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2025 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report TOWN OF BOLTON PWS ID# 0250001 May 2026 We are pleased to present to you this year’s Annual Drinking Water Quality Report. This report is a snapshot of last year’s water quality. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by regulatory agencies. Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. We want you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. We are committed to ensuring the quality of your water and to providing you with this information, because informed customers re our best allies. Our water source is groundwater. Our water source draws from the Cockfield Formation aquifer. Contact and Meeting Information If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water, please contact Mayor Alisa Butler- Kidd at (601)866-2221. We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility. If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled meetings. They are held at 6:00 P.M. on the first Tuesday of each month at the Town Hall. Source of Water A Source Water Assessment has been completed for our public water system to determine the overall susceptibility of the drinking water supply and to identify potential sources of contamination. The general susceptibility rankings assigned to each well of this system are provided immediately below. A report containing detailed information on how the susceptibility determinations were made has been furnished to our public water supply and is available upon request. The wells for the Town of Bolton have received moderate to higher susceptibility rankings to contamination. Covered Period by Report We routinely monitor for over 150 contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws. The table below lists all the drinking water contaminants that we detected in the last round of sampling for the contaminant group. Unless otherwise noted the data presented in this table is from testing done January 1 through December 31, (2025). In cases where monitoring wasn’t required in 2025 the table reflects the most recent testing done in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. All drinking water, including bottled water may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some constituents. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. Terms and Abbreviations In this table you will find many terms and abbreviations you might not be familiar with. To help you better understand these terms we’ve provided the following definitions: Action Level (AL) – the concentration of contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow. Maximum Contaminant Level – The “Maximum Allowed” (MCL) is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology. Maximum Contaminant Level Goal – The “Goal” (MCLG) is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) – The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary to control microbial contaminants. Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG) – Thel level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk of health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants. Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/L) – one part by weight of analyte to 1 million parts by weight of the water sample. Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter – one part by weight of analyte to 1 billion parts by weight of the water sample. Inorganic Contaminants Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Contaminants Unregulated Contaminants *Most recent sample. No sample required for 2025. Sodium. EPA recommends that drinking water sodium not exceed 20 milligrams per liter(mg/l). Excess sodium from salt in the diet increases the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. In addition to the above contaminants, we tested for additional chemicals for which the state and EPA have set standards. We found no detectable levels of those chemicals. We are required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants monthly. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether our drinking water meets health standards. To ensure systems complete all monitoring requirements, MSDH now notifies systems of any samples prior to the end of monitoring period. Some People who drink water containing Total Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic Acids in excess of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer. Violations Our system had no violations as you can see by the table above. We are proud that your drinking water meets all State and Federal requirements. Some contaminants may have been detected; however, your water is safe at these levels according to EPA. Lead Information If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant woman and your children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The Town of Bolton is responsible for providing high quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for leak exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on leak in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. Our system has completed the Lead Service Line Inventory, and no leads were found. The methods used to make that determination were visual inspections, water operator knowledge and archived records. This inventory report is available for viewing at our office upon request. Unregulated Contaminants Unregulated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether future regulations are warranted. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water posed a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). The Town of Bolton works around the clock to provide top quality water to every tap. We ask that all our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community, our way of life and our children’s future.

By Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB Last week, I reviewed “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which was based on a series that I hadn’t seen, but I was well-aware of its larger world and its place in popular culture. This week is “Backrooms,” which is also based on a series that I haven’t seen, and was in no way known to me until a few weeks ago. Even once I did hear about it, it struck me as an obscure, niche product for horror nerds. Yet both films are estimated to have made over $81 million at the domestic box office in their first three days. How does this movie based on a simple series of web shorts find itself performing just as well as an entry into one of the biggest franchises in history? Like everything about “Backrooms,” I don’t know, it makes no sense, but I like it. The film, which I understand to feature characters never before seen in the series (I also understand that one does not need to have seen the series to understand the movie… to the degree that one can understand the movie), follows Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor), an unhappy, unsuccessful furniture salesman in early 90’s Santa Clara. He sees psychiatrist Dr. Kline (Renate Reinsve) following an ugly divorce, but she doesn’t seem to be much help, partly because he isn’t receptive to her treatment, and partly because she’s can’t help but be distracted by her own emotional baggage. Late one night, Clark notices light coming through a crack in the wall in the office of his store. He goes to investigate, and finds himself inexplicably transported through the wall. On the other side is a room not unlike what one would expect to find in the back of a furniture store: dull and dingy with annoying fluorescent lights and a big stack of furniture that doesn’t seem fit for the showroom. Even though it’s his store, Clark has never seen this room before, and he certainly didn’t know about the magic portal. Further investigation reveals that there are more, similar rooms beyond the first, to the point where he can’t tell where they end. Also, “something” is skulking around back there. Clark is able to escape the Backrooms through the same portal, and tells Dr. Kline, who doesn’t believe his far-fetched claims about walking right through a wall and a series of rooms with furniture that isn’t quite right. He goes back in with his employee Kat (Lukita Maxwell) and her cameraman boyfriend Bobby (Finn Bennett) to document the labyrinth, but things don’t go so well this time. Eventually Dr. Kline tries the Backrooms herself to find that Clark has gone mad, among other horrors. You never know what will be around the next corner in “Backrooms,” except that it will make you feel uneasy. Not “terrified,” necessarily, there’s not much traditionally scary about piles of laundry or an indoor stop sign. But why is there so much laundry nowhere near a laundry machine and why is there a stop sign planted indoors? It’s unsettling in a way that you can’t quite put your finger on, like the hexagonal carpet pattern from “The Shining.” Of course, there are also things in the film that are meant to be scary in the traditional sense, but I found them underwhelming. The film is at its best when it’s subtle and mysterious, like a dream where things are recognizable, and yet not. I mentioned “The Shining” as a clear influence on “Backrooms,” I also got hints of “Being John Malkovich,” “Cube,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” and anything directed by David Lynch. All weird movies, combined, twisted and given elaboration by writer/director Kane Parsons – a name that this movie will instantly shoot to the top of the horror genre. Some critics are saying that it’s the performances that make “Backrooms” stand out, and while the Oscar nominees do put in excellent work, I say the real star is the Backrooms themselves, in all their uncanny-valley glory, as they do not-quite-convincing impressions of actual backrooms. Grade: B- “Backrooms” is rated R for language and some violent content/bloody images. Its running time is 110 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com Four-year-old Jimmy stood motionless beneath the large bucket balanced above him. A bucket that held a lot of cold water already, with water being added constantly from the never-ending stream feeding it. Shivering in anticipation, Jimmy watched as the water level steadily inched upward. Then it happened. The slightly off-balance bucket suddenly reached its tipping point and completely doused the boy, causing him to run away screaming in delight. Then returned to wait for the exact same thing to happen again. Water parks are great fun for kids. And being hit with a wall of cold water on a hot day? Perfect. Jimmy knew what was coming and loved the shock to his little body. Time and time again, he would return to that spot under the tipping bucket. But Shawna was no little four-year-old. Shawna was an adult, an adult young woman who carried her responsibilities in life with seeming ease. Even as a child, her parents had watched her juggle schoolwork along with her own chores at home, and still had plenty of time for fun and friends. When her teen years came, she had no problems adding a part-time job to that mix. She was intelligent, driven, balanced, and knew she was capable of accomplishing whatever was needed. Huge amounts of homework added to her school load her senior year? No problem. She could handle more water in her bucket. Her work supervisor suddenly needing her to cover extra hours every week? She confidently worked it into her busy schedule. Her bucket definitely felt heavier, but “Hey, I’m strong and smart, and I like a challenge, I can handle this!” Then one day her parents sat down with her, and reluctantly told her the truth of their marriage. Dad was leaving, and Mom was going to need a lot more support and help with Shawna’s two younger siblings. The water rose a little more in the bucket, but Shawna took a deep breath, lifted her chin, and did whatever was needed. Every day. Every night. Life rocked on, with Shawna accepting every challenge head-on. A ready smile on her face, and a “Let’s do this!” attitude in everything that came her way. Marriage, high-pressure job, and tiny time-demanding kids of her own. But the bucket’s water level was nearing the top. Shawna was no dummy, she knew that lately she was feeling way too tired and stretched emotionally. But she also knew that she was needed. More than needed, she was irrevocably essential, on so many fronts. There was simply no way to slow down and change things. The bucket was teetering. One running-behind-again-morning, she was giving the baby her bottle and frying bacon, while refereeing another argument between her two preschoolers. Suddenly her husband bolted into the kitchen holding out his work shirt that was missing a top button, the shirt he had to wear today. The bucket tipped completely. A complete ‘unexplainable’ breakdown came next. With a doctor-ordered extended rest next on the list. Learn before it happens to you. Heed the warnings your body and your emotions are sending you.

Special to The Bolton News Area children and families will have an opportunity to get up close with some fascinating animals when the Hattiesburg Zoo visits the Annie T. Jeffers Library on Wednesday, June 3. The special Summer Reading Program event will take place from 10 to 10:45 a.m. and will feature a live animal presentation designed to educate and entertain attendees of all ages. During the program, zoo educators will introduce several animal ambassadors and share information about their habitats, behaviors and unique characteristics. While the specific animals vary from program to program, visitors may encounter snakes, turtles, tortoises, lizards, hedgehogs, bugs or spiders. The Hattiesburg Zoo typically brings three animals to outreach events, creating a new and exciting experience with each visit. Presenters will provide insights into the lives of the animals and discuss wildlife conservation and animal care. Audience members will also have an opportunity to ask questions about the featured creatures as well as other animals that call the Hattiesburg Zoo home. Library officials encourage families to attend and enjoy this interactive learning experience as part of the library's summer programming. The event is free and open to the public. For more information about the program or other upcoming library events, contact the Annie T. Jeffers Library.

Special to The Bolton News Residents are encouraged to attend the next Bolton Mayor and Board of Aldermen meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, at 6 p.m. in the Bolton City Hall. The meeting provides an opportunity for citizens to stay informed about town business, hear updates on local projects and services, and learn about matters affecting the community. The mayor and board of aldermen regularly discuss municipal operations, infrastructure, public safety, financial matters and other issues related to the town's growth and development. Community members are welcome to attend and observe the proceedings. Public meetings serve as an important way for residents to engage with local government and remain informed about decisions impacting Bolton. The Bolton City Hall is located at 202 Bolton-Raymond Road and is open to the public for the regularly scheduled meeting beginning at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2.

By Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is coming at an interesting time in the history of “Star Wars.” It is a test to see if the franchise’s recent success on the small screen can translate to blockbuster status on the big screen. I have not seen “The Mandalorian” streaming series on Disney+, though I know of its massive success. I could even imagine a world where a “Mandalorian” movie makes enough money to have a legitimate place alongside classic installments like “A New Hope” and “The Empire Strikes Back.” That world just isn’t this one, not with this movie that nearly put me to sleep. The movie follows Din “The Mandalorian” Djarin (voiced and played in “face scenes” by Pedro Pascal), a helmeted human bounty hunter who resembles, but is not related to, beloved franchise character Boba Fett. His young apprentice is Grogu, a non-speaking alien who resembles, but is not related to, beloved franchise character Yoda. I’m sure the origin of the team-up is explained in the series, but for now all I need to know is that that they are a team. The opening moments of the movie follow The Mandalorian and Grogu as they take out a leftover Empire loyalist (Hemky Madera) running a protection racket. The sequence is filled with action, comedy, and visual spectacle on a level that the rest of the film lacks. I’ve heard some critics saying that this film could have been a few episodes of television, I’m saying that everything after this sequence could have been cut and the whole thing could have been a short that plays in front of another Disney feature. I know it’s wishful thinking, but it could have added some much-needed incentive to see a fledgling effort like… “Wish,” come to think of it. The rest of the story follows the team as they’re sent on a mission by their employer (Sigourney Weaver) to capture another Empire henchman who has thus far escaped justice. This person’s identity is known only to the deplorable Hutt family, and Jabba’s twin siblings won’t give up the information for free. Mando and Grogu first have to rescue Jabba’s son Rotta (Jeremy Allen White) and return him to his aunt and uncle. It turns out that Rotta has carved out a nice little life for himself on another planet as a gladiator of sorts fighting for unscrupulous promoter Janu Coin (Jonny… Coyne is the actor’s name), and he doesn’t want to leave. The “rescue” mission is going to have to be more of a “capture.” At first I liked the adorable, Force-enabled Grogu so much that I wondered if the movie even needed The Mandalorian. Around the two-thirds mark, I got my answer when Mando was incapacitated for a stretch. The answer is that yes, the movie very much needs The Mandalorian, because with just Grogu, this movie fell apart. Bless the writers for trying to give him a solo arc and the puppeteers for trying to make him sympathetic, but he just does not have a mode other than “cute.” He works in small, scene-stealing doses, but anything more than that is a mistake. “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is every action movie you’ve ever seen about a shady hero dealing with shadier secondary players, including, but not limited to, other “Star Wars” movies. Except it doesn’t quite have the ambition of other “Star Wars” movies. There’s too much blandness to the settings and periphery characters. I can see where Disney thinks this property is “too big” for television, but I can’t say this movie is theater-worthy, at least on the level that a “Star Wars” movie should be. It’s stuck awkwardly between the two tiers of entertainment hierarchy. I’m sure there will be another movie, and I encourage the creative team to step up their efforts (it won’t take much, just a few extra flourishes) so that film can unmistakably belong in theaters. Grade: C “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence and action. Its running time is 132 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com Lost terribly at the family game of cards? Tear up that score card and put it out of your mind. A silly little board game is not worth thinking about and ruining your day. But you know that. Or you should. Your fiancé lets you know that after thinking about your relationship, you just aren’t the perfect one? Go ahead and sob brokenheartedly for a while, mope around the house in your pjs, eat a gallon of chocolate ice cream, get angry and tear up the picture of you two enjoying a day at the beach together… and then determinedly move on. Grief over the death of a loved one? You definitely do need to grieve. Feel the depression that comes, experience the total loss that weighs you down and makes even simple walking feel impossible. That is normal. Painful, but normal. But, after falling headfirst into that mud puddle of despair, do not let yourself lay there endlessly. There has to come a time when you sit up, look around you, wipe off your face, then sigh and begin your life again. I could cite an endless list of things that can ruin your days…or even your life for years. But I’m telling you as emphatically as I possibly can – WHAT EVER IT IS, DO NOT LET IT CONTROL YOU ENOUGH TO DESTROY YOU. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is worth that. There is a real fact in life, and that is this; a traumatic day, or week, or even years, all fall into the category of ‘the past.” And when that day comes when you get hit below the belt by life - and you will - you will have to choose to move on past that painful yesterday. After all, you can't change what has happened, and dwelling endlessly on it is depressing and paralyzing, so don’t make that mistake. Give your pain all the attention that it is due, and then pull yourself up by your bootstraps, as your grandfather would say, and determinedly choose to start over. I say this because the day after that traumatic day happens, your tomorrows will rapidly begin arriving, one after another, and you will have no choice but to make a choice. Between starting over, or laying in that mud puddle of pain. One is guaranteed to keep you hurting and depressed. The other gives you a fighting chance to create a life you can enjoy. Choose wisely. Because you are the only fighter in this war. Sure, others will want to help you, and will offer endless advice, support, and loving wisdom. But ultimately, you and you alone, will decide if that painful ‘yesterday’ wins the battle and has the power to cause you to live the rest of your life on earth, wishing you weren’t here.

Vivian Macnita Jacobs-Dotson November 26, 1961 - May 21, 2026 64 Years of age Vivian Macnita Jacobs-Dotson, the seventh of ten children, was born to the late Reverend Calvin Jacobs, Sr. and the late Charlie Mae Johnson Jacobs on November 26, 1961, in Bolton, Mississippi. On May 21, 2026, God called her into eternal rest. Funeral Arrangements: Viewing: May 29, 2026, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Bolton Funeral Home, 205 Bolton Brownsville Road, Bolton Cards may be sent to : Bolton Funeral Home, Attn: Family of Vivian Macnita Jacobs-Dotson, P.O. Box 67, Bolton, MS 39041 Funeral Service: May 30, 2026, 11:00 AM Brownsville Missionary Baptist Church, 7565 Bolton Brownsville Road, Bolton Additional viewing will place one hour prior to start of the funeral service Interment: Hill of Zion Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, 1079 Annie Fortner Road, Bolton To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Vivian Macnita Jacobs-Dotson, please visit our flower store.

Alean Mack Kelly February 27, 1957 - May 20, 2026 69 Years of age With heartfelt sadness, we announce the passing of Alean Mack Kelly, who departed this life on May 20, 2026. Funeral Arrangements: Viewing: May 29, 2026 from 4 PM - 6 PM Bolton Funeral Home, 205 Bolton Brownsville Road, Bolton Cards may be sent to: Bolton Funeral Home, Attn: Family of Alean Mack Kelly, P.O. Box 67, Bolton, MS 39041 Funeral Service: May 30, 2026 at 12:00 PM Bolton Baptist Church, 306 Bolton Brownsville Road, Bolton Interment: Orange Hill Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery 4080 Cox's Ferry Road, Bolton To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Alean Mack Kelly, please visit our flower store.

By Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB With “The Devil Wears Prada 2” and “Michael” still ruling the domestic box office, I thought I’d give this week’s review spot to a couple of also-rans from the past two weeks. “Mortal Kombat II” The 2021 “Mortal Kombat” movie was a disaster that left fans disappointed for many reasons, not least of which was that it didn’t feature any fights from the much-hyped tournament for universal supremacy. At least in “Mortal Kombat II,” we finally get the tournament. Only the first round is done somewhat properly before the thing breaks down into cheating, sneak-attack shenanigans, but it can’t be said that we are denied the tournament entirely. A new character, outstanding-fighter-turned-action-movie-star-turned-washout-at-both Johnny Cage (Karl Urban), is the audience surrogate into the five-on-five fighting series on a distant planet that will determine the fate of our world. Cage fights alongside Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee), Jax (Mehcad Brooks), Cole Young, (Leweis Tan), and Liu Kang (Ludi Lin) under the mentorship of Lord Raiden (Tadanobu Asano) against the forces of the evil Shao Khan (Martyn Ford), such as his queen Sindel (Ana Thu Nguyen), stepdaughter Kitana (Adeline Rudolph), her bodyguard Jade (Tati Gabrielle), and resurrected minions Kung Lao (Max Huang) and Kano (Josh Lawson). The first movie made another mistake killing off humoristic highlight Kano, fortunately this movie brings him back so he can steal the movie all over again. “Mortal Kombat II” is good at the things that fans want most from a “Mortal Kombat” movie: it’s creative with its fighting sequences and the jokes usually hit. But it’s bad at the things that audiences want from movies of any genre: it’s hard to care about many of these characters and the story is an overcomplicated mess that can’t even stick to its own ridiculous rules. Like “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” I admire the way this sequel steps up its game from an original that I didn’t enjoy, but unlike that film, I can’t say I’m now “won over” by this franchise. Grade: C “Mortal Kombat II” is rated R for strong bloody violence and gore, and language. Its running time is 116 minutes. Poster credit IMDB “Obsession” In 1992’s “Aladdin,” one of The Genie’s few rules with wishes was that he couldn’t make people fall in love. “Obsession” is a movie about what happens when a wish for love is granted. It’s a horror movie, and a nasty one. The Genie was right to have that rule. Awkward dork Bear (Michael Johnston) wishes for the romantic love of his longtime friend Nikki (Inde Navarrette) on a novelty willow stick. The wish comes true, Nikki is immediately smitten with him, and Bear reaps the rewards of her vehement affection. The woman Bear loves may not have any agency in the matter, and that’s problematic if he thinks about it, so he decides not to think about it. But of course, things go south for Bear once Nikki starts inserting herself into every corner of his life and finding creepier and creepier ways to express her devotion. Her love becomes… wait for it… obsession. This movie gamely features some of the sickest scenes from a stalker thriller ever put to film, even if they borrow heavily from other stalker thrillers like “Fatal Attraction.” And Navarrette puts in a horror performance for the ages, both when her character is and isn’t under the magic spell. But the movie falters when the story has to give us something other than Nikki spinning further and further out of control. The ending (not Navarette’s contribution to the ending, which is excellent, but the ideas that go into the ending) is a lazy letdown and ends what had previously been an engaging horror film on such a down note that I can’t bring myself to recommend it as a whole. “Obsession” doesn’t lose my recommendation because of anything it “does,” but because of how much potential it leaves on the table. Grade: C “Obsession” is rated R for strong bloody violence, grisly images, sexual content, pervasive language, and brief graphic nudity. Its running time is 108 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Residents from across the Jackson area are expected to gather on Saturday, May 30, 2026, for the annual BAPS Charities Walk-Run, part of a nationwide volunteer-driven event taking place simultaneously in more than 100 cities across North America. The Jackson event, scheduled at 2390 Greenway Drive in Jackson, Mississippi, is expected to bring together approximately 300 participants of all ages in support of local charitable causes, including the American Cancer Society and the Jackson Firefighter Association Local 87. The walk is part of a larger BAPS Charities initiative that organizers say will involve more than 50,000 participants nationwide, making it one of the country’s largest community-based charity walk events. This year’s event will also tie into the America250 commemoration celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States. Organizers say the Jackson program will begin with a ceremonial opening featuring the National Anthem, American flags, and appearances from local public officials and community leaders. Notable attendees expected to participate include Sollie Norwood, Brian Grizzell, Jackson Fire Chief RaSean Thomas, Jackson Fire Deputy Chief C. Sanders, Sitaram Temple President JP Budhraja, and Gujarati Samaj President Manish Patel. According to organizers, the event is designed not only as a fundraiser but also as a celebration of volunteerism, civic engagement, and community unity. “The walk brings together people from many different backgrounds with a shared purpose of helping others,” organizers said. “It’s about strengthening communities while supporting organizations that provide critical services to families and individuals in need.” Funds and awareness generated through the Jackson walk will benefit the American Cancer Society, which supports cancer research, patient advocacy, and treatment assistance programs, as well as the Jackson Firefighter Association Local 87, an organization that advocates for firefighters, first responders, and their families. BAPS Charities has conducted community service and outreach programs for more than two decades. Organizers say the nonprofit has hosted over 1,200 walks throughout North America during that time, alongside additional charitable efforts including food drives, blood donation campaigns, toy drives, disaster relief efforts, and health awareness initiatives. The Jackson walk will also provide several opportunities for community engagement and media coverage, including interviews with local organizers, participating public officials, and representatives from beneficiary organizations. Participants interested in joining the event can register online through BAPS Charities Walk-Run 2026 Jackson Registration. Additional information about the organization and its programs is available at BAPS Charities.

The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) today announced a $5 million investment of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) direct funds to child care assistance for low-income working families in Federal Fiscal Year 2026. The new funding will be administered through MDHS's Division of Early Childhood Care and Development (DECCD) and distributed through the established Child Care Payment Program (CCPP) voucher system. These TANF direct funds are in addition to existing child care support MDHS provides through various subgrantees offering afterschool programs and workforce supports for working families. "Child care is not a luxury — it is the infrastructure that makes work possible for Mississippi families," said Robert G. "Bob" Anderson, MDHS Executive Director. "This $5 million investment is a targeted, responsible use of TANF funds to reach working parents who need help, and it reflects our commitment to deploying public resources where they make a real difference." This investment is separate from – and in addition to – MDHS's existing annual conversion of approximately $25.7 million from TANF to the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF), which reflects the maximum allowed under federal law. By investing these direct funds, MDHS is able to extend child care assistance to additional eligible families beyond those currently supported through the CCDF conversion, while preserving the agency's capacity to respond to other emerging program priorities. Families seeking child care assistance do not need to submit a new or separate application. Eligibility will be determined through the standard CCPP process, including income eligibility standards and work or education requirements. Approved vouchers funded through the TANF direct stream will provide the same level of assistance as those funded through CCDF. DECCD will assign each approved certificate to a single funding stream, prioritizing CCDF dollars first, followed by any applicable state funds, and then TANF direct funds. Child care providers will continue to receive payment through the established CCPP reimbursement process with no changes to their current billing or reporting requirements." Mississippi working families have always been the heart of what we do at MDHS," said Dr. Chad Allgood, Director of the Division of Early Childhood Care and Development. "This additional investment means we can say yes to more families trying to build a better future." MDHS encourages eligible families to apply through the Child Care Payment Program at mdhs.ms.gov or by contacting their local county DHS office. Additional program information is available through the MDHS DECCD hotline at 1-800-948-4060. For media inquiries or requests, contact MDHS Communications at mdhs.communications@mdhs.ms.gov.