How to Vote for Mississippi’s Daniel Stallworth on ‘American Idol’ Daniel Stallworth, an elementary school teacher from Moss Point, Mississippi, is competing on “American Idol” season 24 as part of the show’s inaugural “Celebrating Taylor Swift on American Idol” episode. The episode airs Monday night at 7 p.m. CT on ABC, featuring seven contestants performing Taylor Swift songs. Stallworth, who is vying to reach the Top 5, will need viewer support to advance. Viewers can cast up to 50 votes for their favorite contestant during the two-hour episode, with real-time vote counts and the final Top 5 announced at the end. To vote for Stallworth, fans have three options: traditional online and text voting, as well as social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Specific instructions for voting include casting 10 votes at americanidol.com/vote or texting “4” to 21523 ten times. Voting opens at 7 p.m. CT and closes during the episode’s final commercial break. Stallworth’s performance of “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey during the season 24 premiere on January 26, 2026, marked his entry into the competition. Stallworth, 28, is a native of Moss Point who graduated from Alcorn State University, where he served as chair of the HBCU gospel choir. After graduation, he became an elementary music teacher, currently working outside Houston, Texas. His musical journey began in childhood, with family members noticing his talent as a toddler “beating on pots and pans” in the kitchen. His mother enrolled him in lessons, and he later performed at church and learned piano at age 15. Throughout the competition, Stallworth has showcased a range of musical styles, though his gospel leanings have been evident.#taylor_swift #mississippi #american_idol #daniel_stallworth #alcorn_state_university
Asian Needle Ants in Mississippi: Painful Stings and Ecological Threat An invasive ant species is spreading rapidly across Mississippi, posing a significant threat to native ecosystems and human health. Asian needle ants, known for their painful stings and ability to outcompete local ant species, have become a growing concern for residents and scientists. These ants, which are smaller than fire ants but more dangerous, are now establishing themselves in the Magnolia State, raising alarms about their ecological impact and potential risks to humans. Mississippi is home to 167 native ant species, but the arrival of Asian needle ants has disrupted this balance. Unlike fire ants, which are highly aggressive and build visible mounds, Asian needle ants are cryptic, thriving in dark, moist environments such as under rocks, leaf litter, or in dead logs. Their small size and lack of foraging trails make them difficult to detect, increasing the likelihood of accidental encounters. Experts warn that their presence could lead to the decline of native ant populations, which play critical roles in soil health and nutrient cycling. The ants’ stings are particularly alarming. Described as sharp and localized pain, the sting is often compared to a needle being inserted into the skin. Benoit Guenard, an ecologist at the University of Hong Kong, likened the sensation to “inserting a needle directly into your flesh,” noting that the pain can persist for hours or even days. Unlike fire ant stings, which cause immediate burning and pustules, Asian needle ant stings may not be noticed until hours later, making them harder to treat. In severe cases, the venom could trigger anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction requiring immediate medical attention. The spread of Asian needle ants in the U.S.#mississippi #asian_needle_ants #mississippi_state_university #jo_vonn_hill #virginia_tech
Trump just voted by mail again — one day after calling it 'mail-in cheating.' Why is he still trying to ban mail ballots? President Trump cast his vote in Tuesday’s special election in Palm Beach County, Florida, by mail — just as he did in 2020 — despite publicly condemning the practice. His contradictory actions highlight a persistent effort to undermine mail-in voting while benefiting from it personally. The president has consistently labeled mail ballots as “cheating,” yet his own participation in the system underscores the inconsistency in his stance. The issue has become a focal point of his political strategy. During a recent appearance in Memphis, Trump reiterated his opposition to mail-in voting, claiming it leads to fraud. Simultaneously, the Supreme Court is considering a challenge to a Mississippi law that allows late-arriving ballots to be counted if postmarked by Election Day. The Trump administration supports this challenge, and the court’s conservative majority appears likely to reject the law. Trump’s broader campaign against mail-in voting is tied to his refusal to negotiate with Democrats to end the government shutdown. He has demanded that Republicans use the standoff to push for the SAVE Act, which would tighten voter identification rules and complicate mail voting. “I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed,” he declared on social media. This contradiction raises questions about the rationale behind his opposition. Mail-in voting, which has been used for decades, is now a common method for many Americans. In the 2024 general election, 30% of ballots were cast by mail — 48 million votes — while the 2020 election saw nearly 66 million votes via mail. Since 2000, over 250 million votes have been cast through mailed ballots in all 50 states.#trump #florida #supreme_court #palm_beach_county #mississippi
Supreme Court Examines Legal Boundaries of Post-Election Day Mail-In Ballots The U.S. Supreme Court is deliberating over a pivotal case that questions whether states can legally count mail-in ballots submitted after Election Day. The dispute centers on Mississippi’s law, enacted during the pandemic, which permits ballots to be received up to five days after the election as long as they are postmarked by Election Day. The case has drawn sharp scrutiny from conservative justices, who argue the law could undermine election integrity by creating ambiguity about when votes are finalized. Justice Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh raised concerns that the state’s approach might facilitate fraudulent voting or lead voters to suspect fraud if late ballots alter the outcome of a close race. They questioned whether allowing post-Election Day ballots could erode public trust in the electoral process, particularly if the final results shift after the initial count. The justices also highlighted the potential for confusion if voters attempt to recall ballots already in the mail, a scenario Justice Gorsuch illustrated with a hypothetical involving a candidate’s sudden scandal. The case has broader implications for election procedures, as 14 states and Washington, D.C., already accept mail ballots after Election Day, including key battleground states like Nevada. However, other states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin require ballots to be received by the deadline. Mississippi and the Republican National Committee (RNC) are relying on a 1997 Supreme Court ruling, Foster v. Love, which invalidated Louisiana’s system of electing congressional candidates in October, effectively holding a general election in November.#supreme_court #brett_kavanaugh #mississippi #samuel_alito #rnc
Sprawling Storm Sparks Severe Weather, Tornado Warnings, and Historic Snowfall in Midwest and Northeast A massive storm system sweeping across the eastern United States is unleashing a wide-ranging severe weather threat, from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast. The storm’s northern edge is bringing blizzard conditions to parts of the Midwest and Great Lakes, while its southern side is generating damaging winds, tornadoes, and heavy rainfall. The National Weather Service has issued multiple warnings, with the most severe risks concentrated in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. The storm system intensified on Sunday, producing a powerful line of thunderstorms stretching from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes. Winds reached up to 80 mph in some areas, triggering numerous severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings as the system moved eastward overnight. By Monday morning, the storm had reached the Appalachians, with reports of damaging winds, tennis ball-sized hail, and at least one confirmed tornado near Humphrey, Arkansas. Severe weather threats are particularly high in the Southeast, where a Level 4 out of 5 severe risk zone covers parts of South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland. This means tornadoes and damaging winds are possible, with some storms potentially reaching EF-2 strength or higher. A Level 3 risk extends from Georgia to Pennsylvania and New Jersey, while nearly 13 million people in the Mid-Atlantic are under the highest threat level. Additional warnings are expected as the storm spreads into the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic later in the day. Snowfall is also a major concern, with blizzard conditions developing in the Northern Plains and Great Lakes. Parts of southern Minnesota and central Wisconsin received 1 to 2 feet of snow by Sunday, and more is expected.#national_weather_service #michigan #texas #ohio #mississippi
