By Randy Bell Under a tent in the parking lot of the old Delphi Packard Electric plant in the Clinton Industrial Park, City and Hinds County leaders joined their data center partners June 9 in speaking glowingly about the $1 billion Amazon Web Services facility that’s being built there, calling it transformational. Then, they walked…

Special to The Clinton Courier The state’s oldest institution of higher learning, Mississippi College, recently officially changed its name to Mississippi Christian University. MC President Blake Thompson said the university’s new name is a strategic, forward-looking decision that better reflects the school’s Christian mission, academic scope and long-term vision. The change comes during the university’s…

William and Willow Lenoir, the children of Chris and Amy Lenoir and students at Clinton High School, recently served as pages for the Mississippi Senate, sponsored by Senator Kamesha B. Mumford. Pages generally run errands for officials and staff. When asked about the week, they said, “This week allowed us to spend our time getting…

Special to The Clinton Courier The United States Tennis Association (USTA) Mississippi is offering tennis lessons for children ages six to twelve at Brighton Park this summer. Lessons will take place on Saturdays from June 13 through July 25. USTA’s “Ready to Rally” beginner tennis program provides children the opportunity to learn the game of…

Mississippi has the highest death rate in the nation for Alzheimer’s, a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. An estimated 7.4 million Americans over age 65 are currently living with the condition, a number expected to nearly double by 2050. The Mississippi State…

Cullen Lay, a senior at Clinton High School, was recently named a Stennis Scholar by Mississippi State University.   The John C. Stennis scholarship is a four-year award for incoming freshmen majoring in political science.   The program is typically awarded to only one or two incoming freshmen each year, with an emphasis on leadership…

  The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) announces a new mobile app and enhanced security features for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) launching June 11, 2026. The ConnectEBT app introduces a card lock feature designed to help protect benefits from theft and unauthorized use. As part of the update, all Mississippi…

Special to The Clinton Courier Several Hinds Community College students who hold a 3.0 or greater cumulative grade point average and are also active on campus and in their local communities were recently nominated by a Hinds employee for the Who’s Who award. Students recognized included (l to r), front row: Sanaa Pendleton of Edwards,…

Special to The Clinton Courier The Hinds Community College Vice Presidents of Instruction for Academic and Career/Technical programs recently presented Outstanding Student Awards to those demonstrating excellence in a particular subject area or program of study. Students recognized included (l to r), front row: Clarence Jackson of Jackson, Keyaria Watkins of Clinton, Conner Robinson of…

Special to The Clinton Courier Clinton Park Elementary School, the Clinton Public School District’s kindergarten and first-grade facility, recently established a “Sharing Library.” Open to the public, the library allows young readers to stop by and get a book and/or leave a book to share with another reader. Clinton Park Elementary’s librarian Haley Carr spearheaded…

Patricia Bennett, dean emerita of the Mississippi Christian University School of Law, received the prestigious 2026 American Inns of Court James E. Coleman Jr. Award for Professionalism in the Fifth Circuit during the Fifth Circuit Judicial Conference May 5-7 in Houston, Texas.     Bennett served as dean of MC Law from 2016 until her…

Special to The Clinton Courier The Living Young program, which is offered by the Clinton Therapeutic Recreation Department for individuals ages fifty and over, now offers online registration for its programs. In addition, the program has implemented a new Code of Conduct that all current and new participants are required to review, sign and follow.…

By Randy Bell The same federal transportation program which helped to pay for resurfacing Clinton Boulevard and a portion of Springridge Road last year will now partially finance a fresh coat of asphalt on Pinehaven Drive – but not until next year.   Clinton has been awarded a $1.082 million Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG)…

Mississippi will be represented in the Big Apple this summer, when the Mississippi Society of New York City hosts “Mississippi in the Park.” Clinton native Jay Rao, a 2013 graduate of Clinton High School, currently serves on the board for the Mississippi Society of New York City, which will “bring a piece of home to…

  The serenity of the Mississippi Christian University campus in the days following Spring Commencement transforms into a vibrant hub of energy starting in June when more than 5,000 youths from across the Southeast and their sponsors will turn the Clinton campus into a lively summer campground for athletics and Christian service. According to Ken…

By Randy Bell A special committee is recommending the appointment of Greg Nohra to the Clinton Public School District (CPSD) Board of Trustees. The recommendation is expected to be presented to the Board of Aldermen for a vote at its June 2 meeting. The committee, made up of Mayor Will Purdie, Ward 3 Alderwoman Amanda…

By Randy Bell An effort to improve City employee benefits could include important changes to Clinton’s policies involving annual and sick leave. It was a topic of discussion at a recent Board of Aldermen work session. “Essentially, the issue is the state will allow [the City] to credit a certain amount of banked leave toward…

Special to The Clinton Courier The Clinton Family YMCA will offer free summer lunches for children this summer, but the Clinton Public School District has decided not to participate in the Summer Feeding Program for summer 2026. School district officials say that, after careful consideration, they have determined that, due to low participation, the district…

  Tim Fritts will be on familiar ground when he welcomes guests to the Mississippi Christian University’s booth at the 35th-annual Mississippi on the Mall on June 6 at Henry Bacon Ball Field in Washington, D.C. Fritts, director of development for athletics at Mississippi Christian University, spent his high school years near the nation’s capital.…

By Randy Bell The City of Clinton has launched a voter education campaign as a June 9 special election approaches on whether to renew a two per cent restaurant tax. The tax, which funds parks and recreation improvements in Clinton, was approved in 2022, but state law requires a new vote every four years. The…

  As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, BAPS Charities launched its 2026 Spirit of Service Walk-Run, underscoring a commitment to strengthening American civic engagement. The event, marked by a stirring national anthem and united by 50,000 participants across the United States and Canada, marks an early milestone for America250 and inspires a collective…

By Randy Bell Brantley Jones will be a junior at Clinton High School next year, hoping to become more involved in the community; and she believes being part of the newly-formed Mayor’s Youth Council will afford her that opportunity.   “I love it when kids are serving the community,” Jones says.  “It’s usually adults who…

The Hinds Community College Vice Presidents of Instruction for Academic and Career/Technical programs recently presented Outstanding Student Awards to those demonstrating excellence in a particular subject area or program of study. Students recognized included (l to r), Front row: Clarence Jackson of Jackson, Keyaria Watkins of Clinton, Conner Robinson of Pisgah, Rolen Fanning of Ridgeland…

  Today (June 1, 2026), the state’s oldest institution of higher learning, Mississippi College, officially changes its name to Mississippi Christian University.     MC President Blake Thompson said the University’s new name is a strategic, forward-looking decision that better reflects the school’s Christian mission, academic scope and long-term vision. Fittingly, the change comes amid…