News

Don Penzien

Don Penzien, founder and director of CelticFest Mississippi, started the annual event 25 years ago to help familiarize Mississippians with Scottish and Irish traditions, especially those who may have Scot-Irish roots and aren't aware of it. 

State Flag Lawsuit Dismissed, But Judge Leaves Door Open for Future Case

U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves dismissed Grenada-based attorney Carlos Moore’s lawsuit today, which challenged the constitutionality of the Mississippi state flag.

'Staff Error' Turns into 1.6-Percent Cut to Most State Agencies

Mississippi is only two months into the new fiscal year, and Gov. Phil Bryant has announced that he will reduce or "adjust" the state budget by $56.8 million to account for a "staff error" that state lawmakers admitted back in May.

Jackson Elementary School Ranked Best In State

SchoolDigger.com, a popular school-ranking website, has rated Davis Magnet International Baccalaureate Elementary School the best elementary school in the state of Mississippi.

UPDATED: Indictment Snares Attorney Previously Used to Defend DA Smith

Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith was the high-profile name listed in a three-count felony indictment today. But the other is an assistant district attorney who Smith’s attorney claims can help prove that the state attorney general’s office has ulterior motives in pursuing the local prosecutor.

Hinds DA Indicted, Arrested for Hindering Prosecution, Two Felonies

JACKSON— Attorney General Jim Hood announced today that a Hinds County grand jury has indicted Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith on two felony charges, accusing Smith of conspiring with an assistant DA to hinder prosecution of a criminal defendant.

LaDaryl Watkins

LaDaryl Watkins says she's always been active and loves people, and wanted to combine the two. She is currently a co-coordinator in The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi's health and wellness department.

‘Fairer, Flatter’: State GOP Craves New Tax Code

A "fairer, flatter tax code" is the goal for Republicans who are leading the tax-policy panel, made up of the most powerful politicians in the statehouse. The group has started its self-assessment of Mississippi's tax structure and is soliciting opinions from outside the state as well.

Raining Paper Cats and Dogs

Inside Cassandre Connolly's Siwell Middle School art class on a recent Thursday morning, it was raining paper cats and dogs.

City Council Braces for More Lawsuits

Jackson City Council members are left wondering how many more lawsuits they will have to deal with in the coming months, and how those could affect the City's woeful budgetary position.

City Cuts to Meet Falling Tax Revenue

The Jackson City Council is dealing with another cut to the proposed budget since the administration announced it must strip away another $500,000 in expenditures for fiscal-year 2017.

DA Smith’s Charges Go to Grand Jury

A Hinds County grand jury will decide whether Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith should be charged with assisting defendants.

Study: 'Glaring Inequality' in Juvenile-Justice System Fines and Fees

The juvenile-justice system can pose financial burdens on youth depending on their economic background and the color of their skin. A new study, conducted by the Juvenile Law Center, found that juvenile court fines and fee structures more severely affect poor families and exacerbate racial disparities in the juvenile-justice system.

City Announces Water Bill Payment Plan

The City of Jackson is offering a payment plan to those that wish to chip away at water bills that Mayor Tony Yarber referred to as “monstrous.”

Ritzy Rags, Brow Bar By Incense and New Chef at Fratesi's

Last week, Pam Fratesi, owner of Fratesi's restaurant, brought in her son-in-law, Nick Secoy, as the restaurant's new head chef.

Few Law Firms Pitch to Defend Lawsuits Against the City of Jackson

The Jackson City Council heard short, three-minute presentations from local law firms for the contract to represent Jackson in the recently filed discrimination lawsuits.

Mayor, City Asks for Patience on Sales-Tax Projects Like Potholes

Mayor Tony Yarber kept his comments uncharacteristically short during the Thursday-night public-information session about the 1-percent sales-tax projects, telling a small crowd in Thalia Mara Hall to be patient as the repairs work their way across the city.

Hispanic Teen Stabbed, Crime Down in Precinct 4

Central Mississippi has seen a spate of violent crime against the growing Hispanic and Latino community in recent months, notably the front-yard robbery and murder of Daniel Omar Gomez and Eli Nunez during a weekend cookout on Westhaven Drive with loved ones.

Two Racial Discrimination Lawsuits Filed Against Metro Police

Two lawsuits pending in the Jackson metro area involve racial discrimination, one by a black Madison County officer and another by a white officer against the Jackson Police Department.

Gov. Bryant Has Problem with Universities Taking Down the State Flag

Gov. Phil Bryant told reporters Tuesday that he is concerned over state universities taking down the state flag, though, mainly due to concerns about following state law.

Javancy Jones

In the three seasons he has been on the field for JSU, Jones has terrorized opposing offenses.

Health Officials Confirm First West Nile Virus Death of 2016

Today the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) confirms the death of a Hinds County resident from West Nile virus (WNV), the first WNV human death of 2016.

DA Files: What the Heck is ‘Ex Parte’?

A common denominator in the myriad of charges Attorney General Jim Hood has leveled against Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith is his alleged use of “ex parte communications.”

DA Files: The Legacy of Williams v. State

During his objections to Attorney General Jim Hood's prosecution of Christopher Butler at a hearing in Hinds County Judge Melvin Priester Sr.'s courtroom on March 3, 2016, Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith referenced the Supreme Court decision of Williams v. State.

DA Files: What Is Case No. 16-120?

This Hinds County Circuit Court case, 16-120, serves as the central mystery to the ongoing legal morass surrounding District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith.

Mississippi’s Mental-Health Conundrum

The mood shift in the old Mississippi Supreme Court room was palpable last week when the Department of Mental Health faced a group of legislators tasked with evaluating the agency's effectiveness and expenditures in upcoming months.

Youth Judge Fights School-to-Prison Pipeline

Just a few years ago, sagging pants and disrupting instruction at school were almost certain to land a kid in front of Jackson County Youth Court Judge Sharon Sigalas. At that time, Sigalas says the school districts under her jurisdiction were in a pattern of sending kids to her for what she calls "minor violations."

Ellington