Mississippi
A night at the museum? Learn more about MS Museum of Art’s free upcoming event
MS fastest growing population will get its own exhibit on display for a special evening viewing this Thursday.
With a unique combination of oral history and contemporary photography, the Mississippi Museum of Art in partnership with Mississippi Humanities Council and Immigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity is presenting “Nuestro Mississippi,” an exhibit documenting how Hispanic immigrants have found a home in the Magnolia State for decades.
The exhibition will be open until Oct. 13, but museum go-ers will get a special chance to take a look at it this Thursday, Aug. 15, from 5 to 9 p.m. as the museum invites guests to see the photography display of Mississippi’s Latino community with a twist: a night at the museum.
“Guests can expect a celebration of our Hispanic communities here in Mississippi through food, dance, art and a panel discussion with community leaders about the challenges, joy and contributions of their people,” Jasmine Williams, associate curator of public programs and community engagement at The Mississippi Museum of Art, said in a statement.
The project started with The Mississippi Humanities Council, which wanted to find a way to raise visibility about the state’s Latino community, the fastest-growing population in the state with numbers projected to double between 2020 and 2024.
Enlisting the Immigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity, or IAJE, they selected Austin-based photographer Roj Rodriguez, who has made a name for himself documenting communities along the Texas-Mexico border. The two organizations brought Rodriguez to Mississippi for two multi-day tours of the state, where he was tasked with documenting Mississippi’s diverse Latino population.
“We have college professors. We have a rancher. We have folks who work in the poultry industry. We have archivists. A really wide array of folks,” said Stuart Rockoff executive director of the Mississippi Humanities Council. “What I love is the richness in the stories that reflect both the history and the contemporary times.”
More on MS Museums: Juneteenth means more than celebrations in Jackson. It’s a time of reflection, commemoration
In both English and Spanish, Rodriguez and IAJE interviewed a variety of immigrants from Latin America, documenting their stories in an oral history series on YouTube.
At the museum, visitors will get an in-person look at Rodriguez’s images, Mississippi Museum of Art’s Associate Curator Kaegan Sparks said in a statement. Each image will be paired with the subject’s name, where they currently live and where they were born.
“Our hope is that the exhibit will get visitors to understand the diversity in our state and to appreciate and recognize a community whose stories have not always been incorporated into the larger Mississippi story,” Rockoff said.
More on MS Hispanic Community: What does the Hispanic population of Mississippi look like? It’s diverse and growing
The after museum experience is also a chance for visitors who don’t have the time to see the museum by day to visit its galleries by night. Every third Thursday, the museum keeps its doors open late, offering live music, pop-up exhibitions, an open bar, food trucks and other activities that aren’t normally available during regular daytime hours.
“Nuestro Mississippi,” open Thursday evening for a night of stunning portraits and live music, lives up to its name, bringing the community together in and outside of the frame.
“The title of the exhibit is very intentional, and our goal was to give these members of the Latino community an opportunity to show and share what their Mississippi is,” Rockoff said. “The title ‘Nuestro Mississippi’ means ‘our Mississippi.’ The people on those walls are part of Mississippi.”
Mississippi
Thompson defeats Turnage to highlight U.S. House primaries in Mississippi – SuperTalk Mississippi
Political newcomer and Capitol Hill attorney Evan Turnage proved no match for longtime U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, who defeated him and one other challenger to earn the Democratic nomination for Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District on Tuesday.
Some politicos thought Turnage – who went to Yale and later worked for some of Thompson’s Democratic colleagues, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) – wouldn’t necessarily win but could make waves as one of the more viable candidates to challenge Thompson in recent years. However, that wasn’t the case as Thompson garnered approximately 85% of the vote when the race was called.

Thompson, 78, is seeking an 18th term. The civil rights leader who chaired the Jan. 6 Committee was first elected in 1993 and serves as a ranking member on the House Homeland Security Committee. He will face either Ron Eller or Kevin Wilson on the Republican side, a race yet to be called as of late Tuesday night, and independent Bennie Foster in November’s general.
All of Mississippi’s U.S. House seats are up for grabs this year.
In the 1st Congressional District, Republican Rep. Trent Kelly ran unopposed, while civil rights attorney and University of Mississippi School of Law professor Cliff Johnson beat former state lawmaker Kelvin Buck in the Democratic primary. Libertarian challenger Johnny Baucom awaits Kelly and Johnson in the general.
In the 3rd Congressional District, both Republican Rep. Michael Guest and Democrat Michael Chiaradio ran unopposed. They will meet Libertarian Erik Kiehle in the general.
In the 4th Congressional District, Republican Rep. Mike Ezell had over 80% of the vote when his race was called against former Mississippi Department of Marine Resources officer and political staffer Sawyer Walters. State Rep. Jeffrey Hulum easily won the Democratic nomination over Paul Blackman and D. Ryan Grover. Ezell and Hulum will face independent Carl Boyanton in the general.
Arguably the most watched races of the night occurred in the state’s lone U.S. Senate seat in this year’s cycle. Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith had no problem with Ocean Springs doctor Sarah Adlakha, seeing her name bolded around 30 minutes after the polls closed. It wasn’t long after that when Lowndes County District Attorney Scott Colom was announced the winner of the Democratic primary over Priscilla Till and Albert Littell. Independent Ty Pinkins will meet Hyde-Smith and Colom in the general on Nov. 3.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Mississippi
Mississippi First Congressional District Primary 2026: Live Election Results, Buck vs. Johnson
Mississippi
Mississippi Top Reads for week of March 15, 2026
Subscribe to Clarion Ledger: Local journalists covering local stories
Clarion Ledger journalists cover the important moments in Mississippi. Support local journalism by subscribing.
Staff
Sunday, March 15, 2026
1. (tie) “The Irish Goodbye,” Beth Ann Fennelly, Norton; and “Vigil,” George Saunders, Random House
2. “Theo of Golden,” Allen Levi, Atria Books
3. “The Widow,” John Grisham, Doubleday
4. “The Correspondent,” Virginia Evans, Random House
5. “When It’s Darkness on the Delta,” W. Ralph Eubanks, Beacon Press
6. “Eradication,” Jonathan Miles, Doubleday
7. “Neptune’s Fortune,” Julian Sancton, Random House
8. “The Dean,” Sparky Reardon, The Nautilus Publishing Company
9. “Kin,” Tayari Jones, Random House
10. “Brawler,” Lauren Groff, Riverhead
Children and young adults
1. “The Bear and the Hair and the Fair,” Em Lynas, Little Brown
2. “The Hybrid Prince,” Tui T. Sutherland, Scholastic Press
3. “One Mississippi,” Steve Azar,Sarah Frances Hardy (Illustrator), The Nautilus Publishing
4. “If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone,” Gideon Sterer, HarperCollins
5. (tie) “Fancy Nancy: Besties for Eternity,” Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser (Illustrator), HarperCollins; and “The Dark is For,” Jane Kohuth, Simon and Schuster
Adult events (Sunday, March 15–Saturday, March 21)
Amy McDowell in conversation with Jodi Skipper for “Whispers in the Pews,” 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Off Square Books, 129 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2262
Tayari Jones on Thacker Mountain Radio Hour for “Kin,” 6 p.m. Thursday, Off Square Books, 129 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2262
Children’s events (Sunday, March 15–Saturday, March 21)
No Cap Book Club (kids 10-13) will be reading “A Kid’s Book About…,” 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Square Books Jr., 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2207
Storytime, “Clifford: Dream Big,” 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Square Books Jr., 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2207
Chapter Captains Book Club (kids 6-9) will be reading “Princess in Black: Bathtime Battle,” 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Square Books Jr., 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2207
Storytime, “What a Small Cat Needs,” 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Square Books Jr., 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2207
Story Time, “Very Hungry Caterpillar” Day! 10 a.m. Saturday, Lemuria Books, 202 Banner Hall, 4465 I-55 North, Jackson, 601-366-7619
— Sales and/or Events Reported by Lemuria Books (Jackson); Lorelei Books (Vicksburg); Square Books (Oxford).
-
Wisconsin1 week agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMassachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks
-
Pennsylvania6 days agoPa. man found guilty of raping teen girl who he took to Mexico
-
Detroit, MI5 days agoU.S. Postal Service could run out of money within a year
-
Miami, FL7 days agoCity of Miami celebrates reopening of Flagler Street as part of beautification project
-
Sports6 days agoKeith Olbermann under fire for calling Lou Holtz a ‘scumbag’ after legendary coach’s death
-
Virginia7 days agoGiants will hold 2026 training camp in West Virginia
-
Culture1 week agoTry This Quiz on the Real Locations in These Magical and Mysterious Novels