Mississippi

Trump, FEMA approve disaster declaration from deadly March storms in MS

Published

1 year ago

May 24, 2025

Press Room

Trump, FEMA approve disaster declaration from deadly March storms in MS

Staff Reports
| Mississippi Clarion Ledger

Federal disaster assistance has been approved for Mississippi following severe storms and tornadoes in March 2025.
Funding will be available to individuals and businesses in several counties for housing repairs, temporary housing, and other recovery needs.
Residents are encouraged to file insurance claims and then register for assistance online, by phone, or through the FEMA app.
Former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant was recently appointed to a FEMA review panel, while President Trump has considered eliminating the agency.

Disaster assistance is available to Mississippi after FEMA announced May 23 that it had approved a disaster declaration made by Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves in the wake of severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding from March 14-15, 2025.

At least seven died in tornadoes that hit Covington, Jeff Davis and Walthall counties. In that same stretch, an earthquake was also recorded near Magee.

The White House announced in a release: “The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Covington, Grenada, Issaquena, Itawamba, Jefferson Davis, Leflore, Marion, Montgomery, Pike, Smith and Walthall counties. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.”

E. Craig Levy, Sr. has been named the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in those areas.

“Federal funding is also available to state and eligible local governments and certain nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding in Calhoun, Carroll, Covington, Grenada, Humphreys, Issaquena, Itawamba, Jefferson Davis, Lee, Leflore, Marion, Pike, Prentiss, Sharkey, Smith, Walthall and Washington counties.”

President Donald Trump has discussed the possibility of eliminating FEMA and pushing that work down to the states.

The president said he would reconsider “the whole concept of FEMA” and states with regular natural disasters like Florida hurricanes and Oklahoma tornadoes are efficiently handling the process.

In late April, the president added former Mississippi governor Phil Bryant to a FEMA review panel.

FEMA encouraged individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas to first first file claims with their insurance providers and then apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by using the FEMA app.

Staff Writer Bonnie Bolden contributed to this report.

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Mississippi

What ‘unthinkable’ season, first WCWS trip meant to Mississippi State softball

Published

9 hours ago

May 30, 2026

Press Room

What ‘unthinkable’ season, first WCWS trip meant to Mississippi State softball

OKLAHOMA CITY — Taryne Mowatt-McKinney called Mississippi State softball’s first Women’s College World Series appearance back in the fall.

Coach Samantha Ricketts said the Bulldogs’ pitching coach walked into her office in October to deliver her bold prediction.

“She said, ‘If our pitching continues to progress the way it is, we’re going to the World Series,’” Ricketts said. “We may have looked at her like she may have been a little crazy.”

But Mowatt-McKinney wasn’t crazy, and the Bulldogs delivered, making it to the WCWS for the first time in program history.

That experience was short-lived as the Bulldogs (43-21) lost 4-0 to No. 2 seed Texas (48-12) in an elimination game at Devon Park on May 29, ending their season.

The Bulldogs went 0-2 in the WCWS and did not score a run.

“Could not be more proud of this group for what they’ve done for Mississippi State softball and for each other, the way they’ve represented this team, this program, our community,” Ricketts said. “… They believed that Mississippi State could be here on this stage when nobody else did.”

Ricketts noted the team never wavered in its belief even when things got difficult. Mississippi State went 9-15 in SEC play, finishing 10th in the conference. The Bulldogs only won two of their SEC series and fell out of hosting contention for regionals in late April.

As a road team, MSU made it out of the Eugene Regional to super regionals. The Bulldogs upset No. 3 seed Oklahoma on its home field to be the only unseeded team at this year’s WCWS.

“Really we talked all year long that our roster was built for May,” Ricketts said. “With how difficult our SEC schedule was, the lessons we learned along the way, we knew that postseason it’s 0-0 for anyone. If we could continue to trust in the work that we had done, we could really do something special here.”

The trip to the WCWS was especially meaningful for seniors Nadia Barbary, Morgan Bernardini and Kiarra Sells. All three began their careers in Starkville. They took the program from not even making the NCAA Tournament their freshman year to the WCWS in their final season.

“It meant the world to us,” Sells said. “Even getting here was such a big deal to all of us. Honestly, we’re grateful to have been on this stage, to have worked our butts off to be here, to be a Mississippi State Bulldog. It was such a blessing.”

The team’s accomplishments also resonated with players who started their careers at other schools. Pitcher Peja Goold, a transfer from Chattanooga, reflected positively on what she’d gained from this final year.

Goold finished with a 2.50 ERA, 182 strikeouts and eight shutouts. She was picked in the second round of the AUSL draft by the Oklahoma Sparks.

“I’m just so grateful that Mississippi State gave me the chance to be here and the opportunity to play on this stage,” she said. “… I chose Mississippi State, look where it brought me. That’s such a blessing and I’m so thankful that God placed me here and led me to them.”

During the team’s two WCWS games, not much went in the Bulldogs favor. They were shut out both times and run-ruled by Texas Tech in their first game. Still, the Bulldogs are walking out of Oklahoma City full of gratitude and pride for what they achieved in 2026.

“We did the unthinkable, making history throughout our whole season,” Bernardini said. “Yes, this sucks right now, but it’s like what a better way to end it at the end?”

Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.

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Mississippi

High school graduation photos in, near Jackson MS. Find your student

Published

19 hours ago

May 29, 2026

Press Room

High school graduation photos in, near Jackson MS. Find your student

Staff Reports
| Mississippi Clarion Ledger

High school graduation season has come to a close in Jackson, with Jackson Public Schools having finished their graduation ceremonies on May 27.

Madison County Schools held ceremonies May 15 and 16. Hinds County School District held its on May 19, and the Rankin County School District held ceremonies May 8 through May 18.

Following up on prom season, The Clarion Ledger photographed more than 25 ceremonies across the greater Jackson area, capturing both smiles and tears of joy, struts and dances across the stage, two new cars and many, many caps thrown in the air. Pyrotechnics, sunsets and excited family members brightened ceremonies and high school chorales lifted spirits.

Take a look at our gallery of highlights from every commencement, or peruse each ceremony, gathered below.

Hinds County

Callaway

Callaway High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 27.

Forest Hill High School

Forest Hill High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 27.

Jim Hill High School

Jim HIll High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 26.

Lanier High School

Lanier High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 27.

Murrah High School

Murrah High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 26.

Provine High School

Provine High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 26.

Raymond High School

Raymond High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 19.

Terry High School

Terry High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 19.

Madison County

Canton High School

Canton High School held graduation on its campus in Canton on May 23.

Germantown High School

Germantown High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 16.

Madison Central High School

Madison Central High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 16.

Ridgeland High School

Ridgeland High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 16.

Velma Jackson High School

Velma Jackson High School held graduation on its campus in Camden on May 15.

Rankin County

Brandon High School

Brandon High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 11.

Florence High School

Florence High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 8.

Northwest Rankin High School

Northwest Rankin High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 12.

Pelahatchie High School

Pelahatchie High School held graduation at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl on May 15.

Pisgah High School

Pisgah High School held graduation at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl on May 12.

Puckett High School

Puckett High School held graduation at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl on May 11.

Richland High School

Richland High School held graduation at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl on May 18.

Private Schools

Central Hinds Academy

Central Hinds Academy held graduation at Cain-Cochran Hall in Raymond on May 4.

Hartfield Academy

Hartfield Academy held graduation at Pinelake Church Reservoir Campus in Brandon on May 8.

Hillcrest Christian School

Hillcrest Christian School held graduation on its campus in Jackson on May 8.

Jackson Academy

Jackson Academy held graduation on its campus in Jackson on May 14.

Jackson Prep

Jackson Prep held graduation at First Baptist Jackson in Jackson on May 19.

Madison-Ridgeland Academy

Madison-Ridgeland Academy held graduation at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Madison on May 15.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School held graduation on its campus in Ridgeland on May 22.

Saint Joseph Catholic School

Saint Joseph Catholic School held graduation at Thalia Mara Hall in Jackson on May 20.

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Mississippi

Where is Lipscomb? Mississippi State baseball’s opponent in Starkville Regional

Published

1 day ago

May 29, 2026

Press Room

Where is Lipscomb? Mississippi State baseball’s opponent in Starkville Regional

Mississippi State baseball is facing Lipscomb in the first game of the Starkville Regional in the NCAA Tournament on May 29 (1 p.m., ESPN+).

The Bulldogs (40-17) are the host and No. 14 national seed, and Lipscomb (29-24) is the No. 4 seed in the regional. It is the fourth time they’ve played each other this season, with MSU sweeping a March series at Dudy Noble Field.

Here is what to know about Lipscomb University.

Where is Lipscomb University?

Lipscomb is a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee. It is about a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Starkville.

Lipscomb University mascot

Lipscomb’s mascot is the Bisons.

What conference is Lipscomb in?

Lipscomb is in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Lipscomb University enrollment

According to US News, Lipscomb has an undergraduate enrollment of 3,006 students and a 68% acceptance rate.

Lipscomb baseball coach

Jeff Forehand is Lipscomb’s baseball coach. He’s in his 20th season and has led Lipscomb to all four of its NCAA Tournament appearances in program history.