Featured
Mississippi Now Requires Driver’s Education in All Schools, But Funding Gaps Leave Districts Scrambling
A new Mississippi law requires all high schools to offer driver’s education courses as the state prepares to require education for all first-time license applicants. But the plan faces numerous challenges as districts look for additional funding and resources.
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RECENT News
Nolan Wells’ State Autopsy Will Remain Under Seal Until Presented to a Grand Jury, DA Says
Nolan Wells’ official state autopsy will be withheld from the public until it is presented to a grand jury, Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath announced late Thursday.
Culture
Photos | Choctaw Indian Princess Pageant Celebrates Culture, Crowns New Ambassador
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians crowned Lexi Flint as the new Choctaw Indian Princess for the 2026-2027 annual cycle. Flint won the title after competing in a pageant held during the 76th Choctaw Indian Fair in Choctaw, Mississippi, on July 15, 2026.
Voices
Opinion | We Thought Polarization Was Someone Else’s Problem. We Were Wrong.
The students of Graham Bodie’s IMC-559 class at the University of Mississippi write about toxic polarization and bridging across disagreements for healthy debate.
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
Person of the Day | John Polk, Hattiesburg Senator Known as ‘Dr. No’ at Mississippi Capitol, Dies at 77
Former Mississippi State Sen. John Polk, a Republican from Hattiesburg and the former chairman of the Senate Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency Committee who killed an…
Mississippi Will ‘Help Youths Who Are Able to Be Helped’ After Youth Court Reforms, Gov. Reeves Says
Mississippi’s youth court system will undergo changes, including eliminating referees, adding chancellors and reforming confidentiality provisions, while gaining additional funding for detention centers and youth…
Mississippi Issues Emergency Declaration on Cyclosporiasis, Will Monitor Intestinal Infection Cases
Mississippi’s State Epidemiologist Renia Dotson issued an emergency reporting declaration on Thursday, adding an intestinal infection called cyclosporiasis to the list of diseases required for…
Trump Doubles Down on US Election Attacks in Primetime Speech
President Donald Trump used a primetime address to the nation Thursday to elevate his yearslong push to raise doubts about the legitimacy of U.S. elections…