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Smith Park in Jackson, Mississippi, Continues Legacy as Historic Urban Green Space and Community Hub

Smith Park in Jackson, Mississippi, Continues Legacy as Historic Urban Green Space and Community Hub

Smith Park, located in downtown Jackson, Mississippi, maintains its status as one of America's oldest continuously used antebellum city parks. Established in 1838 by the Legislature as a commons for the city's health, ornament, and convenience, the park spans 2.35 acres near Amite Street, just north of the Governor's Mansion. It is the sole surviving undeveloped block from the 1822 city plan. The park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was designated a Mississippi Landmark in 2017. It features several monuments, including the W.J. Davis Monument (1918) and the Rob Morris Monument (1934). Named after James Smith, a Scottish businessman who funded a fence around the park in 1884, Smith Park today offers open green space with rolling hills, mature shade trees, paved paths, benches, a covered pavilion, and a semi-covered platform stage. It also hosts the Fertile Ground Project, an art installation. The park has undergone multiple renovations, including a mid-1970s update that added an am...
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Quincy Community Meets Final Police Chief Candidates in Public Forum

Quincy Community Meets Final Police Chief Candidates in Public Forum

The city of Quincy's Board of Fire and Police Commissioners hosted a public forum for the three final candidates vying for the police chief position. The event, held at Quincy City Hall, allowed community members to hear directly from Wendell Watts, former Assistant Chief of the Jackson, Mississippi, Police Department; Steve Hebbe, current Police Chief in Farmington, New Mexico; and Mike Dobis, Chief Ranger for Tennessee State Parks. Moderated by Great River Honor Flight chairman Carlos Fernandez, the candidates answered a series of prepared questions covering topics from their initial 90-day plans to the importance of community policing. All three candidates emphasized the critical role of community engagement and accountability in modern policing. The city has made the complete meeting available on social media and provided individual survey links for each candidate, which will remain open until Monday at 10 a.m.
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Hiram Revels' Historic Senate Seating 150 Years On: A Look Back at Reconstruction Era Challenges and Triumphs

Hiram Revels' Historic Senate Seating 150 Years On: A Look Back at Reconstruction Era Challenges and Triumphs

In February 2020, a ceremony in Jackson, Mississippi, marked the 150th anniversary of Hiram Revels becoming the first African American to serve in the U.S. Congress. Revels, elected by the Mississippi legislature in 1870 to fill an unexpired Senate term, served for one year. His election was a direct result of Radical Reconstruction, which mandated that former Confederate states extend voting rights to Black men. This period saw approximately 2,000 African American men hold public office, a significant but short-lived experiment in biracial democracy. Revels' brief tenure in the Senate was marked by efforts to advocate for Black civil rights, including opposing racial segregation in schools and pushing for the reinstatement of Black legislators in Georgia. Despite his moderate political stance, his presence in the Senate was a powerful symbol of the constitutional revolution following the Civil War, which included the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments aimed at abolishing slavery, establishing birthright citi...
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National Police Association Urges House to Pass Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act

National Police Association Urges House to Pass Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act

The National Police Association (NPA) is advocating for the House of Representatives to pass the Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act of 2025 (S. 825). This legislation, introduced by Senator Chuck Grassley (IA) and co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, aims to enhance access to mental health treatment for police officers and other first responders. The Senate already passed S. 825 by voice vote on June 10, 2026, and it is currently awaiting action in the House. The bill mandates the Department of Justice (DOJ) to propose at least one treatment and preventative care option for job-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress disorder (ASD), with an emphasis on evidence-based care, peer support, professional counseling, and family support. The Attorney General, in conjunction with the Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), would submit a report to the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, incorporating input from law enforcement agencies, ...
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City of Southaven Honors Veterans with Annual Luncheon

City of Southaven Honors Veterans with Annual Luncheon

The City of Southaven, Mississippi, recently hosted its annual Veterans Day luncheon, an event dedicated to honoring men and women who have served in the U.S. military. Mayor Musselwhite and the Board of Alderman were in attendance. The keynote speaker for the event was Col. (Ret.) John P. Sullivan Jr. of the U.S. Marine Corps, who shared insights from his 30 years of military service, highlighting the sacrifices made by his family during his deployments. Col. Sullivan's message emphasized the importance of defending freedom, lifelong service to others, and the values of courage and integrity. He also acknowledged the significant contributions veterans make to their communities after their military careers and urged the younger generation to safeguard the freedoms they have inherited. The luncheon was sponsored by Landers Auto Group and Civil-Link, LLC.
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National Police Association Urges House to Pass Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act for First Responders

National Police Association Urges House to Pass Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act for First Responders

The National Police Association (NPA) is advocating for the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act of 2025 (S. 825). This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Senator Chuck Grassley (IA), aims to enhance access to mental health treatment for police officers and other first responders. The Senate already passed S. 825 by voice vote on June 10, 2026. The bill mandates the Department of Justice (DOJ) to propose at least one treatment and preventative care option for job-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress disorder (ASD). These options would emphasize evidence-based care, peer support, professional counseling, and family support. The Attorney General, in collaboration with the Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), would submit a report to the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, incorporating input from law enforcement agencies, police families, and other stakeholders. The proposal also seeks to establ...
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DeSoto County Faces Rising Fire Danger Amidst Drought, No Burn Ban Issued Yet

DeSoto County Faces Rising Fire Danger Amidst Drought, No Burn Ban Issued Yet

DeSoto County, Mississippi, is currently experiencing a significant increase in fire danger due to a prolonged drought and an upcoming week of dry, warming weather. Despite more than 50 other Mississippi counties having active burn bans, DeSoto County has not yet implemented one, according to the Mississippi Forestry Commission as of Saturday. The National Weather Service in Memphis forecasts near-zero chance of rain for at least the next seven days, with afternoon relative humidity expected to drop below 30% and potentially into the low 20s later in the week. All of DeSoto County remains in at least a moderate drought, with about 16% in severe drought, and these conditions are expected to worsen. While light winds are currently preventing the fire danger from escalating rapidly, forecasters warn that the risk will steadily increase each day. Residents are advised to exercise extreme caution if planning any outdoor burning.
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Brother of late Mexican cartel leader is sentenced to 22 years in prison for drug trafficking plot

Brother of late Mexican cartel leader is sentenced to 22 years in prison for drug trafficking plot

A man whose brother led one of Mexico’s most violent drug cartels has been sentenced to more than 22 years in U.S. prison for his role in a sprawling drug trafficking conspiracy that brought cocaine and methamphetamine to American streets
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Mississippi Regulators Uphold SpaceXAI Air Permit for Southaven Data Center, Rejecting Environmental Appeal

Mississippi Regulators Uphold SpaceXAI Air Permit for Southaven Data Center, Rejecting Environmental Appeal

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has rejected an appeal challenging an air permit granted to SpaceXAI for its data center power plant in Southaven. The permit, initially issued in March, authorizes SpaceXAI to operate 41 methane gas turbines to supply power to its Colossus 2 data center located in Memphis, just across the state line. Environmental activist groups filed an appeal a month after the permit was granted, citing concerns over harmful emissions from the turbines and significant community opposition. Following a two-day evidentiary hearing in Jackson, where experts from all involved parties presented arguments, the MDEQ Permit Board dismissed the appeal. The board concluded that there was "insufficient evidence" to substantiate the claims made by the environmental groups, thereby allowing SpaceXAI to continue with its plans to operate the gas turbines in Southaven. This decision upholds the original air permit for the facility.
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Smithsonian's Mississippi Program Culminates at National Folk Festival, Highlighting Community Cultural Preservation

Smithsonian's Mississippi Program Culminates at National Folk Festival, Highlighting Community Cultural Preservation

The Smithsonian’s Mississippi Community Cultural Conservation Program is concluding its year-long initiative with a recognition event at the 83rd National Folk Festival in Jackson, Mississippi, from November 12–14. This program, launched in February 2026, involved 30 participants from 15 museums, historic sites, and cultural organizations across Mississippi. Through a series of virtual and in-person workshops, participants received training in critical areas such as collections care, digitization, preservation, disaster preparedness, and community-centered storytelling. Experts from various Smithsonian institutions, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, collaborated with Mississippi experts to provide this specialized training. Monique Chism, the Smithsonian’s Under Secretary for Education, and Barry White, executive director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, will recognize the participants. The Smithson...
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Scammers stole his image to lure the lovesick. Then the lovesick came looking for him

Scammers stole his image to lure the lovesick. Then the lovesick came looking for him

For eight years, romance scammers have stolen one Mississippi man's photos to create hundreds of fake online profiles that have been used to trick lovesick men and women out of their money
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What to know about the innocent people romance scammers use as bait

What to know about the innocent people romance scammers use as bait

For eight years, romance scammers have stolen one Mississippi man’s photos to create hundreds of fake online profiles that have been used to trick lovesick men and women out of their money