Mississippi
Mississippi city councilman pleads guilty to selling fake CBD products in stores
The future of marijuana legalization
Here’s what you need to know about the future of marijuana legalization in the United States, from its racist beginnings to today.
A Mississippi city councilman agreed to forfeit a monster truck and nearly $2 million after a federal investigation revealed he sold illicit drugs advertised as CBD, prosecutors announced Thursday.
Robert Leon Deming, III, who serves on the Biloxi City Council, sold over $2 million in illegal synthetic cannabinoids as vape additives that he labeled as CBD, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said following a yearslong probe by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The DEA received complaints in 2022 that customers became ill after using some of Deming’s products, and his employees discussed in group chats how the additives were too strong and could hurt customers, according to prosecutors.
“A public official’s side job should not be running a business that distributes millions of dollars in illegal controlled substances and endangers the health and safety of its customers,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee. “We appreciate the hard work of investigators with the DEA, FDA, and MBN to put a stop to the distribution of these dangerous vape additives.”
Feds launched probe into Deming’s business one year after it opened
According to court documents, Deming founded the Candy Shop LLC in 2019 and opened stores in Mississippi and North Carolina. In 2020, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and DEA launched an investigation into his business and found some of the vape products contained illicit additives.
In May 2022, federal prosecutors said Deming gave someone $2,200 to buy about two pounds of a synthetic cannabinoid product known as 5F-AB-PINACA to use in the shop’s vape additives. Investigators also found that Deming’s gross sales of vape additive products containing illegal drugs totaled over $2 million. He was arrested in September and released days later on bond, according to court records.
Deming pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $1 million penalty. As part of the plea agreement, he agreed to forfeit a yellow monster truck with oversized tires, a lift kit, and nearly $2 million.
“Mr. Deming pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy in what amounted to a very complicated case hinging upon his knowledge of the existence of synthetic cannabinoids in vape products he sold along with other allegations by the Government,” attorney W. F. Hornsby III told USA TODAY on Thursday. “Mr. Deming’s decision to plead guilty was made after taking into consideration his family, friends, employees, and the totality of the circumstances.”
His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 13.
Synthetic cannabinoids
Synthetic cannabinoids, such as the one Deming was caught using as vape additives, are a class of lab-made drugs that have similar chemicals to the cannabis plant, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The drug can be cheaper to make and is more likely to go undetected in urine drug screenings, the institute said, but it can cause starkly different reactions compared to natural cannabis products.
Some synthetic cannabinoids are classified under the Controlled Substances Act as Schedule I drug, alongside marijuana, heroin, and LSD. The act categorizes drugs based on their potential for abuse, addiction, and medical use.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a chemical extracted from cannabis plants. It can be found in both hemp and marijuana plants — both are technically cannabis but hemp must have less than 0.3% THC present. CBD is non-psychoactive and shouldn’t contain THC, the chemical that produces the “high” feeling in marijuana.
The usual CBD formulation is oil, but it is also sold as an extract, vaporized liquid, and oil-based capsule, according to the Mayo Clinic. Food, drinks, and beauty products are among the many CBD-infused products available online, including lip balms, gummies, and creams.
Side effects of CBD may include dry mouth, diarrhea, reduced appetite, drowsiness, and fatigue, the Mayo Clinic warned. The chemical can also interact with other medications. If you have a heart condition or take blood thinners, some doctors recommend staying away from CBD.
Contributing: Marina Pitofsky, USA TODAY
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.
Want more WLBT news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please click here to report it and include the headline of the story in your email.
Copyright 2026 WLBT. All rights reserved.
-
San Diego, CA53 seconds agoSan Diego health officials monitor hantavirus situation as cruise ship passengers return to U.S.
-
Milwaukee, WI7 minutes agoSame name keeps coming up in mock drafts as possible Bucks selection
-
Atlanta, GA13 minutes agoFire at Chamblee apartment complex displaces more than 75 residents, closes businesses
-
Minneapolis, MN19 minutes agoMinneapolis grocer charged in $1.1 million SNAP fraud scheme
-
Indianapolis, IN25 minutes agoMartindale-Brightwood neighbors sue to stall Metrobloks data center
-
Pittsburg, PA31 minutes agoDragon softball sweeps Kansas City Piper
-
Augusta, GA37 minutes agoBrent McMillian named as Augusta University’s new Athletics Director – AOL
-
Washington, D.C43 minutes agoNonprofit sues the federal government over plans to paint Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool blue