OurTupelo

The Department of Justice is considering intervening in the NAACP’s lawsuit against Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company over its operation of natural gas turbines in Southaven. 

The DOJ has until June 15 to intervene.

The federal government’s interest comes as xAI considers going public this summer.

Last summer, xAI began bringing generators to Mississippi to power its data center operations in the area using temporary mobile turbines. Mississippi does not require air permits for mobile turbines that run for less than 12 months. But the Southern Environmental Law Center, which is representing the NAACP, alleges that running the turbines without a permit violates the federal Clean Air Act. 

The lawsuit asks the court to stop xAI’s turbine operations and to fine the company for its previous operations.

xAI has maintained the turbines are not a violation of the Clean Air Act. 

In documents filed in the Northern District of Mississippi earlier this month, the DOJ wrote it is “evaluating potential intervention” in the lawsuit and asked the court to give it more time to evaluate the case. 

The DOJ said it is interested in the case as it pertains to U.S. policies, citing the Clean Air Act and President Donald Trump’s January 2025 executive order protecting U.S. dominance in the AI sector. 

“It is the policy of the United States to sustain and enhance America’s global AI dominance in order to promote human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security,” the DOJ wrote in court filings. The department added that “artificial intelligence infrastructure” is a key priority for the U.S.

xAI’s method of self generating energy has allowed it to quickly scale up its data center operations in Southaven and Memphis. In SEC filings published this month, the company cited its “ability to construct power infrastructure at this scale and speed as a significant competitive advantage.” 

Southaven residents who live close to the turbines have complained about the noise coming from the turbines and potential environmental impact to the area’s aquifer and air quality. xAI constructed a sound barrier around the turbines but residents say that it has had little impact. 

xAI has continued to increase power generation on site, with over 40 mobile turbines now on site, up from 18 last summer. In addition, the company is working to bring permanent turbines on site. Earlier this year, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality approved air permits for 41 permanent turbines at the site. 

On Thursday, the court granted xAI an extension until June 15 to respond or file a motion to dismiss the suit. It gave the DOJ the same deadline to decide whether it will try to intervene in the case.

The Southern Environmental Law Center declined to comment on the litigation. 

By J.P. Morgan Wealth Management

Business owners often have a million things to juggle with day-to-day operations. Have you taken the time to slow down and think about what you can be doing now to prepare yourself and your business for later in life? If the answer is no, you aren’t alone. Although 76% of business owners plan to transition over the next 10 years, only 35% of businesses have a formalized succession plan in place.

You’ve worked hard to grow your business, so it’s important to think about what will happen when you want to move on from the company – whether that’s retirement, selling the business or trying something new. Thoughtful planning in advance can help give business owners peace of mind knowing that both you and your business will be cared for in retirement. A plan can also ensure your employees are cared for and, if you choose, allow your business to continue serving the local community.

Here are some tips for business owners to consider:

Having a plan is key

Planning ahead can help give you peace of mind and avoid unnecessary stress in the future. Everyone’s situation is unique, so make sure your plan incorporates your personal needs and desires. A financial advisor can be a helpful partner in putting together your plan. They can also identify how you can work towards your personal and retirement goals, separate from equity you may have in your business.

Also consider working with an estate planning attorney to help incorporate your business into your estate plan. A basic estate plan for most business owners should include: a revocable trust, a will, a financial power of attorney, a health care power of attorney and beneficiary designations. Make sure to review these documents periodically with your attorney to ensure they still reflect your wishes.

Build a trusted team

Assembling a team of trusted professionals can play a big role in making sure your preferences are honored after you transition away from the business. They can also help evaluate the value of your business, which can be important to know in the succession planning process.

Consider including your financial advisor, certified public accountant, business and estate planning attorney, insurance advisors, business valuation professional, investment bankers and/or business brokers. Spending time, effort and money now to build a team of people you trust can help drive more favorable outcomes in the end.  

Don’t forget about your own retirement

When it comes to investing for retirement, the sooner the better – whether you are a business owner or not. Starting with investing now can give your money more time to potentially grow.

If you don’t have a company-funded 401(k), there are other retirement planning options for business owners to consider, like an IRA or solo 401(k). Make sure to consult your tax advisor, as they can help you understand the tax implications of each option and identify which one may be right for you.

Securing your legacy

Taking the time now to thoughtfully plan for your retirement as a business owner may seem daunting, but it can help ensure peace of mind later in life. There’s a lot to consider, so staying informed is key. If you’re looking for more resources in your financial journey as a business owner, visit our library of free educational content at chase.com/theknow.  

JPMorgan Chase & Co., its affiliates, and employees do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any financial transaction.  

J.P. Morgan Wealth Management is a business of JPMorgan Chase & Co., which offers investment products and services through J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (JPMS), a registered broker-dealer and investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC. 

Mississippi residents who want to earn an associate degree or professional credential at one of the state’s community colleges could get some financial help through a new program. 

In April, Gov. Tate Reeves signed into law House Bill 562, which establishes the UPSKILL (Upgrading Priority Skills for Key Industry Learning and Labor) Mississippi Grant program. The program, which would start as a pilot, will provide last-dollar scholarships to eligible adults who are 24 or older and seeking job training to earn a living wage. 

The state Financial Aid Office will oversee the grants, which will cover the remaining balance after a student’s other financial aid and scholarships are applied. To participate in the program, students must be Mississippi residents for at least two years. 

UPSKILL would also provide eligible students with a $500 annual stipend for books and other materials. 

Additional details of the program’s costs and funding source are still being ironed out, said Courtney Taylor, executive director of AccelerateMS, the state’s workforce agency. The aim is to launch in January. 

The Legislature also approved other money to launch a separate pilot program for residents who are in recovery from opioid addiction. The state has allocated $1 million in opioid settlement funds for the program, which is set to launch this summer. It presents an opportunity for people in recovery to find a holistic program with wraparound services, not just providing community college courses, Taylor said. 

The average costs of tuition for community colleges vary across the state. For example, Hinds Community College tuition and fees can range between $3,700 to $4,300, according to the college’s website. At Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, tuition and fees start at $4,200, according to the college’s cost of attendance website. 

The UPSKILL program is a state workforce investment to help meet the demand for high-priority careers and industries, said Sen. Nicole Boyd, a Republican from Oxford who authored and championed the bill. The program also creates an opportunity for residents who have few resources or outside support to return to college or earn a degree, Boyd said. 

“It truly puts people on a real path to a high-skill, high-paying job and limits the debt they have to get there,” said Boyd, who is also chairwoman of the Senate Universities and Colleges Committee. The program is “targeted, it’s accountable and ties directly to jobs that Mississippi employers are trying to fill right now.” 

The bill’s passage stems from a months-long effort from lawmakers and higher education officials to encourage more Mississippians to earn a college degree or career credential to boost the state’s workforce and economy. About 12% of Mississippi residents have some college experience but no degree, according to the National Student Clearing House Research Center.

AccelerateMS is set to fund the pilot program from its operating budget and determine what academic programs and courses are eligible based on identified priority occupations. These courses will tie to careers or industries that pay at least $20 an hour, Taylor said. 

It is unclear what those programs will be and how much money will be needed to launch this program, Taylor said.

The pilot program will also offer support services, or a one-stop shop for students to work with an adviser or success coach at the community colleges. The coaches will help students navigate the program’s course enrollment process and apply for financial aid and will support them with career planning. 

UPSKILL seems designed to ensure students complete the program and succeed in landing a job, said Michelle Miller-Adams, a senior researcher at the UpJohn Institute who studies tuition-free college programs. Having career coaches or “navigators” is a best practice for supporting students and families, Miller-Adams said. 

Such provisions are “not always necessarily included in the final legislation for statewide promise programs,” Miller-Adams said. “So good job, whoever wrote it.” 

Students eligible for UPSKILL could also receive a $250 emergency aid stipend each semester for things like childcare stipends, bus vouchers  or gas cards. While not a lot of money, the stipends are important for people who have other financial barriers and challenges to completing their degree, Miller-Adams said. 

Requiring specific courses for scholarship eligibility may pose a challenge for students and colleges, Miller-Adams said. Those restrictions could also make it difficult to track data when a student switches careers or courses of study, creating administrative burdens. 

“I think the big lessons officials can apply are that simplicity will help you get people into the program,” Miller-Adams said, “and the support elements will help you ensure that the people in the program are successful.”

Many Mississippi politicians have been afflicted in recent days with TDS – not Trump Derangement Syndrome, as President Donald Trump accuses his own critics of having, but a special Mississippi condition that can be called Thompson Derangement Syndrome.

Many seem obsessed with 2nd District U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, the lone Democrat and only Black member of the state’s congressional delegation.

The Mississippi politicians seem  particularly obsessed with removing Thompson from office and believe they have the opportunity to do so thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Louisiana v. Callais decision that gutted the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Many Southern states’ politicians are interpreting the Callais ruling as giving them permission to gerrymander political districts to prevent majority-Black districts. Thus far, the courts are saying that interpretation is all right.

Classic TDS symptoms

The most apparent symptom of TDS is the extensive use of social media to talk about Thompson, who served as Bolton mayor and Hinds County supervisor before winning a congressional seat in 1993.

State Auditor Shad White displays many of the classic TDS symptoms.

On social media, White, who presumably is busy as state auditor, has posted more than 20 times in recent days about how the Mississippi Legislature should eliminate Thompson’s district.

“Every Republican statewide and member of Congress in Mississippi — not just me, alone — should be calling to end the district gerrymandered to protect Bennie Thompson. We should all be singing from the same hymnal,” White wrote in one post.

White and others want to ensure that not a single one of the four Mississippi congressional districts has a Black majority even though the African American population of the state is nearly 40%, according to the 2020 U.S. Census, and is likely to be higher in the next official count in 2030.

Another apparent sufferer of TDS is state Sen. Kevin Blackwell of DeSoto County. He also is fond of talking about Thompson and does so often.

Blackwell posted on social media, “The J6 chairman can scream and fight all he wants, but the days of his liberal agenda and revenge tour against President Trump are coming to an end. It’s time to red-pill Mississippi and wipe out that gerrymandered seat once and for all.”

TDS sufferers seem particularly agitated by the fact that Thompson chaired a special House Committee looking into the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the nation’s Capitol that included violence against police officers, destruction of property, the threat to hang Vice President Mike Pence and multiple other infractions such as smearing human waste in Capitol offices. Thompson was appointed to chair the special panel because he headed up the powerful House Homeland Security Committee.

Often TDS sufferers are upset by social media photographs of rocks in the sand (86, 47), such as those displayed by former FBI Director James Comey and University of Mississippi sociology professor James “J.T.” Thomas advocating, they say, that President Donald Trump be removed from office. But the TDS suffers are OK with threats against the vice president made as a hangman’s noose dangled in the background. 

TDS is spreading across the nation. Even the president has TDS and has threatened not only to erase Thompson’s district, but also to throw him in jail.

Perhaps the most notable sufferer of TDS is Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves. He has a bad case.

A reign of terror?

The governor wrote, that Thompson’s “reign of terror on MS-2 (congressional district) is over. It’s not a question of if. It’s a question of when.” 

Regardless of what one thinks of Thompson, he has been elected and reelected for decades by a clear majority of the 2nd District that comprises one quarter of the state’s population. The people in the district have the right to vote for whomever they want just as all Americans, regardless of race, have that right.

How does the democratic election of Thompson constitute a reign of terror?

Has he imposed physical violence on his constituents?

Were his constituents not allowed to vote for the candidate of their choice?

Are Thompson’s constituents cowering in their homes because of his reign of terror? The governor should explain, or perhaps he deserves a little grace because of his Thompson Derangement Syndrome.

Thompson, like the politicians afflicted with TDS, is a lifelong Mississippian. He has lived through terrible racism as a young man in the ’60s. He fought for civil rights and his own rights when the white power structure refused to seat him after he won a post in the city government of Bolton.

Yet, he still lives in Mississippi where he hunts, goes to church and is part of the community.

Thompson, after all, is limited in his power. He is one of 435 members of the U.S. House and a member of the minority party from the poorest state in the country.

Yet, he apparently has the ability to create a derangement syndrome that impacts many Mississippi politicians.

Olin Pickens, 104, recalled one of the worst moments of his time as a prisoner of war during World War II.

Pickens said his company lost 75 men in what he called a “suicide mission” to establish forward positions to slow down the Germans’ advance in north Africa. Throughout the night, German soldiers fired flares trying to locate American soldiers. 

Pickens crawled through the flares using his uniform as camouflage in the sand until he found a slit trench. He covered himself in a cactus brush and hid there until a local Arabic man found him the next morning. The man motioned for Pickens to stay down and left.

“My heart calmed down,” he said. 

“I thought, ‘Well, he’s going to bring me water and food and tonight I’m going to get up and go again.’”

Instead, the man returned with a squad of German soldiers, their rifles drawn. 

One of them made Pickens stand up. He motioned for Pickens to take his gun and asked in English whether Pickens wanted to shoot him or the Arabic man. Pickens grabbed the rifle, wanting to kill the man who turned him in, but gave up when the other German soldiers pointed their guns at him. 

Pickens spent the next 26 months as a prisoner of war.

On Sunday, the National Memorial Day Concert in Washington, D.C., will honor Pickens and several other veterans on stage. He shared his story of survival recently with Mississippi Today.

Before the war, Pickens lived with his family in Blue Mountain, a small town in Tippah County in North Mississippi. He volunteered for the Army in 1942. He was assigned to the communications section as a rifleman in the 805th Tank Destroyer Battalion in North Africa. 

His time as German prisoner

Upon his capture, German soldiers forced Pickens and other POWs to walk to Tunis. If they fell out of line or tried to escape, they’d be shot and killed. They would walk for four hours and take 10 minute breaks. 

The walk lasted from Tuesday until Saturday, and in that time the POWs drank water only three times and ate only one cup of sauerkraut soup. During the march Pickens had another traumatic experience.

“One of the boys in front of me just fell flat on his face. I reached down and called his name and tried to pick him up, and I said, ‘Let’s go, they’ll shoot you.’” he recalled. 

“He was out. He was completely out. This German on the right, one of the guards, pointed his gun at us and motioned with it ‘go on.’ And I had to turn him loose, and that bothers me today.”

When they reached Tunis, the 16 POWs had to share one loaf of bread and about a pound of corned beef hash. They also gorged themselves on water from a horse trough. They slept in horse stables.

After a few days, their captors transported them to a prison camp in Naples, then they were shipped by train to a prison camp in Nazi Germany. They all went to different places, and Pickens went to Stalag 3B.

By this time, Pickens had been in captivity for 30 days and lost a third of his body weight. He chose to go to a labor camp for the promise of better food and light work, even though he knew it was a lie. The work was near-constant and grueling, and he lived on a starvation diet.

After about a year, Pickens and a fellow prisoner escaped.

“If we die, if we got caught down the line somewhere when we were escaping, it wouldn’t be any worse than dying in that slave camp,” he said.

They made it to Czechoslovakia, but were quickly recaptured. The escapees were interrogated, stripped down to their underwear and put into a smokehouse with metal bars for a few days. At night, they took turns sitting in each other’s laps and draping over each other to stay warm. 

The next morning, a woman who lived nearby brought them food and clothes, and her son brought them water. Some women from the village came by. Pickens said they were very friendly and asked them questions about life in the United States.

“The first question they’d always, always ask, ‘is everybody in the United States gangsters?’” he said. He told them no.

A guard took Pickens and his comrade out of town. After an interrogation, they were placed in solitary confinement. 

“He thought he was putting me in there by myself, but I wasn’t in there by myself,” he said. 

“Jesus went in right ahead of me, and he was with me at all times and still is.”

Pickens said the Devil tried to convince him to lay down and die, but Jesus reminded him that he promised his parents he would come back home. He said the Devil left after that and didn’t return. 

Pickens used an aluminum pitcher to scratch marks on the wall for each day — 21 days total. After he got out, some of his fellow prisoners shared their bread with him until he regained his strength.

His return home

In January, they were forced to move to a different prison camp to outrun the Russian Red Army. Despite this, Russian forces liberated the camp on April 9. Pickens finally left on April 21, 1945. 

He was flown to Camp Lucky Strike in La Harve, France. He and other POWs were covered in lice from sleeping on straw. He had to shower in DDT, an insecticide, and his old uniform was burned and replaced.

Before the Army sent him home, they put him on a 30-day eggnog diet to gain weight. After 30 days, he went from weighing 120 pounds to 150 pounds.

On his journey home, he saw the lit up Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. He claims the statue spoke a unique message to every person on the ship. 

“‘Welcome home son, well done.’ That’s what it said to me,” he said.

When he made it back to Blue Mountain, neighbors swarmed the bus he was on, praising him and offering him rides home. He chose to walk home with a neighbor. The neighbor had lost a son in the Battle of the Bulge. 

Pickens finally made it home. As he tearfully embraced his family, he glanced over and saw the neighbor crying over his own son.

He told his mother, “As bad as it was, Jesus never let me suffer more than I could stand.” 

“And as bad as it was, we would do it again for our freedom.”

Pickens was told he didn’t have enough points to be discharged. Instead, the Army sent him to Miami Beach for “R&R” and then to Fort Lewis, Washington. He and the 65 other former POWs sent there refused to work and wrote to a U.S. senator for help. The Army finally discharged them after the senator reached out.

After his service, Pickens took advantage of the GI Bill. He owned a service station, worked in a factory and drove a freight car. He also got help from a psychiatrist for post-traumatic stress disorder.

After retiring, he enjoyed hobbies such as traveling with his wife, who passed away in 2005. He has two sons, a grandson and a great grandson. 

Pickens began sharing his story with audiences in the 1980s. He said he’s told his story about 116 times across the South, and leaves a DVD with his story at each place he speaks. 

He is part of an interactive oral history exhibit at the National World War II Museum called Voices from the Front.

“Whatever situation you’re in, accept it if you can’t fix it,” he said. It’s advice he says has helped him throughout his life since returning home.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin said Republicans are trying to turn back the clock on voting rights in Mississippi and vowed that the national party won’t write off the red state as he headlined a fundraiser in Jackson on Friday.

Martin’s appearance in Jackson comes one day after he released the DNC’s 2024 election autopsy, a move that came after months of pressure. Martin has faced intense backlash for his handling of the autopsy, with some Democratic members of Congress calling for his resignation.

There was no mention of the autopsy in Martin’s remarks, as he instead drew attention to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling gutting the Voting Rights Act and efforts by Republicans across the South to redraw electoral districts to weaken Black voting strength.

“We’re in a moment right now in this country, thanks to the Callais decision brought forward by Republicans, brought forward by the conservative movement which has been fighting tooth and nail ever since President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law to dismantle civil rights, to dismantle voting rights, to take us back to the Jim Crow era,” Martin said. “When you elect bad people into office, here we are in this moment right now.”

Martin was in Jackson for the Hamer-Winter Dinner, an annual gathering honoring the legacy of former Democratic governor William Winter and Civil Rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer. The event brings together Democratic activists, elected officials, donors and community leaders from across the state, party leaders said.

Martin was joined by DNC Vice Chair Malcolm Kenyatta, a former Pennsylvania state lawmaker, who said national party leaders would not ignore Mississippi despite the Republican dominance of the state’s government.

“There are a lot of people, particularly in the Beltway, who don’t understand why the chair and vice chair of the Democratic Party are in Mississippi,” Kenyatta said. “We’re going to continue to be a party that doesn’t just talk about the South, but shows up in the South.”

The event was hosted by social media personality Brett “Papa Mississippi” Kenyon and Comedian Rita Brent, who in January interviewed Kamala Harris at the Jackson stop of the former vice president’s book tour. State party leaders said the appearance of the national Democratic leaders underscores a message that no state is written off, even bright-red Mississippi, as Democrats aim to find new pockets of support ahead of the federal midterm elections this fall.

“People didn’t believe that Mississippi needed investment,” said state Rep. Cheikh Taylor, chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party. “But Chairman Ken Martin did, and he sent out marching orders to the rest of the DNC to invest in Mississippi.”

The Callais ruling places Mississippi and other Southern states at the center of a national partisan and racial battle over redistricting, a fight that will unfold as the DNC aims to help Democrats reclaim majorities in Congress in November’s midterm election.

On Wednesday, thousands of people gathered in Jackson to protest those efforts and mobilize people to vote in November.

Democrats hold only one of six seats in the state’s congressional delegation. Republicans have left little doubt that they intend at some point in the coming years to redraw Mississippi’s congressional district maps to oust Rep. Bennie Thompson, the state’s lone Democrat and lone Black member of Congress.

Thompson was in attendance on Friday night, seated at Martin’s table.

Thompson, 78, reflected on his long tenure and referenced a famous line in “The Godfather,” as he promised to make Democrats “an offer they can’t refuse” to beat Republicans this November.

“It’s been a long journey, and I’ve seen a lot,” Thompson said. “At some point, you make folks mad. This state didn’t get on the bottom by itself. We had leaders who just did not give a tinker’s damn about the majority of the people in this state. So we have to do better. I’m in it to win it. I don’t care what it is. I was called a terrorist two weeks ago, and now I’m a godfather.”

In a radio interview last week, Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said Thompson’s “reign of terror” was coming to an end.

Other Democratic power players in the room included Patrick Gaspard, who served as U.S. Ambassador to South Africa during the Obama administration, Jackson Mayor John Horhn and state legislative Democratic Leaders Rep. Robert Johnson and Sen. Derrick Simmons.

Horhn said he met with Martin earlier that day, and they discussed the need to increase voter turnout in Mississippi and craft a message that went beyond bashing Republicans. State Rep. Justis Gibbs of Jackson, who introduced some of the party’s congressional nominees, said running campaigns that inspire younger voters was key to Democrats’ future.

Scott Colom, the party’s nominee for this year’s U.S. Senate race, delivered remarks, as did three of the party’s nominees for U.S. House: Cliff Johnson, Michael Chiaradio and Jeffrey Hulum. They criticized President Trump’s agenda and said its unpopularity would make it easier for them to win.

In his remarks, Martin said the national Democratic Party needed to do a better job of delivering on its campaign promises and showing up in places such as Mississippi more than every two years during federal elections.

“I want to tell you right now that the reason I’m here, I love this Democratic Party, but the reason I ran for this position was not to keep doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, but to make sure that we actually stand up, use the power we have when we have it, to do the things we say we’re going to do to make a difference in people’s lives,” Martin said.

As Martin mingled with Mississippi Democratic officials on Friday evening at the Two Mississippi Museums, the backlash to his handling of the autopsy was still a major topic online.

Martin commissioned the autopsy report after he was elected DNC chair in early 2025 following President Donald Trump’s return to the White House. But after he received the report, Martin refused for months to release it to the public, citing his desire to avoid “dwelling on 2024.”

When Martin finally released the unredacted report on Thursday, it contained a bright red disclaimer at the top stating that the DNC was not “provided with the underlying sourcing, interviews, or supporting data for many of the assertions contained” in the document. It also contained annotations showing the autopsy was riddled with factual errors — notes such as “Public reporting and data contradict several claims” were scattered throughout the document.

In a Substack post accompanying the release of the autopsy, he said the report didn’t meet his standards and apologized for his handling of the matter.

“In short, I didn’t want to create a distraction,” Martin wrote. “Ironically, in doing so, I ended up creating an even bigger distraction. And for that, I sincerely apologize.”

Martin, who led Minnesota’s Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party before winning the DNC Chairmanship after Trump’s re-election in 2024, has promised to strengthen Democratic infrastructure across the country as the party contends with internal struggles over fundraising and messaging.

In a statement before the dinner, Mississippi Republican Party Chairman Mike Hurst said the event shows Mississippi Democrats are out of touch with most voters in the state.

“It’s a sad time for Mississippi Democrats, as they have become so desperate that they are now importing national liberal leaders into our state, despite their failed policies and scandals which are driving voters away from their party across the country,” Hurst said. “Before Chairman Ken Martin and Vice Chairman Malcolm Kenyatta come asking for money from Mississippians, they need to answer for the extreme agenda they advocate for and represent.”

Martin said the Republican Party’s agenda was bad for Mississippi and that he plans to build a party that improves people’s lives even in places Democrats don’t control.

“We’re going to give people in this state and around the nation hope that their better days are ahead of them,” Martin said.

Belhaven University’s storybook softball season added another triumphant chapter Friday when the Blazers soundly defeated Wisconsin-Oshkosh 10-2 to sweep the best-of-three NCAA Super Regional at jam-packed and steamy Jim McCleod Field in Jackson.

That chore accomplished, Coach Kevin Griffin’s Blazers are 42-10 and winners of 10 of 12 in post-season. The team advances to the NCAA Division III World Series next week at Salem, Virginia. It will be the Blazers’ second trip to the national championship series in the past three years.

Can they win it all?

“That’s the goal. That’s always been the goal,” answered a smiling Liberty Gillahan, the junior right fielder from McComb, who doubled, tripled, scored twice and knocked in three runs Friday to earn MVP honors for the super regional.

Gillahan, the granddaughter of long-time Parklane Academy football coach Charlie Newton, had doubled home a run in Thursday’s 5-1 first game victory.

As for winning it all: “Absolutely, we can,” said junior pitcher Macy Funderburk of West Monroe, Louisiana, the winning pitcher in both super regional games, who bettered her season record to 20-5. 

Funderburk, who says she is 5-foot-4 and might be in heels, struck out 11 and walked only two in 12.1 Super Regional innings. 

“I might be little, but I’m all muscle,” Funderburk said. No doubt, she pitches much bigger than she is.

“Macy spins it really well,” Griffin said. “When she hits spots and moves it in and out, she is really effective. Her rise ball jumps and keeps hitters honest. I’m proud of how she battles and competes.”

Griffin earlier this season earned his 500th victory as Belhaven’s coach and has enjoyed a most rewarding spring. This Belhaven team, which he calls “the most talented” he has ever coached, could achieve the school’s first national championship.

And then, there’s his son, Pittsburgh Pirates star Konnor Griffin, the most exciting and perhaps the best young player in Major League baseball. Konnor Griffin signed a nine-year, $140 million contract shortly before turning 20 on April 24. Since then, he has hit .348, with nine extra base bits, two home runs, 12 runs batted in and six stolen bases. Kevin continues to be his son’s personal hitting instructor, watching every Pirates game and discussing Konnor’s at-bats in post-game phone calls.

“I don’t know if any other coach around has juggled as much as I have this spring,” said Kevin Griffin, who also serves as Belhaven’s associate athletic director. “And I surely couldn’t have done it without my outstanding assistant coaches and the character of our players. Honestly, my players would have been mad if I hadn’t been there for Konnor and missed those five or six games.”

Funderburk, the pitching hero, said of her coach’s absence earlier in the season, “Of course we understood. Besides, we’re Konnor’s biggest fans. We watch him any time we can.”

“Family comes first,” said Gillahan, the Super Regional MVP. “Besides, we know what Coach expects from us. We knew what we had to do.”

And they have done it. Now, there’s one last step. As Griffin put it his post-game talk to his team: “We’re not through.”

Animal Rescue Fund of Mississippi has been the target of three break-ins within a week, resulting in tens of thousands of dollars in lost supplies.

ARF, a nonprofit shelter, experienced the first break-in on May 13. Unknown amounts of medicines, vaccines, cleaning products and other items were stolen, resulting in up to $18,000 worth of products lost. Entergy crews put up security lights on the property the following day to discourage any future robbery attempts.

Another robbery occurred Tuesday. This time, the organization’s lawn equipment – which included a large lawnmower, a string trimmer, large batteries and the charger – were stolen. Another set of police reports was filed as ARF worked to gather security camera footage to hand over to police. 

ARF was robbed again Wednesday. The shelter’s fence and security connections to the trailer were broken. A window unit air conditioner and ice cream were stolen from the breakroom for inmate volunteers. Crates that are used to transport animals to Mississippi State University for spay-neuter days were also missing. 

In a Facebook post about the incident, ARF said the burglar also attempted to steal copper from one of the newly installed light poles on the property, digging a 4-foot deep hole around it to pilfer the pole’s copper wiring. 

In an interview with Mississippi Today, ARF Founder and Director Elizabeth Jackson said the burglar was originally gaining access to the shelter by climbing a sycamore tree near the main entrance. After the first robbery, the limbs were cut back to prevent more break-ins. That’s when the burglar began to cut through the fence.

“Then he came and cut back the razor wire,” Jackson said. “You can see where the razor wire is missing.”

Jackson also said that many of the items stolen, including the medication, were under lock and key. 

“People on social media are out there talking smack saying that ‘we deserve it because we don’t have it secure enough,’” Jackson said.“We had cameras. People are saying ‘get cameras.’ We had cameras.”

ARF social media posts have not mentioned any physical harm to animals during the break-ins. 

Jackson’s city-run animal control center closed in October 2021 due to rising animal care concerns, and other shelters have continued to take in stray animals since then.

ARF, located at 395 Mayes St. in central Jackson, is a no-kill shelter that has been operating in the city since 2005. The organization currently houses over 300 dogs and nearly 100 cats, relying solely on donations, grants and volunteers.

“I have no fairy godmother. No sugar daddy. No rich uncle,” Jackson said. “Solely donations.” 

The shelter has worked with Jackson Police Department regarding the recurring thefts, filing three police reports and turning over camera footage. Police have also taken fingerprints at the scene, according to the shelter’s Facebook post.

JPD released security footage of a suspect Wednesday. No arrest had been made by Friday. 

Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to contact JPD at 601-960-1800, or Crime Stoppers at 601-355-TIPS (8477).

In a Facebook post addressing the robberies, ARF commended Jackson police for their involvement with the case. According to the post, previous break-in reports were met with laughter and disinterest.

“Our new mayor and our new police chief and all involved have been professional, concerned and have followed through with the process,” ARF said. “They have good information and are working on the situation.”

Mississippi Today Ideas is a platform for thoughtful Mississippians to share their ideas about our state’s past, present and future. Opinions expressed in guest essays are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of Mississippi Today. You can read more about the section here.      

“I was so close! I really thought I had it this time.” JD was close to tears, her frustration evident. JD, a senior, is nearing what she hopes is her last semester of high school.

Her academic journey hasn’t been easy. She has persevered through her high school being closed and having to relocate to another school. JD and all her teachers want her to graduate but one required state test stands in her way.

JD is not the only one. According to Get 2 College, approximately 2,914 students or 10% of Mississippi seniors do not finish high school with a diploma. Students like JD “age out” of state tests and are therefore denied this necessary pathway into their future, whether that’s two-year college, four-year college or a job.

Now, there is hope. The Mississippi Department of Education has developed a Bridge to Career course that will serve seniors like JD.

The course prepares students for post-secondary success through career exploration and preparation, exposing them to the many options available and ensuring they have a plan for post-secondary success. For JD, this means developing skills such as  resume building, career interviewing and developing a portfolio for a possible future career beyond high school.

Through this course, JD can tailor different components of the college and career readiness program to her needs so that she can graduate high school and not leave empty handed.

I worked with JD to develop a plan to become an auto mechanic. This included  exploring outlooks for an auto mechanic career in Mississippi and customizing a resume specific to this career path.

The Bridge to Career Pathway course is an excellent starting point, but we need to do more to build on its success and ensure that students, parents and educators are tapping into everything it offers.

First, all Mississippi’s districts need to be aware that the program exists. I learned about the program through the Teach Plus Policy Fellowship, a policy and advocacy program for teachers like me. The Mississippi Department of Education should establish communication with superintendents, counselors and principals to let them know how to best take advantage of the new course.

While the department has provided some guidance documents and information for auditing the course, teacher training opportunities — especially with a curriculum rollout of this magnitude – would’ve instilled greater confidence among teachers during this first year of implementation. Program requirements, curriculum and guidance documents should all be part of the packet disseminated to schools.

MDE houses general Bridge to Career Pathway information on the website, but after the pilot year, including artifacts or materials that teachers actually create and use in the classroom would prove beneficial as a section on the website.That section should be frequently updated. Being purposeful is critical in order to ensure equitable outcomes for all districts and for students like JD. 

MDE should also hold state-level professional learning community meetings to further refine the College and Career Pathway program.

Newness creates unforeseen issues and listening to teachers like me who have taught the course and can share student success stories and implementation solutions will further enhance the program. The meetings could include an in-person gathering and subsequent focus groups to reflect on feedback and put in place improvements. 

Last, the creation of artifacts, work samples and  lessons for reference will help educators create a more effective instructional program. While the College and Career Pathway program requires flexibility, having a library of proven techniques and instructional strategies will go a long way for teachers and administrators who are willing to take a leap in adopting it.

JD  is thriving, and has a work portfolio ready because of the Bridge to Career course. She is hopeful not only for her graduation but for her future in the workforce.

Imagine how many more students like JD we could set up for success if the Bridge to Career course was implemented with fidelity in all Mississippi schools.

Trey Rice is a grades 7-12 inclusion teacher and Mississippi State University mentor at Strayhorn High School in Sarah, Mississippi, in Tate County. He is a 2025-26 Teach Plus Mississippi policy fellow.