Mississippi News

Not just another sports story

Published

3 years ago

May 26, 2022

Staff Editor

Not just another sports story

by Rick Cleveland, Mississippi Today
May 26, 2022

I have been covering Mississippi Sports for 56 of my 69 years. After more than half a century, I still look to give Mississippians uniquely Mississippi sports stories – and historical perspective on those stories – they won’t find anywhere else.

A recent case in point was my piece on tiny Oak Hill Academy in West Point, specifically the school’s golf team, which is dominating its opposition like few, if any, high school teams have in Mississippi history. The Oak Hill Rangers recently won the state’s 3A private school championship by a whopping 83 shots in a one-day tournament. A former Mississippi high school golfer myself, my article tells you the story behind the story – how it has happened – and lends historical perspective to a uniquely Mississippi story.

In another recent column, I told a compelling story of a Laurel softball umpire who was physically attacked by a fan. But the column goes beyond that ugly night, telling how these incidents have become all too common in youth league and high school sports and have led directly to a shortage of high school umpires and officials in the state.

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“There is much not to like about Mississippi but also much to love. Mainly, I love the people and how creative our people have always been – as writers, musicians, entertainers and athletes. I tell sports stories for a living and no state produces more compelling sports stories per capita than Mississippi.”

Rick Cleveland, Sports Columnist

My goal at Mississippi Today is to show how and why sports are such an integral part of Mississippi society and to give our readers something on our website that they will not find in any other medium.

I grew up playing and then covering Mississippi sports, and have seen first-hand the role sports have played in the integration of the state’s schools and society. I saw the role sports played in the changing of the Mississippi flag. Mississippians care passionately about their games and the people who play them. These are stories that need to be told.

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This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Mississippi News

Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: December 20-22

Published

3 days ago

December 20, 2024

Staff Editor

www.wjtv.com – Kaitlin Howell – 2024-12-20 12:03:00

SUMMARY: This weekend (December 20-22), Mississippi offers a variety of festive events. In Jackson, enjoy Food Truck Friday, candlelight concerts, a Grinch movie screening, and Journey to the North Pole. In Ridgeland, experience Merry Bingo, Christmas on the Green, and Fleet Feet Coffee Run. Vicksburg hosts Rock the Halls, while Natchez offers a European Christmas Shopping Village. Other activities include Santa scuba diving at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Million Dollar Quartet Christmas, and Magic of Lights in Brandon. Hattiesburg features Lights of the Wild and Teddy Bear Tea with Santa. Numerous holiday events are available across the state.

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The post Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: December 20-22 appeared first on www.wjtv.com

Mississippi News

Attorneys seek protective order in Jackson bribery case

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Staff Editor

www.wjtv.com – Kaitlin Howell – 2024-12-19 14:36:00

SUMMARY: Prosecutors in Jackson are seeking a protective order to prevent the release of sensitive information in a bribery case involving Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba, and City Councilman Aaron Banks. The motion aims to protect personal, financial, and grand jury information, fearing it could impair investigations and fair trial rights. The three officials face charges related to a bribery scheme involving $80,000 in bribes for approving a real estate development project. Other individuals, including former City Councilwoman Angelique Lee and Sherik Marve Smith, are also implicated, with Smith pleading guilty to conspiracy.

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The post Attorneys seek protective order in Jackson bribery case appeared first on www.wjtv.com

Mississippi News

Suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO struggles, shouts while entering courthouse

Published

2 weeks ago

December 10, 2024

Staff Editor

www.wjtv.com – MICHAEL R. SISAK and MARK SCOLFORO, Associated Press – 2024-12-10 14:27:00

SUMMARY: Luigi Nicholas Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate, was arrested in Pennsylvania and charged with the murder of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Mangione, who expressed disdain for corporate greed and the health insurance industry, was found with a gun matching the murder weapon and fraudulent IDs. He initially gave false identification but was recognized at a McDonald’s. Mangione, who wrote a three-page document expressing anti-corporate sentiments, is being extradited to New York. His family, shocked by his arrest, expressed condolences to Thompson’s family. Mangione had no prior criminal complaints but had a history of severe back pain.

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The post Suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO struggles, shouts while entering courthouse appeared first on www.wjtv.com