AGP Executive Report

Mississippi Senate Race: Scott Colom, a Black Democrat and longtime prosecutor, is trying to unseat Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, arguing she’s “extremely weak” and that D.C. corruption is driving up costs. Community & Faith: Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church will host its 110th anniversary celebration Sunday at 10:45 a.m., with Dr. Renee F. Brown as guest speaker. Education Policy: Mississippi lawmakers are split over school choice and state-mandated school consolidation, with a House committee mapping which districts could be affected as communities push back. Early Childhood Watch: The Trump administration is moving ahead with a Head Start overhaul that would strip many federal rules, raising alarms about safeguards for vulnerable kids. Workforce & Opportunity: Higher Purpose Hub broke ground on a new Clarksdale development aimed at boosting food access, learning, arts, events, and wellness in the Delta. Local Skills Pipeline: MGCCC held a Women in Skilled Trades Showcase at the George County Center, spotlighting welding, electrical tech, and commercial truck driving. Safety Online: “Operation Muddy Waters” led to 69 arrests in Mississippi tied to child exploitation, including one child rescued from a sextortion scheme.

Education & Early Learning: Georgia is rolling out a $70 million early literacy overhaul, pushing “Science of Reading” with literacy coaches in classrooms and screenings for dyslexia, vision, and hearing. Child Welfare & Scholarships: Mississippi foster students face uncertainty after 170 were denied promised FAITH Scholarship money, with lawmakers and universities/nonprofits stepping in after the shortfall. Local Schools & Safety: Meridian is teaming up with police and campus officers to enforce daytime curfews and compulsory attendance as students return, aiming to reduce truancy. Healthcare Workforce: MSU-Meridian graduated its second Master of Science in Nursing cohort in Meridian, adding 35 advanced professionals. Community Support: Superior Choice Credit Union is handing out free food boxes in partnership with a local church ministry to help seniors and disabled residents. Culture & Community: Meridian’s arts scene continues to build momentum, while Mississippi’s own culture coverage includes a spotlight on Southern Miss football’s new era under Blake Anderson. Public Health: Salmonella outbreaks tied to eggs, jalapeños, and backyard animals are expanding this summer—public health officials urge caution. Food & Lifestyle: A new snack bar at the Manitou Springs Penny Arcade is serving fast, fresh paninis and sweet treats.

Education & Opportunity: Woodward Hines Education Foundation is stepping in with $800,000 to help about 170 Mississippi foster students keep their college plans on track after a FAITH Scholarship funding shortfall left them facing denial letters. Public Health & Community Care: Lifeline Blood Services issued a critical blood donation appeal after two major medical emergencies drained local supplies fast. Digital Access for Mississippians: AT&T opened a Connected Learning Center inside The Bean Path in Jackson and expanded Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) with a new site at Briarwood Arts Center, offering free tech training for seniors. Youth Mental Health: S.A.F.E. S.P.A.C.E. TheaterTherapy launched a free boys’ mental health discussion series in Clinton, with sessions set for early August. Local Culture & Faith: A new Congress Street mural in downtown Jackson celebrates the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi’s history and community impact. Civic & Safety: Marion and Walthall county law enforcement leaders met to learn how new child welfare and juvenile justice changes will affect their work.

Mississippi Education & Access: Woodward Hines Education Foundation is stepping in with $800,000 to keep 170 foster students from losing FAITH scholarships after a funding gap, while colleges across the state coordinate backup aid. Public Safety & Community: Federal officials say Operation Muddy Waters led to 61 arrests in Mississippi tied to child exploitation and previously convicted sex offenders, including cases involving illegal immigrants. Politics & Representation: Mississippi lawmakers have launched the redistricting process after the Louisiana v. Callais ruling, with eight public hearings planned and voting-rights groups warning it could weaken Black political power. Culture & Arts: The MAX announced its 2026–2027 Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Hall of Fame class, honoring Charlie Patton, Mississippi John Hurt, Bobby Rush, Conway Twitty, and the Mississippi Mass Choir. Local Outdoors: Magee officially joined the Mississippi Arboreta Trail with McNair Springs Arboretum, highlighting native trees and conservation. Health & Daily Life: A multistate egg-related Salmonella outbreak is under investigation, with recalls already in motion—check your fridge and stay safe.

Drug Pricing & Antitrust: Michigan AG Dana Nessel says a coalition of 43 states reached a $400 million settlement in principle with Sandoz over alleged generic-drug price inflation and reduced competition, with the deal hinging on state sign-offs and reforms ahead of a 2027 trial. Community & Faith in Action: PACE’s Senatobia Community Forward Forum moved to New Ford Baptist Church after a housing authority denial, keeping the free Aug. 8 event on track. Education Access: Mississippi reports 170 foster students were denied college scholarships weeks before classes, leaving families scrambling. School Readiness: Hancock County jumped to No. 7 statewide in kindergarten readiness and is rolling out a pre-K push to keep momentum. Local Learning: Covington County begins a new district pre-K program for 4-year-olds, funded by a $600,000 SIP grant. Public Safety & Water Costs: Mississippi Public Service Commission voted to shift from a federal water-assistance plan to urging churches, businesses, and neighbors to help with bills. Local Giving: Sparklight donated $10,000 in South Mississippi, including grants for digital literacy and family support. Sports & Community: Tyler Parker was named head men’s basketball coach at Texas A&M–Texarkana. Culture & Memory: A new exhibit imagines Emmett Till’s life if he had come home alive, continuing Till remembrance efforts. Human Stories: Jackson police investigate the death of a Black woman found hanging behind a vacant home; details remain limited.

Local Education Wins: Hancock County School District jumped from 30th to 7th in Mississippi’s Kindergarten Readiness Assessment, helped by a new pre-K program and early-release Wednesdays for planning. Reading Momentum: MDE named 15 elementary schools as Mississippi Emerging Science of Reading (SOR) Schools, including several in South Mississippi, with celebrations set for late August. Attendance Crackdown: Mississippi’s new chronic absenteeism push is ramping up as parents can face fines and even jail for repeated unexcused absences, with youth courts and attendance teams in the spotlight. Child Safety Enforcement: Operation Muddy Waters wrapped up with 61 arrests and the rescue of a child, targeting online child exploitation and sex offender registry violations. Community & Culture: Jackson State University is set to welcome Dr. Denise Jones Gregory as its 14th president, with a Columbus celebration raising funds for inauguration festivities. History in the Spotlight: A new Emmett Till exhibit imagines “If Emmett Till Lived,” bringing Till’s story and legacy to a major photography audience. Local Government Professionalism: Leland deputy municipal clerk La’Monica Hackler earned Certified Municipal Clerk status through the Mississippi Municipal League program.

Education & Data: A new push to keep the public informed about student achievement is colliding with efforts to shrink the Education Department’s research arm, as critics warn the U.S. can’t improve schools without solid test-score tracking. Mississippi Schools: Mississippi’s own education picture is mixed in national rankings, with U.S. News placing the state 48th overall and flagging especially low marks in education and health care. Public Health & Safety: Mississippi law enforcement wrapped up Operation Muddy Waters, a statewide child-exploitation crackdown that led to 69 arrests, the seizure of 50+ devices, and the rescue of a child tied to an alleged sextortion scheme. Community & Culture: The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is rolling out major renovations, including new outdoor features—plus a chance to “sleep with fish and fossils.” Local Life: Hinds County confirmed skeletal remains found after a Jackson abandoned-building fire; investigators say the remains weren’t connected to the blaze. Family-Friendly Science: Mississippi is joining the Great Southeast Pollinator Census on Aug. 21–22, inviting residents to count pollinators for 15 minutes and log results. Arts & Local Talent: Ocean Springs Library is hosting “Neal’s Night Gallery,” a decades-old light-etching art process by Mississippi artist Neal Hilt.

Education & Community: Moss Point School District named Dr. Michael Battle as superintendent, banking on his 20+ years in public education to keep momentum and improve school performance. School Attendance Push: Mississippi is stepping up chronic absenteeism enforcement under a new law that increases accountability for unexcused absences. Arts & Local Culture: Ocean Springs Library is hosting Mississippi artist Neal Hilt’s “Neal’s Night Gallery,” spotlighting his decades-old light-etching process. Music Heritage: Bentonia’s Blue Front Cafe—an old-school Delta blues juke joint tied to the Bentonia School of Blues—keeps the tradition alive as a living landmark. Lifelong Learning: Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Institute for Learning in Retirement opened its Fall 2026 schedule with classes ranging from gardening to cooking and pottery. Wildlife & Family Fun: Mississippi Museum of Natural Science’s beloved speckled kingsnake “Elvis” is retiring from public programs after nearly two decades. Public Safety: Mississippi agencies arrested 69 people in a statewide operation targeting child exploitation and sex offender registry violations. River & Environment: A Mississippi River-focused grant effort is putting $300,000 toward youth programming and community nature projects.

Education & Equity: Greenwood’s East Elementary opened renovated “Imaginasium” classrooms, giving students fresh learning spaces and hands-on art plans. Reading Policy Debate: A push to retain low-performing 3rd graders is being challenged as too late to fix reading gaps, with Mississippi cited in the argument that retention hasn’t boosted later outcomes. Local Schools Watch: North Little Rock faces a higher 3rd-grade reading retention rate than nearby districts, with about 13% of students flagged after end-of-year testing. Workforce & Youth: DSC Works Youth Career Awareness Bootcamp in Jackson connected teens to real career pathways and hands-on industry exposure. AI in the Classroom: Alcorn State history professor Jason Gibson went viral after a hidden prompt allegedly exposed widespread AI cheating on a midterm. Community & Culture: Kathryn Stockett is bringing her new novel “The Calamity Club” to St. Francisville for a free event, tying Mississippi roots to her latest work. Public Safety & Ongoing Case: Investigators continue the Nolan Wells Horn Island death probe as newly surfaced video raises fresh questions about the “Mac Daddy” boat. Sports/College: FAU hired former Mississippi State deputy AD Josh McCowan as its new athletic director. Outdoor Youth: Mississippi 4-H competed in the National 4-H Forestry Invitational in West Virginia, taking part in tree ID, measurement, and forest evaluation events.

Local Education & Youth Careers: The Dependable Source Corp (DSC) Center for Community & Workforce Development wrapped up its free DSC Works Youth Career Awareness Bootcamp in Jackson, giving 15-to-18-year-olds hands-on exposure to high-demand jobs and real connections to Mississippi employers. Sports & Community Pride: Florida Atlantic hired former Mississippi State deputy athletic director Josh McCowan as its new vice president of athletics and athletic director, bringing more than 15 years of collegiate leadership and major fundraising experience. Ongoing Nolan Wells Search: A newly surfaced Horn Island video may show the boat “Mac Daddy” tied to Nolan Wells’ last-known outing, renewing questions as investigators keep piecing together his final hours. Campus Policy Watch: The University of Alabama System removed LGBTQ terms from nondiscrimination policies across its three campuses, though the school says “sex” still covers sexual orientation and gender under the law. Arts & Writing in Mississippi: USM English associate professor Dr. Olivia Clare Friedman received a $5,000 Mississippi Arts Commission grant to support a poetry manuscript. Culture & Remembrance: In New Orleans, the Black Feather Young Generation and Family Ties Social Aid and Pleasure Club held a justice march and second line for Nolan Wells along the Claiborne Corridor.

Mississippi Education: New state law will require middle school financial literacy starting in the 2027-28 school year, with districts able to teach it as a standalone course or weave it into existing classes. Arts & Culture: USM’s Center for Writers director Dr. Olivia Clare Friedman won a $5,000 Mississippi Arts Commission grant to support a poetry manuscript. Community & Memory: A justice march in New Orleans honored Mississippi student-athlete Nolan Wells, drawing families and community groups to demand answers after his death. Local Lifestyle & Food: Animales BBQ Co. is turning family dining into a full indoor play-and-music experience, pairing big barbecue with a kid-focused playroom. Housing & Affordability: One Southern metro—Morristown, Tennessee—has been flagged as a standout for affordability, with buyers finding luxury options for far less than pricier coastal markets. Health & Well-Being: A new national look at depression rates highlights how mental health struggles have risen sharply in recent years, with treatment still out of reach for many. Business & Banking: Southern Bancorp is rebranding as Uplift Bank to better match its mission of serving underserved communities.

Education & Money Skills: Mississippi middle schoolers will start required financial literacy lessons in grades 6–8 beginning in 2027–28 under Senate Bill 2294, with districts choosing how to deliver it and teachers preparing for new endorsement needs. Campus Life & Environment: TVA donated $50,000 to Ole Miss to help restore tree canopy damage from winter storm “Fern,” aiming to speed up campus replanting. Community & Culture Tourism: Columbus-Lowndes CVB expanded its African American Cultural Trail with new marketing and 24 historic sites, pushing locals and visitors to explore Black history in the area. Local Business & Identity: Southern Bancorp rebranded as Uplift Bank, saying the new name better matches its mission to “uplift” underserved communities as it grows beyond the Delta. Sports & Community Pride: Pontotoc Electric Power Association GM Frankie Moorman received the Russell Hustle Award for leadership during Winter Storm Fern, when outages hit nearly 89% of the system. Justice & Accountability (Opinion): A commentary revisits the Nolan Wells case, arguing the key issue is whether a Black teen’s death is getting the same urgency and due process as other cases. Arts & Learning: MSU Galleries hosted a public sculpture workshop tied to an exhibit of found-object and mixed-media works, encouraging participants to “just play” and build their own creations.

Education & Community: Mississippi’s kindergarten vaccine rates dip below herd-immunity in eight counties as the new school year starts, with the state health officer warning that measles and other diseases can return when coverage falls. School Success: Delta districts including Leland and Carroll County posted above-state-average Kindergarten Readiness Assessment results, pointing to targeted instruction and “success plans.” Workforce & Opportunity: Meridian Community College and Compass Datacenters launched Mississippi’s first MEI Data Center Pathway Program, offering tuition scholarships and a fast track to high-paying tech careers. Culture & History: The MAX will mark Wolfe Studio’s 80th anniversary with a full day of art, demos, and archive sharing on Aug. 22. Local Life: A black bear was caught on backyard camera in metro Mississippi, adding to rising sightings and renewed calls to remove attractants. Mississippi Sound: Federal and local leaders met in Biloxi to discuss the future of the Mississippi Sound, including permitting and the Bonnet Carré Spillway’s ripple effects. Health Policy: The Trump administration is preparing to roll back Head Start requirements, raising fears the anti-poverty mission could weaken. Sports & Community: Teachers across the state are gearing up for the first day, while some retired educators can now return to classrooms with benefits under a new law.

Workforce & Education: Mississippi students can tap new federal Workforce Pell aid for short-term job training, but only a limited set of programs are expected to qualify by 2027—state officials are starting with high-demand fields like construction, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare. Tech & Skills: Meridian Community College and Compass Datacenters launched Mississippi’s first MEI Data Center Pathway Program, with a 14-week, no-degree route to hands-on training and scholarships for an inaugural cohort of 12. Arts & Community: The MAX is hosting Wolfe Studio’s 80th anniversary celebration on Aug. 22 in Meridian, spotlighting the studio’s legacy and offering demos, panels, and collector storytelling. Local Culture: Mission Mississippi marks 33 years of reconciliation with its Sept. 24 Living Reconciled Celebration in Clinton, featuring shared-meal conversations, worship, and Luminary Awards. Learning Access: Mississippi’s Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN) is offering free AI training statewide, with online courses plus periodic in-person workshops and a focus on cutting through misinformation. Church & Inclusion: Christ Fellowship Church in Magee is launching an Accessible Worship Ministry starting Aug. 2, aiming to welcome children of all abilities into every part of church life. Public Safety & Accountability: Community members are speaking out after the death of Spencer “Shine” Eckford in Monroe County custody, calling for answers and legal accountability. Sports & Leadership: FAU hired Mississippi State deputy AD Josh McCowan as its next athletics director, bringing a revenue-and-operations background to the Florida program.

Education & Attendance: Mississippi is pushing back against chronic absenteeism as schools and families head into the new year, with attendance teams and daily outreach aimed at getting students back in class. Local School Oversight: Wilkinson County School District is entering the new school year under state control after two straight “F” ratings, bringing in literacy, math, and leadership coaches while officials focus on rebuilding trust. North Mississippi Enrollment Pressure: North Tippah’s consolidation plan is moving forward as enrollment falls and costs rise, with the district aiming to expand electives, AP, and dual enrollment. Campus Tech & Learning: Alcorn State professor Jason Gibson says he caught 32 of 35 students using AI on a final by hiding an instruction in the prompt. Health & Wellness (CBD): Ole Miss and a Mississippi company are partnering on a clinical CBD sleep study, testing doses against placebo with wearable sleep tracking. Community & Culture: TravelWorld in the region is spotlighted for group travel expertise and award-winning service. Sports & Local Pride: Ole Miss standout Louis Guy is set for induction into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame after a historic 1962 season. Lifestyle & Food: A Mississippi-linked look at pollinators highlights why bees and other insects matter for gardens and crops.

Education & Policy: A Baldwin-backed bill to block key parts of Trump’s push to shut down the U.S. Department of Education advanced out of the Senate HELP Committee, aiming to keep special education and K-12 programs from being shifted to other agencies. Local Schools: Mississippi’s Literacy-Based Promotion Act is getting fresh attention as a contrast to “social promotion” in New York City, where students are moved on regardless of reading results. Campus Life: An Alcorn State professor says he caught 32 of 35 students using AI on a final by hiding an instruction in the prompt—sparking debate over cheating and what schools should teach about AI. Community & Health: The Mississippi Office of the State Auditor joined a DOJ-led Southeast fraud enforcement roundtable after reporting major waste findings, including welfare and education-related fraud. Gulf Coast Environment: The Mississippi Sound Coalition warns the Gulf Coast’s shallow Sound could become a “dead sea within a generation” without action tied to spillway openings and pollution. Lifestyle Spotlight: A Mississippi TOPS member, Pam Jackson, was named 2025 Mississippi Queen after losing 132.75 pounds.