Adams County officials expressed sadness and concern following two deadly shootings over the weekend at a Natchez grocery store and a bar, which resulted in three deaths. During a Monday meeting, county supervisors, Sheriff Travis Patton, and other leaders acknowledged the separate incidents and the impact they have had on the community. Patton said the shootings do not indicate a broader rise in homicidal crime in Natchez or Adams County.
In response to the violence, County Supervisor Ricky Gray proposed prohibiting weapons inside the Adams County administrative office building, except for individuals authorized to carry firearms. Because Mississippi law permits most people to carry guns in public places, Board Attorney Scott Slover said he will research whether such a restriction would be legally permissible.
In Louisiana, the attorney representing Attorney General Liz Murrell criticized the 16‑count Orleans Parish grand jury indictment issued against her client. Attorney Laura Rodriguez described the indictment as politically motivated. She said Murrell’s letters to Mayor Helena Moreno and others, which threatened potential removal from office, were part of enforcing a law that state legislators had long attempted to implement. Rodriguez noted that every other parish in Louisiana uses a single clerk of court for both civil and criminal matters, unlike Orleans Parish, which has two. She also said there were reports of grand jurors leaking information, calling the allegation serious because grand jury proceedings are required by law to remain secret.
The Mississippi Board of Nursing announced a new initiative aimed at strengthening the state’s nursing pipeline through its Office of Nursing Workforce. The program, branded as Onward, is designed to better connect with younger generations and communicate its mission. Onward seeks to generate student interest in Mississippi nursing programs and support career advancement for current nurses. The initiative includes a redesigned website, increased participation in conferences and college events, video storytelling, and targeted social media outreach. It also aims to connect nursing education with clinical practice to support a well‑trained health care workforce in the state.
Public and charter school students in grades three through twelve recorded their highest performance levels to date on this year’s LEAP assessments. State Education Superintendent Kate Brumley said 62 percent of students scored at the basic level or above, while 36 percent reached mastery or advanced levels, marking the highest overall mastery performance in state history.
The Mississippi River at Natchez Valley measured 41.48 feet and is rising.
