Mississippi

What the outlook is for next generation of Mississippi State football defense

Published

2 years ago

August 3, 2024

What the outlook is for next generation of Mississippi State football defense

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football defensive back Hunter Washington says he and his defensive teammates coined a phrase brought in by coaches in the offseason: Chew the elephant.

The statement is described as taking one bite at a time — in this case, on the field.

“Just taking it one day at a time,” he said. “Just focus on one part and build it as as we go.”

MSU and Washington are abiding by that expression as the Bulldogs approach their season opener at home Aug. 31 (5 p.m. CT, SEC Network+) against Eastern Kentucky.

Last season, MSU ranked sixth in total defense in the SEC, averaging 350.58 yards and 35 touchdowns allowed per game.

MSU defensive backs see solid secondary

Washington had a sense of realization after the Bulldogs finished the 2023 season 5-7 and missed a bowl game for the first time since 2009. He took a step back and understood his role in the secondary: focusing on the team more than himself.

“To help my team to a higher standard and pushing my teammates to the next level,” he said. “I’m here to help people out and also focus on me, but I put the team before me.”

Washington is entering his third season at MSU and has nine tackles in 14 games combined — he was injured the second half of last season — after transferring from Florida State in 2021.

MSU FOOTBALL PRACTICE: What Jeff Lebby said of Mississippi State football transfers Blake Shapen, Kevin Coleman

With transfers and newcomers, he has lauded the improvement in the secondary from the spring.

“I like to praise the young guys because it was hard when you first get to college and stuff like that,” he said. “But they really took a step forward, coming up to this fall camp. So I’m really proud of them.

“All (the defensive backs) been better. We’ve been coming in as one group, and our goal is to go to the best.”

Washington said that across the line, having a strong receivers core helps them during practice, and the defensive backs are taking advantage of that.

“It makes us better,” he said. “Going against speed receivers or tight ends, we got all types of threats. I like the offense as well.”

Linebacker core aims to replicate last season’s success

The duo of Nathaniel Watson and Jett Johnson was MSU’s main highlight last fall. Watson — who had a career 137 tackles and was named first-team All-SEC last season — was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in April in the sixth round. Jett Johnson, who had a career 130 tackles, was named second-team All-SEC and has worked out for the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent.

But linebackers Stone Blanton and John Lewis know they’re at the helm of the defense this fall.

“Our defense is young, but we have a lot of experience in there, with a lot of new guys coming in with a lot of talent,” said Blanton, who transferred from South Carolina and had 52 tackles. “The linebacker room is full of talent . . . We got ballers in there, so I’m just super excited to play this season.”

MSU FOOTBALL TICKETS: How to buy Mississippi State football tickets? See prices for games on 2024 schedule

Lewis, who recorded 20 tackles last season, is expecting a defense that has a lot of energy from defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler, but no one is more enthusiastic than Blanton.

“He’d be loud every day,” Lewis said. “So if I need somebody to count on to pick me up, it’ll be Stone.”

The two are the presumed starters at linebacker. Coach Jeff Lebby also has brought in junior college transfer Branden Jennings.

Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez.

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Mississippi

What stores near Jackson sell fireworks to celebrate July 4th

Published

6 hours ago

July 2, 2026

Press Room

What stores near Jackson sell fireworks to celebrate July 4th

Fireworks are a Fourth of July staple for many people.

Finding places to buy fireworks in Mississippi to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary this year can be an exciting plan, but it also requires checking laws and following safety tips.

In 2000, consumer fireworks generated $407 million in national sales, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association.

Consumer fireworks revenue rose steadily over the next two decades, reaching $1 billion in 2019. The figure nearly doubled in 2020 to $1.9 billion and has stayed strong, averaging around $2.2 billion per year since.

Mike Chaney, Mississippi’s commissioner of insurance and state fire marshal, said he expects that this year “fireworks use will be at an all-time high” in the state.

If you are not looking to purchase fireworks, there are several events in the Jackson metro area as well as statewide events to enjoy firework shows on and around July 4. There are also alternative ways near Jackson to enjoy the holiday without fireworks as the main attraction.

Below are some places you can purchase fireworks throughout the state for the 2026 Fourth of July:

What Mississippi law says about fireworks

For people in Mississippi, celebrating the nation’s independence brings dangers and laws that residents should be aware of.

Under state law, Mississippi permits “common fireworks” such as sparklers, fountains, Roman candles and small aerial devices for consumer sale, while larger display fireworks require federal licensing.

Mississippi law states it is unlawful to ignite or discharge fireworks of any type within 600 feet of any church, hospital or school, or within 75 feet of where fireworks are stored or offered for sale.

The law states it is also unlawful to ignite or discharge the same within or throw the same from or into or at any motor vehicle.

While shooting fireworks is legal under specific conditions in Mississippi, you should also observe local laws as some cities prohibit fireworks from being used within city limits.

Before you buy or light any fireworks, take a moment to check with your county or local fire officials to determine that local laws are being followed.

Firework safety tips in Mississippi

When shooting fireworks at home, Chaney said, it is up to you to implement safety standards.

“That means using common sense, never pointing fireworks at another person and disposing of fireworks in water to prevent fire,” Chaney said.

To avoid injury, the Mississippi State Fire Marshal suggests you follow these safety tips:

Use common sense: always read and follow the directions on each firework
Never point or throw fireworks at another person
Buy from reliable fireworks sellers
Store them in a cool, dry place
Always have an adult present when shooting fireworks
Put used fireworks in a bucket of water and have a hose ready
Only use fireworks outdoors, away from homes, dry grass and trees
Light only one item at a time and keep a safe distance
Never experiment or attempt to make your own fireworks
Never re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks
Never give fireworks to small children
Never carry fireworks in your pocket
Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers

Pam Dankins is the breaking news reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Have a tip? Email her at pdankins@gannett.com.

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Mississippi

MS Coast man fighting to save his leg contracts flesh-eating bacteria on a ‘typical day’ fishing

Published

17 hours ago

July 2, 2026

Press Room

MS Coast man fighting to save his leg contracts flesh-eating bacteria on a ‘typical day’ fishing

It started with a horsefly bite. Or, at least, that’s what doctors think.

Steve Wilson didn’t have a cut when he cast his first line in the Gulf off the coast of Mississippi on Saturday, but Amanda Wilson remembers her husband pausing to apply bug spray.

Lifelong Mississippi residents and avid fishers, the Wilsons have heard all the horror stories about Vibrio vulnificus, a dangerous flesh-eating bacteria found in warm, brackish coastal waters and raw or undercooked seafood. It’s rare to contract it at all, but one in five people who develop severe infection die, sometimes within 48 hours.

Amanda Wilson, a 47-year-old nurse, said she’s exceedingly careful when it comes to Vibrio. The Wilsons never swim in the Gulf and stay on Cat Island’s south side while fishing, where the open waters are thought to be less prone to bacteria propagation. Before they hit the water, they always check for cuts and other open wounds, gateways through which vibrio can enter the body and trigger necrotizing skin infections, bloodstream infections or gastrointestinal illness.

Later on Saturday afternoon, when they launched their boat into Jourdan River from McLeod Park, the Wilsons made sure to head farther upriver away from the Gulf before getting in the water.

“It’s crazy because it was just a typical day,” Amanda Wilson said.

Despite all the precautions, 50-year-old Steve Wilson awoke early the next morning to searing pain near his right ankle, pain so severe he couldn’t walk. His ankle was swollen and hot, Amanda Wilson said, and she noticed what looked like a small bruise at the center of the swelling.

Steve Wilson's leg — Advertisement

Steve Wilson’s leg roughly 10 hours after exposure to Vibrio vulnificus.

Courtesy of Amanda Wilson

Vibrio was her first thought.

She rushed her husband to Slidell Memorial Hospital, and by the end of the 45-minute drive from Necaise Crossing, he’d developed a fever of 103.6 degrees and was septic. Doctors there confirmed the worst: he’d contracted Vibrio vulnificus and the infection was eating away at the flesh of his foot and leg.

After surgery and a cocktail of antibiotics, Steve Wilson’s leg had finally shown some improvement by Tuesday. But he was still in the ICU, and doctors warned his wife that infections like these can take dramatic turns practically overnight.

“We have to take it day by day,” she said. “It’s a day by day issue.”

Last year’s spike in cases

Cases of Vibrio vulnificus spiked across the Gulf Coast last year, prompting Louisiana public health officials to issue warnings about a sharp increase in hospitalizations and deaths related to the bacterium last fall.

Most Gulf states are seeing fewer cases so far in 2026, though health officials say infections peak between May and October, when Gulf waters are warmest and residents are most likely to swim and fish. Rising summer temperatures and runoff from storms can also help Vibrio flourish.

In Mississippi, where a total of 58 Vibrio cases were reported in 2025, seven cases have been reported so far this year, none of which have proven fatal, according to data collected by the Mississippi State Department of Health. The rarer, flesh-eating species Vibrio vulnificus has been behind just one of those cases.

Twelve Vibrio infections have been reported to the Alabama Department of Public Health so far this year, and three of those cases involved Vibrio vulnificus specifically, according to ADPH spokesperson Ryan Easterling. One case proved deadly.

A total of 19 Vibrio cases were reported in Alabama last year, Easterling said.

Louisiana’s numbers were not immediately available, but by September of last year, Vibrio vulnificus had led to 26 hospitalizations and five deaths, compared to annual average of about 10 cases and one death over the previous decade.

Preventing infection

With much of Vibrio peak season left to go and an upcoming warm holiday weekend, Amanda Wilson worries cases along the Gulf Coast could spike.

She and doctors aren’t sure where exactly Steve Wilson contracted the infection. Could it have been when he poured a cup of Gulf water onto his boat to wash away a little blood from a caught fish, using his foot to splash the water around? Was it his dunk in the Jourdan River, shortly after the area saw massive flooding from Tropical Storm Arthur?

“The thing I want people to know is to think outside the box,” Amanda Wilson said.

It’s easier than you might think to become infected, she said. It could be cutting yourself on something that’s been in the water recently, eating a bad oyster or going for a swim in the Gulf with a fresh tattoo.

Public health officials advise those with chronic health conditions to avoid eating raw oysters or undercooked shellfish, keep wounds covered when in brackish water and wear protective gloves when handling seafood. Wash any cuts exposed to seawater or raw seafood with soap and clean water, and seek medical care immediately if a wound shows signs of redness, swelling or blistering.

“It takes just as little as a bug bite that we were not even aware of,” Amanda Wilson said.

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Mississippi Lottery Mississippi Match 5, Cash 3 results for July 1, 2026

Published

1 day ago

July 2, 2026

Press Room

Mississippi Lottery Mississippi Match 5, Cash 3 results for July 1, 2026

The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at July 1, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from July 1 drawing

09-20-24-29-32

Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 3 numbers from July 1 drawing

Midday: 4-3-0, FB: 4

Evening: 2-8-7, FB: 0

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from July 1 drawing

Midday: 1-6-1-7, FB: 4

Evening: 9-5-3-5, FB: 0

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from July 1 drawing

Midday: 09

Evening: 02

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Story continues below gallery.

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.

Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:

Mississippi Lottery Corporation

P.O. Box 321462

Flowood, MS

39232

If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.

Mississippi Lottery Headquarters

1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100

Flowood, MS

39232

Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.

When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?

Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Mississippi editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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