Mississippi
Task force looking at potential changes to Mississippi’s foster care and adoption systems
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JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Mississippi is looking for new ways to improve the foster care and adoption systems. It’s an extension of the conversations that started after Roe v. Wade was overturned last year.
Now, a new task force is tackling more specifics.
If you’ve ever been a foster parent or attempted to adopt, you may know about the issues that exist.
“We heard a lot from a lot of different people about how our adoption and foster care systems were working,” explained Sen. Brice Wiggins, co-chairman of the task force. “Well, the reality is they weren’t perfect. And they were far from it.”
The issue is complex but the focus is finding ways to improve outcomes for the children and families.
“Over the last eight years, we’ve decreased the number of children in foster care by over 50%,” noted Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Dawn Beam. “What we know is they do better when we can leave them in their homes.”
Among the considerations would be having an attorney from Child Protection Services follow the case from start to finish and offer a parent representative. That’s something former foster parents say would help.
“I cannot emphasize or overstate the importance of having a representative of CPS in the courtroom, beginning at the shelter hearing, I think we would all be amazed at how this could radically, radically change the timeline in the system,” said Alison McMinn.
It’s conversations like these that advocate and former foster kid Samantha Kalahar is glad stakeholders are tackling.
“I work every day with the youth that are leaving the system,” said Samantha Kalahar, State Director for First Place for Youth. “And so having these types of things, while they’re in the system put into place is so key to their outcomes, not just while they’re in custody, but once they leave custody.”
Other ideas may not take a law change, but they want to give consideration to other time savers. One is an idea from Arkansas to streamline adoptions.
“That’s where a family who’s previously adopted a child and is interested in adopting another one,” described Judge Joseph Kilgore, Chancery Court District 4. “They don’t have to jump through all of the hoops that you would when you’re a first-time adopting parent.”
The task force will turn over its recommendations to the legislature for consideration in the 2024 legislative session.
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ST. CLOUD (WJON News) — A man whose body was found in the Mississippi River Saturday afternoon has been identified as 30-year-old Abdishakur Abdifatah Ahmed of St. Cloud.
The Sherburne County Sheriff’s office says two kayakers spotted Ahmed’s body in the river near the Beaver Islands.
Rescue personnel from the St. Cloud Police and Fire Departments were able to remove his body and send it to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office.
The sheriff’s office says there were no signs of trauma and doesn’t suspect foul play. The official cause and manner of death are pending laboratory tests.
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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 Oct. 21, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from Oct. 21 drawing
06-07-08-10-34
Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from Oct. 21 drawing
Midday: 3-4-8, FB: 2
Evening: 5-9-0, FB: 9
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from Oct. 21 drawing
Midday: 9-5-4-8, FB: 2
Evening: 5-0-9-0, FB: 9
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from Oct. 21 drawing
Midday: 09
Evening: 03
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.
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 Oct. 20, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from Oct. 20 drawing
07-15-16-23-33
Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from Oct. 20 drawing
Midday: 9-3-0, FB: 7
Evening: 1-2-0, FB: 1
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from Oct. 20 drawing
Midday: 7-7-7-8, FB: 7
Evening: 1-8-6-3, FB: 1
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from Oct. 20 drawing
Midday: 15
Evening: 12
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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