Stories for July 2020

Amid Record COVID-19 Fatalities and Cases, School Reopenings Loom in Mississippi

Mississippi is suffering from yet another record week of COVID-19 infections as July ends, with Gov. Tate Reeves placing eight more counties under his growing mask order.

OPINION: John Lewis, Charles Evers, C.T. Vivian: Fighters and Heroes for their People

It is with distinct sadness and difficulty that I write this column in memory of Congressman John Lewis, Mayor Charles Evers and Rev. C.T. Vivian. It's hard to condense my thoughts about these three icons into a short column, but I will try.

‘It Is Your Money’: Hinds Residents Have $26,000 In Unclaimed Money with State Treasury

Hinds County residents have $26,288.73 in unclaimed cash with the Office of the State Treasurer, information on its website reveals.

Four Special Judges Appointed to Mississippi Courts

Four special judges have been appointed in Mississippi to handle a backlog of cases caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Former Mississippi State Sen. Bob Dearing of Natchez Dies

Former Mississippi state Sen. Bob M. Dearing of Natchez, who worked to expand highways, legalize casino gambling and strengthen laws against animal cruelty, died Thursday at home, a funeral home said. He was 85.

Governor Reeves Extends Safe Return and County-Specific Orders to Combat Rising Cases of COVID-19

Today, Governor Tate Reeves announced that he is extending the social distancing measures under the Safe Return and county-specific executive orders to continue combating the rising cases of COVID-19 across the state.

USM COVID-19 Oral Histories, Belhaven Online Scholarships and Millsaps Testing Waivers

Students at the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage at the University of Southern Mississippi recently put together a collection of oral histories concerning the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on people in the state.

‘Collective Vision’: Lynch Street Repaving, Multi-Use Path Underway in West Jackson

A resurfaced Lynch Street and a new multi-use path in west Jackson officially got underway this week, Mississippi Central District Transportation Commissioner Willie Simmons and Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba announced at a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday.

Brandon Bolden

In this coronavirus world, nothing is the same, and that goes for sports, too. Most sports have been shut down since March as NCAA sports, NBA, NHL and others stopped playing.

Mississippi Schools to Submit Annual Plans Amid Uncertainty

Mississippi school districts have just days to submit plans for this academic year to the state, but as the deadline nears and new cases of the coronavirus continue to rise, those plans keep changing.

Priscilla Resser

Thirteen different organizations rejected Priscilla Resser before she received three consecutive offers to become Mississippi’s first physician assistant in the field of plastic surgery.

Hinds County Receiving 'Dangerous' Seeds From China, Could Spread Diseases

Hinds County is among 15 counties in the state where people reported receiving unsolicited seeds from China, Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson said yesterday.

OPINION: An Open Letter to Governor Tate Reeves and MDOC

We write this open letter to demand accountability for neglecting the urgent crisis in Mississippi's prisons. We see your response, or lack thereof, as nothing more than the abuse of unchecked power with willful contempt for moral and humane solutions.

Sheriff, Lawmaker Call Medical Marijuana Resolution 'Unsafe'

A Republican state representative, a sheriff and a Mississippi Board of Health official on Monday urged those who support some form of medical marijuana in Mississippi to vote for the more restrictive of the two proposals that will appear on the ballot in November.

Bailey Avenue Up For Repaving As Jackson Paving Season 2020 Continues

Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba yesterday announced the commencement of the re-pavement of Bailey Avenue from Bailey Avenue Bridge to Mayes Street as part of the 2020 paving-season projects.

Ace Atkins

The Quinn Colson series by Oxford author Ace Atkins is being developed into a TV show on HBO.

Mississippi and Nationwide Experts Call For End To COVID-19 Reopenings

As COVID-19 debilitates the nation, experts across both Mississippi and the United States are calling for a full reversal of the openings that have driven mass spread of the virus in the summer months.

Charles Evers Honored, WMPR Street Renamed at Special City Council Session

Charles Evers, who died Wednesday at 97, came to Mississippi from Chicago after a white supremacist killed his brother, Medgar, in 1963. He led protests to champion the civil rights of Black Mississippians.

Malcolm White Retires from MAC, State Opioid Overdose Data to Action Initiative and NAMI Conference

Malcolm White, owner of Hal & Mal’s restaurant in downtown Jackson and founder of the annual Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade, will retire as executive director of the Mississippi Arts Commission on September 30.

Analysis: First Months Not What Reeves Expected as Governor

Republican Tate Reeves has made clear that his first six months as Mississippi governor didn't shape up the way he expected.

July 25: Mississippi COVID-19 Infections Average 1,322 Per Day

Friday's 1,434 new cases recorded by the Mississippi State Department of Health, or MSDH, brings the seven-day average to 1,322 positive tests per day, up from 918 average daily cases a week ago.

JPS Announces Virtual-Only Fall Semester, Gov. Reeves Expands Executive Order

Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Errick L. Greene announced that JPS students would receive only virtual instruction in the fall semester, citing concerns over the spread of COVID-19 into the classrooms and back to Jackson’s families.

Governor Tate Reeves Announces His Appointments for the Mississippi Flag Commission

Today, Governor Tate Reeves announced his appointees for the Mississippi Flag Commission to redesign the new state flag: a civic leader, a tribal chief, and a business leader.

Governor Tate Reeves Amends Safe Return Order to Combat Rising Cases

Today, Governor Tate Reeves announced his amended Safe Return order, establishing additional measures on social gatherings and events to protect public health as COVID-19 cases rise across the state.

Hinds County Commits $50,000 for 'Reentry Program’ for Formerly Incarcerated

The Hinds County Board of Supervisors on Monday committed $50,000 for what it calls Second Chance Reentry Program for the formerly incarcerated.

Azia’s Picks 7-24-20

Good afternoon, fellow Jacksonians! Despite the heavy losses many of us have had to endure this past week, we are still here to live and love again. For that I am grateful.

SWAC Postpones Fall Sports

The Southwestern Athletic Conference has decided to postpone fall sports for the 2020 school year.

Three More Sentenced in Huge Health Care Fraud Scheme

Three more people accused of participating in a multimillion-dollar pharmacy scheme were sentenced Thursday in federal court in Mississippi.

‘Crisis Care,’ Hard Decisions Looming Due to COVID-19 Surge in Mississippi

A week of uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 has elapsed in Mississippi, with case numbers swelling to unprecedented numbers at the same time that the state’s hospital system reports the unbearable stress of earlier infections.

Jackson Zoo May Open in August; City Receives Temporary Exhibitor’s License

The City of Jackson Zoo may open in August after receiving a temporary exhibitor’s licence, Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba informed members of the Jackson City Council Tuesday.

JSU Health Accelerator, USM Doctoral Program Study and MSU Mobile Ticketing

Jackson State University is partnering with the University of Kentucky and national startup accelerator XLerateHealth to launch a program that will help commercialize human health-focused ideas from historically black colleges and universities.

Reeves Appoints Holly Springs Attorney as Circuit Judge

Gov. Tate Reeves has appointed another new circuit court judge for seven counties in northern Mississippi.

Mississippi Politico, Civil Rights Figure Charles Evers Dies

Charles Evers, the older brother of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers and a longtime figure in Mississippi politics, died Wednesday. He was 97.

Best of Jackson: Household 2020

This year's Best of Jackson: Household 2020 pop-up ballot lists a number of local resources that can help you maintain your home, whatever your needs.

‘Intrinsic Motivation’ and Jackson Education Support

Educational support professional Jillian Smart, CEO of Jackson Education Support, founded the business in 2012 with the goal of using her passion for teaching to help both children and adults develop as independent learners.

UPDATED: Schools Reopen, Tri-County Battleplan Breakdown

Local school districts are all making their own preparations and putting health, social distancing and other protocols into place to prepare for the attempt to return to in-person learning for students after months of school closures.

Rapper Condo Bo Spreads Christian Message Through the Metro

Music is entrenched in Jeremy Thompson's family, he says. The Jackson native said his brother and cousins used to own a studio when he was a child and that he used to sit back and watch them make music.

Seasonal Goodies Galore, Local Farmers Market Lineup

Summers in Mississippi often mean sweltering heat, but we Jacksonians know that summer also serves as the peak of farmers market season.

Six Sizzling Summer Activities for Families

Unpack your bell-bottoms and halter-tops and disco your way through this list of six fun, old-school things to do with your kids in these final days of summer vacation.

Lonely Farewells on the Front Line of Coronavirus

For many Mississippians, coronavirus metrics are numbers on a screen. For the many health care workers who spoke to the Jackson Free Press, it is the cadence of their lives, the increasingly rapid drumbeat forcing the countless decisions they make in any given day.

Mississippi Flag Group Could Meet Without Governor's Appointees

The commission that will design a new Mississippi flag without the Confederate battle emblem will meet for the first time Wednesday, possibly without full membership.

OPINION: John Robert Lewis, ‘A Soul Giant’ Who Touched Mississippi and Me

"One of the best ways to remember John (Lewis) is to look and listen to the young voices who are speaking out today for human and civil rights. John often spoke to young people of all races and nationalities and challenged them: "Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic."

Mitigating COVID-19 Risk if School Reopens

Albert Sykes, executive director of the Institute for Democratic Education in America, wants to add to the conversation on reopening schools and to draw attention to the problem of educational inequality the pandemic exacerbates and exposes.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Life in the Shadows of Neshoba County’s Confederate Statue

As a Neshoba County kid, I grew up in the shadows of the Confederate statue that loomed in front of the courthouse.

La’Kitha Hughes

In her 15 years at Jackson State University, La'Kitha Hughes has learned that teamwork is a vital component to getting the job done, and she considers herself part of a larger team.

City of Jackson Hires JRA Executive Director, County Director of Emergency Operations Announces Resignation

Latoya Cutts is the new executive director of Jackson Redevelopment Authority. She was the downtown manager and head of development for Albany, Ga., before her new appointment, which Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba announced yesterday.

Mike Leach

During a time in which a Mississippi State sports team has not competed in a live game in over three months, much attention has turned to recruiting and roster management.

Rukia Lumumba: Governor's Veto is 'Roadblock to Justice' for Incarcerated

People seeking improvements in Mississippi's troubled prison system said Monday that they want lawmakers to overturn the governor's veto of a bill that could make more inmates eligible for parole.

Two More Mississippi Boards Vote to Keep Confederate Statues

Supervisors in two Mississippi counties voted Monday not to move Confederate monuments that stand in front of courthouses.

1,251 New COVID-19 Cases As Governor Expands Mask, Distancing Orders

After a week of unprecedented spread of coronavirus across Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves has extended Mississippi’s “Safe Return” period by two weeks and heightened restrictions for individuals and businesses in 10 additional counties across Mississippi.

JXN Icons Mural Unveiling, JHLS Curbside Service and Mississippi PPE Donations

Visit Jackson will hold an official unveiling ceremony for the “JXN Icons” mural at the Old Capitol Inn on Thursday, July 23, at 6 p.m.

Rep. John Lewis

U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who died Friday at age 80, was the youngest and last survivor of the Big Six civil rights activists who organized the 1963 March on Washington, and spoke shortly before the group’s leader, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., gave his “I Have a Dream” speech to a vast sea of people.

Mississippi Governor: Education 'Essential,' Even During Pandemic

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Friday that even as coronavirus cases continue to grow, it will be important for children to return to classes, either in person or online.

Prominent Restaurant Owner Indicted in April Shooting

Greta Brown-Bully, the owner of a prominent restaurant in Mississippi, has been indicted on a murder charge in the April shooting of a man outside the liquor store she also owns.

Mississippi's COVID-19 Infections Averaging 918 Cases Per Day

In the past week, Mississippi has gone from a total of 35,419 reported people infected with COVID-19 to Friday's total of 41,846 people testing positive since counting began. That's 6,427 new cases in one week, or an average of 918 cases per day, by far the most reported since the pandemic began.

Azia’s Picks 7-17-20

We made it to the weekend, and I know you’re looking for ways to enjoy summer with family and friends while remaining safe during this COVID-19 pandemic. Good news: You’re right where you should be!

Record-Shattering New Cases of COVID-19 in Mississippi, Now a Pandemic ‘Red Zone’

The July spread of COVID-19 across Mississippi is catastrophic and shows no signs of letting up, with new cases peaking as severe hospitalizations resulting from earlier spikes continue to rise.

JPS Superintendent Lays Down Rules for School Reopening Amid Pandemic

Superintendent Errick L. Greene yesterday laid out the reopening plan for the Jackson Public School District while urging those who can to opt for the virtual-only learning option as, barring any future change, the 2020-2021 session will begin Aug. 10.

Former Mississippi Priest Indicted in Wire Fraud Case

A former priest in Mississippi has been indicted for wire fraud after federal investigators said he took more than $18,000 from parishioners for personal expenses.

Mississippi Teachers Unite Rally

With the fall academic season right around the corner, many Mississippians are worried about making the right choices for their children as they try to adapt and incorporate safe measures amid COVID-19.

Jackson Public Works Director Bob Miller Resigns; Mayor Says ‘Grateful to Him’ for Service

City of Jackson Public Works Director Robert MIller revealed his resignation yesterday in a Facebook post.

Leaders Choose Mostly White Commission to Help Design State Flag Without Rebel Symbol

A mayor, a former state Supreme Court justice and a community college president are among the people chosen to design a new Mississippi flag to replace one state officials recently retired because it included the Confederate battle emblem that's widely condemned as racist.

Chris Jones

Christ Jones would have been stuck playing on the franchise tag for 16.1 million this season if he and the team couldn’t reach a long-term deal by July 15. Both sides did reach a deal on July 14.

MSU Emmett Till Memorial Project; USM and Tougaloo Fall Opening Plans

Thirty-six freshman Mississippi State University architecture students will showcase their final first-year studio projects as part of an “Emmett Till River Site Memorial” poster exhibition at the Emmett Till Interpretive Center in Tallahatchie County.

Mississippi Governor Considers Bar Restrictions as Virus Spreads

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Wednesday that he might set restrictions on bars to try to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, but he was vague about when that might happen and whether they would be statewide.

Reeves Names Ex-State Sen. Gray Tollison as Circuit Judge

Republican Gov. Tate Reeves on Wednesday appointed Gray Tollison of Oxford to a seat on the 3rd Circuit Court District. The appointment fills a vacancy after Judge Andrew K. Howorth retired June 30.

Reeves Chooses Senator to Lead Mississippi Utilities Staff

Gov. Tate Reeves has appointed a third-term Republican state senator to be the new director of the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff, a group that analyzes proposals and provides advice to the three elected members of the Public Service Commission.

Dobbs: Spike in COVID-19 Hospitalizations ‘Just Going to Keep Compounding’

Mississippi’s hospital system is experiencing an unprecedented spike in coronavirus cases, with more than 100 newly confirmed hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients in the period between July 11 and 13.

Construction of Jackson Museum Trail Begins for 2.5-Mile Path from Downtown to Lakeland Drive

The Jackson Museum Trail, a 2.5-mile, 10-foot wide multi-use path, stretching from downtown Jackson to Lakeland Drive, will enhance quality of life and spur economic growth, Clay Hays of Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership told Jackson Free Press this week.

Limited Time: MAC Rapid Response Grants

The Mississippi Arts Commission offers an expanded version of its Minigrants program, coined Rapid Response Grants, to quickly assist with the evolving needs of artists and art organizations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Certifiable Studios: A Photo Gallery

Certifiable Studios, a gaming and creative studio founded five years ago by Jesse Labbé and Rick Moore, has produced a number of board games that have been purchased from fans from across the globe.

Mississippi Delays Start of High School Sports Amid Virus

Fall seasons for public high school sports in Mississippi will be delayed by two weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ole Miss Moves Confederate Statue from Prominent Campus Spot

A Confederate monument that’s long been a divisive symbol at the University of Mississippi was removed Tuesday from a prominent spot on the Oxford campus, just two weeks after Mississippi surrendered the last state flag in the U.S. with the Confederate battle emblem.

Mississippi to Receive $16M to Expand Broadband Access

Mississippi is receiving more than $16 million in federal coronavirus relief money to provide broadband access to rural parts of the state, officials announced Tuesday.

Mississippi Capitol Outbreak: At Least 41 With Coronavirus

At least 30 Mississippi legislators and 11 other people who work in the state Capitol are now known to have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the state's top public health official said Tuesday.

People’s Assembly on Police Reform Reveals Civil Review Board in Progress

Efforts to reform Jackson policing will include increasing investment in community alternatives to policing, members of the City's criminal-justice task force told participants at the Jackson's People's Assembly virtual forum last week.

Scott Sorensen

Scott Sorensen, a well-known Fondren artist, died of pancreatic cancer on July 7 at age 53.

Judge: Women Can Get Abortion Pill Without Doctor Visits

A federal judge agreed Monday to suspend a rule that requires women during the COVID-19 pandemic to visit a hospital, clinic or medical office to obtain an abortion pill.

Adams, Convicted of Ponzi Scheme, Asks Judge for Prison Release Due to Pandemic

Arthur Lamar Adams, a Mississippi man sentenced to nearly 20 years only nine months ago for running a $100-million Ponzi scheme, is hoping a federal judge will order his release from prison because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Attorney Chosen as New Mississippi Revenue Commissioner

An attorney with experience in money matters will be the new head of the Mississippi Department of Revenue.

State Commission Seeks Flag Design Submissions

House Bill 1796 established a commission to redesign the Mississippi State Flag. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History, which is providing clerical support for the commission, is now accepting flag design submissions.

New Law Enforcement Committee Will Monitor Policing Responses in Jackson

The death of George Floyd inspired newly elected Jackson City Council President and Ward 6 representative Aaron Banks to kick off his one-year tenure as president by including a law-enforcement committee among his slate of 10 reconfigured committees last week.

Elective Surgeries End Statewide, 13 Counties Under Stronger COVID Restrictions

The rampant spread of coronavirus across Mississippi has finally triggered new restrictions from Gov. Tate Reeves for the 13 counties with the heaviest spikes in COVID-19 over recent weeks.

Mustard Seed Christmas in July, Museum to Market Trail Groundbreaking and MDAH Virtual Reality App

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, The Mustard Seed, a community for adults with developmental disabilities, has made changes to its annual Christmas in July event for 2020.

Mike Andrews

If you walk through the doors at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame on Mondays, Mike Andrews, a 12-year veteran volunteer, will be there to welcome you.

Analysis: Session Brings Wide Range of New Mississippi Laws

Mississippi is enacting a wide range of laws based on bills passed during this year's legislative session, including some that separately regulate wine, school buses and scooters.

Fall College Instruction to be a Mix of In-Person and Online

Students in Mississippi are scheduled to return to school in August amid rising cases of COVID-19 in the state, but campus life will be a lot different than what many are used to.

Mississippi Limits Elective Surgeries Amid COVID-19 Surge

Mississippi's top public health official has ordered a temporary halt to all elective surgeries to try to save hospital bed space as the state sees a rapid expansion in cases of the new coronavirus.

9,500 New Infections in 14 Days, Governor Orders Tighter Restrictions Including Jackson Metro

With 797 Mississippi residents testing positive for COVID-19 on Friday, the state's total stands at 35,419 since testing began. The past two weeks have averaged 680 cases per day, much higher than at any other time during the crisis. The average number of deaths reported per day rose to its highest level yet.

Governor Reeves Issues Additional Social Distancing Measures for 13 Counties

Governor Tate Reeves has announced additional social distancing measures for thirteen counties identified as hotspots within our state to limit transmission around the communities and protect the health of all Mississippians.

Gov. Reeves Vetoes Parole Reform Bill

Parole reform in Mississippi hit a brick wall this week, with Gov. Tate Reeves vetoing the bipartisan legislation that would have provided more, and earlier, opportunities for parole hearings in Mississippi’s overburdened prisons.

City Buying 100,000 Masks Due to COVID-19, Debates Gerrymandering

To help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Jackson and enable the citizens to do their part, the Jackson City council on Tuesday authorized Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba to purchase 100,000 facial masks for distribution.

Azia’s Picks 7-10-20

Rain or shine, there are many safe virtual and outside events happening in the city, so take some time to fill up on sunshine and love. Please stay safe and hydrated.

Mississippi Inmate Dies After Weeks in Hospital

The Mississippi Department of Corrections says a 64-year-old inmate who was serving a life sentence for a murder conviction has died after being hospitalized since May.

Central Mississippi Hospitals At Capacity, School Openings Planned Amid Growing Crisis

The Mississippi State Department of Health announced 703 new cases of COVID-19, paired with the catastrophic new highs of hospitalizations: 686 people with confirmed cases of COVID-19 fill the state’s hospitals, with 255 additional suspected cases.

Evers Statue May Replace Slave Owner, ‘Trail of Tears’ Leader Andrew Jackson’s at City Hall

In line with the current trend against glorifying slave owners and the slavery era with monuments and statues, Jackson City Council on Tuesday authorized Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba to legally remove and relocate the statue of former President Andrew Jackson from the City Hall.

JSU COVID-19 Research Grant, USM Stadium Plaza Renovation and MSU Dual Degree Program

The National Science Foundation recently awarded Jackson State University's Department of Chemistry, Physics and Atmospheric Sciences a $200,000 Rapid Response Research grant to develop a new optical technique to detect COVID-19 infection.

Jack Abraham

Southern Miss will rely on quarterback Jack Abraham to get the offense going in 2020. The redshirt season didn't go the direct route to USM but he has made the most of the time he has spent in Hattiesburg, Miss.

At Least 4 Mississippi Counties to Move Confederate Statues

At least four Mississippi counties have decided recently to move Confederate monuments away from courthouses as widespread protests over racial injustice are renewing debate over symbols that many consider divisive.

Former JSU President Found Guilty in Prostitution Sting

A Mississippi judge has found Jackson State University's former president guilty of misdemeanor charges related to a prostitution sting.

Mississippi Governor Vetoes Part of Education Bill Over Pay Plan

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has vetoed most of the state education budget for the new fiscal year because it would have changed a bonus pay plan for some teachers.

Top 10: Frezale Smith

I have been lucky enough to live in several areas in central Mississippi, and I have found some of the coolest places to hang out in your off time to be right here in the Jackson metro.

Family, Life’s Most Powerful Siren Song

A passion for music may have led Dawn Dixon across the Atlantic Ocean for a time, but her love for her family brought her back to her southern roots.

Dice Rolls and Tokens and Cards, Oh My!

Whether your idea of a fun Saturday night entails braving an expedition through Antarctic tundra or gallivanting through a land of fantastical beasts to collect bounties with your adventuring party, Certifiable Studios, a board-game-centric art studio in Jackson, has you covered.

Foot Print Farms: Feeding Folks Safely

Canning and paperwork make for many a late night for Cindy Ayers-Elliott, Foot Print Farms' founder. But the daily business of growing and getting fresh vegetables to folks who need it continues, COVID-19 or not, and she rises to the challenge.

In the Spirit of Medgar: State Flag Came Down the Week Slain Hero Would’ve Turned 95

When the signature of Gov. Tate Reeves put an end to the 126-year reign of the former Mississippi flag with the Confederate emblem on June 30, it was two days before what would have been the 95th birthday of Medgar Evers.

OPINION: Blackness and Whiteness, To Whom the Story of America Concerns

James Baldwin said "the story of the in America is the story of America. It is not a pretty story." This ugly, brutal, and festering story is the truth that Black Americans are born into and that Black Americans wake up to every day.

COVID-19 In Mississippi: Lacking Leadership, Buy-In or Both?

The grand debate over a protective mask, played out on social media from the local level to the halls of the White House itself, is representative of the state of the pandemic in America.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Tate Reeves Needs to Stop Making Excuses, Start Leading

"Gov. Tate Reeves is spinning. He is grasping at any straw he thinks can divert attention away from his abysmal leadership during the COVID-19 crisis in Mississippi."

Hannah Richards, 'Jackson Has Heart'

Mississippi College Admissions Counselor Hannah Richards gleefully claims Mississippi, specifically the Jackson metro, as her home—despite spending her entire childhood in Chattanooga, Tenn., before moving to Mississippi to attend MC.

Confederate Statue at Raymond Courthouse May Move After Black Citizen Pleads Case to Supervisors

The Confederate statue at the Hinds County Courthouse in Raymond represents racial injustice and should be removed, Marshand Boone told the Hinds County Board of Supervisors Monday. The board, in turn, committed to resolving the issue.

Lt. Gov. Hosemann, Speaker Gunn Test Positive for COVID-19; Governor Hints at ‘Total Lockdowns’

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and Speaker of the House Philip Gunn have both tested positive for COVID-19, as have a number of other state legislators.

Rudolph 'Cotton' Baronich

Rudolph "Cotton" Baronich, a longtime Jackson resident who once worked as a bartender at city landmarks like the Sun-N-Sand, George Street Grocery, Hal & Mal's and the Edison Walthall Hotel, died on Tuesday, June 30, at age 90.

Reeves' Tweet 'Messy, Loud and Wrong,' Protest Leader Says

A Mississippi Senate leader and a protest organizer are speaking out against Republican Gov. Tate Reeves's tweet Sunday that said the “liberal media” is ignoring new coronavirus cases that could have been caused by protests and blaming a surge of holiday barbecue parties.

Mississippi Governor Tests Negative for COVID-19 After Scare

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has tested negative for the coronavirus, a day after announcing he was going into isolation after being in contact with a lawmaker who tested positive.

Mississippi Board Votes 'No' on Moving Confederate Monument

Officials in a Mississippi county unanimously voted to keep a Confederate monument where it stands, saying moving the statue wouldn't fix racial tensions.

Autopsy: Death of Harvey Hill in Madison County Detention Center Ruled Homicide

The death of 36-year-old Harvey Hill on May 6, 2018, in the Madison County Detention Center was a homicide, the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office has determined.

Dog Makes Folks Welcome at Terry’s Creek Church

Terry’s Creek Baptist Church has many faithful members, no doubt — but perhaps none more so than a four-legged one named Spike. Spike is a big, black, gentle Lab mix owned by member and nearby resident Tom Gunther.

Mangia Bene COVID-19 Measures, Grants from LGBTQ Fund of Mississippi and National Endowment for the Arts

In light of the City of Jackson's recent mandate requiring people to wear masks in public, Mangia Bene restaurant group, which operates BRAVO! Italian Restaurant and Bar, Sal and Mookie's and Broad Street Baking Company, recently announced its own set of regulations and changes for its restaurants.

Mississippi Could Drop Jim Crow-Era Statewide Voting Process

Mississippi just ditched its Confederate-themed state flag. Later this year, the state's voters will decide whether to dump a statewide election process that dates to the Jim Crow era.

Jackson Councilman Suggests Buying Masks for Residents

Days after the city of Jackson passed a new rule requiring people to wear masks in public, City Councilman Kenneth Stokes is proposing the city purchase 100,000 masks to distribute to residents.

Mississippi House Speaker Tests Positive for Coronavirus

House Speaker Philip Gunn said Sunday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus as state health officials reported more than 200 new infections and five deaths linked to the pandemic.

Belhaven University Renames Hall After Namesake Called Segregationist

A university in Mississippi removed the name of a former president from a residence hall after a petition called the man a segregationist.

July 4th: COVID-19 Cases Top 30,000, Average at Record 683 Per Day

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Mississippi passed 30,000 on Friday, with that day's total at a near-record 990 of reported newly infected Mississippians. Four people died from complications related to the virus yesterday.

COVID-19 Cases Near Record Day at 914, Hospitalized Patients Remains High

The Mississippi State Department of Health reported that 914 new people tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, the second-highest day since MSDH began reporting numbers in April. More than 1,100 Mississippians have died from COVID-19-related illnesses in that same time period.

Stories for July 2020

Friday, July 31

Thursday, July 30

Wednesday, July 29

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Saturday, July 25

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Saturday, July 18

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Saturday, July 4