The Pfizer-BioNtech covid vaccinations are prepared for injection. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Mississippi has returned or rejected nearly 872,000 COVID-19 vaccines due to low demand

By Will Stribling - Mississippi Today, 4,280 Reads
Mon, 06/07/2021 - 5:43 PM
Due to the low demand for COVID-19 vaccines in Mississippi, the state has returned 871,950 of the doses it was allocated to the federal vaccine pool, sent them to other states or rejected the federal allotment.
- Click Here to Read More about Mississippi has returned or rejected nearly 872,000 COVID-19 vaccines due to low demand
Special master says state is making progress toward mental health goals, but needs monitoring

By Steve Wilson, 4,232 Reads
Thu, 06/10/2021 - 1:01 PM
The special master in charge of helping the state Department of Mental Health meet federal requirements says the state is making progress, but it needs outside monitoring for compliance.
- Click Here to Read More about Special master says state is making progress toward mental health goals, but needs monitoring
Porter, Smith win

By Susan Amundson, 3,758 Reads
Tue, 06/08/2021 - 8:22 PM
Republicans Andrea Porter and Mike Smith won their respective seats in the only two contested aldermen races in Tuesday’s general election.
- Click Here to Read More about Porter, Smith win
COVID-19 grant program promised to prioritize minority businesses. Did it?

By Geoff Pender - Mississippi Today, 3,688 Reads
Fri, 06/11/2021 - 4:49 PM
An emergency grant program for small businesses during the worst of the pandemic last year was supposed to give priority to minority and women-owned businesses in Mississippi in giving out grants up to $25,000 each from federal COVID-19 relief passed by Congress.
- Click Here to Read More about COVID-19 grant program promised to prioritize minority businesses. Did it?
Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Randolph used a 2012 law to quietly award pay raises to himself and the state's judges earlier this year. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America

Supreme Court chief quietly gave pay raise to himself and other judges without legislative approval

By Bobby Harrison - Mississippi Today, 3,655 Reads
Wed, 06/09/2021 - 5:53 PM
Supreme Court Justice Michael Randolph used a little-known provision in a 2012 law to quietly — and without legislative approval — award pay raises to himself and all of the state’s judges earlier this year.
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"It's hard out here. There aren't any jobs around here, but I keep looking," said Michael Scott Beard, 34. Beard is homeless and living in his van. He readily does the few odd jobs that come his way to make a few dollars so he can eat and put gas in his van. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Jobless Mississippians fear what’s next as $300 unemployment checks end

By Sara DiNatale - Mississippi Today, 2,622 Reads
Fri, 06/11/2021 - 10:11 AM
It takes $80 to fill the gas tank inside the beat-up white cargo van 34-year-old Michael Beard calls home.
- Click Here to Read More about Jobless Mississippians fear what’s next as $300 unemployment checks end
Is that all there is to a pandemic?

By Kelley Williams, 2,159 Reads
Sat, 06/12/2021 - 3:29 PM
The bubonic plague killed about half the people in Europe in the Middle Ages. It was called the Black Death. Influenza killed about 15% of the world’s population in 1918-19. It was called the Spanish Flu. (John Barry’s The Great Influenza suggests it first appeared in Kansas.) Justinian’s Plague was the first major plague in recorded histor
- Click Here to Read More about Is that all there is to a pandemic?
Opinion: Bat coming home to roost

By Kelley Williams, 1,956 Reads
Tue, 06/08/2021 - 3:39 PM
The Bat Lady is a researcher at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, China. Her name is Dr. Shi Zheng-li. She goes on virus-hunting expeditions in bat caves and does “gain of function” genetic manipulations on coronaviruses to make them more infectious and more deadly to humans.
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Mississippi Covid-19 Update : June 11, 2021

By Press Release - MSDH, 1,463 Reads
Fri, 06/11/2021 - 9:51 AM
Listed below is the daily COVID-19 update for the state of Mississippi.
- Click Here to Read More about Mississippi Covid-19 Update : June 11, 2021
Baylor indicted on sex crime

READ MORE > 1,360 Reads
On Wed, 06/09/2021 - 10:20 AM

A Sandy Hook man has been indicted for two counts of child molestation against a victim under the age of 14.
John Richard Baylor, 24, was indicted on the charges stemming from a period of April 1, 2019 until Aug. 28, 2019, according to the indictment.
Baylor has posted a bond in the amount of $30,000.

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Lady Eagles shortstop Adrinae Aikens is among the nominees for both Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year.

West Marion’s Olivia Miller is nominated for both Most Valuable Player and Pitcher of the Year.

Columbia Academy first baseman Allie Watts is in the running for both Offensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player.

Lady Wildcats senior Kacey Stampley is nominated for Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year.

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Softball’s player of the year nominees

By Joshua Campbell, 19,191 Reads
Fri, 05/21/2021 - 1:43 PM
Now that high school baseball and softball has wrapped up in Marion County, it’s time to hand out some hardware to the county’s biggest stars. Nominations for baseball’s awards will be in Thursday’s edition of The Columbian-Progress, but it’s time now to get into softball’s best players.
- Click Here to Read More about Softball’s player of the year nominees
State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs discusses distribution of COVID-19 vaccines during a press conference at the Woolfolk Building in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Dr. Dobbs: Get vaccine or get COVID-19

By Will Stribling - Mississippi Today, 18,712 Reads
Fri, 05/14/2021 - 3:45 PM
As Mississippi continues to rank last in the nation in the share of its population that has been vaccinated, the message from the state’s top health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs is clear: get vaccinated or get COVID-19.
COVID is not gone.
- Click Here to Read More about Dr. Dobbs: Get vaccine or get COVID-19
Mississippi senators help block Jan. 6 riot investigation

By Will Stribling - Mississippi Today, 17,083 Reads
Fri, 05/28/2021 - 4:39 PM
Senate Republicans, including Mississippi’s delegation, on Friday blocked the creation of an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Six Republicans voted to advance debate on the commission, but the final 54 to 35 vote fell six votes shy of the 60 votes needed to prevent a procedural filibuster.
- Click Here to Read More about Mississippi senators help block Jan. 6 riot investigation
Bobby Rush and Kingfish Ingram talk to reporters on Friday morning at the B.B. King Museum.

Videos

Video: Bobby Rush Talks The Importance of Youth and the Blues

By Emmerich Videos, 15,279 Reads
Fri, 06/04/2021 - 5:45 PM
Bobby Rush, who will be participating in Saturday's B.B. King Museum expansion grand opening, talks to journalists from all over the world at the museum on Friday
- Click Here to Read More about Video: Bobby Rush Talks The Importance of Youth and the Blues
A health care worker signs a petition to get Medicaid expansion placed the 2022 ballot. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Medicaid expansion ballot initiative officially halted

By Geoff Pender - Mississippi Today, 8,454 Reads
Wed, 05/19/2021 - 4:52 PM
The “Yes on 76” campaign to expand Medicaid in Mississippi through a ballot initiative has been officially suspended — a pro forma move since the state Supreme Court last week nullified the state’s ballot initiative process with a ruling striking down medical marijuana Initiative 65.
- Click Here to Read More about Medicaid expansion ballot initiative officially halted
Wyatt Emmerich

Lakes of blood have been spilled to protect freedom

READ MORE > 7,674 Reads
On Mon, 05/31/2021 - 9:35 AM
Memorial day marks the start of the summer, the Big Bake as I call it.
For me, Mississippi has the ideal climate. The average temperature for the entire year, day or night, summer or winter, is 68 degrees. You can’t get more perfect than that.
- Click Here to Read More about Lakes of blood have been spilled to protect freedom
Watchdog reviews Mississippi’s dilapidated, troubled state parks

By Geoff Pender - Mississippi Today, 7,607 Reads
Tue, 05/18/2021 - 2:03 PM
The state’s legislative watchdog agency has released a report on Mississippi’s troubled, dilapidated state park system after lawmakers this year debated but failed to reach agreement on funding and fixes.
- Click Here to Read More about Watchdog reviews Mississippi’s dilapidated, troubled state parks
"I support the governor calling us into a special session to protect this important right of the people," Speaker Philip Gunn said of the ballot initiative process. - Photo credit to Mississippi Today

Speaker Gunn supports special session to fix ballot initiative process

By Bobby Harrison and Geoff Pender - Mississippi Today, 7,196 Reads
Mon, 05/17/2021 - 3:35 PM
House Speaker Philip Gunn says he supports Gov. Tate Reeves calling a special session to allow legislators to reinstate the state’s initiative process after the Mississippi Supreme Court struck it down in a landmark 6-3 decision last week.
- Click Here to Read More about Speaker Gunn supports special session to fix ballot initiative process
West Marion’s Jayden Duncan is a nominee for MVP and Pitcher of the Year. | Photo by Joshua Campbell

Detailing baseball’s award nominees

By Joshua Campbell, 5,377 Reads
Wed, 05/26/2021 - 5:02 PM
A year ago, baseball in Marion County was prematurely cut short because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the county’s four teams came back with a vengeance in 2021. Established stars continued to dominate, average underclassmen developed into elite players and first-time starters stole headlines and made their presence felt.
- Click Here to Read More about Detailing baseball’s award nominees
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The good ones have hearts of gold

By Susan Amundson, 5,062 Reads
Thu, 05/20/2021 - 5:36 PM
In the last two weeks, I have had the honor of attending the retirement receptions for a total of nine educators. I am not sure how many total combined years they have, but they have spent many years walking the halls.
- Click Here to Read More about The good ones have hearts of gold

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Lady Eagles shortstop Adrinae Aikens is among the nominees for both Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year.

West Marion’s Olivia Miller is nominated for both Most Valuable Player and Pitcher of the Year.

Columbia Academy first baseman Allie Watts is in the running for both Offensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player.

Lady Wildcats senior Kacey Stampley is nominated for Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year.

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Softball’s player of the year nominees

By Joshua Campbell, 19,192 Reads
Fri, 05/21/2021 - 1:43 PM
Now that high school baseball and softball has wrapped up in Marion County, it’s time to hand out some hardware to the county’s biggest stars. Nominations for baseball’s awards will be in Thursday’s edition of The Columbian-Progress, but it’s time now to get into softball’s best players.
- Click Here to Read More about Softball’s player of the year nominees
Daquarius Wright is pictured here after he was arrested this week for the murder of Paul's Jewelry owner Jamie Iverson.

"I Could Not Believe He Walked On This One": Officer Was Stunned Daquarius Wright Was Acquitted In Armed Robbery Case Last October

By Bryan Davis, 19,024 Reads
Fri, 04/30/2021 - 5:19 PM
One of the men charged with capital murder in the shooting death of Paul’s Jewelry owner Jamie Iverson was acquitted in an April 2019 armed robbery of a Family Dollar store in the Jackson area, but according to one of the arresting officers, it was one of the strongest cas
- Click Here to Read More about "I Could Not Believe He Walked On This One": Officer Was Stunned Daquarius Wright Was Acquitted In Armed Robbery Case Last October
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Remembering this special time

By Susan Amundson, 18,856 Reads
Fri, 05/07/2021 - 3:19 PM
It is hard to believe that graduation is upon us, and yet it is. I, among many other parents, have asked myself repeatedly where the time has gone. All I know is, yesterday, these soon-to-be graduates were babies, and now they think they are ready to conquer the world, and rightfully so.
- Click Here to Read More about Remembering this special time
Wicker Hails $2.377 Million Award for UMMC Connected Care Pilot Program

By Press Release - Senator Roger Wicker, 18,790 Reads
Fri, 01/15/2021 - 5:00 PM
U.S.
- Click Here to Read More about Wicker Hails $2.377 Million Award for UMMC Connected Care Pilot Program
Columbia guard signs with Hinds

READ MORE > 18,747 Reads
On Fri, 03/12/2021 - 2:09 PM
The first domino of the college basketball signing period fell Tuesday as Columbia High School senior Jasmine Sheppard signed a scholarship to play at Hinds Community College next season.
Sheppard said it’s a blessing to have an opportunity to continue her basketball career at the collegiate level.
- Click Here to Read More about Columbia guard signs with Hinds
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Main Street receives donation

By Susan Amundson, 18,717 Reads
Fri, 01/29/2021 - 4:13 PM
Thursday afternoon Main Street Columbia received a $6,000 donation from Experience Columbia. The donation will be used in three different ways, including a $2,000 facade grant, $2,000 landscaping grant and $2,000 to be set aside for future projects.
- Click Here to Read More about Main Street receives donation
State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs discusses distribution of COVID-19 vaccines during a press conference at the Woolfolk Building in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Dr. Dobbs: Get vaccine or get COVID-19

By Will Stribling - Mississippi Today, 18,713 Reads
Fri, 05/14/2021 - 3:45 PM
As Mississippi continues to rank last in the nation in the share of its population that has been vaccinated, the message from the state’s top health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs is clear: get vaccinated or get COVID-19.
COVID is not gone.
- Click Here to Read More about Dr. Dobbs: Get vaccine or get COVID-19
John Henry Wells has his bond set for $3 million for allegedly murdering his parents Thursday morning. | Photo by Joshua Campbell

Wells' bond $3 million for double murder

By Joshua Campbell, 18,266 Reads
Fri, 02/26/2021 - 10:04 PM
More than two months after allegedly murdering his parents, John Henry Wells made his initial appearance in Justice Court Thursday morning and had his bond set at a total of $3 million.
- Click Here to Read More about Wells' bond $3 million for double murder
Mississippi senators help block Jan. 6 riot investigation

By Will Stribling - Mississippi Today, 17,084 Reads
Fri, 05/28/2021 - 4:39 PM
Senate Republicans, including Mississippi’s delegation, on Friday blocked the creation of an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Six Republicans voted to advance debate on the commission, but the final 54 to 35 vote fell six votes shy of the 60 votes needed to prevent a procedural filibuster.
- Click Here to Read More about Mississippi senators help block Jan. 6 riot investigation
Vaccine-resistant COVID-19 strain detected in Mississippi

By Will Stribling - Mississippi Today, 16,083 Reads
Fri, 03/19/2021 - 3:50 PM
A more infectious and vaccine-resistant variant strain of COVID-19 was detected in Mississippi on Friday. One person in Harrison County was found to be infected with the B.1.351 variant, which was discovered in South Africa in December and reached the United States in January.
- Click Here to Read More about Vaccine-resistant COVID-19 strain detected in Mississippi

Load More

Lady Eagles shortstop Adrinae Aikens is among the nominees for both Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year.

West Marion’s Olivia Miller is nominated for both Most Valuable Player and Pitcher of the Year.

Columbia Academy first baseman Allie Watts is in the running for both Offensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player.

Lady Wildcats senior Kacey Stampley is nominated for Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year.

premium content for subscribers

Softball’s player of the year nominees

By Joshua Campbell, 19,193 Reads
Fri, 05/21/2021 - 1:43 PM
Now that high school baseball and softball has wrapped up in Marion County, it’s time to hand out some hardware to the county’s biggest stars. Nominations for baseball’s awards will be in Thursday’s edition of The Columbian-Progress, but it’s time now to get into softball’s best players.
- Click Here to Read More about Softball’s player of the year nominees
Daquarius Wright is pictured here after he was arrested this week for the murder of Paul's Jewelry owner Jamie Iverson.

"I Could Not Believe He Walked On This One": Officer Was Stunned Daquarius Wright Was Acquitted In Armed Robbery Case Last October

By Bryan Davis, 19,025 Reads
Fri, 04/30/2021 - 5:19 PM
One of the men charged with capital murder in the shooting death of Paul’s Jewelry owner Jamie Iverson was acquitted in an April 2019 armed robbery of a Family Dollar store in the Jackson area, but according to one of the arresting officers, it was one of the strongest cas
- Click Here to Read More about "I Could Not Believe He Walked On This One": Officer Was Stunned Daquarius Wright Was Acquitted In Armed Robbery Case Last October
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Remembering this special time

By Susan Amundson, 18,857 Reads
Fri, 05/07/2021 - 3:19 PM
It is hard to believe that graduation is upon us, and yet it is. I, among many other parents, have asked myself repeatedly where the time has gone. All I know is, yesterday, these soon-to-be graduates were babies, and now they think they are ready to conquer the world, and rightfully so.
- Click Here to Read More about Remembering this special time
Wicker Hails $2.377 Million Award for UMMC Connected Care Pilot Program

By Press Release - Senator Roger Wicker, 18,791 Reads
Fri, 01/15/2021 - 5:00 PM
U.S.
- Click Here to Read More about Wicker Hails $2.377 Million Award for UMMC Connected Care Pilot Program
Columbia guard signs with Hinds

READ MORE > 18,748 Reads
On Fri, 03/12/2021 - 2:09 PM
The first domino of the college basketball signing period fell Tuesday as Columbia High School senior Jasmine Sheppard signed a scholarship to play at Hinds Community College next season.
Sheppard said it’s a blessing to have an opportunity to continue her basketball career at the collegiate level.
- Click Here to Read More about Columbia guard signs with Hinds
premium content for subscribers

Main Street receives donation

By Susan Amundson, 18,718 Reads
Fri, 01/29/2021 - 4:13 PM
Thursday afternoon Main Street Columbia received a $6,000 donation from Experience Columbia. The donation will be used in three different ways, including a $2,000 facade grant, $2,000 landscaping grant and $2,000 to be set aside for future projects.
- Click Here to Read More about Main Street receives donation
State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs discusses distribution of COVID-19 vaccines during a press conference at the Woolfolk Building in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Dr. Dobbs: Get vaccine or get COVID-19

By Will Stribling - Mississippi Today, 18,714 Reads
Fri, 05/14/2021 - 3:45 PM
As Mississippi continues to rank last in the nation in the share of its population that has been vaccinated, the message from the state’s top health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs is clear: get vaccinated or get COVID-19.
COVID is not gone.
- Click Here to Read More about Dr. Dobbs: Get vaccine or get COVID-19
John Henry Wells has his bond set for $3 million for allegedly murdering his parents Thursday morning. | Photo by Joshua Campbell

Wells' bond $3 million for double murder

By Joshua Campbell, 18,267 Reads
Fri, 02/26/2021 - 10:04 PM
More than two months after allegedly murdering his parents, John Henry Wells made his initial appearance in Justice Court Thursday morning and had his bond set at a total of $3 million.
- Click Here to Read More about Wells' bond $3 million for double murder
Governor Tate Reeves Makes Statement on COVID-19 Vaccine

By Governor Tate Reeves, 17,529 Reads
Fri, 01/08/2021 - 9:00 PM
Today, Governor Tate Reeves made a statement in regards to the COVID-19 vaccine plan:
- Click Here to Read More about Governor Tate Reeves Makes Statement on COVID-19 Vaccine
Mississippi senators help block Jan. 6 riot investigation

By Will Stribling - Mississippi Today, 17,085 Reads
Fri, 05/28/2021 - 4:39 PM
Senate Republicans, including Mississippi’s delegation, on Friday blocked the creation of an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Six Republicans voted to advance debate on the commission, but the final 54 to 35 vote fell six votes shy of the 60 votes needed to prevent a procedural filibuster.
- Click Here to Read More about Mississippi senators help block Jan. 6 riot investigation