Weekly Recap: Nov 7, 2026

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race remained too close to call, a suspect in Jackson’s deadly Hideaway nightclub shooting appeared in court, and two former public officials were sentenced in the federal Jackson bribery case.

Here’s a look back at the news that made headlines this week in Central Mississippi.

Mississippi Senate race remains too close to call

Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race remained undecided Saturday as election officials continued counting ballots, with Democrat Scott Colom holding a narrow lead over Republican incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.

Unofficial results Friday showed Colom with 467,930 votes, or 49.1%, compared to Hyde-Smith’s 465,356 votes, or 48.8%. Independent candidate Ty Pinkins had 20,028 votes, or 2.1%. Approximately 96.9% of the votes had been counted.

Scott Colom’s lead increases to over 2,000 votes ahead of Cindy Hyde-Smith in Senate race

Colom spent Friday meeting voters at three stops in Jackson, saying he intended to keep his commitment to remain engaged with voters even as the count continued.

“I’m not going to stop doing this,” Colom said. “This is the commitment I made to the voters when I was out campaigning. I said, I’m not going to stop showing up, listening, let people know I care about them. Their needs matter.”

Colom meets Jackson voters as Senate ballot count continues

Meanwhile, Mississippi Republican Party Chairman Mike Hurst said he believes between 23,000 and 25,000 affidavit or mail-in ballots remain to be counted.

Hurst told CNN that Republicans want election officials to ensure state election laws are followed and every legal vote is counted.

Mississippi GOP chairman: Up to 25,000 affidavit or mail-in ballots remain

The narrow margin and remaining ballots have kept the outcome of the closely watched Senate contest uncertain.

Hideaway nightclub shooting suspect appears in court

New details emerged this week about the deadly Halloween night shooting at the Hideaway Club in Jackson after the first suspect was arrested and appeared in court.

Eddie Collier Jr. appeared in Jackson Municipal Court Friday, facing two counts of capital murder and seven counts of aggravated assault. He is accused of killing two people and injuring seven others during a Halloween party at the nightclub.

JPD: Alleged Hideaway shooter paid guard $20 to enter party with a gun

Judge Jeffrey Reynolds denied bond on the capital murder charges and set bond at $3.5 million on the aggravated assault charges.

Court documents and officials indicate Collier had previous encounters with law enforcement dating back to 2022, including a conviction. His prior cases involved multiple law enforcement agencies in Rankin County.

During Friday’s hearing, a detective testified that the nightclub was already at capacity when Collier was allowed inside through a back door by a promoter and security guard. Investigators said Collier allegedly paid a security guard an additional $20 to enter with a weapon.

Once inside, Collier allegedly noticed someone displaying cash and attempted to rob him. A victim confronted him and tried to knock the gun away before Collier allegedly opened fire.

Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney questioned how Collier was able to possess a firearm while on probation.

“Two people should be alive today,” Brackney said. “Seven people should not be grappling with this trauma. Families should not have to bury their loved ones.”

Suspect in Hideaway Club shooting had prior arrests, conviction and was on probation

A separate lawsuit filed against the club’s owners Thursday alleges two armed men wearing ski masks entered the nightclub with rifles and were looking for specific individuals following an earlier conflict.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Jackson City Council meeting sparks controversy

A heated exchange involving Jackson Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes brought a city council meeting to an abrupt recess Tuesday.

‘I cut that b---- out’: Council meeting recessed after it descends into chaos

The confrontation began after Stokes introduced an ordinance seeking to rescind the city’s 183-day moratorium on data centers.

During an exchange with protesters, Stokes used profanity and made derogatory comments directed at a woman in the audience and others opposing data center development.

“I don’t fight women, and I never fight them, but I cut that b**** out,” Stokes said after a woman made a comment about his mother.

Stokes also told members in the audience to “take the rags off your heads. Y’all are not Muslim.”

The comments prompted an hourlong recess as tensions escalated inside council chambers.

By Thursday, the atmosphere had calmed during the reconvened meeting. Stokes said he stood by his response and statements following the public backlash.

Calm after the storm following Tuesday’s chaotic City Council meeting

The controversy came as Jackson continues debating the future of data center development and the city’s temporary moratorium.

Former Jackson officials sentenced in bribery case

Two former public officials learned their sentences Thursday for their roles in a federal bribery scheme involving Jackson city government.

Former Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan also ordered Owens to pay a $100,000 fine.

‘I can’t begin to tell you the shame I feel’: Former Hinds County DA sentenced in Jackson bribery scheme

Former Jackson City Councilman Aaron Banks received a 45-month prison sentence and was ordered to pay a $15,000 fine.

‘I knew better’: Aaron Banks sentenced in Jackson bribery case

Both men previously pleaded guilty in connection with the federal investigation into corruption involving city business.

Former Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba also appeared in federal court Thursday to challenge portions of his presentence report.

Judge hints at potential sentence for former mayor tied to bribery scheme

During the hearing, Judge Jordan indicated federal sentencing guidelines called for a potential sentence of between 37 and 46 months in prison.

Lumumba is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 20.

The sentencing hearings marked another significant development in the federal investigation into alleged corruption at Jackson City Hall.

Want more WLBT news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please click here to report it and include the headline of the story in your email.