Smith Park in downtown Jackson, Mississippi, was established in 1838 when the state donated the land to the city. Named after Scottish industrialist James Smith, who donated money for a park fence in 1884, the park underwent a redesign in the 1970s, which included the addition of an amphitheater and an artificial stream. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and declared a Mississippi Landmark in 2017. 

Among its distinguished holdings, the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection is honored to house the papers of H.A. and Margret Rey, creators of Curious George. This fall, the de Grummond Collection at The University of Southern Mississippi will welcome members of the Rey family to Hattiesburg for a reunion and host a series of events Oct. 23-28 to celebrate their first visit to the Rey Collection and de Grummond.

The late Floyd Sulser spent 40 years building a rare collection of work by Eudora Welty, an American short-story writer, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, photographer and Mississippian. Now, scholars and fans can enjoy the works at the University of Mississippi’s J.D. Williams Library.

Is there a more comforting food than dumplings? I grew up on chicken and dumplings, usually made from a left over roasted chicken and my moms amazing AP flour and water dumplings (simple combine flour and water until thick, then form into small balls). Sauté mirepoix (onions, carrots and celery) in olive oil, well-seasoned with red pepper flakes until tender. Debone a roasted chicken (add the bones, not the meat) and chicken stock to a large pot to cover, and simmer for an hour (or more). Remove the bones and add the meat, taste and re-season as necessary. Add the small dumplings and simmer until done. That’s it! It’s about as simple as it gets and is so delicious and comforting, but there are plenty of other options a well.

Of all the owls in the eastern U.S., the prize for cutest goes to the Eastern Screech Owl. As with all owls, these small birds are well camouflaged, helping them blend into the woods where they live. But once you spot one, it is hard not to say Wow! And they come in two colors – the more prominent gray phase and my favorite, red phase birds, accounting for about one third of the population.

The University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association will induct seven of its most dedicated and distinguished alumni into its Hall of Fame.

In 2009, Anne Reed and Leigh Gentry-Hickman met during a women’s Bible study in Tupelo, Mississippi. Their friendship began quietly, but a spark of connection was formed. Years later, that spark grew into something extraordinary.

Mississippi has always been known for its rich cultural heritage, its stories, and its people who turn everyday life into something extraordinary. Now, that legacy will take center stage on a national level as our state heads to Pasadena for the 137th Rose Parade on January 1, 2026. The theme? “Where Creativity Blooms.” And if there’s one thing Mississippi knows well, it’s creativity.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at The University of Southern Mississippi celebrated the opening of its new gathering space at the university’s Gulf Park campus in Long Beach today with a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony. The event also marked OLLI’s 10th anniversary serving members along the Gulf Coast.

This week, as I sat down to write, I started out looking for an event to cover. There’s always something happening along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but I kept circling back to the thought that we don’t always have to wait for an event to get out and do something. One of the greatest gifts of living here is that our waters are always open—ready for us whenever we are.

Two Mississippi State University senior ROTC cadets are being recognized after placing in the top 1% at this summer’s U.S. Army ROTC Advanced Camp.

On a lot once home to a shuttered garment factory, Leakesville leaders see a chance to remake their town. The Basila District, a planned hub of businesses and green space, is the centerpiece of a push to keep young people in Greene County and attract new jobs. 

Gleaners, Inc., also known as The Volunteers of Gleaners, is a Jackson, Mississippi-based nonprofit organization founded by Gloria Martinson in 1986. Today, the Volunteers of Gleaners salvage food that otherwise would go to waste and redistribute it to nonprofits in the central Mississippi area. 

Neurodegenerative diseases remain among the most complex and least understood conditions in modern medicine, with few effective treatments available for patients and families facing diagnoses such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and frontotemporal dementias (FTDs). At The University of Southern Mississippi, Dr. Vijay Rangachari, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, has been investigating the molecular mechanisms that underlie these disorders, particularly how certain proteins misfold and aggregate in the brain to drive disease progression.

Every October, the Mississippi Gulf Coast hums with more than just the sound of waves rolling in. It hums with engines—deep, steady, and proud—as classic cars roll down Highway 90 like old friends returning home.

Dr. Kimberly Ward, an associate professor in The University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Speech and Hearing Sciences, has been elected to serve a three-year term as vice president for academic affairs on the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Board of Directors.