Mississippi

Mississippi, Go Braugh

Published

2 years ago

March 17, 2024

The Irish have a saying “Erin go Braugh.” It roughly translates to “Ireland to the End of Time.” This weekend, Mississippians will join in celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, kicking off the springtime festival season in Jackson where the historic “St. Paddy’s Day parade” attracts thousands of visitors to the capital city for a weekend of good ole Irish fun.

St. Patrick’s Day has been my favorite holiday for years. I was just a wee lass when I became obsessed with all things Ireland. The leprechauns I saw on my breakfast cereal paved way to exploring the yard in search of four-leaf clovers. I dreamt of visiting the Emerald Isle one day.

As I grew older, my interest in the Irish became more personal. My late grandfather – Tom O’Loughlin, also known as “Tom Cat” – was a fierce Irish Catholic who married my grandmother later in life. Tom Cat and I were very close, sending each other handwritten letters from time to time. I still have these cards, most of which include some Irish or Gaelic phrase. He once referred to me as a “shane lass” (the meaning of which I’m still not sure). And, a recent DNA test put my ancestry at 9 percent Irish, a fact I share with green pride.

Last summer, my family and I had the chance to visit Ireland, spending about two weeks
exploring that beautiful island. During that visit, we met Senator Mark Daly, the 24th Chair of the Senate of Ireland and Leas Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann. Sen. Daly has been working with American elected officials to establish the American Irish State Legislature Caucus (AISLC).

This bipartisan network of current and former American Irish legislators is open to everyone,
Republicans and Democrats, and fosters economic, political, and cultural ties between
Ireland and the United States.

Turns out, the world is flat. While speaking with Mr. Daly, I learned he was already working
hand-in-hand with Mississippi leaders like Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann and Senate Finance
Chairman Josh Harkins to establish the Mississippi-Ireland Trade Commission, a non-taxpayer
funded initiative to formalize strong trade relations between the state and the Irish Republic.

Chairman Harkins met Sen. Daly last year during the Irish elected official’s visit to Mississippi during one of his tours across America. The Irish Times described Mr. Daly as “the driving
force” behind more localized efforts to strengthen ties with U.S. politicians by engaging them at
an earlier stage in their careers. Through his efforts, Mr. Daly was able to secure a partnership
agreement between the AISLC and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL),
enhancing Ireland’s ability to directly connect with U.S. lawmakers.

Mr. Daly and Chairman Harkins both believe there is opportunity for Mississippi in a post-Brexit
world in which Ireland is the main English-speaking country in the European Union. New links
and connections with American states like Mississippi will serve as gateways to foster greater
economic and educational links, including research partnerships among universities.

So far, the effort has been well received at the Mississippi State Capitol. Chairman Harkins (note
that “Harkins” is a classic Irish surname) introduced, and the Senate unanimously passed, Senate
Bill 2218 to set up the trade commission, noting that more than seven percent of Mississippi’s
population is of Irish descent and is the third largest ancestry in the Magnolia State.

Federal data shows that Ireland is our 12th largest foreign trade partner, representing industries such as agriculture, aerospace, and pharmaceuticals.

The Mississippi-Ireland Trade Commission will consist of ten members (none compensated by
taxpayers), including appointments from the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House,
Mississippi Economic Council, Mississippi Development Authority, and the Institutions of
Higher Learning.

These members are called to advance trade relations, initiate joint action on
policy issues; promote business and academic exchanges, and encourage mutual economic
support and investment. If implemented in its current form, the law goes into effect March 17,
2024 – on St. Patrick’s Day in the very year the U.S. and Ireland celebrate 100 years of formal
diplomatic ties!

Mississippi’s economy has rarely experienced such economic growth as in recent years, with
multiple record-breaking economic development announcements, record low unemployment, and an increasingly competitive tax structure and pro-business mindset. Adding direct relationships with friendly, aligned countries like Ireland not only makes good economic sense, but enhances our state’s ability to compete in a global marketplace.

I commend Chairman Harkins and Mr. Daly for their hard work and good ideas. This green
holiday, I wish you both Erin – and Mississippi – go braugh!

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Mississippi

Illegal immigration costs Mississippi over $100 million, auditor says

Published

5 hours ago

April 23, 2026

Press Room

Illegal immigration costs Mississippi over 0 million, auditor says

Mississippi State Auditor Shad White estimates that immigrants without legal status cost state taxpayers $100 million annually.
The estimate is based on a conservative figure of 22,000 undocumented people living in Mississippi.
The report calculates costs in three main areas: education ($25 million), health care ($77 million), and prisons ($1.7 million).
The health care total includes $28 million for Medicaid services for U.S. citizen children of undocumented parents.
The auditor’s report does not factor in taxes paid by undocumented immigrants.

When some lawmakers in the Mississippi Legislature took their immigration bills to the floor this session, a question emerged among opponents. Are these measures really necessary?

Mississippi has a smaller population of immigrants than its other southeastern counterparts, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, and the state has mainly remained in the background as its neighbors have been targeted by task force raids.

The lack of federal attention to the Magnolia State hasn’t stopped many Republican lawmakers and state officials, including State Auditor Shad White, from maintaining that immigration without legal permission presents a major threat to Mississippi. At the crux of White’s argument for stronger local and national enforcement is money. One hundred million dollars, to be specific.

That amount, $100 million, is what White said immigrants without legal status in the country cost Mississippi taxpayers every year. He explained the math behind the total and its significance to residents in an April 22 interview with the Clarion Ledger.

The first piece of the puzzle was to estimate the number of people living in the state without legal status, White said, a calculation guided by data from the U.S. Census and Department of Homeland Security.

“We settled on 22,000 illegal immigrants living in Mississippi,” he said. “It’s important to mention that that is a very, very conservative estimate. It’s the lower bound of what that number could be.”

Both the number of immigrants in the country illegally and the amount that they cost taxpayers could be, and likely are, greater than the estimate, White said. The numbers have also almost definitely changed since the auditor’s office first researched and compiled the report at the end of 2024.

When the office reached a consensus on the number of people, White said, analysts looked at three major cost buckets: education, health care and prisons. These areas were the ones with the largest potential price tags, he said.

Every child, regardless of immigration status, is entitled to a public education in the United States. The office estimated that around 2,500 children, roughly 0.57% of the total public enrollment last school year, were in the country without legal status.

The cost for these students, based on the Mississippi Student Funding Formula approved in 2024, is $17 million. On top of that, White said, many of these children would likely receive funding supplements for low-income students and English language learners.

The total taxpayer cost in education totals around $25 million a year, the report stated. Neither the report nor White detailed how analysts determined the number of students who would qualify as low-income or English language learners.

The health care total is likely an even more conservative number, White said, in part because the office didn’t have enough data to make an estimate as comprehensive as he would have preferred.

“If you walked into an emergency room right now, you’re going to be treated. It doesn’t matter who you are,” he said. “Add onto that the cost of anyone who is an illegal immigrant mother who walks into a hospital and gives birth. Of course, we’re going to treat her, but that cost will flow back to taxpayers.”

Citing numbers from health policy organization KFF (formerly known as Kaiser Family Foundation), the report stated that those births would likely cost around $4 million each year. Emergency room visits would probably total around $45 million annually, assuming about half of the undocumented population goes to the ER once a year.

The total estimate in the health care section of the report is $77 million, because it includes approximately $28 million spent providing Medicaid services to the U.S. citizen children of immigrants without legal status. Without the Medicaid treatment for U.S. citizens, the health care cost is around $49 million.

The final area is criminal justice, White explained, which used detention data collected from prisons and jails to estimate that 79 incarcerated people did not have legal status in the country. Multiplied by the daily cost of incarcerating a person in Mississippi, the report stated that taxpayers would contribute around $1.7 million every year to keeping them in jail.

This amount is also likely much higher, White said, because the office didn’t have the means to include the costs incurred before a person goes to prison.

“When we looked at the prison costs, we did not look into the cost of investigating crimes committed by illegal immigrants,” he said. “The cost of the criminal investigation was some non-zero number, we just don’t know what it was.”

When the report as first released, White recounted, some people told him that it should have included the amount that undocumented immigrants contribute in local and state taxes. He dismissed that as people “trying to distract from the larger point” that people without legal status “drive costs higher.”

Expressing his support for the bill that passed making illegal immigration a state crime, White said he is hopeful that the legislature will continue to pursue measures strengthening the state’s approach to immigration enforcement.

“When people see the $100 million cost, I think people think, ‘What else could we be using that for?’” he said. “It could be used for massive teacher pay increases. We could be well on the way to eliminating the grocery tax completely. It could result in real improvements in people’s lives.”

Bea Anhuci is the state government reporter for the Clarion Ledger. She has covered immigration in the state since the start of 2026. Email her at banhuci@usatoday.com.

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Mississippi

8 rivers, lakes are the most alligator-infested water in Mississippi

Published

17 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Press Room

8 rivers, lakes are the most alligator-infested water in Mississippi

Alligators are iconic in Mississippi. Time outdoors, especially near lakes or rivers, often brings close-up encounters with wildlife, whether you expect them or not.

If you walk on the wild side, chances are good you’ll find alligators in freshwater somewhere in the state. Knowing where they tend to gather — and when they’re most active — can help both people and gators avoid unwanted surprises.

“The American alligator is native to Mississippi and still turns up across much of the state, but not everywhere in equal numbers. Mississippi has around 32,000 to 38,000 alligators across 408,000 acres of habitat, and while 14 of its 82 counties have no alligator record, others have some of the highest concentrations in the state,” World Atlas wrote.

That uneven distribution is key. Some rivers, lakes and wetlands are far more gator-heavy than others.

World Atlas compiled a list of the most alligator-infested waters in Mississippi. Two Mississippi rivers also made its ranking of the most alligator-filled water in the Deep South.

Not interested in a wild encounter? There’s always a zoo or animal park. HGTV even chose a Mississippi swamp tour to see the giant reptiles as part of a bucket list of 50 things you should do across America.

Here’s what to know about where alligators are most common, when they’re most active and what to do if you get too close so everyone leaves safely.

Where is the most alligator-infested water in Mississippi?

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks says alligators can live anywhere in the state. Most live in the southern two-thirds.

They’re not usually aggressive, but juvenile gators often move to new areas in spring and summer. That makes them more likely to turn up near people. They’re also attracted to food sources.

According to World Atlas, these are these waterways have the highest alligator populations in Mississippi.

Pascagoula River is home to giant alligators

About 24% of the alligators in Mississippi live in Jackson County, according to MDWFP. It’s the highest concentration by county.

The Pascagoula River Basin is one of the last unimpeded river systems in the lower 48 states. The area is known for record-breaking gator sightings, including some about 14 feet long.

The current Mississippi state records are 11 feet, 3/4 inches for longest female caught and 324 pounds for heaviest female caught. Both came from the Pascagoula River.

The river also made World Atlas’ list of the seven most alligator-filled places in the Deep South.

Fish, wildlife in Pear River help gators thrive

The Pearl River is home to a diverse range of fish and animals, which helps the alligators in the area thrive.

The river flows through LeFleur’s Bluff State Park in Jackson and continues south to the Gulf. There are lots of recreation options along its path.

Rankin County is home to about 7.4% of the state’s gator population, MDWFP said. There are about 7.35 alligators per mile.

“Most of the Rankin County alligator population is located in and around Ross Barnett Reservoir and in the Pearl River to Ratliff Ferry,” they wrote.

Wolf River wetlands are gator-friendly

Hancock County is home to about 12% of the state’s gators, according to MDWFP.

Most are found in the Wolf River, which World Atlas says provides ideal breeding and habitat conditions thanks to its wetlands and tidal marshes.

Gators bask along Leaf and Chickasawhay river banks

The Leaf River flows 185 miles before joining the Chickasawhay River, which runs 159 miles. The two rivers form the Pascagoula River system.

Both rivers are home to significant alligator populations.

“Gators are often seen gliding through the water and basking along the banks,” World Atlas wrote.

Yazoo River is known for record-breaking gators

The Yazoo River has earned a reputation as a prime spot for alligator hunters. It is known for producing large gators.

The longest male harvested in public water was caught in the Yazoo River in 2023. It measured more than 14 feet long and weighed over 800 pounds.

The river also appears on World Atlas’ list of the most gator-infested waters in the Deep South.

Alligator Lake is true to its name

Alligator Lake in Washington County is a 60-acre oxbow lake known for its dense gator population. It sits inside Leroy Percy State Park, a designated wildlife management area.

“The resident alligators can be seen swimming in the lake, lounging in the shade under cypress trees, or lazing on logs in the sunshine,” World Atlas wrote.

Tchoutacabouffa River has lots of smaller alligators

Development around the Tchoutacabouffa River near Biloxi has pushed larger alligators away from populated areas, according to World Atlas.

That’s left behind a population made up largely of gators under 10 feet long.

The river winds for 31 miles and flows through the DeSoto National Forest.

Ross Barnett Reservoir is fishing hotspot

Gator hunters flock to Ross Barnett Reservoir, which is popular for fishing and boating. There’s a lot to do around the lake.

“The gentle waters of the reservoir, its marshy banks, and a large fish population create ideal conditions for gators to live, breed, and hunt in the area,” World Atlas wrote.

Where are the most alligator-filled waters in the Deep South?

“Alligators like slow-moving freshwater rivers but are also found in swamps, marshes, and lakes,” World Atlas wrote.

According to World Atlas, these places have the highest alligator populations in the Deep South.

Lake Martin, Louisiana
Cypress Lake, Louisiana
Pascagoula River, Mississippi
Caddo Lake, Louisiana
Yazoo River, Mississippi
Millwood State Park, Arkansas
Lake Marion, South Carolina

Is it legal to feed alligators in Mississippi?

MDWFP warns that feeding alligators causes serious problems.

“Usually an alligator that has been fed will begin seeking out people and has trouble differentiating hands from handouts. That alligator has become a nuisance and will probably need to be removed; generally, ‘a fed gator is a dead gator,’” MDWFP wrote.

Alligators will come to food sources, including fish feeders or places that fish remains get thrown into the water.

If you know someone is feeding a gator, you can report it to your local MDWFP regional office or conservation officer.

Is it legal to shoot a nuisance alligator?

MDWFP says an alligator simply existing near people isn’t considered a nuisance.

“If an alligator is in a river, oxbow, swamp, or lake — particularly if they are in public water simply doing what alligators do — that is not a nuisance alligator. If you choose to live in alligator habitat, then alligators are an amenity that often comes with the property,” MDWFP wrote.

If it’s being aggressive and approaching people or trying to hunt humans, pets or wildlife, it needs to go.

If you have a nuisance alligator, don’t try to handle it yourself. Contact the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks to help move or destroy the animal.

Hunting requires a permit and must be done in the right places and during the specified hunting seasons. Shooting one illegally could carry jail time or a fine of $2,000 to $5,000.

I’m way too close to an alligator. Now what?

GatorWise suggests that people stay aware any time they’re near water. Assume gators are present and watch pets and kids closely.

If you hear it hissing, you’re already too close, according to Texas Parks & Wildlife.

Don’t panic. Back away slowly and calmly.

While most alligators retreat, mothers protecting nests may charge. And they’ll defend themselves.

Gators can run surprisingly fast, up to 35 mph. for short distances. Don’t assume it’ll be slow.

What to do if an alligator attacks

Unprovoked alligator attacks are rare but possible. Here’s what the University of Florida suggests if it happens to you.

Run away in a straight line. Do not zig-zag.
Fight as if your life depends on it. Poke it in the eyes, punch and kick it, especially around the head.
Try to make the alligator gag by jamming objects in the back of its mouth.
Alligators will often reposition prey in their mouths. Use the opportunity to escape.

Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with USA TODAY NETWORK. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.

A lifelong outdoorsman and wildlife enthusiast, Brian Broom has been writing about hunting, fishing and Mississippi’s outdoors for the Clarion Ledger for more than 14 years. He can be reached at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.

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