Featured
Gov. Tate Reeves Proclaims April 2026 as Confederate Heritage Month in Mississippi
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared April 2026 as Confederate Heritage Month at the request of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, continuing a tradition that began in 1993 without mentioning the central role of slavery in the Civil War.
ALL RECENT STORIES >
RECENT News
Text Scam Targets Mississippians With Fake MDPS Traffic Violation Collection Notices
Scammers targeted Mississippians across the state with scam texts claiming to be from the Driver Service Bureau on Monday, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety said in a press release. They warned residents that neither MDPS nor the Driver Service Bureau will send text messages to ask for payment or…
Culture
Smithsonian’s ‘Festival of Festivals’ Swings Through Jackson and Coldwater for America 250 Celebrations
The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage in Washington, D.C., has initiated a “Festival of Festivals” tour to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary. The campaign highlights cultural celebrations across the country, including the National Folk Festival in Jackson, Miss., and the G.O.A.T. Picnic in Coldwater, Miss.
Voices
Editor’s Note | We Unknowingly Published an AI Column by a Fake Author. Here’s What Happened.
The editorial team at the Mississippi Free Press discovered we published a column written by a fake author using artificial intelligence. Here’s what happened and what we’re doing to prevent this from happening in the future.
Award-Winning MFP JournaLism
Mississippi Free Press Awards Roll: 108 Honors for MFP Team, 8 for YMP, Since 2020
As of July 25, 2025, our team is up to 108 national and U.S. regional awards and finalist nods since we launched in late March 2020.
More STORIES
Mississippi Legislature Will Reconvene Wednesday for the Final Day of the 2026 Session
The Mississippi Legislature is gaveling back in at the state Capitol on Wednesday at 1 p.m. for the official last day of the 2026 legislative…
Trump Approves Disaster Assistance for Mississippi Winter Storm Victims in 36 Counties
Ten weeks after Winter Storm Fern, President Donald Trump has authorized Individual Assistance for 36 Mississippi counties, making residents eligible for funds administered by the…
Private Prison Company Received $7.4 Million Without Doing Work, Mississippi Auditor Alleges
Management and Training Corporation received $7.4 million to staff three Mississippi prisons. The company did not fulfill its contract with the Mississippi Department of Corrections,…
Mississippi Reveals Its Full History for America’s Anniversary Year, a Contrast to Federal Efforts
Mississippi’s warts-and-all approach to reflecting its history as part of the state’s official commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary is a stark contrast with what…