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Incarceration to stable habitation — California students learn Mississippi lessons

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2 years ago

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Incarceration to stable habitation — California students learn Mississippi lessons


Niki Kates
 |  Special to the Mississippi Clarion Ledger

In Mississippi, where 97% of incarcerated individuals eventually return to society, stable reentry housing plays a critical role in determining success or failure.

Sadly, over 75% of those released from prison find themselves back behind bars within five years. This sobering reality prompted a group of UC Berkeley Law students, including myself, to collaborate with the MacArthur Justice Center during a spring 2024 visit to Mississippi. There were three reasons we wanted to make the long trip from California to Mississippi for an in-depth exploration of reentry housing for those who have paid their “debt to society.”

First, we have a strong working relationship with the MacArthur Justice Center at the University of Mississippi School of Law, and together we identified reentry housing as an area that could use the kind of landscape analysis we were well-situated to tackle.

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Second, we wanted to see if Mississippi had any ideas on how to fix housing, because, let’s be honest, California isn’t a shining example of effective housing policy. And third: blues, delicious food and Southern hospitality. We found all three.

Our years-long partnership with the MacArthur Justice Center focuses on discrete projects about criminal justice reform, culminating with a spring break Mississippi trip. This year, we sought to understand Mississippi’s reentry housing issues from the perspectives of the government, private sector, nonprofits, faith communities and incarcerated individuals. We condensed our findings into a report with policy recommendations, which can be found at https://law.olemiss.edu/macarthur-justice-clinic/.

Our stakeholder discussions produced three main policy recommendations: addressing barriers for returning citizens, infrastructure improvements to Mississippi’s reentry ecosystem and reframing the reentry narrative. Each of these contain multiple, actionable suggestions to be considered by policymakers and community leaders throughout the state. I’ve summarized each bucket below, but I encourage you to read our report to learn more about specific recommendations.

The first issue, addressing barriers to reentry, analyzes the experience of incarcerated individuals getting ready to go home. Finding a safe, stable place to live after prison is extremely difficult for most incarcerated people: many come from circumstances where going “home” is not an option but can’t access resources to find somewhere else to live. Fortunately, improving access to information and connection to existing resources will cost the state little or nothing while removing significant hurdles for incarcerated people.

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Secondly, improving the infrastructure of Mississippi’s reentry system encompasses a broad spectrum of initiatives, ranging from interagency cooperation to data management regarding homelessness.

While it is impossible to explain all seven sub-sections here, the takeaway is that some policies (or lack thereof) create perverse incentives or undermine agencies’ and organizations’ abilities to achieve their goals. The good news is that there are some creative fixes underway. For example, Mississippi’s pilot work release program is already being implemented and seeing noteworthy improvements in outcomes.

Lastly, reentry needs a reframe from kitchen tables to the Capitol Building. Shifting public perception — from viewing returning citizens as liabilities to recognizing their potential contributions — can foster bipartisan support for rehabilitation efforts, as it has in neighboring states. Emphasizing the value of investing in reentry not only benefits individuals seeking to rebuild their lives but also strengthens communities as a whole.

It is truly a blessing for us Californians to get to learn from the Mississippians working on these issues. In our state, we often throw money at our problems, but not always strategically. What I found in Mississippi is that the lack of government funds necessitates a certain creativity and scrappiness that you won’t find in the Golden State.

I won’t lie and say things are going great in Mississippi — there’s work to be done (as with anywhere). What I will say is that, as I left this state to head back out West, I had an unshakeable feeling that Mississippi’s fledgling work-release program might be the blueprint that could get our country out of this endless cycle of over-incarceration and recidivism, blue and red states alike.

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Hopefully our report offers value to the smart and dedicated people working on these issues in Mississippi. We offer it not because we have anything to teach, but instead as a compilation of the many things you taught us. Whether in Berkeley or Brandon, Malibu or McComb, we’re in this together! 

— Niki Kates is a third-year law student at the University of California at Berkeley.  She is from Truckee, California and received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Willamette University. 



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What channel is Mississippi State baseball vs Ole Miss on today? Time, TV schedule to watch college baseball game

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8 hours ago

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March 27, 2026

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What channel is Mississippi State baseball vs Ole Miss on today? Time, TV schedule to watch college baseball game


Mississippi State baseball, coming off a sweep of Vanderbilt, travels to Ole Miss for a three-game series, starting on March 27.

The Bulldogs (21-4, 4-2 SEC) swept Vandy last weekend in Starkville to move above .500 in league play after two weeks.

Ole Miss (19-7, 3-3) took two of three games from Kentucky last weekend in Oxford.

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Mississippi State and Ole Miss will also play on April 28 in Pearl.

Here’s how you can watch Mississippi State baseball vs Ole Miss:

RIVALRY PICKS: Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State predictions in rivalry series

Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss on March 27 will be televised via streaming on SEC Network+, which is housed on the ESPN app and can be accessed via a SEC Network subscription. If you are subscribed to SEC Network, you can access SEC Network+ online.

  • Game 1 start time: 6:30 p.m on March 27, SEC Network+
  • Game 2 start time: 1:30 p.m. on March 28, SEC Network+
  • Game 3 start time: 3 p.m on March 29, SEC Network
  • Feb. 13: Hofstra, W 6-5
  • Feb. 14: Hofstra, W 6-1
  • Feb. 14: Hofstra, W 7-5
  • Feb. 17: Troy, W 13-7
  • Feb. 18: Alcorn State, W 19-0 (7 innings)
  • Feb. 20: Delaware, W 9-2
  • Feb. 21: Delaware, W 10-0 (8 innings)
  • Feb. 22: Delaware, W 7-3
  • Feb. 24: Austin Peay, W 16-3 (7 innings)
  • Feb. 27: vs. Arizona State in Arlington, Texas, W 8-4
  • Feb. 28: vs. Virginia Tech in Arlington, Texas, W 15-8
  • March 1: vs. UCLA in Arlington, Texas, L 8-7 (10 innings)
  • March 3: at Southern Miss, L 7-6
  • March 5: Lipscomb, W 8-3
  • March 6: Lipscomb, W 9-4
  • March 7: Lipscomb, W 26-0 (7 innings)
  • March 10: vs. Tulane in Biloxi, W 11-7
  • March 13: at Arkansas, L 5-4
  • March 14: at Arkansas, W 7-2
  • March 15: at Arkansas, L 7-3
  • March 17: Jackson State, W 17-1 (7 innings)
  • March 20: Vanderbilt, W 4-2
  • March 21: Vanderbilt, W 7-2
  • March 22: Vanderbilt, W 17-7 (7)
  • March 24: Southern Miss, W 12-0 (7)
  • March 27: at Ole Miss, 6:30 p.m on SEC Network+
  • March 28: at Ole Miss, 1:30 p.m on SEC Network+
  • March 29: at Ole Miss, 3 p.m on SEC Network
  • March 31: Grambling
  • April 2-4: Georgia
  • April 7: UAB
  • April 10-12: Tennessee
  • April 14: at Samford
  • April 17-19: at South Carolina
  • April 21: Memphis
  • April 24-26: LSU
  • April 28: vs. Ole Miss in Pearl, Miss.
  • May 1-3: at Texas
  • May 5: Nicholls
  • May 7-9: Auburn
  • May 14-16: at Texas A&M



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Diamond Dawgs Set For Top 20 Showdown In Oxford – Mississippi State

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20 hours ago

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March 26, 2026

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Diamond Dawgs Set For Top 20 Showdown In Oxford – Mississippi State


OXFORD – No. 6 Mississippi State carries momentum and confidence into one of college baseball’s fiercest rivalries this weekend, traveling to face No. 18 Ole Miss in a three-game Southeastern Conference series at Swayze Field.

The Diamond Dawgs arrive in Oxford riding a five-game winning streak and carrying plenty of momentum into one of the league’s premier matchups. MSU sits at 21-4 overall and 4-2 in conference play, while the Rebels enter at 19-6 and 3-3 in the SEC.

Mississippi State has been one of the most complete teams in the country through the first half of the season. The Bulldogs are hitting .347 as a team with a .452 on-base percentage and 39 home runs, consistently putting pressure on opposing pitching staffs. Ole Miss counters with plenty of power of its own, already launching 46 homers while posting a .500 slugging percentage.

The engine for State’s offense has been graduate outfielder Bryce Chance, who leads the SEC with a .452 batting average and has struck out just three times all season. All-American infielder Ace Reese continues to anchor the middle of the lineup with a team-high seven home runs and 34 RBIs, while Noah Sullivan and Aidan Teel provide consistent production around them to give the Diamond Dawgs one of the deepest lineups in the league.

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Mississippi State will lean on its weekend rotation that has begun to separate itself as a strength. Left-hander Charlie Foster is expected to get the ball in Friday’s opener. The Bulldogs will then turn to sophomore standout Tomas Valincius on Saturday. The southpaw has been dominant, going 5-0 with a 1.04 ERA and 47 strikeouts, highlighted by a 14-strikeout performance in his last outing. Right-hander Duke Stone is slated for Sunday and brings a 4-0 record with him into the series.

Ole Miss is expected to counter with left-hander Hunter Elliott in the opener, a veteran arm with a 3-0 record and 44 strikeouts, followed by right-hander Hudson Calhoun on Saturday. The Rebels have yet to announce a starter for the series finale. As a staff, Ole Miss owns a 3.56 ERA with 293 strikeouts, setting up a matchup between two pitching groups capable of missing bats at a high level.

While the Bulldogs have dominated at home — winning 19 straight games at Dudy Noble Field dating back to last season — this weekend presents another opportunity for State to prove itself away from Starkville. MSU is 1-3 in true road games this year but has shown the ability to compete against elite competition throughout the early part of the schedule.

The rivalry history leans in Mississippi State’s favor, with the Bulldogs holding a 268-213-5 advantage in the all-time series. State has also won two straight meetings between the programs, adding another layer of confidence heading into the weekend.

Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the baseball program. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching ‘HailStateBB’ on X, Facebook and Instagram.Top of Form
 





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MS turkey hunter who thought hunt was ruined bags bird of a lifetime

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1 day ago

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March 26, 2026

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MS turkey hunter who thought hunt was ruined bags bird of a lifetime


‘I would call him a hybrid between a smoke phase and a red phase. He’s not a true smoke phase because of all the red in him.’

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  • A Mississippi hunter bagged a rare, reddish-colored turkey after a frustrating start to his hunting season.
  • The turkey’s unique coloration is described as a hybrid between a smoke phase and a red phase.
  • According to a wildlife official, this genetic mutation is exceedingly rare, especially in male turkeys.

A Mississippi turkey hunter’s season wasn’t off to a good start, but with a change in plans, a little scouting, some luck thrown in, he bagged a rare reddish-colored turkey and it’s considered a bird of a lifetime.

“I’d been hunting the same bird since opening day,” said Barrett Clark of Strong, which is located near West Point. “He finally frustrated me enough to where I just needed to go look for another bird.”

Clark wasn’t able to connect with the gobbler he was after. So, on Friday, March 20, he decided to check another property. He located a few gobblers that afternoon, but one looked different. It appeared to have a lighter color than normal, but Clark figured it was just the way the sunlight was hitting the bird.

The following morning, Clark and his father, Larry Clark, returned to the area in hopes of getting a shot at one of the birds.

A turkey hunt that was almost ruined

“We met and went in early Saturday morning,” Clark said. “We were probably 300 yards away from him when he started gobbling. It was right at sunrise. He was gobbling off the roost.”

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The gobbler flew off the roost and continued to gobble. Clark said he lightly called the bird. Then, a gunshot rang out from a nearby property and the gobbling stopped. To make matters worse, minutes later a coyote appeared and it looked like he was after the turkey that had been gobbling.

“That coyote came within 15 feet of my dad and ran straight to where the turkey had been gobbling,” Clark said. “We thought our hunt was boogered up.”

More: Why the 2026 turkey hunting season in Mississippi may be longest ever

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MS hunter shoots turkey with strange colors

The hunt wasn’t over, though. About 10 or 15 minutes later the gobbling resumed and Clark lightly called back. A little later, Clark saw a turkey through the trees in the neighborhood of 100 yards away.

“I was really just seeing his head move,” Clark said. “I would see his fan occasionally, but it was mostly just his head. I could tell he was lighter, but I really wasn’t focused on that. I was trying to stay still and make a good shot.”

Clark said he was hunting in pines that were maybe 10 years old, and the understory was thick. The bird came within 50 yards of him, but there was no shot. The bird began to walk away but stepped into an opening, and Clark pulled the trigger of his 20-gauge shotgun.

Clark still didn’t understand what he’d shot. He said it was only when he and his father got closer that they realized how unusual it was.

“We could tell it was something that neither of us had ever seen,” Clark said.

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More: Excellent turkey hunting season expected in Mississippi. Here’s the outlook

What is it, and how rare is this turkey?

The bird is a light rust or cinnamon color and lacks any normal coloration, but putting a label on it isn’t easy.

“I would call him a hybrid between a smoke phase and a red phase,” said Caleb Hinton, Wild Turkey Program coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. “He’s not a true smoke phase because of all the red in him.”

Hinton couldn’t put a number on it, but he said a genetic trait like this is very rare.

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“Like all the genetic mutations, it’s exceedingly rare in the wild,” Hinton said.

And for a gobbler to express such a genetic trait is even more rare. Hinton said that upwards of 95% of the turkeys that express such traits will be hens, not gobblers.

“It’s just a once-in-a-lifetime trophy for the hunter,” Hinton said.

A lifelong outdoorsman and wildlife enthusiast, Brian Broom has been writing about hunting, fishing and Mississippi’s outdoors for the Clarion Ledger for more than 14 years. He can be reached at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.



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