The district attorney says it plans to request help from state agencies after charges were dropped in a double murder case at Cassadie in 2023. The prosecution said witnesses declined to cooperate, which led to the charges being dismissed. As a result, Khadim Connor, Mark Mitchell, and Jimmyante Davis have been released. The 6th Circuit District Attorney, Tim Cotton, said he plans to ask for assistance from the state Attorney General’s Office and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
Separately, LSU plans a $440,000 preservation project to restore Native American mounds located on campus. LSU campus landscape architect Dennis Mitchell said work is expected to begin within the next few months to address erosion and improve mound stability. Mitchell said the project includes re-sodding and installing an irrigation system to help hold the mounds together and manage drought conditions. The National Park Service is paying half of the project’s cost.
In Mississippi, the state is still tallying ballots, and Scott Colom could become the first Black senator from Mississippi since Reconstruction if he defeats Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith. The Associated Press has not yet called the contest. Local leaders said they are reviewing absentee and provisional ballots (including affidavit ballots) ahead of deadlines next week, and the outcome will be determined through the election process across the state’s 82 counties.
In Louisiana, the Board of Regents is developing the Louisiana Opportunity Index to measure how effectively the state’s higher education system creates career opportunities for students. Higher education commissioner Kim Hunter-Reed said the index will help campuses evaluate whether they are career connected, including workforce alignment of programs, graduate retention in Louisiana, participation in work-based learning, and access to career guidance. Louisiana higher education officials also cited state economic development efforts totaling more than $260 billion and said the index is part of ensuring programs train students for workforce needs.
The Mississippi River in Natchez-Vidalia is reported at 13.88 feet and rising.
