Mississippi
Forbes ranks top employers. Which Mississippi companies made the list?
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A quarter of the 813 American citizens on Forbes’ billionaire’s list got their undergraduate degrees from one of just a dozen colleges.
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Where’s the best place to work in Mississippi? Forbes has ranked the best employers in the U.S., and several Magnolia State companies have made the list, including a university, health care provider, bank, telecommunications service and casino.
The money magazine partnered with Statista and used worker surveys to score 700 companies among America’s Best Large Employers and another 500 among America’s Best Midsize Employers. Places with 1,000 to 5,000 workers are considered midsize. Having more than 5,000 classified as an organization as large.
Here’s what we know about the top Mississippi and U.S. companies to work for, where you can find them and what they do.
These are the top large companies to work for in Mississippi
Two Mississippi companies made Forbes’ Top 700 best midsize places to work list.
University of Mississippi Medical Center, based in Jackson, ranks 67th nationally. The organization, founded in 1955, runs hospitals and clinics across the state and employs about 10,000 people. It ranked 107th nationally on Forbes’ 2025 list of America’s Best Employers For Healthcare Professionals.
Mississippi State University ranks 275th in the U.S. Founded in 1878, it serves about 25,200 students. It ranks 292nd on Forbes’ Top Colleges 2026 and was 180th in Research Universities and 62nd in the South.
What are the Top 5 large employers in the US?
According to Forbes, these are the best large companies to work for in America:
- Trader Joe’s, based in California
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennesee
- Google, based in California
- Microsoft, based in Washington state
- Stanford University in Stanford, California
These are the best midsize employers in Mississippi
Three Mississippi companies made Forbes’ Top 500 best midsize places to work list.
Hancock Whitney Bank, headquartered in Gulfport, ranks 261 nationally. The company was founded in 1899 and has about 3,475 employees.
C Spire headquarters are in Ridgeland. The telecommunications company ranks 334 on Forbes’ list. It was founded in 1988.
Island View Casino in Gulfport ranks 439 nationally. It was founded in 2006.
What are the Best 5 midsize employers in America?
According to Forbes, these are the top midsize companies to work for in the US:
- Toll Brothers, a Pennsylvania-based company that works in construction, raw materials and chemicals
- Patagonia, a California-based brand that makes clothes, shoes and sports equipment
- United Community, a South Carolina banking and financial services provider
- Medical Mutual of Ohio, an insurance company
- Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation, an Alaska company that works in construction, raw materials and chemicals
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with USA TODAY Network. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.
Mississippi
Family of Mississippi teen Nolan Wells demand investigation into son’s death
JACKSON COUNTY, Ms. (WZTV) — The family of a Mississippi teenager whose body was found after he went missing Fourth of July weekend is now demanding answers.
On Friday, Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump , Rev. Al Sharpton and the family of Wells are holding a press conference to demand an investigation into the teen’s death.
Wells’ body was reportedly found Monday in the water near the end of Horn Island in Jackson County, Mississippi.
Rev. Sharpton opened the conference by stating there are too many unanswered questions to close the investigation into Wells’ death. He says Wells, who is Black, went on a boat with three white men, who returned with Wells’ phone and keys, but not Wells.
“We we’ve been told does not make sense,” Rev. Sharpton said. “There’s just too many questions where they should not be closing the investigation. This does not smell right.”
Attorney Crump leading an independent investigation into Wells’ death.
Investigators are asking anyone who was on or near Horn Island on July 4 to come forward, especially if they saw Wells, spoke with him, heard or saw any type of disturbance or have original photos or videos from the island.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department Criminal Investigations Division at 228-769-3065 during regular business hours or 228-769-3063 after hours.
This is a developing story. Check back as we continue to update this story.
Mississippi
Mississippi Highway Patrol deployed to Goodman after viral gun video, leaders explain goals
GOODMAN, Miss. — The Mississippi Department of Public Safety has deployed state troopers to the Town of Goodman indefinitely following a viral video showing people waving guns and mocking the absence of police in the town.
DPS Commissioner Sean Tindell and other department leaders flew into Goodman on Thursday to meet with town officials. Tindell said the video drew the attention of both himself and Gov. Tate Reeves.
“We felt like there needed to be a presence of law enforcement in Goodman to send a message,” Tindell said. “That it’s not a town or any town in Mississippi that we’re going to allow lawlessness to prevail.”
Troopers conducting stops, working alongside sheriff’s office
Since Wednesday, troopers have been stopping drivers in downtown Goodman and in neighborhoods. Tindell said the Mississippi Highway Patrol is working alongside the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office as part of the investigation.
“It’s more regular law enforcement duties at this point,” Tindell said. “You know, we’re looking at individuals in the video to ask who they were and go from there.”
Tindell said MHP deployments to towns across the state are not uncommon, and include safety checkpoints, driver’s license verifications and insurance verifications.
“So that’s not unusual anywhere on any given day,” Tindell said. “We just happen to be in Goodman because they needed additional help at that time.”
Mayor supports presence; some residents question it
Mayor Michael Howard said he supports MHP’s increased presence in the town. However, resident Keni El questioned whether the deployment was necessary.
“It really doesn’t change anything because if the people they’ve seen on the video are who they came for then that’s who they need to be looking for,” El said. “Because in a way, it’s kind of harassing the people for stupidity of some younglings.”
El said leaders should instead focus on providing resources to mentor young people.
“The youth need to be taught the right knowledge, right wisdom, right understanding,” El said. “But I’m not going to be afraid of no child.”
Tindell said he is unsure how long state troopers will remain in Goodman but will stay in contact with town officials until a departure date is determined.
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Mississippi
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