Category: Local News

Plans call for the street to be closed April 4 for two to four weeks as scaffolds are set up, said church representative Nathan Stubbs, who met Tuesday with Natchez aldermen seeking permission to close the street between State and Main.

He said the scaffolding will be more complex and larger than what’s currently placed on the basilica’s Main Street side, where work has already begun for refurbishing the Catholic edifice built in 1843.

Alcorn State University has received a transformative $42 million unrestricted donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, marking the largest single gift in the 154-year history of the nation’s oldest public historically Black land-grant university.

This new contribution builds on Scott’s previous $25 million gift in 2020, bringing her total investment in Alcorn to $67 million.

“Today marks a historic moment for Alcorn State University as we celebrate the largest single donation in our university’s history,” said Dr. Tracy M. Cook, president of Alcorn State University. “We are immensely grateful for Ms. MacKenzie Scott’s continued investment in Alcorn, our students, and mission to create access. I also extend my deepest gratitude to our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters who champion our mission every day. Your unwavering commitment and belief in Alcorn State University make milestones like this possible.”

Scott’s latest unrestricted donation provides the university with the flexibility to address critical priorities and expand opportunities for students, faculty, and the surrounding community.

Scott’s earlier 2020 gift helped fund faculty endowments, scholarships, including the Rep. Alyce Clarke Mississippi First Scholarship program, and various capital projects tied to Alcorn’s long-term strategic plan.

Her continued support underscores a deep trust in Alcorn’s leadership and its impact as an institution advancing access, excellence, and opportunity in higher education.

Dr. Marcus D. Ward, senior vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of the ASU Foundation, Inc., praised the significance of the contribution:
“Receiving another record transformational gift within five years, this time $42 million, is both a powerful affirmation of Alcorn’s impact and a charge to all Alcornites to help accelerate our work for student success, campus sustainability, and enrollment growth.”

University leadership will collaborate closely with the ASU Foundation to strategically invest and allocate resources across top priorities, ensuring that the donation fuels long-term institutional growth and student success.

“This gift opens a new chapter for Alcorn State,” President Cook said. “We will use every dollar to support students, strengthen the university, and serve Mississippi and the nation for generations to come.”

Scott’s philanthropy continues to make a sweeping impact across higher education, particularly among HBCUs, empowering institutions like Alcorn State University to expand their mission and sustain future generations of leaders.

Historic Downtown Natchez is set to come alive this Halloween as local organizations team up to host a full evening of family-friendly festivities, live music, and trick-or-treating fun on Friday, October 31.

The celebration is a joint effort among the Downtown Natchez Alliance (DNA), Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce, the City of Natchez, Parks and Recreation Department, Public Works, the Natchez Police and Fire Departments, and Live @ Five, combining several of the city’s most beloved Halloween traditions into one walkable downtown event.

“This collaboration shows what makes Downtown Natchez special,” said Leah Hunter, Executive Director of the Downtown Natchez Alliance. “When organizations, departments and volunteers work together, downtown becomes more than a destination — it becomes a shared community experience.”

Halloween Night Schedule

12 p.m. – Event signage and traffic cones will be placed throughout downtown.

4–6 p.m. – Trick-or-Treat for Little Feet
Downtown merchants will welcome children for an afternoon of candy, costumes, and fun at participating businesses.

4–6 p.m. – Downtown Witches Ride Registration
Registration opens at the Pumpkin Patch for $5 per rider. Participants are encouraged to bring a donation for the Natchez Stewpot and take part in the costume contest.

• The first flight of witches departs at 5:15 p.m., riding a short downtown route to Live @ Five.

• The second flight, led by the Natchez Bicycle Club, departs at 6 p.m.

5 p.m. – Live @ Five on the Bluff
Live music from The Remedy kicks off the night, with free admission for all ages.

5:30–7:30 p.m. – Trunk ’r Treat with The Grinch
The Bluff will transform into a Halloween wonderland with decorated trunks, games, music, and plenty of candy. Families can meet The Grinch and enjoy carnival-style fun hosted by local businesses and organizations.

6:30 p.m. – Pumpkin Patch Awards Presentation
During Live @ Five’s intermission, DNA will announce winners of the Storefront Decorating Contest, Battle of the Businesses, and Howl-o-ween Pet Parade.

Community Spirit on Display

Ryan Porter, Director of Natchez Parks and Recreation, said the annual event continues to grow each year.

“We’re thrilled to partner with local organizations to create a Halloween celebration that’s memorable for everyone,” Porter said. “Trunk ’r Treat grows every year, and the creativity our community brings makes it a favorite for families.”

Sarah Lindsey Laukhuff, Director of Live @ Five, echoed that sentiment.

“Halloween night brings out the best of Natchez, with music, costumes, and community energy filling the streets,” she said. “It’s a night for everyone to enjoy downtown together.”

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Plan Your Evening

Families can start the night with Trick-or-Treat for Little Feet along Main, Franklin, Commerce, Pearl, Broadway, and Canal streets, then head to the Pumpkin Patch on Main and South Pearl to catch the Witches Ride. From there, the fun continues on the Bluff with Trunk ’r Treat with The Grinch and Live @ Five.

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Traffic, Parking, and Wayfinding

Families are encouraged to arrive early between 4 and 5 p.m. to find parking and begin trick-or-treating. Volunteers and city personnel will be stationed at intersections to guide pedestrians and maintain safety throughout the evening.

Public parking is available throughout downtown, including the lot across from the Post Office near Visit Natchez (accessible from Jefferson Street) and along North Broadway outside the event area.

Directional signage and wayfinding markers will guide visitors to trick-or-treat locations, event routes, and open parking areas.

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Join the Fun

Businesses and organizations can register for Trunk ’r Treat at NatchezParks.com under “Sign Up for Activities.” Candy must be individually wrapped and commercially packaged.

Participants interested in joining the Downtown Witches Ride may pre-register at NatchezDNA.org under “Witches Ride.”

For more information about Downtown Natchez Alliance events, visit NatchezDNA.org or follow @DNAnatchez on Facebook and Instagram.
For Parks and Recreation updates, visit NatchezParks.com, and follow Live @ Five Natchez on Facebook for music and schedule announcements.

While chronic absenteeism continues to rise across Mississippi, Natchez Early College is being recognized for standing out from the trend. The school is among 130 across the state to receive the Lieutenant Governor’s Attendance Award for maintaining strong student attendance and keeping chronic absenteeism rates at or below 15 percent.

Other local schools earning the recognition include Jefferson County High School, Jefferson County Middle School, and William Winans Middle School in Wilkinson County.

Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann announced the honored schools Monday, praising educators and families for their commitment to keeping students in class despite statewide challenges.

“Regular attendance is one of the strongest predictors of academic and life-long success,” Hosemann said. “Chronic absenteeism is rampant in our state. These schools, their teachers, and families are making daily efforts to ensure students are present and learning. Their hard work deserves recognition.”

According to the Mississippi Department of Education’s 2024–2025 report, the statewide chronic absenteeism rate increased from 24.4% to 27.6%, meaning more than one in four students were chronically absent. Despite that rise, the schools honored by Hosemann maintained attendance rates well above the state average.

Reducing chronic absenteeism has been one of Hosemann’s key education priorities, and he said that focus will continue heading into the 2026 Legislative Session. His upcoming proposals include:

•Placing a School Attendance Officer in every district,

•Raising salaries for those positions, and

•Lowering educational requirements from a bachelor’s degree to an associate’s degree to help fill the roles.

He also highlighted plans for a teacher pay raise and incentives to encourage retired educators to return to classrooms.

Schools recognized this year span every region of Mississippi and include elementary, middle, and high schools. Each will receive a certificate of recognition from the Lieutenant Governor’s Office.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) has announced the capture of Lee Raymond Clay, who had been evading law enforcement since July 7, 2023. Clay was wanted on multiple felony warrants, including an indictment for Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon and an affidavit for Aggravated Domestic Violence related to ACSO case 2023-01882.

According to a press release, deputies located Clay around 10:53 a.m. on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at a residence on 95 Steam Plant Road. Upon arrival, deputies say Clay fled on foot from a nearby residence at 95A Steam Plant Road, ignoring several commands to stop.

Clay allegedly ran into a wooded area, down a steep embankment, and into a creek bed in an effort to avoid capture. Deputies established a perimeter and began a coordinated search through the area. After about 30 minutes, at approximately 11:32 a.m., Clay was reportedly located and tased twice while resisting arrest before being taken into custody without further incident.

Following his arrest, Clay was transported to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, where he was served with the indictment for Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon, the affidavit for Aggravated Domestic Violence, and additionally charged with Resisting Arrest. A hold has also been placed on Clay by the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC).

Sheriff Travis Patten praised his deputies for their professionalism and teamwork during what he described as a dangerous operation.

“This was a dangerous situation involving an individual who has been actively evading law enforcement for over two years,” Sheriff Patten said. “Our deputies did an outstanding job coordinating this operation, maintaining control of the scene, and ensuring the safety of everyone involved.”

The sheriff’s office also extended its thanks to the Mississippi Department of Corrections, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, and the public for their assistance during the operation.

It is important to note that all individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.