Mississippi
4-year-old Louisiana girl found dead, 6-year-old sister alive after frantic Amber Alert
Authorities issued an Amber Alert for 4-year-old Erin Brunett and her 6-year-old sister Jalie after their mother’s body was found in her Louisiana bedroom. Only one sister survived their ordeal.
When do you issue an Amber Alert or Silver Alert?
Indiana issues both Amber Alerts and Silver Alerts through the Emergency Alert System, based on certain criteria. Here’s how police agencies decide when to request one.
Dwight Adams, dwight.adams@indystar.com
A 4-year-old Louisiana girl was found dead in Mississippi on Thursday just hours after an Amber Alert was issued for her and her 6-year-old sister, both of whom were abducted from their home after their mother was found dead.
Four-year-old Erin Brunett and her 6-year-old sister Jalie were taken around 8 a.m. Thursday from their home in Loranger, about 45 miles northeast of Baton Rouge, Tangipahoa Parish Chief Deputy Jimmy Travis told reporters at a news conference.
Erin’s body was found 120 miles away in Jackson, Mississippi. She was found along with her unharmed sister and the girls’ suspected abductor, Daniel Callahan, Travis said. Callahan was in an “on-and-off relationship” with the girls’ now-deceased mother, 35-year-old Callie Brunett, according to the chief deputy.
It appears Erin was killed once Callahan knew that police tracked him to Mississippi, Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade told WBRZ-TV.
“Once he realized law enforcement knew where he was, he tried to do away with the children,” Wade said, according to the Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based outlet. “Thank God one of them survived and the grandparents are on their way to Jackson, Mississippi.”
It’s unclear whether Callahan yet has an attorney.
How was Daniel Callahan arrested?
An undercover officers noticed Callahan “checking houses” in Jackson, according to Travis. Although Callahan attempted to flee, the officer managed to arrest him, he added.
Once in custody, Callahan directed officers to a car where Jalie was found “alive and well,” Travis said. Callahan then showed officers to a wooded area not far from the car, and that is where Erin’s body was discovered, according to the chief deputy.
Detectives with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office are currently on scene in Jackson. Earlier in the investigation, the sheriff’s office got information about Callahan driving Callie Brunett’s vehicle in Jackson, so they were already in that area checking with local law enforcement, Travis said.
How did the search for Erin and Jalie begin?
Authorities became aware of the girls’ abduction when their mother’s parents called the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office and told them they hadn’t been able to contact or locate their daughter, Travis said during an earlier news conference.
Erin’s and Jalie’s father went to their mother’s home in Loranger at 8 a.m. on Thursday, found her body in the bedroom and called 911, according to Travis.
Authorities didn’t “have any reason to believe the kids could still be” at the scene after they searched throughout the wooded area near the home, Travis said.
Erin’s and Jalie’s mother’s car was not at the home when the girls’ father arrived, and her family hadn’t had contact with her since Tuesday afternoon, according to the chief deputy. It was unclear when the last time the girls or their mother were seen, Travis added.
The Tangipahoa Parish Coroner is determining the cause of death for Callie Brunett, according to the chief deputy.
‘She’s going to have to spend the rest of her life living with this’
The Brunett family has been notified and Jalie’s grandparents are going to pick her up in Jackson, Travis said.
“She’s been through something that most of us hopefully never ever have to experience,” the chief deputy said about Jalie. “She’s going to have to spend the rest of her life living with this. This is horrific.”
Mississippi
How Mississippi State football finally ended 16-game, two-year SEC losing streak
FAYETTEVILLE, AR — Mississippi State football found itself in a familiar position.
The Bulldogs were in another tight game in the fourth quarter, like three of their previous four SEC games. All of those ended in losses, with MSU seemingly finding different ways to lose each time.
But this time, Mississippi State came out on top. The Bulldogs overcame a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Arkansas 38-35 on Nov. 1 at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
The MSU (5-4, 1-4 SEC) win was thrilling, with quarterback Blake Shapen throwing the game-winning touchdown to Anthony Evans III with 48 seconds remaining on a fourth down. Players were yelling and screaming in celebration as they entered the locker room afterward.
The win was more than an achievement on its own. It also snapped Mississippi State’s 16-game SEC losing streak that dated back to 2023 and was approaching the program record of 19. It was also second-year coach Jeff Lebby’s first SEC win.
The Bulldogs are one win away from their first bowl game since 2022 and can clinch it with one win in the next three games starting with No. 5 Georgia (7-1, 5-1) at Davis Wade Stadium on Nov. 8 (11 a.m., ESPN).
“It feels good to get a win,” Lebby said. “It absolutely does. I’ve continued to focus on this football team, this season and who we are in the moment. Not comparing ourselves to any teams in the past. Who are we today and what gives us the best opportunity to win every single Saturday. That’s been our focus. I guess the streak will not be talked about anymore, which I do love because we have a happy locker room and the guys played their butt off to go win.”
Kamario Taylor gets an assist after Blake Shapen injury
The Mississippi State offense struggled in the first half and the Bulldogs trailed 13-7 at halftime. Then on the first play of the second half, Shapen was removed from the game after taking a hard hit that drew a roughing the passer penalty. He was evaluated for a concussion.
In came freshman Kamario Taylor, who made numerous big plays that lit a spark for MSU. Four plays after Shapen’s injury, Taylor threw a 45-yard touchdown to Evans for a 14-13 lead. Taylor also scored a 20-yard rushing touchdown that cut Arkansas’ lead to 28-21 with 4:49 remaining in the third quarter.
Despite Taylor scoring touchdowns on two of his three drives, Lebby put Shapen back in the game once he was cleared in the third quarter.
“I just wanted to know what was going on with Blake and making sure he was OK,” Lebby said. “In that situation, I wanted to have the opportunity to have Blake, who’s done it and lived it and been around. I thought that was very important.
“What Kamario did was huge. It was big for us. We needed it in a big way, but I wanted to get back to Blake and it was able to work out.”
Shapen’s first play when he returned was an interception that deflected off the hands of his receiver. Arkansas (2-7, 0-5) turned that possession into a touchdown for a 35-21 lead with 13:43 remaining. However, the Razorbacks committed 15 penalties for 158 yards in the second half and that kept Mississippi State in the game.
Mississippi State scored 17 points on its next three drives led by Shapen — a Davon Booth rushing touchdown, a Kyle Ferrie field goal and Evans’ game-winner — to complete the comeback. Shapen also threw a 32-yard pass to a sliding Brennen Thompson on fourth down during the game-winning drive.
“It means everything because of the way the guy plays the game …” Lebby said of Shapen. “He puts it on the line every time he steps in between the white lines. That’s what leaders are made of. I just talked about it, tough people win. Blake’s a winner. He’s going to win in life because he has great toughness. He puts it on the line.”
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
Mississippi
Mississippi’s Pork Producers Association Grills Pork
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The Mississippi Pork Producers Association demonstrated several different ways to grill pork on the grill! Local Farmer Sean Boe also shared different facts about our state’s pork industry and how much it helps the economy and to feed people.
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Mississippi
Three business organizations joining forces to become the Mississippi Business Alliance
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The state’s top lawmakers and business leaders mingled at the Mississippi Coliseum on Thursday morning – tradition for the annual Hobnob event.
The Mississippi Economic Council played host for the 24th and final time.
If you’re involved with politics or business, you’ve heard of these three organizations and the work they’ve been doing.
The Mississippi Economic Council, the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, and the Business and Industry Political Education Committee.
“Mississippi needed a single authoritative and common voice for business,” explained MEC Chair John Hairston. “Policy makers were asking for clarity when it comes to legislative priorities. Business owners were asking for alignment of our policies, and our members were asking to become more impactful.”
So, these three groups will become one.
“Will represent every sector of Mississippi’s economy under one banner: the Mississippi Business Alliance,” said Scott Waller, MEC President and CEO.
The new rebranding was unveiled in front of the Hobnob crowd.
However, things officially began with the merged efforts on Jan. 1.
“Previously, you had legislators and policymakers trying to look for advice or input and they had three different organizations that were similar and overlapped,” described John McKay, current head of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association.
McKay will lead the Mississippi Business Alliance.
The joint organization will build on the already existing work of the three groups – everything from policy to workforce development and vetting of business-friendly candidates.
According to policymakers, there will be a value in having a singular group for business interests.
“These three organizations are merging not just to consolidate, but to elevate,” Gov. Tate Reeves emphasized.
“To have a unified voice is very helpful to those of us who are supposed to implement public policy,” Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said.
And they’re looking at this as more than a simple merger.
“It’s really a transformation of how we operate and sponsor the business community moving forward,” Hairston continued. “It’s the uniting of our collective strengths into one clear and very decisive force for progress into the future, for the benefit of our grandchildren and those that come after them.”
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