Mississippi
Miss Mississippi 2024: Becky Williams takes crown during final competition
Williams wants to use platform to improve education opportunities
VICKSBURG — In her third year competing, Miss Capital City Becky Williams was crowned Miss Mississippi 2024 during Saturday night’s final competition held at the Vicksburg Convention Center.
Williams, a Purvis native, proved to be the last woman standing in her sparkling red gown Saturday night, bursting with emotion as her name was called and 2023 Miss Mississippi Vivian O’Neal placed the winner’s crown upon her head.
Williams, who is in her first year at Mississippi State University studying K-12 education, said she was delighted to hear her name called, which left her in a bit of a shock. In 2023, Williams was O’Neal’s first runner up.
“I don’t know how to tell you how it feels,” she said. “This is a dream I’ve dreamt since I was a little girl and to hear my name called on this stage and this environment and to know that I put my heart and soul into everything I did on this stage and in life is just a dream come true.”
For the talent section of the competition, Williams performed a dance number to Queen’s 1974 popular song “Don’t stop me now.” Williams is also focusing her impact initiative on education and is even working with Hinds Country Democratic Rep. Fabian Nelson to draft legislation relating to scholarship opportunities in Jackson.
“(We’ve) been working on some legislation that will directly affect Jackson Public Schools and I’m excited to get started with him soon,” she said.
Day 1 of prelims: Miss Mississippi 2024: Two take awards during first night of preliminary competition
Day 2 of prelims: Three contestants take home Miss Mississippi awards during Thursday preliminary
Day 3 of prelims: Check out the talent and dresswear of the Miss Mississippi 2024 contestants on day three
During her question-and-answer section, she spoke about cancel culture, saying that kids in the classroom and adults alike should be more mindful about what they say online and how their words can impact other people.
The final competition Saturday night featured 11 contestants total vying in multiple categories such as evening wear, talent and question and answers. Besides Williams, another four contestants were chosen to be her runner-up’s. The top four were as follows:
- First runner-up: Jane Granberry — Miss University
- Second runner-up: Morgan Nelson — Miss Mississippi State University
- Third runner-up: Sarah Randolph — Miss Heart of the South
- Fourth runner-up: Anna Leah Jolly — Miss Rankin County
Williams will go on to compete in the Miss America contest.
Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335
Here’s the nominees for Clarion Ledger girls Athlete of the Week for May 4-9
Here’s the five nominees for the Clarion Ledger girls Mississippi high school Athlete of the Week for May 4-9.
There were several top performers across the state in girls high school sports, but only one can be voted as the Clarion Ledger athlete of the week for May 4-9.
Fans may vote in the poll BELOW one time per hour per device. The poll closes at noon on Friday.
To nominate a future athlete of the week, email mchavez@gannett.com or message him on X, formerly Twitter, @MikeSChavez.
To submit high school scores, statistics, records, leaders and other items at any time, email mchavez@gannett.com.
Nominations
Kara Applewhite, Sumrall: Applewhite had four hits with a home run and five RBIs in Sumrall’s 10-0 win against East Central.
Caydance Brumfield, West Marion: Brumfield produced four hits and five RBIs in West Marion’s two wins against Pisgah.
Addison Collum, West Union: Collum pitched eight innings and recorded seven strikeouts and only two earned runs in West Union’s wins against Smithville.
Addison Cornish, West Lauderdale: Cornish recorded five hits and a home run in West Lauderdale’s wins against Choctaw Central.
Addison Davis, George County: Davis pitched nine innings with 20 strikeouts and recorded two home runs and four RBIs in George County’s wins against Pearl River Central.
Michael Chavez covers high school sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez.
‘We’re doing this to decrease the pressure we get early in the season. We’re trying to move that pressure on into later in the season.’
Bobcat stalks and strikes at Wisconsin turkey hunter
Turkey hunter Carson Bender of Wisconsin Rapids recorded a video of a bobcat that stalked and lunged at him as he hunted April 18, 2026 near Nekoosa, Wis.
Carson Bender
If a proposal made in the April meeting of the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is finalized, nonresident turkey hunters will see big changes in the 2027 spring turkey season.
“We’re doing this in a way to impact how hunting pressure occurs and how the harvest happens in the early season,” said Caleb Hinton, Wild Turkey Program coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. “We’re doing this to decrease the pressure we get early in the season. We’re trying to move that pressure on into later in the season.”
Turkey hunters enjoy a three-bird bag limit and a little more than six weeks of hunting in spring, which is similar to some other states. What is at issue is when it opens. March 15 is the typical opening date for the regular season, making it one of the earliest in the nation.
That early opening date combined with a growing trend among turkey hunters is where the problem lies.
Mississippi is a destination for early season, nonresident hunters
Possibly more than any other group of hunters, turkey hunters like to travel. For some, it may be a matter of seeing a different landscape and hunting birds under condions they don’t encounter in their home state. For others it may be a quest to harvest each of the subspecies in North America.
For yet another group, it’s the challenge of harvesting a gobbler in each of the 49 states that have turkeys.
“It seems to be getting more and more popular every year,” Hinton said.
Regardless of why a turkey hunter chooses to travel, it puts a target on Mississippi’s back because for the first few weeks of the season, it’s almost the only game in town, so hunters flock to the state.
In an effort to curb the amount of hunting pressure in those first weeks of turkey season, MDWFP proposed limiting nonresident hunters to two legal gobblers per season and only one of those can be harvested before April 1.
“Hopefully, it will help curb the massive influx of pressure we get the first week or two of the season,” Hinton said.
When will turkey season changes for nonresidents be voted on?
The proposed changes aren’t the first that have been geared toward alleviating pressure on turkeys in the early part of the season by nonresidents. In 2022, the commission passed a rule requiring nonresident hunters to enter a drawing for a hunt on public land during the first two weeks of turkey season. Currently, the number of hunters drawn is limited to 800.
Like that change, the current proposal will pass or fail by a vote of the wildlife commission. In the April commission meeting, the proposal passed an initial vote. It is now in a 30-day public comment period and a final vote will be taken in the May meeting.
Public comments may be submitted at https://www.mdwfp.com/proposed-rules-regulations.
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.
Mississippi
Mississippi high school addresses social media post, says it won’t tolerate racism or harassment
LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Miss. (WLBT) – A Mississippi high school has made a statement after a social media post involving a student surfaced.
Northeast Lauderdale High School officials say they’re reviewing a social media post involving a student.
In a statement, the school said administrators are aware of the post and are “reviewing the situation.”
The school said it is committed to maintaining a safe, orderly and respectful environment for students and staff.
“Neither our district nor our school accept or condone racism, discrimination, harassment, or behavior that is inconsistent with the expectations of our school community,” the statement said.
Officials said they are working with the appropriate parties and will address the matter in accordance with district policies and procedures.
The school added that it cannot share additional details because of student privacy laws.
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