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Riley Quick, Alabama Pitching Staff Catalysts in Win Over Mississippi State

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Riley Quick, Alabama Pitching Staff Catalysts in Win Over Mississippi State


TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— Alabama baseball has greatly exceeded expectations by nearly every metric throughout the first half of the season. A team that started the season unranked is up to No. 12 in the polls and comfortably holds a winning record in SEC play. One key concern remains, and that is undeniably the team’s pitching.

Entering Saturday’s game against Mississippi State, Alabama had allowed five or more runs in 13 of its last 14 games, and nine in a row. That trend was put to bed as starter Riley Quick went a season-high 5 1/3 innings, allowing just one run in the Crimson Tide’s 4-1 win over the Bulldogs in the series’ second game.

That’s not just about as good as I’ve seen him, that’s as good as I think you can throw the baseball for that amount of time” head coach Rob Vaughn said of Quick’s performance. “Just executed, got the cutter in through fastballs, and was able to land some secondary stuff, and, you know, hitters and manage counts.”

Quick allowed six hits and struck out seven batters (six over the first three innings) in the win. Leadoff batter Gehrig Frei took him yard on the fourth pitch of the game and that was all of the Bulldogs’ offense on the day. He was pulled after allowing a one-out double to Noah Sullivan.

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Quick missed time two weekends ago with a blood blister he suffered before the Tennessee series. He was solid in his appearance against Auburn, but this was very likely the best showing of his season and his entire career.

“I don’t really worry,” Quick said during the postgame press conference. “I’m like, ‘Alright, just go get the next guy.’ And that’s kind of my mentality always, just get the next guy, get the next three out. So I did that, and then going five innings, obviously that was fun. Had a good time out there. I felt normal again.”

At this point, Connor Lehman came in and allowed a single to left, putting the Bulldogs on third base for the first time of the afternoon. Vaughn gave the ball to Austin Morris, who grounded it right to Justin Lebron for an inning-ending unassisted double play.

That was all Vaughn required of Morris. Hagan Banks pitched two no-hit innings, allowing just one walk, and just like that, Alabama entered the ninth just one frame away from securing its most dominant pitching performance of SEC play.

It was not smooth sailing. Carson Ozmer gave up a one-out single to Gatlin Sanders to move the leading runner, Steven Spalitta, to second and put the tying run at the plate. Stallman grounded out, advancing both runners, and then Michael O’Brien was called in to pinch hit.

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The sophomore is a relatively unknown, having notched just three hits across 15 plate appearances entering the at-bat. With the game hanging in the balance, Ozmer stepped up, forcing a 1-1 popout to short to tie up the series, and, perhaps more importantly, set the tone that this team is capable of producing dominant defensive showings in big games.

“I thought everybody in the pinch did their job,” Vaughn said. “Connor Lehman came in, executes a pitch, and just found kind of that Bermuda triangle out there. And then Austin Morris settles in, gets a ground ball, which is what great guys do. Hagan Banks, two great innings, and Ozmer being the pro that he is there at the end. So just that was the story of the game.”

Alabama has clearly established an identity as a team that can go out and put on an offensive spectacle on any given night. But if performances like this can become commonplace, it may just make the Crimson Tide a true national contender. If Vaughn and company want to make its first College World Series appearance since 1999, the arms will need to be able to consistently produce showings like this one. Saturday may have been the first step along that path.



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Mississippi

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

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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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A potential opportunity to lower car tag costs across Mississippi

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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

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


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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.

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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.

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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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