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NAACP Joins Legal Team Investigating Death of Nolan Wells in Mississippi

NAACP Joins Legal Team Investigating Death of Nolan Wells in Mississippi

The NAACP's Office of General Counsel has announced its involvement in the legal team investigating the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells. Wells' body was discovered in the waters off Horn Island, Mississippi, on July 6. The Ocean Springs teen was reported missing on July 4 after a boating trip with friends. The NAACP's General Counsel, Kristen Clarke, stated that the organization will work with the Wells legal team to uncover facts and ensure transparency in the investigation. This move follows the family's retention of civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is conducting an independent investigation. The Mississippi State Conference NAACP had previously called for an urgent and transparent investigation into Wells' death. A preliminary independent autopsy report, ordered by Crump's team, has indicated that the cause and manner of death are undetermined pending further investigation. The state medical examiner's office conducted its autopsy on July 7, but the district attorney's office has confirmed that its...
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House Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest Violated STOCK Act with Late Stock Sale Disclosures

House Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest Violated STOCK Act with Late Stock Sale Disclosures

House Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest, a Republican from Mississippi, has violated the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act by failing to disclose three stock sales within the legally mandated 45-day period. A review of congressional financial records by NOTUS indicates that Guest was more than six months late in reporting these transactions. The sales, involving shares of Chevron, Airbnb, and e.l.f. Beauty, were made by a family trust fund owned by his wife, Haley. Guest's chief of staff, Jordan Downs, stated that the congressman had no decision-making role in the trust and was not consulted on these or any other transactions made by the trust. Guest informed the clerk of the House of Representatives that he only recently learned of the December 16 sales, attributing the oversight to a compliance firm. He has since notified House Ethics Committee staff and initiated an additional compliance review. Each late sale was valued between $1,001 and $15,000 and was reportedly made at a loss. ...
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House Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest Violates STOCK Act, Disclosing Late Stock Sales

House Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest Violates STOCK Act, Disclosing Late Stock Sales

Representative Michael Guest (R-Mississippi), who chairs the House Ethics Committee, has violated the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act by failing to disclose three stock sales within the mandated 45-day period. A review of congressional financial records by NOTUS indicates that Guest was more than six months late in reporting these sales, which involved shares of Chevron, Airbnb, and e.l.f. Beauty. These transactions were made by a family trust fund owned by his wife, Haley. Guest stated that he was unaware of the sales until recently, attributing the oversight to a compliance firm that missed them while preparing his annual House disclosure. He has since notified House Ethics Committee staff and initiated an additional compliance review. This marks Guest's second violation of the STOCK Act's disclosure provisions, with a previous instance in 2021 involving late disclosures of ExxonMobil and BP stock sales.
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Nolan Wells' Family Sets Timeline for Joint Forensic Phone Inspection

Nolan Wells' Family Sets Timeline for Joint Forensic Phone Inspection

The family of Nolan Wells, a Mississippi teen found deceased on Horn Island over the Fourth of July weekend, has announced a specific timeframe for a joint forensic examination of his phone. Attorney Ben Crump, representing the Wells family, stated on Monday that the family is prepared to make Nolan's phone available immediately for the examination. This joint inspection was previously agreed upon with the Jackson County District Attorney's Office on July 15. Crump indicated that the family's forensic experts are on standby to conduct the examination any day this week, proposing August 18 through August 21 to District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath's office. This timeframe is the earliest window available, requiring 12 hours' notice for all parties to assemble their experts. The legal team also requested confirmation on whether the examination will take place at the Digital Forensics Lab at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, the location previously selected by the DA's office.
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Representative Bennie Thompson Addresses Mississippi's Rural Health Crisis and Rising Costs

Representative Bennie Thompson Addresses Mississippi's Rural Health Crisis and Rising Costs

Representative Bennie Thompson (D-MS-2) has focused on critical issues affecting his constituents, including rural healthcare, maternity care access, Head Start programs, and the escalating cost of living. His district, one of the lowest-income congressional districts in the U.S. with a median household income of approximately $47,500 and over a quarter of residents living below the poverty line, faces significant challenges. Thompson criticized Mississippi's refusal to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, asserting that the state is foregoing $1 billion in federal healthcare funds annually, which could support struggling rural hospitals. He also highlighted the severe lack of maternity care, noting that nearly half of Mississippi's counties are considered maternity care deserts. Furthermore, Thompson expressed concerns about a recent Health and Human Services proposal to streamline Head Start Program Performance Standards, advocating for strengthening rather than lowering educational standards f...
The Commercial Appeal The Commercial Appeal
SpaceXAI hearing to decide future of Southaven plant, could shut down Grok

SpaceXAI hearing to decide future of Southaven plant, could shut down Grok

On Aug. 24, a preliminary injunction hearing will outline the potential future of SpaceXAI's Southaven power plant operations.
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SUV Flips Over Ledge in Hattiesburg, Causing Minor Injuries

SUV Flips Over Ledge in Hattiesburg, Causing Minor Injuries

Multiple emergency agencies responded to an incident in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where an SUV flipped over a ledge with a person still inside. The event occurred near the Bismillah Super Market at 2511 4th St. Viewer video captured two men attempting to pull the SUV while it was hanging off the parking lot ledge, with a person visible in the driver's seat trying to exit. Ultimately, the vehicle flipped over the ledge. The Hattiesburg Police and Fire departments, AAA Ambulance Service, and the University of Southern Mississippi Campus Police Department were all on the scene. City officials reported that minor injuries were sustained, though the exact number of injured individuals was not specified.
AP News AP News
Jackson State University pursues top research status

Jackson State University pursues top research status

Professor Kamal Ali and his team at Jackson State University are developing sensors to study oysters' responses to environmental changes
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House Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest Violates STOCK Act with Late Stock Sale Disclosures

House Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest Violates STOCK Act with Late Stock Sale Disclosures

Representative Michael Guest (R-Mississippi), who chairs the House Ethics Committee, has violated the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act by failing to disclose three stock sales within the legally mandated 45-day period. A review of congressional financial records by NOTUS indicates that Guest was more than six months late in reporting these transactions. The sales, involving shares of Chevron, Airbnb, and e.l.f. Beauty, were made by a family trust fund owned by his wife, Haley. Guest stated that a compliance firm missed these transactions and that he only learned of them recently. This marks the seventh STOCK Act violation by a member of Congress this month and Guest's second such violation, with a previous instance in 2021 for late disclosures of ExxonMobil and BP stock sales. The House recently passed the Stop Insider Trading Act, which Guest supported, aiming to ban federal lawmakers from buying individual stocks, and this bill is currently awaiting Senate consideration.
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Madison County and Amazon Disagree on Data Center Tax Valuation, Impacting Local Revenue

Madison County and Amazon Disagree on Data Center Tax Valuation, Impacting Local Revenue

Madison County and Amazon Disagree on Data Center Tax Valuation, Impacting Local Revenue
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Southern U.S. States Face Extended Extreme Heat Warnings Amidst European Heatwave Relief

Southern U.S. States Face Extended Extreme Heat Warnings Amidst European Heatwave Relief

While Western Europe is experiencing a significant drop in temperatures and the arrival of rain, bringing relief from a prolonged heatwave, southern U.S. states are under extended extreme heat warnings. The Guardian reports that overnight low temperatures in these U.S. regions are not falling much below 27-28°C (low 80sF), contributing to a severe lack of overnight cooling. This contrasts sharply with the situation in Europe, where temperatures are expected to fall by more than 15°C compared to last week, with some parts of the UK even dropping about 3°C below normal. The high humidity in the southern U.S. is further exacerbating the uncomfortable conditions, pushing the heat index to dangerously high levels. The National Weather Service has warned of 'dangerously hot conditions,' with forecasted daytime heat index values potentially exceeding 46°C, particularly in Louisiana and Mississippi.
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East Jackson County Woods Fire 30% Contained, Over 500 Acres Burned

East Jackson County Woods Fire 30% Contained, Over 500 Acres Burned

A significant woods fire in East Jackson County, Mississippi, has burned approximately 520 acres in the Bayou Cumbest area, located between Chevron Road and Bayou Heron Road. As of Sunday night, the Mississippi Forestry Commission reports the fire is 30% contained. Multiple agencies, including the Mississippi and Alabama Forestry Commissions and crews from the Sandhill Crane Refuge, are assisting Jackson County Fire Protection (JCFP) in containment efforts. The fire began around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2026, and has led to the evacuation of 10 homes in the area. No injuries or structural damages have been reported so far. Smoke from the fire is causing visibility issues on Interstate 10, prompting caution for drivers. (Source: WLOX, 2026-08-16)