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Tax Hikes Loom for Mississippi Municipalities as Retirement System Funding Bill Fizzles

JACKSON, Miss. – City and county governments in Mississippi are facing a tough decision after a bill that would have decreased the employer contribution to the state retirement system for government workers failed to pass. Supporters of the proposal warn that without this change, local governments may have to resort to raising taxes or cutting employees to make up for the increased costs. House bill 1590, which did not move forward in the Senate committee …

Tragic End for Mississippi Couple Amidst Divorce Proceedings: Final Moments Revealed in Heartbreaking TikTok Video

Brandon, Mississippi — A local couple who had recently filed for divorce were found dead in their home in what authorities are investigating as a murder-suicide. Thirty-year-old Jennifer Sheffield and her husband, forty-year-old Brandon Sheffield, were discovered on Saturday in their residence on Toulon Street after family members, concerned for their wellbeing, went to check on them. Police were alerted by Jennifer’s family, who suspected foul play when they encountered the grim scene. Although the …

Tragic Turn: Divorcing Mississippi Couple Perish in Murder-Suicide Amid Plans for Future

Brandon, MS — A tragic incident has occurred involving a married couple amidst divorce proceedings, resulting in both individuals being found deceased from gunshot wounds in what local authorities are describing as a murder-suicide. On Saturday morning, the Brandon Police Department discovered the bodies of Jennifer and Brandon Sheffield during a welfare check initiated due to concerns raised by relatives about signs of foul play at their residence on Toulon Street. The police have indicated …

Mistrial Declared in High-Profile University of Mississippi Student Murder Case

Oxford, Miss. – A case that gripped the community, involving the tragic disappearance of University of Mississippi student Jimmie “Jay” Lee, ended undecided on Wednesday. Lafayette County Circuit Judge Kelly Luther declared a mistrial after jurors could not reach a verdict in the state’s case against Sheldon “Timothy” Herrington Jr., accused of the capital murder of Lee in July 2022. Despite extensive deliberations lasting over nine hours, the jury, brought in from another Mississippi county …

Mississippi Reports Six Fatal West Nile Virus Cases in 2024, Over 50 Infected: Health Officials Urge Prevention and Caution

Jackson, MS — The Mississippi State Department of Health has reported a concerning rise in West Nile Virus cases this year, with six fatalities already recorded. Over 50 individuals across the state have been diagnosed with the virus in 2024, signaling a particularly active year for the mosquito-borne illness. West Nile Virus manifests with symptoms that often resemble those of the flu, including fever, fatigue, and muscle aches, according to Dr. Andre Ruela, a resident …

Tragedy Strikes Post-Homecoming Trail Ride in Mississippi: Three Dead, Eight Injured

LEXINGTON, Miss. — A tragic shooting erupted early Saturday at Indian Creek Trail, resulting in the deaths of three individuals and injuries to eight others, just as a local event was drawing to a close. The incident has left the community in shock, with crime scene tape marking the somber return of victims to the site. The violence broke out shortly after midnight during a trail ride event that followed a homecoming celebration organized by …

Helicopter Crash Claims Lives of Two Mississippi National Guardsmen in Routine Training Flight

Jackson, Mississippi – Two Mississippi National Guardsmen tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash on Friday afternoon. Chief Warrant Officer 4 Bryan Andrew Zemek, 36, and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Derek Joshua Abbott, 42, were identified by Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves in a social media statement. Zemek was a standardization instructor pilot in the Alpha Company 1st Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment, flying the AH-64 Delta Apache, while Abbott served as a maintenance test pilot …

Teen Sentenced to Life for Murdering Mother and Wounding Stepfather in Mississippi

JACKSON, Miss. — A shocking case concluded this week as 15-year-old Carly Madison Gregg of Rankin County was handed a life sentence for the murder of her mother and the attempted murder of her stepfather. The disturbing event, which transpired in March, has left the community grappling with the harsh realities of crime committed by young individuals. Gregg was convicted for shooting her mother, Ashley Smylie, and grazing the shoulder of her stepfather, Heath Smylie, …

Mississippi Man Detained for Alleged Violent Assault on Woman in Destin

Destin, FL — A Mississippi man is facing charges after an attack on a woman in Destin led to her hospitalization. The incident, which local authorities are calling unusually brutal, occurred late Friday night and has since stirred considerable community concern. The man, identified as 28-year-old Jason Walters of Biloxi, was arrested early Saturday morning. According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a distress call from a residence in Destin at approximately …

Justice Served: No Bond for Man Accused in Brutal Murder of Ex-Girlfriend in Mississippi

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Bricen Rivers, charged with the brutal murder of his former girlfriend, Lauren Johansen, will remain incarcerated without bond after his initial court appearance, authorities confirmed. Rivers, 23, is facing charges of first-degree murder, grand larceny auto, and evidence tampering related to Johansen’s death earlier this month. The grim details of the murder were evidenced in the emotional account of Johansen’s father, Lance Johansen, during the court proceedings. He described the brutal manner …