News Staff The Mississippi Department of Corrections said Monday that autopsies will be done on two inmates who were pronounced dead Sunday. Mack Wilcher, 76, died in the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, where he was serving life without parole. He was convicted of capital rape on June 17, 1996, in Scott County. Willie Louis Lacey, 44, … Read more
Jackson State University is one of five schools to get a Scientific Leadership Award. WLBT-TV reports the schools _ described as a Minority-Serving Institution _ will receive up to $1 million in 2021, which is the first of a two-year funding effort. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate made the announcement … Read more
DeSoto County has earned a national Keep America Beautiful Award, recognizing the county for its litter control efforts. Keep DeSoto County Beauitiful has been awarded the 2020 President’s Circle Award. Criteria for the award includes initiatives to end littering, improve recycling in the county, and beautifying the county overall. This is the 6th year that … Read more
Former Vice President Al Gore was in Memphis on Sunday, speaking out against a massive pipeline project. Gore described the Byhalia Pipeline as a “scourge,” speaking to a crowd of about 200 people. The pipeline would carry crude oil about 49 miles from Memphis to Marshall County, Mississippi, connecting two existing pipelines in the area. … Read more
The Southaven Chamber of Commerce has named Debbie King as its next director. The chamber board of directors announced the appointment this week, as King will succeed Carmen Kyle, who resigned in February to take a new job. King has served with the Southaven Chamber as its assistant director for the past seven years.
Country stars Mickey Guyton and Keith Urban are taking over as hosts for the Academy of Country Music Awards in April. Guyton, who is nominated and performing at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, will be the first Black woman to host the show. Urban, who has won 15 ACM Awards over his career, hosted the … Read more
Tennessee officials are seeking applicants for grants to help agricultural, food and forestry businesses in distressed counties. The state Department of Agriculture says awards through the Agricultural Enterprise Fund will be prioritized for new and expanding businesses based on their impact on local farm income, access to markets, increased capacity or agricultural innovation. The deadline … Read more
Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves signed a bill Thursday to ban transgender athletes from competing on girls or women’s sports teams. Mississippi is the first state this year to enact such a ban, after a federal court blocked an Idaho law last year. Mississippi’s Senate Bill 2536 is set to become law July 1, although … Read more
One perosn has died and another was injured in a fire at a high-rise apartment building in the Medical District. The flames broke out overnight at the Helix Apartments on North Manassas Street near Washignton Avenue. A Memphis fire spokesperosn at the scene reported that the fire started on the 9th floor and spread down … Read more
The University of Memphis says President M. David Rudd will be leaving his position next year to return to the faculty. The university says Rudd will be stepping down as president in May 2022. A psychology professor, Rudd became the university’s president in May 2014. During his time as president, the university has seen improvements … Read more