AGP Executive Report

Police Accountability in Senatobia: A Mississippi family of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley, killed when officers fired into a moving vehicle after a Walmart shoplifting call, is demanding release of body, dash, and store video—saying it will show whether officers were in danger; civil rights attorney Ben Crump says delays are fueling distrust. Faith & Community: In Laurel, a pastor at First Baptist Church of Sharon preached nonstop for 96 hours from Genesis to Revelation, with prayer teams, medical monitoring, and livestream support—framed as a revival, not a publicity stunt. Youth Safety Online: Mississippi AG Lynn Fitch reached an agreement with Roblox to add stricter protections for minors, including age verification, limits on adult interaction, tighter content rules, and $9 million for digital literacy education. Arts & Culture: LSU Museum of Art received a $25,000 grant to power community wellness programming tied to its new Folk Art Gallery opening June 30, featuring works from the American Folk Art Museum. Mental Health Support: Mississippi State Hospital peer support staff returned from the Mississippi Peer Support Conference with new ideas for recovery-oriented, trauma-informed care. Church Milestones: Holly Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Leland invites the public to celebrate Pastor and Mrs. L.V. Williams’ 26th pastoral anniversary on June 28.

Public Safety & Community Accountability: Senatobia’s Walmart reopened a week after the officer-involved shooting that killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley, with floodlight generators added for better nighttime visibility as MBI continues investigating and residents demand answers. Local Culture & Civic Life: Plaquemine’s Fourth of July celebration—organized by Lorraine Hidalgo for more than two decades—has grown into the city’s biggest annual event, featuring a veterans ceremony and boat parade plus family activities. Education & Lifelong Learning: USM’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is seeing record growth, with 822 members across Hattiesburg and Gulf Park campuses as summer classes run through July 31. Mississippi Outdoors & Foodways: A native fruit moment—serviceberries—are gaining fans beyond the Midwest, with Mississippi-area-style farm foraging energy showing up in jam-making and community “try it” pushes. Faith & History: Mt. Zion United Methodist Church held a memorial service honoring civil rights workers Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner on the anniversary of their 1964 deaths. State Spotlight: The Mississippi Insurance Department fired a top examiner tied to a credit union embezzlement scandal, underscoring fallout in state oversight. Weather & Recovery: MEMA updates continue on South Mississippi flooding impacts after Tropical Storm Arthur, with roads, rescues, and infrastructure damage reported across multiple counties.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Recovery: After Thursday’s severe weather and flooding, Stone County is moving into the next phase of recovery, with the American Red Cross setting up shelters and help sites for families in need. Community Safety & Accountability: In Senatobia, the mayor is urging peace after the police shooting death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley, as questions continue and the officer’s identity has been reported amid calls for transparency. Local Education & Culture: Mississippi marked the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with a celebration in Jackson featuring remarks from Gov. Tate Reeves, performances, and nearly 300 volunteer singers. Coastal Food Innovation: USM is joining NOAA to strengthen America’s seafood supply through aquaculture research, backed by about $13.5 million in initial funding. Health & Aging Leadership: Tonya Eubanks of Water Valley was elected president of the Mississippi Health Care Association’s Board of Directors for 2026–2028. Faith in the Spotlight: A Mississippi pastor, Matt Olson of First Baptist Church of Sharon, is reported to have set an unofficial world record with a 96-hour marathon sermon. Juneteenth Events: Mississippi’s Juneteenth celebrations continue across the region, including community gatherings and heritage-focused events.

Mississippi Flood Relief: After heavy rain and flash flooding on the Coast, WLOX reports shelters and supply drop sites are open across Hancock, Harrison, Stone, and Pearl River counties, with specific locations for clothing and overnight donations. Juneteenth & Community Culture: Ruston’s Juneteenth celebration at Louisiana Tech drew a regional crowd with gospel performances, while Mississippi’s own America250 moment brought a Declaration of Independence anniversary event to Jackson’s Coliseum with volunteer singers and live tribute music. Local Events: The Neshoba County Fair runs Sunday with a packed schedule including a worship service, antique car show, pageant program, horse races, and evening music nights. Family & Heritage on the Coast: Quincy Museum’s Father’s Day Car Show drew 60+ vehicles and celebrated dads with food, raffles, and museum access. Public Safety & Accountability: In Senatobia, FOX13 says it confirmed the officer’s identity in the fatal Walmart shooting of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley as Hunter Foster, as questions remain amid withheld details. Health Watch: Nationally, the U.S. infant mortality rate hit a new all-time low in 2025, according to preliminary CDC data. Sports & Education: Mississippi Delta CC named Jamar McKnight its new men’s basketball head coach, and Mississippi Elementary students posted strong MCA math participation results.

Juneteenth & Community Education: The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum’s Juneteenth Jubilee in Jackson brought families together with line dance workshops, singing, and kid-focused history guides—aimed at teaching resilience and community pride. Police Accountability in Senatobia: The fatal shooting of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley after a Walmart shoplifting call has reignited tensions between police and Black residents; Senatobia officials and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation have faced pressure over withheld details, even as a prayer vigil and calls for transparency grow. Local Culture & Pride: In West Point, a cottage-garden “speakeasy” is turning into a pay-what-you-can drag show and Pride bash, creating a queer-friendly community space in the Golden Triangle. Sports & Leadership: Mississippi Delta CC named Jamar McKnight as head men’s basketball coach, highlighting his coaching background and player experience. Health Snapshot: New CDC data shows U.S. infant mortality hit a new all-time low in 2025, though disparities for Black infants remain. Arts & Mississippi Roots: Morgan Freeman announced “Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience,” a Juneteenth-started album tracing 100 years of blues music with Mississippi Delta ties. Service & Giving: BAPS Charities’ Spirit of Service Walk-Run drew 50,000+ participants across 100+ cities, supporting local nonprofits from food banks to education and first responders.

Police Accountability & Community Tensions: Senatobia is still reeling after the fatal shooting of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley during a reported Walmart shoplifting call, with activists calling it a “moral collapse” and questions mounting over what led to the gunfire and why details have been slow to come out. Vigil & Fundraising: A prayer vigil was held for Wiley at LifePoint Church, and a GoFundMe has raised thousands for the family in under a day. Juneteenth Culture in Mississippi: The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum hosted a Juneteenth Jubilee with line dance, singing, and kid-focused history guides, while the Mississippi Children’s Museum marked the holiday with hands-on learning activities. Local History Reopens: Columbus’ historic R.E. Hunt and Cultural Museum officially reopened after tornado damage years ago, bringing back a key chapter of African American education history. Arts & Music: Morgan Freeman announced a Juneteenth release for his blues album, “Symphonic Blues Experience,” with the single “Death Letter Blues.” Community & Outdoors: The Mississippi Delta Nature and Learning Center unveiled a new pavilion and “Seeds of Hope” Garden to expand outdoor education and community growing. Disaster Relief: U-Haul is offering 30 days of free storage and U-Box use at participating Southeast locations for flood-impacted residents.

Juneteenth in Mississippi: Meridian’s Juneteenth Heritage Festival is set to proceed Saturday on the City Hall lawn, with city leaders saying the site is ready and public safety teams are prepared. Community & culture: Meridian Main Street just earned two Mississippi Main Street Awards for downtown revitalization, including a creative fundraising win for PuttPutt Palooza and recognition for the 26th Avenue Tunnel Mural. Delta nature education: The Mississippi Delta Nature and Learning Center opened a new pavilion and “Seeds of Hope” Garden to expand outdoor learning and grow produce for the community. Local jobs & learning: Jackson is hiring for the McNair-Davis Planetarium, as the city pushes to reopen the facility this fall. Public safety & trust: In Senatobia, the fatal police shooting of a 1-year-old during a shoplifting call has renewed tensions between police and Black residents, with protests and calls for accountability growing. Arts + America 250: The MAX in Meridian announced free America 250 events, including a July 3 conversation with blues legend Bobby Rush.

Police Accountability & Community Tensions: Senatobia’s Walmart reopened to normal activity after tear gas and protests following the fatal police shooting of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley during a shoplifting call, reigniting anger over how Black residents are treated. Juneteenth in Mississippi: Jackson held a rain-soaked Juneteenth line dance extravaganza at the Jackson Convention Complex, with organizers saying the event helps youth learn freedom and heritage. Civil Rights Trail Spotlight: A guide highlights key Mississippi stops on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, from Emmett Till sites in the Delta to Fannie Lou Hamer’s legacy in Ruleville and the Civil Rights Monument at Ole Miss. Education & Literacy Support: In Hattiesburg, community tutors and volunteers are stepping in to help students prepare for reading retests after fewer third graders met state literacy requirements. Local Culture & Arts: Mississippi native John Jennings’ new exhibition opens in Meridian, showcasing how creators of color build worlds through comics and Mississippi-rooted storytelling. Higher Ed Funding: The IHL Board of Trustees accepted a new performance funding framework, tying future dollars to outcomes like degree completion. Workforce & Health: Mississippi State’s Extension specialist brought native frog education to a Poplarville library summer program, while optometry awards honored Mississippi’s David L. Parker for scope-expansion work. Animal Welfare: Leland leaders are considering a spay-and-neuter ordinance as shelters face overcrowding.

Community & Education: SR1’s 14th Annual College Preparatory & STEM Academy Summer Camp is underway at Millsaps College, serving 150+ Central Mississippi students with hands-on learning and a STEM capstone. Youth Arts: Mississippi’s 2026 Youth Art Contest drew 1,500+ student submissions, with four first-place winners announced by MDWFP. Entrepreneurship: Oxford Pitch Competition handed out $24,000 to local startups, including Munchies Chicken and Waffles and Easy Offer Acquisitions. Veterans & Health: Miskelly Furniture’s Better Sleep Month “Rest Test” program raised $1,700 for the Friends of Mississippi Veterans Foundation. Culture & Heritage: Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History is opening a new exhibit featuring a Choctaw-made dress from Mississippi. Local Events: A June 18-25 calendar highlights community happenings statewide. Arts Spotlight: A new Memphis Art Museum exhibition will spotlight the Hooks Brothers Studio and its portraits of Black life in the South. Policy & Rights: Attorney General Alan Wilson backed a pro-life pregnancy care center’s First Amendment hiring rights in a federal court filing. STEM in Schools: MSU researchers and Partnership Middle School students are collaborating on a climate science literacy podcast.

Juneteenth in Mississippi: A full statewide events guide is out, with Jackson’s Juneteenth Extravaganza and Kickoff Jam plus Two Mississippi Museums’ Jubilee and more family-friendly celebrations. Community & Culture: JSU’s Mt. Olive Cemetery preservation project earned a Mississippi Heritage Award for rehabilitation, including repairs to mausoleums and hundreds of markers. Education Wins: Mississippi students rank among the nation’s top performers in a new study, and Mississippi Christian University’s reading teacher prep program received an A+ rating. Public Safety Scrutiny: Protests erupted after a Senatobia toddler was killed in a Walmart shooting, with tear gas used during demonstrations. Local Governance Fallout: West Bolivar Summer School was disrupted after missed board meetings left the district unable to approve spending for buses and meals. Literacy Policy: Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves urged Oklahoma leaders to build accountability into reading reforms, pointing to Mississippi’s “miracle” as policy + implementation. Lifestyle & Food Costs: A report highlights how rising fast-food prices are squeezing families, with Mississippi’s food-desert reality in the mix. Agriculture & Workforce: Hyde-Smith helped introduce a bill to expand agricultural workforce training at community colleges.

STEM in the Delta: Sparklight just awarded a $2,500 Dream Bigger STEM grant to launch the Leland–Stoneville Rocketry Lab, bringing hands-on rocketry for students ages 8–15. Summer meals for families: Mississippi school districts are rolling out free lunch and breakfast sites through the Summer Food Service Program—check local locations and dates so kids can eat all summer. Pageant spotlight: Jane Granberry won Miss Mississippi 2026 and is already setting her sights on Miss America. Military-connected students: Ocean Springs High School earned the state’s Military Star School designation, joining other Mississippi schools supporting service families. Health equity news: The U.S. infant mortality rate hit a record low in 2025, but Black infants still face more than twice the risk. Community faith moment: A Sharon pastor set a world record for the longest sermon—96 hours preaching straight through Genesis to Revelation. Culture & music: The 250 Voice Community Sing program shared gospel history and its roots in Mississippi through song and storytelling. Local learning: Mississippi Christian University’s teacher prep program earned an A+ for reading instruction training.

Father’s Day at the Aquarium: Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport is offering free admission for dads Sunday, June 21 with the purchase of general tickets, plus family-friendly animal encounters and themed activities. Community Safety & Protest: In Senatobia, demonstrators gathered after a 1-year-old was killed in an officer-involved shooting; police used tear gas and the officer involved was placed on administrative leave while residents press for more answers. Education & Reading Results: A new Education Scorecard report says the learning drop wasn’t a sudden break from the past, pointing to years of erosion in achievement and highlighting that reforms like “science of reading” can help but aren’t automatic. Local Culture & History: Monticello held its first Heritage Day along the river, bringing back the town’s logging past with reenactments and stories from families tied to river work. Health Costs: U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith cosponsored the INSULIN Act to cap insulin costs at $35 a month and expand access. Workforce & Industry: LSU and Hyundai Steel signed a research partnership tied to a planned $5.8B steel mill in Ascension Parish, aiming to build technology research and a skilled workforce pipeline. Legislative Update: Rep. Hank Zuber shared new Mississippi laws and upcoming public art additions during a legislative update in Ocean Springs.

Drug Safety & Parenting: Jones County officials are urging parents to attend an Ignite Church info session tonight at 6 p.m. about “Cob,” warning that the drug—often vaped—can trigger violent, erratic behavior and severe agitation. Public Health: New CDC data shows U.S. infant mortality hit an all-time low in 2025 (just under 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births), though experts note the U.S. still lags other high-income countries. Local Justice Update: The family of Idarrious “D.D.” Bowie is speaking out as a sixth suspect faces charges tied to the shooting that killed the former Ole Miss and Jackson State football player. Education & Youth: Mississippi’s new law (SB 2710) would move some armed teen suspects into adult court, bypassing youth court—sparking debate over prevention versus punishment. STEM & Workforce: LSU and Hyundai Steel are teaming up on a research partnership tied to a $5.8B Ascension Parish mill, aiming to build materials science advances and a skilled workforce pipeline. Culture & Community: The MAX in Meridian is rolling out free America 250 events over the Fourth of July weekend, including a conversation with Bobby Rush and a July 4 concert and fireworks. Scholarships: Long Beach Excellence in Education Foundation received a class gift from LBHS 1975 to fund scholarships and support CTE tools and supplies.

Juneteenth & Civil Rights in Mississippi: Jackson State University unveiled a Mississippi Freedom Trail marker honoring slain activist Benjamin Brown, tying today’s community remembrance to the 1967 struggle for justice. Local Pageantry & Service: Jane Granberry was crowned Miss Mississippi 2026 and is already pushing her “Literacy Without Limits” initiative. Community Events: Two Mississippi Museums is hosting Juneteenth Jubilee weekend with free admission, flash tours, music, food trucks, and family activities. Education & Youth Support: Mississippi State’s STEP program (funded through 2029) will train skilled workers for leadership roles, while eight schools earned new Military Star Schools recognition for supporting military-connected students. Public Transit Watch: J-Tran workers in Jackson voted to authorize a strike if talks fail, with a possible mid-July work stoppage. Health & Community Care: The Red Cross is running daily blood drives across South Mississippi this week to help ease a nationwide shortage. Drugs & Safety: Laurel-area officials held an information session on “cob” (pinaca) after reports of severe youth medical emergencies. Culture & Pride: Alysan Durr was named 2026 Miss Juneteenth for Magee-area festivities on June 20.

Mississippi River roots & local economy: A new look at La Crosse, Wisconsin highlights how the Mississippi River shaped the city’s founding, logging boom, and today’s riverside culture. Pageantry & education: Jane Granberry was crowned Miss Mississippi 2026, promising to push her “Literacy Without Limits” initiative and use her platform for statewide confidence and learning. Workforce upskilling: Mississippi State’s College of Professional and Continuing Studies is rolling out a Skills Trade Empowerment Program, a leadership and project-management credential for skilled workers moving into supervisory roles. Health & safety watch: CDC/USM experts warn that alpha-gal and tick-borne illness risks are rising in Mississippi as warmer, humid conditions and animal movement increase tick encounters. Campus nursing pipeline: USM and Forrest Health are partnering to place nursing students in real clinical training at Forrest General through the Forrest Health Scholars program. Community care: The Pearl River County SPCA taught teens about lifelong pet responsibility at Poplarville’s library, stressing adoption, vaccination, and spay/neuter. Higher-ed leadership: MSU named Stephanie King interim executive director/associate dean for its Center for Innovation in Teaching Excellence. Local justice & accountability: A federal lawsuit accuses former Jackson Area Federal Credit Union CEO Leigh Bridges of misappropriating $95 million for luxury purchases and concealing transfers. Public safety weather: Texans are urged to stay weather-aware as heavy rain could bring flash flooding, with parts of the Gulf Coast and even Mississippi mentioned for significant rainfall.

Tabasco & Avery Island: A new CEO, Adam Graves, becomes the first outsider to lead McIlhenny Co., bringing an international, Spanish-fluent background to the family brand known for its pepper heat. Mississippi Education & Public Safety: University of Southern Mississippi opened a rural digital forensics lab to help smaller law enforcement agencies examine phones, tablets, computers, and storage devices—plus virtual training for students and officers. Career Pathways: AccelerateMS is expanding its high school career coach partnerships across Mississippi, aiming to connect students with in-demand career pathways and workforce-ready guidance. Faith & Community: Hope City Church in Meridian celebrated the ribbon-cutting for its new downtown home, marking growth since the COVID-era beginnings. Local Gospel Music: Canton Music Fest returns after nearly 20 years, bringing the Canton Spirituals back to Historic Canton Square for a July 4 celebration with a kids’ zone and vendors. Health Access: Free HIV self-test kits are available to Mississippi residents through the Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health, pushing “know your status” at-home testing. Youth & Outreach: Moorhead pastors hosted a Youth for Christ rally, with plans for month-by-month visits to reach youth, young adults, and families through church connections. Culture & Food: Mississippi Mills is calling for home cooks and small businesses to join its first Multicultural Food Festival (Oct. 11, 2026), celebrating community through shared dishes.