Mississippi asks FEMA for major disaster declaration, including individual aid
JACKSON — Federal Emergency Management Agency has been asked to approve a major disaster declaration for multiple Mississippi counties impacted by severe winter storms that swept across the state from Jan. 23 to Jan. 27, state officials said. The request includes individual assistance for residents, disaster unemployment assistance, and public assistance for local governments, including […]
UPDATE: Inmate back in custody after fleeing county work program in Prentiss County
UPDATE: The escapee is back in custody. Booneville PD, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and Tupelo Police all helped with the search. A drone was brought in to look for him and ended up locating him then directed officers on the ground to him. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ PRENTISS COUNTY — The Prentiss County Sheriff’s Department […]
Oxford man charged after two arson fires in Lafayette County
LAFAYETTE COUNTY – Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office said a 27-year-old man was arrested and charged after investigators linked him to two separate arson fires reported Monday night and early Tuesday. Authorities said county E-911 received a call at about 8:55 p.m. Monday reporting a barn and a vehicle on fire at a residence in Lafayette […]
Appeals court upholds 4 DUI convictions in deadly Hinds County crash, tosses fifth count
JACKSON — The Mississippi Court of Appeals has upheld four aggravated DUI convictions against a Hinds County woman whose 2021 drunken driving crash killed a mother and infant and seriously injured two young children, but overturned a fifth conviction on statute-of-limitations grounds. In a decision released this week, the court affirmed most of the convictions […]
City of Pearl to hold amnesty day for contempt warrants tied to unpaid fines
PEARL – The City of Pearl will hold an amnesty day Feb. 28, 2026, offering people with contempt warrants related to unpaid fines a chance to resolve their cases, officials said. The event is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pearl Court Records, 2561 Old Brandon Road, according to information released by the […]
MEMA asks residents to report winter storm home damage through online tool
JACKSON — Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is asking residents whose homes were damaged during the recent winter weather event to submit reports through the agency’s online self-report tool. The agency said residents can complete an online damage report and upload photos documenting damage to their homes. Officials said they have already received hundreds of reports […]
Jackson State contributes Margaret Walker items to Smithsonian exhibit on HBCU history
JACKSON — Jackson State University is contributing personal items from acclaimed Mississippi author Margaret Walker Alexander to a new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture exhibit highlighting the role of historically Black colleges and universities in preserving U.S. history. According to the LEPR Agency, the exhibit, “At the Vanguard: Making and Saving […]
Madison County man gets 15 years for meth trafficking
CANTON — A Madison County man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine, prosecutors announced. District Attorney Bubba Bramlett said Kenderius Marquise Bess, 32, pleaded guilty in Madison County Circuit Court to two counts of trafficking methamphetamine. He was sentenced to serve 15 years in […]
Two stolen vehicles recovered; 3 suspects arrested in Pearl
PEARL – Pearl Police Department said three suspects were arrested after two vehicle thefts were reported at separate homes over the weekend. In a news release dated Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, police said officers responded Feb. 1 and Feb. 2 to reports of two vehicles stolen from residences in Pearl. The department’s Special Operations Division […]
MDOT: Ice reported on roads and bridges in 10 Mississippi counties
JACKSON — Mississippi Department of Transportation said Tuesday that ice was still being reported on some state-maintained roads and bridges in 10 counties across Mississippi. As of 8 a.m., reports of icy conditions included Benton, Bolivar, Coahoma, DeSoto, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Quitman, Tate and Tunica counties, the agency said. MDOT noted the reports apply to […]