Saturday’s roundup leads with today’s Crossroads Marching Classic in Corinth, a Friday-night shooting in Vicksburg that wounded a 16-year-old, and new details in the Tasia Fortune killing in Jackson — plus public-safety and statewide stories across Mississippi, Sept. 26, 2026.
Marching bands from across North Mississippi and West Tennessee fill Corinth High’s Warrior Stadium today, with the competition starting at 3 p.m. and bands performing through the afternoon ahead of an evening awards ceremony. North Tippah performs first, followed by Smithville, Hatley, Potts Camp, Tishomingo County, Alcorn Central, Hardin County (Tenn.), Mooreville, New Albany and Corinth; the Northeast Mississippi Community College band performs an exhibition show before awards.
The Vicksburg Police Department is investigating a shooting at New Main Apartments, 2727 Alcorn Drive, where a 16-year-old male sustained two gunshot wounds Friday evening. Officers responded around 8:12 p.m.; preliminary information indicates the 16-year-old was shot by a 13-year-old male, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old mother of four, was killed after a dispute over drugs and her body hung from a tree, a Jackson police detective testified Friday during a preliminary hearing for Jarques Ratliff, 51, one of the men charged with murder in her death. Police arrested Earnest Lloyd Jr., 25, earlier in the week and charged him with murder as well, and authorities said they were looking for at least one more suspect.
The Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant Sept. 24 at Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer Store in the 100 block of Heritage Drive in Oxford after a controlled purchase during an investigation into alleged illegal sales, the Sheriff’s Office said. Agents recovered more than 500 units of kratom — prohibited in Oxford since 2019 — along with THC cartridges, gummies and other suspected narcotics. Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, and Islam Mohamed, 18, both of Oxford, were arrested on charges of possession of Schedule I controlled substances with intent to distribute; the charges are allegations.
The Olive Branch Police Department is investigating a fatal crash involving a motorcycle and an SUV in the area of Craft Road and State Highway 302. Officers responded at approximately 9:12 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, found an adult male victim unresponsive in the roadway, and the man was pronounced deceased at the scene; the circumstances remain under investigation.
Senate Bill 2103, which took effect July 1, requires Mississippi public school districts to adopt locally tailored attendance policies by Nov. 1 as part of a statewide effort to reduce chronic absenteeism. The law generally allows five excused absences per semester, with medical documentation required after a student’s third illness-related absence. Parents, educators and health care providers raised concerns about how the changes affect students with chronic illnesses, while the state reported 27.6% of public school students were chronically absent in 2024-25.
The Oxford Police Department, Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office, Ole Miss Police and Communicare MS will host a free community Narcan training from 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 1 at the OPD Training Room, 9 Industrial Park Drive. Narcan will be provided to all attendees, no registration is required, and everyone is welcome.
Southern Miss (10-2, 1-0 Sun Belt) opened conference play with a 3-0 sweep of Louisiana Tech (25-22, 25-16, 25-23) Friday night in Ruston — the Golden Eagles’ third straight season starting Sun Belt play 3-0. Sadie McAda surpassed 1,000 career kills with 15 kills and 10 digs for her eighth double-double of the season, and the teams meet again Saturday at 1 p.m. Central.
Mississippi News Report is a statewide roundup from the Mississippi News Group network. Have a news tip? Contact the network editors through any of our member sites.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
