As legal racetracks close across Mississippi, some racers are turning to city streets — a trend drawing both safety concerns and debate about access to controlled racing environments. 

The jacket Thomas Muffler wears to fight fires is 13 years old. Many hanging on the rack at the McHenry-Sunflower Volunteer Fire Department in Stone County are even older.

Mississippi lawmakers are advancing House Bill 855 to help police departments across the state retain officers by offering financial incentives. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jeffrey Harness, D-McComb, would provide a one-time, $600 stipend to certified law enforcement officers who have worked at least one year at their agency.