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Where is LeeBeth, the massive great white shark that swam off Mississippi Coast?

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Where is LeeBeth, the massive great white shark that swam off Mississippi Coast?



‘I feel like if we have a dead whale this spring she might be on it. That shark is so large, there’s only a few things she’s interested in (eating) and it has to be large.’

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A 14-foot, 2,600-pound great white shark that was caught and released off the coast of South Carolina was tracked for months with a GPS tag that was placed on her. She made an incredible journey to Mexico and then turned back, passed by the Mississippi Coast and swam to Nova Scotia where her GPS unit stopped transmitting.

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It was a journey that was never before documented and she made headlines everywhere she went.

Will we ever hear from her again?

“The last time we heard from her was in October,” said Megan Winton, research scientist at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. “She was still in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

“She spent months in that area, and October is when sharks that are in Canada begin to move. That’s the last time we heard from her.”

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How great white shark LeeBeth is tracked

LeeBeth was caught in December 2023 by Ed Young, pastor of the Dallas-Fort Worth mega-church Fellowship Church. Young was fishing with Chip Michalove of Outcast Sport Fishing based in South Carolina. Young named the shark after his daughter who died in 2021.

LeeBeth was outfitted with data collection devices including a GPS tag that transmitted her location whenever she breached the surface. There’s also a device that collects data such as depths that will at some point release, float to the surface and transmit the recorded data.

The final device is an acoustic transmitter. It will communicate whenever it nears acoustic receivers that are placed in the water by various research groups. Its life expectancy is 10 years.

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The battery life in the GPS tag is generally about a year, but LeeBeth breached the surface so often that she transmitted her locations far more than other tagged great white sharks. That probably reduced the life-span of the battery.

“It’s likely the battery has died at this point,” Winton said. “She was pinging like crazy.”

Big sharks need big meals

LeeBeth’s travels could be followed through the AWSC Sharktivity app. Michalove, who has helped AWSC tag many great white sharks including LeeBeth, followed her closely.

“When she stopped pinging, I felt like I was gut-punched,” Michalove said. “She was like a kid to me.”

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Even though LeeBeth’s GPS transmitter hasn’t sent a signal in months, Michalove said there’s a chance he’ll see her again. He said she likely has a set pattern of migration and will be off the coast of South Carolina this spring.

“I’ve studied her track over and over just trying to figure her path,” Michalove said. “I’m pretty confident I’ve got her down.

“I feel like if we have a dead whale this spring, she might be on it. That shark is so large, there’s only a few things she’s interested in (eating) and it has to be large. Fingers crossed I see her again and sooner than later. And, hopefully, not while I’m swimming.”

Why is LeeBeth being tracked?

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy studies the protected sharks. Winton said decades ago, the great white population was down about 80% from historic levels. Through protections, the population appears to be rebounding.

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Winton said the group mainly focuses on the Cape Cod area. She said that’s because rebounding seal populations in that area are attracting the sharks in summer to feed on them and place the sharks near people.

With Cape Cod becoming a hotspot for white shark activity, Winton said the data collected from tagged sharks helps the group with outreach and education on managing interactions between humans and sharks.

As far as education and outreach go, LeeBeth has been instrumental due to her record-breaking travel from Mexico to Canada and the attention she has drawn.

“She’s quite the ambassador,” Winton said. “She has been such an interesting shark to follow.”

Have we heard the last from LeeBeth?

Maybe. Maybe not.

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LeeBeth was tracked for thousands of miles as she traveled to the Gulf of Mexico where she appears to spend winters feeding on giant squid and then to the Gulf of St. Lawrence north of Nova Scotia where she spends summers feeding on seals. Last winter’s trek took her 20 miles south of Biloxi.

Both Winton and Michalove said they think she’s back in the Gulf of Mexico right now. While that is most likely true, knowing she’s in the Gulf isn’t quite as exciting as seeing her exact locations on a map in real time.

Although not the same, the acoustic transmitter may provide insight into her whereabouts. When she swims near an acoustic receiver, the units communicate. Some automatically transmit the detection, but most store the information and need to be pulled up periodically to download it.

“Hopefully we’ll be hearing from LeeBeth for the next nine years,” Winton said.

And there’s also the remote possibility that Michalove could catch her again and outfit her with a new GPS unit.

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“The ocean is enormous and the odds are against us, but I’ve had recaptures before,” Michalove said.

Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.



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Mississippi Miss Hospitality announces record scholarships for 2026 competition

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Mississippi Miss Hospitality announces record scholarships for 2026 competition


HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) – The Mississippi Miss Hospitality Program announced Saturday that contestants competing for the title in 2026 will be eligible for the organization’s largest scholarship offerings in its 77-year history.

Contestants will be eligible for more than $105,000 in scholarships and prizes, including $32,500 in direct cash scholarships.

The winner of the competition will receive a $10,000 cash scholarship, tuition scholarships, travel opportunities and a total prize package valued at $27,000. The first alternate will receive a cash scholarship of $6,000, the second will receive $3,500, the third will receive $2,500 and the fourth will receive $2,000.

During Saturday’s announcement, the Advisory Board of the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Program also revealed that the winning cash scholarship will be named for Bonnie Warren.

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Warren has spent decades supporting tourism, hospitality and economic development efforts across Mississippi. She also helped move the Miss Hospitality Program from Starkville to Hattiesburg in 1998 and has remained one of its strongest advocates.

The theme for this year’s Miss Hospitality will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.

The competition will take place July 17-18 in Hattiesburg. Tickets will go on sale in two weeks.

The Miss Hospitality Program was founded in 1949.

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Copyright 2026 WDAM. All rights reserved.



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

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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.”

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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.”

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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.

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“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.

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

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


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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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