AGP Executive Report

Mississippi Softball Spotlight: Mississippi State is headed to the Women’s College World Series after a dramatic run that has the Bulldogs facing a loaded bracket in Oklahoma City, with fans watching how the team handles the moment. Navy in Mississippi: The U.S. Navy is rolling out a shore food service pilot at Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, aiming to give sailors healthier options and more ways to use meal entitlements. Aviation Safety: Two Navy aviators ejected safely from a T-45C Goshawk training jet crash in Mississippi; the incident is under investigation. Courts & Workplace Rights: A federal appeals court ruled a White former WLBT anchor’s firing over racially offensive on-air language was lawful and not race-based. Local Culture & Community: A Mississippi Delta mystery novel by Carolyn Haines spotlights the Tallahatchie River and Delta secrets, while Memorial Day observances honored fallen service members across the region. Sports Policy Watch: Senators Cruz and Cantwell plan a bipartisan college sports bill that would limit transfers and restrict coach movement, a move that could reshape recruiting nationwide.

Markets & Money: Florida insurer Safepoint is moving ahead with a US IPO, seeking up to $283.3 million and tapping Bermuda reinsurance capacity as it markets 6.2 million shares. Local Public Safety: Memorial Day weekend violence in the Memphis area left four people dead, with police linking cases to domestic conflict and charging a suspect in at least one incident. Weather & Tragedy: Flash flooding claimed a Petal, Mississippi woman after her SUV was swept away near a shopping center; authorities found her body hours later. Tech & Power: A new xAI gas-burning power plant near Memphis is drawing fresh scrutiny after a lawsuit and claims of rising health impacts for nearby communities. Sports (MS spotlight): Mississippi State softball is set for its first Women’s College World Series run, while the Sooners’ season ended and some players are now looking at the transfer portal. Education & Community: Jackson Public Schools held Murrah and Provine graduations at the Mississippi Coliseum as students head to college and the military.

Energy Court Fight: Georgia AG Chris Carr is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reject a Colorado lawsuit that would let one city effectively set national energy policy through “global climate change” claims—arguing it’s unconstitutional and would drive up costs for states that rely on traditional energy. Aviation Safety: Two pilots ejected safely after a military jet crash Tuesday near the Noxubee–Kemper border, with the aircraft tied to a Meridian base. Transportation Funding: Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith weighed the FY27 U.S. Department of Transportation budget, backing rural air service programs like Essential Air Service while criticizing proposed cuts. Sports & Local Color: Mississippi State’s NCAA baseball regional is set in Starkville, and Louisiana’s Cajuns are headed there too; elsewhere, Jason Williams says he won’t return to Florida’s campus unless his daughter plays. Weather & Public Safety: Memorial Day storms and flooding risk continue across the South, with Mississippi Coast and Pearl River County reporting water rescues and road closures. Lottery Win: A Pontotoc ticket matched all five numbers for a $750,000 Mississippi Match 5 jackpot.

Port Update: Guntersville Marine says its office expansion is nearly done, adding new rooms and a modernized conference space overlooking daily barge traffic. Memorial Day Politics: Trump’s subdued Arlington remarks leaned into denial and reality-checking the nation’s losses, while the broader week kept spotlighting how Iran diplomacy is splitting Republicans. Flood Tragedy: A woman died after flash flooding in Petal swept her SUV away; crews recovered her body and kept searching for the vehicle. Public Safety: Tunica police seek a 19-year-old tied to a double homicide, and Greene County warns of longer detours as a $12M bridge replacement project ramps up. Voting Rights & Redistricting: Mississippi’s election calendar is moving as the Supreme Court’s Callais decision reshapes how voting-rights map fights are argued. Sports (MS Focus): Mississippi State’s baseball regional at Starkville is set, and the NCAA women’s field is locked for WCWS in Oklahoma City with MSU making history.

NCAA Baseball Bracket Drops: UCLA earned the No. 1 overall seed for the 2026 tournament, with Georgia Tech, Georgia, Auburn, North Carolina, Texas, Alabama and Florida rounding out the top eight as regionals begin Friday. Mississippi Spotlight: Mississippi State is the No. 14 overall seed and hosts the Starkville Regional, starting May 29 vs. Lipscomb, with Cincinnati and Louisiana also in the double-elimination field; Southern Miss hosts the Hattiesburg Regional as the No. 9 seed, with Florida, Virginia and Jacksonville State/Little Rock in the mix. WCWS Momentum: Mississippi State softball is headed to the Women’s College World Series for the first time after shutting out Oklahoma, and now faces Texas Tech in its opener. Memorial Day Weather: Storms and flood risk are pushing south after a rough holiday for parts of the East, with heavy rain threats lingering into the weekend.

Bulldogs’ WCWS breakthrough: Mississippi State’s Delainey Everett delivered a complete-game 6-0 shutout over Oklahoma, sending the Bulldogs to their first Women’s College World Series—while snapping OU’s long run and ending a 10-year WCWS streak. OU coach reacts: Patty Gasso said the Sooners kept “flying out” and couldn’t find the extra push they needed. Regional baseball hosts set: The NCAA named 2026 regional sites, including Mississippi State in Starkville and Southern Miss in Hattiesburg; Auburn also lands a Plainsman Park regional for the fourth time in five years. Local business update: Jackson’s Fondren “The Pearl,” “The Capri Theater,” and Fondren Yard will close May 24-28 for new food management under Walker’s Drive-In owner Joe Cravens. Safety watch: Officials are urging extra caution for motorcycle riders as warmer weather brings more crashes. Weather: Memorial Day plans across the eastern U.S. face ongoing storm and flash-flood risk.

SEC Tournament Weather: Georgia vs. Arkansas in the SEC baseball championship is stuck in a weather delay at the Hoover Met as rain and localized flooding threaten the field; the tarp is out and the game was set for a 2 p.m. ET start before the league pushed it back. NCAA Softball Stakes: Mississippi State’s season hangs on Game 3 of its super regional vs. Oklahoma at Love’s Field in Norman (1:30 p.m. CT on ESPN), after a 11-9 Game 1 comeback and a 7-1 Oklahoma bounce-back in Game 2. More Storms, More Disruptions: Memorial Day weekend weather is still messy across the eastern U.S., with flood watches and flight delays reported. Public Health Watch: A Tennessee Valley sushi buffet “soft opening” drew 60+ violations, including no handwashing, unsafe temperatures, and a cooler that wasn’t running. Local Growth: A UTC study says more people are moving to Chattanooga from California than from any other state.

NCAA Softball Stakes: Mississippi State’s Bulldogs and Oklahoma are tied 1-1 in the Norman super regional, setting up a winner-take-all Game 3 on Sunday (1:30 p.m. CT, ESPN) after MSU stunned OU 11-9 in Game 1 and OU bounced back 7-1 in Game 2. Weather Disruptions: The Sun Belt Tournament has been hit by delays too—Southern Miss vs. Troy paused again in the seventh inning with Troy leading 8-2, and the teams will try to finish and decide their next matchup for the title game. Workplace Safety: A new national look at 2024 fatality rates puts Wyoming at the top for worker deaths, underscoring how risk clusters in certain industries and regions. Public Safety in South Mississippi: Moss Point police say a missing 6-year-old was found safe after a coordinated multi-agency search. Gulf Coast Community: Make-A-Wish Mississippi granted a 4-year-old’s wish in Gulfport—meeting a new puppy named Boss Man.

Bulldogs’ Big Moment: Mississippi State softball is one win from the Women’s College World Series after a wild 11-9 comeback over Oklahoma in Game 1, and Game 2 is set for Saturday at noon CT at Love’s Field. NCAA Super Regional Buzz: The super regionals are underway across the bracket—Tennessee punched its OKC ticket with a 2-1 win over Georgia, while other matchups are still deciding who advances. Public Safety & Weather: A flood watch is in effect for southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi through Sunday evening as heavy rain could bring 2–4 inches and flash flooding. Food Alert: Whole Foods recalled minestrone soup sold in 17 states (including Mississippi) because shrimp was undeclared, raising the risk of life-threatening allergic reactions. Local Notes: Peoples Bank promoted Janna Stringer to SBA Operations Officer in Magee. Sports Elsewhere: In the SEC Tournament, Florida meets Georgia in the semifinals Saturday.

NCAA Softball Shockwave: Mississippi State pulled off a stunning comeback over Oklahoma, scoring nine runs in the final two innings to win 11-9 and grab a super regional win for the first time in program history; the Bulldogs now move on with Game 2 looming as the Sooners’ long home super regional streak ends. Super Regional Spotlight: Across the bracket, Tennessee beat Georgia 2-1 to punch its ticket to Oklahoma City, while UCLA routed UCF 9-1 in the Los Angeles opener and UCF faces elimination. Local Public Safety: In Southaven, police say a robbery outside a Walmart turned into gunfire, with no one hit and a suspect still on the run. Weather Watch: Memorial Day weekend is shaping up wet at times, with scattered storms Sunday and a higher rain chance Monday. Redistricting Politics: Republican senators pushed back on protests, saying Mississippi lawmakers haven’t even introduced new maps yet.

Memorial Day weather scramble: Mississippi is bracing for more rounds of storms through the holiday weekend, with tornadoes possible Friday and flash flooding risks lingering into next week—especially in the southwest where heavier downpours could hit fast. Holiday travel crunch: AAA says Memorial Day gas prices are at a four-year high nationwide, with demand surging as millions hit the road. Public safety push: The Mississippi Highway Patrol has kicked off its Memorial Day enforcement period, warning drivers to buckle up, slow down, and expect checkpoints. Local wildlife alert: Alligators are being spotted around the metro, and officials say this is peak breeding season—leave them alone and don’t feed them. Mississippi culture on the move: Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience is headed to Gulfport in October, tracing blues roots from the Delta to modern hits. Roadside oddity: Fifty Grande named Fayette’s Frog Farm one of the strangest roadside attractions in the country.

Memorial Day weather and travel: Mississippi is bracing for a wet holiday stretch, with forecasts calling for repeated rounds of rain and possible thunderstorms through late May—flooding is the main worry. Redistricting fight: Thousands rallied in Jackson against legislative redistricting, with speakers tying the push to Mississippi’s long civil-rights history and warning it could reshape representation for years. Politics on the ballot: State Sen. Daniel Sparks announced he’s running for state auditor, joining other Republicans eyeing the seat. Statehouse money for defense: Michigan lawmakers approved $152 million for Selfridge, expected to unlock $792 million in federal funding for new aircraft support. Data centers: Tennessee’s data-center rules are mostly stalled—only one bill cleared—while the state weighs power and water impacts from big AI facilities. Sports: Georgia beat Mississippi State 5-3 in the SEC Tournament, advancing to face Florida next. Local business/tech: ProSat Networks expanded in Mississippi to add professional Starlink installation and managed wireless/IT services.

Pirate Fest Returns: The Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse brought its 11th annual Pirate Day “invasion” and pub crawl back to Old Town Bay St. Louis, with hundreds lining up for Pirate Central and a weekend packed with kids’ parade, costume contests, and local business stops. Death Penalty Drama: Tennessee halted Tony Carruthers’ execution after officials couldn’t find a vein for the lethal injection; Gov. Bill Lee granted a one-year stay. Legal Fallout in Mississippi Timber Case: A federal jury found Baker Donelson negligent supervision in a Mississippi timber “Ponzi scheme” trial tied to nine-figure losses. Public Safety Staffing: Mississippi approved a new pathway for part-time officers to earn full-time certification without a traditional full-time academy. Summer Outdoors: Mississippi’s MDWFP and the National Park Service will host a free youth fish camp June 10 at the Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery—equipment and bait provided, pre-registration required. Tech & Education: Gov. Tate Reeves unveiled a statewide AI teaching roadmap for K-12 through workforce leadership. Weather Watch: Cooler highs linger into Saturday, then warming ramps up through the Memorial Day weekend.

SEC Tournament Weather Shuffle: Lightning and rain forced the SEC to tweak Thursday’s baseball schedule at Hoover, moving Mississippi State–Georgia up to 1 p.m. ET and setting Alabama–Florida for 4:30 p.m. ET (or right after). Hoover Baseball Recap: LSU’s season ended Wednesday with a 3-1 loss to Auburn after a late error and a lightning delay; Auburn closed it out in the ninth. Local Sports: Meridian celebrated seven high school track signees for college programs. Wildlife Watch: Kentucky biologists confirmed Alabama bass/spotted bass hybrids in Lake Linville—raising concerns about impacts on native bass. Community Frustration: Meridian business owners and residents are pushing back on dumpster divers, with the city asking for camera footage to identify the culprits. Public Safety: Mississippi ranked 11th for public safety in a new U.S. News report, driven by low violent crime—while noting weaker corrections outcomes. National Loss: Former Rep. Barney Frank, a major figure in gay rights and Wall Street reforms, died at 86.

Voting Rights Fight: More than 2,000 people rallied in Jackson after the U.S. Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act, with Democrats warning Mississippi’s redistricting push could cost Black lawmakers seats. Local Governance: Mississippi House Speaker Jason White says Gov. Tate Reeves may call a special session to redraw legislative maps before 2027. Public Health: Sugar Foods recalled Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons in 16+ states over possible salmonella exposure. Sports: Mississippi State baseball crushed Missouri 12-2 in the SEC Tournament, powered by the Valincius brothers—and the Bulldogs broke their single-season home run record again. Community & Safety: A ferry at the Lansing bridge cut capacity due to low Mississippi River levels, and Byram police helped relocate a 4–5 foot alligator after a backyard sighting. Health Care: Trustmark pledged $2 million to UMMC for a new cancer center facility in Jackson.

Gas Prices Spike: Memorial Day travel is hitting hard as gas hits the highest level in four years, with AAA warning prices could keep climbing through the holiday weekend. Politics & Voting Rights: The NAACP is pushing a high-profile boycott of major public college sports in Southern states tied to redistricting after a Supreme Court Voting Rights Act ruling. Local Governance: Jackson City Council tabled a proposed data-center moratorium after debate over whether it was improperly handled as zoning. Public Safety: Oxford Middle School in Mississippi was briefly locked down after a bomb threat traced to a juvenile in Texas. Health & Food Safety: Kroger recalled certain seasoned croutons in 17 states over possible Salmonella contamination. Sports (Mississippi): Mississippi State softball is headed to a super regional after a regional run powered by a “broccoli” good-luck ritual; on the baseball side, Tomas Valincius won the Ferriss Trophy.