Donna Ladd pays tribute to her departing Mississippi Free Press co-founder and the innovative vision they built together since March 2020, despite some people not believing “two women of a certain age from rural Mississippi, one Black and one white” could pull off the innovative 82-county local-news vision. The post Editor’s Note | MFP Changes: I’m Sad, Grateful and Excited at the Same Time for 2026 appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

It's been called an “epidemic” of loneliness and isolation. The “bowling alone” phenomenon. By any name, it refers to Americans' growing social disconnection by many measures. The post Efforts to Reconnect Americans Face Challenges in a Lonely Time appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

Jackson native Andrew Young opened Pearl River Glass Studio in the Midtown Arts District in 1976. Young creates stained-glass windows for churches across the Jackson metro as well as major Jackson landmarks such as the Mississippi State Capitol Building. The post Artist in Residence | Andrew Young’s Pearl River Glass Studio Celebrates 50 Years in Jackson appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

Visit Mississippi hosted a float in the annual Rose Parade for the second year in a row. The float, which featured Mississippi native Charlie Worsham, spotlighted many of the state’s music, television, film and literary artists. The post ‘Where Creativity Blooms’: Mississippi Rose Parade Float Highlights State’s Storied Artistic History appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

Erica Archie writes about how health issues closed the door on her teaching career but opened up a new career in yoga and whole being care. The post Opinion | Teaching Shaped My Path to Yoga and Whole Being-Care Work appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

Ukraine has not held elections since Russia’s invasion began nearly four years ago. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected claims he is using the war to cling to power, arguing he is ready if safety can be ensured and the country’s laws can be changed. The post Ukraine Hasn’t Held Elections Since Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion. Here’s Why. appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

Ivis Garcia writes about how the U.S. housing crisis is forcing Americans to choose between affordable housing or unsafe housing. The post Opinion | The Housing Crisis Is Forcing Americans to Choose Between Affordability and Safety appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

As Mississippi’s blueberry industry faces a steep decline, one Poplarville farm is finding new ways to keep the state fruit growing—from fresh berries to teas, baked goods and even dog treats. The post Mississippi Blueberry Farmers Look to Future Generations to Join Industry appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

The small Mississippi Delta town of Drew has been without a grocery store for over a decade. Town advocates have come together to bring fresh produce to its residents. The post Community Works to Bring Fresh Food to Mississippi Delta Town of Drew appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

Kevin Howley writes about the worst of the worst produced by the Trump administration in 2025. The post Opinion | The Trump Administration Is the Worst of the Worst appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

Southern Turnings, a woodturning studio, has led the charge in revitalizing downtown Wiggins as a staple for residents and a tourist destination for visitors. The post Southern Turnings Carves Out a Place in Wiggins’ Revival appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

The Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board approved Archway Charter School, the state’s first hybrid-model charter school. The school, which will be located in Humphreys County, will serve students in grades 7-12 with in-person and online instruction. The post Mississippi Approves State’s First Hybrid Charter School With In-Person and Online Learning appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

George C. Homsy and Ki Eun Kang write that Black families pay a higher energy burden than the average American family. The post Opinion | Black Families Pay More to Keep Their Houses Warm Than Average American Families appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

Mississippi is gearing up for a batch of beach restoration projects along the Gulf Coast, including a $30 million effort in Hancock County that will restore the shoreline to its original 200-foot width for the first time since the 1960s. The post Shoring Up the Cost: $30 Million Project to Protect Hancock County appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

The federal “Solar for All” program was designed to lower energy bills and create jobs in places like the Mississippi Delta. But the Trump administration cancelled the program in August, halting billions of dollars in funding for community solar projects nationwide. The post Biden’s ‘Solar for All’ Program Promised Millions in Energy Savings for Mississippi Families. Trump Killed It. appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

Assistant Editor Kevin Edwards writes about his experience with AmeriCorps and the importance of maintaining public-service programs. The post Editor’s Note | AmeriCorps Is Worth the Cost to Serve the Public appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

Jaivian Hughes writes about his experience with the Aspen Young Leaders Fellowship and how it set him on a path in the culinary arts. The post Opinion | Community Development Programs Serve as a Recipe for Success appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

Cadence Bank sponsored another iteration of its “Cookie Stroll,” wherein businesses in downtown Laurel stay open late in the evening, offering snacks and activities for residents. Many families come to view the large Christmas tree that serves as a centerpiece to the event, along with other holiday decorations. The post Photos: Jones County Residents Take a ‘Cookie Stroll’ Through Downtown Laurel appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

A Nicaraguan man has died in ICE custody at a hospital in Natchez, Mississippi, the seventh reported death of a person in custody this month. The post Nicaraguan Man in ICE Custody Dies in Mississippi Hospital appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

Stanley S. Litow writes that graduating from college is still worth it and is connected to higher entry-level wages and long-term career success. The post Opinion | Data Shows That College Still Pays Off for Students and Society appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

Christmas is a holiday connected to the Christian observance of Jesus’ birth, but it has evolved from a religious holiday to a hugely popular cultural holiday widely celebrated around the world. The post Everything You Need to Know About Christmas and Its Evolution Into a Global Holiday appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

Halo of Hope, a charity founded in 2021, connects sponsors with children in DeSoto, Tate, Tunica, Panola, Marshall counties whose families need help supplying holiday presents. This year, the organization supported 310 recipients. The post Halo of Hope’s ‘Growing Army’ Provides Holiday Gifts for 310 North Mississippi Children appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

Alexis K. Ellis writes about how listening to classical music can help ease the symptoms of depression. The post Opinion | Classical Music May Help Depression Symptoms appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

A transgender employee of the National Security Agency is suing the Trump administration in an attempt to block enforcement of an executive order and other policies alleged to violate civil rights law. The post NSA Employee Sues the Trump Administration Over Transgender Rights and ‘Immutable’ Genders appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

The Mississippi Medical Cannabis Association presented right-to-try expansion, increasing potency limits and changing patient cards from 12-month to 24-month verification to the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board. The post Mississippi Medical Cannabis Advocates Want Higher Potency Limits, ‘Right-to-Try’ in 2026 appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.