| Magee Courier-Simpson County News

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Trey Lamar, R-Senatobia, speaks in the House chamber during legislative session on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, at the Capitol in Jackson. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today

School choice dead in Legislature, but private school tax credit bills alive

Thu, 03/19/2026 - 02:32 PM

Though school choice talks have stalled this session, bills regarding a state tax program that incentivizes Mississippians to donate to private schools have now passed both chambers of the Legislature and head to final negotiations.

Since 2020, private schools and foster care organizations have been receiving money through the Children’s Promise Act, which gives donors a dollar-for-dollar tax credits for up to 50% of the donor’s state tax liability.

Federal judge dismisses former Ole Miss employee’s lawsuit over Charlie Kirk-related firing

brandonsup

Thu, 03/19/2026 - 02:18 PM

University of Mississippi Chancellor Glenn Boyce fired Lauren Stokes, a former executive assistant in the development office, following a social media post she shared criticizing political stances of far-right activist Charlie Kirk.

Stokes’ First Amendment lawsuit against Ole Miss Chancellor dismissed by federal judge

brandonsup

Wed, 03/18/2026 - 08:48 PM

After being fired following an incendiary post about Charlie Kirk’s death, former ole Miss employee Lauren Stokes argued her First Amendment rights were violated. U.S. District Judge Glen Davidson dismissed the claims Monday, setting up a potential 5th Circuit appeal.

A federal judge has dismissed former University of Mississippi employee Lauren Stokes’ First Amendment retaliation lawsuit against Chancellor Glenn Boyce, bringing an early end—at least for now—to one of the state’s most closely watched campus speech disputes.

Senate moves Children’s Promise Act forward

brandonsup

Wed, 03/18/2026 - 08:30 PM

The legislation would create an additional $6 million in tax credits for special purpose schools that serve students with disabilities.

The Senate passed a strike-all amendment to a House bill that would create a third bucket for educational tax credits solely for special purpose schools under the Children’s Promise Act.

Teasley crowned

sfairchild

Wed, 03/18/2026 - 09:00 AM

Mendenhall's 2026 Miss Hospitality is Chloe Teasley. Chloe is a current sophomore at Hinds Community College in Raymond, MS. She will graduate in May with a degree in biology and then further her education at William Carey University in the fall.
Chloe's future goal is to become a thoracic surgeon.

House sends community college, university funding proposals to the Senate

brandonsup

Tue, 03/17/2026 - 01:48 PM

The Mississippi House looks to increase state community college funding by $100 million while also raising university funding by $53 million above legislative budget requests.

Strike-all amendments were made to two Senate appropriations bills to reflect the House of Representative’s stance on state support for public community colleges and universities.

Clarksdale Municipal School District students Leah Myles, Jamarick Davis, Khloe Reed and instructor Candace Barron pose for a photograph after their last teacher preparation class before winter break, Dec. 15, 2025. Their district offers a vocational teacher preparation course at the Carl Keen Career and Technical Center. Credit: Leonardo Bevilacqua/Mississippi Today

To address its teacher shortage, one Mississippi Delta school district is growing its own

brandonsup

Mon, 03/16/2026 - 11:32 AM

Clarksdale public schools are cultivating future teachers among their students.

CLARKSDALE — Clarksdale had the second highest teacher shortage in Mississippi last year — 40 posted vacancies in July.

For district administrators, that staffing challenge hits particularly hard each year in late summer when they try to fill vacancies before the new school year begins. The problem affects students, too, when they’re taught by substitute teachers for weeks at a time.

Higher education officials consider top picks for JSU’s next president

brandonsup

Sun, 03/15/2026 - 04:42 PM

Officials tasked with selecting and naming the next Jackson State University president plan to choose three top candidates next week, March 19-20, and invite them to the campus for a second round of interviews in mid-April.

On Thursday, members of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning’s Board of Trustees, the Jackson State search advisory constituency and search firm consultants went into closed session to discuss semifinalists for first-round interviews. March 3 was the deadline to apply for the university’s top role.

Corey Wiggins, federal co-chairman for the Delta Regional Authority, speaks during a U.S. Rural Prosperity Commission field hearing, hosted by Brookings and AEl, on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today

Wiggins tapped to lead Tougaloo College

brandonsup

Sun, 03/15/2026 - 01:48 PM

Corey Wiggins, a Hazlehurst native and federal co-chair of the Delta Regional Authority, will be the next president of Tougaloo College effective July 1.

He will be the 15th president in the school’s 157-year-history, succeeding Donzell Lee.

Tougaloo’s Board of Trustees appointed Wiggins as president Friday after a yearlong national search.

Governor Reeves doesn’t rule out special session to tackle teacher pay raise, expanded education freedom

brandonsup

Thu, 03/12/2026 - 01:02 PM

The governor did add that there is still time in the session to get those things done, saying that nothing is dead in the Capitol until it is “dead, dead, dead.”

At the end of a press conference Tuesday, Governor Tate Reeves (R) took questions on teacher pay raises, the state Public Employees Retirement System, and the future of the movement to provide parents in Mississippi with greater education freedom. He did not rule out a special session to address at least two of those matters.

Senate counters House $5,000 teacher pay raise with $2,000 increases over 3 years

brandonsup

Thu, 03/12/2026 - 11:02 AM

Teachers would receive $2,000 annually for three years, for a total increase of $6,000. Special education teachers would receive $3,000 annually for three years, for a total increase of $9,000.

The Mississippi Senate is countering the House’s $5,000 teacher pay raise with a $2,000 scaled approach over 3 years.

Through a strike-all amendment to HB 1395, the Senate now proposes to provide $2,000 pay raises to teachers each year for three years, for a total pay increase of $6,000.

State Representative Price Wallace reads to Whitney Bowen’s class at Simpson Central School during the Read Across America event, sharing one of his childhood favorites, Johnny Tractor and His Pals, with the students.

Local students celebrate ‘Read Across America’

sfairchild

Wed, 03/11/2026 - 08:42 AM

Students and teachers across the Simpson County School District joined schools nationwide in celebrating Read Across America, a national initiative that promotes literacy and encourages children to discover the joy of reading.
The main theme for Read Across America 2026 was "Create & Celebrate a Nation of Diverse Readers," with a specific focus for March 2026 being "Champion Kindness," encouraging inclusive books where children see themselves and learn empathy.

The Republican Women of Simpson County had a good turnout for the March meeting that featured Mississippi’s First Lady Elee Reeves. Present were, front row, Connie Davis, Reeves' Chief of Staff Ann Beard, Chad Dixon, Betty Phillips, Mrs. Reeves, Lisa Givens, Cemper Scott, Linda Nichols, Janella Lee, Deborah Benoit, and Sue Honea; back and middle:, Angela Brown, Krissi Kahn, Allyson Tolar, Chris Hennis, James Mooney, Evelyn Copeland, Faith Kennedy, Misty May, Karen Moseley, Jolee Freeman, Judy Yates, Renae Miller, Nancy Brown, Judy Lee, Lawana Thompson, Allyson Berch, and Rebecca Craft. Not pictured but attending, Daniel Lynch, Dale May, Witt Fortenberry, Rosemary Mooney, Melissa Sullivan, and Brooke Stuard-Crawford.

First Lady Ellee Reeves speaks to Republican Women

sfairchild

Wed, 03/11/2026 - 08:40 AM

Mississippi’s First Lady Elee Reeves was guest speaker at the March 5 meeting of the Republican Women of Simpson County. Approximately 40 members, associate members and guests attended.

Vanderford crowned

sfairchild

Wed, 03/11/2026 - 08:38 AM

On Sunday, March 8, Avery Vanderford was crowned Magee’s 2026 Miss Hospitality. She received the title from Magee’s 2025 Miss Hospitality, Natalie Styron.
Avery is the 18-year-old daughter of Doug and Staci Moody and Phil Vanderford. A graduate of Simpson County Academy, she currently attends Copiah-Lincoln Community College and plans to attend Mississippi State in the fall, where she will major in integrated digital marketing.

Pillow fifth grader seeks donor for bone marrow transplant

dmonroe

Sat, 03/07/2026 - 02:14 PM

Cate Hargett, an 11-year-old in Greenwood, needs a bone marrow transplant as the search for her perfect donor match continues.
Cate, who dreams of becoming a librarian or author, was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder when she was 2 months old.
The Pillow Academy fifth grader has continued to fight bone marrow failure, which occurs when the tissue inside bones cannot produce enough healthy blood cells on its own.

Teacher pay raise bills die on deadline day

brandonsup

Thu, 03/05/2026 - 11:44 PM

House and Senate Education Committee chairs say they intend to continue the push for salary increases for educators this session.

Bills that would have provided Mississippi teachers with a boost to their salary are dead for now, after House and Senate failed to make it out of committees by Tuesday’s deadline. Chairmen of the House and Senate Education Committees pledged to continue to work to provide the raises through other means. However, those efforts may also prove unfruitful.

Senate keeps college workforce development, financial literacy bills alive

brandonsup

Thu, 03/05/2026 - 11:28 PM

Another bill would allow the University of Southern Mississippi to selloff about 600 acres of property.

The Mississippi Senate Universities and Colleges Committee used strike-all amendments to House bills to keep workforce development and financial literacy efforts alive on Tuesday.

Test CDP notification

vikassuper

Mon, 03/02/2026 - 03:02 AM

Test CDP notification

Mrs. Tarrah Lockhart, Dr. Romonica Feazell and Ms. Roshae Dampeer

Black History banquet held

sfairchild

Wed, 02/25/2026 - 08:11 AM

Submitted by
Madise McNeal

State Attorney General speaks in Mendenhall

sfairchild

Wed, 02/25/2026 - 08:10 AM

Several Simpson County residents were invited to join a round-table discussion led by Attorney General Lynn Fitch in Mendenhall on February 10. Represented were business owners, law enforcement, court officials, the Republican Women of Simpson County, and the Center for Pregnancy Choices.

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