Chicago has its deep-dish pizza, and foodies flock to Philadelphia for Philly cheesesteaks. Down in New Orleans, the po-boy has a long and storied history. In Oxford, the iconic food most identified with the town is the humble chicken on a stick.

Making a holiday meal is certainly time-consuming, but if you plan ahead and make more than you need, as we all almost do, there is an extra benefit. it provides a world of possibilities for leftover ideas (just make sure you use that handy vacuum sealer to keep leftovers fresh for as long as possible). People tend to get tired of being served leftover turkey for days after the big meal, but if you jazz/spice it up a bit your diners will be happy to see that turkey again and again. 

Clinton, Mississippi native, Jacob Dillard debuted at the Grand Ole Opry in November 2025 as the pedal steel guitarist with Walker Montgomery’s band. While performing during the Opry’s 100th anniversary fulfilled a lifelong dream, it provided a time to reflect on the years of hard work in Mississippi and Nashville that paved the way. Landing the opportunity to play with Walker Montgomery, who is the son of country music star John Michael Montgomery, seems serendipitous.

Christmas traditions are important. 

They strengthen family and personal bonds. They also link one generation to the next. When parents pass on activities such as baking tasty treats, watching holiday specials, or decorating a Christmas tree, they pass on values, faith and identity. These experiences allow families to slow down, reconnect and appreciate one another. For children, traditions provide a sense of stability and joy. By sharing traditions with the next generation, it ensures that the message of Christmas endures.

Every Christmas, I find myself thinking less about what’s under the tree and more about what surrounds it. The familiar faces, the shared stories, the traditions that don’t come from a store but from years of being passed down. As the season slows just enough for us to notice, it becomes clear that the most meaningful gifts are often the ones we didn’t realize we were being given all along.

From the Griswolds to the Grinch, just about every holiday movie features characters cutting, decorating or stealing the perfect Christmas tree. But most people—including moviegoers—don’t consider that Christmas trees take work to cultivate. Like all trees, they are subject to the threats of disease, insects, fungi and other menaces. This is why scientists in Mississippi State’s Forest and Wildlife Research Center have been studying some of the most popular tree species that decorate homes for the holidays.

Just in time for the holidays, Starkville Chick-fil-A is donating an adapted bike to a young graduate of Mississippi State’s T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability’s Project IMPACT program.

WIGGINS — What began as a woodturning studio has grown into a coffee shop and gift store that is helping revitalize downtown Wiggins. Southern Turnings, founded by Scott and Jane Ann Maddox, has become a staple for residents and a tourist destination for visitors. 

One of the things I miss most about Mississippi is the beautiful, uniquely southern way Christmas is celebrated. Since this will be my first Christmas in Boston, I’ve been contemplating ways to make it feel a little more like home while embracing a new season in my life. 

Oxford was already buzzing last Saturday, but tucked between the Grove and the Ole Miss Student Union stood a quieter symbol of the moment—one that felt just as meaningful as kickoff.

POPLARVILLE — As Mississippi’s blueberry industry faces a steep decline, one Poplarville farm is finding new ways to keep the state fruit growing — from fresh berries to teas, baked goods and even dog treats. 

So, the kids will soon be out of school, Mom and Dad. Yikes! What to do other than let them lose themselves in those tablets, smartphones, or video games. Here are a few suggestions that you can undertake to engage their brain cells around conservation actions that may lead them to new interests in nature and its wellbeing.

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) has been awarded more than $3 million as part of a $17.2 million investment announced by the NOAA RESTORE Science Program to support long-term research on the Gulf of America ecosystem.

The first major museum exhibition devoted to the art and life of L.V. Hull opens March 20, 2026, at the Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA/the Museum). L.V. Hull: Love Is a Sensation is presented in partnership with the L.V. Hull Legacy Center (Legacy Center), a project of the Arts Foundation of Kosciusko in Kosciusko, MS. The Legacy Center, which includes Hull’s preserved home, will also open in March 2026 with a parallel exhibition and related programming.

For Kayla Walker, Lambing Day began not as a book idea, but as a quiet moment of discovery. During Christmas break in 2023, she finally sat down to read The Tower of the Flock: The Christmas Story by Dr. Christine Van Horn—a book that would shift how she understood the nativity story she had known her entire life. What she found were biblical connections and historical details that challenged long-held assumptions and invited deeper reflection.

 Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) has been awarded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) as a READY Grants to Grow recipient.