As traditional agriculture faces labor shortages, aging farmers and economic pressure, a growing number of Mississippi farms are turning to agritourism to stay afloat.
Rural water customers are frustrated with limited oversight of nonprofit, member-owned systems — which serve about 1.6 million Mississippians. There had been 471 rural water association complaints statewide since Jan. 1, 2024 — including 187 in the Southern District.
For the first time in six years, Leakesville residents will see increases in both property taxes and utility rates beginning in early 2026. Town officials said the additional revenue is needed to repair aging water and sewer systems, maintain infrastructure, and prepare the town for future growth.
Once rare, “microschools” are spreading across Mississippi — about 50 have opened since 2020 — as lawmakers consider whether to expand public funding for alternatives to traditional classrooms.
A state scholarship makes specialized dyslexia therapy possible. Their experience reflects a growing question at the Capitol: Should more Mississippi parents be able to direct public education dollars toward schools and programs they believe work best?
The North Lamar Water Association is considering ending community water fluoridation, citing costs, equipment problems and operator safety. The system has not met recommended federal fluoride standards since 2020.
Mississippi has one of the nation’s lowest percentages of traffic deaths tied to speeding, yet sheriffs say they need radar guns — a tool currently banned for county law enforcement — to help curb dangerous driving on rural roads.
Seventeen-year-old Christopher Pena has spent his life battling Barth syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that weakens the body. On Friday, he learned the drug he credits with giving him strength to jump, carry heavy items and keep up in school won accelerated approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
Three “mini pantries” in the Hub City — on a university campus, at a community center and in a church driveway — form a network of neighbors fighting hunger.
The organization fills a gap in youth courts, where judges often lack time and staff to investigate every aspect of a child’s situation. Volunteers act as the court’s eyes and ears, focusing solely on what’s best for the child.
Construction is underway on the Pearl River County Technology Park across from the Picayune Municipal Airport — a development local leaders say will give residents better access to well-paying jobs close to home.
