Mississippi
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.
“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.
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.
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
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.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) – The Mississippi Miss Hospitality Program announced Saturday that contestants competing for the title in 2026 will be eligible for the organization’s largest scholarship offerings in its 77-year history.
Contestants will be eligible for more than $105,000 in scholarships and prizes, including $32,500 in direct cash scholarships.
The winner of the competition will receive a $10,000 cash scholarship, tuition scholarships, travel opportunities and a total prize package valued at $27,000. The first alternate will receive a cash scholarship of $6,000, the second will receive $3,500, the third will receive $2,500 and the fourth will receive $2,000.
During Saturday’s announcement, the Advisory Board of the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Program also revealed that the winning cash scholarship will be named for Bonnie Warren.
Warren has spent decades supporting tourism, hospitality and economic development efforts across Mississippi. She also helped move the Miss Hospitality Program from Starkville to Hattiesburg in 1998 and has remained one of its strongest advocates.
The theme for this year’s Miss Hospitality will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
The competition will take place July 17-18 in Hattiesburg. Tickets will go on sale in two weeks.
The Miss Hospitality Program was founded in 1949.
Want more WDAM 7 news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Copyright 2026 WDAM. All rights reserved.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Taryne Mowatt-McKinney called Mississippi State softball’s first Women’s College World Series appearance back in the fall.
Coach Samantha Ricketts said the Bulldogs’ pitching coach walked into her office in October to deliver her bold prediction.
“She said, ‘If our pitching continues to progress the way it is, we’re going to the World Series,’” Ricketts said. “We may have looked at her like she may have been a little crazy.”
But Mowatt-McKinney wasn’t crazy, and the Bulldogs delivered, making it to the WCWS for the first time in program history.
That experience was short-lived as the Bulldogs (43-21) lost 4-0 to No. 2 seed Texas (48-12) in an elimination game at Devon Park on May 29, ending their season.
The Bulldogs went 0-2 in the WCWS and did not score a run.
“Could not be more proud of this group for what they’ve done for Mississippi State softball and for each other, the way they’ve represented this team, this program, our community,” Ricketts said. “… They believed that Mississippi State could be here on this stage when nobody else did.”
Ricketts noted the team never wavered in its belief even when things got difficult. Mississippi State went 9-15 in SEC play, finishing 10th in the conference. The Bulldogs only won two of their SEC series and fell out of hosting contention for regionals in late April.
As a road team, MSU made it out of the Eugene Regional to super regionals. The Bulldogs upset No. 3 seed Oklahoma on its home field to be the only unseeded team at this year’s WCWS.
“Really we talked all year long that our roster was built for May,” Ricketts said. “With how difficult our SEC schedule was, the lessons we learned along the way, we knew that postseason it’s 0-0 for anyone. If we could continue to trust in the work that we had done, we could really do something special here.”
The trip to the WCWS was especially meaningful for seniors Nadia Barbary, Morgan Bernardini and Kiarra Sells. All three began their careers in Starkville. They took the program from not even making the NCAA Tournament their freshman year to the WCWS in their final season.
“It meant the world to us,” Sells said. “Even getting here was such a big deal to all of us. Honestly, we’re grateful to have been on this stage, to have worked our butts off to be here, to be a Mississippi State Bulldog. It was such a blessing.”
The team’s accomplishments also resonated with players who started their careers at other schools. Pitcher Peja Goold, a transfer from Chattanooga, reflected positively on what she’d gained from this final year.
Goold finished with a 2.50 ERA, 182 strikeouts and eight shutouts. She was picked in the second round of the AUSL draft by the Oklahoma Sparks.
“I’m just so grateful that Mississippi State gave me the chance to be here and the opportunity to play on this stage,” she said. “… I chose Mississippi State, look where it brought me. That’s such a blessing and I’m so thankful that God placed me here and led me to them.”
During the team’s two WCWS games, not much went in the Bulldogs favor. They were shut out both times and run-ruled by Texas Tech in their first game. Still, the Bulldogs are walking out of Oklahoma City full of gratitude and pride for what they achieved in 2026.
“We did the unthinkable, making history throughout our whole season,” Bernardini said. “Yes, this sucks right now, but it’s like what a better way to end it at the end?”
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.
High school choir sings gospel medley during graduation in Jackson MS
See video from Murrah Singers, Landon Price performance during Murrah High School graduation in Jackson, Mississippi.
High school graduation season has come to a close in Jackson, with Jackson Public Schools having finished their graduation ceremonies on May 27.
Madison County Schools held ceremonies May 15 and 16. Hinds County School District held its on May 19, and the Rankin County School District held ceremonies May 8 through May 18.
Following up on prom season, The Clarion Ledger photographed more than 25 ceremonies across the greater Jackson area, capturing both smiles and tears of joy, struts and dances across the stage, two new cars and many, many caps thrown in the air. Pyrotechnics, sunsets and excited family members brightened ceremonies and high school chorales lifted spirits.
Take a look at our gallery of highlights from every commencement, or peruse each ceremony, gathered below.
Hinds County
Callaway
Callaway High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 27.
Forest Hill High School
Forest Hill High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 27.
Jim Hill High School
Jim HIll High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 26.
Lanier High School
Lanier High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 27.
Murrah High School
Murrah High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 26.
Provine High School
Provine High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 26.
Raymond High School
Raymond High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 19.
Terry High School
Terry High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 19.
Madison County
Canton High School
Canton High School held graduation on its campus in Canton on May 23.
Germantown High School
Germantown High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 16.
Madison Central High School
Madison Central High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 16.
Ridgeland High School
Ridgeland High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 16.
Velma Jackson High School
Velma Jackson High School held graduation on its campus in Camden on May 15.
Rankin County
Brandon High School
Brandon High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 11.
Florence High School
Florence High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 8.
Northwest Rankin High School
Northwest Rankin High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 12.
Pelahatchie High School
Pelahatchie High School held graduation at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl on May 15.
Pisgah High School
Pisgah High School held graduation at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl on May 12.
Puckett High School
Puckett High School held graduation at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl on May 11.
Richland High School
Richland High School held graduation at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl on May 18.
Private Schools
Central Hinds Academy
Central Hinds Academy held graduation at Cain-Cochran Hall in Raymond on May 4.
Hartfield Academy
Hartfield Academy held graduation at Pinelake Church Reservoir Campus in Brandon on May 8.
Hillcrest Christian School
Hillcrest Christian School held graduation on its campus in Jackson on May 8.
Jackson Academy
Jackson Academy held graduation on its campus in Jackson on May 14.
Jackson Prep
Jackson Prep held graduation at First Baptist Jackson in Jackson on May 19.
Madison-Ridgeland Academy
Madison-Ridgeland Academy held graduation at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Madison on May 15.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School held graduation on its campus in Ridgeland on May 22.
Saint Joseph Catholic School
Saint Joseph Catholic School held graduation at Thalia Mara Hall in Jackson on May 20.
-
Idaho4 minutes agoIdaho Chukar Foundation hosts rattlesnake, skunk, and porcupine avoidance training
-
Illinois11 minutes agoDriver injured after crashing through two garages, hitting two houses in Niles: police
-
Indiana14 minutes agoMooresville police officer involved in ‘serious crash,’ investigation underway
-
Iowa19 minutes agoU.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek spends Saturday campaigning in eastern Iowa
-
Kansas26 minutes agoSheriff: 2 Kansas suspects arrested, stolen items recovered
-
Kentucky29 minutes agoTroopers: Woman killed, 2 juveniles seriously injured in Pendleton County crash
-
Louisiana34 minutes agoLouisiana Gov. signs Caleb Wilson Hazing Prevention Act
-
Maine41 minutes agoWSJ: Maine Senate candidate’s wife says she found explicit texts on his phone
