Mississippi Today

‘A good day for teachers’: Senate revives pay raise, ups House’s proposal to $6,000 Earlier in the session, the Senate proposed a $2,000 raise, the Senate a $5,000 raise, then they killed each other's bills.

‘A good day for teachers’: Senate revives pay raise, ups House’s proposal to $6,000

Earlier in the session, the Senate proposed a $2,000 raise, the Senate a $5,000 raise, then they killed each other's bills.

Photo gallery: Mississippi crime victims rally for safety and support Crime victims and family members gathered Wednesday at the Mississippi Capitol for what organizers said would be the first Survivors Speak Mississippi event. They called on lawmakers to reform the state’s victim compensation program and fund a trauma recovery center in Jackson

Photo gallery: Mississippi crime victims rally for safety and support

Crime victims and family members gathered Wednesday at the Mississippi Capitol for what organizers said would be the first Survivors Speak Mississippi event. They called on lawmakers to reform the state’s victim compensation…

SNAP work requirements stifle access to food for older caregivers and grandchildren, experts say Nationwide, family members who step into parental roles save taxpayers and states $10.5 billion by keeping children out of the foster care system. But work requirements and the red tape that comes with them could disproportionately hurt older caregivers and their families.

SNAP work requirements stifle access to food for older caregivers and grandchildren, experts say

Nationwide, family members who step into parental roles save taxpayers and states $10.5 billion by keeping children out of the foster care system. But work requirements and the red tape that comes with…

Mississippi Explained News Quiz: Jackson water bill would remove majority of city’s board power The Senate Energy Committee advanced a Jackson water bill that would create a separate utility authority and remove the city’s majority control of the authority's board.

What is the main purpose of a reverse repealer?

Take our weekly news quiz now. ⬇️

The basketball big time for Coach Michael Smith is right there in Booneville Michael Smith has brought big-time coaching and winning to Booneville. His high school basketball teams have won 765 games and 11 state championships over 22 years.

The basketball big time for Coach Michael Smith is right there in Booneville

Michael Smith has brought big-time coaching and winning to Booneville. His high school basketball teams have won 765 games and 11 state championships over 22 years.

Will lawmakers battle over school choice again? House says no, but teacher pay bill contains the language Education policy has been center stage during this year’s legislative session, including expanding school choice policies that would send public dollars to private schools and raising educators’ pay for the first time in four years. 

Will lawmakers battle over school choice again? House says no, but teacher pay bill contains the language

Education policy has been center stage during this year’s legislative session, including expanding school choice policies that would send public dollars to private schools and raising…

Former Jackson mayor files motion to dismiss federal bribery charges Lumumba’s motion to dismiss comes weeks after a co-defendant in Jackson’s bribery scandal, Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, filed his own motion to dismiss the case.

Former Jackson mayor files motion to dismiss federal bribery charges

Lumumba’s motion to dismiss comes weeks after a co-defendant in Jackson’s bribery scandal, Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, filed his own motion to dismiss the case.

Mississippi leads the nation in gun deaths among those who are pregnant and postpartum Pregnancy increases a woman’s chances of being targeted for a number of reasons, including heightened difficulty for them to leave abusive partners. Mississippi has become a hotspot for these deaths in large part because of lax gun laws and restrictive abortion access, both of which have been proven to increase violence against pregnant women.

Mississippi leads the nation in gun deaths among those who are pregnant and postpartum

Pregnancy increases a woman’s chances of being targeted for a number of reasons, including heightened difficulty for them to leave abusive partners. Mississippi has become a hotspot for these deaths in large…

Mississippi elections: Who won US Senate, House primaries? All four of Mississippi’s incumbent U.S. representatives and its incumbent junior U.S. senator are running for reelection in 2026 and were on the ballot Tuesday.

Mississippi elections: Who won US Senate, House primaries?

All four of Mississippi’s incumbent U.S. representatives and its incumbent junior U.S. senator are running for reelection in 2026 and were on the ballot Tuesday.

Senate approves reform legislation to improve transparency of pharmacy benefit managers The Mississippi Senate passed its version of pharmacy benefit manager reform legislation Tuesday following a heated debate in which some legislators warned that the bill, which is intended to help independent pharmacists and patients, could come at the expense of business interests.

Senate approves reform legislation to improve transparency of pharmacy benefit managers

The Mississippi Senate passed its version of pharmacy benefit manager reform legislation Tuesday following a heated debate in which some legislators warned that the bill, which is intended to help independent…

Legislature passes law to take gambling jackpots from deadbeat parents after yearslong push There are 153,964 children in Mississippi whose custodial parents are owed child support, totaling $1.7 billion.

Legislature passes law to take gambling jackpots from deadbeat parents after yearslong push

There are 153,964 children in Mississippi whose custodial parents are owed child support, totaling $1.7 billion.

Mississippi to join Trump Administration’s foster parent recruitment initiative The initiative is not tied to additional federal funding, but a federal representative said the reduction of red tape will allow the state to target funds for necessary casework.

Mississippi to join Trump Administration’s foster parent recruitment initiative

The initiative is not tied to additional federal funding, but a federal representative said the reduction of red tape will allow the state to target funds for necessary casework.

State board approves xAI permit, Southaven community left with ‘dread’ The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Permit Board voted unanimously Tuesday to allow xAI to expand its footprint in Southaven.

State board approves xAI permit, Southaven community left with ‘dread’

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Permit Board voted unanimously Tuesday to allow xAI to expand its footprint in Southaven.

Clarksdale officials consider data center proposal There are five data centers being constructed in Mississippi. Including Clarksdale, there are at least four more centers under consideration.

Clarksdale officials consider data center proposal

There are five data centers being constructed in Mississippi. Including Clarksdale, there are at least four more centers under consideration.

Organizer: Mississippi United believes petitioning political leaders can make a difference Mississippi United organizer: People "are hungry for an avenue to actually DO SOMETHING to make things better in this beautiful and complicated place."

Organizer: Mississippi United believes petitioning political leaders can make a difference

Mississippi United organizer: People "are hungry for an avenue to actually DO SOMETHING to make things better in this beautiful and complicated place."

Gov. Reeves says he’s open to school choice special session Gov. Tate Reeves said school choice expansion and increased teacher pay remain top priorities for him.

Gov. Reeves says he’s open to school choice special session

Gov. Tate Reeves said school choice expansion and increased teacher pay remain top priorities for him.

Bill tying union organizing restrictions to economic development grants heads to governor If the governor signs the bill, Mississippi would become the first state in the country to ban neutrality agreements and the fourth state to require private ballots, according to Workers for Opportunity, a national group that advocates for employee rights against unions.

Bill tying union organizing restrictions to economic development grants heads to governor

If the governor signs the bill, Mississippi would become the first state in the country to ban neutrality agreements and the fourth state to require private ballots, according to Workers for Opportunity, a…

Live election results: 2026 US Senate, House primaries in Mississippi Mississippi voters are choosing party nominees for all four of the state's U.S. House seats and one of its U.S. Senate seats.

Live election results: 2026 US Senate, House primaries in Mississippi

Mississippi voters are choosing party nominees for all four of the state's U.S. House seats and one of its U.S. Senate seats.

State-run health marketplace may be ‘too little, too late,’ insurance commissioner says Mississippi is no closer to creating a state-run health insurance marketplace than it was two years ago, when lawmakers first granted the insurance commissioner the authority to do so, according to a state official. 

State-run health marketplace may be ‘too little, too late,’ insurance commissioner says

Mississippi is no closer to creating a state-run health insurance marketplace than it was two years ago, when lawmakers first granted the insurance commissioner the authority to do so, according to a state…

Mississippi jury acquits engineer accused of lying about 2017 military plane crash near Itta Bena A federal jury in Mississippi has acquitted a former military aircraft engineer of lying and obstruction of justice following a deadly 2017 military place crash that happened near Itta Bena.

Mississippi jury acquits engineer accused of lying about 2017 military plane crash near Itta Bena

A federal jury in Mississippi has acquitted a former military aircraft engineer of lying and obstruction of justice following a deadly 2017 military place crash that happened near Itta Bena.

Vote Tuesday: Mississippi voters will pick Democratic and Republican nominees for Congress All four of Mississippi’s incumbent U.S. representatives and its incumbent junior U.S. senator are running for reelection in 2026.

Vote Tuesday: Mississippi voters will pick Democratic and Republican nominees for Congress

All four of Mississippi’s incumbent U.S. representatives and its incumbent junior U.S. senator are running for reelection in 2026.

Marshall Ramsey: NIL for teachers Marshall Ramsey's editorial cartoon depicts a teacher who's trying to figure out how to get a pay raise as Mississippi legislators discuss tax breaks for college athletes.

Marshall Ramsey: NIL for teachers

Marshall Ramsey's editorial cartoon depicts a teacher who's trying to figure out how to get a pay raise as Mississippi legislators discuss tax breaks for college athletes.

Secretary of state turned to unverified credit data to check voters’ addresses for ‘election integrity’ Thousands of Mississippi voters were made inactive after the secretary of state rolled out unverified credit data from Experian for county election commissioners to perform the routine job of checking voters’ addresses.

Secretary of state turned to unverified credit data to check voters’ addresses for ‘election integrity’

Thousands of Mississippi voters were made inactive after the secretary of state rolled out unverified credit data from Experian for county election commissioners to perform the routine job of…

Will teacher pay raise rise from the ashes? Legislative recap Teacher pay raise bills were victims of ongoing, and often inexplicable, political infighting between House and Senate Republican leaders.

Will teacher pay raise rise from the ashes? Legislative recap

Teacher pay raise bills were victims of ongoing, and often inexplicable, political infighting between House and Senate Republican leaders.

Bills would take gambling jackpots from deadbeat parents as Mississippi remains last in child support   Federal data shows Mississippi has the worst child support collection rate in the nation and one of the highest rates of child poverty.

Bills would take gambling jackpots from deadbeat parents as Mississippi remains last in child support  

Federal data shows Mississippi has the worst child support collection rate in the nation and one of the highest rates of child poverty.

Chef teaches how Mississippi healthy foods can be inexpensive and tasty

Chef teaches how to buy "inexpensive, healthy, plant-based staples in bulk – even at dollar and discount stores – and turn them into a variety of tasty meals."

Lumberton forms grant committee, uses facade funding as first test for downtown revival Applications for Mississippi Power Foundation funding close April 9 and are open to Main Street Association members seeking to improve storefront exteriors. 

Lumberton forms grant committee, uses facade funding as first test for downtown revival

Applications for Mississippi Power Foundation funding close April 9 and are open to Main Street Association members seeking to improve storefront exteriors. 

Greenwood Leflore Hospital weighing possible takeover bid by UMMC, letter of intent shows Greenwood Leflore Hospital signed a letter of intent to discuss the possibility of the University of Mississippi Medical Center taking over its services, according to state and local officials and an excerpted document obtained by Mississippi Today. 

Greenwood Leflore Hospital weighing possible takeover bid by UMMC, letter of intent shows

Greenwood Leflore Hospital signed a letter of intent to discuss the possibility of the University of Mississippi Medical Center taking over its services, according to state and local officials and an…

House revives teacher pay raise bill, giving Senate ‘one more bite at the apple’ The Mississippi House is trying to revive efforts to pass a teacher pay raise, with Speaker Jason White says his chamber is listening to educators. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann says he's glad the House is willing to engage in "real negotiations."

House revives teacher pay raise bill, giving Senate ‘one more bite at the apple’

The Mississippi House is trying to revive efforts to pass a teacher pay raise, with Speaker Jason White says his chamber is listening to educators. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann says he's glad the House is willing to…

No final decision yet on Pearl River project, Corps clarifies after local announcement The Pearl River flood control project is not a done deal, as environmental requirements and funding would need to be worked through.

No final decision yet on Pearl River project, Corps clarifies after local announcement

The Pearl River flood control project is not a done deal, as environmental requirements and funding would need to be worked through.