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One of the first times I met Calvin was at a local event. He had a table covered with watercolors, colored pencils, paper, and every kind of art supply imaginable, all there for children to use. He wasn’t selling anything. He simply wanted kids to sit down, create, and discover the joy of making art. Looking back, I realize that little table perfectly represented who Calvin was. He believed creativity should never be limited by someone’s age, background, or ability to pay.

There are days when it feels like Mississippi can’t catch a break.

Turn on the television, scroll through social media, or skim the headlines and you might think our state is little more than statistics, rankings, and stereotypes carefully dusted off and recycled for another news cycle.

The National Independence Day Parade takes place annually on July 4th in Washington, D.C., drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators. The massive patriotic event features invited marching bands, fife and drum corps, giant balloons, equestrian units, military displays, and celebrity participants, all celebrating America’s birthday. And this year, the Mississippi Christian University (MC) Marching Band has been selected as the only ensemble from Mississippi to perform.

The Heirloom Hotel in downtown Laurel, Mississippi, is a boutique hotel created by HGTV’s Home Town stars Erin and Ben Napier, along with their business partners. The massive restoration transformed the historic 1930s Kress department store into a 29-bedroom hotel. Unfortunately, a devastating accidental electrical fire in August 2025 heavily damaged the property, leaving the insurance claim and rebuilding process ongoing. The entire restoration and ultimate demise of the building were featured on the HGTV series Home Town: Inn This Together, starring the Napirs and the vested families, Joshua and Emily Nowell, and Jim and Mallorie Rasberry.

If you’ve ever lived in Mississippi, chances are you’ve heard one long before you’ve seen one.

Perched on a telephone wire, hidden in a crepe myrtle, or proudly standing atop a fence post, the Northern Mockingbird has a way of making itself known. With its gray feathers, white wing flashes, and seemingly endless repertoire of songs, it’s one of the most recognizable birds in the South—and it’s been Mississippi’s official state bird since 1944.