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Curious Mississippi: Why are Jackson’s roads brown?

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Curious Mississippi: Why are Jackson’s roads brown?



Is it dust? Sun? Mississippi mud? Guess again.

This is the latest edition of Curious Mississippi, a service to the readers of the Clarion Ledger. Other questions answered by Curious Mississippi have surrounded potholes, cicadas, the international nature of Jackson’s airport and water availability charges. Last week, we looked at the expense of registering a car in Jackson.

Ever wondered why the streets in Jackson and other parts of Mississippi have a distinctive red-brown hue?

While some people may guess it’s dust or a street suntan or maybe just some classic Mississippi mud, the answer is far more simple. The asphalt is really, really old. 

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“What you’re looking at out there is older asphalt, probably more than 15 years [old], maybe 20,” said Lance Yarbrough, associate professor of geology and geological engineering at University of Mississippi.

Jackson Potholes: Fixing Jackson’s pothole problem: An overwhelming task for a division with 10-12 workers

Good asphalt can last up to 30 years, Yarbrough said, but it has to be maintained to beat out the Mississippi heat and rain. 

“After many years that asphalt ages out in a process called oxidation. All you’re doing is bleeding out bits of volatile materials and it doesn’t look black anymore. It goes to that stained brownish gray,” he said.

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There are two main components of asphalt: the binder, which gives asphalt its distinct black coloring, and the aggregate, the sand and rocks mixed in. 

More on Jackson streets: Council approves resurfacing project, but a few members question which streets got picked

Though brown roads in and of themselves are not dangerous, very old asphalt that goes unattended can lead to cracks and potholes. If you notice smooth blacktops in other cities outside of Jackson, it’s from updated maintenance and repaving.

“What you’re seeing now is that lack of maintenance, lack of money being able to do the maintenance,” Yarbrough said.

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A close examination of one of Jackson’s tried-and-true roads reveals rocks in rainbow hues of white, red, orange, gray, black and white. 

Griffin Sullivan, materials engineer for Mississippi Department of Transportation, said that as the asphalt on the state’s interstates and highways age, the top layer of black binder wears off, revealing a new color below.  

“The color it changes to is actually just the color of the rocks that we use to make asphalt, so here in Mississippi, we use a lot of gravel to aggregate our asphalt, so it will take on the color of tan,” he said.

Exposure to sun and UV rays also contribute to the discoloration, Sullivan added. 

Why Jackson has so many potholes: Why are there so many potholes, dips and humps in MS roads? | Curious Mississippi answers

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Are brown roads unique to Mississippi? Yes and no. In states such as Alabama, where the main material in the aggregate is limestone, older roads will take on a gray tone. But Mississippi gravel, the local aggregate source chosen by asphalt companies for its economic viability and long-lasting road performance, fades to a reddish brown.

“It’s really dependent on the materials it’s made out of,” Sullivan said. “The only time a road is truly black is when it’s first constructed.”

Years later, all that’s left is the rock below.

Have a question? Email CuriousMississippi@ClarionLedger.com.



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World Atlas names 2 Mississippi cities some of best places to live in the South. See why

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World Atlas names 2 Mississippi cities some of best places to live in the South. See why


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Thinking of moving? Mississippi has a lot to offer, and two cities were recently named some of the best places to call home in the Southeast.

“The American South stands out as one of the most diverse regions in the United States, offering a unique blend of vibrant cities, charming small towns, and striking natural landscapes, from the Appalachian Mountains to miles of coastline and rolling farmland. With a warm year-round climate and a slower pace of life, these qualities create an appealing environment for those seeking comfort and a sense of balance.” World Atlas wrote.

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The site chose nine of the best places to live in the South. The criteria included wellbeing, affordability, job opportunities, education and more.

Natchez and Biloxi made the list. Here’s what you need to know about these iconic Mississippi cities, why people love living there.

Natchez is affordable, fun

World Atlas highlighted Natchez as a historic treasure. The state’s oldest city has a long story to tell, starting with ancient Native American civilizations that called the area home. It played a key role in European settlement here, including the state spending time under French and Spanish rule before becoming part of the U.S.

“With a cost of living below the national average and a median home price of around $170,000, Natchez offers affordable housing alongside a rich cultural lifestyle,” World Atlas wrote.

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Travel + Leisure recently called Natchez a great retirement city. They advise people looking for affordable living and a walkable community to add it to their shortlists for consideration.

Biloxi has entertainment, beautiful beaches

World Atlas noted that Biloxi is a gem on the Gulf Coast. Casinos provide lots of entertainment options near white sand beaches.

“With a cost of living slightly below the national average and a median home price around $250,000, Biloxi provides an appealing combination of scenic beauty, recreational opportunities, and economic stability, making it a compelling place to call home,” World Atlas wrote.

Best places to live in the South

According to World Atlas, these are nine of the best places to live in the Southern U.S.

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  • Natchez, Mississippi
  • Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
  • Mount Airy, North Carolina
  • Florence, Alabama
  • Biloxi, Mississippi
  • Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
  • Danville, Virginia
  • Helen, Georgia
  • Guntersville, Alabama

Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.



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Overreaction Sunday in full swing for Mississippi State fans after loss to Florida

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Overreaction Sunday in full swing for Mississippi State fans after loss to Florida


The NFL has overreaction Monday where its fans make outlandish, emotional statements about a big change their team needs to make or how the rest of the season will go.

College football has that too, just on Sundays and there’s no shortage of overreactions being made by Mississippi State fans right now.

The Bulldogs’ 23-21 loss to Florida should have been a win and not just because of what happened at the end of the game. There were plenty of opportunities to win and that makes this loss a lot more painful and, in turn, has made some fans on social media and on message boards emotional.

Here’s three of them. How this will work is we’ll make the argument in favor of a statement and then make a judgement on if its an overreaction or not.

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Let’s begin with probably the most controversial reaction.

Shapen was 24-of-36 for 324 yards, no touchdowns, one interception and was sacked four times. He threw the game-ending interception to a defensive tackle who dropped into zone coverage.

There was also the three overthrown passes to wide receivers in the end zone in the first half. He did have two long pass completions to Anthony Evans III (48 yards) and Brenen Thompson (47) against Florida.

But for the most part, the Bulldogs’ offense didn’t do much. Their first touchdown came on the opening drive and then didn’t score again until the fourth quarter.

This decision isn’t limited to just one game, either. Shapen and the Bulldogs offense didn’t play well against Texas A&M and Shapen missed an open receiver in overtime against Tennessee to keep that game going.

With better quarterback play, Mississippi State would be 6-1 right now.

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Verdict: Overreaction.

Mississippi State’s offensive struggles aren’t just because of the quarterback play.

The offensive line has struggled in pass protection and is inconsistent in run blocking. There are fewer penalties being called against the Bulldogs, but illegal formations, false starts and holding calls still plague them.

And while putting the blame for losing to the Gators on Shapen is easy, there are other mistakes that cost the Bulldogs the game.

Kyle Ferrie “missed” a 41-yard field goal (its debatable because the ball passed right over the right upright).

Seydou Traore gets called for holding that negates a 30-yard Davon Booth run in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs do score a touchdown on the drive to make the score 23-21, but that touchdown could have come quicker and given Mississippi State more time on the final drive.

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Also, there’s no guarantee Kamario Taylor or Luke Kromenhoek play any better. We haven’t seen enough of either to know if they’d play better.

And do you really want to put Taylor, the true freshman quarterback, behind that offensive line for more than just a handful of plays?

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, Mississippi State has already seen what can happen when you put a true freshman quarterback in a starting role behind a shaky offensive line.

In the last two games, the Bulldogs’ defense did enough to put the team in a position to win.

They held Texas A&M to 14 points through three quarters. Against Florida, they got two interceptions and sacked DJ Lagway to force a punt with 1:41 left in the game.

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Florida’s star freshman wide receiver Dallas Wilson was targeted seven times but made just two catches, held Lagway to just a 58 completion percentage and had three TFLs.

Let’s not forget the goal line stand against Arizona State, holding the Sun Devils to a field goal so the offense can win the game on a 58-yard Brenen Thompson touchdown catch.

Verdict: Not an overreaction.

The defense isn’t elite and it’s toeing the line of being a great defense. For now, really good is great for Mississippi State.

Who would’ve believed me a year ago if I said “in a year Coleman Hutzler” is going to look like the best coach for Mississippi State?

It’s astonishing how much improved this defense is after one year. The Bulldogs were 126th nationally in total defense a year ago.

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This year, after seven games, the defense ranks 45th in total defense.

That’s just one stat, but the defense has made similar improvements in most other categories, too.

And, really, just use your eyes and you can see how much better the Bulldogs are.

Jeff Lebby is still winless in the SEC after 11 games and won’t be favored in any more games the rest of the season. So, 0-16 in SEC play in two seasons is possible.

Lebby also came to Starkville as an offensive guru and engineered some of the best offenses of the last five years, but that hasn’t shown up at Mississippi State.

Yes, the big plays are fun, but the offense has been far from great.

And the decision to throw a pass in the fourth quarter against Florida instead of kicking a field goal was a colossal mistake.

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Verdict: Massive overreaction.

This is the biggest overreaction I’ve seen this season.

Three weeks ago everyone was in love with Mississippi State and believed Lebby was doing a great job.

But now everyone is mad and thinks Lebby should be fired?

Seriously, folks, chill. That was a tough loss and it’s OK to be upset, but maybe step away from social media and the message boards?

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Lebby’s not going anywhere, nor should he. He inherited a dumpster fire of a situation, suffered through 2024’s two-win season and has shown big improvements in 2025.

Look at the running backs (when healthy), the wide receivers and the entire defense. Lebby is building a program that everyone thought was on the rise three weeks ago.

And it still is.





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Blake Shapen stats as QB has Mississippi State in position for upset before interception

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Blake Shapen stats as QB has Mississippi State in position for upset before interception


GAINESVILLE, FL — Blake Shapen’s interception sealed Mississippi State football’s 15th consecutive SEC loss.

The quarterback had driven the Bulldogs into field-goal range with a chance to stun Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. They had the ball at the Gators’ 29-yard line with 26 seconds remaining, trailing by two points.

Then, Shapen was intercepted by Florida defensive lineman Michai Boirea, and MSU (4-3, 0-3 SEC) lost 23-21 on Oct. 18.

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Here’s how we graded Shapen against Florida (3-4, 2-2).

Blake Shapen stats for Mississippi State vs Florida

  • Passing attempts: 24-for-36
  • Passing yards: 324
  • Passing touchdowns: 0
  • Interceptions: 1
  • Rushing attempts: 10
  • Rushing yards: 1
  • Rushing touchdowns: 0

Blake Shapen’s best: QB had Mississippi State in position to win

Shapen wasn’t fantastic in the game. The offense didn’t find a rhythm until the fourth quarter. But Shapen still had Mississippi State in a position to win.

The Bulldogs got the ball at their own 26-yard line with 1:38 remaining, trailing 23-21. On the first play of that drive, Shapen scrambled up the middle for an 18-yard gain. He completed four of his next five pass attempts, including a 10-yard pass to running back Davon Booth on third-and-9.

Blake Shapen’s worst: Mississippi State QB threw game-losing interception

Shapen’s performance won’t be remembered for those plays, however. The interception he threw to seal the game will be the memory that lasts.

Boirea was positioned at the line of scrimmage, but the 349-pound lineman dropped into coverage after the snap. He read Shapen perfectly and intercepted the pass over the middle of the field.

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Grade: C

Shapen’s 324 yards were the most he’s thrown for in 11 games at the Mississippi State starter. However, his streak of 21 straight games with a touchdown pass was snapped.

The interception was the costly play. Mississippi State needed him to take care of the football in that situation, and he didn’t.

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

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