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Jesse Jackson remembered for Mississippi civil rights impact

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Jesse Jackson remembered for Mississippi civil rights impact


JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Congressman Bennie Thompson is remembering the life and legacy of civil rights icon Jesse Jackson, who died Tuesday at age 84 after a long-time battle with a severe neurodegenerative condition.

Jackson, known nationally as a politician, preacher, and civil rights leader, made a significant impact in Mississippi through his work alongside other leaders to change the lives of many people in the state.

“He has significant influence and he will sorely be missed,” said Thompson, who represents Mississippi’s 2nd District.

Jackson was a protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and lived most of his life helping change the way of life for people of color. In 1984, he placed his bid for president as the Democratic nominee but fell short. He ran again in 1988.

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In Mississippi, Jackson helped galvanize voter registration and encouraged people to vote. He addressed voting irregularities in the state, saying in a past interview that “the irregularities are so numerous until the Justice Department is sending back into Mississippi for this coming Tuesday 364 federal observers.”

Jackson made an impact in Canton at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, where he encouraged voters in 1985, saying, “We just have to steal away bright and early on Tuesday morning. Make a dash for freedom. Your time has come. Make a dash for freedom bright and early in the morning. God bless you.”

Jackson also helped shed national light on poverty in areas of the state that needed help the most, including a place called Sugar Ditch Alley in Tunica County.

“There’s something called Sugar Ditch in Tunica, Mississippi. He was there,” Thompson said.

Sugar Ditch Alley was an area in Tunica County where some residents didn’t have running water in their homes, forcing them to dump raw sewage in a ditch that ran behind their homes.

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Jackson helped campaign for Thompson during his run for Hinds County supervisor and later for Congress in the early 1990s.

“One of the places that I first met him was at the Masonic Temple, where we are providing resources to keep that building open right now. It was the place where he came. After we left the Masonic Temple, the Jackson State students walked down to the Hinds County Courthouse and registered to vote. We had finally gotten resolve that students who go to college can register and vote,” Thompson said.

Following Jackson’s death, city and state leaders, including the mayor, expressed their condolences and thanked him for his commitment to help better the state during challenging times.

Jackson will be laid to rest Feb. 28.

Services will be held in Chicago at the Rainbow and Push Coalition headquarters at 9 a.m.

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Mississippi

Mississippi College Baseball Wins Series vs. West Florida for First Time

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Mississippi College Baseball Wins Series vs. West Florida for First Time


Mississippi College baseball has won the series against West Florida for the first time ever

The Choctaws have been playing UWF since 2015

MC won the first two games and put on a bit of a comeback in game 3

Next: GSC at Delta St., then Conference Tournament

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George County High School senior killed in Highway 26 crash, MHP says

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George County High School senior killed in Highway 26 crash, MHP says


GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) — A George County High School senior is dead after an SUV hit him while bicycling on Highway 26 Friday night.

Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) officials said at 8:15 p.m. the MHP responded to a fatal crash on Highway 26 in George County.

Those officials said a Ford SUV traveling west on Highway 26 collided with 18-year-old Tyree Bradley of McLain, Mississippi, who was bicycling.

Bradley was fatally injured and died at the scene, MHP officials said.

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The crash remains under investigation by the MHP.

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Mississippi State Drops Series Opener at Texas A&M Despite Late Chances

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Mississippi State Drops Series Opener at Texas A&M Despite Late Chances


Some losses feel like they drag on longer than the box score suggests, and Mississippi State’s 3-1 opener at Texas A&M fits that category.

 It wasn’t a blowout. It wasn’t a game where the Bulldogs looked outmatched.

It was just one of those nights where the early mistakes stuck around and the offense never quite found the swing that could shake them loose.

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The frustrating part is how quickly the hole formed. Two solo homers and a wild pitch in the first two innings put Mississippi State behind 3-0, and that was basically the ballgame.

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Against a top tier SEC team on the road, spotting three runs that early is a tough ask. The Bulldogs didn’t fold, but they also didn’t cash in when the door cracked open.

“I liked our fight. I think we’re really just working through some things offensively, and trying to stay together,” Mississippi State coach Samantha Ricketts said. “This team still believes, and we’re going to battle and fight every chance we get, and I think I saw a lot of that. I’m encouraged for what that means for us moving forward, but, you know, they’re a good hitting team, and we’ve got to be able to shut them down early. I don’t think Peja [Goold] had her best stuff, but she continued to battle out there and find ways to get outs.”

They had chances. Two runners stranded in the fifth. Two more in the sixth. Another in the seventh. Des Rivera finally got the Bulldogs on the board with an RBI single, but the big hit that usually shows up for this lineup never arrived.

It wasn’t a lack of traffic. It was a lack of finish.

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If there was a bright spot, it came from the bullpen. Delainey Everett gave Mississippi State exactly what it needed after the rocky start.

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“That was just a huge relief appearance by Delaney to keep us in it,” Ricketts said. “It’s really good to have her back and healthy these last few weeks because these are the moments where we really need her and rely on her. We know that she’s going to be a big part of the remainder of the season going forward as well.”

Three hitless innings, one baserunner, and a reminder that she’s quietly putting together a strong stretch.

There were individual positives too. Nadia Barbary keeps climbing the doubles list. Kiarra Sells keeps finding ways on base.

But the bigger picture is simple. Mississippi State is now 6-10 in the SEC, and the margin for error is shrinking. Nights like this one are the difference between climbing back into the race and staying stuck in the middle.

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They get another shot this morning with the schedule bumped up for weather. The formula isn’t complicated.

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Clean up the early innings, keep getting quality relief, and find one or two timely swings. The Bulldogs didn’t get them Friday. They’ll need them today.

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