AGP Executive Report

College Sports (Mississippi): Troy rallied for a 12-8 win over Ole Miss in an elimination game at the College World Series, ending Mississippi’s run in Omaha after the Rebels went 2-games-and-out. Local Sports (Prospects): Former Mississippi high school standouts are set for pro action Tuesday, June 16, including Desoto Central’s Blaze Jordan and Brady Tygart, Tupelo’s Mason Morris, and East Central’s Konnor Pilkington. Public Safety: Investigators are probing an officer-involved shooting outside a Senatobia Walmart where a juvenile was killed and another person was critically injured. Food Safety: The FDA upgraded an Alfredo sauce recall to the highest risk level after potential salmonella contamination, affecting products sold in 41 states. Courts & Tech: Courts are cracking down on lawyers using AI that generates false quotes in legal filings, with sanctions and mandatory training spreading as judges push back on “hallucinations.” Community & Faith: A new pastor at 10th Street Missionary Baptist Church is focused on building on the church’s legacy and boosting youth involvement. Politics (National, with Mississippi ties): A Reuters/Ipsos poll finds Trump’s rural approval has fallen to 50% amid rising fuel and grocery costs.

College Sports (Ole Miss/Mississippi State): Ole Miss is 7-0 in NCAA Tournament games when Hunter Elliott starts, with the Rebels set for an elimination matchup after a bullpen collapse in a prior loss. College Sports (Attendance): Mississippi State baseball set a new NCAA record for average attendance at 11,868 fans per game, topping LSU’s previous mark. Coastal Mississippi (Infrastructure): The Mississippi Coast Coliseum unveiled lighting and security upgrades, including a color-changing LED exterior debuting during the Coast’s America 250 celebration. Public Health (HIV): Free HIV self-test kits are available to Mississippi residents through a statewide initiative aimed at expanding access and reducing stigma. Transportation (Safety): A crash involving an 18-wheeler and a passenger vehicle on I-10 near the Gautier-Vancleave Road exit caused injuries and congestion as lanes were periodically closed for cleanup. Agriculture (Drought help): USDA is offering technical and financial assistance to Mississippi producers impacted by drought, including livestock grazing loss support. Community (Scholarship): Long Beach High School Class of 1972 alumni funded a $2,000 scholarship for a graduating senior headed to MGCCC. Arts & Culture (Mississippi tie-in): An Israeli film fund project is developing a crime thriller set in Mississippi’s civil rights era, starring Mark Wahlberg.

Mississippi Pageantry: Jane Granberry was crowned Miss Mississippi 2026 in Vicksburg, winning Health and Fitness and taking the crown from Anna Leah Jolly. Community & Culture: Mound Bayou marked its 11th annual Juneteenth festival, with local groups helping with voter registration and community outreach. Local Revitalization: Jackson volunteers cleaned up Terry Road as part of the Jackson Rising Corridor Clean-Up Series, with more dates set for June 27, July 17 and July 18. Food & Fun: The inaugural Mississippi Gulf Coast Pickle Fest drew big crowds at the Jackson County Fairgrounds, with vendors selling out and organizers already planning next year. Sports (Mississippi ties): Niceville linebacker Noah Renes committed to Georgia Tech, and Mississippi’s own Jane Granberry’s win caps a busy weekend of Miss Mississippi competition. College Baseball (regional buzz): West Virginia and North Carolina advanced in the College World Series, setting up a high-stakes matchup Sunday. Weather: A rainy start is expected in central Mississippi, with rounds of rain and storms moving in early Monday.

Operation Sentinel Justice: Two Army Reserve field feeding teams from the 310th and 316th Expeditionary Sustainment Commands combined to feed Soldiers in Mississippi while relocating through intense heat and countering UAS activity at Camp Shelby. Juneteenth in Meridian: The CJ Miller Foundation and MCM Meridian kicked off Juneteenth early with “History Through Cooking,” using interactive food demonstrations to teach the holiday’s meaning. Jackson County I-10 update: A controlled burn near I-10 in Jackson County may cut visibility Saturday, with delays expected in both directions. Mississippi pageant: Miss Mississippi 2026 preliminaries wrapped with Friday awards for fitness and talent, and the finale is set for Saturday in Vicksburg. Local infrastructure: Mississippi Senator Jeremy England says a new I-10 welcome center in Jackson County is planned, with the current one closing and demolition starting soon. Heat and storms: A broader forecast warns of dangerous heat and flash flooding risk across parts of the region. College baseball: West Virginia and North Carolina advanced in the College World Series, setting up a Sunday matchup with a berth on the line.

Rankin County Shooting Case: Court filings say a sixth suspect was arrested in the June 5 killing of former Ole Miss and Jackson State player Idarrious “D.D.” Bowie, with records alleging deceitful statements and a false written account; the suspect faces up to 10 years. Mississippi Weather: The National Weather Service warns of dangerous heat across parts of Mississippi this weekend, followed by a cold front that could bring heavy rain, flash flooding, and storms early next week. Tech/Outages: Meta services were widely disrupted Friday morning, with users reporting problems signing into Facebook and trouble loading Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. Social Security Update: The SSA says paper checks will be phased out later in 2026, pushing most recipients to direct deposit or Direct Express cards. Local Events: Monticello launches its first “Heritage Day” celebration today at West Bridge Park with mostly free activities. Sports (Ole Miss): Ole Miss fell 6-2 to North Carolina in its College World Series opener, with bullpen struggles after a strong start setting up an elimination game vs. Troy.

Public Safety: Meridian police are asking for help locating 31-year-old Mahognea Lamecceha Perry, wanted for aggravated domestic violence. Health Watch: Mosquito season is peaking in June–August, with experts urging repellent, protective clothing, and caution around dawn and dusk as West Nile risk remains a concern in Mississippi. Local Law Enforcement: A Jasper County man wanted for felonious child abuse, David Watts, turned himself in to the sheriff’s office; investigators say a 4-year-old was treated for burns and a broken arm, and the case remains ongoing. Community & Culture: Jackson State hosted the Mississippi AI Collaborative Southern Spark Conference, a first-of-its-kind southern event focused on how people are using AI and who should have access. Sports & Community: World Cup fever hit Meridian with local watch parties for Team USA as businesses invite fans to gather and cheer together. Business/Jobs: First State Bank promoted Lindsey Kilpatrick to mortgage loan originator, expanding home-lending support for customers. Coast Update: Gulfport police arrested Pass Christian resident Minh Hoang Truong in a deadly hit-and-run, charging him with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.

College World Series: Mississippi’s run continues in Omaha with North Carolina vs. Mississippi set for 6 p.m. CT Friday at Charles Schwab Field, part of a bracket that also features Georgia vs. Texas and Alabama vs. Oklahoma on Saturday. Local Sports Spotlight: Mississippi State pitcher Charlie Foster has entered the transfer portal, while several former Mississippi high school standouts are set to play Saturday, including Desoto Central’s Blaze Jordan and Greenville’s Brady Tygart. Community & Safety: Hattiesburg is taking legal action against Cook Out at 3600 Hardy Street, citing about 50 police calls over two years tied to fights, disturbances and shootings. Mississippi Culture: Miss Mississippi 2026 preliminary competition in Vicksburg crowned winners across categories, with Quality of Life finalists also named. Weather: Expect a hot, humid weekend with thunderstorm chances returning by Sunday. Public Health: Mississippi health officials are urging tick checks after outdoor activities as tick-bite concerns rise.

Mississippi courts and politics: The Mississippi Supreme Court sided with Attorney General Lynn Fitch in the Brett Favre welfare-misuse fight, ruling State Auditor Shad White can’t independently prosecute or manage the recovery case—White blasted the decision and said Fitch should now aggressively pursue repayment. Legal system shake-up: A federal judge in Mississippi sanctioned lawyers after finding both sides used generative AI and left hallucinated sources in filings, canceling the trial and barring some attorneys. Energy and money: Cypress Creek Energy announced $3.5 billion in financing for Phase 1 and 2 of its Steel River solar+storage project in Arkansas, a major grid build tied to long-term power sales. Public health: New data shows moderate-or-worse air pollution days have risen over the past decade in southeast Mississippi counties, raising respiratory risk. Community and culture: FestivalSouth will stage “Stars and Steps Forever!” in Hattiesburg, filmed by CNN for its America 250 coverage. Local spotlight: The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office says its new K-9 deputy Mark had its first successful search, helping locate a suspect with other agencies.

Data Center Fight in Mississippi: A class action targets Elon Musk’s xAI and SpaceX over “near-constant” noise from a data center plant, with residents in Southaven and elsewhere alleging harm and pushing for accountability. Local Planning: In Murray, a data center ordinance is still being revised after a public hearing, with commissioners choosing to keep working before sending it to the city council. Courts & Tech: A Mississippi judge sanctioned lawyers after AI “hallucinated” cases were used in filings, underscoring how AI mistakes can derail real lawsuits. Weather & Safety: Heat is building across the region, with forecasts calling for dangerous heat indexes and storms later in the week; officials also warn about hot-car dangers after more child deaths in summer heat. Mississippi Spotlight: The Miss Mississippi preliminary competition drew attention in Vicksburg, and local sports coverage continues with SEC football kickoff windows and Mississippi State baseball updates.

AI, PR and brands: Pinnacle Public Relations launched an “AI Discovery & Generative Search” practice aimed at helping Mississippi and national brands show up accurately in AI answers and emerging search tools. Public safety crackdown: Chickasaw County deputies arrested 59 people tied to an illegal rooster-fighting ring, seizing more than $84,000 in cash, firearms, trailers, narcotics, and 160+ fighting roosters. Courts and speech/commerce: Mississippi residents filed a class action against xAI and SpaceX over alleged “omnipresent and inescapable” noise from a data-center power plant near Southaven, seeking damages and profit disgorgement. State regulators: Mississippi broadcaster WABG Greenwood is asking the FCC to reconsider a one-year license renewal tied to public file upload violations. Scam alert: New Albany police warned drivers about a fake “felony for speeding over 15 mph” law circulating online. Sports medicine: Ole Miss announced a new sports pharmacy conference and certificate program to train pharmacists on evidence-based guidance for supplements and performance-related care. Outdoor life: Mississippi’s Fishing and Boating Week runs June 6-14, with reminders to clean gear and protect waterways from invasive species.

AI Data Center Lawsuit: Mississippi residents filed a federal class-action against Elon Musk’s xAI and SpaceX, saying a Southaven power plant powering AI data centers creates “omnipresent and inescapable” noise that’s harming health and lowering property values for more than 10,000 locals. Local Education: Oakland parents and prospective teachers can learn about a proposed Oakland Montessori Pre-School at an informational meeting July 7. Community Events: Grenada’s “Thunder on Water” festival returns June 10–14 with rides, vendors, a barbecue cookoff, balloon glow and fireworks. Public Safety/Justice: A Covington County case saw a 19-year-old cleared after a Blue Alert mistakenly named him in an officer-involved shooting. Food Assistance Security: Mississippi SNAP recipients will get the ConnectEBT app starting June 11, with balance tools, card locking, and added limits on online/out-of-state purchases unless enabled. Sports: Pascagoula’s Sean Smith Jr. is headed to the College World Series with West Virginia, and Mississippi State’s Nelly Jemeli will compete in the NCAA steeplechase after a SEC bronze.

School Consolidation Watch: Mississippi lawmakers are weighing how to consolidate or close schools in districts across the state, with a focus on small districts under 1,000 students as enrollment drops and costs rise. Public Safety—Deputy Shooting: Two brothers were arrested after a manhunt tied to the shooting of Covington County Deputy Yates Rodney; officials say he was seriously injured but stable. Courts—Gun Rights: The U.S. Supreme Court declined the DOJ’s appeal in a case involving whether nonviolent felons can be banned from owning guns for life, leaving a lower-court win in place for a Mississippi man. Port of Gulfport: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cleared a major step toward deepening the Port of Gulfport channel, moving the project toward congressional authorization. State Government—SNAP Security: MDHS is rolling out the ConnectEBT app and a card lock feature that will block online and out-of-state SNAP transactions by default starting June 11. Local Economy/Jobs: Roy Anderson Corp. won a roughly $114 million contract for Ole Miss’s Jones Hall project, a new academic facility for the Patterson School of Accountancy. Community & Health: The American Red Cross is scheduling blood drives across the Mississippi Coast amid an earlier-than-expected summer shortage. Sports: Braden Montgomery, a Madison Central product, is set for an MLB debut with the Chicago White Sox.

U.S. Supreme Court: The court declined to hear a Mississippi death-row inmate’s appeal, leaving Tony Terrell Clark on death row after claims involving the removal of Black jurors and ineffective counsel. Weather & public safety: Central Mississippi is heading into hotter, stickier conditions with heat index values climbing into the triple digits late this week and into the weekend, plus a reminder that “heat lightning” is just lightning seen from far away. Politics & voting: A Mississippi law could tighten absentee ballot deadlines if the Supreme Court rules against a federal counting-after-Election-Day approach, raising concerns about voter confusion. Local development: Biloxi is moving ahead with a $150 million Tomaston Medical Park planned to use solar, hydrogen fuel cells, and battery storage to help buildings operate independently of the grid. Gulf Coast economy & recreation: The Mississippi Billfish Classic is underway with a 509-pound blue marlin leading the field. Sports: Mississippi State’s season ended in the Athens Super Regional as Georgia advanced to the College World Series. Crime: Adams County authorities arrested a Natchez man accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old.

College Baseball: Georgia completed a wild Athens Super Regional run, erasing a late deficit to beat Mississippi State 11-9 in 10 innings and punch its ticket to the College World Series. Traffic Safety: Mississippi Highway Patrol is investigating a head-on crash on MS-22 in Madison County that killed a child and sent four others to UMMC, including one airlifted. State Politics: Mississippi Rep. Bo Brown, a longtime Jackson leader and House member, died at 81 after a long illness. Courts: The U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up a Mississippi death-row inmate’s Batson challenge tied to alleged racially biased jury selection, leaving the lower court ruling in place. Community & Events: Meridian is gearing up for America’s 250th birthday celebration July 4 with a parade, ceremony, concert, and fireworks. Public Safety/Local: Coahoma County officials are investigating after a body was recovered from the Mississippi River. Education & Kids: A new Kids Count report shows Oklahoma’s child wellbeing improved slightly, but Mississippi is still among the states ranked below Oklahoma.

College Baseball: No. 3 Georgia beat No. 14 Mississippi State 11-9 in 10 innings to sweep the Athens Super Regional and return to the College World Series for the first time since 2008, with Daniel Jackson’s two-run homer in the 10th the key moment. State Regulation: Mississippi is taking public comments through June 22 on temporary barbering and cosmetology rules, following the 2024 merger of the state’s boards. Public Safety: Jackson police are investigating a Sharp Street double shooting that sent a man and woman to UM Medical Center; no suspect or arrests have been announced. Local Events: The Miss Mississippi pageant is underway in Vicksburg with 38 delegates competing for the crown, plus daily rehearsals and preliminaries. Wildlife: Applications are open for Mississippi’s public alligator draw, with a June 12 deadline. Community: Capital City Pride held an LGBTQ+ gathering in Jackson focused on food, performances, and finding support.

U.S. Supreme Court Election Fight: The Court is poised to decide whether “Election Day” means ballots must be received by the deadline, not just postmarked—an outcome that could tighten rules in about 15 states, including Mississippi’s 2020-era law. Redistricting Shake-Up: A national redistricting battle is moving into statehouses and city councils, with Georgia’s GOP-led legislature set for a June 17 special session that could redraw congressional and state districts. Athens Super Regional: Georgia rallied from seven runs down to beat Mississippi State 13-12 in Game 1, setting up a Game 2 showdown with a College World Series berth on the line. Local Construction/Infrastructure: MDOT says five of nine bridges in the Hwy. 19 expansion in Neshoba County are complete, with the project still targeted for spring 2028. Gulfport Power Work: Mississippi Power scheduled a Rippy Road closure June 8 (7:45 a.m.-6 p.m.) for pole replacement, with detours via Three Rivers Road and Airport Road. Gas Prices Watch: GasBuddy reports show midgrade and diesel deals across Mississippi counties, with several lowest-in-county prices hovering around the mid-$4 range. Public Safety: Harrison County firefighters responded to a freight train derailment west of Vidalia Road; officials said there’s no danger to the public.