Mississippi News
Mississippi Today wins Sidney Award for Jackson water crisis coverage
Mississippi Today wins prestigious Sidney Award for coverage of Jackson water crisis
Reporter Alex Rozier and the Mississippi Today newsroom have won the September Sidney Award for their coverage of the Jackson water crisis.
The drinking water system in Jackson — Mississippi's largest city and home to more than 150,000 residents — failed in late August, leaving thousands of capital city residents with low or no water pressure and little information about when service would be restored.
Mississippi Today's newsroom sprung to action, deploying every journalist on staff to the story to provide accurate, timely information residents needed immediately. The staff has published more than five dozen stories about the crisis so far in September, covering a broad range of angles. The journalists also relied on public records to add investigative context to why the water system had failed and what was needed to fix it.
The newsroom circulated a text messaging line to reach Jacksonians directly, published an FAQ post, provided resource pages about where to find water and mutual aid links, and partnered with local television station WJTV to stream every major news conference live.
READ MORE: Mississippi Today's complete coverage of the Jackson water crisis
“Covering this crisis is deeply personal for us,” said Mississippi Today Managing Editor Kayleigh Skinner, highlighting that most newsroom reporters live inside the city limits themselves. “When readers send in questions about whether it's safe to use their dishwasher, or where in the city they can go to receive free bottled water, we do our best to find them answers because it's our job, but also because it's information we need, too.”
The Sidney Award is awarded to outstanding journalism that appeared in the prior month. It is run by the Sidney Hillman Foundation, which honors excellence in journalism in service of the common good, and upholds the legacy and vision of union pioneer and New Deal architect Sidney Hillman.
Winners so far in 2022 are: The Washington Post, Miami Herald, THE CITY, Reuters, The New York Times, ProPublica, Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV, and now Mississippi Today.
Mississippi Today's deep understanding and long-standing coverage of the Jackson water crisis contributed significantly to the newsroom's winning, Sidney judges wrote.
“Mississippi Today has been on this story for years,” said Sidney judge Lindsay Beyerstein. “They're proceeding with determination, creativity and compassion, which shines through in their ongoing coverage.”
Alex Rozier is Mississippi Today's data and environment reporter and has covered the Jackson water crisis and flooding for several years. He leads the Mississippi Today Jackson water crisis team, which consists of Anna Wolfe, Geoff Pender, Julia James, Molly Minta, Rick Cleveland, Bobby Harrison, Mina Corpuz, Kate Royals, Isabelle Taft, Will Stribling, Adam Ganucheau, Kayleigh Skinner, Sara DiNatale, Lauchlin Fields, Bethany Atkinson, Nigel Dent, Alyssa Bass, Eric Shelton, Vickie King and Marshall Ramsey.
Sidney Award judges are Jamelle Bouie, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Alix Freedman, Harold Meyerson, Katrina vanden Heuvel, and Lindsay Beyerstein.
READ MORE: Mississippi Today wins September Sidney for Crusading Coverage of Jackson Water Crisis
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Warmer air just in time for the weekend – Home – WCBI TV
SUMMARY: Temperatures in Columbus, Mississippi will be above average in the next few days. Thursday will start sunny but with increasing cloud cover in the afternoon due to a front. Only isolated showers are possible. The front will move northward as a warm front, bringing warmer air for the weekend. Friday will be sunny with a south breeze and highs in the 80s. The weekend will also have highs in the 80s with minimal rain expected. Next week, a stronger front will bring showers and storms, with heavy rain being the main concern. Some lingering showers may continue into Tuesday/Wednesday.
The post Warmer air just in time for the weekend – Home – WCBI TV appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
George Robinson’s family rejects Jackson’s settlement offer
SUMMARY: Attorneys for George Robinson's sister reject the City of Jackson's settlement offer of $17,000. Robinson died two days after a police encounter involving former officer Anthony Fox in 2019. Wade filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming her brother was killed by the officer. Fox was initially convicted in Robinson's death but the Mississippi Court of Appeals reversed the conviction due to insufficient evidence in January 2024. In August 2022, Fox was sentenced to five years in prison for culpable negligence manslaughter. He returned to work for the City of Clinton as a K9 narcotics detective.
The post George Robinson's family rejects Jackson's settlement offer appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Louisville reflects on impact of deadly tornado
SUMMARY: WSLM radio is receiving calls from individuals sharing their survival stories from a devastating tornado that struck Louisville, Mississippi on April 28, 2014. The tornado took 10 lives and destroyed over 450 homes. Survivors like Jim Mcadory and Speedy Calvert recount their experiences, highlighting the emotional impact and memories from that fateful day. Despite rebuilding and moving forward, mental scars and issues still linger for many. Mayor Will Hill emphasizes the importance of preparedness and the city's response to the disaster. As the 10th anniversary of the storm approaches, the community remembers and commemorates those who were lost.
The post Louisville reflects on impact of deadly tornado appeared first on www.wcbi.com
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