School Consolidation Talks: Mississippi lawmakers are weighing plans to combine districts or close schools, with a focus on districts under 1,000 students and the option to save more than $1 million per closed building. Child Well-Being & Education: The 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book keeps Mississippi at 50th overall for child well-being, but highlights education as the bright spot (16th), with gains tied to reading-focused policy. Local Library Fun: Poplarville Public Library kicks off “Unearth a Story” summer reading with programs for kids, teens, and adults, plus Beanstack tracking and prizes. Community Health: The American Red Cross is launching blood drives along the Mississippi Coast starting June 15 to address an early summer shortage. Arts & Civil Rights: The MAX in Meridian hosts a free screening of “Everlasting: The Life and Legacy of Medgar Evers” with a youth civic engagement workshop. Education Quality Push: A national report finds only a bit more than half of teacher prep programs align with the science of reading, leaving many new teachers without strong reading tools. Local Infrastructure Wins: Meridian’s Freshwater Division touts a perfect health inspection score and a top finish in a statewide water taste contest. Ole Miss Construction: Roy Anderson Corp lands a roughly $114M contract for the Jones Hall Project at the University of Mississippi. Mississippi AI Momentum: A fact-check backs the claim that the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network is the nation’s first statewide AI network, offering free education statewide.