Mississippi News

Pearl River expected to flood Jackson

Published

3 years ago

August 25, 2022

Pearl River expected to flood Jackson, set to crest Tuesday

by Alex Rozier, Mississippi Today
August 25, 2022

The Pearl River by Jackson surpassed its flood stage Wednesday night, and officials on Thursday afternoon urged those in downtown and northeast Jackson to start preparing immediately.

The National Weather Service expects the Pearl River to crest on Tuesday, which means that flooding could continue throughout next week as the river drops back below the 28-foot flood stage.

NWS projects the Pearl to crest at 36 feet, which would equal the eighth highest peak ever for the river at Jackson. Of the top ten highest peaks, this would be the only one to occur during the summer. NWS also announced that Wednesday’s rainfall made this month the wettest August ever in the capital city’s history.

Marty Pope, senior hydrologist with the NWS in Jackson, said the area has seen anywhere between five and 15 inches of rain over the last three days, filling up the upper Pearl River basin and its tributaries. The Tuscolameta Creek, an offshoot of the Pearl, is close to record levels near Walnut Grove, Pope said.

WAPT also reported flooding in Canton for the second time in a month, as well as in Scott, Leake and Rankin counties yesterday.

Those in need of sandbags can call the Jackson’s constituent services at 311 to get them delivered or get them in person on Michael Avalon Street. Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said that information on shelters and which streets may be flooded will be on the city’s website later Thursday.

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Executive Director Stephen McCraney said the agency is also anticipating impacts to places along the Pearl south of Jackson, including Terry and southern Hinds County, as well as Lawrence and Copiah counties.

MEMA urges anyone who experiences damages to documents those impacts on its self-reporting tool (which can be found at this link) to help receive assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Mississippi News

Defendant in Mississippi auditor’s ‘second largest’ embezzlement case in history goes free

Published

2 days ago

June 28, 2025

Staff Editor

www.wjtv.com – Anna Wolfe – 2025-06-28 10:19:00

SUMMARY: Four years ago, Tunica nonprofit operator Mardis Jones was arrested for allegedly embezzling over $1 million from a county home rehabilitation program funded by casino revenue. The state auditor accused Jones of misusing funds meant to help vulnerable residents, claiming little money reached contractors. Jones’ defense cited poor program administration and insufficient evidence of theft, with a jury ultimately acquitting him last month. Despite the criminal acquittal, the auditor’s office demanded repayment through a civil claim, which the attorney general’s office had yet to act on, but recently confirmed receipt of the demand letter. The case highlights issues in government oversight and program management.

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Mississippi News

Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: June 27-29

Published

3 days ago

June 27, 2025

Staff Editor

www.wjtv.com – Kaitlin Howell – 2025-06-27 07:11:00

SUMMARY: This weekend (June 27-29) in Mississippi offers a variety of events across the state. Central Mississippi hosts the Kiwanis Club of Pearl Golf Tournament, multiple hot air balloon events including the Mississippi Championship Hot Air Balloon Festival in Canton, and exhibitions like Hurricane Katrina: Mississippi Remembers in Jackson. There are also family-friendly activities such as Guys and Dolls Jr. in Natchez, Pilates and yoga events in Jackson, and farmers markets in Jackson, Natchez, and Vicksburg. The Pine Belt region features Story Time with a Soldier in Hattiesburg, immersive theater experiences, karaoke, and runs supporting recovery programs in Laurel.

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Mississippi News

Traveling for July Fourth? When to expect the worst traffic, busiest airports

Published

4 days ago

June 26, 2025

Staff Editor

www.wjtv.com – Jeremy Tanner – 2025-06-26 13:03:00

SUMMARY: With the Fourth of July on a Friday, AAA expects a record 72.2 million Americans to travel domestically over the long weekend, including 61.6 million by car—a 2.2% increase from last year. Busiest driving days are July 2 and 6, with afternoon hours the most congested. Major highways in cities like Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, and New York will see peak traffic. AAA advises early departures and vehicle maintenance. TSA anticipates 5.84 million air travelers during the week, a 1.4% increase, with July 6 the busiest airport day. Popular destinations include Orlando, Seattle, and New York, while Vancouver tops international spots.

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