Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto Saturday hosted another of its annual Baby Fair events inside the hospital to give mothers-to-be and new moms vital information and material.   pediatricians and other child health care experts were available to answer questions and provide important Among the items offered were car seat and seat belt safety lactation support services and more.  A photo booth was on site and free gifts and giveaways from Baptist-DeSoto and local vendors were available.   Mother/Baby and Nursery Nurse Manager at Baptist-DeSoto said representatives from First Regional Library a diaper bank and other community services were also on hand.   “We’re doing tours of our maternity area information about infant safety once you take your baby home and feeding information for your baby,” Porter said “I feel like the more information you have on how to care for your baby the more comfortable you are when you take them home So it’s good to have that knowledge background instead of just being thrown right into it.  Porter pointed out the hospital is available for any needs a mother may have once baby arrives and comes home.   “If they need lactation assistance or any kind of further education We’re available for that as well,” Porter said which is staffed with an OBGYN 24/7 that will see patients for any type of obstetrical emergency So we always have a doctor here to see those patients.” Experts say mothers-to-be should remember to have regular check-ups engage in safe exercise and avoid harmful substances and follow doctor’s orders about other areas of care for the mother and baby right) celebrates after scoring the game-winning run with a walk-off bunt in the LHSAA Division II Non-Select softball championship Sunday With the game tied at 5 and runners on 2nd and 3rd in the bottom of the 7th Kinsley Coleman laid down a bunt along the third base line Maddy Stringer avoided the tag from the Mustangs catcher to score the winning run This is the Lady Griffins' fourth state title under head coach Tim Whitman and seventh overall 3 Logansport made their first championship game appearance but the Lady Bulldogs were run-ruled 10-0 in five innings Local breaking news delivered as it happens News headlines delivered at 7:00 am Monday - Friday News headlines delivered at Noon Monday - Friday News headlines delivered at 4:00 pm Monday - Friday Weather forecast delivered at 9:00 am daily Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInDESOTO COUNTY (WMC) - The Mississippi Highway Patrol is reporting that roads are back open after an 18-wheeler overturned on the DeSoto County Highway the traffic blocks were caused by an accident that involved an overturned 18-wheeler on US Highway 78 and I-22 West near Bethel Road and Hacks Road Roads are currently cleared and are back open to the public Click here to sign up for our newsletter Click here to report a spelling or grammar error the spotlight continues to shine not just on the field Programs are working hard to finalize their 2025 recruiting classes while simultaneously laying the groundwork for future success.  the Class of 2026 is beginning to take shape with top prospects making early commitments or narrowing down their choices one of the most highly touted wide receivers in the Class of 2026 made an announcement that’s sure to excite fans across the country Hayes Fawcett of On3 Sports reported the latest development: "Elite 2026 WR Boobie Feaster is down to 4 Schools" Ethan "Boobie" Feaster is ranked as a four-star prospect, listed as the No. 4 wide receiver and the No. 43 overall player in the nation, per On3.  Feaster’s final four includes some of the nation’s premier programs: Alabama Crimson Tide USC Trojans LSU Tigers Texas A&M Aggies Feaster has stated that he plans to announce his decision on July 4th © Angela Piazza/Caller-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Feaster is a 6-foot standout wide receiver who plays for DeSoto High School in Texas—a powerhouse in one of the nation’s most competitive football states Feaster played a key role in leading DeSoto to the Texas 6A Division II state championship he recorded 634 receiving yards and nine touchdowns His second season saw him take another leap forward posting over 800 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns Known for his explosiveness and playmaking ability adding another layer to his elite athletic profile Feaster was originally part of the Class of 2027 but has reclassified to join the Class of 2026 accelerating his path to the collegiate level While programs like the University of Utah and Texas Longhorns were heavily interested the college football world will be watching closely to see which elite program lands Feaster’s commitment.  Boobie Feaster is set to make a major impact at the next level — wherever he chooses to go we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week May 5 – 9 and support from communities across Mississippi I am writing to emphasize the crucial role that community support plays in the success of our local schools It is imperative for communities to rally behind their public schools as they are the backbone of our society and fostering a sense of unity and progress A primary reasons why community support is essential for local schools success is the positive impact it has on educational outcomes When community members actively engage with schools by volunteering students benefit from a more enriching and well-rounded educational experience we can ensure that our schools are equipped with the necessary tools and support to help students thrive academically building strong relationships with public schools allows for a collaborative approach to addressing challenges and fostering innovation Community partners bring a diverse range of perspectives creating a dynamic environment for learning and growth By forging close ties with local businesses public schools can tap into a wealth of expertise and opportunities that enrich the educational experience for students and educators alike we are investing in the future of our community ensuring that every child can reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society Erica Jones is Executive Director of the Mississippi Association of Educators Opinions expressed are solely those of the author DeSoto County softball coaches have announced their post-season awards for all-county and all-Region 1-7A selections Here are the selections for all-Region 1-7A honors Londen Armstrong of DeSoto Central was tabbed as Most Valuable Player Colby Young of DeSoto Central was named Pitcher of the Year and Hernando’s Nicki Whitten was named Coach of the Year Here is the all-DeSoto County softball team selections: Coach of The Year – Nicki Whitten – Hernando Following its three-game series victory over Lewisburg Saturday night Hernando softball released the schedule for the North Half championship series with Madison Central The teams square off first at Madison Central on Wednesday for game one then come to Hernando on Thursday for game two will be back at Madison Central on Friday night Here are links to agendas for the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors and city Boards of Aldermen meetings on Monday DeSoto County Board of Supervisors – Monday Olive Branch Board of Aldermen – Tuesday Southaven Board of Aldermen – Tuesday Hernando Board of Aldermen – Tuesday Horn Lake Board of Aldermen – Tuesday Photo: Attendees pray at the Olive Branch observance of the National Day of Prayer 2025 – Faith followers in DeSoto County paused for a moment today to pray for the nation as part of the National Day of Prayer observance.  It is an annual event held across the nation when Americans are encouraged to turn to God in prayer and meditation National Day of Prayer is held on the first Thursday of May each year and this year fell on May 1.   Two observances were held in DeSoto County again this year DeSoto County officials gathered inside the DeSoto County Courthouse at 7 a.m followed by a 12 noon gathering for the City of Olive Branch outside City Hall.   The theme for the National Day of Prayer in 2025 is “Pour Out to the God of Hope and Be Filled.” This theme is inspired by Romans 15:13 (NASB): “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of 1 the Holy Spirit.” Prayers were said for many facets of the nation Following are photos from the Olive Branch National Day of Prayer: The modern observance was established in 1952 by a joint resolution of Congress President Ronald Reagan amended the law to fix the observance on the first Thursday of May The day is meant to unite Americans of all backgrounds in prayer and reflection While its origins are rooted in Christian traditions it now includes participation from diverse faiths and interfaith groups While many embrace the day as a unifying tradition some civil liberties organizations have challenged it on the grounds of separation of church and state A 2010 federal court ruling briefly found the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional but the decision was overturned on appeal in 2011 moved inside the DeSoto County Courthouse from the courthouse lawn due to the threat of rain: 2025 at 11:24 AM EDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInARCADIA (WWSB) - The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office is offering a criminal fashion tip: Tiger print is NOT the new camouflage Deputies are looking for a woman who they say stole an adult tricycle from a residence on Southeast Plum Drive She was seen on a doorbell camera wearing a tiger-print onesie the suspect was quickly identified as Emily Hesters “Attempts to locate her have been unsuccessful her old address says she’s ‘not welcome,’ and the tricycle remains missing,” the sheriff’s office posted on social media Charges for petit theft are being sent to the state attorney’s office “If you spot someone riding off in a tiger onesie on a tricycle CALL 863-993-4700!” the sheriff’s office said Extended Search A pair of alligator trappers wrangle a gator on the banks of Lake DeSoto on Wednesday Premium Content is available to subscribers only. Please login here to access content or go here to purchase a subscription Read Lake City Reporter KTALnews.com North DeSoto softball defeats Assumption to claim Division II (NS) state title The New Town Neighborhood Association in Marshall held their yearly Spring Clean Up to rejuvenate the historic neighborhood KTAL Digital Health & Wellness News for you If you’ve seen any of the area lakes and rivers you know that they are currently a bit higher than normal With another round of heavy rain expected over most of the area on Tuesday Most of the ArkLaTex has had its fair share of rain over the past few weeks Our next shot of flood-producing rainfall will arrive on Tuesday when thunderstorms bring the threat of strong winds and a few tornadoes The Mississippi Legislature ended its 2025 session without settling on a budget for the next fiscal year and lawmakers were back in Jackson this week trying to hammer out a budget before the July 1 deadline A DeSoto County state senator believes that a budget will be agreed on well before the deadline as state Sen Kevin Blackwell (R-Southaven) recently wrote on his social media page.  who serves as a subcommittee chairman for Appropriations said negotiations have been going on this past week in Jackson to resolve differences and agree on a budget that would be presented in a special session of the state Legislature.  It’s a $7 billion budget with about 100 budget bills to provide funding for essential government operations and services Blackwell hopes the proactive initiative of doing the negotiations now will help quickly resolve the differences when the special session is called.   “I’m pleased to report that after this week’s meetings the budget is now 95 percent complete,” Blackwell said and other critical public services that directly impact Mississippians.”  Blackwell is confident differences will be settled well ahead of Gov Tate Reeves’ call for that special session Mississippi could be facing a government shutdown Differences between Republican leaders in the House and Senate were largely blamed for the lack of a budget bill when the regular session ended April 3 The disagreements were particularly over the approach to income tax elimination The House passed a version of the tax cut bill that accelerated the elimination timeline a move the Senate viewed as politically opportunistic leading to a breakdown in budget negotiations Tate Reeves is confident that a budget bill will be settled before July 1 With the discussions apparently moving the process forward Blackwell expects settlement soon so Reeves can call the special session and put next year’s state budget in motion we have until July 1 to pass a final budget—but I’m confident we’ll finish well before that deadline,” Blackwell said.   the delay in finalizing the budget creates uncertainty for state agencies and local school districts moving forward past June as they try to plan for the upcoming fiscal year Photo: Crews are working on the early stages expanding the George M Harrison Soccer Complex on Church Road in Olive Branch to expand the facility.  Mayor Ken Adams said Thursday crews are filling in a section of the pond to begin the work of expanding the parking along the complex.  It’s all part of a project this year that will add four new soccer fields and a multi-use walking trail that will connect to Ross Road the complex will have seven international-sized fields and two practice fields which Adams said will get used when Parks and Recreations are not using them.  “We allow citizens to practice on our fields every day and every night when we’re not using them Various cities do that,” Adams said.   parking at the complex is being expanded with 405 additional spaces.  According to Olive Branch Parks and Recreation about 1,600 participants use the complex during its spring and fall soccer seasons.   Adams said the cost of the project is coming through the city’s one-percent hotel-motel tax.   “Approximately $3.5 million is bonded,” said Adams “The one-percent hotel-motel tax is going to cover the funding for the loan to borrow the $3.5 million for those soccer fields.” In the monthly newsletter sent to city residents the mayor also noted that construction of the new animal shelter is underway with now up at the new site expected to be finished at the end of 2025 Utility lines and a foundation have been installed at the site of the city’s new Public Works facility located behind the city’s police headquarters on state Highway 178 Adams added that the Homer Skelton Foundation has provided a donation to allow the city to move forward on the construction of six pickleball courts and a restroom facility at the Olive Branch City Park.   MADISON — All Madison Central needed was one big inning and one stellar outing from Boggan Foster the Jaguars plated five runs in the bottom of fourth en route to an 8-0 shutout win over DeSoto Central in the decisive Game 3 of their MHSAA Class 7A First Round baseball playoff series in The Jungle on Tuesday night Madison Central (21-7) advances to face Oxford in the Second Round of the Class 7A playoffs beginning on Friday “We grinded out some good at-bats and tonight I think we had our most complete game,” said Madison Central coach Patrick Robey “Boggan had kind of been very dialed in with his changeup at the beginning of the year and made a couple small adjustments and the outing he had tonight was something we needed The Jaguars scored their first run in the bottom of the third to take a 1-0 lead as Walker Robey scored on a wild pitch The fourth inning was the big inning for Madison Central has the Jaguars scored five runs to extend their lead to 6-0 highlighted by an RBI triple by Warren Hutchinson Madison Central added the final two runs in the sixth to take on a wild pitch and on Hutchinson RBI sacrifice safety squeeze bunt and two runs scored to lead Madison Central offensively Foster (3-2) got the win on the mound pitching six innings and scattering three hits “Top to bottom our guys did a great job of finding ways of getting on base and getting bunts down to move runners and taking what was given,” Robey said “We knew their bullpen was going to be a little thin Proud of the kids and now we get compete later this week against a good Oxford team.” Griffin Powell (3-1) took the loss on the mound for DeSoto Central “In a game three whoever comes out and swings the bats well is going to win and they did from the start,” said DeSoto Central coach Brian Lewis “Their pitcher did a great job keeping us off balance and we didn’t get anything going It was a great 7A series and now this is back-to-back seasons we’ve been put out in the first round here and it was two good programs battling it out and we came out on the short end.” Email notifications are only sent once a day Please disable your ad blocker, whitelist our site, or purchase a subscription Expect a group of protesters at the DeSoto County Courthouse Thursday during the noon hour as part of a national action on May Day observed in many countries as International Workers’ Day.   The Hernando protest is part of over 1,000 events in 851 cities across the country Most of the protests will be targeted at President Donald Trump with organizer Kelly Jacobs stating that participants are asking Sen Trent Kelly (R-Miss.) to be involved in a Congressional action to “Impeach Convict and Remove President Trump” from office “Trump has attacked the very foundation of our Democracy,” Jacobs does not respect and obey the orders from our Courts nor protect the American people His directives only profit the millionaires.”  Jacobs said the May Day action is dedicated to “fighting for a better future that prioritizes the needs of working families and their neighborhoods by removing Trump from office.” is asking the county commission for a special exemption to allow him to have biosolids hauled back to a portion of his family's property so that a company called Osceola Organics may convert the sludge into the grade of biosolids currently allowed under the county ordinance Hollingsworth has received the blessing of the county's planning board Now it will be up to the five-member county commission Last week, the panel, comprised of U.S. District Court judges Daniel Jordan III and Sul Ozerden and U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Leslie Southwick, gave the State Board of Election Commissioners until Tuesday to submit a new redistricting plan to the court for further consideration The state's new plan creates a minority majority Senate District 2 in the Northwest corner of the state It also makes further amendments to Senate District 11 reducing its Black voting population down by more than 9% but maintaining it as a minority majority district District 11 was the newly created district without any incumbents the plaintiff in the lawsuit that resulted in the court order a chance to challenge the new amended plan and for both parties to submit a new pre-election schedule for the special legislative elections slated to happen later this year In December 2022, the NAACP and several state voters filed a lawsuit claiming the Legislature's 2022 redistricting diluted Black voting power, violating federal law. In 2024, the panel agreed and ordered the Legislature to propose a new map creating new Black majority districts In the 2025 Legislative Session, lawmakers passed district changes for the House and Senate resulting in several amended districts and the creation of two Black-majority districts with no incumbent Once the Legislature sent its new plan to the court, the NAACP challenged the redraw in the Northeast Mississippi and Desoto County areas but not the Hattiesburg area district changes Redistricting arguments: New Mississippi House, Senate districts not yet approved by federal court panel The state's new plan features no new districts without incumbents and also no grouping of existing lawmakers into the same district which were created in previous proposals as ways to address Black voter dilution the defendants note the NAACP will likely challenge the new proposal if it had been applied in some previous elections prior to 2020 That mostly stemmed from arguments made by attorneys representing both parties over whether the new districts should to some degree guarantee Black voters would elect a candidate of their choice or perceivably have an opportunity to do so in those districts The state has argued it should only provide an opportunity for those voters the plan shows strong performance numbers in every election from 2020 to now," the defendants' attorneys wrote in their Tuesday filing "Asking the Court to brush aside the elections since 2020 and favor older stale elections would be further proof that the Plaintiffs want a guarantee that a black Democrat will be elected in the newly drawn majority-minority district." Because the pre-special election schedule had to change for the court to consider the state's new proposal for the Desoto County area the defendants submitted a new schedule with their new district lines Court sends state back to drawing board: Federal court rules on MS redistricting, sends state back to drawing board The proposed changes to the schedule would be nominal moving the deadline for election officials throughout the state to receive new district materials from April 25 to May 5 It would also not impact the day of the general special election The defendants in a brief also said if the new deadline of May 5 can't be met some pre-election deadlines should be pushed back a week Grant McLaughlin covers the Legislature and state government for the Clarion Ledger He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335 One week after a panel of federal judges ordered Mississippi’s Board of Election Commissioners to redraw state senate districts in DeSoto County The latest proposal aims to remedy concerns espoused by the NAACP in a lawsuit accusing the state of diluting Black voting power in Mississippi Reeves and Watson voted in favor of the motion An attorney representing the Attorney General’s Office dissented This comes after a panel consisting of U.S. Fifth Circuit Judge Leslie Southwick, U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden, and U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan ordered the state to redraw 10 Senate voting districts and five House districts in response to litigation filed by the NAACP in 2022 The suit alleged that the 2022 redistricting by the legislature diminished the voting power of the state’s Black population with 29% of Senate districts and 34% of House districts being majority Black Redistricting plans in the Hattiesburg area were approved by the NAACP but new lines drawn in DeSoto and Chickasaw counties were disputed the panel of judges approved the Chickasaw plans and instructed the state to redraw lines in northwest Mississippi The state’s new proposal makes Senate District 2 a majority-minority district meaning more than 50% of its voting base is not white and lowers the Black voting base in Senate District 11 while keeping it a majority-minority district anticipates the NAACP to dispute the plan because it does not guarantee certain specific outcomes in future elections The plaintiffs in the suit are looking to ensure Black voters would elect a candidate of choice in the areas whereas the state is looking to afford the opportunity “Plaintiffs will likely object to SD 2’s performance metrics by noting that the district fails to perform in the 2019 statewide elections or But this is now the second map (including the Senate remedial map) submitted to the Court that shows a clear shift and trend toward Democratic voting behavior post-2019 in the DeSoto County area,” the board wrote the Plan shows strong performance numbers in every election from 2020 to now Asking the Court to brush aside the elections since 2020 and favor older stale elections would be further proof that the Plaintiffs want a guarantee that a black Democrat will be elected in the newly drawn majority-minority district.” The following modified schedule for adopting new voter information and election dates will go into effect if the new districts are approved in the event the May 5 deadline cannot be met then the deadline for each state executive committee to submit the list of qualified candidates to the Secretary of State would be moved to June 13 and all previous deadlines moved back one week which would place the deadline to produce maps and address libraries on May 12 The NAACP will have seven days to weigh in on the plan before the judicial panel decides whether or not to give it the green light the judges could redraw the districts and move forward with their modified candidate qualifying period and election schedule Copyright 2025 SuperTalk Mississippi Media Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly SuperTalk Mississippi Media is Mississippi’s leader in news SuperTalk Mississippi Media covers every inch of the state in support of a one-hitter by Avery McCloskey as the Lady Griffins won 10-0 over Jennings and rolled back into the LHSAA state semifinals next weekend to defend their Non-Select Division II state title North DeSoto is one of three DeSoto Parish schools that will be playing for a state crown next week “We have some quality programs in our parish and we all have great administrators and then central office that supports athletics and all aspects of our school,” NDHS coach Tim Whitman said “That support allows us to field teams that compete at a high level I’m proud of my team and the senior leadership that have made their mark on this program with four consecutive trips to Sulphur.” Georgia Tech signee Payton Miller and Northwest Florida State signee Sasha Falls contributed two hits in the run-rule-shortened contest by the Griffins (30-3) TOUGH ENDING: Caddo Magnet ends tough season; Evangel, Many, Glenbrook among LHSAA softball winners WINNERS: Benton, Calvary, North DeSoto among LHSAA softball teams advancing to quarterfinals Bunkie 0: Calvary’s Kynzee Anderson pitched a three-inning shutout while going 3-for-3 at the plate with a home run as the Lady Cavs advanced to Sulphur for the LHSAA Select Division III semifinals Baylor Bockhaus contributed a home run while Brynn Robinson was 3-for-3 and Jaycee Sledge had two hits for Calvary (35-1) the three-time defending state champs Family Christian 0: The Panthers (23-7) let loose a home run barrage to blast their way into the LHSAA Class B semifinals in Sulphur next week Kraegan Jordan and Jade Jones powered two homers apiece while Riley Palmer and Paige Campbell nailed one apiece Campbell took the win allowing just two hits over five innings with three strikeouts Montgomery 1: Ainsley Morvan tossed a two-hitter to allow the Lady Tigers to advance to the LHSAA Non-Select Division IV semifinals after a tight game with Montgomery Emmarie Atkins and Kennedi Smith cracked doubles while Colby Rolfe contributed two hits in the win Benton 3: The Lady Tigers bowed out of the LHSAA Non-Select Division I playoffs with a home loss to Walker on Friday evening Lakeside 2: Despite a strong pitching performance from McKenna Chreene Lakeside fell in the LHSAA Division IV playoffs Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports for the USA TODAY Network Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6 We all recognize the signs of a big storm approaching sending lawn chairs tumbling past our windows or even snapping large tree branches an eerie silence blankets the world—the calm before the storm Squirrels vanish into safe havens to ride out the tempest urging us to take cover and wait out the storm in safety but what about the quiet storms—the ones that start small and catch us off guard just as a precaution.” A manager announces “We’ll be making budget cuts in the New Year “Let’s take some time apart; it’s temporary “Feeling a little blue is normal this time of year; focus on what makes you happy.” These quiet storms can escalate into raging crises A routine test might reveal a life-threatening illness Budget cuts could cost a job and a family’s stability Feeling blue could signal a deeper depressive disorder Obsess over what might happen until worry consumes us much like the sudden tempest that struck the disciples on the Sea of Galilee Picture Jesus and His disciples setting out across the Sea of Galilee don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” (Mark 4:38) The disciples were still learning who Jesus truly was They didn’t have the New Testament to guide them; they were living it we miss what the disciples overlooked: Jesus calms the storms Not only the tempests of nature but also the crises in our lives When a subtle challenge threatens to overwhelm us Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16) You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68) Some believe being a good person ensures heaven but Scripture teaches that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way Most of them endured trials that eventually claimed their lives secured their place in heaven because they stayed in the boat with Jesus When quiet storms loom or raging tempests strike and seek the support of those who share your faith Kathy Yoder is a devotional writer reachable at Kathyyoder4@gmail.com and Kathyyoder.com 2025- Four DeSoto County women were arrested Thursday morning and are being held on several counts of fraudulently obtaining Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits a combined effort between agents with the Mississippi Department of Human Services the DeSoto County District Attorney’s office and officers with the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department’s Fugitive Division was a sweeping cooperative operation conducted under the name of “Operation SNAP Trap.”  with the number of counts against them and the amount of benefits they are accused of illegally receiving are as follows: The four remained in custody in the DeSoto County Adult Detention Center as of Monday evening.   District Attorney Matthew Barton said the operation was conducted very quickly with all four captured Thursday morning.   “It is a testament to what we can do when multiple agencies work together,” Barton said had them served and arrested all before the grand jury took a break for lunch This is as smooth and efficient as the government could possibly be and I’m very proud of that.”   Mississippi Department of Human Services Inspector General Sandra Griffth was part of the news conference and in her brief comments commended the hard work and dedication of the agents and officers involved.   “The Mississippi Department of Human Services is dedicated to eliminating waste and abuse in our programs,” Griffith said “We also look forward to future collaboration in prosecuting health care fraud fund welfare cases.”   Barton said this was essentially a food stamp fraud case where the four failed to disclose changes in circumstances omitting income that they were receiving in order to qualify for certain government assistance and benefits.  “This was not a case where people made a mistake or accidentally filled out the wrong form or messed up their math,’ Barton said “This was an intentional effort to defraud a government program that’s designed to help those who need it the most.”   Barton said he hoped the action alerts others who may be involved in SNAP fraud that officials “will be coming for you next,” he said He added today’s grand jury action was what he called a “secret indictment” and the actions may date back as far as 2020 until a few months ago.   The district attorney added tips from the public were also a factor in the investigation and subsequent arrests.   Investigations are ongoing, and further charges or arrests may follow. The public can anonymously report welfare fraud at the Mississippi Department of Human Services website, through the fraud hotline by email or call 800-299-6905.  The charges in the indictment are allegations only and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty All factual details are based on court documents and statements made during court proceedings Mississippi Capitol (Photo: Sarah Ulmer/Magnolia Tribune) The Mississippi State Board of Election Commissioners has submitted a new legislative redistricting plan for the DeSoto County area complying with an order from a three-judge panel that said the Senate map adopted this session failed to remedy the dilution of black voting strength and Secretary of State Michael Watson (R) make up the Board of Election Commissioners Lawmakers adopted their version of the revised district boundaries this session in an attempt to comply with the court ordered redistricting namely in DeSoto and Chickasaw counties as well as in the Hattiesburg-Forrest County area after the Mississippi NAACP filed a lawsuit challenging the 2022 legislative redistricting plan claiming black voting strength had been diluted The result was the need to hold 15 special elections in the affected areas the NAACP argued that the new maps do not do enough to satisfy their complaint and asked the federal panel to consider changes in the Chickasaw and DeSoto counties The plaintiffs did not object to the changes made in the Hattiesburg-Forrest County area Fifth Circuit Judge Leslie Southwick and U.S District Judges Sul Ozerden and Daniel Jordan gave the State Board of Election Commissioners seven days to propose a new map for the northwest Mississippi area The new proposal submitted by the Board of Election Commissioners would not create a new district without any incumbents and would not pair incumbents into one district It would make Senate District 2 a majority-minority district while reducing the black voting population in Senate District 11 and shifting boundaries in neighboring districts Attorneys for the state noted that the NAACP is likely to object to this new proposal as “the Plaintiffs want a guarantee that a black Democrat will be elected in the newly drawn majority-minority district.” the qualifying period for those special legislative elections caused by the redistricting plan is set to begin May 19 Primary Elections would then be held August 5 with a General Election set for November 4 due to the continued legal wrangling over the maps the new proposal shifts the qualifying period back to May 26 through May 30 but leaves the August Primary and November General Elections the same The court will now consider the proposal as well as the response from the NAACP before making a decision If no agreement is reached between the parties the three-judge panel could revise the Senate districts and enact a court-ordered redistricting plan while setting their own pre-election timeline By joining our newsletter, you are confirming that you agree with the Privacy Policy Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Linda was an accomplished chef who brought joy to many through her culinary creations She had a creative soul and found happiness in drawing Baking was another passion close to her heart and she cherished time spent in cozy coffee houses Linda had a deep love for the snow and the serene beauty of nature that surrounded her in Utah She has now joined her parents and siblings who preceded her in passing A celebration of Linda's life will take place on March 24 at White Pine Funeral Home 753 S 100 E Logan There will be a public visitation held prior to the celebration of life from 10:30-11:30 A.M Further details will be shared with family Linda will be forever remembered for her vibrant spirit Click this link to view additional details about Linda's Services: https://my.gather.app/remember/linda-desoto Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors DeSoto County Sheriff’s Deputies confiscated bags of methamphetamine and marjuana during a recent traffic stop ARCADIA — DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics deputies recorded a large drug bust this week after pulling over a truck with excessive window tinting Narcotics deputies tried to stop a pickup with dark windows Tuesday They later determined the truck had a 4% visibility in its window tinting Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account President Trump recently celebrated his 100th day in office President Trump has arguably delivered more than any executive in American history and demanded that the globe respect America once again he had to sign more than 140 executive orders a feat no other president has accomplished Many of these orders have worked to revive America from the harms of Biden’s inflationary policies Perhaps most relevant to the Mississippi Treasury he’s worked to secure your financial future I have fought against harmful ESG and DEI policies that threaten hardworking Mississippians’ dollars but the outlook is much brighter under President Trump’s watchful eye I signed a letter alongside 22 other state financial officers urging the SEC and Labor Department to give clear guidance to ensure investment decisions protect financial interests not political agendas this March I signed a letter with more than a dozen other state financial officers highlighting debanking eventually going to the White House to discuss ways to limit this anti-American practice whose family has been a victim of debanking is actively working to reverse the disastrous guidance that allowed for this to occur in the first place and I will do all I can to support him in this mission Simply put: Americans should not be blacklisted for having conservative values While ESG and debanking may not affect every American right now It’s time to cut the size and scope of government – and no one (I repeat no one) has tackled the federal bureaucracy like President Trump and his DOGE team President Trump has kept up a pace of about $1.6 billion of savings per day – and he promises that bigger cuts are still on the horizon This is the scale-back many have been clamoring for Mississippi – and America – are heading in the right direction I will continue to fight alongside President Trump to deliver real change for America I ask that you continue to keep President Trump and all those serving the public in your prayers May wisdom continue to guide the decisions of leader’s and may God’s grace and mercy flow down on our nation Mississippi Treasurer David McRae is the 55th Treasurer for the State of Mississippi. In this role, he helps manage the state’s cash flow, oversees College and Career Savings Mississippi, and has returned more than $100 million in unclaimed money to Mississippians. For more information, visit Treasury.MS.gov Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInDeSOTO PARISH (KSLA) - The DeSoto Parish School Board has given the go-ahead on a $17.1 million capital expansion project to enhance facilities at North DeSoto Lower Elementary and North DeSoto Middle School “This project is a proactive approach to meet both the current needs of students and lay a solid foundation for long-term solutions,” said DeSoto Parish School Board President Donnie Dufour “Our responsibility as a board is to ensure that every student has access to safe This project moves us forward in a big way.” The board voted on the $17,158,000 project at its April 10 meeting IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED FOR NORTH DESOTO LOWER ELEMENTARY as well as a new playground and covered canopy as well as a new administration/library wing Renovations will be done to the existing 7,160 square feet of the existing school A total of 35,420 square feet will be added to the campus IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED FOR NORTH DESOTO MIDDLE SCHOOL There will be a 13,069 square-foot addition made to the school that includes new classrooms and a band hall with more being added by renovating the current space 2nd graders at North DeSoto will relocate to the lower elementary campus which will help with overcrowding at North DeSoto Upper Elementary “This project is about meeting the immediate needs of our students and making sure we’re ready for what’s ahead,” said District 1 school board member “As we see continued growth in the north DeSoto communities we must ensure our facilities grow with them we’re laying the groundwork for future needs of our students and educators.” The school district says it’s experiencing sustained growth in student population and these projects are necessary to keep the student-teacher ratio low These new classrooms will help support that goal “This is only the beginning phase and an early solution to a growing concern While it doesn’t solve every challenge immediately it allows us to tackle our most urgent priorities head-on I am grateful that our board had the foresight to begin setting aside funds in District 2 several years ago that allow us to move forward with a project like this,” said Superintendent Clay Corley “As our community and school district continues to grow I’m hopeful that our stakeholders will recognize these efforts and continue to partner with us in building a stronger more comprehensive path forward for our students.” The board says it remains committed to support the school district’s ongoing mission to provide high-quality facilities and education to its students If you want to get Mississippi moms and dads riled up would allow homeschool students to participate in public school activities (sports Here’s what gets public school parents so rankled… the Mississippi Legislature has imposed countless mandates on how and what public school students learn increased academic standards and graduation requirements and prescribed penalties for public schools and students if they fall short Among those mandates is a law passed in 2009 requiring public school students to maintain a 2.0 grade point average to participate in high school activities Homeschooled students get a pass on those requirements The sum total of requirements for homeschooling a Mississippi student: The enrollment form provides one line on which the parent is to describe the educational program for home instruction No check-in to see if the program is actually implemented or what the student learned With virtually no regulation of homeschooling in Mississippi educators report numerous incidents of parents withdrawing children from school and completing that nine-line form in response to repeated calls from attendance officers or persistent disciplinary issues the Tim Tebow legislation would provide an easy circumvention of compulsory attendance laws for a public school athlete struggling to meet the 2.0 GPA requirement Just have mom withdraw you from public school The bill ignores the gigantic gulf between what is required of homeschooled students and what is required of public school students – and insists that homeschoolers not only be allowed to participate in public school activities but that they be given preferential consideration where athletics are concerned The legislation declares that they shall not be discriminated against because of their homeschool status when public school team rosters are decided a legal standing not afforded public school students The legislation takes a stab at fairness by requiring that homeschoolers present a portfolio of academic work (graded by their parents) in place of the 2.0 GPA requirement levied on public school students One version of the legislation required that homeschoolers take a state test in order to participate We’ve heard stories of parents who disenroll their children from school to focus their time and energy on their sport of choice Tim Tebow seems tailor-made for these families Their kids can sleep in – ensuring sufficient rest to perform well on the court or field then show up at the public school mid-afternoon to compete with public school students (who spent their day in class) for a spot on the public school team It’s this hypocrisy – the obvious double standard – that so infuriates the parents of the 430,000+ students enrolled in Mississippi’s public schools playing by the rules the Legislature passed that’s close to 90% of Mississippi children Their parents make up a pretty big voting bloc and many of them made calls to their legislators earlier this year to voice their intense opposition Which is exactly why the Tim Tebow bill failed to pass in the 2025 Legislative Session Reeves said recently he’s considering adding Tim Tebow to a special session agenda Public school parents might want to remind legislators why they killed that bill a couple of months back Nancy Loome is executive director of The Parents’ Campaign (msparentscampaign.org) and president of The Parents’ Campaign Research & Education Fund (tpcref.org) She and her husband Jim have three grown children all of whom graduated from Clinton Public Schools. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A federal three-judge panel is again ordering the State Board of Election Commissioners to redraw state senate districts in northeast Mississippi to allow fair opportunity for Black voters to elect preferred candidates The panel ordered the state to redraw 10 Senate voting districts and five House districts in response to a 2022 NAACP lawsuit that alleged voting power for the black voting age population (BVAP) was diluted in Mississippi due to gerrymandered district lines A primary aim of the redrawn lines was to increase Black-majority districts in a way that more accurately reflects the state’s 38% Black population Before reorganization measures were passed by both the state Senate and House 29% of Senate districts and 34% of House districts were majority Black Many Black leaders in the state celebrated the 2024 ruling but were dissatisfied with two of the three voting maps passed by the legislature in the 2025 regular session The Mississippi NAACP accepted redrawn Districts 34 but challenged the new maps in DeSoto and Chickasaw counties “Black voters still have less opportunity to elect candidates of choice to the Senate and House as compared to white voters,” said ACLU attorney Ari Savitzky who represents the Mississippi NAACP in the case “The opportunities they create are illusory.”  The panel of judges accepted the redrawn House Districts 16 but upheld the plaintiffs’ appeal that the new map in DeSoto County In previous hearings, the panel cited a lack of precedent for what exactly delineates equal opportunity for Black voters. A crowd of Republican lawmakers has decried the line of decisions arguing that districts should not be drawn to guarantee the election of Black Democrats but rather that maps should provide equal opportunity the panel sided with the Mississippi NAACP’s argument that even though the changed districts became majority Black when they previously weren’t “effective opportunity” that took socioeconomic and prior election result factors into account was not established The State Board of Election Commissioners was given seven days to propose a new map for the districts in DeSoto County that are more favorable for Black voters The panel admitted that the timeline was “tight” for a slew of special elections that will be required for newly drawn districts but noted they are still committed to carrying out the 15 elections The House and Senate legislation mark May 19 as the start of the qualifying period for the elections with primary elections set for August 5 ahead of the general election on November 4 The commander of American military operations in the Pacific recently testified before Congress and he brought an urgent message from the field Admiral Samuel Paparo warned that the United States must act quickly if we hope to deter the worst intentions of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Under the iron fist of dictator Xi Jinping China is working to assemble a military that can challenge the United States Xi Jinping has poured untold sums of money into his armed forces and its air force’s goal is to gain air superiority over the entire western Pacific China has been expanding its nuclear arsenal much faster than we have It has quickly built new intercontinental ballistic missile launchers which can blast nuclear warheads from China to our American cities and towns the United States has been under-investing in our military If we continue declining as China keeps ascending and our lives would undoubtedly change for the worse Americans have rested easy under the assumption that no country could challenge the United States military We can no longer take that strength for granted Some military leaders like the element of surprise but Xi Jinping tends to broadcast his intentions He has told the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027 Such an attack could result in global economic depression and lead to poverty Xi Jinping would gain control over the most important global shipping lanes and own the world’s most advanced semiconductor manufacturing He would be able to place military assets on islands even closer to the United States China has also made its ambitions clear by consistently violating the rights of other nations PLA vessels have harassed Filipino and Vietnamese ships and bribed African nations into exploitative economic relationships China’s communist system deters innovation so its leaders have resorted to plundering intellectual property from America The CCP runs over one hundred police stations in 53 countries which it uses to track and suppress activists pushing for freedoms in China Xi Jinping’s behavior is not the action of a benevolent world leader but it does help explain the company he has been keeping the Chinese tyrant has been orchestrating a coalition of fellow dictators and North Korea are colluding to challenge the military and cultural strength of the United States Not since World War II have we faced such a widespread This new axis of aggressors is helping one another sow chaos in nearly every corner of the world They have even moved in our own hemisphere Americans have underestimated China’s power and intentions But as they see Xi Jinping’s continued violence they are beginning to wake up to the threat The free people of the world are also watching We must take advantage of this increased attention to rally the world and stop China in its tracks I have been working alongside my colleagues and President Trump to do just that I serve as the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee which is helping lead a revival of American military strength Rebuilding American military hardware is the only way to keep the peace and deter the CCP from further threatening our way of life because we know Xi Jinping is wasting no time Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and provided by the Senator’s office Opinions expressed are those solely of the author.  Southaven police report a DeSoto Central Elementary School teacher has been arrested on child pornography charges April 8 by Southaven police with assistance in the apprehension by Olive Branch police officers An April 16 court date has been scheduled in the case Southaven police said they had received a tip during the week of March 10-14 of a DeSoto Central Elementary School teacher downloading inappropriate videos and photos of minor children.  Investigators later identified the teacher as Cantrell Cantrell was charged with one count of child pornography (Produce there are no students involved with this incident.  Police Tuesday morning informed school officials of the investigation and were told that Cantrell was no longer employed with the school district.   The investigation into the case continues and no further investigation was immediately made available.  There's something about driving around with the wind in your hair he remembers some of his adventures with drop-tops including a lemon his Old Man talked him into buying Hurricane Preparedness Week for the State of Mississippi The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency urges citizens to prepare for the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season and five intensified into major hurricanes  “The upcoming hurricane season marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina which serves as a reminder about the significant challenges our state can face from powerful storms,” said Reeves.  “I encourage all residents to take proactive steps in preparation for the upcoming hurricane season Being prepared can make all the difference in ensuring your safety and minimizing damage.” “I encourage all Mississippians to use Hurricane Preparedness Week to prepare now and determining evacuation routes,” says MEMA’s Executive Director Stephen McCraney we can safeguard our communities from any potential tropical storms Let’s work together to ensure the safety and resilience of Mississippi during this hurricane season.” Every Mississippi family should have a fully stocked disaster supply kit with necessities like water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, etc. To download a copy of the disaster supply checklist, click here MEMA encourages homeowners to do an insurance check before hurricane season; homeowners should also purchase flood insurance if their home is in a special flood hazard zone and ways to be prepared on our social media platforms The official Atlantic Hurricane Season is June 1 Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInDESOTO CO. (WMC) - A DeSoto County Sheriff’s deputy is now recovering at home Wednesday morning after he was injured reportedly stopping a wrong-way driver in an intentional should be recognized as a hero for stopping the wrong-way driver Sheriff Thomas Tuggle II says deputies responded to several reports of a vehicle traveling west along I-269 East Tuggle says the driver narrowly missed several cars as it traveled at an “extremely” high rate of speed A deputy purposefully positioned himself in the path of the driver and was hit head-on “It takes courage to do what this deputy did tonight The wrong-way driver has since been identified as 54-year-old Tracy Balton of Olive Branch Balton is charged with felony fleeing of law enforcement officer Mississippi Highway Patrol is taking over the investigation DESOTO—Those in the meeting at the DeSoto City Council earlier this week were happy when the council unanimously passed the regular agenda item to negotiate and enter into a Purchase and Sale Agreement for the closing on the properties located at 109 N Hampton Road Lot 3.1; 140 Morris Street; 168 Church Street; 231 W Belt Line Road; and 115 W Belt Line Road Community Baptist Church of DeSoto sold the new property to the city for $6,650,000.00 The seller also negotiated retaining the use of the property for two years free of charge One person said the exclusive right to market and purchase the property for a year originally existed but that expired in September with no sale DeSoto City manager Majed Al-Ghafry said the opportunity to purchase and develop this property will be a catalyst for an anchor at the city’s most important intersections and an incredible destination for economic development Al-Ghafry said he believed the property would spur growth once the city found a suitable partner “for us to develop.” It was noted that the city already owns 24 acres to the south One speaker on this topic was Judge Mike Jones a DeSoto resident who had previously served on the city’s council He talked about this being a return on investment and he said developers are “knocking on DeSoto’s door and you have to make big purchases to bring those individuals in.” Councilmember Place 5 Dinah Marks wanted to know how the city is paying for this and Al-Ghafry explained the first $2 million the first payment upon closing escrow would be from the 2015 bond program The remainder $4.65 million will be split into two payments of $2.325 million using a combination of things such as a grant from the District’s US Representative Jasmine Crockett at $1.66 million and other opportunities as well as being aggressive in pursuing a developer Councilmember Place 3 Nicole Raphiel wanted to know if an environmental assessment had been done and Al-Ghafry said it was currently in the process She also wanted to know if the agreement would include provisions to address any environmental costs necessary for redevelopment or an exit strategy if the redevelopment did not materialize Al-Ghafry didn’t have an answer other than “It is important for us to keep a positive outlook on this,” stating that he is not looking at an exit strategy but at partners Councilmember Place 4 Andre Byrd said that to control the future of DeSoto DeSoto City Attorney Joe Gorfida addressed an issue regarding conflict of interest He said it might be the case that one or more council members have a conflict of interest regarding this item and would be precluded from voting He explained conflict of interest comes into play when it involves business He added no council member fell into this category A number of comments were in favor of revitalizing Thorntree Golf Club encouraging the city council to support this effort “It is something DeSoto needs to do right now,” she said “The current owners don’t seem to have any plans beyond collecting green fees and waiting for the clubhouse to fall apart and the golf course to become unusable.” She said if that happens the city will lose a huge asset and the entire community would feel the impact She said a great golf course adds value to the property tax base Smith is a real estate agent and said losing the golf course could cause home value in that area to go down by 50 percent which would be a big hit for property tax revenue in DeSoto Tanya Cole was there to support the revitalization of ThornTree Golf Club Patricia Davis said she is proud to live in Thorntree Golf Club and supports what is needed to revitalize it who thanked the city council and said the grant to support Thorntree was important He has been a member of HOAs for a long time and has participated in grant programs and he felt this would be an economic boom for the city He also gave kudos to DeSoto Police Chief Joe Costa and said he knew Costa personally and you could not find a better chief Frank Benedict came to DeSoto from Michigan and supports the golf club’s revitalization who said the Thorntree initiative is “a great way to invest in that image to build a thriving community.” and Rana Gulza supported the Thorntree Golf Club initiative Anna Williams mentioned grants from 2014 to 2024 of $50,000 to the golf club and wondered what happened to that money Other public comments included Keisha Dixon who said she still has a problem with the Police Department and police chief She felt like the city was allowing his lack of oversight and accountability and she urged the council to investigate his “mishandling police resources and bias.” She said her concerns are not personal and she demands some action from the city council “before someone in my household ends up dead.” Mary Bonaparte thanked DeSoto PD and mentioned an incident with a homeless individual who was caught in a neighbor’s yard and apprehended by use of a drone She thinks there needs to be more money for additional police in DeSoto in next year’s budget She also said she believes every citizen in Desoto has the right to question the integrity and ethics of city policies “We have to be more proactive versus reactive and it relates to city policies and plans.” Deputy mayor pro tem in neighboring Lancaster told the council he is proud of what they are doing on “this side of 35.” He believes the council is making moves for the future of the entire Best Southwest area Oscar Epps spoke about being excited about what the city is doing now and Roosevelt Baker a 40-year resident said the city is making progress and he wants the city to let the residents know what they can do to help Twenty-eight-year resident Andre Gosa said “The council is moving Desoto in a positive direction and we shouldn’t have to go outside DeSoto to purchase things we need.” Gosa also thanked the Police Department for all they do said he has most recently seen significant improvement in the city and he believes that is due to the leadership “You have done a fantastic job of moving our community forward,” Jackson said which has much to do with “relationships outside the city’s walls.” A resolution to move Executive Sessions to before the city’s Regularly scheduled City Council meetings in 2025 passed unanimously Council passed the public hearings unanimously to amend the City’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan to renumber Chapter 8 “Implementation” to Chapter 10 “Implementation” and to add two new Chapters to the City’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan (Chapter 8 “Streetscape Guidelines” and Chapter 9 “Urban Design Guidelines) including the approval of the Regular City Council meeting minutes from September 17 and October 1 and the Special City Council meeting minutes from July 25 Council approved authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with ABM Building Solutions of Irving for $73,282.00 for the purchase and installation of four Roof Top Units for the Senior Citizen Center at 204 Lion Street in association with the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program as well as to execute a contract with Got You Covered Work Wear & Uniforms for $95,000 An ordinance was approved to define the number of authorized Civil Service positions within the Fire Department as well as an ordinance amending the City of DeSoto’s Code of Ordinances to adjust annual permit fees for Environmental Health Services (Food Establishment Operator’s Permits The City Manager was also authorized to execute a contract with Chastang Ford at $52,977 for the purchase of a 2024 Ford F-250 Regular Cab truck for the City’s Parks & Recreation Department to execute a professional services agreement with Rarestep (DBA Fleetio) for a five-year term at a cost of $25,350.00 for Year 1 which includes the initial set-up and installation of a web-based platform to track fuel management and fleet maintenance and an annual fee of $23,550.00 each of the remaining four years and to execute an amendment to the Energy Efficiency Investment-Grade Audit agreement to increase the scope of work to include architectural drawings including architectural and interior design electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineering for Fire Station 263 and the Joe Brown DeSoto Fire Training Center in the amount of $158,000 Southwest Regional Communications was given the green light for the installation of two radio consoles from Motorola Solutions in the amount of $233,570 and two 911 telephone positions for $94,587 from Motorola Solutions as well as the purchase of new uninterrupted power supply (UPS) equipment from LED Enterprises The first one reviewed and recommended amendments to the City Council Rules and Procedures which will be continued in further discussion The second topic will also be returned to council at a later date as DeSoto Mayor Rachel Proctor said the idea was not ready for a vote to consider a four-day work week schedule for the city’s administrative office.