LUY-Development

Category: Mississippi News

  • The Miss-Lou’s Big Heart Shines: Record-Breaking $58,685 Raised for St. Jude

    The Miss-Lou’s Big Heart Shines: Record-Breaking $58,685 Raised for St. Jude

    Natchez, MS – The Miss-Lou community has once again come together in a powerful way, showing incredible generosity and heart as 95 Country (WQNZ, Natchez, MS) celebrates a record-breaking year, during its annual 95 Country Cares for St. Jude Kids Radiothon, held March 12–13, 2026.

    This year’s radiothon raised an amazing $58,685, marking the highest total ever raised in a single year in station history!

    Over the past decade, 95 Country listeners and our community partners have helped raise an incredible $469,320 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Every dollar goes directly toward lifesaving treatment and support, ensuring families never receive a bill for care, travel, housing, or food—so they can focus on what matters most: their child.

     

    “Year after year, our listeners and community partners show just how big their hearts are,” said Margaret Perkins, President/CEO of Listen Up Y’all Media. “To break our own record is truly remarkable, and it speaks volumes about the compassion and generosity of the Miss-Lou community. From heartfelt stories to generous pledges, this year’s St Jude Radiothon once again demonstrated the life-changing power of local radio. I want to thank our community partners, without whom, the Radiothon would not be possible. I want to thank our 95-Country team, whether On the Air, marketing, programming, engineering, and support, for an outstanding job! Your tireless efforts led to tremendous success!”

    Together, the Miss-Lou community is making a real difference—one child, one family, and one miracle at a time. For more information or to support St. Jude’s mission, visit: /st-jude

  • AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Mississippi’s state primaries

     

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Mississippi voters will choose nominees for Congress in a state primary Tuesday. The state’s junior Republican U.S. senator and the entire U.S. House delegation are up for reelection, and all but one have drawn multiple challengers from one or both major political parties hoping to replace them.

    Republicans hold slim majorities on Capitol Hill, but control of either chamber in November likely won’t come down to Mississippi, where no federal office has changed party hands since 2010.

    At the top of the ballot, Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith faces a primary challenge in her bid for a second full term from physician and novelist Sarah Adlakha. The Democratic primary field includes Scott Colom, a state district attorney covering Clay, Lowndes, Noxubee and Oktibbeha counties. President Joe Biden nominated Colom to the federal bench in 2023, but Hyde-Smith blocked his confirmation.

    Hyde-Smith received about 54% of the vote in her two previous Senate general elections, both against former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy. She did not face a primary challenge in 2020. Mississippi has had relatively little turnover in its two U.S. Senate seats. Since 1989, the state has had only four U.S. senators, all of them Republicans.

    In the 2nd Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, Mississippi’s longest-serving current member of Congress and the delegation’s lone Democrat, faces two primary challengers in his bid for an 18th term. Among them is attorney Evan Turnage, one of the latest young Democratic hopefuls looking to unseat a longtime incumbent from their own party. Turnage is a former adviser to Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

    Thompson’s most competitive primary as an incumbent was in 2006, when he received about 64% of the vote against then-state Rep. Chuck Espy, nephew of Mike Espy, whom Thompson succeeded in Congress in 1993.

    Republicans Ron Eller and Kevin Wilson compete for the GOP nomination. Eller is a physician assistant who lost the 2024 general election to Thompson. Wilson is an Adams County supervisor.

    The massive district stretches along the Mississippi River, bordering Arkansas and Louisiana, and comprises about 40% of the state’s geography. It includes most of the state capital of Jackson. About 64% of the district population is Black, the highest in the state. The current boundaries were adopted in 2022. Voters in the district supported Democrat Kamala Harris over Republican Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, 60% to 39%.

    The Associated Press does not make projections and will declare a winner only when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow a trailing candidate to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.

    Mississippi does not have automatic recounts or permit candidates to request a recount. Recounts in the state are held only in the event of a court order. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is subject to a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

    Here are some of the key facts about the election and data points the AP Decision Desk will monitor as the votes are tallied:

    When do polls close?

    Polls close at 7 p.m. local time, which is 8 p.m. ET.

    What’s on the ballot?

    The AP will provide vote results and declare winners in the Democratic and Republican primaries for U.S. Senate and contested U.S. House primaries in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Congressional Districts.

    Who gets to vote?

    Mississippi does not register voters by party, so any eligible voter may participate in any party’s primary. Voters may not participate in more than one party’s primary. Voters who participated in one party’s primary may not vote in the April 7 runoff of a different party.

    What do turnout and advance vote look like?

    As of Feb. 2, there were nearly 1.9 million active registered voters in Mississippi.

    The 2024 Republican presidential and U.S. Senate primaries each had about 248,000 votes cast, about 13% of registered voters. There were about 91,000 votes cast in the Democratic presidential primary and about 82,000 in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary, which was about 5% and 4% of registered voters, respectively. About 6% of the total votes cast in both the Republican and Democratic primaries that year were cast by absentee ballot.

    As of Friday, a total of 13,473 ballots had already been cast in the 2026 primaries

    How long does vote-counting usually take?

    In the 2024 primaries, the AP first reported results at 8:07 p.m. ET, or seven minutes after polls closed. The last vote update of the night was at 12:35 a.m. ET, with about 95% of total votes counted.

    When are early and absentee votes released?

    There is not a standard, uniform practice across counties when it comes to releasing results of absentee voting. Some counties may provide a subtotal of absentee voting at the end of the tabulation process, while others might merge them with other results in their respective precincts and release them throughout the night.

    Mississippi does not have in-person early voting.

    Are we there yet?

    As of Tuesday, there will be 238 days until the 2026 midterm elections.

    ___

    Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2026 election at https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/.

     

  • Natchez Airport Fast-Tracks $6.8M Terminal Project Ahead of July Return of Commercial Flights

    Construction is progressing well for accommodating commercial passenger airline service for the first time in 30 years at the Natchez-Adams County Airport, but it still needs various long-neglected repairs that must be tended to.
     
    “There is maintenance that was not properly done, and it’s catching up with us,” said Adams County Administrator Mitzi Conn.
     
    Work began in February to convert an airplane hangar into a terminal for passengers on the United Express jets scheduled to start flying here July 1.
     
    Refashioning the hangar is estimated to cost up to $6.8 million – a project that would normally take 12 months but has been fast-tracked to be ready for passengers in four months, Conn said.
    “There is so much that’s going on with that project,” Conn said of the intensity of the work being done at the county-owned airport.
     
    “People are buying tickets, so we can’t miss that July 1 date,” she said.
     
    The Natchez-Adams County Airport has been without regular commercial airline service for three decades.
     
    The airport has been the fortunate recipient of multimillion-dollar federal and state grants in recent years to help attract an airline, but Conn noted basic maintenance has been neglected. Needs include reroofing the airport’s 67-year-old centerpiece building and repairing a fire truck.
     
    Meeting Monday with the Adams County Board of Supervisors, Conn said it’s uncertain how the repairs will be funded. She expressed hopes revenues the airport generates through fuel and other airport-user fees will fund the maintenance needed.
     
    About $3 million has been committed so far for making the airplane hangar a passenger terminal, Conn said. The work is being partly funded by $1.5 million the Mississippi Department of Transportation awarded in Febuary.
     
    The soon-to-be passenger terminal is located on the left side of the airport’s main building facing Hardy-Anders Field’s runways. That 1959-built terminal has been deemed unsuitable for accommodating the passengers, airline agents and security personnel associated with United Express and its 50-passenger jets coming here.
     
    Natchez-Adams County officials announced last October that SkyWest — United Airlines’ regional affiliate — will start serving the airport in July with one flight a day to Houston’s George Bush Airport, a major United hub.
     
    With SkyWest’s United Express-branded jets flying in and out of the Natchez-Adams County Airport, area residents and visitors can avoid driving 90 minutes or more to the nearest airports in Baton Rouge, Jackson or New Orleans to catch flights. The Natchez-Adams County Airport is 10 miles from Natchez.
     
    The Natchez-Adams County Airport previously had commercial passenger planes landing here between the early 1950s and late 1980s and again briefly in the mid-1990s, according to the airport’s historical records.
     
    As Adams County seeks more funds for airport improvements, sources could potentially be the Mississippi Development Authority and the Federal Aviation Agency with Adams County putting up as much as $700,000 in matching money, according to Conn.
     
    If you would like to see a virtual tour of the new airport terminal as planned and presented last month to the Adams County Board of Supervisors (go to the 9-minute time mark): Watch the video here

  • MDHS PROVIDES WINTER WEATHER UPDATE County office closures and Replacement SNAP information

    The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) announces the closure of offices due to inclement weather and hazardous travel conditions. For the most up-to-date list of closures, please visit https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/weather-updates-office-closures/.
    MDHS continues to monitor weather conditions and will reopen offices as soon as it is safe. Additional closures or adjustments may be announced if conditions change.

    Clients who experience a power outage lasting longer than six hours due to this weekend’s storms may be eligible to request replacement SNAP benefits. Requests can be submitted through the designated SNAP replacement benefits form available on the MDHS website at SNAP Replacement Benefits – Mississippi Department of Human Services.

    While in-person services may be unavailable in counties experiencing closures, online services will remain accessible. Clients are encouraged to manage their cases using their Access.MS.gov portal or the secure document upload feature on our website to:
    • Upload required documents quickly and securely
    •  Check case information and benefit status
         For the latest information and updates:
    • · Visit https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/weather-updates-office-closures/
    • · Follow MDHS on official social media channels
    • · Monitor local news outlets
  • Winter Weather Info and Closures

    Winter Weather Info and Closures

    Updated: 01/26/26 @ 5:45PMExtreme Cold Watch January 25, 06:00pm until January 27, 12:00pm

    There are numerous low-hanging and downed tree limbs across the area, many of which may be entangled with power lines. Do not approach, attempt to clear, or attempt to cross these hazards. Always assume all downed or low-hanging lines are energized and dangerous.The Miss-Lou area is expected to experience winter weather conditions, including likely icing. Mississippi and Louisiana have both issued a State of Emergency ahead of the conditions.  Local officials and organizations have shared the following updates, closures, and recommendations to help residents stay safe and prepared.



    [headerText widget_name=”Closures” level=”h3″ url=”” el_class=””]

    Natchez Stewpot Closure & Meal Assistance

    The Natchez Stewpot will be closed:

    • Saturday, January 24, 2026

    • Sunday, January 25, 2026

    • Monday, January 26, 2026

    To assist those in need, the Stewpot is distributing extra meals today, Friday, January 23, 2026, in preparation for the incoming weather.

    Tuesday, January 27th

    City of Natchez and Adams County offices to re-open

    Adams County Courthouse to reopen at 1PM

    Trash pickup for both city and county customers will resume

    Due to continued below-average temperatures, residents are encouraged to leave faucets on a slow drip to help prevent broken water lines.

    To report storm-related damage, visit www.adamscountyms.net and click “Report Damage.”

    Monday, January 26th Closures

    Rapides Parish School Board has announced that its schools and offices will be closed. Any further closures will be announced on Monday.

    Natchez-Adams County School District offices and schools will be closed. Further decisions on closures past Monday will be announced at a later date.

    Delta Charter will be closed. A decision on Tuesday will be announced on Monday.

    Adams County Christian School (ACCS) will be closed. A decision on Tuesday will be announced on Monday.

    Alcorn State University will transition to online instruction. On Tuesday, the university will have a delayed start and open at 12 p.m. All classes will be conducted online before 12 p.m.

    Natchez City Hall & Non-essential Offices will be closed

    Adams County Offices will be closed

    Vidalia City Offices will be closed

    All Louisiana State Offices will be closed

    Shops at Kress will be closed Sunday and Monday

    Natchez Historical Society’s Preservation Gala scheduled for Jan 27th has been postponed until further notice

    Concordia Bank & Trust will delay opening until 10AM

    Bryans Marine is closed Monday[vc_section][headerText widget_name=”Travel & Road Safety” level=”h3″ url=”” el_class=””]

    Officials strongly urge residents to stay off the roads and to travel only if absolutely necessary.
    Adams County and City of Natchez Road crews will be out in full force working as quickly and safely as possible.

    Emergency responders must be able to safely access roadways, and unnecessary travel increases the risk of accidents and delayed response times.

    Road Closures and Hazards

    The flyover on 61 near Walmart in Natchez MS is closed
    Firetower road is closed to to a downed tree with powerline entanglement.
    MLK north is blocked in both directions at the Broadmoore intersection.
    Low hanging limb on Morgantown near Mt Carmel,
    698 Liberty Road one lane blocked
    317 Foster Mound Road Power pole tree down across the road.

     

    Elevated Sections of I-49 from Exit 80 (MacArthur Dr.) to Exit 94 (Rapides Station Rd.)

    Louisiana DOTD announced that beginning Saturday, January 24th at 2:00 p.m. I-49 through Alexandria will be closed from Exit 8- (the southern junction of MacArthur Dr.) to Exit 94 (Rapides Station Rd.), due to winter conditions. This closure will remain in effect until any frozen precipitation accumulation has been cleared. The closure includes all entry and exit ramps between these exits.

    The Flyover connecting Devereux Dr, and Sgt Prentiss Dr. is now closed. MDOT is, and will continue treating the bridge.

    Reed Loop Road near Spanky’s Storage Units

    Morgantown Road near Steam Plant Road

    Entrance to Redd Loop Road Trailer Park – COMPLETELY CLOSED due to downed power lines

    Hurricane Road (City of Natchez)

    Cloverdale Road near 194

    North Rankin Street

    West Wilderness Road near Prince Addition

    Magnolia Avenue (low-hanging power line)

    Morgantown Road near Mt. Carmel

    Brooklyn Drive

    245 Country Club Drive (occupants are safe; falling limbs reported during response)[/vc_section][headerText widget_name=”Water System & Plumbing Protection” level=”h3″ url=”” el_class=””]

    Residents are encouraged to:

    • Drip faucets during freezing temperatures

    • Insulate exposed water lines

    • Report any leaks to the appropriate water utility provider

    • Immediately report busted water mains if water is seen gushing from the ground or roadways

    Early reporting helps minimize damage and speeds up repairs.

    [headerText widget_name=”Personal Preparedness” level=”h3″ url=”” el_class=””]

    Residents should prepare ahead of time by ensuring they have:

    • Non-perishable food

    • Drinking water

    • Fuel

    • Battery Powered radios to stay informed.
    • Power Banks to charge necessary electronics.

    • Medical supplies, including oxygen, prescription medications, and other critical medical needs

    Those who rely on electrically powered medical equipment should plan accordingly for possible extended power outages or plan to go to a shelter.

    [headerText widget_name=”Generator Safety” level=”h3″ url=”” el_class=””]

    Residents using generators are urged to follow these safety guidelines:

    • Never operate generators indoors, in garages, or near windows or doors

    • Place generators outdoors and at least 20 feet away from structures

    • Never use generators to power household wiring unless connected through a properly installed transfer switch

    • Allow generators to cool before refueling to prevent fires

    • Use heavy-duty, outdoor-rated extension cords

    • Install carbon monoxide detectors in the home if operating a generator

    Improper generator use can result in carbon monoxide poisoning, fire, or electrical hazards.

    [headerText widget_name=”Shelters” level=”h3″ url=”” el_class=””]

    MISSISSIPPI:
    The Adams County Safe Room will be open starting at 12:00 PM on Saturday, January 24, 2026, for residents in need of shelter and warmth.

    The Adams County Safe Room
    323 Liberty Rd
    Natchez, MS

    Please bring a blanket, food, water, and any medication that you may need. Pets are welcome, but they must be in a kennel.

    For anyone who needs a ride to the Adams County Safe Room are encouraged to call 601-445-3525

    Volunteers are needed to assist at the Adams County Safe Room. If you are able to volunteer, please call 601-445-3525.

    Food donations are also needed. Individuals or organizations willing to donate food or provide meals are encouraged to call the same number for coordination.

    Important notice: Law enforcement will not be checking warrants for individuals seeking shelter. Residents needing warmth or safety are encouraged to utilize the safe room.

    LOUISIANA:

    The following warming shelters will be available in Louisiana:

    Concordia Parish Courthouse (Bottom Floor)
    4001 Carter St #5, Vidalia, LA
    318-719-2010

    Ridgecrest City Hall
    116 Foster Dr, Ridgecrest, LA
    479-856-1961

    Ferriday Hall
    9 Greathouse St, Ferriday, LA
    318-757-3606

    Clayton City Hall
    101 Shady Ln, Clayton, LA
    318-719-1796

    Monterey Sub-Station
    6098 Hwy 129, Monterey, LA
    318-316-2979

    [headerText widget_name=”Emergency Services Reminder” level=”h3″ url=”” el_class=””]Residents are asked to reserve 911 for emergency use only to ensure emergency services remain available for life-threatening situations.[headerText widget_name=”Utilities & Power Outages” level=”h3″ url=”” el_class=””]

    Local utility providers have additional crews on standby; however, outages may be extended due to hazardous conditions. Crews will restore service as quickly and safely as possible.

    City and county public works crews will be actively removing fallen limbs and debris from roadways as conditions allow. These crews cannot remove limbs that are entangled with power lines or located near downed electrical lines. Only authorized utility personnel can safely handle those situations.

    Residents are strongly advised to stay away from all downed power lines and to always assume any downed line is energized and dangerous, even if it appears inactive. Report downed lines immediately to your local utility provider and avoid the area until crews arrive.

    Downed power lines should be reported immediately to Entergy at 1-800-ENTERGY (1-800-368-3749) or by calling 911. Additional storm safety information is available through Entergy’s Storm Center.

    Concordia Electric is also reminding customers to use proper reporting channels as conditions worsen. Residents are asked to use the Concordia Electric mobile app to report outages only. For other issues, including blinking lights, low voltage, or trees down, customers should call 318-339-7969. Outages may also be reported by phone. If dispatchers are unavailable, callers are encouraged to leave a detailed voicemail, as messages will be checked frequently.

    Entergy outage map as of 1/25/26 10:20am:

    [headerText widget_name=”Vehicle Cooling System Advisory” level=”h3″ url=”” el_class=””]If water has been used in a vehicle’s cooling system, residents are advised to flush the system and replace it with proper coolant or antifreeze before freezing temperatures cause damage.

  • Possible Winter Weather Could Impact the Miss-Lou This Weekend

    Possible Winter Weather Could Impact the Miss-Lou This Weekend

    Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson is urging residents to prepare ahead of a potential winter storm expected to impact the area this weekend, bringing freezing temperatures and hazardous conditions from Friday night through Sunday.

    According to national weather forecasts, the system could bring lows in the teens and a high chance of precipitation, including rain, freezing rain, and sleet. Mayor Gibson warned that conditions are expected to begin declining Friday night and worsen through Saturday and Sunday.

    Mayor Gibson encouraged residents not to wait until the last minute to prepare, advising citizens to stock up on food, water, and essential supplies, wrap pipes, fill gas tanks, check on elderly and vulnerable neighbors, and make plans to keep pets indoors during freezing temperatures. He also reminded residents to allow faucets to drip during hard freezes to help prevent broken pipes and protect the city’s water system.

    In response to the anticipated weather, the Natchez Stewpot announced it will be closed on Sunday and may also be closed on Saturday depending on conditions. The Stewpot plans to prepare extra meals on Friday. Those needing additional information can contact the Stewpot at 601-442-9413.

    Adams County Emergency Management also announced plans to open the Adams County Safe Room to provide warm shelter for those in need. Final details will be released following a planning meeting scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2026. Individuals using the safe room are asked to bring their own food, drinks, medications, blankets, and other essential items. Kennels are required for animals. The Adams County Safe Room is located at 323 Liberty Road.

    The Concordia Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness reports that Concordia Parish and Adams County are currently at Level 2, indicating the potential for extended impacts from freezing rain and sleet. While forecasts suggest the heaviest winter weather may remain north of Concordia Parish, officials caution that dangerous travel conditions, downed trees, and possible power outages remain a concern.

    Rain and freezing rain are expected Friday night, with freezing rain and sleet possible throughout Saturday and into Sunday. Overnight lows could fall into the mid-teens by Sunday night.

    Emergency officials continue to encourage residents to closely monitor weather updates, maintain emergency supplies, ensure multiple ways to receive alerts, and follow instructions from local law enforcement and emergency management. Residents are reminded to stay off icy roads when possible, leave faucets on a slow drip to help prevent broken waterlines during below-freezing temperatures, and report downed power lines to Entergy at 1-800-368-3749 or by calling 911.

    Officials say early preparation and staying informed will be key to keeping the Natchez and Adams County communities safe as the winter weather approaches.

  • Mississippi House Narrowly Passes School Choice Bill After Hours-Long Debate

    Mississippi lawmakers debated for hours at the State Capitol before narrowly approving a major education reform proposal that would allow public education dollars to be used for private schooling.

    House Bill 2 passed the Mississippi House by a 61–59 vote, reflecting deep divisions among lawmakers over the future of public education and school choice in the state.

    The most controversial provision of the bill would create education scholarship accounts, often referred to as school vouchers, that would allow families to use public funds to pay for private school tuition. Supporters argue the measure expands parental choice, while opponents say it would weaken already struggling public school systems.

    House Speaker Jason White, the bill’s chief supporter, emphasized that the legislation is not intended to undermine public education.

    “This is not an attack on public schools,” White said. “We can have great public schools and give our parents some options in 2026 in Mississippi. And I’m excited that our House members took that first step today.”

    Critics strongly disagreed. Rep. Jeffrey Harness warned that voucher programs divert resources away from public schools, particularly in rural areas where schools serve as community anchors.

    “School voucher bills are not about choice,” Harness said. “They are about abandoning public education. In Mississippi, public schools are not just buildings. They are the anchors of our communities. They are often the largest employers in the rural counties. They are where children eat, learn, grow, and have stability. When you drain money from public schools, you don’t create opportunity. You create collapse.”

    Democratic lawmakers also raised concerns about accountability, arguing that private schools accepting public funds should be held to the same academic and transparency standards as public schools. Supporters countered that participating private schools would be required to administer nationally recognized standardized tests.

    The vote did not fall strictly along party lines. Seventeen Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the bill, underscoring the contentious nature of the proposal—even within the majority party. House Bill 2 represents the Speaker’s top legislative priority for the current session.

    Despite its passage in the House, the bill faces an uncertain future in the Senate. The Senate Education chairman has indicated that the upper chamber is only willing to consider school choice legislation that allows transfers between public schools, not the use of public funds for private education.

    As the debate continues, the fate of House Bill 2 will likely hinge on whether lawmakers can bridge the divide between expanding parental choice and protecting Mississippi’s public school system.

  • FBI: Suspect in Mississippi synagogue fire targeted house of worship because of its ‘Jewish ties’

    JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A suspect in an arson fire at a historic Mississippi synagogue admitted to targeting the house of worship because of its “Jewish ties” and was turned in to authorities by his father who had observed burn marks on his son’s ankles, hands and face, the FBI said Monday.

    Stephen Pittman was charged with maliciously damaging or destroying a building by means of fire or an explosive. The suspect confessed to lighting a fire inside the building, which he referred to as “the synagogue of Satan,” according to an FBI affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Mississippi on Monday.

    There was no attorney listed for Pittman in the court docket Monday.

    The fire ripped through the Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson shortly after 3 a.m. on Saturday. No congregants or firefighters were injured. Security camera footage released Monday by the synagogue showed a masked and hooded man using a gas can to pour a liquid on the floor and a couch in the building’s lobby. More than five decades earlier, the synagogue was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan because of its rabbi’s outspoken support for civil rights.

    The weekend fire badly damaged the 165-year-old synagogue’s library and administrative offices. Five Torahs — the sacred scrolls with the text of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible — located inside the sanctuary were being assessed for smoke damage. Two Torahs inside the library, where the most severe damage was done, were destroyed. One Torah that survived the Holocaust was behind glass and was not damaged in the fire, according to the congregation.

    The suspect’s father contacted the FBI and said that his son had confessed to setting the building on fire. Pittman had texted his father a photo of the rear of the synagogue before the fire, with the message, “There’s a furnace in the back.” His father had pleaded with his son to return home, but “Pittman replied back by saying he was due for a homerun and ‘I did my research,’” the affidavit said.

    During an interview with investigators, Pittman said he stopped at a gas station on his way to the synagogue to purchase the gas used in the fire. He also took the license plate off of his vehicle at the gas station. He used an ax to break out a window of the synagogue, poured gas inside and used a torch lighter to start the fire, the FBI affidavit said.

    The FBI later recovered a burned cell phone believed to be Pittman’s and took possession of a hand torch that a congregant had found.

    Yellow police tape on Monday blocked off the entrances to the synagogue building, which was surrounded by broken glass and soot. Bouquets of flowers were laid on the ground at the building’s entrance — including one with a note that said, “I’m so very sorry.”

    The congregation’s president, Zach Shemper, has vowed to rebuild the synagogue and said several churches had offered their spaces for worship during the rebuilding process.

    With just several hundred people in the community, it was never particularly easy being Jewish in Mississippi’s capital city, but members of Beth Israel took a special pride in keeping their traditions alive in the heart of the Deep South.

    With the exception of the cemetery, every aspect of Jewish life in Jackson was under Beth Israel’s roof. The midcentury modern building not only housed the congregation but also the Jewish Federation, a nonprofit provider of social services and philanthropy that is the hub of Jewish institutional life in most U.S. cities. The building also was home to the Institute of Southern Jewish Life, which provides resources to Jewish communities in 13 southern states. A Holocaust memorial was outdoors behind the synagogue building.

    Because Jewish children throughout the South have attended summer camp for decades in Utica, Mississippi, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southwest of Jackson, many retain a fond connection to the state and its Jewish community.

    “Jackson is the capital city, and that synagogue is the capital synagogue in Mississippi,” said Rabbi Gary Zola, a historian of American Jewry who taught at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. “I would call it the flagship, though when we talk about places like New York and Los Angeles, it probably seems like Hicksville.”

    Beth Israel as a congregation was founded in 1860 and acquired its first property where it built Mississippi’s first synagogue after the Civil War. In 1967, the synagogue moved to its current location where it was bombed by local Ku Klux Klan members not long after relocating. Two months after that, the home of the synagogue’s leader, Rabbi Perry Nussbaum, was bombed because of his outspoken opposition to segregation and racism.

    At a time when opposition to racial segregation could be dangerous in the Deep South, many Beth Israel congregants hoped the rabbi would just stay quiet, but Nussbaum was unshakable in believing he was doing the right thing by supporting civil rights, Zola said.

    “He had this strong, strong sense of justice,” Zola said.

    ___

    Martin contributed to this report from Atlanta. Schneider reported from Orlando, Fla. Follow him on the social platform Bluesky: @mikeysid.bsky.social

  • Ole Miss and Miami to play for a spot in the FBS national championship game at Fiesta Bowl

    GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Mississippi has kept winning despite its coach bolting for another program.

    Miami has rekindled the glory days of its 2001 national championship with a ferocious defense and steady quarterback.

    One will play for a national championship after Thursday night’s Fiesta Bowl.

    Ole Miss (13-1) spent the last half of the regular season wondering if coach Lane Kiffin would stick around or leave for LSU. Once the coach did head out, the sixth-seeded Rebels kept winning to reach the College Football Playoff semifinals.

    Defensive coordinator Pete Golding took over as coach and many of the assistants expected to join Kiffin in Baton Rouge stuck around to see the Rebels through the rest of the playoffs. Ole Miss and its high-scoring offense blew out Tulane in its opening CFP game and outlasted mighty Georgia 39-34 in the semifinals.

    Miami (12-2) is in the midst of its best run since winning the 2001 national title.

    The 10th-seeded Hurricanes have done it with a defense that went from mediocrity to one of the stingiest in the FBS under first-year coordinator Corey Hetherman. Miami gave up its fewest points since the 2001 national championship team — fourth nationally at 13.07 per game. The Hurricanes have been even stingier in the CFP, holding Texas A&M and Ohio State to a combined 17 points.

    Like most big games, the Fiesta Bowl will likely come down to which quarterback plays best.

    Miami’s Carson Beck is a proven winner, earning a national championship as a backup at Georgia before two stellar seasons as the starter. He’s been a perfect fit since transferring to Miami, throwing for for 3,313 yards and 27 touchdowns on 74% passing with 10 interceptions.

    Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss took a circuitous route to the playoffs.

    With limited options out of high school, the dual-threat quarterback opted to play at Ferris State, leading the Bulldogs to a Division II championship last season. Chambliss has been superb since taking over as starter three games into this season, racking up 4,180 total yards and 29 touchdowns.

    ___

    Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

  • Young Democrat launches primary challenge against U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson in Mississippi

     

    JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A 33-year-old antitrust lawyer with ties to major Democratic politicians is challenging U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson to represent Mississippi’s 2nd congressional district.

    Evan Turnage is the latest in a trend of young Democrats looking to oust the party’s old guard and rebrand the party after the 2024 election.

    “The same old playbook from the ’90s isn’t going to work anymore,” Turnage said. “We are dealing with Big Tech firms and social media and AI, and we need members of Congress who know how to navigate that terrain.”

    The Yale-educated attorney has served as chief counsel to then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and senior counsel to Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

    If elected, Turnage said he would focus on creating economic opportunity and political reform.

    Thompson, a civil-rights leader, has represented the district for more than 30 years. He formerly chaired the House Jan. 6 committee and is a ranking member on the House Committee on Homeland Security.

    The last time Thompson faced a meaningful primary challenge was in 2012 against former Greenville Mayor Heather McTeer Toney.

    In a statement, Thompson said he is confident his record will speak for itself.

    “Elections were created to give people the ability to make a choice,” Thompson said. “I trust the voters of the district.”

    The district is a Democratic stronghold in a state led mainly by Republicans. It stretches along the Mississippi River, covering the western side of the state and the capital of Jackson.

    Thompson is facing several other challengers, including Republican Ron Eller, who lost to Thompson in 2024.

    Voters will choose the party’s Democratic nominee in a primary on March 10, 2026.