Mississippi
Two new Mississippi wildlife commissioners appointed: Who are these guys?
‘I believe we need to spend some money on state parks. We do have a great resource in those parks and a lot of people use those parks, so let’s don’t forget about them.’
Watch as a black bear steals more than just sunflower seeds
This black bear couldn’t help but steal a bird feeder full of sunflowers, along with the camera.
In its July meeting, the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks had a different look. District 2 Commissioner Scott Coopwood rotated into the role of chairman and two new commissioners were in place.
Gov. Tate Reeves recently appointed Todd Hairston as commissioner representing District 5. Hairston filled a vacancy left by former commissioner Leonard Bentz when he was not confirmed by the Senate following a scandal involving baiting turkeys with crickets.
Colin Maloney was appointed commissioner representing District 1. He replaced commissioner Bill Cossar whose term ended after two terms and 10 years of service.
The Clarion-Ledger interviewed both to find out more about them.
Who is Colin Maloney?
Colin Maloney is a life-long resident of Tupelo. The 61-year-old attended Mississippi College and earned a degree in business. He is the founder and CEO of Century Construction Group with offices in Jackson, Nashville, Austin and Tupelo. He’s also served on the board of directors of the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund, an agency that helps fund outdoor and conservation projects.
“I kind of grew up on a farm outside of Tupelo,” Maloney said. “So, hunting and fishing was a part of my life growing up.
“My dad introduced me to deer hunting. My grandfather was a big fisherman.”
Though the father of two continues to hunt and fish, his interests have broadened, and he travels the world pursuing them. Maloney said he has participated in the Baja 1,000 off-road vehicle race in Mexico eight times. He has traveled to places like Vietnam in search of adventure.
Last year he did something closer to home, The Great Loop. It’s a 6,000-mile trip by boat that takes you up the Eastern Seaboard then inland through America by rivers and canals and then into the Gulf of Mexico. He has also traveled by motorcycle from Tupelo to Anchorage.
As exciting as adventures like those may be, he is also excited about his appointment to the commission.
“I think it’s like anything,” Maloney said. “You want to get in there and make a difference. I am excited about it.”
One area he wants to make a difference in is Mississippi’s state parks.
“I believe we need to spend some money on state parks,” Maloney said. “We do have a great resource in those parks and a lot of people use those parks, so let’s don’t forget about them.”
MS deer hunting: Here’s what’s new for the 2024-25 season
Who is Todd Hairston?
Hairston graduated from Delta State University where he earned a degree in environmental science. He works at Covington Civil and Environmental, a civil engineering and environmental consulting company. His current role is government relations and business development.
The 45-year-old is a father of three girls and lives in Gulfport, but he grew up in the Mississippi Delta where hunting and fishing are as much of the fabric of life as the corn, beans and cotton that are raised there.
“I don’t know when I was first taken hunting and fishing,” Hairston said.
He doesn’t know for a reason. Hairston talked about a photo of himself, father and grandfather fishing on the coast. It’s a memory captured only in the photo for Hairston, because he was too young to remember it.
“I was hunting and fishing before I knew I was hunting and fishing,” Hairston said.
When asked how it felt to be sworn in as a commissioner, he paused. Not because he didn’t know what to say, but because it was an emotional moment for him.
“I wish all of the folks that influenced my love of the outdoors could have been there,” Hairston said.
Hairston also talked about how he’d like to see conservation going forward.
“Yesterday was my first meeting,” Hairston said. “I’m still learning, but I want all of the people involved in the effort to better our natural environment and wildlife and experience of God’s creation to work together toward common goals — a better experience to enjoy what we have.”
CWD in Mississippi: Where MS is in deer disease fight and new management zones for 2024-25
Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.
Mississippi
Thompson defeats Turnage to highlight U.S. House primaries in Mississippi – SuperTalk Mississippi
Political newcomer and Capitol Hill attorney Evan Turnage proved no match for longtime U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, who defeated him and one other challenger to earn the Democratic nomination for Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District on Tuesday.
Some politicos thought Turnage – who went to Yale and later worked for some of Thompson’s Democratic colleagues, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) – wouldn’t necessarily win but could make waves as one of the more viable candidates to challenge Thompson in recent years. However, that wasn’t the case as Thompson garnered approximately 85% of the vote when the race was called.
Thompson, 78, is seeking an 18th term. The civil rights leader who chaired the Jan. 6 Committee was first elected in 1993 and serves as a ranking member on the House Homeland Security Committee. He will face either Ron Eller or Kevin Wilson on the Republican side, a race yet to be called as of late Tuesday night, and independent Bennie Foster in November’s general.
All of Mississippi’s U.S. House seats are up for grabs this year.
In the 1st Congressional District, Republican Rep. Trent Kelly ran unopposed, while civil rights attorney and University of Mississippi School of Law professor Cliff Johnson beat former state lawmaker Kelvin Buck in the Democratic primary. Libertarian challenger Johnny Baucom awaits Kelly and Johnson in the general.
In the 3rd Congressional District, both Republican Rep. Michael Guest and Democrat Michael Chiaradio ran unopposed. They will meet Libertarian Erik Kiehle in the general.
In the 4th Congressional District, Republican Rep. Mike Ezell had over 80% of the vote when his race was called against former Mississippi Department of Marine Resources officer and political staffer Sawyer Walters. State Rep. Jeffrey Hulum easily won the Democratic nomination over Paul Blackman and D. Ryan Grover. Ezell and Hulum will face independent Carl Boyanton in the general.
Arguably the most watched races of the night occurred in the state’s lone U.S. Senate seat in this year’s cycle. Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith had no problem with Ocean Springs doctor Sarah Adlakha, seeing her name bolded around 30 minutes after the polls closed. It wasn’t long after that when Lowndes County District Attorney Scott Colom was announced the winner of the Democratic primary over Priscilla Till and Albert Littell. Independent Ty Pinkins will meet Hyde-Smith and Colom in the general on Nov. 3.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Mississippi
Mississippi First Congressional District Primary 2026: Live Election Results, Buck vs. Johnson
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Staff
Sunday, March 15, 2026
1. (tie) “The Irish Goodbye,” Beth Ann Fennelly, Norton; and “Vigil,” George Saunders, Random House
2. “Theo of Golden,” Allen Levi, Atria Books
3. “The Widow,” John Grisham, Doubleday
4. “The Correspondent,” Virginia Evans, Random House
5. “When It’s Darkness on the Delta,” W. Ralph Eubanks, Beacon Press
6. “Eradication,” Jonathan Miles, Doubleday
7. “Neptune’s Fortune,” Julian Sancton, Random House
8. “The Dean,” Sparky Reardon, The Nautilus Publishing Company
9. “Kin,” Tayari Jones, Random House
10. “Brawler,” Lauren Groff, Riverhead
Children and young adults
1. “The Bear and the Hair and the Fair,” Em Lynas, Little Brown
2. “The Hybrid Prince,” Tui T. Sutherland, Scholastic Press
3. “One Mississippi,” Steve Azar,Sarah Frances Hardy (Illustrator), The Nautilus Publishing
4. “If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone,” Gideon Sterer, HarperCollins
5. (tie) “Fancy Nancy: Besties for Eternity,” Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser (Illustrator), HarperCollins; and “The Dark is For,” Jane Kohuth, Simon and Schuster
Adult events (Sunday, March 15–Saturday, March 21)
Amy McDowell in conversation with Jodi Skipper for “Whispers in the Pews,” 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Off Square Books, 129 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2262
Tayari Jones on Thacker Mountain Radio Hour for “Kin,” 6 p.m. Thursday, Off Square Books, 129 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2262
Children’s events (Sunday, March 15–Saturday, March 21)
No Cap Book Club (kids 10-13) will be reading “A Kid’s Book About…,” 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Square Books Jr., 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2207
Storytime, “Clifford: Dream Big,” 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Square Books Jr., 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2207
Chapter Captains Book Club (kids 6-9) will be reading “Princess in Black: Bathtime Battle,” 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Square Books Jr., 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2207
Storytime, “What a Small Cat Needs,” 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Square Books Jr., 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2207
Story Time, “Very Hungry Caterpillar” Day! 10 a.m. Saturday, Lemuria Books, 202 Banner Hall, 4465 I-55 North, Jackson, 601-366-7619
— Sales and/or Events Reported by Lemuria Books (Jackson); Lorelei Books (Vicksburg); Square Books (Oxford).
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