AGP Executive Report

Mississippi Gulf Coast Reef Project: Chevron teamed up with local fire and marine groups to sink unused industrial equipment— including a 31-ton propane tank and a steel training tower—about 13 miles south of Petit Bois Island to create an artificial reef aimed at boosting fish habitat and recreational fishing. Supreme Court Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue rulings soon, including cases testing President Trump’s power to remove top federal officials, election rules affecting mail ballots, and state bans on transgender athletes in women’s sports. America 250 (Mississippi Music): A new America 250 spotlight highlights Mississippi’s “birthplace of America’s music” legacy, featuring Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson and memorabilia tied to blues, Elvis, and other major artists. Local Culture & Community: Kosciusko’s America 250 celebration drew families with parades, music, and a veterans recognition ceremony led by Mississippi Speaker Jason White. Weather/Skies: A bright fireball streaked across the southern U.S. early Sunday, with sightings reported across Louisiana and Mississippi and video captured by camera networks. Lottery: Mississippi Lottery results for June 28 include Match 5: 08-23-28-30-33 and Cash 3 midday: 8-9-4 (evening: 0-7-8).

Politics & Elections: Mississippi lawmakers used the Neshoba County Fair to tee up redistricting, with talk of a special session, plus renewed momentum on school choice and tougher juvenile justice. Courts & Federal Power: The U.S. Supreme Court is set to issue major rulings soon, including cases testing Trump’s presidential powers, election rules, and transgender athletes’ participation. Culture & Community: America 250 spotlights Mississippi as the “birthplace of America’s music,” with Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson featuring blues, Elvis, and other icons; Kosciusko’s America 250 celebration also centered veterans with a keynote from Speaker Jason White. Public Safety & Service: The Mississippi American Legion named Wanilla firefighter Battalion Chief Bobby Joe Wilson Firefighter of the Year. Sports & Local Pride: LSU missed on Jackson’s four-star OL Caden Moss, who committed to Ohio State. Business & Jobs: International Paper announced closures and wind-downs across North America, raising questions about what comes next for affected workers and communities.

Mississippi Comic Con: Jackson’s three-day Comic Con is underway at the Mississippi Trade Mart and Arena, pulling in thousands of fans and cosplayers with celebrity guests including Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants) and Kel Mitchell (Good Burger), plus Q&As, panels, gaming, and vendor booths. Gulf Coast Heritage: Pass Christian marked the 48th annual Blessing of the Fleet with a harbor boat parade, live music, and a memorial wreath honoring fishermen lost at sea—along with a push to support local seafood. Arts & Culture: Marilyn Powell of Philadelphia won the 2026 Mississippi Songwriter of the Year competition in Kosciusko for “Livin’ in the Word,” earning studio production support and a performance on WLBT’s Studio 3 Live. Community & Health: A Senatobia town hall drew more than 100 people for justice efforts after the killing of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley, with families sharing similar experiences and calling for accountability. Local Life: An Iron River cyclist, Jim Fridsma, completed a nearly 6,800-mile bike ride from Florida to Alaska.

Community Accountability: In Senatobia, more than 100 people packed a town hall at Fairway Christian Church demanding justice in the killing of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley, with families sharing similar experiences and chanting “Justice for Kohen.” Downtown Safety & Revitalization: Shreveport is paying a consulting firm $130,000 for a three-year downtown retail plan, but leaders say it won’t work unless the city tackles fears about unsafe streets—panhandling, vacant buildings, poor lighting, and staffing shortages. Small-Business Relief: The SBA opened low-interest disaster loans for small businesses and nonprofits in parts of Mississippi and neighboring states hit by a December 2025 drought, including Clarke, Greene, Kemper, Lauderdale, Noxubee and Wayne. Local Planning: Republic unveiled plans for an 80-bed memory care assisted living complex, with a rezoning request and public comment expected next month. Mississippi River Culture: A Mississippi River Day reflection highlights how the river shapes communities and Indigenous traditions across the region.

Mississippi Lottery: The Mississippi Lottery Match 5 and Cash 3 results for June 26, 2026 were published, with Match 5 drawn 16-21-24-31-33 and Cash 3 midday 6-3-0 (FB 6) plus evening 3-0-0 (FB 8). Local Culture & Community: Monticello is leaning into parks and recreation as a long-term community-building strategy, with residents pushing for trails, connections, accessibility, and gathering spaces. Mississippi Events: Comic Con is underway at the Mississippi Trade Mart in Jackson, drawing thousands for cosplay and celebrity meet-and-greets, with the event running through Sunday. Public Safety: Mississippi Highway Patrol says crashes in the I-20 construction zone are rising, citing reckless driving and shoulder passing, with fines doubling in the work area. Agriculture Policy: GOP governors are urging Congress to reauthorize the farm bill, calling the 2018 version outdated and warning farmers face inflation and high interest rates. Health & Politics: A pro-life group report claims “blue state shield” rules helped ship nearly 330,000 abortion pills into abortion-restriction states since 2023. Sports: NFL Draft coverage highlights Carson Beck and Drew Allar among early quarterback selections, while Mississippi’s Caden Moss committed to Ohio State over Ole Miss and Kentucky.

Bridge Repairs Disrupt I-20: Starting Saturday, June 27, the outside (right) lane of I-20 eastbound over the Mississippi River in Madison Parish will close for about four weeks for structural repairs, with no alternate route needed. Supreme Court Watch: A new roundup says the Supreme Court’s term is nearing its end, with major Trump-era fights still undecided—birthright citizenship, transgender sports bans, and limits on mail-in voting—while other cases have largely gone the administration’s way. Data Center Debate Turns to Trust in Monticello: Residents packed a Monticello City Council meeting to press for slower action on proposed data center zoning, arguing leaders aren’t listening and calling for a temporary moratorium. Mississippi Arts Spotlight: Meridian Public School District wrapped its free Soundwaves Summer Arts Camp at The MAX, giving students hands-on music, dance, theater and visual arts tied to Mississippi’s creative heritage. Mississippi Screwworm Status: MSU Extension reports Mississippi remains clear of the New World screwworm, with cases limited to parts of Texas and New Mexico. Fireworks Safety Reminder: State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney is urging Mississippians to follow safety rules ahead of July 4, citing injury and death risks from misuse.

Farm & Labor: Five Black farmworkers in Mississippi are suing their employer, alleging they were paid less than white South African workers brought in through Trump’s H-2A visa program. Courts & Accountability: A trucking company tied to a Mississippi I-20 crash can’t dodge a $2.8 million default judgment after the 5th Circuit rejected a bid for a do-over. Coast & Environment: The Mississippi Aquarium released two rehabilitated turtles into the Gulf—one Kemp’s ridley and one 80-pound loggerhead. Agriculture & Food Supply: U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith introduced the American Food Supply Chain Resiliency Act to make USDA food-systems grants permanent and expand regional food hubs for producers. Politics: At the Neshoba County Fair, Mississippi leaders used speeches to position for 2027 statewide races. Weather/Health: A Saharan dust plume is forecast to move into Mississippi over the weekend and early next week, potentially affecting air quality. Coastal Restoration: Millions of oyster spat were deployed into the Mississippi Sound as part of the state’s oyster restoration push. Local Government: In Jackson’s airport takeover trial, witnesses testified about state plans to replace the airport authority board.

Mississippi Jobs & Business: iQor says it will create more than 1,300 jobs across Charlotte, N.C., and Meridian, Miss., with training already underway for customer-experience work tied to a major financial services client. Local Economy & Growth: 7 Brew plans a Petal location opening in late August, aiming to add 75–80 jobs and marking its 19th Mississippi spot. Workforce & Industry: Mississippi State’s DAFVM leadership course wrapped up with 12 faculty completing the inaugural program focused on building institutional perspective. Public Safety & Community: Pearl River County SPCA’s no-kill mission is being tested by overcrowding, with volunteers describing the strain as animals wait longer and outcomes get harder. Health Policy: AAP and HHS are still locked in a fight over vaccine policy timing, with ACIP lacking a quorum and fall recommendations hanging in the balance. Culture & Recognition: Mississippi pizza chef Marisol Doyle (Leña Pizza + Bagels, Cleveland) earned a global No. 48 ranking in the 2026 Best Chef Pizza awards in Milan. Lottery: Two Mississippi players each won $100,000—one from Powerball in Laurel and one from a $5 Money Bags scratch-off in Poplarville.

AI Data Centers in Jackson: A Roy Howard Community Journalism Center fact-check says claims that Mississippi lawmakers blocked an AI data center near the Capitol are misleading; the city paused construction after a dispute involving Saxum Investment and residents raised concerns about water and infrastructure strain. Local Economy & Jobs: Holmes Community College, the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District, and Amazon are training Mississippians for data-center work, aiming at roles that can start around $60,000 a year. Flood & Food Impacts: Torrential rains devastated George County’s watermelon crop, with heavy May and June downpours and Tropical Storm Arthur worsening conditions. Education Outcomes: A new analysis finds only 1 in 10 kindergartners at the bottom of reading/math catch up by third grade, underscoring the need for early intervention. Sports & Community: Ridgeland hired Bernard Euell as athletic director and head football coach, moving him from Velma Jackson. Agriculture & Industry: George County supervisors advanced a railroad extension and transload facility plan to connect local industries to the national rail network. Public Health: Lyme disease is spreading into states that rarely saw it before, raising the risk for Mississippians as tick exposure expands.

Sports & Education: Mississippi Delta Community College named Davis “Doc” Beaver as head softball coach, bringing more than 25 years of experience and a track record of building winners, including a first-year College World Series run at Arlington Baptist. Public Safety & Health: UnitedHealthcare is changing lactation counseling reimbursement in Mississippi and nearby markets starting Sept. 1, limiting payment for certain breastfeeding support visits. Local Government: Jackson’s final community meeting on data centers ended with residents calling for unity and continued discussion as concerns grow over power and water demands. State Politics: Gov. Tate Reeves announced special elections for two Mississippi House vacancies on Nov. 3, 2026, with qualifying set for Aug. 20. Business & Industry: Loop Linen Service broke ground on a $25.1 million Avondale expansion, a 62,000-square-foot facility aimed at modernizing operations and retaining 125 jobs. Tech & Transportation: Mississippi is rolling out AI traffic enforcement for seat belt and unsafe phone use, but officials say it won’t be a simple “AI issues tickets” situation. Community & Culture: A SHIFT~ outdoor dance performance in Winona on June 27 explores home, migration, and water through an Arab/SWANA lens.

Economic Development: Mississippi hit a new record for non-farm employment in May, topping 1.19 million jobs, with leaders pointing to construction and advanced manufacturing demand tied to new data centers and other projects. Gaming & Business: Ilitch Gaming says it will pursue full ownership of Mississippi Coast’s Scarlet Pearl Casino in D’Iberville, pending approvals, as part of a broader gaming expansion. Manufacturing: Nissan marked a milestone in Mississippi by rolling out its one-millionth Frontier pickup from the Canton plant, with sales strong and U.S. content rising. Workforce & Training: A federal cybersecurity settlement in Mississippi-linked Navy contracting highlights compliance scrutiny, while state workforce officials urge job seekers to use short-term training to get into work faster. Food Access: Jackson City Council approved a partnership to tackle food deserts by reusing vacant city property for community gardens and locally grown produce. Local Culture: Delta State’s business and aviation programs are set to split into separate colleges, and Two Mississippi Museums wrapped a 1960s-themed history camp with a student variety show.

Mississippi Jobs Boom: Gov. Tate Reeves says May delivered a record 1,195,400 non-farm jobs, calling it proof the state’s economic development push is working. Local Business Growth: Keytronic plans to expand in Corinth with an $8.89 million investment and 376 new jobs, adding production lines and rehabilitating its facility. Public Safety Tech Backlash: Mississippi DPS Commissioner Sean Tindell says the state will not use AI cameras to issue tickets or spy on motorists, despite a $2+ million contract approved for multi-violation detection and alerts. Catfish Biosecurity Push: U.S. senators urge USDA action to prevent yellow catfish virus (and channel catfish virus) from reaching U.S. catfish, asking for a formal risk assessment and stronger import safeguards. Community & Culture: Coffeeville held its first Miss Juneteenth Pageant, spotlighting young leadership and Juneteenth knowledge. Sports Business: The Eagles signed OT Markel Bell to a four-year rookie deal, adding size and length to their offensive line.

Data Center Fight in Jackson: Dozens of residents packed a special Jackson City Council meeting to question a proposed data center ordinance, with some people reportedly turned away as officials tried to manage capacity. AI Infrastructure in Mississippi: SpaceX signed a multi-year deal with Reflection AI worth about $1.8 billion a year, giving the startup access to SpaceX’s Memphis-area Colossus 2 data center starting July 1. Public Health Coverage: Mississippi’s Jill’s Law takes effect July 1, requiring insurance to cover Alzheimer’s biomarker testing for symptomatic patients with a referral. Food Access Expansion: Mississippi Power and Extra Table Feeds are adding services in five Pine Belt counties, aiming to set up new pantries and deliver about 800,000 meals. Flood Repairs in South Mississippi: Neighbors and owners are still cleaning up after last week’s flooding, including major damage in Picayune and Carriere. Home Distilling Rumor Debunked: A Mississippi fact-check says claims about legal “limited-purpose” home distilling permits are false; unlicensed home distilling remains a felony. Local Arts: Meridian students met graphic novelist John Jennings during a summer arts camp, learning how to build worlds through comics.

Mississippi & Gulf Seafood: USM and the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium were tapped for a new $13.5 million NOAA aquaculture push, aiming to grow U.S. seafood production and cut reliance on imports. Fisheries Science: MSU’s “disCARD” project is rolling out a paper-and-digital catch card to better track released fish across the Gulf, starting with red snapper. Agriculture & Heat Resilience: MSU researchers say a combined sprinkler-and-cool-cell cooling approach can cut broiler cooling water use by about 39% while maintaining bird performance and welfare. Online Safety: Mississippi AG Lynn Fitch reached an agreement with Roblox to add stronger protections for minors, including age verification, parental controls, and limits on adult interactions. Public Safety & Community Tensions: A fatal police shooting of a 1-year-old in Senatobia has reignited anger over policing and accountability. State Government Training: Four Mississippi State Hospital employees completed Mississippi State Personnel Board professional development programs, recognized in a June 9 ceremony. Business & Fraud Enforcement: Fitch and USDA’s inspector general trained nearly 300 state lawyers on fighting fraud in federal benefit programs.

Mississippi Accountability: The Mississippi Insurance Department fired top examiner Chad Bridges after he was named in a $95 million embezzlement lawsuit tied to his wife’s credit union, with the department saying he had no access to public funds. Local Economy & Jobs: Tutor Perini won $800M+ in new work, including a $114M University of Mississippi academic building in Oxford and a $48M data-center infrastructure project in Houston. Gulf Coast Tourism: Cruise traffic hit a new national record in 2025, but Port of New Orleans dipped from 2024 as some major ships spent time in dry dock; still, the port says cruising remains a key economic engine. Food Safety: The FDA flagged a Walmart bread recall—Great Value Hawaiian Roll 4-packs—after an oily/sticky substance was found on packaging surfaces; no injuries reported. Weather Watch: A fresh tornado outbreak hit the Midwest, killing at least two in Illinois and causing major damage in southern Indiana. Mississippi Culture: A Henley Field trick rider, Olivia Jones, will represent Mississippi at Rodeo 250 on the National Mall during America’s 250th anniversary.

Mississippi Politics & Policy: Mississippi marked the America250 milestone with a Declaration of Independence celebration in Jackson, featuring Gov. Tate Reeves and nearly 300 volunteer singers. Local Economy & Jobs: Canada-based Gould Industries plans about $14 million in Pike County operations, aiming to create 65 jobs after acquiring and modernizing a facility. Environment & Public Health: NOAA is backing a new $13.5 million aquaculture effort that includes USM to strengthen America’s seafood supply with safer, more sustainable domestic production. Courts & Civil Rights: The Trump DOJ moved to intervene in an NAACP-backed Clean Air Act case targeting xAI’s gas turbines near majority-Black neighborhoods in north Mississippi, arguing shutdowns would harm national security. Community & Health Care: Tonya Eubanks was elected president of the Mississippi Health Care Association’s board for 2026-2028, leading the state’s long-term care trade group. Education & Media: Missy Pace Callero and her husband gave $50,000 to the Mississippi Media Lab at Ole Miss to connect student reporting with news outlets and fight misinformation. Disaster Response: Cajun Navy 2016 volunteers helped with multiple Gulfport rescues during Tropical Storm Arthur flooding along the Biloxi River.