This article first appeared on the Magnolia Tribune.

• This year’s “Giant House Party” runs from July 26 until August 2.

If you’re headed to the Neshoba County Fair in Choctaw, Mississippi, for the first time, you should know that it will be an experience you’ll never forget. Known as “Mississippi’s Giant House Party,” the Neshoba County Fair is the nation’s only remaining campground fair, and it draws in people from all over the world.

For 135 years, this fair has brought thousands to this otherwise humble campground, celebrating the uniqueness of the Magnolia States, from the fair’s cabins to the racetrack. 

Visiting the Neshoba State Fair is like getting a masterclass in hospitality and Mississippi culture. It’s easy to get overwhelmed the first time you visit, so here’s a comprehensive guide for thoroughly enjoying your first time at the Fair. 

Beat the heat

Unless you’re in the pageant or dancing at Founder’s Square after dark, now is not the time to be cute! This is real Mississippi heat. The kind of heat that sticks to you and lives on your skin like a thick coating, like a sunscreen that won’t sink in. Wear loose clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty. A lot of the Neshoba County Fair is on dirt or gravel; when it rains it’s muddy and if it doesn’t, it’s dusty. Be prepared for either!

Comfortable walking shoes or mud boots are a necessity; however, leave the high-dollar, easy-to-ruin kicks at the house. And since there’s a slight chance of rain nearly every summer day in Mississippi, pack a poncho or umbrella just in case. 

What you wear isn’t the only way to beat the heat at the Neshoba County Fair. Stay-cool towels that you can wet and throw around your neck will help keep you cool, as will battery-operated, handheld fans. 

Free water is available at the Exhibit Hall – just look for the CDP booth. 

Cash is king

Debit card usage isn’t consistent across the Neshoba County Fairgrounds. While some vendors and ticket counters can take them, others can’t. Even the card-taking vendors might lose network connectivity from time to time, and the fairgrounds are remote.

You’re better off carrying enough cash to get your meals, snacks, tickets, and anything you might find, especially for the arts and crafts fair. 

Think of the children 

Wagons and strollers are allowed inside the gates, and with the amount of walking, keeping the kiddos content is worth it. Remember that if it has recently rained, pushing through might be harder than usual.

However, the Neshoba County Fair is incredibly kid-friendly, with a petting zoo, interactive exhibits, vendors, rides, and more. Best of all, kids nine and under get into the fair for free. 

Directions and accommodations

The Neshoba County Fair website lists several area hotels, RV parking opportunities, and directions to the Fairgrounds. The Neshoba County Fair is only 200 miles from Birmingham, 210 miles from Memphis, and 256 miles from New Orleans, and is easily accessed from Interstates 20, 55, and 59. Click here for more in-depth directions and hotel recommendations. 

As you get closer to the Fairgrounds, you will see paid and free parking opportunities, but shuttling to and fro is not typically included in the price. You’re buying the availability and certainty of a parking spot without having to drive around, so keep in mind that the further out you are, the more walking you may be doing. 

Here’s a map of the Neshoba County Fairgrounds to help you plan your experience: 

Get ready for the fun

Each day of the Neshoba County Fair promises fun and excitement for all ages. With different events each day, you’ll want to know what’s happening before you plan your day. 

Click here for a full lineup of daily events at the Fair. 

Click here for the rundown of nightly activities. 

Crowds will vary throughout the day, but Founders Square is often packed with events during the day. Some of the busiest times are during the Arts and Crafts Fair and the political speeches at the Pavilion. 

Have fun! There’s so much to experience at the Neshoba County Fair. Plan your trip now by visiting the Neshoba County Fair website. 

This article first appeared on the Magnolia Tribune and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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OXFORD, Miss.—Lafayette County Circuit Court Judge Kelly Luther denied a joint motion on Thursday by attorneys on both sides to seal all pretrial filings in the capital-murder case against Sheldon “Timothy” Harrington, who is accused of killing Jimmie “Jay” Lee in 2022, a University of Mississippi student who planned to start graduate school in the fall. Lee’s body has not been found.

Rep. Kevin Horan, Harrington’s defense attorney, and District Attorney Ben Creekmore, the prosecuting attorney in the case, jointly filed the motion to seal the filings. Both attorneys assert that this action will guarantee a fair trial for the defendant, a former UM student from Grenada, Miss. 

The case has received immense media attention since Jay Lee’s disappearance on July 8, 2022. Horan has said that he believes this publicity will introduce prejudice to the trial and to a potential jury pool. 

“People on social-media platforms have the tendency to post everything we do, and sometimes they get it wrong,” Horan said. “For example, this motion would only cover the filings between now and the time the jury is seated, and not the whole trial. That’s not what’s being reported, and that jeopardizes the defendant’s right to a fair trial.” 

Still, prosecutors and defense attorneys filing jointly on a motion to seal case information is rare. “The state also has the ethical obligation to ensure the defendant’s right to a fair trial,” Horan said. “The coverage of this case isn’t going to diminish, and any efforts to diminish sensationalized pretrial publicity are in the best interest of a fair trial.” 

‘Secrecy Lessens the Public’s Trust’

Charles Mitchell, a media-law professor at the University of Mississippi, speculated that the concern is not with what traditional media outlets are reporting, but rather with the voluminous amount of social-media posts circulated since Lee’s disappearance. 

“Courts and their records are open for a reason, (and) it has to be noted that any amount of secrecy lessens the public’s trust in the process,” Mitchell said. “Judges have to balance the interests at stake when there’s a motion like

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This article first appeared on the Magnolia Tribune.

This article first appeared on the Magnolia Tribune and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Read original article by clicking here.

This article first appeared on the Magnolia Tribune.

This article first appeared on the Magnolia Tribune and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Read original article by clicking here.

JACKSON, Miss.—South Jackson residents are organizing over what they say has been a lack of municipal investment in their neighborhoods and a decline in their quality of life in recent years, they said during a July 18, 2024, meeting at the Peggy Calhoun Community Center on Willowwood Boulevard.

“Our leadership has failed us,” Earnest Ward, a long time resident and president of the Association of South Jackson Neighborhoods, said during the meeting.

About 50 residents attended the ASJN meeting, where Ward gave an impassioned speech urging them to be vocal about issues plaguing their neighborhoods.

Attorney Mike Brown said in a statement to the Mississippi Free Press on July 19, 2024, that The Michael R. Brown Law Offices, PLLC, sent the above letter to Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba on July 10, 2024. Letter courtesy of Michael R. Brown Law Offices ” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jones-S-Ltr-to-Mayor-Chokwe-Lumumba-7.10.24_courtesy-of-Michael-R.-Brown-Law-Offices.jpg?fit=232%2C300&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jones-S-Ltr-to-Mayor-Chokwe-Lumumba-7.10.24_courtesy-of-Michael-R.-Brown-Law-Offices.jpg?fit=780%2C1010&ssl=1″ tabindex=”0″ role=”button” src=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jones-S-Ltr-to-Mayor-Chokwe-Lumumba-7.10.24_courtesy-of-Michael-R.-Brown-Law-Offices.jpg?resize=780%2C1010&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-44981″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jones-S-Ltr-to-Mayor-Chokwe-Lumumba-7.10.24_courtesy-of-Michael-R.-Brown-Law-Offices.jpg?resize=791%2C1024&ssl=1 791w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jones-S-Ltr-to-Mayor-Chokwe-Lumumba-7.10.24_courtesy-of-Michael-R.-Brown-Law-Offices.jpg?resize=232%2C300&ssl=1 232w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jones-S-Ltr-to-Mayor-Chokwe-Lumumba-7.10.24_courtesy-of-Michael-R.-Brown-Law-Offices.jpg?resize=768%2C994&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jones-S-Ltr-to-Mayor-Chokwe-Lumumba-7.10.24_courtesy-of-Michael-R.-Brown-Law-Offices.jpg?resize=400%2C518&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jones-S-Ltr-to-Mayor-Chokwe-Lumumba-7.10.24_courtesy-of-Michael-R.-Brown-Law-Offices.jpg?w=927&ssl=1 927w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jones-S-Ltr-to-Mayor-Chokwe-Lumumba-7.10.24_courtesy-of-Michael-R.-Brown-Law-Offices-791×1024.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w” sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” data-recalc-dims=”1″>Attorney Mike Brown said in a statement to the Mississippi Free Press on July 19, 2024, that The Michael R. Brown Law Offices, PLLC, sent the above letter to Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba on July 10, 2024. Letter courtesy of Michael R. Brown Law Offices

Tim Henderson, a 2024 candidate for the Jackson mayoral seat, was one of those in attendance.

Despite paying taxes, Ward said, residents do not believe they are receiving adequate municipal services. “We are not getting the quality of life we’re supposed to get. What y’all gonna do?” Ward asked the crowd gathered on a Thursday night. “Are you going to continue to stay silent?”

During the meeting, he cited a lack of investment from the 1% sales tax, lackluster code enforcement of city ordinances, a desire for increased police presence, and ongoing issues with water and sewer services as some of the problems.

While residents across the capital city have grappled with issues like crime, fires at abandoned properties, illegal dumping and decline in population, problems have been particularly persistent in some South Jackson

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This article first appeared on the Magnolia Tribune.

• Thomas Dent writes that Mississippi desperately needs to increase its focus on retention to address the shortage of licensed homes.

Benjamin Franklin famously said, “In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” In Mississippi, you can add the need for more foster parents to the list.

We see the news stories and hear about the need for additional foster homes in our state. It’s a heartbreaking reality, and as time goes on, the problem persists. Being a foster parent is hard, but are we making it harder than it should be?  As a former foster parent, I believe there needs to be more focus on retaining the foster parents we recruit. The questions we need to be asking are, “Who are the best recruiters?” and, “Are we using them to their full potential?”

I believe current and former foster parents are the best recruiters, and although they are used in some capacity, their potential impact is far greater. Using people with firsthand experience to recruit isn’t a new idea; the military and universities use their own, and recruiting foster parents can work the same way. This idea works because we value others’ personal experiences. We all want to dip our toes in the water before deciding whether to dive in.

One of the best ways the public gets educated about foster care is when someone in their circle is fostering. It could be a relative, neighbor, friend, or someone from church or school. It’s effective because it’s less overwhelming; it’s about one or two children instead of the thousands of children in the system. The connection through a personal relationship is stronger than a news story, even though it may reach fewer people. Through a personal relationship, questions can be answered, experiences shared, eyes opened, and hearts changed with little pressure.

For this to be effective, the foster parent has to feel supported by the child welfare agency to want to share and potentially recruit others. Being shown respect, consideration, trust, and value by the agency are the cornerstones of feeling supported. These have to be more than words on a page, and they must be felt by those serving in the trenches. I am talking about retention, and Mississippi desperately needs to increase its focus in this area to address the shortage of licensed homes.

The problem didn’t develop overnight and won’t be solved that quickly either. I believe foster parents aren’t encouraging other families to follow their lead due to their experience within the system. These negative experiences will have to change if we want to see an increase in safe and loving homes becoming licensed.

At its core, retention is a communication and customer service issue. Foster parents need to feel safe asking questions with the expectation that they will get a timely response. If calls, voicemails, and texts are regularly ignored, then their opinion of the agency will rightfully suffer. Most foster parents understand that agencies are understaffed and overworked and are willing to give caseworkers the benefit of the doubt as long as it doesn’t become a pattern. They also want to be heard.

They understand that the caseworkers and the judges have to make difficult decisions in a child’s case and that they won’t always agree with those decisions. From the foster parent’s perspective, frustration exists when those decisions are made without all the information available, as is sometimes the case. For a foster parent, agreeing isn’t the goal; being heard is. A part of being heard is addressing issues brought up by foster parents. That means listening, understanding, and resolving concerns promptly. The resolution doesn’t necessarily mean agreement. It is reasonable that the answer may not be what the foster parent was hoping for. However, the resolution should be communicated with a sensible explanation of how the decision was determined.

Are these ideas the norm inside the state’s child welfare system? I’d argue that the declining number of licensed homes gives reason to be concerned about how foster parents are treated and ultimately retained.

When a family gets licensed, no one, including the family, knows how long they will be fostering. Will it be for one or ten years? Will they accept one placement or twenty?

As their journey begins, each interaction and experience will shape how long they foster. Families need to be given support by the child welfare system as they open their homes to our most vulnerable. There are too many families that closed their homes early due to their experiences with the system, not the children. We can’t go back and change the past, but we can change the future by focusing on retention.

This article first appeared on the Magnolia Tribune and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Read original article by clicking here.

The Mississippi Free Press awards board keeps swelling! As of July 2024, our team is up to 91 national and U.S. regional awards and finalist nods since we launched in late March 2020, plus a number of coveted awards from inside Mississippi. Here they are with links to specific work honored (see winners’ bios here). We will update this page from the top as more honors come in.

2024 Diamond Journalism Awards

The Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists held their annual Diamond Journalism Awards ceremony on July 24 in Little Rock, Arkansas. The regional competition rewards outstanding journalism from news outlets in Arkansas and six bordering states.

1st Place, Profiles: Donna Ladd
Hodding Carter III: Hellraiser, Journalist, Mentor, 1935-2023

1st Place, Special Topics–Business: Heather Harrison
Medical Cannabis Industry Faces Growing Pains in Mississippi
‘Nightmare Scenario’: MSDH Places Hold On Rapid Analytics-Tested Medical-Cannabis Products
Olive Branch Medical-Cannabis Dispensary Fights Advertising Ban
‘Building an Industry’: Medical Cannabis Investors Focus On Lab Testing For Patient Safety

1st Place, Special Topics–Environmental/Science: Donna Ladd
‘One Lake’ or ‘No Lake’? Debate Over Pearl River Flooding Options Means Unlikely Allies, Opponents

1st Place, Visual Journalism–General News Photography: Shaunicy Muhammad
‘Human Error’ Caused Hinds County Election Day Ballot Shortages, Commissioners Say

Votings-rights advocates and others in Jackson, Miss., listen to Hinds County election commissioners on Dec. 18, 2023, explain the mistakes that led to ballot shortages on Election Day 2023. Photo by Shaunicy Muhammad

1st Place, Visual Journalism–Graphics/Illustrations: William Pittman
State Has Wrong or Missing Addresses for 92 Voting Precincts, MFP Investigation Finds

Finalist, Enterprise/In Depth Reporting: Christian Middleton & Donna Ladd
The Case of Harry Mitchell: One Family’s Fight for Justice
Heart of Darkness: 1991 Lafayette County Cold Case Spurs Black Family’s Struggle for Justice
Gone But Not Forgotten: Who Was Harry Mitchell?
Stop Shifting Blame, Ignoring Opinion | Black Families Who Lose Loved Ones to Violence

Finalist, Features: Aliyah Veal
‘Red and Bootjack’ Marker Shines Light on Duck Hill Lynching, Remembers Victims

Finalist, Arts & Entertainment Coverage: Aliyah Veal
‘Astronaut Behind the Music’: Jackson Artists Share Wisdom on Advancing in the Industry
‘Sounds Like Family’: Jackson Rappers Unify for Collaborative ‘Thanksgiving’ Album
‘Home Is

Read original article by clicking here.

The Mississippi Free Press awards board keeps swelling! As of July 2024, our team is up to 91 national and U.S. regional awards and finalist nods since we launched in late March 2020, plus a number of coveted awards from inside Mississippi. Here they are with links to specific work honored (see winners’ bios here). We will update this page from the top as more honors come in.

2024 Diamond Journalism Awards

The Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists held their annual Diamond Journalism Awards ceremony on July 24 in Little Rock, Arkansas. The regional competition rewards outstanding journalism from news outlets in Arkansas and six bordering states.

1st Place, Profiles: Donna Ladd
Hodding Carter III: Hellraiser, Journalist, Mentor, 1935-2023

1st Place, Special Topics–Business: Heather Harrison
Medical Cannabis Industry Faces Growing Pains in Mississippi
‘Nightmare Scenario’: MSDH Places Hold On Rapid Analytics-Tested Medical-Cannabis Products
Olive Branch Medical-Cannabis Dispensary Fights Advertising Ban
‘Building an Industry’: Medical Cannabis Investors Focus On Lab Testing For Patient Safety

1st Place, Special Topics–Environmental/Science: Donna Ladd
‘One Lake’ or ‘No Lake’? Debate Over Pearl River Flooding Options Means Unlikely Allies, Opponents

1st Place, Visual Journalism–General News Photography: Shaunicy Muhammad
‘Human Error’ Caused Hinds County Election Day Ballot Shortages, Commissioners Say

Votings-rights advocates and others in Jackson, Miss., listen to Hinds County election commissioners on Dec. 18, 2023, explain the mistakes that led to ballot shortages on Election Day 2023. Photo by Shaunicy Muhammad

1st Place, Visual Journalism–Graphics/Illustrations: William Pittman
State Has Wrong or Missing Addresses for 92 Voting Precincts, MFP Investigation Finds

Finalist, Enterprise/In Depth Reporting: Christian Middleton & Donna Ladd
The Case of Harry Mitchell: One Family’s Fight for Justice
Heart of Darkness: 1991 Lafayette County Cold Case Spurs Black Family’s Struggle for Justice
Gone But Not Forgotten: Who Was Harry Mitchell?
Stop Shifting Blame, Ignoring Opinion | Black Families Who Lose Loved Ones to Violence

Finalist, Features: Aliyah Veal
‘Red and Bootjack’ Marker Shines Light on Duck Hill Lynching, Remembers Victims

Finalist, Arts & Entertainment Coverage: Aliyah Veal
‘Astronaut Behind the Music’: Jackson Artists Share Wisdom on Advancing in the Industry
‘Sounds Like Family’: Jackson Rappers Unify for Collaborative ‘Thanksgiving’ Album
‘Home Is

Read original article by clicking here.

The Mississippi Free Press awards board keeps swelling! As of July 2024, our team is up to 93 national and U.S. regional awards and finalist nods since we launched in late March 2020, plus a number of coveted awards from inside Mississippi. Here they are with links to specific work honored (see winners’ bios here). We will update this page from the top as more honors come in.

2024 Diamond Journalism Awards

The Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists held their annual Diamond Journalism Awards ceremony on July 24 in Little Rock, Arkansas. The regional competition rewards outstanding journalism from news outlets in Arkansas and six bordering states.

1st Place, Profiles: Donna Ladd
Hodding Carter III: Hellraiser, Journalist, Mentor, 1935-2023

1st Place, Special Topics–Business: Heather Harrison
Medical Cannabis Industry Faces Growing Pains in Mississippi
‘Nightmare Scenario’: MSDH Places Hold On Rapid Analytics-Tested Medical-Cannabis Products
Olive Branch Medical-Cannabis Dispensary Fights Advertising Ban
‘Building an Industry’: Medical Cannabis Investors Focus On Lab Testing For Patient Safety

1st Place, Special Topics–Environmental/Science: Donna Ladd
‘One Lake’ or ‘No Lake’? Debate Over Pearl River Flooding Options Means Unlikely Allies, Opponents

1st Place, Visual Journalism–General News Photography: Shaunicy Muhammad
‘Human Error’ Caused Hinds County Election Day Ballot Shortages, Commissioners Say

Votings-rights advocates and others in Jackson, Miss., listen to Hinds County election commissioners on Dec. 18, 2023, explain the mistakes that led to ballot shortages on Election Day 2023. Photo by Shaunicy Muhammad

1st Place, Visual Journalism–Graphics/Illustrations: William Pittman
State Has Wrong or Missing Addresses for 92 Voting Precincts, MFP Investigation Finds

Finalist, Enterprise/In Depth Reporting: Christian Middleton & Donna Ladd
The Case of Harry Mitchell: One Family’s Fight for Justice
Heart of Darkness: 1991 Lafayette County Cold Case Spurs Black Family’s Struggle for Justice
Gone But Not Forgotten: Who Was Harry Mitchell?
Stop Shifting Blame, Ignoring Opinion | Black Families Who Lose Loved Ones to Violence

Finalist, Features: Aliyah Veal
‘Red and Bootjack’ Marker Shines Light on Duck Hill Lynching, Remembers Victims

Finalist, Arts & Entertainment Coverage: Aliyah Veal
‘Astronaut Behind the Music’: Jackson Artists Share Wisdom on Advancing in the Industry
‘Sounds Like Family’: Jackson Rappers Unify for Collaborative ‘Thanksgiving’ Album
‘Home Is

Read original article by clicking here.