Mississippi
Pearl River Bridge Closed on U.S. 98 After ‘Void’ Discovered
COLUMBIA, Miss.—Semi-trucks were among the vehicles that clogged historic downtown Columbia, Mississippi, on Monday morning after the Mississippi Department of Transportation suddenly closed a bridge that crosses the Pearl River on U.S. Highway 98.
“A void was discovered near the approach to the U.S. 98 westbound bridge over the Pearl River, prompting MDOT officials to close the bridge to traffic due to safety concerns,” MDOT said in a statement this morning.
MDOT closed the bridge, located between Columbia and Foxworth, Mississippi, around 11:30 a.m.
Highway 98 is a two-lane highway, but the eastbound bridge over the Pearl River in Marion County has been closed for several months while crews work to replace the aging infrastructure. Since then, the westbound bridge has served both eastbound and westbound traffic.
Now, MDOT is telling drivers to use State Route 35, State Route 13 and State Route 198 as detours—forcing hundreds of drivers to take alternate routes on far less-traveled roads, including through the heart of the small town.
MDOT has long planned to replace both the eastbound and westbound bridges as part of a $60-million project, but officials don’t expect that work to be complete until 2027. Officials have said that the age of the bridges, along with seasonal flooding, has made the replacement project necessary.
The old westbound span should soon be back up to serve eastbound and westbound traffic again for now, though, Mississippi Department of Transportation Public Information Officer Anna Ehrgott told the Mississippi Free Press on Monday morning.
“We are thinking more in terms of days than weeks currently,” she said when asked how long the repairs could take. “As soon as we have more information, we’ll share it with the public.”
As of 2024, Mississippi had 7,385 bridges that needed repair and 1,009 bridges designated as structurally deficient, an American Road and Transportation Builders report said. The State has taken steps to address its infrastructure issues in recent years, thanks to an influx of both federal and state dollars.
Under former President Joe Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Mississippi received $225 million for bridge repairs and replacement. In 2018, the Mississippi Legislature approved the Emergency Road and Bridge Repair Fund, which has provided around $600 million for infrastructure repairs since its passage.
On July 1, 2025, a new law took effect that will increase Mississippi’s gas tax by three cents per gallon over a period of three years. Lawmakers say they expect the new tax to generate about $200 million annually for MDOT to improve Mississippi’s roads and bridges.
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Samantha Ricketts credits Mississippi State’s ‘grit’ for rally vs OU softball in Game 1
OU softball alum and Mississippi State coach Samantha Ricketts talks about the Bulldogs’ 11-9 comeback win Friday in Game 1 of the NCAA Norman Super Regional.
Considering Mississippi State softball was playing in just its third NCAA Tournament super regional game, few outside of Starkville were optimistic about the Bulldogs’ chances against national power Oklahoma.
However, despite facing the No. 3 seed Sooners (51-9), who have made the Women’s College World Series every time since 2016, the Bulldogs (42-18) managed to pick up their first super regional win. The Bulldogs took down the Sooners 11-9 at Love’s Field in Norman, Oklahoma on May 22.
“Just really love the fight they showed,” said Mississippi State coach Samantha Ricketts, who was an All-American at Oklahoma. “It was just up and down the lineup. People who started in the lineup, who entered it later in the game, and that’s really been kind of the M.O. for this group all year long. They embrace their roles. They’re ready to come out and attack.”
Mississippi State had to fight back from several multi-run deficits to win. The Bulldogs trailed by four entering the sixth inning and by three entering the seventh. They scored nine runs in the final two innings to earn the win.
“A lot of times this season, our pitchers have had our back, and I thought this time, the offense did a really good job having the pitchers’ backs,” Ricketts said.
It’s the first time Mississippi State has beaten Oklahoma after being 0-11 against the Sooners entering the series. The victory also puts the Bulldogs just one win away from making it to the Women’s College World Series for the first time in program history.
“Just really proud of this team for the fight, the grit they showed, and just knowing that this is what we’ve really worked hard for, and they really, truly believed that we’d come out here to compete,” Ricketts said.
Unlike the previous three seasons, Mississippi State did not face Oklahoma in the regular season. This was the first time the two teams had met in the postseason.
Still, Ricketts believes that a tough SEC schedule that resulted in a 9-15 conference record and a 10th-place finish helped prepare the Bulldogs for the series.
“We talk all the time that in the SEC, in our conference, every weekend’s like a super regional,” Ricketts said. “So, we felt like our schedule this season had really prepared us for this weekend.”
Game 2 of the series will be played May 23 (noon CT, ESPN).
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.
Samantha Ricketts credits Mississippi State’s ‘grit’ for rally vs OU softball in Game 1
OU softball alum and Mississippi State coach Samantha Ricketts talks about the Bulldogs’ 11-9 comeback win Friday in Game 1 of the NCAA Norman Super Regional.
By nearly every metric, Mississippi State softball was the underdog in its NCAA Tournament super regional matchup with Oklahoma.
The No. 3 seed Sooners (51-9) hadn’t lost a super regional game since 2015. That is until the Bulldogs (42-18) came back to beat Oklahoma 11-9 on May 22 at Love’s Field in Norman. Mississippi State scored nine runs in the final two innings to win.
The Bulldogs’ win seemed unlikely for a number of reasons. They were playing in just their second super regional while the Sooners were playing their 19th. Mississippi State had never even won a super regional game. Oklahoma had won 18 straight and hadn’t lost one since 2015.
Entering the day, Oklahoma had lost just one game at home this season. Mississippi State was 0-11 against the Sooners all-time, and eight of those losses came under coach Samantha Ricketts, who was an All-American at Oklahoma.
Even Oklahoma’s uniform combination was a recipe for success. The Sooners were 11-0 when wearing white tops and red bottoms.
As if the odds against Mississippi State entering the first game of the best-of-three series weren’t stacked high enough, the statistical improbability of the Bulldogs’ win appeared to grow as the game went on.
According to ESPN, since 2000, the Sooners were 77-0 when leading by four or more runs in a regional or super regional game. Oklahoma led 5-1 in the third inning and 6-2 in the fourth.
This season, Oklahoma was 14-0 when leading after six innings. Mississippi State was 1-15 when trailing after six innings. The Sooners led 9-6 entering the sixth inning thanks to a three-run home run hit by star freshman Kendall Wells.
They were also 42-2 when scoring at least six runs and 31-1 when totaling at least 10 hits. Wells’ home run was hit No. 11.
Still, the Bulldogs found a way to buck all of these trends to take Game 1. Now, Mississippi State has a chance to qualify for the Women’s College World Series for the first time if they recreate this same magic in Game 2 May 23 (noon CT, ESPN).
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.
Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 21, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from May 21 drawing
06-08-17-20-29
Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from May 21 drawing
Midday: 6-5-2, FB: 1
Evening: 4-7-5, FB: 7
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from May 21 drawing
Midday: 3-9-8-8, FB: 1
Evening: 2-9-4-2, FB: 7
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 21 drawing
Midday: 05
Evening: 05
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Story continues below gallery.
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.
Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:
Mississippi Lottery Corporation
P.O. Box 321462
Flowood, MS
39232
If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.
Mississippi Lottery Headquarters
1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100
Flowood, MS
39232
Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.
When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?
- Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
- Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Mississippi editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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