Jackson Free Press

8 Children Killed, Mother Stabbed, in Australia

The bodies of eight children—aged 18 months to 15 years—and a wounded woman were discovered in a home in northern Australia on Friday, police said.

North Korea Skipping UN Security Council Meeting

An angry North Korea, now on the defensive over a U.S. accusation of hacking, is refusing to take part in a groundbreaking U.N. Security Council meeting Monday where the country's …

Miss. School Rating at Bottom, but Preschools Get Good Mark

Mississippi again ranks last in the nation in school performance according to an influential evaluation released Thursday, but the state ranks near the top in a new measure of how …

Legislature Explodes in Fight Over Public Education

The first big legislative fight of the year exploded in the Mississippi House of Representatives this morning as Democrats attacked a Republican alternative to a statewide ballot initiative that, if …

Miss. Plans $1.47 Million in Reading Grants for 34 Schools

With thousands of Mississippi third-graders at risk of flunking this year because they can't read at a basic level, State Board of Education members are likely to vote Friday to …

Michael Beattie

When the Jackson Choral Society began seeking an interim director last year, it couldn't have found a more experienced leader than Michael Beattie.

Joining in the Passing Parade

As with many musical ensembles, Passing Parade has morphed several times over the years.

Trish Hammons

Custom Optical has been in Fondren for 26 years, and though the store has only been in owner Trish Hammons' hands since 2006, she's made it an eyewear staple in …

More Barbour Legacy: KiOR Explores Fire Sale

KiOR, based in Pasadena, Texas, announced it had hired Guggenheim Partners in a Wednesday stock filing. The company said it expected Guggenheim to complete a sale or restructuring process, "or …

Eli Manning

While Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning was having one of the greatest seasons ever, his brother, former Ole Miss and current New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, was having one …

Amanda McMillan

One late Saturday evening in 2013, Amanda McMillan took a break from her job as a server at Table 100 in Flowood. By Tuesday, McMillan was in Washington, D.C., shaking …

C.J. Lawrence

Defense attorney C.J. Lawrence's "#iftheygunnedmedown" turned into a worldwide call to awareness.

Get to Know: Chinese Cabbage

For those looking to get more green vegetables, but sick of the same old thing, bok choy is a different variant on a familiar veggie.

Australia Checking 2 Objects in Search for Plane

An air search in the southern Indian Ocean for possible objects from the missing Malaysia Airlines plane described as the "best lead" so far ended for the day without success …

Jackson Mayor Hopefuls Draw Battle Lines

In the first forum for the Jackson mayor's race, which the West Central Jackson Improvement Association hosted Thursday evening, several battlefronts emerged.

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Miss. Religious-Practices Bill Goes to Negotiation

Mississippi lawmakers could try to write a final version of a religious-practices bill that has sparked concerns about anti-gay discrimination.

Yolanda Singleton

Yolanda Singleton, the promoter for Xperience Jxn Entertainment, has a singular vision for audiences in the metro area.

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Jillian Romano

When Chicago native Jillian Romano graduated from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn., in 2008, she decided to get down to brass tacks.

Jackson Abortion Clinic's Fate Up to SCOTUS

Mississippi is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to let it enforce an abortion law that had been declared unconstitutional by a lower court.

Obama Aims to Clamp Down on Federal Student Loan Servicers

More than 40 million Americans are in debt thanks to their education, and most of their loans come from Uncle Sam. So President Barack Obama is aiming to clamp down …