Trial is delayed again for two former Capitol Police officers accused in shootings
Hinds County court officials give no clear reason why the aggravated assault trial of two ex-Capitol Police officers was delayed for at least the ninth time.
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Madison attorney Phil Buffington announces run for state auditor
Buffington is the third Republican to announce for the auditor's spot as candidates line up for the 2027 Mississippi elections.
Redistricting mess: Sen. Johnny DuPree, just elected to one seat, running for another
DuPree’s predicament raises a range of questions about which lawmakers can participate in a potential special session and if it’s legal for legislators elected in 2025 under new maps to represent older districts drawn in 2022.
Grand jury report should not be the end of Nolan Wells investigation, human rights advocate argues
Mississippi ended its investigation into the death of Nolan Wells with the grand jury report. How he died is now an orphaned question, belonging to volunteers.
Reeves waives diesel tax enforcement after Trump order
This would mean diesel, which has shot up to more than $6 a gallon due to the war in Iran and hit Mississippi truckers and farmers hard, could be purchased without the 24-cents-a-gallon federal or state excise usually levied on dyed fuel meant for highway use.
Housing unstable? What Mississippi families should know about school enrollment
Children experiencing homelessness face barriers to school enrollment despite federal protections. State education officials explain the available protections and how families can seek assistance, navigate missing paperwork and challenge enrollment decisions.
National Park Service should investigate Nolan Wells’ death, congresswomen say
Since Nolan Wells was found dead on a part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, the National Park Service should investigate, two members of Congress say.
Farish Street gets breath of fresh air with new green space
Along North Farish Street in downtown Jackson, young sycamores, maples and sumacs are beginning to spread their branches over grass, walking trails and lounge areas, replacing a landscape that offered little refuge from the summer heat.
A Black community in Louisiana faces a future without a champion in Congress after redistricting
Scotlandville is a predominantly Black community in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that's facing challenges in its political representation. The area has been moved into a majority-white congressional district for the second time.
Mississippi agencies ask for more money as lawmakers begin work on $7B budget
With state revenue expected to remain more or less flat over the next few years due to tax cuts and the economy, legislators are carefully watching spending.
Marshall Ramsey: Crying fowl
Marshall Ramsey's editorial cartoon shows two people in a truck. One says, "Scott Colom called Cindy Hyde-Smith a chicken for not debating." The other replies: "Well, chicken is another form of protein."
Lettuce is safe to eat, says Mississippi epidemiologist, and food safety questions answered
Amid months of food recalls, Mississippi Today talked to food safety experts to learn about top concerns, how food safety is addressed in Mississippi and how food systems are linked.
Mississippi’s state budget wheels go round and round
The public work of enacting a $32 billion Mississippi state budget to fund various services began in earnest with hearings by the Legislative Budget Committee.
Crimson Tide makes short work of previously unbeaten Bulldogs and a hobbled Kamario Taylor
No. 7 Alabama raced past No. 16 Mississippi State 56-23 to remain undefeated. The Tide unceremoniously knocked the Bulldogs from the list of unbeaten teams.
Buddy Guy celebrated at Radio City Music Hall with a sold-out ‘Buddy’s Got the Blues’ show
Blues great Buddy Guy was celebrated Thursday night with a sold-out show at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Fellow legend Bobby Rush said he would have walked from Mississippi to be part of the celebration.
Mississippi Medicaid seeks $179M budget increase, less than in 2025
The Mississippi Division of Medicaid asked lawmakers for a roughly $179 million increase in state spending for the coming fiscal year after receiving a steep increase last year that squeezed other parts of the state’s budget.
Christa Pike on a ventilator and unconscious after failed execution in Tennessee, attorneys say
Christa Pike's attorneys say she was placed on a ventilator in hospital and was unconscious hours after her failed execution in Tennessee.
Father and son arrested in Ole Miss kratom-suspected deaths
Oxford store clerk Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, and his 18-year-old son Islam Yahya Mosleh face federal charges for selling kratom tied to two Ole Miss students' deaths.
Mississippi’s brain drain problem starts with the first job, CEO says
Mississippi's brain drain may be curbed by assigning new hires a project, with AI handling some routine preparation while an experienced employee coaches the judgment around it, CEO writes.
Hinds County could lose off-site body storage
Hinds County is working toward getting unclaimed bodies out of the space it has leased from Hinds Community College since 2020.
Mississippi households could pay more for energy because of federal policy changes
Households in the contiguous United States will pay thousands of dollars more for energy through 2040 because of federal policy changes since President Donald Trump returned to office. That's according to modeling released Friday by a nonpartisan think tank. In five states, households will pay roughly $9,000 more…
Grant will expand Fannie Lou Hamer Digital Driving Tour
The Jonathan Logan Family Foundation awarded $25,000 to the “Fannie Lou Hamer’s America” project to support research and the production of 12 new tour stops and multimedia resources.
Will Mississippi better prepare for the next winter storm? Officials are dubious.
Months after January's deadly winter storm, officials recognize solutions to better handle future events. but elected leaders say there’s little room for improvement in Mississippi’s winter storm response.
Golf cart raises questions at Hinds DA’s office. Where did the money come from?
A golf cart bought by former Hinds DA Jody Owens could be part of a state audit looking into the finances of the district attorney’s office. The vehicle now sits in a corner of a courthouse parking lot after Owens resigned his post over the summer.
Fiery crowd caps redistricting hearings. Opponents urge: ‘Leave our maps alone’
A Republican-dominated committee listened to speakers who shared their views on whether Mississippi should redraw its electoral maps, a move that could reshape the state’s political representation for years to come.
Christa Pike is alive a day after Tennessee’s failed attempt to execute her, her lawyers say
Christa Pike was still alive a day after she survived Tennessee's failed attempt to execute her for the 1995 murder of a woman.
Farm worker, 24, dies of heat exposure in North Mississippi
A North Mississippi farm worker died of extreme heat exposure in early September amid one of the hottest summers in recent state history.
Economic development chief leaves. Unemployment, workforce down: Mississippi Marketplace
Unemployment was down in the Gulfport-Biloxi, Hattiesburg and Jackson Metro areas month over month and year over year at 3%, 2.9% and 3% respectively, accompanied by decreases in the civilian labor force in all three areas.
Changing science behind shaken baby syndrome may give death row inmate a reprieve
The Mississippi Supreme Court allowed a death row inmate to go to the Rankin County Circuit Court to seek post-conviction relief based on the changing science of shaken baby syndrome.
Trump nominates Jackson-based lawyer Todd Butler to federal appeals court
President Donald Trump has nominated Todd Butler, a labor and employment lawyer with Phelps Dunbar, to replace Judge Leslie Southwick on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Pearl River County moves ahead with Flock cameras amid privacy concerns
Pearl River County is installing license plate readers at four locations along Interstate 59 and on other highways, with the possibility of adding more units over residents' concerns about privacy and data retention.
Federal scholarship for private school and homeschooling opening to most kids in at least 30 states
Mississippi is one of 30 states that have opened in to the Federal Scholarships Tax Credit, the first national school choice scholarship program.
Rep. Mike Ezell campaign fires back at campaign finance complaint from challenger
The Ezell campaign filed a complaint with the FEC against Boyanton and accused him of making a false complaint about Republican Ezell.
Monday, Oct. 5, is deadline for voter registration for Nov. 3 midterm elections
The deadline for Mississippians to register to vote in the 2026 midterm elections is Monday, Oct. 5. All mail-in applications must be postmarked by then, or people can register in circuit clerks' offices.
Sen. Cory Booker to campaign for Scott Colom in Mississippi Senate race
This will be the third time that Booker has visited Mississippi to try to oust Republican Sen. Hyde-Smith and flip her seat to Democratic.
Judge finds probable cause in Tasia Fortune case
A judge ruled probable cause exists to send to the grand jury the case of Jarques Ratliff for the murder of 29-year-old Tasia Fortune whose body was found hanging in West Jackson on Aug. 3
$6B data center planned for Jefferson Davis, one of the poorest counties in the country
Jefferson Davis is one of the poorest counties in the country. Officials says that the jobs, investment and expected tax revenue from the data center “could completely transform this county.”
MDA chief Bill Cork resigns with little explanation. Reeves appoints Waldrop
Reeves during his two terms as governor has struggled to keep a permanent MDA director in place. Cork oversaw record development from data center boom.
Delta Harvest market adjusts from weekly to monthly
The Delta Harvest Market is changing its hours as it continues its mission to support Delta farmers and Mississippi shoppers with fresh, locally grown food
Who’s funding the Hinds DA candidates? Voters won’t know until a week before Nov. 3 election
The truncated campaign for Hinds County district attorney means candidates will only file a single financial disclosure statement.
Refugees, asylum seekers to lose Medicaid coverage Oct. 1
Multiple groups of lawfully present immigrants, including refugees and asylum seekers without a green card, will become ineligible for Medicaid and CHIP, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, starting Oct. 1. The changes take effect following the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” that President Donald Trump signed into…
Colom challenges Hyde-Smith to debates, calls her ‘chicken’
Hyde-Smith has a long history of not doing off-the-cuff events or open town hall meetings and rarely does interviews with the media.
Water Valley woman’s birthday fundraiser erases millions in medical debt
The funds from Beth Mayeaux’s “Getting (G)older, Giving Back” campaign will help over 1,600 people, said Marisa Clemente, Undue Medical Debt’s vice president of philanthropy.
Children’s lit collection at University of Southern Mississippi hits 60 and still growing
Lena de Grummond (1900-1987) started the collection in 1966 after capping a career in library science in her native Louisiana with 15 years as the state supervisor of school libraries for the Louisiana State Department of Education.
Jury clears 1 former Capitol Police officer in a 2022 killing. AG’s office drops case against the other when jury couldn’t reach a verdict
After nearly five hours of deliberation, a Hinds County jury deadlocked on whether to convict Michael Lamar Rhinewalt, who fired the fatal shot, but acquitted Steven Frederick Jr., who also shot his gun.
Board presses for a recommendation on Canton charter school’s fate
The Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board wants to vote in October on whether SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy in Canton can keep its charter.
$5 million bond set for 3rd suspect in Tasia Fortune killing, as Jackson police say more arrests may come
A third suspect in the killing of Tasia Fortune made his first court appearance Monday. A judge ordered Eric Derrell Clark, 45, held on $5 million bond.
Mississippi’s right to contraception must be protected, lawmakers write
Lawmakers advocate for legislation to protect Mississippians’ ability to obtain contraception, as well as healthcare providers’ ability to provide it. It would not dictate anyone’s choices.
Can Mississippi State turn the Tide? In this case, both the tide of history and the Crimson one
Mississippi State and Alabama first played each other in football in 1898. During their series, State has won only 17 of the 108 games.
Hinds County supervisors boost long-underfunded public defender’s budget by $600K, marking one of the largest investments in the last decade
The historic budget boost for the Hinds County Public Defenders Office still isn’t enough to put it in line with a state law requiring equal funding with prosecutors
Could disaster recovery include protecting women from domestic abuse and exploitation?
Proposed legislation would strengthen FEMA’s response to gender-based violence, an issue advocates say is often overlooked after natural disasters.
A Global Legacy, Built in Mississippi: Corolla Celebrates 60 Years
Six Decades of Corolla Since its 1966 debut, the Toyota Corolla has become one of the most recognized and trusted vehicles in automotive history. For 60 years, it has evolved with generations of drivers while remaining synonymous with quality, efficiency and reliability. Today, that global legacy continues in Blue…
Politicians’ superpower might allow them to avoid blame for rising healthcare costs
Politicians' superpower is that we, members of the voting public, often do not understand how elected officials' actions can impact issues such as healthcare costs.
Mississippi Book Festival draws thousands to Jackson to celebrate the written word
Thousands of book lovers swarmed the grounds of the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson for the 11th annual Mississippi Book Festival. The festival’s offerings ranged from the whimsical to the weighty, featuring celebrity authors and emerging writers whose work spanned many genres.
Stone County re-entry program sees growing demand and waitlist
The Stone County Correctional Facility re-entry program, called Pathway Home 5 that provides employment and re-entry training before and after release, has a waitlist as officials prepare to select the next group of participants.
Jackson police link Tasia Fortune killing to drug dispute
During a preliminary hearing, a Jackson police detective testified that Tasia Fortune, 29, was hung from a tree in west Jackson after she was killed because of a dispute over drugs.
Marshall Ramsey: Farming and fuming
Marshall Ramsey's editorial cartoon shows a mule pulling a modern tractor, with a farmer on the cellphone saying, "Yes, I know how expensive diesel is!!"
Mississippi attendance law brings new rules for student absences
Mississippi school districts have until Nov. 1 to adopt new attendance policies required by state law.
Former Capitol Police officers testify in their manslaughter trial
An ex-Capitol Police officer's testimony in his manslaughter trial varies from the original statement he gave after the fatal shooting of Jaylen Lewis in 2022.
Candidates for Hinds district attorney spar over corruption, dysfunction and jail crowding
Five candidates took part in their first forum ahead of a Nov. 3 special election to serve out the term of former Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, who left office earlier this summer after pleading guilty in a federal bribery case.
Sierra Club report: Clean energy efforts fail to make the grade in Mississippi
The Sierra Club gave an "F" grade to Entergy and a "C" to Mississippi Power Co. in its latest analysis of how electric utilities across the country are transitioning to clean energy sources.
US Rep. Trent Kelly running for top GOP spot on House Armed Services Committee
U.S. Rep. Trent Kelly, a Republican representing Mississippi, hopes to become the highest-ranking GOP member on the House Armed Services Committee next year.
Priest to death row inmates urges Mississippi to repeal nitrogen as form of execution
Priest urges Mississippi to repeal nitrogen hypoxia as a form of execution after witnessing a death row inmate suffocate for 19 minutes before dying.
The governor awarded more than $104 million to improve rural healthcare in Mississippi. Where is the money going?
A handful of recipients accounted for a substantial share of the first round of federal awards to boost rural health in Mississippi, according to an analysis of funding conducted by Mississippi Today.