3 months 1 week ago
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is in charge of flood control on the lower Mississippi River (1928 Flood Control Act). Congress gave it that job to prevent another disastrous 1927 flood. The Corps has spent billions on its Mississippi Rivers and Tributaries Project (MRTP). It is supposed to keep the largest future flood (Project Flood) inside the levees and pass it safely to the Gulf. But the Corps’ 2019 flow line study predicts levees will overtop again — in a lesser flood.
By Kelley Williams on
3 months 1 week ago
Christmas morning would find my sister and me rushing through the hallway into the den hoping that Santa had left a multitude of toys, firecrackers, candies, and nuts. The excitement couldn’t be contained and on most of these mornings, Pop would snap a couple photos capturing the expressions on our faces. To say eyes were wide open, and mouths agape, would be an understatement There were wrapped gifts under the tree that we tore into, leaving the shag carpet completely covered in ribbons and bows.
By Jeff North on
3 months 1 week ago
CHARLESTON— Wilburn Wesson Coker, III (“Tray”), age 56, passed away, Sunday, Dec. 21.
A memorial service celebrating Tray’s life will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, at Stonefield Church of God. In accordance with Tray’s wishes, he will be cremated, and no burial service will follow.
He is survived by his children, Michael Wesson Coker, Kaitlin Blair Coker and Jenna Clair Coker; a brother, sister and three grandchildren.
Published on
3 months 1 week ago
Happy New Year! 2026 beckons.
Hard to believe it’s that time again. The holiday season is drawing to a close. One more week and then it’s time to tighten the belt and get on with the new year.
At 67, my New Year’s celebrations are getting a little less rowdy and late. When I was young, I wouldn’t even dream about not staying up until midnight to watch the new year roll in. Now it’s a bit less exciting.
By Wyatt Emmerich on
3 months 1 week ago
TUTWILER — Hiawatha Bell, age 62, of Tutwiler, passed away Friday, Dec. 19, in Memphis, Tenn.
Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, at Tutwiler Funeral Home.
A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, at Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Clarksdale, with interment following at Mt. Calvary Church Cemetery Thornton near Tutwiler.
Published on
3 months 1 week ago
The H. P. Jacobs Administration Tower on the Jackson State University campus in Jackson, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Another lawsuit has emerged in the aftermath of presidential hires at Jackson State University.
Jerome Tinker, who serves in a leadership position in JSU’s Alumni Affairs office, is suing former president Marcus Thompon and the university in federal court for being turned down for the position of office director.
By DEBBIE SKIPPER - Mississippi Today on
3 months 1 week ago
Failing districts not participating in the professional development services are advised to do so.
Investment in coaching support has been instrumental in Mississippi’s education gains, and the Mississippi Department of Education will be asking for more funding to expand the program.
By Jeremy Pittari - Magnolia Tribune on
3 months 1 week ago
Jackson's rental registration manager Victoria Love, in discussion during a meeting of the Jackson Housing Task Force, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Victoria Love, the city of Jackson’s rental registration manager, scrunched her eyebrows together into a deep line, mimicking the confused expression she said Mayor John Horhn made the first time she introduced herself to him in 2024. He was a state senator at the time.
“I’m giving him my card, and he just pauses and looks at me and is like, ‘Rental registration? What is it that you do besides getting the rentals to register?’” Love said.
By Molly Minta - Mississippi Today on
3 months 1 week ago
Important state and national stories, market and business news, sports and entertainment, delivered in quick-hit fashion
In Mississippi
Ole Miss set for biggest game in Mississippi history
Ole Miss will play in their first-ever invite to the College Football Playoff against Tulane on Saturday, marking arguably the biggest in-state game in Mississippi history for one of the state’s college programs.
By Magnolia Tribune Staff on
3 months 1 week ago
CHARLESTON — Veronica Denise Williams, age 40, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 17.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.
Clark-Williams Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.
Published on
3 months 1 week ago
RIPLEY, Tenn. — Virginia Carolyn Rowland Caldwell, age 85, passed away Monday, Dec. 1.
She was born February 24, 1940 in Charleston. She graduated from East Tallahatchie High School in 1958, then attended Northwest Junior College.
Published on
3 months 1 week ago
SUMNER — Smith Murphey IV, age 88, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 16, at his home in Sumner.
A celebration of life service, including military honors, will be held Monday, Dec. 22, at Sumner Presbyterian Church, followed by a private interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Sumner. Meredith Nowell Funeral Home in Clarksdale, has charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Sumner Presbyterian Church or a charity of the donor’s choice.
Published on
3 months 1 week ago
OXFORD — The Ole Miss Rebels make their NCAA College Football Playoff debut on Saturday (Dec. 20) at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, hosting Tulane University and transforming Oxford into the most sought-after spot in the entire state.
The postseason milestone follows a regular season that delivered a record $411 million in visitor spending across the city and the highest single-game and regular season attendance numbers on record. City and University of Mississippi officials anticipate the playoff game will bring a holiday gift unlike any the area has experienced.
By Special to The Sun-Sentinel on
3 months 2 weeks ago
Lola, a Charleston dog found with two gunshot wounds, awaits the result of tests. She would be euthanized due to the extent of the injuries. (Photo by Doll Stanley)
A $500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for shooting a neighborhood brindle pit bull in Charleston.
Doll Stanley, of Winona, who is with In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Campaign, said the female dog, Lola, was shot once in each hip during the local weekend incident and her injuries were so severe she had to be euthanized.
By Clay McFerrin - Editor and Publisher, Charleston Sun-Sentinel on
3 months 2 weeks ago
Tameshia Shelton listens to proceedings in Clay County Circuit Court on her quest for anew trial with one of her attorneys, Tucker Carrington of the Mississippi Innocence Project Credit: Jerry Mitchell/Mississippi Today
The Mississippi Court of Appeals has ordered a new murder trial for Tameshia Shelton, a 47-year-old mother of four who has long insisted on her innocence.
Judges vacated her conviction and ordered the new trial. The state attorney general’s office has not said whether it plans to appeal the ruling to the Mississippi Supreme Court.
By Jerry Mitchell - Mississippi Today on
3 months 2 weeks ago
Photo by Clay McFerrin, © 2025 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Students perform during the Dec. 16 Charleston Elementary School Christmas musical held in the Morgan Freeman Auditorium at Charleston High School.
The pre-K through fourth-grade classes of Charleston Elementary School presented their annual Christmas musical Tuesday night (Dec. 16) in the Morgan Freeman Auditorium on the campus of Charleston High School.
Students from each grade had their own featured time on the program, presenting unique musical routines centered around familiar Christmas songs, including “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Like It’s Christmas,” “Feliz Navidad” and “It’s Christmas Time.”
By Clay McFerrin - Editor and Publisher, Charleston Sun-Sentinel on
3 months 2 weeks ago
As health insurance premiums for next year rise and threaten to push hundreds of thousands of Mississippians off plans, a “perfect storm” is brewing that could steer people towards riskier coverage options, experts warn.
By Gwen Dilworth - Mississippi Today on
3 months 2 weeks ago
One of the boxes of food that is distributed at the Tutwiler Community Center. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today
Below is an opinion column by Cathy Grace:
Editor’s note: This essay is part of Mississippi Today Ideas, a platform for thoughtful Mississippians to share fact-based ideas about our state’s past, present and future. You can read more about the section here.
By Cathy Grace - Mississippi Today on
3 months 2 weeks ago
Calls for Thompson to resign have come from within Mississippi and across the nation.
Congressman Bennie Thompson (D) was in damage control mode Friday after referring to the ambush-style attack in Washington, D.C. in November on two West Virginia National Guardsmen as an “unfortunate accident” during a hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee on Thursday.
The attack left Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom dead and Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe in critical condition.
By Frank Corder - Magnolia Tribune on
3 months 2 weeks ago
The total request by the Mississippi Community College Board is anticipated to be $213.5 million this coming session which starts in January.
Kell Smith, Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board, gave the Senate Universities and Colleges Committee an update on the state system last week, requesting $28 million for a 6 percent salary increase.
By Jeremy Pittari - Magnolia Tribune on
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12 hours 19 minutes ago
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