Mississippi news

• State Sen. John Polk dead at 77

  21-07-2026 00:09 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Businessman and former state Sen. John Polk of Hattiesburg died, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said in a social media post on Monday. Polk was 77.“The Senate and I have lost a close friend, confidant, and outstanding person in former Senator John Polk of Hattiesburg,” Hosemann wrote. “We will always remember him for his unwavering dedication to Mississippi, his strong convictions, and his willingness to say what needed to be said even when it was difficult.”During a special
  
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• Author, former GOP strategist Stuart Stevens: ‘There is no Republican Party’

  21-07-2026 21:27 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story.
  Stuart Stevens for decades was one of the top Republican political strategists and he ran campaigns for dozens of congressional, senatorial, gubernatorial and presidential campaigns. But the Mississippi native left the party over President Trump and says, “There is no Republican party … it has turned into the pro-tariffs party.” Stevens says the GOP these days, “in many ways is to the left
  
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• California reading scores are up, thanks to literacy investments. Can the state do more?

  21-07-2026 21:25 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story.
  California’s reading scores have been improving since the state invested billions in changing how students learn to read. In 2013, California ranked 47th nationally for fourth-grade reading skills. The state then introduced a new English language arts framework focusing on phonics and vocabulary. The biggest investment came in 2023 with $500 million for literacy coaches. However, a shortage of coaches is hin
  
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• Getting ready for the 2026 hurricane season

  21-07-2026 21:00 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story.
  The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, meaning Mississippians should prepare now if they haven’t already. While the threat is the most prominent on the Coast, a hurricane or tropical storm has impacted most counties in the last 10 years, according to NOAA storm data.In May, NOAA announced it was predicting a “below-normal” Atlantic hurricane season for 2026. Experts with the a
  
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• ‘Black Box’ podcast goes beneath the surface of Mississippi’s opioid epidemic and settlements

  21-07-2026 17:30 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story.
  Eleven years and one day after his son Jeffrey died of an opioid fentanyl overdose, James Moore stood in a purple-lit Hattiesburg auditorium and welcomed hundreds of people to his annual celebration called “A Tribute to Courage and Recovery.”Moore didn’t center the event around himself or his family. He only shared a couple quick stories about Jeffery, lasting about three minutes. And he told sto
  
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• Tropical Storm Bertha is expected to bring heavy rain, flooding along the Gulf Coast

  21-07-2026 16:55 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story.
  Tropical Storm Bertha strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday but was expected to weaken as it chugs closer to the U.S., potentially bringing coastal flooding and heavy rain from the Florida Panhandle through southern Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.Those areas along the northern Gulf Coast were under a tropical storm warning through Wednesday and could see heavy rain and flooding into Thursday
  
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• Tropical Storm Bertha in the Gulf of Mexico is moving toward the Florida Panhandle and Alabama

  21-07-2026 16:55 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story.
  NEW ORLEANS — Tropical Storm Bertha strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico and was moving slowly toward the Florida Panhandle and Alabama, causing a tropical storm warning and storm surge watches, forecasters said.The storm was about 110 miles south of Panama City, Florida, and 170 miles southeast of Mobile, Alabama, and moving northwest at 5 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, the Miami-based National H
  
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• Senate Republicans now pushing for more say in Iran war

  21-07-2026 16:50 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story.
  Republican senators are pressing the Trump administration to offer a clearer plan and more information about the Iran war after three U.S. service members were killed and dozens were wounded in renewed attacks in recent days.Several lawmakers said Monday that Congress should no longer remain on the sidelines and that the White House needs to explain where the conflict is headed.“It looked like thin
  
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• Kosciusko Mayor Tim Kyle Stars on Reflecting Mississippi Podcast

  21-07-2026 13:58 via breezynews.com
  
  Thursday, July 16, Mayor Tim Kyle of Kosciusko went on the Mississippi Humanities Council’s podcast, Reflecting Mississippi. The episode, “The Legacy of America250 in Mississippi,” kicks off the podcast’s second season.
  Listen to the Full Podcast HERE!
  The post Kosciusko Mayor Tim Kyle Stars on Reflecting Mississippi Podcast appeared first on BreezyNews.com - Kosciusko News 24/7.
  
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• Mississippi Today and Deep South Today launch ‘Black Box,’ a podcast examining opioid settlement spending

  21-07-2026 13:00 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story.
  Mississippi Today and Deep South Today announce the launch of “Black Box,” a new investigative podcast that takes listeners inside one of the most consequential public health and government accountability stories unfolding in Mississippi.Hosted by Mississippi Today Mental Health Reporter Allen Siegler, “Black Box” follows the money behind Mississippi’s opioid settlement and examines h
  
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• Embezzlement, DUIs, and Shoplifting in Philadelphia and Neshoba County

  21-07-2026 10:00 via breezynews.com
  
  KIMBERLY ALBERT, 39, of Louisville, Embezzlement, Shoplifting, PPD.  Bond $500, $1,000.
   MIKKOLETTE M DAN, 30, of Choctaw, Contempt of Court, Failure to Appear, NCSO.  Bond $0, $0.
   DAVID K FRAZIER, 40, of Choctaw, Contributing to the Neglect or Delinquency of a Child, PPD.  Bond $700.
   KRYSTLE HUTCHINS, 42, of Carthage, Serving Sentence, NCSO.  Bond $0.
   THOMAS EARL MCCLELLAND, 32, of Decatur, Hold for MDOC, MDOC.  Bond $0.
   EARLIE KENYON MUMFOR
  
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• Kosciusko School District holding final week of school registration

  21-07-2026 06:00 via breezynews.com
  
  The Kosciusko School District is holding its final registration week for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year.
  Parents and guardians during this final week must register their children at the individual school building each student will attend.
  Registration schedules for each school are as follows:Kosciusko Lower Elementary (KLE): Monday – Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  Kosciusko Middle Elementary (KME): Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 1
  
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• Former state Sen. John Polk dies at 77

  21-07-2026 00:09 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story.
  Businessman and former state Sen. John Polk of Hattiesburg died, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said in a social media post on Monday. Polk was 77.“The Senate and I have lost a close friend, confidant, and outstanding person in former Senator John Polk of Hattiesburg,” Hosemann wrote. “We will always remember him for his unwavering dedication to Mississippi, his strong convictions, and his willingness
  
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• Judge questions Jackson officials about Lake Hico data center discussion

  21-07-2026 00:05 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story.
  U.S. District Court Judge Henry Wingate, who’s overseeing the federal Jackson water lawsuit, wanted answers Monday about reported discussions of a potential data center on a historically significant property in the city.WLBT reported Friday on emails exchanged between Jackson Mayor John Horhn and a local tech nonprofit that detail the benefits a hyperscale data center at Lake Hico would bring, including up t
  
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• Photo gallery: Funeral of Nolan Xavier Wells

  20-07-2026 23:25 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story.
  Mourners gathered Monday for the funeral of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells, whose body was found July 6 near Horn Island. He had gone to the barrier island with a friend group on the Fourth of July, and the death is under investigation.READ MORE: Nolan Xavier Wells’ family is left with questions after getting few details from DAREAD MORE: Mississippi’s history of racism is a talking point as investigat
  
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• Nolan Xavier Wells’ mom challenges his mourners to be like her son, ‘the light that brightens the lives of those around you’

  20-07-2026 22:45 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story.
  OCEAN SPRINGS – Before his name spread across social media, before his parents pleaded for answers about why and how he died and before people lined up to say their goodbyes at his casket, the family of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells had been looking ahead to milestones and wondered what kind of man he would become. Football games. Graduation. Someday a family of his own. The future they pictured f
  
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• Civil rights groups ask to intervene in lawsuit over majority-Black DeSoto County judicial subdistrict

  20-07-2026 22:23 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story.
  Civil rights groups on Monday announced a move to intervene in a federal lawsuit filed by a former Republican gubernatorial candidate and others from DeSoto County aiming to dismantle a majority-Black judicial subdistrict..The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Mississippi, Legal Defense Fund and NAACP moved to intervene on behalf of the DeSoto County NAACP and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. i
  
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• Hinds sheriff misses judge’s deadline to provide jail death records

  20-07-2026 21:12 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story.
  The Hinds County Sheriff’s Office withheld jail death records from a legal advocacy organization for nearly a year. Then a local judge ordered the sheriff to turn the records over by July 9. But nearly two weeks later, the Southern Poverty Law Center is still waiting. The missed deadline is the latest instance of the county and the sheriff failing to produce jail death records, which the SPLC has been s
  
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• Former Ole Miss employee contends in appeal of dismissed lawsuit that Chancellor Glenn Boyce caved to hecklers

  20-07-2026 20:03 via mississippitoday.org
  
  A former University of Mississippi employee is arguing in a federal appeal that a judge’s dismissal of her lawsuit against Chancellor Glenn Boyce would allow a government employer to punish a worker for protected political speech because of backlash from outside critics. Lauren Stokes, the former Ole Miss employee, is asking the appeals court to reverse the dismissal and allow the lawsuit to proceed. The brief, filed Thursday in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, contends that fi
  
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• Attala County School District announces free Breakfast and Lunch for All Students in 2026–2027

  20-07-2026 18:00 via breezynews.com
  
  Attala County School District (ACSD) announced today that all students enrolled in the district will receive healthy school meals at no cost during the 2026–2027 school year.
  Through the USDA’s Provision 2 program, ACSD will provide free breakfast and lunch across participating schools, including Ethel High School, Greenlee Elementary School, Long Creek Elementary School, and McAdams High School.
  Under Provision 2, families do not need to complete or submit free and reduced-price mea
  
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• Aggravated Domestic Assault, Felony Drug and DUI Arrests in Kosciusko and Attala County

  20-07-2026 17:57 via breezynews.com
  
  KAYLA W ALLEN, 30, of Kosciusko, Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance, ACSO.  Bond N/A.
   LUTHER CLARK, 24, of McCool, Domestic Violence – Aggravated Assault, ACSO.  Bond $10,000.
   TAUREAN CLAYTON, 19, of Kosciusko, No Driver’s License, DUI – Test Refusal, No Insurance, Seatbelt Violation, Possession of Marijuana, MHP.  Bond $1,000, $1,000, $1,000, $1,000, $1,000.
   JOHN M CUMMINS, 28, of Kosciusko, Domestic Violence – Violation of Prote
  
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• Log Truck Overturns Hwy 12 in Attala Monday Afternoon

  20-07-2026 17:40 via breezynews.com
  
  A log truck overturned Monday afternoon on Hwy 12 just east of Greenlee School.
  The crash happened just before 3 p.m. MS HWY Patrol, Attala County Fire Department, Attala County Sheriff’s Office, and EMS were dispatched to the scene.
  The truck somehow left the road and ended up on its side completely off the roadway. The truck was loaded and spilled logs when it crashed.
  No major injuries were reported, and no one was transported to the hospital. The cause of the crash unknown at this time
  
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• More student loan borrowers are in default since pandemic-era protections lapsed

  20-07-2026 17:03 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story.
  Defaults on student loans have surged across the United States, reaching record levels as borrowers struggle to keep up with payments. Mississippi has the highest default rate in the nation.Numbers across the U.S. have spiked since payments came due again following a lengthy pause intended to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, around 9.5 million people — 1 in 5 federal student loan
  
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• Photo: Ribbon cutting held for new store in downtown Kosciusko

  20-07-2026 16:59 via breezynews.com
  
  A new retail option joined historic downtown Kosciusko Monday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Southern Roots Marketplace & Collective.
  Located at 100 W. Washington Street, the marketplace functions as a collaborative space, hosting products from various local artisans, makers, and small business owners.
  Inventory includes a mix of antiques, home décor, handcrafted items, and boutique goods.The post Photo: Ribbon cutting held for new store in downtown Kosciusko appeared first on Bre
  
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• Whites-Koditschek joins as fellow with Deep South Today Investigative Reporting Center

  20-07-2026 13:00 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story.
  Sarah Whites-Koditschek is joining Mississippi Today and the Deep South Today Investigative Reporting Center as part of The New York Times Local Investigations Fellowship.Sarah Whites-KoditschekWhites-Koditschek begins her work Monday in Mississippi Today’s newsroom in Jackson. She is part of the six-person fellowship class that The New York Times announced June 22.The fellowship program, led by Dean Baquet,
  
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• Applications Open for Kosciusko Attala Partnership Future Leaders of Tomorrow Program

  20-07-2026 12:58 via breezynews.com
  
  Local high school juniors and seniors looking to develop their leadership skills and serve their community now have the chance to apply for the KAP Future Leaders of Tomorrow program.
  Hosted by the Kosciusko Attala Partnership, the program offers Attala County students hands-on experience, professional skill development, and opportunities to network with local business and community leaders. Participants will also volunteer at KAP events throughout the program to help make a lasting impact in th
  
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• Don’t Let Fraud and Scams Ground Your Summer Vacation

  20-07-2026 12:29 via mississippitoday.org
  
  Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story.
  As you make your summer travel plans this year, or perhaps you’ve already hit the road or you’re on your way to the airport, one thing to keep in mind – without putting too much of a damper on your trip – is to stay financially vigilant when finalizing your vacation plans.
  The travel and events sector is especially susceptible for fraud and scams as people are looking for deals in locations
  
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• Local Career-Tech Center educators honored with Top State and Regional Awards

  20-07-2026 12:03 via breezynews.com
  
  Two local educators at the Kosciusko-Attala Career Tech Center (CTC) have earned high honors at the 2026 Mississippi Association for Career and Technical Education (MS ACTE) Summer Conference, bringing state and regional recognition to the area.
  Tessa Horn, who leads the Educator Preparation program, was named the 2026 Mississippi Teacher Educator of the Year. The distinguished award recognizes outstanding faculty who show exceptional leadership, innovative instruction, and a deep commitment to
  
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• Audio: 2026 Football Preview – Kosciusko Whippets

  20-07-2026 11:30 via breezynews.com
  
  This week on the Boswell Media Sports 2026 Football Preview Show: Kosciusko head football coach Casey Orr joins host Breck Riley to discuss coming off the Whippets’ state championship run, replacing key starters on defense, summer workouts, and the upcoming 2026 football schedule.
  The post Audio: 2026 Football Preview – Kosciusko Whippets appeared first on BreezyNews.com - Kosciusko News 24/7.
  
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• Heat Warning Now Covers Holmes and Carroll, Heat Advisory Elsewhere

  20-07-2026 07:36 via breezynews.com
  
  HEAT ADVISORY shown in orange on map above
  EXTREME HEAT WARNING shown in purple
   
  Although most of the local area will remain under a heat advisory through Tuesday night, an extreme heat warning has been expanded to the east to cover Holmes and Carroll counties from 10 am until 9 pm on Tuesday.
  Afternoon highs are forecast in the mid 90s in Philadelphia through Wednesday and in the upper 90s in Kosciusko, Carthage and Durant.   Add in the humidity, and we’ll get heat index r
  
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