Mississippi news

• Board appoints Nonya Thrasher as superintendent of Hazlehurst public schools

  15-09-2026 22:17 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Nonya Thrasher, who has led Hazlehurst City School District as interim leader since June, is now the permanent superintendent. The school board voted 3-2 to appoint Thrasher and offer her a one-year, $130,000 contract. Darryl Hilliard Jr., Gloria Sandifer and school board President Paul Rhodes supported Thrasher’s appointment. Corey Murray and Oscar Tanner III voted no. Hazlehurst City School District Superintendent Nonya Thrasher Credit: Courtesy: Nonya ThrasherRhodes said ther
  
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• Leake County schools released from decades-long desegregation order

  15-09-2026 21:57 via mississippitoday.org
  
  After more than half a century, Leake County schools have been released from a federal order that monitored and prevented racial discrimination within the district. That means a judge will no longer oversee Leake County School District to ensure Black  students get equal access to a quality education. U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Jordan approved the order’s dissolution on Sept. 3. Officials announced the decision Monday night on Facebook.“This historic milestone r
  
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• ‘The heart of the community’: Jefferson County schools provide more than an education

  15-09-2026 20:01 via mississippitoday.org
  
  FAYETTE — By 11:30 a.m., the students at Jefferson County schools are hungry. Seated in rows at long cafeteria tables, elementary students tuck into their lunches — crispy chicken tenders, macaroni and cheese, corn and fruit. Only a few of them carry lunchboxes. When they throw away their plastic foam trays, some lick barbecue sauce off their fingers. In Jefferson County, 1 in 3 children is food insecure, making school meals an important source of consistent nourishme
  
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• The Other Side: Michael Chiaradio

  15-09-2026 19:02 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Michael Chiaradio, an entrepreneur and owner of a small farm in Shubuta, is the Democratic nominee for Mississippi’s 3rd District congressional seat, challenging incumbent Republican Michael Guest. Chiaradio, a first-time political candidate, said that as a constituent he was disappointed with Guest rubber stamping the Trump administration agenda, and that when he saw Guest as the only name on his ballot in 2024, he decided he would challenge him. “Who the heck is going to do it if
  
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• Trump administration helps announce Hitachi Energy plans for $528M transformer factory in Copiah County

  15-09-2026 18:14 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Hitachi Energy is investing $528 million to build a new transformer factory in Copiah County, with plans to create 654 jobs. Gov. Tate Reeves announced the development on Tuesday morning from the G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial in Houston, alongside President Donald Trump administration leaders. Federal leaders emphasized that the Zurich-based company’s investment is a part of Trump’s “energy dominance” agenda and goal to bring back American manufacturing.&ldq
  
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• Mississippi Republicans warn of the red menace, even as Comrade Trump breaks out the Marx-Engels playbook

  15-09-2026 18:00 via mississippitoday.org
  
  A national trend of Republican candidates warning that Democrats are a bunch of Bolsheviks trying to turn the U.S. into the USSR has trickled down to Mississippi, with some of our GOP politicians warning of the red menace in the midterms.But Mississippi McCarthyites seeking reelection to Congress or other offices might want to look inward, to the current administration they appear to support without question. As they seek to root out socialists and communists on the Mississippi midterm ballot,
  
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• Blaze engulfs vacant commercial building in Jackson; no injuries reported

  15-09-2026 17:56 via mississippitoday.org
  
  An early morning blaze engulfed the old Midtown Center located on Mill Street in downtown Jackson Tuesday, causing extensive damage but no injuries, fire officials said.The Jackson Fire Department was dispatched to 1030 Mill Street at about 5:30 a.m. Crews arrived to heavy smoke and flames.Division Fire Chief of Investigations Charles Felton confirmed the building was vacant and there were no injuries.“At this time, I do not have any information as to how long it’s been vacant. We d
  
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• Secretary of state: No runoff elections for Mississippi’s federal midterm races

  15-09-2026 17:30 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Mississippi does not hold runoffs for general elections for federal offices, Secretary of State Michael Watson is reminding voters. “Ensuring Mississippi voters and election officials have clear, straightforward information about how our elections are decided is imperative,” Watson said in a statement. “The requirements are not the same for every office, so we want to make sure candidates, election officials, and voters have trusted information prior to Election Day.&rdqu
  
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• At Pride in the Park, Jackson’s Black LGBTQ+ community finds connection

  15-09-2026 16:00 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Under the welcome shade of Fondren Park trees, dozens of LGBTQ+ friends and allies socialized and enjoyed barbecue with a drag performance at a local Black Pride event, organized by public health group My Brother’s Keeper. Then, they were called upon to provide the entertainment.Jose Ramirez, left, attended Pride in the Park with Tony Patrick, right. They drove in on Patrick’s Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle. Sept. 12, 2026. Credit: Anna Hu/Mississippi TodayAfter some cajoling by repeat J
  
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• Zaxbys Headed to Kosciusko as Part of North Mississippi Expansion

  15-09-2026 15:19 via breezynews.com
  
  Zaxbys is officially expanding its footprint in North Mississippi, signing a deal to bring its popular saucy chicken concept directly to Kosciusko.
  Brothers Alan and Eddie Gant, both Mississippi natives and Mississippi State University alumni, have signed two new franchise agreements with the brand. Under the development plan, the pair will first launch a location in nearby Winona within the next year, followed by the Kosciusko store approximately one year later.
  While the news confirms the rest
  
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• Ethel High School Ranked Among Top 20 High Schools in Mississippi

  15-09-2026 14:13 via breezynews.com
  
  Ethel Attendance Center/High School has earned major statewide recognition in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings, landing at No. 17 overall in Mississippi and claiming the top spot as the No. 1 Class 1A high school in the state.
  Out of nearly 18,000 nationally ranked public high schools and 229 evaluated across Mississippi, Ethel Attendance Center posted an overall score of 78.76 out of 100. The Tigers made their strongest mark on state assessment performance, ran
  
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• Mississippi 2026 midterm elections guide: Who’s running? What are the issues?

  15-09-2026 13:00 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Senate RaceHouse RacesElection TopicsVoting InformationLatest News
  Key Senate & House Races ExplainedMidterm elections in November will determine control of both chambers of Congress. In Mississippi, a U.S. Senate race tops the ticket, which includes contested general elections for all four of the state’s U.S. House districts.Who’s in the race: U.S. SenateRepublican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith is running for reelection to a second full term. She faces Democratic nominee Scott Colom and
  
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• Rural Health Transformation Money Flowing to Local Hospitals

  15-09-2026 08:02 via breezynews.com
  
  Some local hospitals and other health care providers are getting a share of more than $104 million in federal money which the state is distributing.
  The awards through the Mississippi Rural Health Transformation Program include more than $344,000 to East Central Mississippi Health Care in Leake County for remote monitoring of patients with hypertension and other chronic conditions.
  Choctaw Regional Medical Center in Choctaw County will get about $46,000 to manage threat detection and response in
  
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• Feds Relinquish Oversight of Leake Schools

  15-09-2026 07:53 via breezynews.com
  
  A federal desegregation order which was imposed on the Leake County school district in 1969 has been lifted.  The Justice Department has been reviewing court-enforced consent decrees in more than a hundred school districts across the South including almost 30 in Mississippi.  The orders often require the districts to submit regular compliance reports and to get court approval before making certain changes.  In a Facebook post, the Leake County district made the announcement, sayin
  
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• Heat Advisory Today for Some in This Area

  15-09-2026 07:50 via breezynews.com
  
  HEAT ADVISORY shown in orange on map above
   
  Part of this area will be back under a heat advisory today.  Among the counties included– Attala, Holmes, Carroll, Montgomery and Choctaw.  Across Leake, Neshoba and Winston counties, the National Weather Service says, even though afternoon highs will still be in the upper 90s, drier air moving in should help to reduce the heat index this afternoon.  Farther west, the heat index could climb as high as 110.  In Durant, it
  
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• Heat Advisory in This Area Extended

  15-09-2026 07:50 via breezynews.com
  
  HEAT ADVISORY shown in orange on map above
   
  Part of this area is back under a heat advisory today.  And it’ll be in effect on Wednesday as well.  Among the counties included– Attala, Holmes, Carroll, Montgomery and Choctaw.  Across Leake, Neshoba and Winston counties, the National Weather Service says, even though afternoon highs will still be in the upper 90s, drier air moving in should help to reduce the heat index this afternoon.  Farther west, the heat i
  
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