Mississippi Free Press
@mississippifreepress.org
Women-run nonprofit/nonpartisan newsroom reporting causes, solutions, context since 3/20. Mantra: "Do the right thing and wait."
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We report it and let the chips fall where they must.
Donate today to help us continue our commitment to truth.
Right now, every donation is MATCHED, doubling your impact.
Give TODAY: givebutter.com/mfpdonate
"Paul took out a piece of paper and started drawing out the dream he had for that old barn,” Kay Tyler said of her husband's idea for the property. “He envisioned a rough exterior hiding elegant rooms with luxurious furniture and antiques, something that could be the pride of all of Calhoun County."
Calhoun County’s Cart Barn Inn Strives to Wrap Luxury and Elegance in a ‘Brown Paper Bag’
The Cart Barn Inn began as a golf cart storage barn for the Yoda Creek Golf Course before Kay and Paul Tyler converted it into a luxury inn in 2007.
www.mississippifreepress.org
December 16, 2025 at 12:45 AM
"Paul took out a piece of paper and started drawing out the dream he had for that old barn,” Kay Tyler said of her husband's idea for the property. “He envisioned a rough exterior hiding elegant rooms with luxurious furniture and antiques, something that could be the pride of all of Calhoun County."
Leading Jewish groups in the United States are urging all Jewish organizations to ratchet up security measures at public events after a deadly mass shooting that targeted a Hanukkah celebration on a popular Australian beach.
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US Jewish Groups Urge Higher Security at Public Events After Hanukkah Attack in Australia
Jewish groups are urging all Jewish organizations to boost security at events following the mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia.
www.mississippifreepress.org
December 15, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Leading Jewish groups in the United States are urging all Jewish organizations to ratchet up security measures at public events after a deadly mass shooting that targeted a Hanukkah celebration on a popular Australian beach.
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The Supreme Court’s conservative majority suggested it would overturn a unanimous 90-year-old decision that has limited when presidents can fire agencies’ board members—in part to try to ensure decision making free of political influence—or leave it with only its shell intact.
US Supreme Court Poised to Expand Trump’s Power, Let Him Fire Independent Agency Members
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday seemed likely to expand presidential control over independent federal agencies, signaling support for President Donald Trump’s firing of board members.
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December 15, 2025 at 10:45 PM
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority suggested it would overturn a unanimous 90-year-old decision that has limited when presidents can fire agencies’ board members—in part to try to ensure decision making free of political influence—or leave it with only its shell intact.
EDITOR'S NOTE: "I wasn’t interested in working for a newsroom where I had to keep certain truths quiet to avoid upsetting the remaining advertisers," Ashton Pittman writes.
Editor’s Note | I Almost Gave Up on Journalism Until the Free Press Found Me
News Editor Ashton Pittman writes about why he almost gave up on a career in journalism before he began working for the Free Press.
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December 15, 2025 at 10:01 PM
EDITOR'S NOTE: "I wasn’t interested in working for a newsroom where I had to keep certain truths quiet to avoid upsetting the remaining advertisers," Ashton Pittman writes.
The allegations related to Letitia James’ purchase of a modest house in Norfolk, where she has family.
James says the case is politically motivated and has denied any wrongdoing.
James says the case is politically motivated and has denied any wrongdoing.
Justice Department Again Fails to Re-Indict New York Attorney General Letitia James
A grand jury declined for a second time to re-indict New York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday, a case pushed by President Donald Trump.
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December 15, 2025 at 9:45 PM
The allegations related to Letitia James’ purchase of a modest house in Norfolk, where she has family.
James says the case is politically motivated and has denied any wrongdoing.
James says the case is politically motivated and has denied any wrongdoing.
“We look forward to hosting (former Vice President Kamala Harris) at Thalia Mara Hall and sharing in the dialogue her visit will spark about the future of our democracy,” Jackson Mayor John Horhn said.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris to Visit Jackson in Book Tour Stop
Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Jackson, Mississippi, for a stop on her book tour early next year.
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December 15, 2025 at 8:45 PM
“We look forward to hosting (former Vice President Kamala Harris) at Thalia Mara Hall and sharing in the dialogue her visit will spark about the future of our democracy,” Jackson Mayor John Horhn said.
The Mississippi State Board of Education voted to approve new performance level cuts for the Mississippi Statewide Accountability System during its Nov. 20 board meeting. The change increases the cut scores for each accountability grade.
Moving the Needle: MDE Approves New Performance Level Cuts for the Accountability System
The Mississippi State Board of Education voted to approve new performance level cuts for the statewide accountability system on Nov. 20.
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December 15, 2025 at 7:45 PM
The Mississippi State Board of Education voted to approve new performance level cuts for the Mississippi Statewide Accountability System during its Nov. 20 board meeting. The change increases the cut scores for each accountability grade.
Photos shared with RHCJC News show packages laid out near Poplarville's mobile postal unit, located across from the courthouse, which has served as the town’s post office since the closure of the original facility in early 2022.
Poplarville Delivered False Promises on Post Office Plans, Residents Say
Four years after Poplarville’s main post office closed due to structural damage, no work has started to build a new site despite a federal commitment.
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December 15, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Photos shared with RHCJC News show packages laid out near Poplarville's mobile postal unit, located across from the courthouse, which has served as the town’s post office since the closure of the original facility in early 2022.
Ridgeland, Mississippi, has joined a growing list of cities that could end water-fluoridation programs.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a frequent spreader of health misinformation, has pushed to end fluoridation nationwide despite its significant health benefits.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a frequent spreader of health misinformation, has pushed to end fluoridation nationwide despite its significant health benefits.
Ridgeland Could End Water Fluoridation. Experts Warn It Would Compromise Public Health
The City of Ridgeland, Mississippi, has joined a growing list of cities that could permanently end their water-fluoridation programs.
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December 15, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Ridgeland, Mississippi, has joined a growing list of cities that could end water-fluoridation programs.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a frequent spreader of health misinformation, has pushed to end fluoridation nationwide despite its significant health benefits.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a frequent spreader of health misinformation, has pushed to end fluoridation nationwide despite its significant health benefits.
President Donald Trump on Monday blamed Rob Reiner's outspoken opposition to the president for the actor-director’s killing, delivering the unsubstantiated claim in a shocking post that seemed intent on decrying his opponents even in the face of a tragedy.
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Trump Blames Rob Reiner’s Murder on His Criticisms of Trump
President Donald Trump on Monday blamed Rob Reiner’s outspoken opposition to the president for the killing of Reiner and his wife, Michele.
www.mississippifreepress.org
December 15, 2025 at 6:29 PM
President Donald Trump on Monday blamed Rob Reiner's outspoken opposition to the president for the actor-director’s killing, delivering the unsubstantiated claim in a shocking post that seemed intent on decrying his opponents even in the face of a tragedy.
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Rod Paige, an educator, coach and administrator from Monticello, Mississippi, who rolled out the nation's landmark No Child Left Behind law as the first African American to serve as U.S. education secretary, died Tuesday.
Rod Paige, Mississippian and First African American Secretary of Education, Dies at 92
Rod Paige, a Mississippi native who was the first African American to serve as U.S. education secretary, died Tuesday.
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December 15, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Rod Paige, an educator, coach and administrator from Monticello, Mississippi, who rolled out the nation's landmark No Child Left Behind law as the first African American to serve as U.S. education secretary, died Tuesday.
After departing the Quán Âm Tịnh Viện Buddhist Temple in Jackson, Mississippi, the Walk For Peace proceeded to the state capitol, gathering on the steps of the Legislature, before departing east, bound for Meridian and the halls of American power.
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December 15, 2025 at 5:45 PM
After departing the Quán Âm Tịnh Viện Buddhist Temple in Jackson, Mississippi, the Walk For Peace proceeded to the state capitol, gathering on the steps of the Legislature, before departing east, bound for Meridian and the halls of American power.
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The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear the appeal of Terry Pitchford, a Black death row inmate from Mississippi whose case was handled by a prosecutor with a history of dismissing Black jurors for discriminatory reasons.
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Supreme Court to Hear Appeal of Black Death Row Inmate on Bias in Mississippi Jury Makeup
The Supreme Court agreed to hear from a Black death row inmate from Mississippi whose case was tried by a man with a history of racial jury bias.
www.mississippifreepress.org
December 15, 2025 at 4:54 PM
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear the appeal of Terry Pitchford, a Black death row inmate from Mississippi whose case was handled by a prosecutor with a history of dismissing Black jurors for discriminatory reasons.
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Despite the potential for bipartisan agreement, Republicans and Democrats have never engaged in meaningful or high-level negotiations on a solution.
Senate Rejects Extension of Health Care Subsidies, Risking Higher Costs for Millions
The Senate on Thursday rejected an extension = Affordable Care Act tax credits, essentially setting a sharp cost increase for millions of Americans.
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December 15, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Despite the potential for bipartisan agreement, Republicans and Democrats have never engaged in meaningful or high-level negotiations on a solution.
“To be clear, NetChoice has, in my view, demonstrated that it is likely to succeed on the merits—namely, that enforcement of the Mississippi law would likely violate its members’ First Amendment rights under this Court’s precedents,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh said.
Bluesky Is Back for Mississippi Adults, But Social Giants Still Lack Required Age Checks
Months after Bluesky blocked access to Mississippi, Bluesky is available in the state once again with age verification for adults.
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December 15, 2025 at 4:15 PM
“To be clear, NetChoice has, in my view, demonstrated that it is likely to succeed on the merits—namely, that enforcement of the Mississippi law would likely violate its members’ First Amendment rights under this Court’s precedents,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh said.
The photos were released without captions or context and included a black-and-white image of President Donald Trump alongside six women whose faces were blacked out.
House Democrats Release Photos of Trump, Clinton and Andrew From Epstein's Estate
House Democrats released a selection of photos from the estate ofJeffrey Epstein on Friday.
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December 15, 2025 at 3:45 PM
The photos were released without captions or context and included a black-and-white image of President Donald Trump alongside six women whose faces were blacked out.
OPINION: "As a practicing obstetrician and medical researcher with nearly two decades of experience taking care of pregnant patients, I have to make a dozen decisions about acetaminophen use on any given day when I am working in the hospital," Tami S. Rowen writes.
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Opinion | How Misleading Statements on Acetaminophen Leave Expectant Parents Confused
Tami S. Rowen writes about how the Trump administration’s misleading statements on acetaminophen's safety may be dangerous for expectant mothers.
www.mississippifreepress.org
December 15, 2025 at 3:05 PM
OPINION: "As a practicing obstetrician and medical researcher with nearly two decades of experience taking care of pregnant patients, I have to make a dozen decisions about acetaminophen use on any given day when I am working in the hospital," Tami S. Rowen writes.
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Seven decades after Rosa Parks was thrust indelibly into American history for refusing to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, new photos of the Civil Rights Movement icon have been made public for the first time, and they illustrate aspects of her legacy that are often overlooked.
Mississippi Photographer’s Unseen Civil Rights Photos Revealed
Seven decades after Rosa Parks was thrust indelibly into American history, new photos of the Civil Rights Movement icon have been released.
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December 15, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Seven decades after Rosa Parks was thrust indelibly into American history for refusing to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, new photos of the Civil Rights Movement icon have been made public for the first time, and they illustrate aspects of her legacy that are often overlooked.
“They want to parade this misdemeanor—one misdemeanor ballot harvesting offense—as if people are doing it all over the country, all over the state, which is bullsh-t,” said Jeffery Harness, Bobbie Peoples' attorney and a Democratic Mississippi House representative from Fayette.
Mississippi Woman Convicted of Ballot Harvesting for Submitting Senior’s Vote Will Appeal
Bobbie Peoples is appealing a ballot harvesting conviction for submitting a ballot on behalf of another person in Leflore County, Mississippi.
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December 15, 2025 at 2:45 PM
“They want to parade this misdemeanor—one misdemeanor ballot harvesting offense—as if people are doing it all over the country, all over the state, which is bullsh-t,” said Jeffery Harness, Bobbie Peoples' attorney and a Democratic Mississippi House representative from Fayette.
Tomorrow. One conversation. Real solutions.
Your voice is needed.
All MFP VIP members and anyone who donates this month can join the virtual MFP Impact Series Roundtable featuring four Mississippi women leading change.
📅 Tuesday, Dec. 16 | 6 p.m. CT
givebutter.com/mfpvip
Your voice is needed.
All MFP VIP members and anyone who donates this month can join the virtual MFP Impact Series Roundtable featuring four Mississippi women leading change.
📅 Tuesday, Dec. 16 | 6 p.m. CT
givebutter.com/mfpvip
December 15, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Tomorrow. One conversation. Real solutions.
Your voice is needed.
All MFP VIP members and anyone who donates this month can join the virtual MFP Impact Series Roundtable featuring four Mississippi women leading change.
📅 Tuesday, Dec. 16 | 6 p.m. CT
givebutter.com/mfpvip
Your voice is needed.
All MFP VIP members and anyone who donates this month can join the virtual MFP Impact Series Roundtable featuring four Mississippi women leading change.
📅 Tuesday, Dec. 16 | 6 p.m. CT
givebutter.com/mfpvip
Kilmar Abrego Garcia's attorney, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, said the judge made it clear that the government can’t detain someone indefinitely without legal authority and that his client “has endured more than anyone should ever have to.”
Kilmar Abrego Garcia Freed From Federal Immigration Detention, His Attorney Says
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was freed from immigration detention on a judge’s order Thursday while he fights the Trump administration’s deportation order.
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December 15, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Kilmar Abrego Garcia's attorney, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, said the judge made it clear that the government can’t detain someone indefinitely without legal authority and that his client “has endured more than anyone should ever have to.”
Before Gov. Reeves commuted Marcus Taylor's sentence, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch had sought to challenge the appeals court's finding that Taylor's 15-year sentence was unlawful.
Gov. Reeves Grants Clemency to Black Man Who Was Illegally Sentenced to 15 Years
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves granted clemency to Marcus Taylor, a Black man whom a judge illegally sentenced to serve 15 years in prison.
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December 15, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Before Gov. Reeves commuted Marcus Taylor's sentence, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch had sought to challenge the appeals court's finding that Taylor's 15-year sentence was unlawful.
While the Trump administration has focused on the threat of terrorism from individuals associated with Antifa beliefs, U.S. government assessments have repeatedly found in recent years that white supremacist and other racially motivated groups pose the highest threat.
Top FBI Official Struggles to Justify Calling Antifa Top Threat as Rep. Thompson Grills Him
A top FBI official struggled on Thursday to answer questions about Antifa and why he described it as the nation’s top domestic terrorism threat.
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December 15, 2025 at 1:45 PM
While the Trump administration has focused on the threat of terrorism from individuals associated with Antifa beliefs, U.S. government assessments have repeatedly found in recent years that white supremacist and other racially motivated groups pose the highest threat.
“People would drive up, and the outside still looked like the old cart barn, and I wanted them to be curious about that ‘brown paper bag’ and what could be inside, whether they might find a donut or a diamond ring," Kay Tyler said.
Calhoun County’s Cart Barn Inn Strives to Wrap Luxury and Elegance in a ‘Brown Paper Bag’
The Cart Barn Inn began as a golf cart storage barn for the Yoda Creek Golf Course before Kay and Paul Tyler converted it into a luxury inn in 2007.
buff.ly
December 15, 2025 at 12:45 AM
“People would drive up, and the outside still looked like the old cart barn, and I wanted them to be curious about that ‘brown paper bag’ and what could be inside, whether they might find a donut or a diamond ring," Kay Tyler said.
The Supreme Court on Monday seemed likely to expand presidential control over independent federal agencies, signaling support for President Donald Trump’s firing of board members.
US Supreme Court Poised to Expand Trump’s Power, Let Him Fire Independent Agency Members
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday seemed likely to expand presidential control over independent federal agencies, signaling support for President Donald Trump’s firing of board members.
buff.ly
December 14, 2025 at 10:45 PM
The Supreme Court on Monday seemed likely to expand presidential control over independent federal agencies, signaling support for President Donald Trump’s firing of board members.