Mississippi
Mississippi fans can now vote for Daniel Stallworth on ‘American Idol’ – SuperTalk Mississippi
Mississippi residents have a chance to help a homegrown talent become the second consecutive winner of ABC singing competition “American Idol.”
Daniel Stallworth, a 27-year-old from Moss Point, is looking to join Meridian’s Jamal Roberts in the win column after Roberts captured the title in season 23. Season 24 resumes Monday night with Stallworth among the top 20 contestants.
But from this point forward, Stallworth will need the viewers to advance.
For the first time this season, fans will be able to vote for who they want to move on in the competition. Traditional voting methods – online and through text message (text 4 to 21523) – will be available. It will also be the first time a reality competition has made the leap to social voting, meaning fans can vote in the comments on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
“You can vote up to 10 times on each platform for a total of 50 times per person, and when voting in the comments on social media, please make sure to spell my name correctly. All you need is my first name,” Stallworth said with a laugh. “But I’m looking forward to Monday and I’m looking forward to the support.”
Even though fans haven’t been able to vote up until this point in the competition, Stallworth says the support he’s received behind the scenes from his hometown and alma mater, Alcorn State University, has been “so encouraging.”
“Moss Point, from day one, has been standing by me even before this ‘American Idol’ journey,” Stallworth said. “They’ve shown their love and support the whole time. They always show me how much they love me. So I’m definitely grateful for my home city. Even my college, Alcorn State University, shouted me out after I received the golden ticket.”
Stallworth earned that golden ticket during the season 24 premiere when the elementary school teacher performed a rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey. Since then, he has taken the stage with “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King and “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus.
According to him, each song was intentionally chosen to express gratitude for the support he’s received while also offering a glimpse into the challenges of chasing his dream to become the next “Idol” winner.
“Each week, honestly, I try to paint a picture and tell a story from the beginning,” he explained. “With Journey…I wanted to send a message out to anybody who has a hard time believing in themselves or has a hard time with confidence. I try to tell them that no matter what you’re dealing with in your life or no matter how hard you think things are, don’t stop believing. Because there is something inside of you that is great and the world needs to see that.
“With ‘Stand By Me,’ I wanted the people who I know believe in me that as long as you keep believing in me, I want you to stand by me as well. That’s the thing. Even with ‘The Climb,’ this journey in itself has been a climb for sure. I’ve had moments that I was kind of second guessing my vocal ability and second guessing who I am, but I had to remember that I’m telling a story. I can’t stop believing if I’m telling other people to believe.”
Stallworth, who moved to Texas a few months ago to teach music outside of Houston, said he still carries Mississippi with him everywhere he goes – including now, as he competes in Hawaii on one of the nation’s most influential singing competitions.
“American Idol” airs every Monday at 8/7c on ABC.
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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