AGP Executive Report

Education & Community: Mississippi lawmakers are weighing school district consolidation as birth rates fall and enrollment shifts, but the biggest hurdle is the emotional pull of local schools and sports—House Speaker Jason White is pushing the issue for the 2027 session. Military Families: Gold Star families are still carrying heavy emotional and financial burdens, and lawmakers are considering steps to expand survivor support. Culture & History: A photo exhibition imagines what Emmett Till’s life could have been, while Mississippi history fans also get a deeper look at William Faulkner’s Rowan Oak roots in Oxford. Arts & Learning: The Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival in Greenville brings music, vendors, and community together. Local Life & Faith: A new Montessori school anniversary spotlight and multiple community church events highlight everyday Mississippi family life. Sports & Community Buzz: The LSU-Ole Miss “Magnolia Bowl” rivalry is back in the Top 10 spotlight, with fans already fired up. Tech & Jobs: MGCCC’s inaugural Gulf Coast AI Summit aims to help everyday people and small businesses understand how AI is changing work. Community Support: The Taco Bell Foundation grant push includes $50,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of Magnolia’s “Own Your Future” program.

Mississippi River culture & commerce: Apple Fest visitors got a behind-the-scenes look at how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers keeps the navigation channel running, from lock operations to water-safety demos. Oxford history meets today: Rowan Oak’s curator shared how William Faulkner’s home helped shape Oxford’s identity long before football took over. Local education & community support: MGCCC will host the inaugural Gulf Coast AI Summit, aiming to bring practical AI know-how to small business owners and everyday learners. Sports culture, big feelings: College GameDay’s LSU-Ole Miss week has been packed with controversy and chaos—from Ted Cruz backlash to Pat McAfee’s viral moments—while Ole Miss fans gear up for Lane Kiffin’s return. Community spotlight: Claiborne County honored fallen Deputy Terrian Bailey with law enforcement and family at his funeral after arrests were announced in the case. Arts & learning: Mississippi State’s Classical Week brings the ancient Greek comedy “Dyskolos” to campus with free performances. Giving back: The Taco Bell Foundation’s record $32M grant push includes $50,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of Magnolia’s “Own Your Future” program.

Mississippi Politics & Community: The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus held its first historic Delta retreat in Greenville, pairing lawmakers with local residents and Blues Week activities while focusing on voting, representation, education, health care, economic opportunity, infrastructure, and civic engagement. Local Education: Southeast Lauderdale’s Catherine McGowin was named Mississippi History Teacher of the Year, praised for hands-on, creative lessons that help students connect with the past. Health & Safety: Mississippi Christian University is moving some classes to a device-free model, asking students to take notes by hand to boost discussion and participation. Public Health Research: New research links near-total nighttime darkness with heart protection, while higher nighttime light exposure shows early signs of heart weakening. Culture & Film: Fitchburg native Mikayla Soo-ni Campbell is in the spotlight as an executive producer for Paramount’s “By Any Means,” a film tied to 1960s Mississippi civil rights history. Outdoor Life: Mississippi’s hunter education requirement kicks in for new hunters, with free classroom training aimed at safety, ethics, and conservation. Arts & STEAM: The Walter Anderson Museum of Art hosts Science Saturday, blending hands-on STEAM activities with the Mississippi Science Festival. Community Support: Biloxi’s Out of the Darkness Walk returns for Suicide Prevention Month, raising funds for research, advocacy, and education across Mississippi. Sports & Local Buzz: Shaq’s Big Chicken is opening on the Jackson State University campus, bringing a new lunch option to students and the public.

Local Education Spotlight: Catherine McGowin, a Southeast Lauderdale history teacher, was named Mississippi History Teacher of the Year, praised for hands-on lessons that help students make history feel real. Student Achievement: Northside Elementary in Clinton earned top statewide math results, with third graders ranking fifth in Mississippi, credited to a team approach that meets students where they are. Community Health & Support: Biloxi’s Out of the Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention Month brings neighbors together Saturday, with check-in at 9 a.m. and the walk starting at 10 at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum and Convention Center. Campus & Culture: Shaq’s Big Chicken is opening on the Jackson State University campus, replacing the former Chick-fil-A spot in the JSU Student Center. STEM Weekend: The Walter Anderson Museum of Art hosts Science Saturday, blending hands-on STEAM activities with the Mississippi Science Festival. Sports & Rivalry Buzz: LSU’s Lane Kiffin returns to Oxford for a high-emotion LSU-Ole Miss matchup, with plenty of talk about the “unwelcome return” storyline. Public Safety: Hinds County reports arrests of 12 suspects tied to the killing of Claiborne County Deputy Terrian Bailey, calling it a “well-planned operation.” Local Giving: The Biloxi Shuckers’ home-run partnership with Ball Heating and Air raised $9,000 for CASA of South Mississippi and Community Action of South Mississippi. Mississippi Lifestyle Note: Toys R Us is coming back to Mississippi with a new Outlets of Mississippi store in Pearl, set to open in late September.

Ole Miss–LSU GameDay Buzz: Morgan Freeman is set to be the celebrity guest picker for ESPN’s College GameDay live from The Grove in Oxford ahead of the Sept. 19 matchup, bringing major star power to Mississippi’s biggest weekend. Classroom & Literacy Debate: A new WalletHub study ranks Ohio among the worst states for teachers, while a separate Progressive Policy Institute analysis argues states with stronger teachers’ unions tend to adopt fewer early-literacy reforms—an ongoing flashpoint for education policy. Mississippi Attendance Flexibility: Mississippi’s agriculture commissioner issued an order allowing excused absences for students attending certain livestock, horse, 4-H, and Future Farmers of America events, including the Mississippi State Fair. Local Learning & Trades: Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is expanding skilled trades programs with $1.7 million from the Lowe’s Foundation to help close the regional labor gap. Community History & Memory: Jackson voices are pushing to preserve Battlefield Park and better recognize the role of Black soldiers and the Vicksburg campaign era in Mississippi’s Civil War story. Student Debt Watch: WalletHub puts Mississippi at the top for student-debt stress, citing high default rates and tough job/internship availability. Sports Culture: The Notre Dame–Michigan State “Game of the Century” anniversary spotlighted how integration differed across regions in 1966, with lessons still echoing today. Mississippi Gulf Coast Safety/Justice: The Nolan Wells case continues to ripple nationally, with legal threats and renewed scrutiny of what happened on Horn Island.

Literacy & Politics: A new Progressive Policy Institute analysis links stronger teachers’ unions with fewer evidence-based early reading reforms, arguing kids’ reading skills should come before union power. Mississippi Education & Health: Mississippi’s infant mortality rate hit its highest level in a decade in 2024, with officials pointing to prematurity, maternal health, and unsafe sleep as key drivers. Rural Healthcare: Gov. Reeves signed off on Mississippi’s Rural Health Transformation Program awards, including projects in Pearl River County using telehealth and AI-enabled care. Mississippi Higher Ed: Mississippi University for Women’s next president search committee is set, with a national search targeting spring 2027. Community & Culture: Coastal Mississippi unveiled “Coast with the Ghosts” Halloween plans, including major Gulfport haunted attractions and free fall events across the Coast. Local Faith & Values: ERLC president Evan Lenow urged a “church first” approach as the group tackles fast-moving cultural issues. Civic Dialogue: Jackson NAACP hosted a forum on flooding, climate, and economic stability—examining who pays the price.

Education & Community Pride: Golden Triangle educators are getting a homegrown boost, from Columbus High alumni stepping into CMSD classrooms to MUW and Baptist-Golden Triangle certifying clinical coaches to strengthen the nursing pipeline. Student Achievement: Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science led with 8 National Merit semifinalists, plus more local standouts across the region. Local Governance & Faith: Benoit’s first Muslim judge, Judge Assma Ali, addressed concerns at a “Harmony Talks” event, promising to enforce the U.S. Constitution. Public Health & Daily Life: Mississippi doctors are gearing up for fall allergy season as weed pollen climbs, while a national report highlights why long-acting HIV prevention still isn’t reaching Black communities at the same rate. Culture & Events: Ballet Magnificat! is bringing “Anchored: The Pilgrim Story” to Mechanics Hall, and graphic novelist John Jennings is set for a weeklong Meridian residency with free public events. Mississippi River Tourism: American Cruise Lines and the City of Natchez broke ground on a major new Mississippi River cruise dock. Civic Life: A Monticello candidate forum is scheduled for Oct. 21, giving voters a direct look at school board, city council, and mayoral races.

Meta Settlement Plan: Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch unveiled a consent decree spending plan for the state’s $189M share of the national Meta lawsuit, earmarking more than $18M a year for the next decade across three state agencies. Education & Literacy: Mississippi State Patterson Scholars are rolling out a personalized reading outreach initiative in Starkville-area elementary classrooms, aiming to build reading motivation and long-term reading identities. Student Support & Attendance: Mississippi schools are tightening attendance rules under a new state law, with districts encouraged to observe September as Attendance Awareness Month. STEM & Jobs: MSU researchers secured a $2M NSF grant to help prepare the Magnolia State workforce for advanced jobs. River + AI Infrastructure: Mayors from Mississippi River states met in Natchez to plan for AI infrastructure growth while protecting water supply security. Community & Culture: Leña Pizza + Bagels in Cleveland, MS, was named No. 38 on the 50 Top Pizza world list in Naples—an international spotlight on Delta flavors. Public Safety & Justice: Coverage continues around the death of Tasia Fortune and the arrest of her suspected killer, with debate over how race and facts are being presented. Local Governance: Leake County schools were released from a decades-long desegregation order after federal oversight ended.

Space & Jobs: STARCOM, the Space Force’s Space Training and Readiness Command, is relocating to Patrick Space Force Base and ramping up hiring as leaders push for faster space-warfare capabilities. Politics & War Powers: The U.S. House voted again to end the Iran war via a war powers resolution, a move likely headed for a veto. Mississippi Education & Literacy: Mississippi schools are receiving literacy grants, including support for a book-vending machine idea meant to make reading feel like a reward. Local Culture: The 17th annual Mississippi Songwriters Festival is set to bring four days of music and events across Jackson County, with major Hall of Fame moments in Ocean Springs. Public Safety: A Lowndes County bus crash sent 16 students to hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to severe. Community & Immigration: A New Orleans ICE office is seeing high arrest rates, while families in Mississippi-linked detention cases are pushing for supervised release. Women & Trans Safety: New research finds violence against women and trans people is worse than previously thought.

Mississippi Education & Health: Childhood vaccination rates are slipping in 14 Mississippi counties, with several districts below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks like measles. Local Schools & Attendance: A new Mississippi attendance law is rolling out updated rules for student absences, aiming to curb chronic absenteeism while raising questions about flexibility for kids with chronic illnesses. STAR Program Transition: The Cook Foundation has taken over Mississippi’s STAR (Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition) program, keeping the long-running awards for top students and teachers going. College Costs: Mississippi State University’s published in-state tuition and required fees for Oktibbeha County were listed at $10,202 for 2024-25. Mississippi Delta Investment: Hitachi Energy is expanding its Copiah County transformer manufacturing site with a $528 million investment and 654 jobs, with production targeted for 2029. Arts & Culture on the Coast: Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience is coming to the Gulf Coast Oct. 17 at the iMPAC Center in Gulfport. Music & Community: The National Folk Festival returns to Jackson in November, spotlighting Mississippi’s role in America’s music and culture. Mississippi Journalism Access: JC and USM are teaming up to offer free journalism classes for community members. Outdoor Learning: Deer Creek Arboretum at Stoneville will be dedicated Sept. 24 as a certified Mississippi arboretum. Business & Dining: Smalls Sliders is opening its first college campus locations, including at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in October.

Roberto Clemente Day & Puerto Rico baseball: MLB spotlighted Puerto Rico’s real high-school talent through the new Buzzer Beater tournament, with scouts saying players could still make pro rounds. Civil rights legacy: Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, once jailed in Mississippi’s Parchman, told an HBCU micro-scholarship gathering that the fight shaping her youth “isn’t over.” Education shakeups in Mississippi: A federal desegregation order for Leake County schools was lifted, marking a major shift after decades of court oversight. Local schools & staffing: Columbus Municipal School District’s transportation director shared what it takes to keep routes running and students safe, as districts face broader pressures from declining enrollment. Public safety & justice: A Mississippi man pleaded not guilty in the hanging death of Tasia Fortune; more arrests are expected. Community leadership: Jackson Mayor John Horhn named Dr. Marcus A. Chanay as chief of staff, focusing on coordination and priorities. Arts & culture: “Dear William” is in production for a film adaptation, shooting in Greenwood with additional scenes in Oxford and at Ole Miss. Hispanic Heritage Month food: The Dairy Alliance is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with dairy-forward traditions like café con leche and tres leches.

Local Civic Spotlight: Mississippi is marking Sept. 15, 2026 as Flonzie Brown-Wright Statewide Voter Registration Day, honoring the civil rights leader’s legacy and urging Mississippians to get on the rolls and show up in November. Public Safety Update: Jackson police say more arrests are expected in the death of Tasia Fortune, after a homicide ruling and the arrest of Jarques Ratliff on a murder charge. Health & Community: Oxford Treatment Center promoted Kate Bell to Outpatient Clinical Manager, highlighting a recovery push toward outpatient care and independence. Coast Culture & Tourism: Ocean Springs businesses are gearing up for the 17th annual Mississippi Songwriters Festival, running Thursday through Sunday, with events expanding to Gulfport for the first time. Education & Cost of Living: Mississippi University for Women lists 2024-25 in-state tuition and required fees at $8,492 for Lowndes County residents, up from $8,092 the year before. Business & Local Growth: Magee welcomed 7 Brew with a ribbon cutting and a pay-what-you-want fundraiser that raised $13,000 for the Food Pantry tied to Overflow Church. Lifestyle Finance: A new analysis says renting in retirement can require far larger savings than owning outright—often by hundreds of thousands—depending on where you live.

Higher Ed & Teaching: Mississippi State welcomed its 14th Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program cohort, awarding full-tuition scholarships (about $100,000 over four years) to future K-12 educators. Campus Growth: Ole Miss is in the middle of a $1.3B campus transformation with about 170 construction projects underway across housing, academics, parking, and utilities. Elections & Voting Access: A federal appeals court upheld Mississippi’s mail ballot receipt rules, letting ballots postmarked by Election Day count if they arrive within the state’s five-day grace period. Public Safety & Community Health: Mississippi marked September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, highlighting 988 and statewide events aimed at reducing stigma and boosting crisis support. Local Culture & Faith: Oxford’s first St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway is underway, with tickets now available for a $795,000 home plus prizes. Education & Opportunity: Co-Lin enrollment keeps climbing, reaching 3,102 students for Fall 2026, and the North Mississippi Hummingbird Festival returns to Southaven with family-friendly learning and activities. Justice & Accountability: After weeks of national attention, Mississippi authorities arrested a suspect in the homicide case tied to the death of Tasia Fortune, a Black mother of four found hanging from a tree.

Election Law: A federal appeals court formally lets Mississippi count mail ballots that arrive after Election Day, as long as they were postmarked by Election Day—closing out a long GOP fight after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the state’s five-day grace period. Public Safety & Justice: Jackson police say more arrests are expected in the death of Tasia Fortune, a Black mother of four found hanging from a tree; a 51-year-old man, Jarques Ratliff, has been charged with murder. Mental Health: Mississippi is marking September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, highlighting 988 and a statewide symposium aimed at reducing stigma and boosting crisis support. Community & Culture: Natasha Trethewey brought her Pulitzer-winning voice to Vanderbilt’s reading series, connecting personal writing to Southern history and memory. Local Learning & Growth: Copiah-Lincoln Community College reports Fall 2026 enrollment up to 3,102 students, with housing demand rising as campus life expands. River Heritage: The Lakeport Plantation Museum will host “The Mississippi in American Memory” symposium Oct. 9, with speakers spanning Indigenous history, plantation agriculture, and river folklore. Faith & Family: A Slidell Methodist church marks its 50th anniversary by crafting altar paraments—turning community memories into worship art. Outdoor Fun: Southaven’s North Mississippi Hummingbird Festival returns for a second year, with hands-on sessions for birders and families.

Local Justice Update: Mississippi police say more arrests are expected in the death of Tasia Fortune, a Black mother of four found hanging from a tree; Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney says the case is still active after the arrest of Jarques Ratliff on a murder charge. Arts & Culture: A Chicago exhibit imagines what Emmett Till’s life could have been if he hadn’t been murdered, using an imagined photo library to challenge how America remembers history. Community & Faith: In Slidell, Aldersgate United Methodist Church is marking 50 years with members stitching 10-foot paraments that will be unveiled and consecrated Oct. 4. Education & Learning: A Mississippi Science Festival brought hands-on STEAM activities to Indianola at the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center. Mississippi Outdoors & Food: A new Mississippi Writers Trail marker in Hattiesburg honors author and education doctor Noel Polk at the Southern Miss library plaza. Civic Life: Hattiesburg also unveiled its Writers Trail marker, while Starkville is planning public input for a new skate park Sept. 30. Business & Community Growth: Pine Bluff launched 1 Million Cups, a weekly networking program for early-stage entrepreneurs. Sports & Local Pride: Mississippi’s reading gains are highlighted as the state surges nationally in literacy and reading scores.

Waterfowl Season: Teal season is kicking into gear with cooler fronts expected to help ducks move, plus a special extended hunt window for hunters who want to keep the season going. Civil Rights Legacy: New Orleans activist Jerome “Big Duck” Smith was honored at a large funeral, remembered for jail-and-battlefield work during the civil rights era and for teaching Black history to youth. Mississippi Writers Trail: Hattiesburg unveiled a new Mississippi Writers Trail marker honoring author/educator Noel Polk at Southern Miss. Education Wins: Mississippi’s reading scores surged nationally, with Gov. Tate Reeves pointing to structured literacy and focused reading reforms. Nonprofit Funding Watch: New rankings highlight big year-over-year jumps in government grant revenue for Mississippi nonprofits, including Corinth’s Aiming For Healthy Families, Tupelo’s Little Angels Learning Center, Jackson’s Healthy Centers Healthy Kids, and Ridgeland’s Sunnybrook Children’s Home. Community & Culture: Pine Bluff launched 1 Million Cups to connect early-stage entrepreneurs, and Jackson hosted a free expungement clinic to help residents clear records and access opportunities. Arts & Music: Jackson celebrated Grammy-winning jazz singer Cassandra Wilson during a service featuring major music industry tributes.