Mississippi Today

Over 56,000 absentee ballots cast so far in Mississippi midterm election Voters with a qualifying excuse can vote absentee in person at their circuit clerk’s office until noon… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/27/over-56000-absentee-ballots-cast-so-far-in-mississippi-midterm-election/

Over 56,000 absentee ballots cast so far in Mississippi midterm election Voters with a qualifying excuse can vote absentee in person at their circuit clerk’s office until noon… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/27/over-56000-absentee-ballots-cast-so-far-in-mississippi-midterm-election/

Rural communities push back on school consolidation efforts: ‘They’re just looking at numbers on the paper’ https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/27/theyre-just-looking-at-numbers-on-the-paper-rural-communities-push-back-on-school-consolidation-efforts/

8 key questions about school district (and college) consolidation in Mississippi State lawmakers want to reduce the number of Mississippi's public school districts. Get answers… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/27/8-key-questions-about-school-district-and-college-consolidation-in-mississippi/

Trump rallies for Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi: ‘You like me’ Democrats have grown hopeful that their U.S. Senate nominee in Mississippi, Scott Colom, might flip a seat in what has been a… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/26/trump-rallies-for-cindy-hyde-smith-in-mississippi-you-like-me/

Struggling Canton school loses its charter SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy can no longer operate as a charter school after Dec. 31. https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/26/struggling-canton-school-loses-its-charter/

Jackson seeks $125 million under controversial federal policing grant Mississippi’s capital city is a finalist for a U.S. Department of Justice grant that could pump tens of millions of dollars into its police… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/26/jackson-controversial-policing-grant/

Judge rejects AG’s bid to permanently end case against ex-Capitol Police officer Hinds County Circuit Judge Faye Peterson ruled the attorney general’s office was showing a… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/26/judge-rejects-ags-bid-to-permanently-end-case-against-ex-capitol-police-officer/

From the headache and aspirin department: Please explain college football this season This is a crazy season of college football, with Team B beating Team B, then B beating C and C beating A. Make it make sense. https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/26/please-explain-college-football-this-season/

Marshall Ramsey: Tate your medicine Marshall Ramsey's editorial cartoon depicts a person in a full-body cast in a hospital bed, with a prescription for Medicaid expansion. Gov. Tate Reeves holds a bag labeled "Rural… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/26/marshall-ramsey-tate-your-medicine/

House speaker’s poll: Mississippians want to eliminate property tax even if it means higher retail costs It would take a significant hike in the sales tax to offset cities’ and counties’ loss of the homestead… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/25/property-tax-sales-tax-mississippi-legislature/

Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson faces two general election opponents in what could be the 17-term incumbent’s final race in the 2nd Congressional District. Learn more about the candidates with our Mississippi Midterms Guide: https://ow.ly/Yj0c50ZZUyS

Mississippi sculptor comes home to bring Walter Anderson’s art to life Phil Proctor, a Lucedale native, was chosen to create two sculptures for the Ocean Springs Gateway Sculpture… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/24/mississippi-sculptor-comes-home-to-bring-walter-andersons-art-to-life/

Immigrants in ICE detention have no due process rights under US Constitution, federal appeals court says Immigrants who enter the United States without appointments with immigration officials can… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/23/immigrants-ice-detention-no-due-process-rights-appeals-court/

Scott Colom says he’ll delete AI-generated Cindy Hyde-Smith ad after AG Fitch threatens legal action Fitch’s threat is the latest salvo between Colom’s… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/23/scott-colom-says-hell-delete-ai-generated-cindy-hyde-smith-ad-after-ag-fitch-threatens-legal-action/

Marine life dramatically declined in Gulf of Mexico in years after BP oil spill, study finds In the years after the 2010 BP oil spill, the number of fish in the deeper parts of the Gulf of Mexico dramatically… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/23/marine-life-gulf-of-mexico-after-bp-oil-spill/

‘A botch job’: Federal appeals court reverses injunction, reassigns anti-DEI case A state law that bans diversity, equity and inclusion programs in Mississippi K-12 schools and… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/23/a-botch-job-federal-appeals-court-reverses-injunction-reassigns-anti-dei-case/

Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Class of ’27 is most diverse in the museum’s history The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame announced its 2027 class on Thursday, the most diverse group of inductees in the history of the… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/23/mississippi-sports-hall-of-fame-2027/

Mississippi declared infant mortality a public health emergency a year ago. What have officials done since then? https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/23/mississippi-declared-infant-mortality-a-public-health-emergency-a-year-ago-what-have-officials-done-since-then/

Kamala Harris says ‘Mississippi matters’ at Columbus rally for Scott Colom Former Vice President Harris campaigns for Democrat Colom in Columbus just days before President Donald… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/22/kamala-harris-says-mississippi-matters-at-columbus-rally-for-scott-colom/

Senatobia officer put himself in harm’s way before fatally shooting 1-year-old Kohen Wiley, experts say Multiple experts who reviewed video footage of the police shooting in Senatobia said officers… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/22/senatobia-officer-harms-way-shooting-kohen-wiley/

UMMC’s new cancer center aims to expand access to life-saving care in Mississippi The University of Mississippi Medical Center broke ground Thursday on a cancer center… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/22/ummcs-new-cancer-center-aims-to-expand-access-to-life-saving-care-in-mississippi/

About 80% of defendants in Mississippi require a public defender, yet it's one of just five states that lack a statewide public defender system, filmmaker writes.https://ow.ly/OiaE5100k5r

Family of toddler fatally shot by Senatobia police is shown unredacted footage by Mississippi officials in private screening https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/22/family-of-toddler-fatally-shot-by-senatobia-police-is-shown-unredacted-footage-by-mississippi-officials-in-private-screening/

Racist policies hold back all Americans, bestselling author Heather McGhee says Racist politics and policy-making have prevented advancements in many areas, from education to… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/22/racist-policies-hold-back-all-americans-bestselling-author-heather-mcghee-says/

After Ole Miss student deaths, Mississippi lawmakers eye tougher restrictions on kratom A few state lawmakers plan to introduce bills next year that would ban kratom… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/22/after-ole-miss-student-deaths-mississippi-lawmakers-eye-tougher-restrictions-on-kratom/

Dr. Daniel Edney named president of national public health organization State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney will lead the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials for a… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/22/dr-daniel-edney-named-president-of-national-public-health-organization/

New Stage Theatre in Jackson hosts world premiere of Bobby Rush musical The show’s run through Nov. 1 is the culmination of a goal set years back. https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/22/new-stage-theatre-bobby-rush-musical/

Reeves awards $32 million in federal funds to develop healthcare workforce and psychiatric services Gov. Tate Reeves on Wednesday awarded $32 million for… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/21/reeves-awards-32-million-in-federal-funds-to-develop-healthcare-workforce-and-psychiatric-services/

New visitor center in Vicksburg breaks ground, highlighting area’s role in Civil War Mississippi officials broke ground Wednesday on a new visitor center and museum next to Vicksburg National Military Park to tell the… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/21/visitor-center-vicksburg-civil-war/

More Mississippi county health departments could lose clinical services As funding challenges persist, Mississippi health officials may cut clinical services at more county health… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/21/more-mississippi-county-health-departments-could-lose-clinical-services/

Lexington faces new lawsuit, days after settling with Justice Department The Southern Poverty Law Center and the ACLU of Mississippi are representing Lexington resident Terrance… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/21/lexington-faces-new-lawsuit-days-after-settling-with-justice-department/

Trump considering Mississippi visit to support Hyde-Smith Hyde-Smith said Trump is 'trying to be helpful' and that if he would like to campaign for her in a Mississippi stop, 'that would be fine.' https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/21/trump-considering-mississippi-visit-to-support-hyde-smith/

Judge denies Trump administration request to dismiss NAACP lawsuit against xAI A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration can intervene in the NAACP lawsuit against Elon Musk’s xAI, but… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/21/judge-trump-administration-xai-naacp-lawsuit-southaven/

The body-camera and surveillance footage provides the first glimpse of a confrontation in a Walmart parking lot that left 1-year-old Kohen Wiley dead. https://ow.ly/F9MK50ZZKOF

Receiver leading the Hinds County jail says officials give him too little money and information The receiver who oversees the troubled Hinds County jail says county officials are giving him too little… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/21/hinds-county-jail-receiver-money-information/

Receiver leading the Hinds County jail says officials give him too little money and information The receiver who oversees the troubled Hinds County jail says county officials are giving him too little… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/21/hinds-county-jail-receiver-money-information/

One year after Leland mass shooting, no indictments, only questions Leland has marked a year since a homecoming block party in the heart of downtown erupted in gunfire, claiming the lives of… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/21/year-later-leland-mass-shooting-no-indictments-only-questions/

New video shows chaotic moments before Senatobia police shot toddler Newly released video shows the chaotic moments before a Mississippi police officer fired into a car outside a Senatobia Walmart in June… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/20/video-senatobia-mississippi-police-kohen-wiley/

Chuck Schumer PAC spends $1.2 million for Scott Colom as pundits say Hyde-Smith lead is waning Some national pundits and prognosticators say races in deep-red… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/20/chuck-schumer-pac-spends-1-2-million-for-scott-colom-as-pundits-say-hyde-smith-lead-is-waning/

US ties with Ukraine hit new low as Trump slights Zelenskyy and eases up on Russia Relations between the U.S. and Ukraine appear to be at a new low, threatening to tip the balance of the war to Russia's favor and imperil… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/20/us-ties-with-ukraine-hit-new-low/

During brain drain research, New Yorker finds reasons to remember Mississippi "What happens in Mississippi does not stay contained behind a state line; it ripples throughout the rest of the country. The case for… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/20/brain-drain-mississippi-new-york-intern/

State lawmaker urges Jackson city leaders to support Pearl River casino project A state lawmaker pleaded with members of the Jackson City Council to sell city-owned swampland along the Pearl River so a riverfront casino… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/20/lawmaker-jackson-pearl-river-casino/

These artists are honoring the Mississippi River Basin one piece of glass at a time Two artists have built over 400 temporary glass sculptures in the Mississippi River… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/20/these-artists-are-honoring-the-mississippi-river-basin-one-piece-of-glass-at-a-time/

Report finds birth centers improve outcomes. Mississippi has none Despite growing evidence that midwife-led birth centers improve outcomes for mothers and infants, Mississippi remains one of… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/19/report-finds-birth-centers-improve-outcomes-mississippi-has-none/

SPLC president during Jackson visit says organization is ready to fight DOJ prosecution In April of 2026, U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/19/splc-president-during-jackson-visit-says-organization-is-ready-to-fight-doj-prosecution/

Attorney General clears Senatobia police officer who shot, killed Kohen Wiley Many details of the incident remain unknown, and it wasn’t immediately clear if or when law… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/19/breaking-kohen-wiley-death-senatobia-police-officer-use-of-force-attorney-general/

DOJ reaches settlement with Lexington Police Department over civil rights violations The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a settlement forcing reforms at the Lexington Police Department, which the DOJ found… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/19/doj-settlement-lexington-mississippi-police/

Bill Clinton and others pay tribute to women ‘Warriors of the Civil Rights Movement’ Eight women "Warriors of the Civil Rights Movement," including three from Mississippi, receive praise at a two-day… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/19/bill-clinton-women-warriors-civil-rights-movement/

Mississippi tops US for Medicaid enrollees prescribed birth control some say is linked to brain tumors Too often, some experts say, providers don’t give… https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/19/mississippi-tops-us-for-medicaid-enrollees-prescribed-birth-control-some-say-is-linked-to-brain-tumors/