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Izquierdo, Pérez to represent Colombia as Mississippi State’s first soccer Olympians

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Izquierdo, Pérez to represent Colombia as Mississippi State’s first soccer Olympians


At this time last year, Ilana Izquierdo was simply getting adjusted to her new environment, preparing for her first season at Mississippi State after playing for two years at Southern Miss.

Now, Izquierdo is getting ready to represent her home country on one of her sport’s biggest stages. Just five months after making her debut with the Colombian senior national team in the inaugural CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup, the midfielder has made Colombia’s roster for the Olympic Games in Paris, where she will be joined by former Bulldogs goalkeeper Catalina Pérez.

“I’ve grown a lot in every single aspect, not just as a soccer player but personally,” Izquierdo said. “It’s been a lot of development, a lot of growth and improvement. Being at Mississippi State has been amazing. I’ve grown so much and I’ve learned so much. That’s basically the reason I can be here now.”

The 2021 Conference USA Freshman of the Year earned Second-Team All-Sun Belt honors a year later after Southern Miss switched conferences, and her game translated quite well to the Southeastern Conference — she started all 23 matches and set the program record for minutes played by a junior in a single season with 2,097.

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Izquierdo scored the only two goals in an early-season win over Florida International, and converted a penalty kick for the lone goal in MSU’s Magnolia Cup win over rival Ole Miss. She then started every match for Colombia in the Women’s Gold Cup and is now one of 11 Bulldogs in school history to compete in the Olympics as an active student-athlete.

“When she was at Southern Miss, she played against a number of different SEC programs, and we weren’t the only ones who struggled to contain her when we were playing against her,” MSU head coach James Armstrong said. “We knew her qualities. They were clear for everybody to see. But the thing that impressed us the most was her professionalism when she came into the program. She literally takes everything seriously — her sleep, her nutrition, her hydration.”

Pérez, unlike Izquierdo, is no stranger to the Olympic stage. She played for Colombia at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, just before her senior season with Miami. After joining the Bulldogs as a graduate transfer, Pérez recorded nine wins and six shutouts in her lone year at MSU in 2017, becoming an All-American and a First-Team All-SEC honoree.

In 2019, she won a gold medal for Colombia at the Pan-American Games, pitching two shutouts in the tournament and making eight saves in the final to become the first Bulldog soccer player to win an international medal.

Three years later, she helped Colombia qualify for Paris with a second-place finish at the 2022 Copa America, and last year she was Colombia’s starting keeper at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Pérez made 15 saves and allowed just four goals in that competition as Colombia reached the quarterfinals before falling to England. She now plays professionally in Germany, having previously played for top-flight clubs in Italy and Spain.

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“We’re on this great adventure, this great mission, great challenge together,” Pérez said. “Only we know all the things we’ve gone through as a team. It’s about really appreciating everyone who’s here. We’re going to go out on the field and compete for our country with our hearts.”

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Mississippi

14-year-old girl arrested for shooting 8-year-old in Mississippi

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14-year-old girl arrested for shooting 8-year-old in Mississippi


WARREN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – Deputies in Warren County, Mississippi, arrested a 14-year-old girl for allegedly shooting an 8-year-old.

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said the shooting happened on Abraham Drive just before 4:00 p.m. on April 13, 2026.

According to the sheriff, the female victim was transported to a Jackson hospital for treatment. He said deputies recovered a handgun at the scene.

There’s no motive for the shooting, and the investigation is ongoing.

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A potential opportunity to lower car tag costs across Mississippi

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A potential opportunity to lower car tag costs across Mississippi


A follow-up on high car tag costs in Mississippi shows major differences in what drivers pay depending on where they live, even across the street, according to new data from the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office.The data highlights large price gaps across the metro area, with some residents paying hundreds of dollars more based solely on location and county lines.The State Auditor’s Office data shows that at Ridgeland Ranch Apartments, a car tag costs $571.64. At Trails at Northpointe Apartments directly across the street, the same tag rises to $1,490.48.The highest cost in the region is $1,676.30 at Yazoo Estates, while the lowest is $343.30 in the Oakfield neighborhood.Resident Keith Bush said he has experienced the difference firsthand.“When I lived in Hinds County, my car tag started at $1,500,” Bush said. Now living at Ridgeland Ranch Apartments, Bush said his cost is significantly lower.Bush said, “I don’t want to tell you the exact price, but it is under $200.”State Rep. Ronnie Crudup Jr. of District 71 says the high costs in Hinds County are an ongoing issue tied to local financial obligations, including school infrastructure.Crudup said, “We all know that we got the highest tags. I think even in Hans County, and uh, you know, a lot of that is due to, I guess, our, our, our population in, in our school building.”He added that part of the cost comes from maintaining unused school buildings in the Jackson Public Schools system.Crudup said, “You know, some of the schools are closed. The schools are still on their books right now, because they’re still responsible for the buildings and the maintenance and all that type of thing. I think as they come off their books. I think there’s a chance then that we’ll be able to reduce the price of the car tags.”Bush said, “That would be great. I think a lot of people will have some ideas of where they want to move.”Lawmakers are considering House Bill 1395, which has already passed both chambers. The bill would speed up the sale of unused school buildings, which supporters say could reduce costs, limit delays, and open the door for redevelopment.In a statement, Jackson Public Schools said, “Jackson Public Schools is committed to the strategic repurposing of surplus properties to strengthen communities and improve the district’s financial position, guided by thoughtful planning, stakeholder engagement, and a focus on long-term impact for our scholars and families.We are also grateful to the Mississippi Legislature, and especially the Hinds County Delegation, for their advocacy and support of this legislative change, which provides school districts with greater flexibility to better serve our scholars and community.”Officials said if the bill is signed into law, it could help reduce long-term costs. For now, the data shows that where you live still plays a major role in how much you pay for a car tag.

A follow-up on high car tag costs in Mississippi shows major differences in what drivers pay depending on where they live, even across the street, according to new data from the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office.

The data highlights large price gaps across the metro area, with some residents paying hundreds of dollars more based solely on location and county lines.

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The State Auditor’s Office data shows that at Ridgeland Ranch Apartments, a car tag costs $571.64. At Trails at Northpointe Apartments directly across the street, the same tag rises to $1,490.48.

The highest cost in the region is $1,676.30 at Yazoo Estates, while the lowest is $343.30 in the Oakfield neighborhood.

Resident Keith Bush said he has experienced the difference firsthand.

“When I lived in Hinds County, my car tag started at $1,500,” Bush said.

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Now living at Ridgeland Ranch Apartments, Bush said his cost is significantly lower.

Bush said, “I don’t want to tell you the exact price, but it is under $200.”

State Rep. Ronnie Crudup Jr. of District 71 says the high costs in Hinds County are an ongoing issue tied to local financial obligations, including school infrastructure.

Crudup said, “We all know that we got the highest tags. I think even in Hans County, and uh, you know, a lot of that is due to, I guess, our, our, our population in, in our school building.”

He added that part of the cost comes from maintaining unused school buildings in the Jackson Public Schools system.

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Crudup said, “You know, some of the schools are closed. The schools are still on their books right now, because they’re still responsible for the buildings and the maintenance and all that type of thing. I think as they come off their books. I think there’s a chance then that we’ll be able to reduce the price of the car tags.”

Bush said, “That would be great. I think a lot of people will have some ideas of where they want to move.”

Lawmakers are considering House Bill 1395, which has already passed both chambers. The bill would speed up the sale of unused school buildings, which supporters say could reduce costs, limit delays, and open the door for redevelopment.

In a statement, Jackson Public Schools said, “Jackson Public Schools is committed to the strategic repurposing of surplus properties to strengthen communities and improve the district’s financial position, guided by thoughtful planning, stakeholder engagement, and a focus on long-term impact for our scholars and families.

We are also grateful to the Mississippi Legislature, and especially the Hinds County Delegation, for their advocacy and support of this legislative change, which provides school districts with greater flexibility to better serve our scholars and community.”

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Officials said if the bill is signed into law, it could help reduce long-term costs. For now, the data shows that where you live still plays a major role in how much you pay for a car tag.



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IRS owes Mississippi residents $9.9 million. Are you missing free money?

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IRS owes Mississippi residents .9 million. Are you missing free money?


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Are you missing out on free money? The IRS estimates that 1.3 million Americans are missing out on their 2022 income tax refunds because they haven’t filed their taxes. That totals about $1.2 billion in unclaimed money.

Many taxpayers are missing out on income tax returns because they haven’t filed. Some are years late.

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The final deadline to be eligible is April 15. If people miss it, the money becomes property of the U.S. Treasury.

How many people in Mississippi could get a check?

According to the IRS, Mississippi taxpayers are owed about $9.9 million.

Approximately 11,800 people who haven’t filed their 2022 taxes could get a refund. The median amount is $635, so half of refunds could be more than that.

What if I didn’t file my 2022 taxes? When is the deadline?

You have until April 15, 2026, to file back-year returns.

The IRS said you might still be eligible for the check, but only people who have filed their taxes will get one.

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If you owe money or haven’t filed for 2023 or 2024 tax years, your check could be held. The money could also be garnished for unpaid child support or federal student loans.

People also have to file their 2025 taxes to get any refunds that might be owed.

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



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