News

By Bonnie Coblentz, MSU Extension Service Mississippi’s ideal growing season means gardens can yield a lot of produce, but this usually comes with the help of pesticides to combat insects and diseases. It is vital that home gardeners know how much time must elapse between application of the product and when the food is harvested,…

The Mississippi Wildlife Federation is hosting the 37th Annual Mississippi Wildlife Extravaganza, Mississippi’s oldest and most recognized Outdoor Show, July 26-28 at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl. Presented by Small Town Hunting Properties & Real Estate, this year’s event will host even more exhibitors, attendees, children’s activities, and entertainment. Extravaganza Director Ashlee Smith says,…

By James L. Cummins If you have been hearing an endless string of up to 15 different birds singing outside your house, chances are very good that you have a northern mockingbird in your yard. What their slender, gray bodies lack in color, they more than make up for in personality. Mockingbirds are a group…

By Eddie Smith, MSU Extension Service One of my favorite gardening experiences is seeing plants spontaneously appear in various spots in my home garden and landscape. I love these plant volunteers, and I let them flourish in unexpected places around my garden. Their surprise appearances make the garden feel alive and ever-changing. I once wrote…

In 2023, we experienced the hottest year on record and now, halfway through 2024, there’s a strong possibility of another record-breaking year. Last month marked the 12th consecutive month of record-warm temperatures, the second longest streak in recorded history. As extreme heat advisories begin taking effect for the summer months, it’s crucial to understand the importance of heat…

Property owners and others concerned about the effect proposed changes to the Pearl River will have on areas south of Jackson are encouraged to attend a meeting on the subject and voice their concerns. A report from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that describes changes expected as a result of various development projects on…

By John Carney The uniform purchase process will be, well, more uniform, for the teams playing at the Lawrence County Sportsplex in the future. Director Ryan Wilson received approval from Monticello Aldermen during their July 1 meeting to seek proposals for providing the uniforms. Wilson explained that in the past, coaches were responsible for securing…

By John Carney At the July 1 meeting of Lawrence County Board of Supervisors, six bids were received from different paving companies in the area to provide service for the county over the next two years. According to County Engineer Jeff Dungan, the bid request had different pay items including hot mix asphalt, a 1.5-inch-thick…

By Sid Salter The most recent federal court ruling ordering Mississippi to make changes in state legislative districts based on federal Voting Rights Act violations isn’t your grandfather’s federal court order on legislative redistricting, or even your father’s. The new voting rights ruling in the case Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP, et al, v.…

Mississippi’s school supply sales tax holiday is around the corner and a time when shoppers can save major bucks in getting kids back to school supplies and clothing. Senate Bill 2470, extends the sales tax holiday from two days to three days, removing sales tax on school supplies and individual items of clothing and foot…