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The Clarion Ledger

partner publisher · 44.8K followers
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This country artist wrote a clever song about Blue Mississippi years ago

For four years, Mary Kutter's song "Mississippi Votes Blue" existed in the realm of the impossible. The Kentucky-born singer-songwriter and her co-writer, Matthew Osborn, created the tune in 2022 as a playful exercise in imagining things that would never happen in America. Kentucky would stop racing horses. Texas would quit selling barbecue. Georgia would stop playing football. Nevada would abandon blackjack. And Mississippi, as the joke and the lyrics went, would vote blue . Then this year's U.S. Senate election happened. As vote totals came in from around Mississippi, showing Democratic candidate Scott Colom with a razor-thin edge over Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith, Kutter suddenly found herself at the center of a social-media storm she never expected. Then, on Nov. 11, the final votes were counted and Mississippi had, indeed, turned Blue, at least with one high-profile Senate seat. Colom declared victory over Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith on Wednesday evening, following the afternoon announcement that CNN had called the race for the Democratic challenger. Colom officials said that Hyde-Smith had called Colom to concede the race on Wednesday. Hyde-Smith congratulated Colom in a video released that evening. "I opened up my Instagram and all these DMs," Kutter told

Mississippi · 2d

The Clarion Ledger

partner publisher · 44.8K followers
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New book looks at Delta Debutante Club of the Civil Rights era in MS

Beauvais S. McCaddon didn’t waste any time getting to real issues surrounding the spectacle of debutante socialization. Early on in her memoir, “Invitation Only: A Delta Debutante Meets the Second Reconstruction,” McCaddon asks: “How could I and other debs while living in the red-hot center of civil rights activity in the Mississippi Delta be totally clueless to the earthquake? What and who was a Delta Debutante? What was the purpose of the organization, the Delta Debutante Club? How did I fit into the role and where did it lead me?” Those questions have long been asked by people living across the vast demesne of the Mississippi Delta, an 18-county area of Northwest Mississippi, some 200 miles long and nearly 100 miles wide that’s considered one of the nation’s premier agricultural locales. To fully grasp the process of presenting elite Delta girls to “society” through the Delta Debutante Club, founded in 1943, it’s almost necessary to have a family member involved in what McCaddon describes as “the pure fantasy of being a debutante.” Then again, who’s elite? Why wasn’t civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer considered elite? She was courageous, smart and worked hard, virtues admired in Mississippi. “Invitation Only” offers

Mississippi · 2d

The Clarion Ledger

partner publisher · 44.8K followers
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Madison approves $11.74 million funding for 'The Gallery' project

The Gallery development is moving forward in Madison the City, with the $60 million mixed-use arts and entertainment district becoming the first project in 15 years to benefit from tax increment financing in the city. In what proved to be the most routine of public hearings Tuesday, Nov. 10, long-serving Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler and the Board of Alderman unanimously approved issuing up to $11.74 million in TIF revenue bonds before adjourning the meeting after just 15 minutes. “It is a great project in an area that needs to be developed and that has been sitting there a long time, so in order to help move it along quickly we said this is a project we need to get behind,” Butler said. “We’re not quick to get involved with tax increment financing and our record shows that through the years, and when we have done it has been very frugal.” What does the TIF plan cover? Described as project-specific financing, the plan will use future tax revenues generated from the development to support potential expansion and public infrastructure like roads, sewer and water. The bonds will also be repaid through future sales tax revenues generated and incremental property tax

Madison, MS · 1d

Country Herald

publisher · 12.8K followers
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Mississippi Residents Could Win $2,500 Watching Christmas Movies

Jackson-area holiday movie fans have until Dec. 6 to apply for the nationwide Chief of Cheer contest.

Mississippi · 2d

breezynews.com

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Photo: SFC Robert Oswalt Speaks at KACTC for Veterans Day

Students at the Kosciusko Attala Career and Technical Center (KACTC) recently welcomed SFC Robert Oswalt of the Mississippi Army National Guard for a special Veterans Day presentation focused on service, sacrifice, and personal responsibility. Speaking to the student body, SFC Oswalt shared a message of gratitude honoring the dedication of...

Kosciusko, MS · 20h

vannuysnewspress.com

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Smithsonian’s Regional Collaboratives Initiative in Mississippi Culminates at the National Folk Festival

Participants To Be Recognized for Their Participation in Yearlong Cultural Preservation Workshop Series. After nearly a year of training, collaboration and community engagement, participants in the Smithsonian’s Mississippi Community Cultural Conservation Program will gather Thursday, Nov. 12–Saturday, Nov. 14, during the 83rd National Folk Festival in Jackson, Mississippi, to be recognized by Monique Chism, the Smithsonian’s Under Secretary for Education, and Barry White, the executive director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, a Smithsonian Affiliate, to mark the final in-person workshop as part of the program.

Mississippi · 1d

vicksburgnews.com

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Blues legend Bobby Rush to celebrate 93rd birthday at Vicksburg’s Ameristar

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — The one and only blues legend Bobby Rush will celebrate his 93rd birthday with a special birthday bash at Ameristar in Vicksburg. Rush takes the stage for his 93rd Birthday Bash on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, at Ameristar Bottleneck Blues Bar. The event begins at 8 p.m., but doors open at 7 p.m.

Vicksburg, MS · 2d

jacksonadvocateonline.com

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GALLERY – Hitachi Energy celebrated 70 years of transformer manufacturing in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, bringing together employees and their families to recognize the company’s longstanding presence in Copiah County

On Nov. 7th, Hitachi Energy celebrated 70 years of transformer manufacturing in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, bringing together employees and their families to recognize the company’s longstanding presence in Copiah County. The celebration included factory tours, food, games and entertainment at McPherson Park, highlighting seven decades of work by employees who manufacture transformers that help deliver reliable electricity to homes, businesses and communities across the country. The milestone comes following Hitachi Energy’s announcement of a historic $528 million investment in a new transformer factory in nearby Gallman. The project, which will be more than twice the size of the existing Crystal Springs facility, is expected to more than double production capacity and create more than 700 jobs. The new facility is part of the company’s approximately $1.5 billion U.S. manufacturing expansion. Construction is expected to begin following a planned groundbreaking celebration next year, with production scheduled to start in 2029. Hitachi Energy plans to continue operations in Crystal Springs during construction and maintain a presence at the existing site for warehousing, training and other operational needs after production transitions to Gallman. (Advocate Photos: Joshua Martin)

Crystal Springs, MS · 3d

vicksburgnews.com

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SCHC to host monthly Line Dance Party

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Get ready to kick up your heels at the monthly Line Dance Party in the Southern Cultural Heritage Center’s Auditorium, Friday, Nov. 20. SCHC is located at the corner of Crawford and Cherry Streets. There will be a dance tutorial from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. with party lasting from 7:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.

Vicksburg, MS · 20h

WJTV 12

partner publisher · 118.4K followers

Santa and live music coming to Highland Village

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Highland Village will kick off the holiday season with its fifth annual Holiday Stroll in Jackson. The event will be held on November 12, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Holiday Stroll is free to attend. Vendors throughout Highland Village will offer special in-store treats and activations while guests browse […]

Jackson, MS · 23h

jacksonadvocateonline.com

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Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Alpha Delta Zeta Chapter celebrates 88 years of legacy, service, and sisterhood

JANS – With the theme “Celebrating and Embracing an Extraordinary Legacy,” Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Alpha Delta Zeta Chapter, celebrated 88 years of chartered history, service, and sisterhood on October 10, 2026, at the Jackson Convention Center. The Charter Day celebration brought sorority and community members together to honor the chapter’s founding members, reflect on its enduring legacy, and strengthen the bonds of sisterhood that continue to unite generations of women.

Jackson, MS · 3d

unearththevoyage.com

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This Mississippi Art Gallery Has Been Celebrating African Heritage For 50 Years

A shop in Mississippi sells African clothing, jewelry, art, and books, and it also hosts meetings. That is a lot of culture under one roof. I like that it works as both a store and a gathering spot. Shoppers can find body care products and items made in Ghana. I...

Jackson, MS · 2d

Mississippi Sports Group

partner publisher · 1.0K followers

Jackson State bowling earns two ranked wins at Bulldog Classic

Jackson State beat No. 17 Tulane and No. 21 Valparaiso during Saturday’s competition at the Bulldog Classic. The Tigers finished qualifying 11th in the 16-team field and were scheduled to meet UAB in Sunday’s championship round.

Jackson, MS · 3d

takingthekids.com

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These 6 Mississippi Mini Golf Courses Fill A Whole Afternoon

We only stopped for a quick round of putt-putt, and somehow the sun was setting when we finally left. Mini golf in Mississippi has a sneaky way of stretching a short break into a full afternoon of laughs. Many courses here pair their holes with arcades, go-karts, snacks, and wild...

Mississippi · 4d

americanbluesscene.com

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David Evans and the Sound of the Mississippi Hill Country (Part One)

David Evans, an ethnomusicologist, musician and foremost expert on Hill Country blues, began documenting the region’s musicians in 1969, recording artists and community music traditions through the 1970s and into the early ’80s. A professor emeritus at the University of Memphis, Evans produced records by R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough and Jessie Mae Hemphill through the university’s High Water label, helping bring their music to audiences beyond northern Mississippi. He is the author of Big Road Blues: Tradition and Creativity in the Folk Blues (1982), a foundational study of the genre, and was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2023.

Mississippi · 6d

takingthekids.com

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The 8 Mississippi Towns Where Famous Movies Were Filmed That You Can Still Visit

Pulling off the highway for a quick lunch in Mississippi, we noticed a courthouse that looked strangely familiar. It turned out we had seen it on a movie screen years before. Mississippi is full of small towns where Hollywood stars once walked the same sidewalks your family can stroll today. This guide shows you eight of them, with real places kids can see, touch, and remember long after the trip ends.

Mississippi · 16d

unearththevoyage.com

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This Mississippi Bookstore Started In An Apartment And Became A Literary Landmark

A bookstore that began in an apartment now draws readers from hundreds of miles away. I love that story. It proves a big idea can start in a very small space. This Mississippi shop sits upstairs in a building with a restaurant below. Shelves climb toward the ceiling, and small reading corners are tucked all around.

Jackson, MS · 4d

takingthekids.com

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The Mississippi Forest Where You Can See 36 Million Year Old Stone Trees And Hunt For Gems For $11

Our family pulled off the highway expecting a quick leg stretch and maybe a snack break. Instead, we found trees older than any mountain story we had ever told the kids, and they were made of stone. Tucked into the quiet woods of central Mississippi, this spot turns a lazy...

Mississippi · 8d

WJTV.com

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Restoration of Mississippi’s Merci Train is complete

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) announced the restoration work of the state’s Merci Train, a post-World War II gift from France, has been completed. Located behind the Old Capitol Museum and the GM&O Train Depot, the gray boxcar is one of...

Mississippi · 5d

vicksburgnews.com

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Vicksburg native publishes new book

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Crystal Lake Publishing is proud to announce the December 4, 2026 release of “VEIL”, a Southern Gothic novel by Lissalani, of Vicksburg, which explores the enduring influence of family history and the mysteries that linger between the living and the dead. Set against...

Vicksburg, MS · 6d