Mississippi
Demolition prep collapses Mississippi bridge, kills three
Three people were killed and four were seriously injured Wednesday when a bridge in Mississippi collapsed while a work crew was preparing it for demolition, authorities reported.
The bridge over the Strong River on State Route 149 in Simpson County, located about 40 miles south of Jackson, had been closed to traffic since Sept. 18 due to a replacement project, according to the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
Gov. Tate Reeves confirmed the tragedy on social media, stating that first responders from the county and other state resources were on the scene, where they had confirmed three fatalities and multiple injuries.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also addressed the incident on social media, noting that the Federal Highway Administration was “engaging state officials concerning” the “premature collapse during demolition of a bridge on State Route 149 in Mississippi.”
Newsweek has reached out the Mississippi Department of Transportation for comment via email.
WAPT
Simpson County Sheriff Paul Mullins reported that three people were killed and four critically injured. Terry Tutor, the Simpson County coroner, told the New York Times that seven men were working on the bridge with heavy machinery when it collapsed, plummeting nearly 40 feet. Tutor confirmed that three of the men died, while four sustained injuries.
Mullins and Tutor did not immediately respond to requests for further information from The Associated Press. Attempts to reach T.L. Wallace Construction, the construction company involved, were unsuccessful, as calls went unanswered. The construction firm has also been asked to comment by Newsweek through email.
Department of Transportation spokesperson Anna Ehrgott indicated that his office would provide more details to the public as they became available. According to the department, one of its inspectors was present at the work site during the bridge collapse and was unharmed.
Paul Sancya/AP Photo
This incident raises concerns regarding safety protocols and inspections during bridge demolition projects. As investigations continue, local authorities and federal officials are due to examine the circumstances that led to the bridge’s failure, including the safety measures in place at the time of the collapse.
As the community mourns the loss of life and the injuries sustained during this tragic event, questions remain about how such a devastating incident could occur during a planned demolition.
WAPT
As details emerge, the focus for the authorities will be on ensuring the safety of construction crews, preventing similar incidents in the future and providing support to the families of the dead and injured.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
Mississippi
Mississippi man who thought he was communicating with teen girl arrested by FBI
CARTHAGE, Miss. (WLBT) – A Carthage, Mississippi, man was arrested by the FBI unit in Jackson.
FBI Jackson released on Christmas Eve that the man was apprehended after he communicated with someone he believed to be a 15‑year‑old girl from Taylor County, Texas.
The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Leake County Sheriff’s Office, Choctaw Police Department, and the Carthage Police Department assisted with the arrest.
No further information was released.
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Mississippi
Mississippi Lottery Mississippi Match 5, Cash 3 results for Dec. 23, 2025
Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 23, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from Dec. 23 drawing
04-10-12-20-23
Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from Dec. 23 drawing
Midday: 5-1-5, FB: 1
Evening: 4-6-9, FB: 2
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from Dec. 23 drawing
Midday: 0-2-8-7, FB: 1
Evening: 4-3-6-6, FB: 2
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 23 drawing
Midday: 13
Evening: 13
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.
Mississippi
East Mississippi running back Gavin Griffin selected to 2025 NJCAA All-America First Team – Meridian Star
East Mississippi running back Gavin Griffin selected to 2025 NJCAA All-America First Team
Published 12:08 pm Tuesday, December 23, 2025
East Mississippi Community College running back Gavin Griffin has added to his list of 2025 season accomplishments by being named to this year’s NJCAA Division I Football All-America First Team. The National Junior College Athletic Association announced the organization’s first-team, second-team and honorable-mention football selections on Dec. 20.
As an NJCAA All-Region 23 honoree as well as being the MACCC North Division’s Offensive Player of the Year recipient this season, Griffin’s most recent honor gives East Mississippi’s football program a total of 36 NJCAA All-America selections during the past 18 seasons under the guidance of NJCAA Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame head coach Buddy Stephens. Dating back to the 2008 season, the EMCC Lions have had at least one NJCAA All-American in football during 13 of the past 18 years.
In becoming EMCC’s 15th first-team NJCAA All-American dating back to 2008, Griffin helped lead the Lions to a 7-3 overall record and 5-1 MACCC North Division mark while earning the program’s 12th division crown and 15th conference playoff appearance during the Stephens coaching era.
A Troy University signee, Griffin was twice selected as the NJCAA and MACCC Offensive Player of the Week this season while topping the NJCAA Division I statistical leaders with 22 rushing touchdowns and ranking second nationally with 1,168 rushing yards. With six 100-yard rushing outings on the year, Griffin’s top performances on the ground included a career-high 220 rushing yards and four touchdowns in 22 attempts during EMCC’s 49-27 home win over Pearl River. He also had 189 rushing yards and three scores in 23 carries during the Lions’ 34-28 road victory at Northwest Mississippi.
With at least one rushing touchdown in all 10 games this past season, Griffin had seven contests with multiple scoring runs, including an additional four-touchdown effort in EMCC’s 50-39 home win over Holmes. During the Stephens coaching era at EMCC, Griffin’s 134 total points scored and 22 touchdown runs this season rank second behind Tyrell Price’s NJCAA-leading 24 rushing touchdowns and 150 points scored during the Lions’ 2017 national championship season.
On EMCC’s single-season statistical leaders list during the Stephens era, Griffin’s 1,168 rushing yards in 10 games played rank third behind 2025 EMCC Sports Hall of Fame inductee Rod Moore (1,303 in 2011) and Lakenderic Thomas (1,334 in 2013), who both had the advantage of playing two additional games during EMCC’s respective national championship seasons. Griffin’s 207 rushing attempts this season are the most by an EMCC player during the Stephens era, breaking the mark of 200 carries previously held by second-team NJCAA All-American Deon McIntosh during the Lions’ 2018 national championship season.
For his two EMCC seasons, Griffin’s 1,722 career rushing yards rank third behind Thomas (1,724) and Moore (2,211), while his 30 career rushing touchdowns tie Price for the most during the Stephens era. Along with the 66 points that Griffin scored (8 rush TDs and 3 TD catches) as an EMCC freshman in 2024, the 2023 MHSAA Class 1A Mr. Football out of Velma Jackson High School became just the second EMCC player of the Stephens era to reach 200 career points scored.
EMCC’s 35 NJCAA All-America players under Stephens’ leadership are divided among 18 offensive performers, 15 defensive honorees and two special teams players. Leading the way positionally for EMCC dating back to 2008, the Lions have had 10 All-America quarterback selections, including NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year recipients Ty Keyes (2023) and Bo Wallace (2011) as well as two-time All-America signal-caller Randall Mackey (2008 & 2009). On the defensive side of the football during the Stephens coaching era, the Lions have featured eight All-America defensive linemen, headlined by 12-year NFL veteran Denico Autry (2011) of the Houston Texans and recently retired 11-year NFL standout Za’Darius Smith (2012).
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