Mississippi Free Press

The Mississippi Free Press is a nonprofit media organization supported by the Community Foundation for Mississippi. It aims to provide unbiased news coverage and focuses on solutions-oriented journalism for the residents of Mississippi and the broader community.

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Teacher Pay, Education Reform, Efficiency

1 week ago | mississippifreepress.org | Heather Harrison

Public education reforms, a teacher pay increase, government accessibility and the Public Employees’ Retirement System are among the issues Mississippi House and Senate leaders are planning to tackle when they return to the Capitol in 2026. This year, House Speaker Rep.
Pride Is Political. Love Is Our Greatest Revolution.

1 week ago | mississippifreepress.org | Duvalier Malone

Each June, American cities erupt in color—rainbows in storefronts, parades down Main Street and declarations of allyship from corporate boardrooms to statehouses. But beyond the surface-level celebrations lies an uncomfortable truth: Pride was never meant to be easy. It was, and still is, a protest. Pride’s roots are radical. It was planted not in policy briefings or marketing campaigns, but in the streets.
Thousands Protest Trump Across Mississippi: ‘No Kings’

1 week ago | mississippifreepress.org | Ashton Pittman |Nick Judin

HATTIESBURG, Miss., and JACKSON, Miss.—Thousands of Mississippians across seven cities took to the streets to demonstrate against the Trump administration over the weekend, citing the president’s actions on immigration and his wielding of executive power. Statewide, between about 3,500 and 4,300 people turned out, based on estimates the Mississippi Free Press received from organizers and observers.
Photos: No Kings Day Protests in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

1 week ago | mississippifreepress.org | Ashton Pittman

Hundreds of residents of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, showed up to speak up against the Trump administration and its policies on immigration, public health, executive power and more as part of the nationwide No Kings Day protests on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Here are some of the photos from the day. Many of the protesters in downtown Hattiesburg during the No Kings Day protests on June 14, 2025, spoke out against the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Publisher’s Note | United We’ll Stand, But Isolated We’ll Fall

2 weeks ago | mississippifreepress.org | Dustin Cardon

You might know that I went to seminary, which may seem like an unusual choice for someone who majored in journalism and eventually circled back to what’s likely to be my last career choice. A number of my journalism friends have either attended a seminary or are considering doing so. We talked about that a lot this week at the Institute for Nonprofit News’ annual conference in Minneapolis. It’s an interesting thing to consider, especially as extremists hijack faiths of all stripes.
Mississippians to Protest Trump in 7 Cities Saturday

2 weeks ago | mississippifreepress.org | Heather Harrison

JACKSON, Miss. — April Rowland, an Oxford, Miss., resident with 18 years of experience working in special education, says she was “frustrated at what I see going on in our government” when she discovered the 50501 Movement on social media. She saw it as an opportunity to “help make some positive change” in Mississippi. She attended her first 50501 protest on Presidents’ Day, Feb. 17, after she saw a national call to protest that day.
Opinion | A Life Well-Lived: Remembering Wanda Henson

2 weeks ago | mississippifreepress.org | Dustin Cardon |Julie R. Enszer

In 1993, Wanda and Brenda Henson wanted to continue organizing their small weekend music festival, which gathered between 200 and 300 women in the South. A vibrant collection of women’s music festivals was operating around the country in Michigan, Indiana and Delaware, but that was a long drive from Mississippi, Alabama or Louisiana.
Jackson City Councilman Ashby Foote Wins Reelection by 8 Votes

2 weeks ago | mississippifreepress.org | Shaunicy Muhammad |Ashton Pittman

JACKSON, Miss.—Jackson City Councilman Ashby Foote has won reelection by fewer than 10 votes after election officials finished counting absentee and affidavit ballots late Wednesday morning, more than a week after the June 3 municipal elections. Shortly after learning he had won around 11 a.m., the Republican-turned-independent councilman said he looks forward to working with Democratic Mayor-elect John Horhn, who is replacing outgoing Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba.
Coalition Sues to Stop Mississippi’s New Anti-Diversity Law

2 weeks ago | mississippifreepress.org | Heather Harrison

Mississippi’s new anti-diversity, equity and inclusion law that Gov. Tate Reeves signed into law April 14 violates the First and 14th Amendments, plaintiffs argue in a federal lawsuit against the governing boards of Mississippi’s public schools and institutions. Mississippi public schools, state-accredited nonpublic schools and state-supported institutions of higher learning could not create, teach or promote DEI programs under the law, which the State is set to start enforcing on July 1.
Scott County Father Builds Chess Community

2 weeks ago | mississippifreepress.org | Dustin Cardon

Chris Allen Baker sat in his living room after getting home from work on a typical Friday afternoon when his son, Aaron Baker, rushed into the room bursting with excitement. On that day Deanne McCown, the teacher for his second grade gifted class at Forest Elementary School, had taught her students how to play chess, and Aaron was eager to play a game with his father.