Republican candidate Kevin Wilson is seeking to unseat longtime U.S. Congressman Bennie Thompson in Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District. Wilson, an Adams County supervisor from Natchez, is campaigning in a district that stretches from the Louisiana state line to roughly 10 miles south of Tennessee. Thompson, Mississippi’s only Black congressman, has held the seat since 1993. Before facing Thompson, Wilson must first defeat Ron Eller in the March 10 Republican primary.
A woman from Jennings, Louisiana, is facing criminal charges after authorities determined drug use caused the death of her unborn child. Police say 28-year-old Shandlin Benoit was 37 weeks pregnant when she lost the baby last month. Jennings Police Chief Danny Sims reported that Benoit admitted to using fentanyl and heroin throughout her pregnancy despite repeated warnings from doctors. She is being held without bond in the Jeff Davis Parish jail on a charge of third-degree feticide.
Human trafficking continues to have a significant impact in Mississippi. In 2023, the state recorded 122 cases involving 169 victims. The most recent data, from 2024, shows 195 cases involving 300 victims. Two-thirds of those victims were minors, and 83 percent were girls or women. State agencies and organizations continue year-round efforts to raise awareness, and Mississippi has directed $9.5 million to victims of sex trafficking in 2025.
Louisiana has recorded seven consecutive months with more than 2 million people employed statewide, marking what economic analysts say may be a new normal. Adam Knapp, CEO of Leaders for a Better Louisiana, says job growth has occurred across all metro areas. Construction activity has contributed significantly to the strong employment numbers, and the state may be on track to set a new record for nonfarm jobs.
The Mississippi River at Natchez-Vidalia is at 14.88 feet and falling.
