News Staff The percentage of Mississippi children considered ready for kindergarten has fallen during the pandemic, according to state test results released Friday. The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment showed 31.8% of kindergarteners scored kindergarten-ready this year, according to the Mississippi Department of Education. That is down from 36.6% in 2019 and 36.1% in 2018. Scores from 2020 were … Read more
A report says that a crack in a steel beam that forced the closure of the Interstate 40 bridge connecting Arkansas and Tennessee for three months likely began when the span was fabricated in the 1970s. The Arkansas Department of Transportation on Thursday released reports reviewing the crack that forced the closure of the I-40 … Read more
The University of Mississippi chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity has been suspended, a year after a member was charged with assault for spraying cleaning solution on pledges during a hazing ritual. The 158-member Gamma Iota chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha was suspended by both the university and the Supreme Council of the Pi … Read more
A Memphis-area grocery store that was closed for weeks after a man fatally shot one person and wounded 14 others has reopened. A Kroger spokeswoman says the company’s store in Collierville opened to customers with $4 million in renovations. Law enforcement officials said UK Thang killed one person and wounded 14 others at the Kroger … Read more
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee says he plans to sign a wide-reaching bill that strictly limits what governments and companies can require of workers and the public to address the COVID-19 pandemic, despite opposition from prominent business interests. The Republican told reporters “there are some issues we need to work through” with the legislation, but his … Read more
Chris Stapleton and Eric Church are the top nominees. Luke Combs could be in for a big night. And all three will take the stage to perform at the CMA Awards. Stapleton and Church be going toe-to-toe all night Wednesday with nominations in the same five categories, including entertainer of the year. Combs could be … Read more
The University of Memphis’ board of trustees has named Bill Hardgrave as the school’s new president. The announcement was made Tuesday. Hardgrave comes to the Tennessee school from Auburn University, where he served as provost, senior vice president for academic affairs, and dean of the business college over a 11-year period. In 2013, Hardgrave secured … Read more
Olive Branch Police are still investigating a shooting at the Walmart at 7950 Craft-Goodman Frontage Road. The shooting happened on Sunday after the victims were reportedly approached by three black males who demanded their car keys. At one point, shots were fired. One of the victiom was struck by a bullet, but his condition is … Read more
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland announced a move to increase the number of state troopers on local highways. Right now, Strickland said there are 12 troopers patrolling the highways in Shelby County. Soon, four more troopers will graduate from the academy, providing for a total of 16 troopers by next summer. The increase comes as local … Read more
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has again extended an executive order letting parents opt students out of school COVID-19 mask requirements that federal judges have blocked from applying in three counties. The Republican’s decision Friday maintains the status quo on the opt-out order for two weeks while he considers whether to sign broad coronavirus bill that … Read more