OPINION: "Grieving isn’t an easy experience. As much as we may wish we could go through life with as few losses of loved ones as possible, we as people become more emotionally resilient with practice," Nate Schumann writes.

Editor’s Note | Family Pets’ Passings Help Us Practice Grief

Features Editor Nate Schumann writes about the death of a longtime family pet and how the loss has made him reflect on the act of grieving.

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FAITH is a “last-dollar, full cost of attendance” award, specifically designed to support Mississippi students who need the help to attend college. Because of a funding gap, 170 foster students are left without scholarships they were previously approved for.

‘Soul-Crushing’: 170 Foster Students Denied Scholarships at Last Minute Across Mississippi

The State of Mississippi is denying 170 Mississippi foster students full-ride scholarships weeks before classes begin due to lack of funding.

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Fourteen months ago, David Dikes arrived at Damascus Road Recovery Center hoping to rebuild his life. He said the program gave him the opportunity to step away from his circumstances, reflect on his decisions and begin recovery.

Jacob’s Well Ministries Moves Men’s Recovery Program to Lumberton

After operating its men’s recovery program in the Poplarville area for 15 years, Jacob’s Well Ministries has relocated its recovery center to Lumberton.

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The document released by Todd Blanche on Sunday night also limits the scope of another provision of President Donald Trump's settlement with the IRS that provided broad immunity for Trump and members of his family from tax audits.

GOP Holdouts Say They Will Back Blanche’s Attorney General Nomination After Striking Deal

Two Republican senators said Monday they will vote to advance the nomination of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

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OPINION: "Students and their needs have changed drastically over the years, and our school systems aren’t always keeping up," Elizabeth Gibbons writes. www.mississippifreepress.org/opinion-as-e...

Opinion | As Education Changes, Policy Is the Next Frontier for Teachers

Elizabeth Gibbons writes about how she has learned teachers need to be more involved in education policy to improve classroom outcomes.

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Jackson police are investigating the death of an unidentified Black woman who was found hanging in a tree behind a vacant home in Mississippi’s capital city on Monday night. www.mississippifreepress.org/black-woman-...

Black Woman Found Hanging in Tree Behind Vacant Home in Jackson, But Details Are Sparse

Jackson police are investigating the death of a Black woman who was found hanging in a tree behind a home in Mississippi's capital city.

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OPINION: "[I]n January 2025, at the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term, webpages and data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—and from many other federal agencies—began to disappear," John Kubale writes.

Opinion | Gaps in the CDC’s Public Health Data Are Creating Dangerous Blind Spots

John Kubale writes about the importance of the CDC’s public health data publications and the dangers of losing that data.

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President Donald Trump has approved federal aid for Mississippi following Tropical Storm Arthur, making disaster funds available to residents and municipalities affected by the severe weather. The counties include Harrison, Hancock, Pearl River and Stone. buff.ly/MFE0G7D

Trump Approves Assistance for Mississippi Counties After Tropical Storm Arthur

The president’s declaration makes certain residents and counties eligible for help under the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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We are looking for a full-time Revenue Coordinator to help grow support for independent, nonprofit journalism in Mississippi. If you’re passionate about building relationships and making an impact, we’d love to hear from you. Learn more and apply: buff.ly/roBVgWi

Conditions of Jody Owens' disbarment include that he must inform all of his clients and relevant courts of his disbarment, properly disburse any funds he has in trusts and comply with the other rules for disbarred attorneys within 30 days of his disbarment, presiding Justice Leslie D. King wrote.

Mississippi Supreme Court Permanently Revokes Jody Owens’ Law License

The Mississippi Supreme Court permanently disbarred former Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens on July 29.

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“You only know what the community can tell you,” Dr. Ashley Hollins said. “We can’t solve the problem from Jackson or from the top of the state to the bottom of the state. The people in the communities know the most about what’s happening in their communities.”

Mississippi Health Department Turns to Communities to Address Infant Mortality

The Mississippi State Department of Health is holding community meetings to identify barriers affecting maternal, infant and child health.

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Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, who spearheaded the push to overturn abortion rights, is running for governor in the 2027 election. Read more by Heather Harrison www.mississippifreepress.org/lynn-fitch-w...

Tropical Storm Arthur damaged the Hood Industries plywood mill in Wiggins, Mississippi, so severely that the plant was forced to close. The town is rallying to support the 250 displaced employees with a job fair on Aug. 14-15. www.mississippifreepress.org/wiggins-rall...

Wiggins Rallies Around Hood Industries Workers After Mill Closure

Community members in Wiggins, Mississippi, are rallying behind 250 displaced employees with a two-day job fair on Aug. 14 and 15.

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The Mississippi Sound along the Gulf Coast "will be a dead sea within a generation" without corrective action, Mississippi Sound Coalition Manager Gerald Blessey warned a group of U.S. congressmen and officials on July 28.

Mississippi Sound ‘Will Be a Dead Sea’ Soon Due to Spillway Openings, Coalition Warns

Advocates warn that the Mississippi Sound  will be “a dead sea within a generation” without corrective action.

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Warren Hudson, one Nolan Wells’ friends who has faced accusations on social media, said that he and his family have received "thousands of death threats" and that he was unable "to say my last goodbyes to one of my best friends" because he didn't want to disrupt the funeral.

Ex-Teammate of Nolan Wells Will Sue Over Online Accusations, Citing Death Threat

Bart Edmiston, a former teammate of Nolan Wells, is set to sue after alleging that a flurry of social media accusations inspired a death threat.

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The Mississippi Standing Joint Legislative Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting features members from both the House and the Senate. Sen. Dean Kirby, R-Pearl, will serve as chairman.

Mississippi Legislature to Host Redistricting Hearings Across the State

The Mississippi Legislature will hold hearings across the state to hear from voters about how lawmakers should draw the state’s district maps.

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“The Delta Blues Museum has done so much to get people excited about music in Clarksdale," James "Super Chikan" Johnson said. "I’ve also gotten the chance to teach Blues classes there and be a mentor for young people.”

Delta Musicians Honor Blues and Gospel Traditions at Clarksdale Sunflower River Festival

Delta musicians have performed at the Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi, every year since its inception in 1988.

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OPINION: "We were playing checkers and they were playing chess. That was the first thing I thought when I discovered my new favorite artist on YouTube was actually AI," Shanina Carmichael writes. www.mississippifreepress.org/opinion-ai-t...

Opinion | AI Threatens to Steal Black Talent

Shanina Carmichael writes about recently discovering one of her favorite music artists is AI and how that has affected her.

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OPINION: "I find myself asking one simple question: What if (Trey Reed) were my child? "This question sticks with me because today, I’m a mother myself. I know what I would want to know," Erica Powe writes.

Opinion | Families Don’t Stop Grieving When Headlines Fade. Neither Should the Reporting.

Erica Powe writes about Trey Reed’s death reminding her of her brother’s death and how she understands why Trey Reed’s family wants answers.

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Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch spearheaded the case for the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the end of federal abortion rights. Her next move is a run for governor in 2027, she announced on Tuesday. www.mississippifreepress.org/lynn-fitch-w...

Lynn Fitch, Who Led the Overturn of Abortion Rights, Announces Run for Mississippi Governor

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, who spearheaded the push to overturn abortion rights, is running for governor in the 2027 election.

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OPINION: "Because Grayson gave me so many reasons to love him, I grieve his loss. Because I’ve grieved his loss, the next time I have to grieve, I’ll be more prepared. I’ll still hurt. I’ll still cry. But I’ll know I’ll get through it," Nate Schumann writes.

Editor’s Note | Family Pets’ Passings Help Us Practice Grief

Features Editor Nate Schumann writes about the death of a longtime family pet and how the loss has made him reflect on the act of grieving.

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Donnie Cunningham, a parent whose foster daughter found out this week that her college plans had been derailed, said that the impact on other children like his would be devastating. A total of 170 foster students in Mississippi are being denied full-ride scholarships because of a lack of funding.

‘Soul-Crushing’: 170 Foster Students Denied Scholarships at Last Minute Across Mississippi

The State of Mississippi is denying 170 Mississippi foster students full-ride scholarships weeks before classes begin due to lack of funding.

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After operating its men’s recovery program in the Poplarville area for 15 years, Jacob’s Well Ministries has relocated its Damascus Road Recovery Center to Lumberton, Mississippi. It's a place where men like David Dikes have turned their lives around.

Jacob’s Well Ministries Moves Men’s Recovery Program to Lumberton

After operating its men’s recovery program in the Poplarville area for 15 years, Jacob’s Well Ministries has relocated its recovery center to Lumberton.

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U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., whose votes Todd Blanche needs to advance through the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, had said they would not endorse his nomination without written confirmation that the fund is dead. www.mississippifreepress.org/gop-holdouts...

GOP Holdouts Say They Will Back Blanche’s Attorney General Nomination After Striking Deal

Two Republican senators said Monday they will vote to advance the nomination of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

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OPINION: "As much good work as I’ve done teaching multiple generations of students in Clarksdale, Mississippi, I think the next frontier for me, and maybe for all teachers, should be policy," Elizabeth Gibbons writes.

Opinion | As Education Changes, Policy Is the Next Frontier for Teachers

Elizabeth Gibbons writes about how she has learned teachers need to be more involved in education policy to improve classroom outcomes.

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Members of the Mississippi Legislature’s joint redistricting committee will hold hearings across the state over the next two months to hear from voters about how lawmakers should draw the state’s legislative, congressional and Supreme Court district maps. buff.ly/lQjfAOI

Mississippi Legislature to Host Redistricting Hearings Across the State

The Mississippi Legislature will hold hearings across the state to hear from voters about how lawmakers should draw the state’s district maps.

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OPINION: "Public health relies on data—whether it is tracking the effectiveness of a given year’s flu vaccine, monitoring blood lead levels around the country or estimating the prevalence of diabetes," John Kubale writes.

Opinion | Gaps in the CDC’s Public Health Data Are Creating Dangerous Blind Spots

John Kubale writes about the importance of the CDC’s public health data publications and the dangers of losing that data.

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We are looking for a full-time Revenue Coordinator to help grow support for independent, nonprofit journalism in Mississippi. If you’re passionate about building relationships and making an impact, we’d love to hear from you. Learn more and apply: buff.ly/roBVgWi

The Mississippi Bar Association requested Jody Owens be disbarred on July 6, following Owens' guilty plea on federal conspiracy charges. The Mississippi Supreme Court's order said his request to resign was tantamount to proof of guilt.

Mississippi Supreme Court Permanently Revokes Jody Owens’ Law License

The Mississippi Supreme Court permanently disbarred former Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens on July 29.

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