Watching Mississippi, one county at a time
We run city chapters that publish government documents in full. This is the statewide view: where we already are, where we are going, and — most importantly — how to use Mississippi's records law yourself, whether or not your town has a chapter yet.
Live chapters
3 chapters, 130 public meetings indexed between them.
Olive Branch, MS
DeSoto County. 30 public meetings indexed, refreshed weekly.
Open the Olive Branch chapter →Southaven, MS
DeSoto County. Records desk, statute guide and city directory.
Open the Southaven chapter →Mississippi is the strongest of the three for a citizen: seven working days to respond, and a denial appeals free to the Ethics Commission, which can order release and fine the official.
Boundaries from public US Census cartographic data, projected Albers equal-area.
The expansion queue
Places we intend to cover next. These are not accusations. Each is on the list because of its structure — a large capital project, a dominant employer, fast growth, or a big incentive package — which is where public money concentrates and where the documents are worth reading. If something is wrong there, the records will show it. If nothing is wrong, the records will show that too, and we will publish it either way.
Gulfport & Biloxi
Harrison County. Post-disaster recovery funds and casino-adjacent development agreements.
Know something here? →Madison & Rankin Counties
The fastest-growing suburbs in the state, with matching infrastructure commitments.
Know something here? →Tupelo & Lee County
Long-running industrial recruitment and fee-in-lieu agreements of the same shape as Southaven's.
Know something here? →The queue is not a ranking and it is not fixed. A resident who knows what to ask for beats our guess about which county matters every time. Tell us what is happening where you live →
You do not have to wait for us
Mississippi's public records law covers every city, county, school district and state agency — not just the ones we have built a site for. The request we would file on your behalf is one you can file yourself today, and we will help you write it.
- Name a document, not a topic. “All agendas and minutes referencing X between these two dates” is hard to refuse. “Everything about X” invites a denial for being overly broad.
- Put the deadline in the letter. Citing the statute tells the custodian you know the clock is running.
- Ask for the exemption in writing. If they withhold, they must say which provision lets them.
- Escalate on paper. A refusal that exists in writing is the beginning of an appeal, not the end of a request.