Mississippi

Jackson puts Mississippi on notice: Take back Medgar Evers Boulevard

Published

3 months ago

January 20, 2026

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Jackson puts Mississippi on notice: Take back Medgar Evers Boulevard

The Jackson City Council has passed a resolution asking the state of Mississippi to take back maintenance of Medgar Evers Boulevard.
The city took control of the road in 1986 but now cites financial constraints as a reason for the transfer.
A 2002 state law requires the road to meet state construction standards before it can be returned, a condition not yet met.
A federally funded project is currently underway to upgrade the boulevard, which could satisfy the state’s requirements for a transfer.

The Jackson City Council, backed by Mayor John Horhn, is pushing Mississippi to reclaim Medgar Evers Boulevard — a move supporters say is long overdue, and critics say jumps the gun under state law.

The resolution asks the Mississippi Transportation Commission and Mississippi Department of Transportation to resume responsibility for the roadway, describing it as “a major roadway of statewide importance” whose long-term maintenance requires state-level resources.

But council members were split over whether the city should formally ask for the transfer now or wait until the road meets state construction standards, a legal requirement that remains unresolved.

How Medgar Evers Boulevard became a city road

During the meeting, Horhn said the city’s responsibility for Medgar Evers Boulevard dates back to a very different era at City Hall.

In 1986, then-Mayor Dale Danks asked the state to hand over several major highways inside Jackson’s city limits, including Medgar Evers Boulevard, State Street, Woodrow Wilson Avenue, and parts of U.S. Highway 80. At the time, Danks said the city could maintain them better on its own as “the city was flush with cash.”

That calculation didn’t age well. While Jackson may have had plenty of dollars to spend in the 1980s, Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes’ resolution notes the “City of Jackson is currently experiencing financial and operational constraints that limit its ability to adequately maintain major state-designed thoroughfares.”

In 2002, the Legislature changed the rules, passing a law that says if a city wants to give a road back, it has to first bring it up to state construction standards. It was this law, Mississippi Code § 65-3-99, that gave Ward 7 Councilman Kevin Parkinson pause about the resolution.

Medgar Evers Boulevard, Parkinson said, does not yet meet those standards. Parkinson proposed amending the resolution to request the transfer only after the road meets state standards. That amendment failed on a 2-5 vote. Only Parkinson and Ward 4 Councilman and Council President Brian Grizzell voted in favor of the amendment.

“Some would say it makes us look a little foolish to pass a resolution knowing that it can’t be done at this time,” Parkinson said. “I don’t want to vote this down because I really, really, really want to give this to the state. But the reality is, it’s not going to happen now.”

Stokes: waiting misses the point

Stokes, who authored the resolution and represents the area Medgar Evers Boulevard runs through, said he disagreed with waiting.

Stokes said he believes the condition of the road — and the state’s role in maintaining it — can’t be separated from its history and who it was named after.

“Once Medgar Evers’ name became a part of Highway 49, some hateful spirits took place,” Stokes said. “You do not punish a city because you name a street for a Black man.”

Stokes also argued that the city does not have the same financial capacity as the state to maintain a major highway, pointing to the condition of U.S. Highway 49 outside Jackson’s city limits as a comparison.

“If Rankin County’s Highway 49 can look the way it looks, then Jackson’s Highway 49 should look the same way,” Stokes said.

In 2022, MDOT completed a major widening of U.S. Highway 49 in Rankin County, a $253 million project that expanded 7.5 miles of the corridor, according to the Rankin First Economic Development Authority.

Federal money already in play

The council debate comes as major improvements to Medgar Evers Boulevard are already underway.

In 2024, then-U.S. Transportation Secreatry Pete Buttigieg visited Jackson to mark the start of “The Medgar Evers Boulevard Project,” a multimillion-dollar reconstruction project along roughly 1.5 miles of the corridor.

The project is funded through a $20 million federal grant awarded in 2021. The City of Jackson is required to provide a local match of $17 million, according to Horhn. Additional roads, such as Woodrow Wilson Avenue, McDowell Road, McDowell Road Extension, could also benefit from those funds, Horhn said.

Planned improvements include sidewalks and streetlights, road repairs, medians and upgrades to sewer and stormwater infrastructure. Construction of the project is expected to be completed this year.

Horhn: vote sets intention

Horhn referenced that federal investment during the council meeting, saying the project would bring Medgar Evers Boulevard up to state standards — clearing the legal pathway for a transfer.

But he said he did not have an issue with the council going on the record now about wanting the state to take control of the boulevard, as Parkinson argued against.

“This doesn’t make us look foolish,” Horhn said. “It sets an intention in motion.”

Horhn said he has spoken with Central Commissioner Willie Simmons of the Mississippi Transportation Commission, who indicated the state would have no issue resuming control of the road once it meets code.

While the vote does not immediately shift responsibility for Medgar Evers Boulevard, it formally places Jackson on record asking the state to take back one of the city’s most visible — and most contested — roadways.

In the end, the resolution passed in a 4-2-1 vote. Stokes, Ward 5 Councilman Vernon Hartley, Ward 6 Councilwoman Lashia Brown-Thomas and Parkinson, though he voiced opposition at first, voted in favor. Ward 1 Councilman Ashby Foote and Grizzell voted against. Ward 2 Councilwoman Tina Clay abstained.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.

Charlie Drape is the Jackson beat reporter. You can contact him at cdrape@gannett.com.

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Mississippi

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

Published

8 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

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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Mississippi

A potential opportunity to lower car tag costs across Mississippi

Published

20 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

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.

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.

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Mississippi

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

Published

1 day ago

April 13, 2026

Press Room

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

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.

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.

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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