House Bill 1484, or the Mississippi Illegal Alien Certified Bounty Hunter Program, was introduced by State Rep. Justin Keen, R-DeSoto County, at the outset of the legislative session. 

“We are not going to give up one of our greatest traditions because of a few people who have no parenting at home and can’t act right,” Mayor Darren Musselwhite said about the upcoming Springfest.

In his lawsuit, former Landers Center executive director Todd Mastry claims he was fired after denying requests from certain supervisors to stop booking Black artists to perform at the Southaven venue. 

In a lawsuit filed Friday, Jan. 31, former director Todd Mastry accuses certain DeSoto County Supervisors and the DeSoto County Convention and Visitors Bureau of violating the Civil Rights Act. 

House Bill 1484, or the Mississippi Illegal Alien Certified Bounty Hunter Program, would offer a $1,000 reward to registered bounty hunters for each successful deportation they help to facilitate.

Applications open Tuesday, Jan. 28. Anyone interested is encouraged to apply in person at the Southaven Chamber of Commerce during weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“The key is for people to see that the local election in your city is more important than even the national election,” Planning Commissioner and Horn Lake mayoral candidate Jimmy Stokes said.

Current Aldermen Danny Klein and Dave Young have qualified to face off in the municipal Republican primary election on April 1. Planning Commissioner Jimmy Stokes is seeking the office as a Democrat.

Clearview AI is a New York-based tech company that provides a massive database of images collected online for law-enforcement agencies to use during investigations.

Amy Lovorn, chair of the DeSoto County Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Board of Directors, said Jason Morgan’s termination was a personnel matter, preventing her from further comment. 

During a special meeting on Monday, Jan. 6, the DeSoto County Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Board of Directors voted to fire Todd Mastry, who had led the facility since 2011. 

Mark Gardner replaces outgoing president Lee Caldwell, who will continue on the board but not as an officer.

“I don’t like to overuse words, but this is a momentous occasion,” Hernando Mayor Chip Johnson said. “This is the largest dollar amount grant ever given to the parks department of Hernando. It’s a big deal.”

Lindsey Aldy Whiteside, 26, is accused of engaging in a sexual act with an underage female victim in May.

In September, the DeSoto County NAACP filed a complaint in federal court claiming the county’s 2022 redistricting plan hinders the ability of Black voters to elect candidates of their choice.

On Dec. 16, a grand jury indicted Stephen Russell Jr. on one charge of felony escape after he reportedly faked a medical emergency when authorities prepared to transport him from the Hernando courthouse Dec. 9. 

After an inmate briefly escaped custody this week, Sheriff Thomas Tuggle and Chief Deputy Justin Smith were subpoenaed before a grand jury on Thursday, Dec. 12.

Joshua Zimmerman will not face additional charges related to his failure to appear in court last June, but he remains held without bail following a judge’s ruling this week.

Stephen Graham Russell, Jr., was at the Hernando courthouse Monday morning for a plea and sentencing hearing when he escaped briefly.

Jashawn Jefferson, who is currently being held at the Shelby County Jail for an incident in Memphis, is scheduled for a trial in DeSoto County for multiple felony charges.

The release of documents in the Joshua Zimmerman case sheds light on the charges against the suspect and a request to end the gag order on details connected to his escape this past summer.

Jashawn Jefferson was scheduled to appear in court Monday, Nov. 18, for a second attempt to seat a jury, following a delay from April that resulted in the court ordering DeSoto County District Attorney’s Office to pay more than $2,000 in court costs. 

DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton announced “Operation Final Departure” to help the incoming Trump administration with its vow to deport immigrants. Barton’s effort will focus on inmates in the DeSoto County jail.

An employee of the Rankin County Detention Center confirmed Zimmerman was booked into the facility earlier Wednesday but could not provide further information.

The Mississippi High School Activities Association issued a penalty to DeSoto Central on Nov. 4, including a one-year disciplinary probation for the team as well as a $100 fine.