In 2002, two-thirds of all women murdered by firearms were shot by their intimate partners.

JFP Opens Hurricane Gustav Info Wiki on Jackpedia

As we did for Katrina in 2005, the Jackson Free Press will provide staff- and user-generated communications for resources needed in the wake of Hurricane Gustav to help connect people who want to help with those who need it. This time around, we are using a dedicated section of Jackpedia, the Jackson, Miss., wiki powered by the JFP. Please help us load up Gustav resources before the storm hits, and as you have access, we invite you to use Jackpedia as a way to communicate about needs for resources, housing, volunteers and information during the storm and its aftermath. See a long list of categories and links already posted to see what you can add to the Gustav wiki. Or e-mail us information at [e-mail missing], so we can post it for you. In the event that the JFP loses power, people outside the area will help us access e-mails and update the site.

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