A powerful tornado swept through the Deep South on Friday night, leaving at least 23 dead and dozens of buildings destroyed in Mississippi. The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado touched down about 60 miles northeast of Jackson, causing catastrophic damage to communities across the state. In Rolling Fork, a rural town about 60 miles northwest from the state capital, Mayor Robert Smith declared, “My city is gone.” Search and rescue teams have been deployed to help victims impacted by the tornado, which was traveling northeast at 70 mph.
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The Smith County Sheriff's Office in Mississippi is now investigating the death of Rasheem Carter, a 25-year-old Black man, as a potential homicide. Carter had warned his mother that he was being chased by white men hurling racial slurs shortly before his death, and Smith County Sheriff Joel Houston has defended his initial determination that no evidence pointed to homicide. Carter's family and friends are still mourning the loss of their loved one, and are asking anyone with information about Carter's death to come forward.
Norfolk Southern train derailed Thursday morning in Calhoun County, Alabama, hours before company CEO Alan Shaw was due to testify to lawmakers about a February 3rd derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Approximately 30 cars derailed, but there were no reports of injuries or hazardous material leaks. Norfolk Southern is currently working with local officials to investigate the cause of the incident.
Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky declared a state of emergency on Friday evening as a large storm system moved through the South and Midwest, causing significant damage, leaving thousands without power, and resulting in at least 10 deaths. In Kentucky, four weather-related deaths were reported in four different counties, and Mayor Greg Fischer urged residents to stay off the roads and to be prepared for power outages. The storm system is expected to move out of the region by Saturday evening, but the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the Northeast, with up to a foot of snow expected in some areas.
Residents of Jackson, Mississippi, gathered at New Jerusalem Church last week to receive free cases of bottled water and to stand in solidarity against the proposed Republican state lawmakers' "takeover of the city and disenfranchising local voters". The Mississippi Capitol Police has been at the center of the controversy, with an unusual level of authority and no body cameras, resulting in the fatal shooting of a 25-year-old father of two and the injury of a 49-year-old woman. The event was a call to action for the community to stand up against the proposed takeover and to support the victims and their families.
Stella Stevens, an iconic actress of the 1960s and 70s, has passed away at the age of 82. She began her career in 1959 with a minor role in a Bing Crosby musical and achieved her big break in 1960 with the film "Li'l Abner". Her most memorable role was in the classic comedy "The Nutty Professor" in 1963, and she went on to become a prominent leading lady. She was married at 17 and had an only child, actor/producer Andrew Stevens, before divorcing two years later. She will be remembered for her many memorable roles and her lasting impact on the entertainment industry.
Six people are dead and one suspect is in custody following a series of shootings in the small town of Arkabutla, Mississippi on Friday. The first shooting occurred inside a store on Arkabutla Road and four more victims were found after the suspect was arrested. The investigation is ongoing and authorities have not yet released the names of the victims or the suspect.
A relative of Emmett Till has filed a federal lawsuit against Leflore County Sheriff Ricky Banks to compel him to serve an arrest warrant from 1955 on Carolyn Bryant Donham for her role in Till's death. The warrant was issued shortly after Till's fateful encounter with Bryant and the lawsuit seeks to bring justice to the Till family and attention to the fact that the warrant was never served. The family hopes that the lawsuit will bring closure to the case and help ensure that similar tragedies never happen again.