6 days 12 hours ago
Ted "Teddy" DiBiase Jr., center, walks with his wife Kristen Tynes and his attorney Scott Gilbert to the Thad Cochran United States Courthouse on Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
One spring day in 2018, entrepreneur and former WWE wrestler Ted “Teddy” DiBiase Jr. “became an instant millionaire,” a federal prosecutor told jurors Thursday.
Eight years later, DiBiase sat stoically in a federal courtroom as his trial in a sprawling welfare scandal neared a close.
By Anna Wolfe - Mississippi Today on
6 days 12 hours ago
The University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Colony Park South facility is seen Monday, May 5, 2025, in Ridgeland, Miss. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
University of Mississippi Medical Center revenue fell roughly 20% below budget in February, the month a cyberattack struck the hospital system and led it to cancel all elective surgeries and appointments for nine days.
By Gwen Dilworth - Mississippi Today on
6 days 12 hours ago
Senate proposals that would put more than $1 billion into Mississippi’s government pension system are back in play after being killed by the House earlier this legislative session.
Sen. Daniel Sparks, a Republican from Belmont, has revived six of his dead proposals that would make changes to the state’s Public Employees’ Retirement System by inserting that language in House Bill 4073. The amended bill passed the Senate on Tuesday.
By Devna Bose - Mississippi Today on
6 days 12 hours ago
The Delta State University Aquatic Center. (Photo special to The Sun-Sentinel)
CLEVELAND — Delta State University is offering students and community members the chance to earn American Red Cross lifeguard certification through an upcoming course at the Delta State University Aquatic Center on April 25.
Sponsored by the College of Nursing, Health, and Sciences, the course will provide participants with hands-on training in lifesaving techniques, emergency response and water safety. Those who successfully complete the course will receive a two-year American Red Cross lifeguard certification.
By Nathan Duff - Special to The Sun-Sentinel on
6 days 13 hours ago
Photo by Clay McFerrin, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Volunteer Charleston firefighters direct a water hose at a brush fire near Charleston Cemetery Thursday afternoon.
The Charleston Fire Department was dispatched shortly before 1 p.m. to a fire that had jumped a gravel road on the east side of Charleston Cemetery and was threatening several residences not far from Charleston Middle School.
A fire was deliberately set at the cemetery to burn off some tree limbs and other vegetative storm debris along a boundary fence, according to a caretaker at the scene, who said the wind had picked up and caused the fire to spread across the gravel road.
By Clay McFerrin - Editor and Publisher, Charleston Sun-Sentinel on
6 days 13 hours ago
State Sen. Daniel Sparks, R-Belmont, listens as other lawmakers give remarks during a special session at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
If state lawmakers don’t act soon, Mississippi will pay at least an additional $120 million a year to run its food assistance program. That’s because of a 2017 state law that generated more paperwork for social safety net programs.
By Taylor Vance and Sophia Paffenroth - Mississippi Today on
6 days 13 hours ago
This is a Mississippi baseball fan’s delight, highlighted by a three-game SEC series matching State and Ole Miss at Oxford and Opening Day in the Major Leagues. So much to discuss.
By Rick Cleveland and Tyler Cleveland - Mississippi Today on
6 days 13 hours ago
Thomas Minor, photographed March 18, 2026, at his local polling place in Fulton, discovered during the March 10 primaries that his name was missing from the poll book. Credit: Madeline Nguyen/Mississippi Today
The secretary of state’s office touted the data as a “reliable” tool to help determine voter status. But errors in the data went unchecked and unverified at every stage of the process.
For the last 12 years, Thomas Minor has never missed a single election — local, state or federal.
It’s his way of making sure he has a say in the place he’s called home his whole life: Itawamba County. Over the years, he’s cast his ballot for candidates across the political spectrum.
By Madeline Nguyen - Mississippi Today on
6 days 14 hours ago
Gov. Tate Reeves has approved a bill to retain funding that came to Mississippi from a historic federal infrastructure funding package in 2021.
As part of the American Rescue Plan Act, the federal government allocated $1.8 billion to the state in 2022. Of that pot, the state awarded $423 million in matching water and sewerage grants for cities and counties, as well as $385 million for rural water associations.
By Alex Rozier - Mississippi Today on
6 days 14 hours ago
Senate, House have dueling, expensive proposals for PERS system after blowback from changes they passed last year.
The Mississippi House’s proposed changes to the state retirement system would cost $1.25 billion over the next three decades and $175 million immediately to keep the program stable, according to state actuaries.
By Devna Bose - Mississippi Today on
6 days 14 hours ago
Three Mississippi businesses are suing the company that operates the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control warehouse.
Delays and software issues at the warehouse earlier this year left many bars, restaurants and package store owners with empty shelves and lost revenue. The warehouse in Gluckstadt is still working through a backlog of orders.
By Katherine Lin - Mississippi Today on
6 days 14 hours ago
Mississippi lawmakers are considering legislation that would make joint custody the standard in all divorce cases – something done in only five states.
By Sophia Paffenroth - Mississippi Today on
6 days 14 hours ago
Former Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn speaks at the unveiling of his portrait Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at the state Capitol in Jackson. The Republican from Clinton served as leader of the 122-member House from 2012 to 2024. Seated, left to right, are portrait artist Jason Bouldin, current House Speaker Jason White, Gov. Tate Reeves and Gunn’s wife, Lisa Gunn. Credit: Richard Lake/Mississippi Today
Amid a hectic week of crafting a multi-billion dollar state budget, most of the Capitol on Wednesday paused business to witness the unveiling of former House Speaker Philip Gunn’s portrait that will hang in the entrance to the House chamber.
Gunn is a Republican who represented the Clinton area in the House for 20 years. For 12 of those years, he served as speaker, one of the most powerful positions in state government. He was the first Republican speaker since Reconstruction.
By Taylor Vance - Mississippi Today on
6 days 14 hours ago
Bursts of color and a bright vibe of joy beckon inside the “L.V. Hull: Love Is a Sensation” exhibition, newly installed at the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson. That same magnet pulled scores of visitors to Hull’s Kosciusko home for years — a home the self-taught artist embellished to the nth degree using the raw materials of found and donated objects, paint and glue.
By Sherry Lucas - Mississippi Today on
6 days 14 hours ago
Below is a political opinion column by Russ Latino:
HB 1665, as amended by the Mississippi Senate, would create an $11.29 dispensing fee for prescription drugs, likely adding hundreds of millions in new expenses for businesses and consumers. On Tuesday, the White House said “stop it.”
The Mississippi House of Representatives passed legislation earlier this year that provides for additional regulation of the pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) that negotiate the amount your insurance will pay for prescription drugs.
By Russ Latino - Magnolia Tribune on
6 days 16 hours ago
The Mississippi State Health Officer’s public stance championing the importance of vaccinations and childhood immunizations would appear to be at odds with Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.
Multiple media outlets rushed out articles this week claiming that Mississippi State Health Officer Dr. Daniel Edney and at least two others were under consideration to be the White House’s pick to the lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
By Frank Corder - Magnolia Tribune on
6 days 16 hours ago
The Adams County Supervisor, who has yet to concede in the midterm primary, looks to support strong conservative candidates in the 2027 Mississippi election cycle.
Adams County Supervisor and successful oilman Kevin Wilson announced this week that he was donating $500,000 to a new political action committee “to support strong conservative leadership and build the foundation for a competitive 2027 cycle.”
By Frank Corder - Magnolia Tribune on
6 days 16 hours ago
State Rep. Rickey Thompson says temporary work is often unregulated, “resulting in widespread abuse, including unreasonably long term job assignments without benefits.”
State Rep. Rickey Thompson (D) has introduced a resolution in the Mississippi House of Representatives to “urge the State of Mississippi” to adopt a Temporary Workers’ Bill of Rights.
By Frank Corder - Magnolia Tribune on
6 days 16 hours ago
Gunn, elected to the position in 2012, was the first Republican Speaker of the Mississippi House since Reconstruction. He expressed pride in all that was accomplished during his 12-year tenure.
The Mississippi Legislature gathered on the second floor rotunda of the State Capitol Wednesday for the unveiling of the most recent portrait to grace its halls, that of former Speaker of the House Philip Gunn, the 61st Speaker of the Mississippi House.
By Jeremy Pittari - Magnolia Tribune on
6 days 16 hours ago
The Mississippi Center for Public Policy (MCPP) and Bigger Pie hosted British author and science writer Matt Ridley for a special luncheon on Thursday, March 19, bringing together policymakers, business leaders, and community members for a discussion on energy, innovation, and economic growth.
Ridley delivered an optimistic, data-driven presentation highlighting the critical role of free markets, innovation, and abundant energy in advancing human prosperity.
By Douglas Carswell - Mississippi Center for Public Policy on
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