• Michael Jenkins holds his neck as he attempts to answer questions from his attorney during a press conference near the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. Jenkins’ lawyer claims that Jenkins and Terrell Parker were assaulted by Rankin County sheriff deputies, which left him with serious injuries. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • A photo of Michael Jenkins is held during a press conference near the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. Jenkins’ attorney said six Rankin County sheriff’s deputies assaulted Jenkins and Terrell Parker. Jenkins sustained serious injuries. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Terrell Parker, center, puts his head down as he is comforted by his attorney, Malik Zulu Shabazz, right, while speaking to media during a press conference near the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, February 15, 2023. Shabazz claims that his clients were assaulted by Rankin County sheriff deputies. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • A supporter puts his fist in the air during a press conference near the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, February 15, 2023. Attorneys claim that Michael Jenkins and Terrell Parker were assaulted by Rankin County sheriff deputies. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • A Mockingbird Cannabis employee tends to the “mother” medical marijuana plants at Mockingbird Cannabis in Raymond, Miss., Jan. 20, 2023. These plants are used for creating clones, which are cut from the “mother” plant and grow into plants themselves. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • William Barnes, left, receives a hug from Alfred Avans in Silver City, Miss., Saturday, March 25, 2023, after a tornado completely destroyed Barnes’ home the previous night. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Nate Richards tries to salvage what is left at his sister’s home after Friday night’s tornado in Silver City, Miss., Saturday, March 25, 2023. (Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today) Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Tornado damage is surveyed in Silver City, Miss., Saturday, March 25, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Breanna Oaks holds her daughter Aryianna Fuller while being treated in the mobile field hospital at the National Guard Armory in Rolling Fork, Miss., Friday, March 31, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Gov. Tate Reeves prepares to answer questions from the media after signing House Bill 1671, House Bill 510 and Senate Bill 2696 into law at the Walter Sillers Building in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Gov. Tate Reeves signs House Bill 1671, House Bill 510 and Senate Bill 2696 into law at the Walter Sillers Building in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • A Capitol Police vehicle is parked outside of the Woolfolk Building in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • A woman going through the civil commitment process, wearing a shirt labeling her a “convict,” is transported from her commitment hearing back to a county jail to await transportation to a state hospital in north Mississippi this spring. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Everlean Boston, left, and Colette Boston pose for a portrait in Oxford, Miss., Tuesday, March 2, 2023. When they were young, their mother died while in custody under civil commitment. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Carl Gray holds a sign during a press conference announcing the Hughes family lawsuit against Forrest County and law enforcement in the Forrest County Sheriff’s Department, at the Forrest County Circuit Courthouse Hattiesburg, Miss. Thursday, May 4, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Mississippi Today reporter Anna Wolfe, center, celebrates with her family after her 2023 Pulitzer Prize win in Local Reporting for her investigation “The Backchannel.” Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Alcorn County Correctional Center inmates leave the NEMCC speech class at the prison in Corinth, Miss., Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Teresa Springs works in her greenhouse at her farm, TKO Farming, in McCool, Miss., Monday, May 1, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Mississippi Highway Patrol Trooper Jason Jimison, left, and Samelia Stewart, crisis therapist for Hinds Behavioral’s Mobile Crisis Response Team, uses deescalation techniques in a simulated traffic stop involving a person with psychiatric issues during Hinds Behavioral’s Mobile Crisis Response Team’s training at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy in Pearl, Miss., Friday, June 30, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Tim and Crystal Dotson have a moment in their kitchen in Corinth, Miss., Friday, July 21, 2023. After tests were conducted on several homes in the town, the Dotson’s home proved to have the most evidence of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann smiles as he speaks to his supporters during his primary election party at River Hills Club in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Supporters of transgender youth rally and oppose House Bill 1125 at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Marie holds onto the belief that Mormonism, which prohibits women from serving in ecclesiastical roles, could become accepting of her children, but sometimes she’s uncertain. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Mississippi’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors has made the Baumans fearful of Jack’s future health, safety and well-being. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Gov. Tate Reeves, left, and University of Mississippi Medical Center chief Dr. LouAnn Woodward leave the press area of the Walter Sillers Building after the governor announced his plan for a series of Medicaid reimbursement reforms on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Jackson. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Amanda Johnson, executive director of Clarksdale Collegiate Public Charter School, reacts after Clarksdale Collegiate’s application for Clarksdale Collegiate Prep was approved during a Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board meeting in Jackson, Miss., Monday, Sept. 25, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Students listen as Amanda Johnson, executive director of Clarksdale Collegiate Public Charter School, speaks in support of Clarksdale Collegiate’s application for Clarksdale Collegiate Prep, a proposed 9-12 campus for scholars in Clarksdale and Coahoma County, during a Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board meeting in Jackson, Miss., Monday, Sept. 25, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Ocean Springs residents listen as other residents express their concerns about the city’s proposed Urban Renewal Plan during a public hearing at the Ocean Springs Civic Center on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Property owner Marie Cochran talks about her issues with the proposed Urban Renewal Plan in Ocean Springs, Miss., on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Property owner Marie Cochran talks about her issues with the proposed Urban Renewal Plan in Ocean Springs, Miss., on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Rana Oliver talks about her home, the historical Carter-Calloway House, and how it could be affected by Ocean Springs’ proposed Urban Renewal Plan on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • State Sen. Chris McDaniel announces that he is running for lieutenant governor during a press conference at the Mississippi Republican Party Headquarters in Jackson, Miss., Jan. 30, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brandon Presley speaks about Gov. Tate Reeves’ involvement in the state’s welfare scandal during a press conference in front of the Governor’s Mansion in Jackson on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Gov. Tate Reeves speaks during his election watch party in Flowood after winning the gubernatorial race against Democratic challenger Brandon Presley on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Tyrikus Hayes shows students how to care for a bleeding wound during the Black Men in Health Care Empowerment Summit at University of Mississippi Medical Center on Saturday, June 10, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Students attend the Black Men in Health Care Empowerment Summit at University of Mississippi Medical Center on Saturday, June 10, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Greenwood Leflore Hospital is pictured here, in Greenwood, Miss., on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
  • Elizabeth Dawson, a family nurse practitioner, works in the labor and delivery unit at South Sunflower County Hospital in Indianola, Miss., Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today

During 2023, some of the news in Mississippi included statewide elections, corrupt Rankin County law enforcement being convicted for brutalizing and assaulting two Black men, devastating tornados, and conversations around the state’s issue of closing hospitals.

Community Health Photojournalist Eric Shelton selects images from news events that he covered around the state this year.

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Eric J. Shelton was a 2018 corps member in Report for America, and joined the team as our first photojournalist. A native of Columbia, Miss., Eric earned his bachelor’s in photojournalism from the University of Southern Mississippi. He was a multimedia journalist for Abilene Reporter-News, chief photographer for the Hattiesburg American and photo editor for the Killeen Daily Herald before joining our team June 2018. He rejoined Mississippi Today as our health photojournalist in January 2022.