3 months 1 week ago
The Mississippi Department of Education is located in the former Central High School at 359 N. West Street in Jackson, Friday, Mar. 11, 2022. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Nearly 4,000 teaching positions remain unfilled in Mississippi, hundreds more than last year.
By Devna Bose - Mississippi Today on
3 months 1 week ago
Virginia Kittelson does office work at El Pueblo in Biloxi on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
Julia Chavez picked up when her phone rings in the middle of the night. This scenario has played out several times, but during this late-night phone call, the person on the other end urgently asked her to translate.
“They’re at the hospital, and you can hear that they’re scared,” said Chavez, the founder and CEO of Columbus-based nonprofit Saving Grace Mission, remembering one of several such calls she has received. “They’re intimidated, and you can hear the frustration from the doctors on the other end.”
By Gwen Dilworth - Mississippi Today on
3 months 1 week ago
Secretary of the Navy John Phelan said he has directed the acquisition of a new frigate class based on HII’s Ingalls-built Legend-class National Security Cutter (NSC), “a proven American built ship.”
The U.S. Navy announced early Friday morning that Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, a division of HII, has been selected to design and build the future small surface combatant ship.
By Frank Corder - Magnolia Tribune on
3 months 1 week ago
Aidan Girod at her northeast Jackson home with water bills she's called JXN Water 21 times about since Oct. 15 and received only two responses. Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Days before this past Halloween, Aidan Girod received a frightening note atop her water bill: “FINAL NOTICE.” The letter said Girod had three weeks to pay her outstanding balance before JXN Water would turn off her tap.
At the start of the year, the north Jackson waitress received a $2,000 statement that included the several previous months she hadn’t gotten a bill for. As the utility revamps its historically plagued billing system, residents throughout the city have recently received an invoice for the first time in months, if not years.
By Alex Rozier - Mississippi Today on
3 months 1 week ago
The confirmation of Kruger and Leary on Thursday came as part of a large tranche of nominees that had been held up in the confirmation process for weeks.
The U.S. Senate has now confirmed James “Baxter” Kruger of Jackson and Scott Leary of Water Valley to serve as the United States Attorneys for Mississippi’s southern and northern districts, respectively.
By Frank Corder - Magnolia Tribune on
3 months 1 week ago
Greenwood police secure the scene at Crestview Apartments after three officers were injured in a shooting there.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is investigating a Monday night shooting in Greenwood in which three police officers were injured, according to a statement released Tuesday from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.
MBI is assessing the incident and gathering evidence and will then share that information with the state Attorney General’s Office, according to the statement.
By GERARD EDIC - The Greenwood Commonwealth on
3 months 1 week ago
From PERS to education freedom to healthcare, see what’s on the agenda for Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann and Speaker Jason White when lawmakers gavel in January 6th.
Lawmakers are set to return to the Capitol January 6th to convene the 2026 session of the Mississippi Legislature.
Both Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann (R) and Speaker Jason White (R) have been working with members in the state Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, to craft legislation that aligns with their agendas.
By Frank Corder - Magnolia Tribune on
3 months 1 week ago
The U.S. Department of Justice has said their effort is to ensure states are properly maintaining voter rolls and complying with federal voting laws.
Mississippi is among three states that have voluntarily agreed to provide their full voter registration lists to the U.S. Department of Justice. The others are Louisiana and Tennessee.
By Daniel Tyson - Magnolia Tribune on
3 months 1 week ago
Results from the Mississippi Department of Education’s Teacher Recruitment and Retention Survey show teacher pay at the top on the list of factors leading to teacher turnover.
Teacher shortages in Mississippi’s K-12 education system have increased over the previous year, the Mississippi Department of Education reported on Thursday. Officials have cited low teacher pay as contributing to the continued turnover rates in the state’s education profession.
By Jeremy Pittari - Magnolia Tribune on
3 months 1 week ago
The 21-member Mississippi Save Our Service Member Task Force, created by the Mississippi Legislature, focuses on addressing PTSD and suicide prevention among the state’s first responders and military service members.
The Mississippi Save Our Service Members Task Force Committee is studying two drafts of legislation aimed at helping military and National Guard members to better deal with mental health issues.
By Daniel Tyson - Magnolia Tribune 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
1. Auditor arrests two in alleged embezzlement scheme in Jones County
By Magnolia Tribune Staff on
3 months 1 week ago
The Mardi Gras line, which includes stops in Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport and Bay St. Louis, has drawn an average of over 420 people daily since it began in August.
Amtrak says more than 46,000 customers have ridden its Mardi Gras Service trains on the twice-daily round trips across Coastal Mississippi between New Orleans and Mobile since its official start on August 18.
By Frank Corder - Magnolia Tribune on
3 months 1 week ago
Polling conducted earlier this year shows a majority of Americans support education freedom, open enrollment, true parent accountability measures, and direct funding models that give families greater control and flexibility to provide the best education possible for their children.
Lawmakers in Mississippi are not the only ones considering ways to expand education freedom and provide more parental flexibility. There is a growing national trend away from the traditional zip-code based school model.
By Jeremy Pittari - Magnolia Tribune on
3 months 1 week ago
Robert St. John says as we gather around our tables this season, let’s remember—Christmas isn’t just a day. It’s a way of life.
Author’s Note:
By Robert St. John on
3 months 1 week ago
Below is a political opinion column by Kimberly Ross:
Whether you’re a regular citizen going about your daily life or the leader of the free world, we all have a duty to turn down the temperature of hatred and division.
There are simply no words sufficient enough to describe the evil that is murder. When a human being takes the life of another human being, something is clearly and deeply broken. And when a family member kills one or more of their own, the horror is compounded to an unimaginable degree.
By Kimberly Ross - Magnolia Tribune on
3 months 1 week ago
Sister Mary Bertoli, SNJM, 94, born on June 7, 1931, died on December 11, 2025, in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
A Mass of Resurrection will be held Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 11 a.m., at the Chapel of the Holy Names, in Marylhurst, Oregon. Burial follows at Holy Names Cemetery.
Published on
3 months 1 week ago
Politicians use statistics and polls to emphasize the parts of the truth that they want us to believe. But, statistics should not be used as simple talking points. “Gun deaths: are not the same as “gun violence.” Seven people died in Mississippi two weeks ago. Several more were hit by gunfire. Even more were missed. If we ignore those who were nearly hit, we have ignored the reality of danger. Tell us how many shell cases were picked up by police? That's the measure of potential death. Potential is measured by how many bullets missed.
By BENTLEY CONNER on
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.
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