AGP Executive Report

Obamacare Refunds: The White House says nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, including Mississippi, will get $500 checks after “user fees” on Healthcare.gov overcharged premiums. Mississippi Jobs & Defense: General Atomics is investing $87 million in Lee County, adding 125 jobs and a new 200,000-square-foot facility to expand precision-weapon production. NOAA Research Boost: NOAA selected Mississippi State to host the Northern Gulf research institute (CINGA), with up to $100 million over five years for coastal and ocean work. Workforce & Industry: HII highlighted workforce pipelines at Delta Fest 2026, pointing to its apprentice school and academy programs tied to shipbuilding demand. Local Culture: A new Lighthouse Park pathway in Pascagoula traces nearly 300 years of city history with interpretive signs. Public Safety: The CPSC expanded a recall of battery-powered light-up toys due to button-battery burn risk, including items sold in Mississippi. Community Events: Mississippi State’s Institute for the Humanities announced a fall lineup starting Sept. 24 with Lee Bains and more public programs.

Mississippi Tech & Jobs: A new report highlights how Mississippi’s tech sector is growing as the state works to keep and attract skilled workers, with universities preparing students for tech careers. Poultry Science: Mississippi State poultry faculty Li Zhang and Timothy Boltz earned early-career awards from the Poultry Science Association, recognizing research and teaching tied to safer, antibiotic-alternative poultry practices. AI & Teens: A new study warns more teens are using AI chatbots for serious problem-solving instead of talking to friends or family, raising privacy and safety concerns. Local Governance & Industry: Lafayette County approved the sale and rezoning needed for Magnolia Materials to build a hot-mix asphalt plant, including a waiver of a public notice requirement. Community & Culture: A Museum of the Mississippi Delta exhibit, “Mississippi Bears Witness,” tells the Sept. 11 story through three Mississippians’ firsthand experiences. Mississippi Food & Small Business: “Granny’s Corner” in rural McCall Creek remains a long-running stop for travelers, known for steaks, catfish, and a hometown feel.

Public Health: Greenville leaders are pushing vaccination ahead of respiratory season after WalletHub ranked Mississippi last for overall immunization, including low childhood/teen and adult uptake. Agriculture & Politics: Mississippi Rep. Vince Mangold announced his bid for agriculture commissioner, pitching support for farmers, food security, and tougher enforcement on labeling and inspections. Arts & Culture: Poet Joy Priest will visit Mississippi State Sept. 21 for the Price Caldwell Visiting Writers Series, sharing her prize-winning collection “Horsepower.” Courts & Health Policy: A federal appeals court is weighing efforts to restrict access to abortion pills used in medication abortions, with Louisiana’s attorney general among the challengers. Business & Jobs: Lockheed Martin won the 2026 Mississippi Makers Challenge, beating other manufacturers in a statewide push for “Made in Mississippi” innovation. Energy & Infrastructure: Camp Shelby has been designated a permissive test range for U.S. Army military technology from private innovators. Consumer/Local Impact: O’Charley’s appears to be closing its remaining restaurants, including locations in Mississippi. Environment & Justice: A federal court ruling says Jackson, Miss., residents don’t have a constitutional right to clean water, sparking renewed calls for environmental justice. Weather/Safety: Sunflower County approved a county-wide burn ban amid drought conditions.

Mississippi River Industry: Frontieras North America signed a letter of intent with Illinois’ Cora Terminal for phased FASForm™ solid carbon fractionation plants, with the plan to lease about 85 acres for a first facility and expand later—aiming to process 7,500 tons of coal feedstock per day per plant and ship products by barge, rail, and truck. Energy Costs & Data Centers: A new report highlights how rising electricity bills are colliding with the growth of data centers, while the federal “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” is being used to argue residents won’t be stuck with the tab. Mississippi Agriculture & Food: The Dairy Alliance is bringing interactive dairy exhibits to eight Southeast state fairs, including Mississippi, as part of a push to connect fairgoers with farmers and dairy’s role in local communities. Public Health: Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch is drafting how the state will spend its $189 million Meta settlement, with legal experts warning the agreement leaves wide room for how—especially whether—children’s mental health gets prioritized. Community & Environment: Kosciusko residents can weigh in on local tree planting plans at a TREES MS open house, with USDA Forest Service funding routed through the Mississippi Forestry Commission. Military Testing: Camp Shelby was designated a “permissive test range,” opening the door for private companies to partner with the base and speed up battlefield tech development. Local Business/Workforce: PowerCompute reported August production and noted seasonal heat-related curtailment at its Oklahoma and Mississippi sites, generating energy sales.

Mississippi Economy & Industry: Hyundai Steel is moving ahead with a $5.8 billion electric arc furnace mill in Louisiana’s Ascension Parish, with production aimed for 2029 and most output headed to automotive uses—part of a broader push tied to the RiverPlex MegaPark on the Mississippi River. Local Business & Tourism: Madison County has given final approval for a $120 million Prado Vista development: a 50,000-square-foot conference center plus a privately financed 250-room Dolce by Wyndham hotel, with tourism rebate proceeds earmarked to speed debt repayment. Public Safety & Courts: A former DeSoto County medical services owner, Katricia Smith, was sentenced to five years and ordered to repay more than $3.19 million in Medicaid fraud restitution. Education & Community: Mississippi State University’s Television Center is set to air “The Fisher People,” a four-part documentary on Vietnamese immigrant life along the Gulf Coast, starting Oct. 2 on MPB. Agriculture & Food Assistance: USDA announced nearly $20 million in catfish awards for federal nutrition programs, including school lunches, with Mississippi producers among the recipients. Culture & Events: The 83rd National Folk Festival’s Mississippi Folklife Area and Stage program was unveiled for Nov. 13-15 in downtown Jackson, highlighting Mississippi traditions and performers. Tech & Infrastructure: C Spire says it’s expanding its Mississippi fiber network with a new high-capacity corridor between Jackson and Olive Branch to support the AI economy. Sports & Local Life: The Mississippi Mud Monsters promoted David Kerr to general manager as the Frontier League club looks ahead to its next chapter. Health & Consumer Alerts: A frozen triple berry blend sold at Walmart in 16 states is under recall tied to an E. coli outbreak, including Mississippi.

Mississippi Politics & Leadership: Empower Mississippi founder reflects on what the next governor should prioritize in a wide-open race, arguing the winner must keep momentum while tackling low income and labor participation. Local Governance & Power Reliability: Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Chris Brown says Attala County’s frequent outages may be driven by more than storms, pointing to Entergy’s limited redundancy in the northern part of the county and promising a Sept. 21 town hall. Education & Workforce: Jumpstart Test Prep visited a Greenville school to help students prep for ACT testing, touting last year’s gains for participants. Community Spotlight: Columbus Christian Academy’s new head baseball coach, 21-year-old Baylee Price, credits early coaching opportunity and a breakout 17-9 season for turning the program around. Agriculture Markets: Grain futures were mostly higher overnight, with wheat leading as traders look ahead to USDA reports and holiday-delayed data. Civic Life & Culture: Miss Mississippi’s Teen Madalyn Sullivan finished first runner-up at Miss America’s Teen after building an autism-acceptance platform inspired by her sister. Business & Industry: Mark Cuban urges towns to negotiate tougher protections before approving their first data center—limits, oversight, financial backing, and enforceable remedies.

Labor Day & Workplace Safety: A new study ranks logging as America’s deadliest job, with fatality rates far above the national average, and notes 5,070 worker deaths in 2024. Mississippi Politics & Community: Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith used recent posts to congratulate Miss Mississippi and send Labor Day greetings to Mississippians. Data Centers & Lawsuits: Residents say Microsoft and xAI data centers are harming nearby homes, with claims tied to low-frequency noise that standard dBA monitors may miss. Education & Testing Prep: Jumpstart Test Prep visited a Greenville school to help students prepare for ACT testing, citing last year’s improvement results. Health Care Affordability: Mississippi’s insurance commissioner says more than 200,000 people have left ACA coverage and is exploring short-term plan options. Local Culture & Business: Jackson’s The Nell Grace restaurant aims to build on Farish Street’s legacy by supporting Black ownership and downtown revitalization. Sports Betting Rules: Clinton’s football buzz comes with reminders that Mississippi’s sports betting is tied to specific casinos, not statewide mobile wagering. Entertainment (Mississippi-set): Reviews of Elegance Bratton’s “By Any Means” highlight its 1966 Mississippi setting and civil-rights-era story. Agriculture: Corn prices are rising ahead of harvest, with economists pointing to global conflicts, energy costs, and input prices. Tech/Industry: Mitsubishi’s potential return to mid-size pickups could involve building in Canton, Mississippi.

Mississippi Food Safety: Walmart shoppers in 16 states, including Mississippi, are being told to check freezers after a Chilean supplier expanded an E. coli recall to Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend (UPC 7874211226; lot 6040 01-6; best-if-used-by Feb. 9, 2028). The company says no illnesses were tied to this specific product, but the recall is precautionary. Mississippi Workforce & Training: Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is joining Lowe’s Foundation’s Building Futures Skilled Trades Coalition, adding focus on attracting more people to construction and electrical technology trades and connecting trainees to employers. Mississippi Business & Jobs: Congressman Michael Guest highlighted Aurora Flight Sciences’ expansion in Lowndes County, saying the aerospace investment will create jobs and support national defense. Regional Energy Watch: Hyundai Steel broke ground on a $5.8 billion electric arc furnace mill in Louisiana, targeting 2.7 million tons of steel capacity and low-carbon flat steel for automotive customers. Local Crime & Fraud: Brookhaven logged one scam report in July, tying it for 40th among Mississippi cities in BBB Scam Tracker reports. Labor Day Notes: Mississippi government offices, schools, courthouses, banks, and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety are closed Monday; USPS won’t deliver mail.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Workforce: Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is joining Lowe’s Foundation’s new “Building Futures Skilled Trades Coalition,” aiming to pull more people into construction and electrical careers and connect trainees with employers; the college has already received $1.7 million in Lowe’s grants since 2023. Local Industry & Jobs: Congressman Michael Guest highlighted Aurora Flight Sciences’ expansion in Lowndes County, saying it will create jobs and boost Mississippi’s aerospace and defense work. Education & Research: Alabama A&M graduate Taylor Pippins completed her second Army SPARK research fellowship in robotics and sensor integration at the U.S. Army lab in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Public Safety & Fraud Watch: Brookhaven logged one scam report in July, tying it for 40th among 59 Mississippi cities tracked by BBB Scam Tracker; the report notes a $58.46 loss tied to an Instagram shopping scam. Environment: New USGS research finds excess nitrogen and phosphorus can linger in soil and groundwater for years, helping explain why nutrient pollution keeps showing up in rivers even after reductions. Sports (Ole Miss): Ole Miss opens its season Sunday night vs. Louisville in Nashville; ABC will carry the game and SuperTalk Mississippi will broadcast it.

Mississippi Teen at Miss America’s Teen: Madalyn Sullivan finished first runner-up at the national finals in West Palm Beach, winning a $9,000 scholarship and an additional $1,500 for Evening Wear after taking that preliminary award for three straight years. Workforce & manufacturing in Mississippi: Mississippi State University is partnering with METAL to expand workforce training in metalworking and manufacturing. Public health on the Gulf Coast: Singing River Health System is placing free, anonymous naloxone vending machines outside ERs in Gulfport, Ocean Springs, and Pascagoula, as overdose rates fall statewide but remain higher on the coast. Energy and industry watch: A new study from the University of Mississippi and Texas A&M reports a way to mass-produce a low-cost catalyst that turns captured carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, a key ingredient for fuels and plastics. Local community events: The Further Jazz Festival returns Sept. 12 at Connie Link Amphitheatre in Normal, with a free 4-9 p.m. lineup featuring ISU Jazz Ensemble, Jay Trio, Water Street Stompers, and more.

AI in Mississippi courtrooms: A federal judge in Mississippi sanctioned lawyers in Withers v. City of Aberdeen after filings relied on made-up precedents generated by AI, including removing them from the case and revoking pro hac vice status. Mississippi health response: Gulf Coast hospitals in Gulfport, Ocean Springs and Pascagoula installed free, anonymous naloxone vending machines, as overdose rates fall statewide but remain more than double the state average on the coast. PFAS accountability: A ProPublica investigation revisits how 3M scientists found PFAS in blood samples nationwide yet faced internal pressure and dismissal, fueling a renewed push for corporate accountability. Local community resilience: After a Memphis storm left more than 140,000 customers affected and restoration costs estimated at $18 million, community groups and neighbors stepped in with generators, meals and check-ins—highlighting grid and equity gaps. Workforce and education: Rust College hosted a Kids Discovery International Math Camp with Nissan support, using hands-on “Math Worlds” and international educators. Energy and data centers: A new analysis warns 2027 could bring the biggest wave of state energy siting bills, with many proposals aimed at restricting renewable and power infrastructure.

Mississippi Water Fight: A split Fifth Circuit backed tossing a Jackson, Miss., lawsuit over lead in city drinking water, with the majority saying the Constitution doesn’t guarantee uncontaminated water or accurate info from officials. Food Safety: Walmart shoppers in 16 states, including Mississippi, are urged to check freezers for recalled Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend tied to an E. coli outbreak linked to a Chilean blueberry supplier; no illnesses were reported for this specific product, but the recall follows traceback. Local Jobs & Inclusion: Gulfport’s Sunshine Sips opens Oct. 1, a new job-training coffee shop for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, continuing the mission of A Latte Opportunities. Public Safety & Accountability: Senatobia’s police chief was fired after reporting alleged racist slurs in private texts tied to the aftermath of a fatal shooting of a 1-year-old Black child. Arts & Community: Mississippi Writers Trail unveiled a marker honoring Noel Polk, adding to the state’s push to spotlight local literary history. Business & Industry: Hyundai Steel broke ground on a $5.8 billion electric-arc furnace steel mill in Louisiana near the Mississippi River, projecting major job creation and output starting in 2029.

Steel & Jobs: Hyundai-POSCO Louisiana Steel broke ground Sept. 4 on a $5.8 billion electric arc furnace mill near Donaldsonville, aiming to produce 2.7 million metric tons of steel a year and create 1,300 direct and 4,100 indirect jobs, with operations targeted for 2029. Police Accountability: Senatobia’s police chief was fired after a controversy tied to alleged racist slurs in private texts, following the fatal shooting of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley during a shoplifting call. Food Safety: A frozen-berry E. coli outbreak linked to a Chilean supplier has now sickened 17 people; Walmart and Publix shoppers in Mississippi and other states are urged to check freezers for specific recalled berry products. Disabilities Employment: A Latte Opportunities is opening Sunshine Sips in Gulfport, a training program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with interns starting Sept. 8. Corrections Oversight: Mississippi lawmakers are moving toward prison oversight legislation, with independent monitoring likely coming in the next session. Public Safety & Crime: FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted major felony arrest and extradition results from “Operation Summer Heat 2.0,” including operations in New Orleans. Local Fraud Watch: Columbus logged four scam reports in July, tying for 10th among Mississippi cities in BBB Scam Tracker reporting.

Mississippi Health Care: The state’s insurance commissioner is proposing short-term health insurance plans after more than 200,000 Mississippians left the ACA marketplace as costs rose and federal subsidies expired. Public Safety: Jackson saw a drop in homicides in August after a recent spike, with officials pointing to social media and personal conflicts as key drivers. Food Assistance: Mississippi could face about $75 million in added SNAP benefit costs under new federal rules as food pantry demand climbs. Local Economy & Jobs: Mississippi’s UPSKILL grant and apprenticeship office leadership updates aim to expand training for in-demand careers. Federal/Defense Watch: President Trump named Adam Telle acting Army secretary after Dan Driscoll’s departure, amid reported tensions at the Pentagon. Community Spotlight: Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss and Mama Justice launched the Macon a Difference Scholarship to send students to college across Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. Sports: Week 2 MHSAA football scores rolled in Thursday, with multiple big wins across the state.

Mississippi Jobs & Industry: Gulf Ship is investing $43.81 million to expand and modernize its Gulfport shipbuilding and steel fabrication operations, aiming to add 121 jobs by 2028 and finish upgrades by late 2027, with help from the Mississippi Development Authority and Harrison County. Utilities & Cost Relief: Mississippi Public Service Commissioner De’Keither Stamps is pushing “SNAP H2O,” a plan that would let eligible SNAP recipients use existing benefits to pay water bills without increasing monthly SNAP amounts, pending federal approval. Public Health: Walmart customers in 16 states, including Mississippi, are affected by an expanded recall of Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend over possible E. coli contamination; the FDA lists specific UPC, lot code, and “best if used by” date. Local Culture & Community: Haskell Indian Nations University is marking the 100th anniversary of its football stadium and arch, built with Native community donations, as part of a centennial homecoming celebration. Mississippi in the Spotlight: A new film, “By Any Means,” set in 1960s Mississippi, is drawing protest from Vernon Dahmer Sr.’s family over how the real-life civil rights case is portrayed.

Mississippi Politics & Justice: Senatobia Police Chief Harold Vanderford was fired after a new controversy tied to reporting that he used racist slurs in private texts, following the June shooting death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley during a shoplifting call. Mississippi Culture: Jazz legend Cassandra Wilson, a Jackson native and two-time Grammy winner, died at 70; tributes highlighted her Mississippi roots and her influence across blues and jazz. Mississippi Jobs & Industry: Gulf Ship will invest more than $43 million to expand its Gulfport yard, creating about 121 new jobs as demand rises for U.S.-built commercial and government vessels. Data Centers & Courts (regional pressure): A growing wave of data-center lawsuits is moving from city halls to courtrooms, with communities challenging moratoriums and permitting as the industry expands. Local Business: A new massage studio opened in Columbus, plus ribbon-cuttings for a Starkville flooring business and a party rental shop.