Mississippi

Mississippi synagogue arson suspect said

Published

2 months ago

January 12, 2026

Mississippi synagogue arson suspect said

The suspect charged with setting a fire inside a historic Jackson, Mississippi, synagogue over the weekend admitted it was because of the building’s “Jewish ties,” according to an FBI criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Mississippi on Monday.

Security footage showed the suspect, Stephen Spencer Pittman, inside Beth Israel Congregation around 3 a.m. on Saturday, pouring what appeared to be gasoline, according to the complaint. Pittman was charged with maliciously damaging or destroying a building by means of fire or an explosive.

Authorities said Pittman’s father reached out to the FBI, saying his son confessed to starting the fire, which was later corroborated by map data from a location-sharing app Pittman had on his phone. Pittman also texted his father a photo of the back of the synagogue, writing, “There’s a furnace in the back,” the complaint alleges, noting that his father “pleaded for his son to return home.”

Hours later, Pittman’s father confronted his son after noticing burns on his ankles. Pittman “laughed as he told his father what he did and said he finally got them,” the complaint said.

Damage from a fire that investigators say was arson at Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, Jan. 11, 2026.

Beth Israel Congregation

That evening, investigators at the Jackson Fire Department and Hinds County Sheriff’s Office interviewed Pittman, who admitted to starting the fire and called the building “the synagogue of Satan,” according to the complaint. He told investigators he stopped to purchase gasoline, removed his license plate and broke into the building through a window with an axe, using a torch lighter to start the fire after pouring gasoline.

On Sunday, Jackson Mayor John Horhn condemned “acts of antisemitism, racism, and religious hatred,” which he said will be treated as acts of terror against residents.

“Targeting people because of their faith, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation is morally wrong, un-American, and completely incompatible with the values of this city,” he said in a statement posted to social media.

Beth Israel, established over 160 years ago, is Jackson’s only synagogue and was the first synagogue in the state.

In 1967, Beth Israel was bombed by Ku Klux Klan members. Two months later, they bombed the home of the congregation’s rabbi as well, according to the Beth Israel website. The rabbi wasn’t home at the time and no one was hurt in the bombings.

There are still congregants at the synagogue who were members during those bombings, according to a representative for Beth Israel.

US Mississippi Synagogue Fire — A note attached to a bundle of flowers left outside the Beth Israel Congregation reads, I am so very sorry,” on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Jackson, Miss.

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Sophie Bates / AP

Parts of the building are damaged by water, smoke and soot. The sanctuary, where worship services are held, needs restoration but is still standing. Five Torahs — the sacred scrolls with the text of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible — located inside the sanctuary were assessed for damage. Two Torahs inside the library were destroyed. One Torah rescued during the Holocaust and kept behind glass was undamaged.

The attack on Beth Israel comes amid a nationwide spike in antisemitism. There’s been an 893% increase over the past decade in antisemitic incidents, according to the Anti-Defamation League. A 2024 audit by ADL recorded more than 9,000 incidents – it’s the highest number recorded since the organization began tracking antisemitic incidents in 1980.

“We are still assessing the damage to the building, but will be continuing our worship services and other programs – locations to be determined,” Zach Shemper, president of Beth Israel Congregation, said in a statement to CBS News, adding that several churches have offered their spaces for worship.

“We are a resilient people. With support from our community, we will rebuild,” Shemper said.

Patrick Torphy contributed to this report

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Mississippi

Mississippi Made brings artisans, food vendors to Laurel

Published

3 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

Mississippi Made brings artisans, food vendors to Laurel

LAUREL, Miss. (WDAM) – Mississippi Made is an arts and crafts festival hosted by Laurel Mercantile that includes makers from all over Mississippi.

About 60 vendors gathered on March 21 to display their creative art for local residents and tourists to enjoy.

“It’s relaxing out here. My husband loves art, and I was like ‘hey, the local artisans from the hometown show are going to be in Laurel, my parents live an hour away,’” said Brandy Haynes of Fort Worth, Texas.

“I said we could go see my parents, and I mentioned it to my son and his fiancée, and they were like ‘Oh, we’ll come along.’”

Not only were there vendors showing off their arts and crafts, but there were also vendors selling food that satisfied the taste buds.

“We started the farm two years ago and started going to local markets just kind of doing greens, corn, peas and then we got into making things,” said John Dew, co-owner of Dew Kissed Farms.

Members of the Laurel Mercantile are grateful for the turnout at the event and glad to be a part of people’s new experiences.

“I just want to thank the community for coming out and supporting. The weather was great today, and lots of footsteps,” said senior store manager Erica Crowder.

“It was great to see so many new faces coming to shop at our stores this week.”

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Mississippi

How to Watch No. 6 Mississippi State vs. Vanderbilt at Dudy Noble Field

Published

15 hours ago

March 21, 2026

Press Room

How to Watch No. 6 Mississippi State vs. Vanderbilt at Dudy Noble Field

No. 6 Mississippi State won a low-scoring series opening game against Vanderbilt and Friday night. Now the two sides will meet again for a Saturday evening game. Here’s everything to know about the Bulldogs’ and Commodores’ second game of the weekend.

The Opponent: Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt brings a 13-9 overall record with it, including a series win over defending national champion and then 13th-ranked LSU at home last weekend. The Commodores are coming off a 5-1 loss to Indiana in Nashville on Tuesday.

Vandy is No. 2 nationally with 52 home runs, rank fourth in slugging (.603) and 10th in drawing walks (136). Tim Corbin’s club is batting .308 and scoring 8.6 runs per game. They have also stolen 26 bases in 31 attempts and have a fielding percentage of .979.

Brodie Johnston tops Vanderbilt hitting .393 while Braden Holcomb is tied for second in the league with 11 long balls to go along with 33 RBIs. Rigdon Rustan has been the Commodores biggest base thief with six steals in seven tries.

Fennell leads the way in strikeouts while Austin Nye, Nate Schlote and Adria Casoliba all sport flawless ERAs. Tristan Bristow and England Bryan are responsible for both of Vanderbilt’s saves this season.

Weather Forecast

Saturday should be another near-perfect night for a baseball game. The National Weather Service’s forecast is “clear, with a low around 61. South southwest wind around 5 mph.”

Vanderbilt

Out

P #43 Matthew Shorey
P #90 Miller Green
P #92 Adria Casoliba
P #99 England Bryan

Questionable

P #40 Austin Nye
C #44 Colin Barczi

Mississippi State

Probable

OF #5 Aidan Teel

How to Watch: Vanderbilt at No. 6 Mississippi State

Who: Vanderbilt Commodores (13-10, 2-2 SEC) at No. 6 Mississippi State Bulldogs (18-4, 2-2 SEC)
When: 6 p.m., Saturday
Where: Dudy Noble Field, Starkville, Miss.
TV: SEC Network
Radio: Live Radio
Stats: Live Stats
Series History: Mississippi State leads the all-time series 77-59-2
Last Meeting: Mississippi State 4, Vanderbilt 2 (Friday)
Last time out, Bulldogs: def. Jackson State, 17-1
Last time out, Commodores: lost to Indiana, 5-1

Pitching Matchup

LHP Wyatt Nadeau (1-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. LHP Tomas Valincius (4-0, 1.30 ERA)

Mississippi State Batting Leaders

Bryce Chance: .431/.552/.541, 1.093 OPS, 23 R, 25 H, 7 2B, 13 RBI, 11 BB, 3 K, 7 SB
Reed Stallman: .375/.646/.484, 1.130 OPS, 9 R, 18 H, 4 2B, 3 HR, 22 RBI, 10 BB, 13 K, 2 SB
Ace Reese: .375/.728/.453, 1.181 OPS, 26 R, 30 H, 11 2B, 6 HR, 31 RBI, 12 BB, 19 K, 2 SB
Aidan Teel: .354/.521/.508, 1.029 OPS, 18 R, 17 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 13 BB, 12 K, 4 SB

Vanderbilt Batting Leaders

Brodie Johnston: .393/.774/.475, 25 R, 33 H, 11 2B, 7 HR, 21 RBI, 13 BB, 11 K, 1 SB
Braden Holcomb: .333.786/.420, 25 R, 28 H, 5 2B, 11 HR, 33 RBI, 14 BB, 23 K, 1 SB
Ryker Waite: .333/.530/.521, 16 R, 22 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 26 BB, 22 K, 5 SB
Mike Mancini: .333/.650/.432, 18 R, 20 H, 4 2B, 5 HR, 19 RBI, 12 BB, 16 K, 5 SB

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Mississippi

Body recovered after truck drives into Mississippi River in Bemidji

Published

1 day ago

March 21, 2026

Press Room

Body recovered after truck drives into Mississippi River in Bemidji

BELTRAMI COUNTY — A man’s body has been recovered from a pickup truck after the vehicle left the roadway and drove into the Mississippi River east of Bemidji on Friday evening.

According to a release from Beltrami County Sheriff Jason Riggs, at 4:43 p.m. on Friday, March 20, dispatch received a report of a pickup truck traveling northbound on Sunnyside Road that entered the Mississippi River after driving through a residential yard.

The reporting party indicated that no one exited the vehicle and it became submerged in the river, the release said.

When emergency personnel arrived on scene, they were informed that the truck was believed to still be occupied. Bystanders attempted to assist the occupant of the vehicle, but it quickly sank, the release noted.

Attempts were made to remove the driver from the vehicle, necessitating the response of the Lakes Area Dive Team. The lone occupant of the vehicle was recovered at 6:30 p.m. and was pronounced dead at the scene.

“No additional information will be released at this time,” the release noted. “The cause of why the vehicle left the roadways is currently under investigation. The identity of the male is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of family.”

The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Bemidji Police Department, Lakes Area Dive Team, Minnesota State Patrol, Department of Natural Resources Enforcement, Bemidji Fire Department, North Country First Responders and the Beltrami County Emergency Communications Center.

Our newsroom sometimes reports stories under the byline “Pioneer Staff Report.” This byline is used when reporters rewrite basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as an email or press release that requires little or no reporting.

Other times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

For questions about a staff report, call (218) 333-9796 or email news@bemidjipioneer.com.

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