Governor declines to make Jackson authority appointments yet, citing Wingate order In delaying making appointents to a new water authority board, Gov. Tate Reeves cited a federal injunction preventing the board from taking actions until it's determined whether the new governance structure would…

Rural hospital’s grim finances spur uncertain future for healthcare in Greenwood The future of the 25-bed Greenwood Leflore Hospital, which has treated patients in the Mississippi Delta for more than a century, hangs in the balance amid its steadily worsening financial situation.

Forget Congress: How the Supreme Court ruling could gut Black political representation at state, local level With the Callais decision, Southern states like Mississippi that spent decades fighting to discourage Black political power now have what they always wanted: a wide open door. And things…

The population of this giant Mississippi ICE facility has plummeted in 3 weeks. ICE says that’s normal. The population decline at the Adams County Correctional Center has left several housing units vacant and prompted rumors that the facility was closing.

Federal judge temporarily halts Jackson water authority as court reviews new state law U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate's injunction prevents the metro Jackson water authority from taking actions such as naming its own board president or entering a lease agreement.

Outspoken Ole Miss professor’s social media post fuels conservatives’ calls to fire him James Thomas, a sociology professor at the University of Mississippi, said he was referencing free speech and former FBI Director James Comey's recent indictment, not inciting violence, with a recent Bluesky…

Breaking: Two brothers from the Republic of Congo were released to their Mississippi host family Thursday, more than a week after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained the teens as they waited for a school bus. https://ow.ly/zOyu50YT0Jv

The Makokas have been released from ICE custody. This is a developing story and will be updated.

Some Republicans call for Mississippi to gerrymander out state’s only majority Black congressional district After the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a ruling that rolls back racial discrimination protections for redistricting, some Mississippi Republican officials want lawmakers to make it…

Mississippi Coast community rallies for ICE-detained teens as graduation approaches for one of them Israel Makoka, who is set to graduate, is missing senior celebrations. ICE arrested him and his younger brother Max, both from the Republic of Congo, as they were waiting for their bus to Hancock…

State unemployment rate holds steady: Mississippi Marketplace A roundup of Mississippi business news.

Mississippi ranks last in U.S. on healthcare outcomes and disparities The Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation focused on healthcare issues, released a report Wednesday that provided a nationwide look at how health outcomes, access to care, and quality of care differ based on racial and ethnic…

Reeves announces nearly $13.5M in spending on youth mental health services Mississippi is set to invest nearly $13.5 million into mental health support for youth, Governor Tate Reeves announced Thursday. 

This pesticide is so toxic it’s been banned in over 70 countries. But plants in the South are releasing it into the air Paraquat has been linked to Parkinson’s disease, but tens of thousands of pounds of it are being released in the Mississippi Basin.

Anna Hu selected for national mental health fellowships Mississippi Today reporter Anna Hu has been selected for two national fellowships.

ICE takes 2 teen exchange students into custody outside their Mississippi hosts’ home Immigration agents took brothers Israel and Max Makoka from the Republic of Congo into custody April 21 as they waited for the bus to Hancock County High School, putting them in zip ties in front of their…

Reeves establishes Mississippi office for Rural Health Transformation Program funds Gov. Tate Reeves on Wednesday announced he’s creating an office to oversee distribution of hundreds of millions of federal dollars aimed at improving rural healthcare. 

‘Betrayal’ or ‘saving our country.’ Mississippi leaders react to Supreme Court voting rights decision The landmark Louisiana v. Callais decision places Mississippi and other Southern states at the center of a national political battle over redistricting. It was also a stinging decision for civil…

US Supreme Court Callais decision just weakened the Voting Rights Act. What happens next in Mississippi?  ABERDEEN — A federal judge in Mississippi will soon decide if she should go forward with adopting a new Mississippi Supreme Court district map now that the nation’s highest court has…

Hancock County Middle School students stop bus from crashing after driver blacks out Hancock County Middle School students saved their bus driver last week after she passed out while on a four-lane highway.

US Supreme Court voids majority Black congressional district in Louisiana, weaking part of the Voting Rights Act The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling Wednesday that weakens a landmark voting rights law’s protections against discrimination in redistricting. It’s unclear how much is left of the…

Woman says her nephew was stabbed at Hinds County jail, latest violence at the troubled facility Nicole Gibson said her nephew, 26-year-old Isaac Gibson, told her he was stabbed over 10 times in the back of the head and the neck between 3 and 5 a.m. on Thursday.

On the eve of final exam week, about 500 Jackson State University students were evacuated from Alexander Hall, a women’s dormitory, after a power outage. Some students said they were left in limbo. Education reporter Candice Wilder explains their concerns. https://ow.ly/Q0rn50YRhLf

Letter from the editor: Following the money is a key part of Mississippi Today’s mission Mississippi Today journalists have been digging into budgets, expense reports, lobbying disclosures, state plane records and other documents to follow how public money is spent. That effort has been central to…

Senator warns Byhalia mayor about ‘ICE warehouse’ deal scuttled by Kristi Noem, Wicker In his letter, Sen. Chris Murphy said that if Democrats retake Congress, they would immediately aim to defund ICE warehouses, leaving local governments to foot the bill.

Prison reform needs go unmet by Legislature for inmates like Susie Balfour, attorney says Attorney says, when it comes to prison reform, "our Legislature continues to do the bare minimum for the people of Mississippi."

Jackson asks federal judge to block new water authority created by state law The city of Jackson argues in a court filing that the state attempted to "usurp" the federal court's power by passing the law creating the Metro Jackson Water Authority.

Rep. Bennie Thompson visited the Adams County Correctional Center in Natchez on April 9. When he was there, he said, the facility was holding just 1,400 people. That’s a long way from its maximum capacity of 2,500, writes investigative reporter Mukta Joshi. Read more: https://ow.ly/wtkI50YQM6T

Lawmakers tried to steer $2 million to Tupelo hotel project tied to state official’s family Mississippi lawmakers tried to shell out $2 million in tax dollars to help fund the construction of a private downtown Tupelo hotel project connected to a state official’s family, but Gov. Tate Reeves…

Jackson State dorm reopens after power outage displaces 500 students Jackson State officials said a severe weekend storm caused a power outage at Alexander Hall, a women's dorm on campus.

Mississippi’s largest synagogue finds triumph in rebuilding after arson Leaders of Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi's largest synagogue, hope to have cleanup and reconstruction of the building finished by 2027.

Allen Siegler named local reporting finalist for 2026 Livingston Awards Allen Siegler, mental health reporter for Mississippi Today, has been selected as a local reporting finalist for the 2026 Livingston Awards by the Wallace House Center for Journalists at the University of Michigan.

Former state Rep. Nick Bain announces he’s running for state auditor in 2027 The role of the state auditor is to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent legally and to investigate waste, fraud and abuse in state and local government.

Marshall Ramsey: Concrete and barbed wire Marshall Ramsey's editorial cartoon depicts an ICE detention center. One man asks who's still in there. Another responds: "Our souls."

Mississippi is encouraging more people to go into construction. Will it work? Construction employment in Mississippi has grown by about 20% since the pandemic, adding about 9,500 jobs over the past five years according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. State officials and industry leaders say…

About 500 Jackson State students have to relocate during emergemcy dormitory repairs About 500 Jackson State University students are displaced because of a mechanical failure at a residence hall — a major disruption the day before final examinations start.

No La Sasso, no problem: Ole Miss defeats Florida for SEC men’s golf title Ole Miss men's golf defeated the defending champion Florida Gators for the SEC Championship at Sea Island, Georgia, on Sunday. It's the first time the Rebels have won the conference title since 1984.

Gov. Reeves wins veto fight thanks to Senate Democrats’ anger with Lt. Gov. Hosemann Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann accomplished the near impossible – convincing all 18 Mississippi Senate Democrats to vote to uphold vetoes by Republican Gov. Tate Reeves.

Republicans, including Rep. Trent Kelly, jockeying for top spot on House Armed Services Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers’ term as the lead Republican on the committee expires in January. Reps. Trent Kelly of Mississippi and Rob Wittman of Virginia are vying to replace him.

Photo gallery: Jack Thornell, a Vicksburg native, captured US history as longtime AP photographer Jack Thornell, a Vicksburg native who was a longtime photographer for The Associated Press, captured indelible images of American history from 1964 to 2004. He was 86 when he died Thursday.

Jack Thornell, AP photographer who captured assassination attempt on James Meredith, dies at 86 Former AP photographer Jack Thornell, who won a Pulitizer Prize for his 1966 photo of the shooting of James Meredith, has died.

Gov. Reeves calls special Mississippi legislative session for judicial redistricting, dependent on U.S. Supreme Court decision Reeves said Mississippi legislators will return to the state Capitol 21 days after the U.S. Supreme Court issues a decision in the Louisiana v. Callais case, a decision…

Chemistry student is Jackson State’s first Goldwater Scholar The Goldwater Scholarship recognizes college students who aspire to be the nation's "next generation of researchers in science, engineering, and mathematics.”

Jackson Zoo could see changes, but plans are vague for now Officials in Mississippi's capital city say they want to make some changes to the Jackson Zoo. The plans could include repurposing exhibits or switching up some of the zoo’s dozens of animals for ones that require less space or expense.

Mississippi lab temporarily outsources some public health testing services The Mississippi Public Health Laboratory is temporarily outsourcing some services to neighboring states after building repairs forced the facility to pause roughly a third of the tests it performs, including those for HIV,…

Stabbing death in Mississippi private prison raises concerns in U.S. Virgin Islands N’Kosi Parris, a 34-year-old from the Virgin Islands housed at Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility, was stabbed to death at the private Mississippi Delta prison

The Mississippi Department of Education is getting more funding than it asked for this year. Education reporter Devna Bose breaks down the money: https://ow.ly/ei8G50YP67w Get summaries in your inbox every weekday when you sign up for our newsletter. https://ow.ly/KZwa50YP6ft

Families share their stories about confronting poverty through this guaranteed income program At the annual “Night of Storytelling” Wednesday, participants in the Magnolia Mother's Trust's Springboard to Opportunities shared how the program allowed them to shift their lives in radical ways. This…

Mississippi again receives high marks for pre-K programs, but access remains spotty In a new report, the National Institute for Early Education Research identified Mississippi as one of only six states where pre-K programs meet all 10 of its quality standards for early childhood education.

What’s up with the dramatic dip in Mississippi’s ICE population? The 1,400 people ICE detainees U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson said were being held at the Adams County Correctional Center when he visited April 9 is long way from its maximum capacity of 2,500.